Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement (20) to transport a round blank ring (30) made from plastic from a receiving location (35) to an assembly station (90). A every point in time, the orientation and the position of the round blank ring (30) are predefined, at least within a tolerance range. To execute a movement from top to bottom in a height direction (H), it is possible to use a feed device (34) with a motor-driven conveying unit (58). This conveying unit (58) moves one or more round blank rings (30) in a positively guided manner downward in the height direction (H) to a delivery location (36). At every point in time as this is done, the orientation of the round blank ring relative to the height direction (H) is defined, at least within a predefined tolerance range.

Abstract: A vial hopper and feeder assembly is used in conjunction with automated prescription filling devices and systems, wherein the vial hopper and feeder assembly is configured to allow an operator to dump a large number of vials into a hopper in a random orientation, and the hopper/feeder assembly has the capability of selecting individual vials, orienting them in the proper direction, and delivering them individually in assembly line fashion, and in proper orientation, to the next step of the prescription filling process. A rotatable singulator receives the vials, feeds each vial individually to a pocket within a rotating turnstile. Sensors detect the presence and orientation of the vial, upright or upside down, and the turnstile rotates either clockwise or counterclockwise, based on the orientation of the vial within the pocket, to release each vial in one single direction.

Abstract: A machine for supplying containers that comprises: a hopper (10) configured to contain a plurality of containers (100) arranged randomly; a transfer station (20); and a first elevator (30) that has first horizontal blades (31) longitudinally, each of said first blades (21) being configured to collect a first container (101) from the hopper (10) and lift the same in a horizontal position to the transfer station (20). Said machine (1) comprises a second elevator (40), parallel to the first elevator (30), that has second horizontal blades (41) longitudinally, each of said second blades (41) being configured to collect a second container (102) from the hopper (10) and lift the same in a horizontal position to the transfer station (20); and an alignment station (50) configured to receive the first (101) and second containers (102) coming from the transfer station (20) and supply the same horizontally in an aligned manner.

Abstract: A visually controlled end effector is disclosed. The end effector comprises two or more operational members capable of picking up one or more randomly placed items. A crank is capable of actuation by a robot to orient a first one of said two or more operational members to pick up a first one of said one or more randomly placed items. The crank is further capable of actuation by the robot to orient a second one of said two or more operational members to pick up a second one of said one or more randomly placed items. The crank is further capable of orienting the first and second ones of the said two or more operational members for placement of the first and second ones of said randomly placed items into a desired oriented condition. A time savings of three robot transfers is thus made over prior art systems that transferred each individual product one by one.

Abstract: An apparatus for arranging integrated circuit receiving tubes, the apparatus including a reverse mechanism, a detection element and a discharge mechanism. In use, the reverse mechanism receives a tube and the detection element determines an orientation of the received tube. The reverse mechanism moves to allow the discharge mechanism to receive the tube from itself. If the orientation of the received tube differs from a desired orientation, the movement of the reverse mechanism changes the orientation of the tube before allowing the discharge mechanism to receive the tube. Otherwise, the orientation of the tube is maintained notwithstanding the movement of the reverse mechanism, and is subsequently received by the discharge mechanism. This helps to automatically ensure that all the tubes are received by the discharge mechanism in the same orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a walking surface including a particulate material to a user is described. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a primary endless belt that transports a walking surface formed at least in part by a particulate material. The apparatus may further include a return transport system to facilitate recycling of the particulate material to the front of the apparatus. Methods of exercise and methods of treatment using such an apparatus are also described.

Abstract: An aligning apparatus for aligning food product chips having a generally curved shape includes a longitudinally extending rib positioned with respect to a chip transport surface. As chips are transported along the transport surface, they straddle the aligning rib with respective opposed side edges thereof supported on the transport surface. Engagement with the aligning rib causes the chips to become generally aligned with the aligning rib and thus, with each other.

Abstract: An article separation conveyor system includes a plurality of conveyors which are independently and/or collectively operable to destack, separate and/or align articles being conveyed along the article separation conveyor. The conveyor system includes a destacking conveyor, a side by side eliminating conveyor and/or an aligning conveyor. The destacking conveyor includes a plurality of conveying portions, which are inclined to convey articles up and then drop or guide them onto the next adjacent conveyor. The side-by-side eliminating conveyor includes a pair of diverting members and is operable to redirect articles from one side of the conveyor to the other to destack and separate articles as they are continuously conveyed along the conveyor. The aligning conveyor is operable to align articles along one side of the discharge conveyor so the articles are arranged for identification at a downstream scanning device and induction onto a sortation system.

Abstract: In order to prevent stacks of containers from shifting under the influence of vibration produced by an automated product handling system and assuming positions wherein jamming/mishandling is apt to occur, a container saddle ad stopper arrangement is provided on one or more of the platforms on which the container stacks are received and arranged to engage in recesses formed in the underside of the containers in a manner which ensures that the lowermost trays assume the required orientation and position on the platform.

Abstract: A device for the orienting of bottles or similar containers, in particular for treatment machines such as labeling or decoration machines, each treated bottle being provided with a mark intended to come into engagement with an associated element of the orientation device, is so adapted that the associated element exerts on the bottle, as long as it is not in engagement with its mark, a push which tilts it and brings at least one point of a generatrix of its side surface to rub by contact against at least one wall during the relative displacement of the bottle and the wall.

Abstract: A torsion spring has a coil portion and a leg portion extending from the coil portion. A pin is inserted into the coil portion of the torsion spring in a first position so that the torsion spring is supported by the pin for rotation about the pin. The pin is moved to bring the torsion spring to a second position. The leg portion of the torsion spring is caused to abut against a guide member so that the torsion spring is rotated by a predetermined angle about the pin during the movement from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: "Method and device for aligning and storing in a given order moldings having a tubular perforation."Individual moldings (6) are introduced successively from above into a turbulence space above a receiving mandrel (5) profiled for reception in the perforation (7) in the molding (6). Each molding is subjected to an aligning air turbulence until the molding (6) has been aligned with its perforation (7) with respect to the receiving mandrel (5) in such a manner that the molding (6) falls onto the receiving mandrel (5) due to an air resistance decreasing as a result of the alignment. The receiving mandrel (5) then passes the molding (6) on to a deposition transport rail (19).

Abstract: A bottle cap orienter has two rotating pin sorters, one positioned above and the other below a path over which randomly oriented bottle caps must travel. A stationary cam adjacent each sorter causes a plurality of pins at selected locations to project into the area of the path through which the bottle caps must travel. Thus, the projecting pins enter the cavity of the caps from above and below so that the caps are captured to rotate with the pin sorters. At one point in the rotation, the pins are withdrawn so that the caps are released to travel under their own inertia over a tangential path. The caps released by one of the pin sorters are inverted, so that all caps are ultimately oriented the same.

Abstract: Apparatus for selecting elongate containers from a mass of randomly-disposed containers such as capsules open at one end and at least partially closed at the other and depositing them with their open ends aligned for receiving a charge of material. The apparatus including first and second rotors, the first rotor including radially-disposed bores for receiving the containers and the second rotor including radially-disposed spokes for receiving containers with open ends toward the spokes. The first and second rotors including operable elements for removing the containers from the bores or spokes for transfer of the containers to a receiving device with the containers in the same orientation.

Abstract: A parts orienting machine comprising a frame, a vertically actuated plunger reciprocating block mounted on the frame with a pair of side-by-side vertical passageways therein. One of the passageways is in periodic co-axial alignment with an inlet parts feeder chute for receiving disoriented piece parts on a one at a time basis. The other of the side-by-side vertical passageways being in periodic vertical alignment with a discharge chute for conveying oriented parts to the discharge chute. The reciprocating block has an axial passageway and an axially extending orientor shaft extends into the axial passageway. A vertically extending parts receiving nest is provided in the orientor shaft which nest is in periodic vertical alignment with the side-by-side vertical passageways. Mechanism is provided for reciprocating the reciprocating block back and forth in the axial passageway for alternatively aligning the nest with the inlet and outlet passageways.

Abstract: An apparatus for the transfer of DIP devices to or from DIP delivery tubes is shown to include a hopper for the storage of several tubes, an elevator member for removing individual tubes from the hopper and depositing such tubes into a hopper, an orienting member which positions the tube in a predetermined radial orientation and which moves the tube axially in response to a control signal to a head member which receives the radially oriented tube and guides it to a predetermined second orientation for the transfer of DIP devices and which ejects such tubes upon completion and a computer control member for generating the necessary actuation signals to coordinate the transfer of DIP devices and tube ejection. The head member may also be provided with an extracation member to remove any pin or plug which may seal the tube.

Abstract: Apparatus for orientating circular can ends having an eccentric aperture encompassing the geometric center of the can end comprises a supply stack for delivering can ends to a table and a first conveyor for moving can ends one by one to a first station at which the center of successive can ends is precisely located. Can ends are then engaged by fingers on a second conveyor and drawn along a support track. The dragging action of the fingers in co-operation with a guide causes the can ends to adopt a required orientation in which the center trails behind the finger from that part of the aperture most remote from the center.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying U-shaped top end stops reliably one at a time to a holding portion of a top end-stop attaching machine, includes a movable guide rail reciprocably movable between a receiving position for receiving the top end stop from a fixed guide rail cantilevered to a vibrating parts feeder, and a delivery position for supplying the top end stop therefrom to the holding portion, and a delivery unit reciprocably movable toward and away from the holding portion to deliver a leading top end stop from the first guide rail through the second guide rail to the holding portion. The movable guide rail and the delivery unit are linked such that the delivery unit resiliently engages with the movable guide rail within a certain range of its reciprocating stroke for moving the movable guide rail from the receiving position to the delivery position.

Abstract: Belt conveyor comprises first and second endless belts in side-by-side relationship which move in opposite directions. Articles such as connector housings are loaded onto the first belt at its first end and carried towards the second end of the first belt. The articles may be in either of two stable attitudes. A sorting guide extends transversely across the first belt and separates the articles in the second stable attitude from those in the first attitude, the articles in the second attitude being pushed onto the second belt. The articles pushed onto the second belt are carried to the first end of the second belt and transferred laterally to the first end of the first belt. The attitudes of the articles transferred are changed during transfer so that they are then in the first stable attitude.

Abstract: A slider supplying apparatus, for use with a slide-fastener finishing machine, includes a rail for slidingly supporting a number of sliders in succession from a reservoir, with the opposite wings of each slider body astride of the rail and with a pull tab hanging from the slider body, and a chute defining a guide channel for passage therethrough of the slider bodies and having an upper end portion disposed adjacent to a free end portion of the rail for receiving the successive sliders therefrom. The upper end portion of the chute has a sloping edge engageable with the pull tab of each slider, as the latter slides forwardly on the free end portion of the rail, so as to raise the pull tab perpendicularly to the slider wing. The chute also has a guide slit coextensive with the guide channel for receiving the pull tab of each slider in such raised posture while the slider body is in the guide channel.

Abstract: Apparatus for reconditioning drums has a conveyor extending through a series of equally spaced stations. The conveyor has a series of members, each in the form of a forwardly opening V and with the members so spaced that when any one is at a station, other members will be at the other stations. Drums are placed, one at a time, and inverted, on the infeed end of the conveyor with the bung of each in a position to be caught and held centered by one of the members and pulled thereby along the center line of the conveyor. The conveyor is moved by steps with each step advancing a conveyed drum to a station at which the bung is in vertical alignment with a vertically disposed, subjacent spray nozzle. Dwells between the steps are provided of a predetermined duration during which the nozzles are elevated to an extent entering them within a drum and the drums at stations are tilted fowardly. At each station, a reconditioning fluid is discharged through the associated nozzle if a drum is in fact present.

Abstract: Apparatus for partially or wholly separating individual coils from batches of interengaged coils comprising supporting structure for receiving the batches of coils standing upright, columnar springs supporting the structure, vibrators fastened to the supporting structure, and controls for controlling the amplitude and frequency of vibration of the vibrators.

Abstract: Apparatus for arranging overcaps in like orientation. The apparatus includes a cylindrical bin for holding a large number of jumbled overcaps. The bin has an opening on one side along which a chute is located. A cylindrical array of horizontal flight bars, each pivotal about a horizontal axis and each having a multiplicity of pick-up sites spaced therealong, is arranged to rotate through the bin such that the bars pass the edge of the chute seriatim along a downward arc. Each pick-up site includes an overcap-receiving cavity and a pick-up pin extending from an overcap support surface. The device includes means to pivot the flight bars to different orientations depending on their positions of rotation within the bin. The configuration of the pick-up sites and the control of flight bar orientation serves to capture overcaps on the pick-up pins and deposit them in like orientation on the chute for movement toward an automatic capper.

Abstract: A screw orienting assembly in which slotted headless screws are sequentially fed with their elongate axis perpendicular to and in the same plane as a guide rail having a width less than the width of the screw slots. The screws are rotated about their elongate axis and advanced along the rail. The slots of those screws having their slotted end engaged with the rail become engaged with the rail in response to the rotation of those screws such that the slot is in alignment with the rail. The slot-engaged or "seated" screws are advanced along the rail to a predetermined point and discharged therefrom in like orientation with respect to their slotted ends for further processing. Those screws not seated on the rail are discharged from the rail before reaching the predetermined point.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus are proposed for the aligning of fish, especially those to be reckoned as belonging to the gadidae species, in respect of the position of their planes of symmetry. Beheaded fish are cyclically loaded on a feeding device of a pair of conveyor belts, which are disposed to have runs facing each other and which together with a bottom belt form a feed chute. The bottom belt is provided with support elements, extending in the direction of conveyance of the fish and arranged at a spacing from one another. The support elements are provided with convex support surfaces projecting up into the feed chute. The charging of the fish takes place so that each fish is caught at its abdominal cavity by a support element.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for orienting cap-like articles in the same direction and delivering them to an exit port from which the cap-like articles may be delivered to any suitable apparatus for placing them over the ends of tubes, bars or other parts. Included is a rotatably mounted member having a surface which is inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal and which is provided with a number of radially extending grooves therein each with an open end remote from the center of the rotatable member. Pins are located in each of the grooves opposite the open ends thereof and receive thereover and retain caps thereon when the caps are delivered to the pins via the grooves with the open ends of the caps facing the pins. A reservoir for caps is arranged adjacent to and in communication with a portion of the aforementioned member so that caps in the reservoir are picked up in the grooves as the surface rotates past the reservoir.