Abstract: A cartridge dispenser (1) has: a receptacle (10) delimiting a cavity (10?) for storing cartridges (2); a cartridge outlet (11) for dispensing a single cartridge at a time from said cartridges (2), the single cartridge being dispensed in a predetermined cartridge dispensing orientation; and a cartridge transfer device (12,13,14) for transferring cartridges (2) from the cavity (10?) to the cartridge outlet (11). The cavity (10?) is so dimensioned that cartridges (2) can be stored in bulk therein at random capsule orientations. The transfer device comprises a delivery conveyor that is configured to displace cartridges from the bulk of cartridges towards the outlet and to deliver the cartridges (2) to the outlet (11) via an orientation-discrimination passage (15) which ensures that the cartridges (2) are delivered one at the time to the outlet (11) and that each cartridge (2,2a) that is delivered to the outlet (11) is in the predetermined orientation at the outlet (11).

Abstract: A component conveyance disk of a taping apparatus has a plurality of component transport units at an equiangular interval. Each component transport unit is formed of three component transport grooves in a peripheral portion of the component conveyance disk. Width direction centerlines of the respective component transport grooves are parallel to each other, with a portion thereof in a direction along the width direction centerlines opening toward a component storage chamber. Dimensions along the width direction centerlines of the opened portion of the respective component transport grooves are shorter than a length of the component. In addition, the respective component transport grooves have component guides that guide the components into the respective component transport grooves.

Abstract: A diagnostic analyzer includes a first sample process path, a second sample processing path, and a reaction vessel exchanger device. The first sample process path includes an incubation track operable to move reaction vessels along the first sample process path. The second sample process path includes a processing track, disposed below the first sample process path, which is operable to move reaction vessels along the second sample process path. The reaction vessel exchanger device is configured to transfer the reaction vessels from the first sample processing path to the second sample processing path.

Abstract: A device and a method for singulation of used beverage containers received in bulk into individual containers and forwarding them towards a receiving station. The used beverage containers have different shapes and sizes. The device includes a rotating surface, a conveyor at least partly encircling the rotating surface and adapted to receive used beverage containers from the rotating surface and transport them away from the rotating surface; and an outer wall along the periphery of the conveyor at least along the part of the conveyor that encircles the rotating surface. The conveyor includes a first section where it is capable of receiving used beverage containers from the rotating surface, and a second section where it is only capable of transporting used beverage containers one by one and aligned with the direction of movement of the conveyor or otherwise fall back onto the rotating surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing food products is provided. The product conditioning system includes an inlet assembly, a pressurizeable tunnel and an outlet assembly. The inlet and outlet assembly pressure vessels include a pair of vertically extending parallel screws for transporting food products from one end of the pressure vessel to the other. The pressurizeable tunnel includes a heating stage having microwave sources for irradiating food products so as to pasteurize or sterilize prepackaged food. The pressurizeable tunnel further includes a heat maintenance stage and product cooling stage. Both the heat maintenance stage and product cooling stage include vertically extending pressure vessels. Within each pressure vessel, two pairs of parallel rotating screws are positioned for moving food products through a liquid environment at a desired temperature for continued pasteurization or sterilization in the heat maintenance stage, and product cooling within the cooling stage.

Abstract: The invention includes a machine for handling and unscrambling empty containers provided with a bottom and with an opening. The machine comprises a carousel rotating about an axis of rotation and is provided with a plurality of pockets. Each of the pockets is provided with a respective channel for descent of the containers through gravity towards a handling area below. The machine further comprises a carousel feeding device equipped with a detecting system which detects the orientation of the containers before the containers are unscrambled. A respective unscrambling station of the containers is provided for each pocket which is controlled on the basis of information supplied by the detecting system and designed to arrange said containers correctly unscrambled with said opening facing upwards.

Abstract: A method for sorting and/or orienting caps using an automated capping line can comprise providing a single cap to a cap-receiving cavity defined in a body of a puck. In various embodiments, the body can be vibrated to settle and/or orient the cap to a properly oriented position within the cap-receiving cavity. In at least one embodiment, the vibrating can include applying horizontal vibration and/or vertical vibration to the body. As a result, the properly oriented caps can be conveyed to a capping machine configured to apply each cap to a cap-receiving portion of a container.

Abstract: A method for sorting and/or orienting caps using an automated capping line can comprise providing a single cap to a cap-receiving cavity defined in a body of a puck. In various embodiments, the body can be vibrated to settle and/or orient the cap to a properly oriented position within the cap-receiving cavity. In at least one embodiment, the vibrating can include applying horizontal vibration and/or vertical vibration to the body. As a result, the properly oriented caps can be conveyed to a capping machine configured to apply each cap to a cap-receiving portion of a container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for returning empties, in particular bottles and cans, having a bulk input, in which the empties (10) are moved from an input space (8) past a detection unit (14) by a conveyor device (1) rotating about the longitudinal axis thereof, and further having a conveyor device for implementing said method, comprising a plurality followers mounted transversely to the direction of conveyance and spaced a distance apart. An increased throughput is to be achieved with such a method and such a conveyor device. This is achieved in that the empties (10) are parallelized out of the input space (8) by the conveyor device (1) and fed to the detection unit (14) in a field array, or in that each follower (4) is designed to be wide enough to hold at least two empties (10) side by side, and that an angular momentum is applied to the empties (10) at least in the detection field (15) of the detection unit (14).

Abstract: An electronic-component conveying apparatus that conveys an electronic component by holding the electronic component in a through hole provided in a conveying table of the apparatus, in which the electronic component can be quickly and reliably dismounted from the through hole by using compressed gas, and undesired popout of the electronic component due to a residual pressure infrequently occurs, whereby the efficiency in the conveying process can be increased.

Abstract: A thin-part feeding device is provided which is compact and efficient. The device has a funnel portion with a feeding opening at the bottom thereof, a take-out tube for taking out thin parts from the funnel portion, and a receiving portion with separate opening for receiving thin parts from the discharge opening. The receiving portion is movable, and the receiving opening is sized to receive only one thin part. The device is operative to repeat a state where the receiving opening faces the discharge opening, and a state where the receiving opening is away from the discharge opening to enable thin parts to be taken out from the receiving opening. The device also features a novel, posture-correcting portion to correct vertical posture of thin parts, a delivery portion for receiving posture-corrected thin parts, and a transporting portion as described.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus includes a part feeding device such as a bowl feeder with a perimeter track, a second track extending around the perimeter track, a vision inspection system, and an ejector device. The second track has a transparent floor and the vision inspection system includes a controller and at least one camera operably connected to the controller for looking through the transparent floor to identify defective parts. The ejector device is operably connected to the controller for ejecting bad ones of the received parts, the ejector device being located downstream of the cameras. A related method is also provided. The arrangement is very compact, and has a very small foot print, but can operate at speed up to or more than 4000 pieces per minute.

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting random oriented lightweight articles. The apparatus includes a wheel which rotates on an axis which is substantially horizontal. A plurality of alignment troughs is mounted on the interior of the wheel. Each of the alignment troughs has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the wheels horizontal axis. Each trough has a plurality of openings to allow air to pass through the trough and out of the wheel to hold lightweight articles in the troughs against the force of gravity. Each of the articles has a longitudinal axis which is parallel to the troughs longitudinal axis. Rotation of the wheel selectively positions the troughs with a source of air under pressure to move the articles to the end of the respective trough. Each article at the end of its respective trough moves into an external receiver where the article is transferred to a vertical attitude having the bottom up. The article is rotated to a bottom down attitude.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor which can be used to route oriented objects, such as caps, covers, lids, etc. from a finishing machine of the type comprising a belt, a vibrating bowl or other. The inventive conveyor consists of a module (12) comprising (i) a vertical conveyor in the form of a column (14) with an adjustable height and (ii) an intermediate conveyor in the form of a casing (13) which is disposed between the finishing machine and the column (14). In addition, the module (12) comprises channel-type means (15) for guiding the objects and means for propelling said objects, in the form of jets of air pulsed through eyes (32). The channel (15) and the eyes (32) form a continuous assembly between the finishing machine and the upper end of the column (14). The conveyor also comprises means enabling the automatic ejection of objects from grooves (7) provided in the belt (3) of the machine.

Abstract: An improved electronic component handler and associated improved test plate are shown. A guide on the test plate is used to intersect the testing apertures to eliminate misalignment of the component loading frame and the aperture to ensure easy insertion of components into the test apertures.

Abstract: It is to provide a tablet filling device having improved quality and productivity by correctly filling the tablets in pocket parts of a container film even when the tablets have a non-circular shape such as triangle. The tablet filling device 52 has a rotary drum 2 provided with holding recesses 3 for storing the tablets 1 and transferring the tablets 1 to the downstream for filling the tablet 1 in a pocket part 44 of a container film 41. The holding recess 3 has a tablet receptacle section 3a that is larger than the tablet 1 supplied from a tablet feeding chute 5, and a posture correction section 3b that corrects the posture of the tablet 1 received in the tablet receptacle section 3a during the conveyance.

Abstract: Comprises a pre-orientating device (2) suitable for placing a plurality of articles (50) in the vertical position, randomly head up or head down, on a conveyor (1); detection means (3) for detecting the articles (50) that are in at least one of said positions, head up or head down, on conveyor (1); and ejection means (4) for selectively ejecting from conveyor (1) those articles (50) that are in one of said undesired head up or head down positions, on the basis on said detection. It optionally comprises reloading means (15) suitable for picking up those articles (50) that are ejected from conveyor (1) by ejection means (4), conveying them and loading them again into pre-orientating device (2).

Abstract: A bailing apparatus includes a bailer feeder and a bailer. The bailer feeder is arranged to feed handles to the bailer. The bailer is adapted to couple the handles to containers.

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting random oriented lightweight articles. The apparatus includes a wheel which rotates on an axis which is substantially horizontal. A plurality of alignment troughs is mounted on the interior of the wheel. Each of the alignment troughs has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the wheels horizontal axis. Each trough has a plurality of openings to allow air to pass through the trough and out of the wheel to hold lightweight articles in the troughs against the force of gravity. Each of the articles has a longitudinal axis which is parallel to the troughs longitudinal axis. Rotation of the wheel selectively positions the troughs with a source of air under pressure to move the articles to the end of the respective trough. Each article at the end of its respective trough moves into an external receiver where the article is transferred to a vertical attitude.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus is provided with a rotary disc portion with a suction means which forms a slit on an outer peripheral surface and sucks through the slit so as to convey a conveyed article in a state of holding the conveyed article by suction to both sides of the slit, and a linear conveying portion with a suction means which sucks the conveyed article riding over a pair of parallel conveying belts through a gap between the conveying belts so as to convey the conveyed article in a state of holding the conveyed article by suction to the conveying belt, and has one end opposing to the outer peripheral surface of the rotary disc portion so as to be capable of transfer the conveyed article. The conveying apparatus of the invention, the inspecting apparatus and an aligning and supplying apparatus allow for execution of a side surface inspection of a small article stably without requiring a lot of space.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting and feeding identically shaped small objects has a funnel adapted to hold the objects and having a downwardly open outlet and a housing and a wheel together forming an arcuate passage generally centered on an axis and having an upper inlet end at the outlet and a lower outlet end so that the objects can enter the upper inlet end of the passage and move downward through the passage. The wheel has an outer periphery exposed in the passage and formed with a row of outwardly open pockets of a shape corresponding generally to a shape of the objects. The wheel is rotated such that its periphery moves upward in the passage so that the objects are separated from one another and aligned behind one another in the passage.

Abstract: A conveying system for lifting and orienting bottle caps comprises a conveyer belt of articulated sections and with guide rollers with an upper lifting section having an essentially vertical path of travel and a lower loading section with an angled path of travel. Sprockets on the guide rollers effect movement of the belt in an upward path of travel through the lower section and then the upper section. Cleats are secured to the exterior surface of the conveyer belts. Supporting surfaces of the cleats extend at right angles from the exterior surface of the conveyer belt for retaining bottle caps thereon when the upper surface of the bottle cap is in contact with the conveyer belt and the lower edge thereof supported in a trough of the supporting surfaces of the cleats but to effect the dropping thereof when the bottle caps are not in the proper orientation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for singulating and delivering wire leads as part of an electrode welding process in lamp production. Leads in bulk form are transported by a feeder. The leads are dropped from the feeder and passively caught in a desired orientation within a rotational turret. The turret delivers the leads to an exit point. The leads are processed at the exit point by pick-and-place equipment.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding to an automated analyzer a bulk quantity of vessels is provided. The bulk vessel feeding apparatus has a frame structure, a vessel hopper and an elevator chain supported by the frame structure. The elevator chain is driven by a drive sprocket and carries a plurality of scoopers for transporting the vessels from the hopper to a sorting and orienting mechanism. The sorting and orienting mechanism has two actuated rams for ejecting the vessels from the scoopers into a guide, while sorting and orienting the vessels, such that they are all headed by their closed ends when traveling in the guide. The guide leads to an escape mechanism for dispensing the vessels one at a time to the analyzer.

Abstract: One or more concentric rings of component seats are rotatable about the rings' center. The seats are uniformly angularly spaced and the rings are incrementally rotated, the increment of rotation being the angular space between adjacent seats. The rings are inclined at an angle and a stream of components is poured onto the rings as they are rotating. Stationary fences adjacent to outboard sides of the seats, confine unseated components to tumble randomly, due to gravity, over empty seats passing through arcs of the rings' rotation paths. The random tumbling results in seated components. In the paths of the rotating rings are electrical contactors for coupling the components to a tester. Preferably there are five contactor stations to permit five different kinds of tests to be performed simultaneously. Tested components pass beneath an ejection manifold which defines a plurality of ejection holes which register with a set of seats each time the ring is rotated an increment.

Abstract: A singulator for transporting and separating tires is provided having a disk with inverted cone shaped front surface at an angle .alpha., a center hub and a plurality of flights. Each extends from a side of the hub to an edge of the disk for dividing the disk's front surface into sections where each section is defined by two adjacent flights namely a leading flight and a trailing flight. A first element is connected to the disk for rotating the disk at a rearward angle .DELTA. with reference to a horizontal ground plane such the disk's front surface is at an angle .epsilon. where .epsilon.=.DELTA.-.alpha.. A hopper is mounted at a downward angle .gamma. and is semicircular in shape and has approximately the same radius as a radius of the disk. A chute is provided in the hopper for transporting tires in the hopper to a bottom area of the hopper such that a tire in the bottom area will stand upon its treads. The surface angle .epsilon. and the hopper angle .gamma.

Abstract: An analyzer for performing automated assay testing. The analyzer includes a storage and conveyor system for conveying cuvettes to an incubation or processing conveyor, a storage and selection system for test sample containers, a storage and selection system for reagent containers, sample and reagent aspirating and dispensing probes, a separation system for separating bound from unbound tracer or labeled reagent, a detection system and date collection/processing system. All of the subunits of the machine are controlled by a central processing unit to coordinate the activity of all of the subunits of the analyzer. The analyzer is specifically suited for performing heterogeneous binding assay protocols, particularly immunoassays.

Abstract: In a capacitor chip processing apparatus, including a rotating loading wheel mounted on a spindle and carrying an inventory of chips, passageways formed in the wheel for receipt of chips from the inventory in controlled alignment, a belt containing resilient masks and having chip receiving holes brought into registration with the passageways, and motor-driven loading pins to advance, during the loading cycle, to push the chips from the passageways into the holes, a subassembly machine to detect and correct chip misalignment in the passageways, containing a load cell in communication with the loading pins and arranged to measure the resistance to pin travel as the pins come in contact with the chips in the passageways, a computer apparatus to compare the measured real time resistance to pin travel with a set resistance value from a list of absolute values or empirical studies, and a controller apparatus, activated by the computer apparatus, to control the motor-driven loading pins and the loading wheel in a re

Abstract: In a solid article conveyor, guide grooves and pockets are formed in a manner so that one width of each guide groove and pocket is made narrower than the largest dimension of the solid article. Thus, only one solid article can be contained in each pocket.

Abstract: A new and improved conveying system for lifting and orienting bottle caps comprising a conveyer belt which is formed of articulated sections and with guide rollers to support the belt with an upper lifting section having an essentially vertical path of travel and a lower loading section with an angled path of travel. Also included are sprockets on the guide rollers to effect movement of the belt in an upward path of travel through the lower section and then the upper section. Further included is a plurality of cleats secured to the exterior surface of the conveyer belts. The cleats have supporting surfaces which extend at right angles from the exterior surface of the conveyer belt for retaining bottle caps thereon in a proper orientation when the upper surface of the bottle cap is in contact with the conveyer belt and the lower edge thereof supported on the supporting surfaces of the cleats but to effect the dropping thereof when the bottle caps are not in the proper orientation.

Abstract: A sorting conveyor for rail tie plates or the like including an inclined frame having an upper end and a lower end, and an endless conveyor belt formed of a plurality of links pivotally joined to each other. The links are designed to have plate retaining pockets formed thereon and the belt is adapted to travel a contoured path on the frame between the lower end and the upper end. The belt has an upper working strand and a lower slack strand. A hopper provides a supply of randomly oriented tie plates to the lower end of the conveyor which are agitated or tumbled by the action of the moving conveyor belt. At least one rejecter hook is provided to ensure proper positioning of the plates within the pocket. As the conveyor belt progresses towards the upper end of the frame, certain plates are oriented properly within the plate pockets and will be conveyed to the upper end of the frame through the movement of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A bottle unscrambler has a hopper which rotates while oriented at an angle to the horizontal through a random distribution of bottles at the low portion of the hopper. The bottom of the hopper is bounded by a ring which rotates counter to the direction of rotation of the hopper. The ring has a plurality of radially spaced concentric rows of bottle-receiving pockets which pass below the bottles. Each pocket in the ring removes a bottle from the randomly distributed bottles and carries the bottle up to a position where each concentric row of bottles is dropped bottom first into a plurality of radially spaced chutes, positioned below and separated from the hopper by the rotating ring, from which chutes the bottles in one row are fed to alternate compartments of a bottle stabilizing ring with the bottles from the radially adjacent compartment being dropped and inserted into the alternate spaces between the bottles on the stabilizing ring.

Abstract: A sorting conveyor for rail tie plates or the like including an inclined frame having an upper end and a lower end, and an endless conveyor belt formed of a plurality of links pivotally joined to each other. The links are designed to have plate retaining pockets formed thereon and the belt is adapted to travel a contoured path on the frame between the lower end and the upper end. The belt has an upper working strand and a lower slack strand. A hopper provides a supply of randomly oriented tie plates to the lower end of the conveyor which are agitated or tumbled by the action of the moving conveyor belt. At least one rejector hook is provided to ensure proper positioning of the plates within the pocket. As the conveyor belt progresses towards the upper end of the frame, certain plates are oriented properly within the plate pockets and will be conveyed to the upper end of the frame through the movement of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A feeder for a bottle capping machine comprising a hopper to receive and direct the caps to a conveyor which transports the caps to a chute transversely disposed to the conveyor housing wherein the conveyor housing is adjustably secured to the capping machine whereby the housing can be angularly adjusted to cause bottle caps improperly oriented to fall to the bottom of the conveyor wherein the conveyor housing has an angular wiper bar to force properly oriented caps to be discharged into the chute and then feed to the capping machine, there being provided a display window and wherein the conveyor has adjustably spaced flite bars which are adapted to transport caps of various dimensions.

Abstract: For transporting solid pharmaceutical products successively from a supply station to a processing station while they have been aligned in position, an article supply apparatus has a rotary transport drum supported for rotation in a plane inclined at an angle relative to a horizontal plane. The drum has its outer peripheral surface so tapered in one direction away from a drive shaft as to occupy a portion of the shape of a cone. The tapered outer peripheral surface of the drum is provided with a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced pockets so shaped and so sized as to accommodate the products therein. A hopper for receiving a batch of the pharmaceutical product is rigidly mounted on the drum for rotation together therewith.

Abstract: A carrier for aligning a plurality of generally cylindrical articles for presentation to a printing apparatus incorporates at least one pocket having a pair of recesses formed at an angle to one another, a first of the recesses being oriented so as to receive an article from an article rectification apparatus and a second of the recesses being oriented so as to present the article to the printing apparatus, and sloping surfaces connecting the pair of recesses so that an article received in the first recess is capable of being transported along the sloping surfaces to the second recess as the carrier proceeds to the printing apparatus.

Abstract: A capsule orientation control method and an apparatus for effecting the method are disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving and holding the capsules from a supply hopper in such a manner that the axes of the capsules are aligned with the radial direction of a rotary drum and that it can be visually and spatially identified whether the capsules are stably held in capsule accommodating pockets with the caps thereof radially outwardly orientated in an erect posture or radially inwardly orientated in an inverted posture through action of rotary brush means rotatably provided in a position adjacent to a portion of the rotary drum where the capsules are received onto the rotary drum from the supply hopper, and causing the capsules in the inverted posture to fall down within the capsule accommodating pockets in a predetermined direction so as to align positions of the caps thereof with positions of the caps of the capsules in the erect posture before removing the capsules.

Abstract: Capsule turning apparatus and method for use in a spin printing procedure in which a printing roll moves at a greater speed than the capsule, thus causing the capsule to rotate about its own axis while it is being printed. Many capsules, randomly arranged in a hopper, are picked up in a rotary conveyor which arranges them first in vertical arrangement relative to the path of movement of the conveyor, randomly with respect to whether the cap portions are at the top or bottom, and an air jet shifts all of the capsules in a sidewise direction, with the caps and body portions at random.

Abstract: In a turning and orienting apparatus of the type adapted to transport capsules in a plurality of pockets or the like, which pockets are formed in a continuously moveable transport conveyor, and wherein said apparatus is further adapted to rectify the capsules, which have body portions and cap portions of greater transverse dimensions than the body portions, and wherein a vacuum is provided to shift the capsules into the desired rectified position, a capsule positioning guide is provided to retain each capsule in its pocket immediately prior to its being subjected to the vacuum. The capsule positioning guide then releases the capsule as it is subjected to the vacuum. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the capsule positioning guide is pivotally mounted adjacent the capsule transport conveyor so that it can be easily moved out of its operative condition adjacent the transport conveyor for easy cleaning thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring, in a substantially uniform manner, a plurality of shaped objects, such as tablets, from a hopper adapted to contain a plurality of the tablets to a conveyor system for subsequent processing comprising a transfer drum in rotary arrangement relative to the hopper, adapted to receive the tablets within a plurality of peripherally spaced cavities having a substantially radially aligned pocket and a communicating, substantially longitudinally aligned pocket, a guide for re-orienting the tablets from the substantially radial orientation in which the tablets are received by the cavities, to a substantially longitudinal direction, and carriers operatively associated with the conveyor system to receive the substantially longitudinally oriented tablets in a substantially longitudinal orientation. Also the method.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for transporting and orienting materials which have dissimilar ends, like capsules, to and in a predetermined orientation and position. The apparatus includes two rotatable drums in tangential arrangement. Each drum includes a plurality of peripherally spaced pockets sized and shaped to receive and carry individual capsules. Each drum is provided with an air jet which orients certain preselected capsules from a radial to a longitudinal position with a selected end trailing, and the capsules are then delivered to a conveyor for further processing, like printing, such as spin-printing.

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.

Abstract: A conveyor feeder for positioning and loading candy eggs on a chain link conveyor. The feeder receives candy eggs from a controlled feed chute, a cone member distributes the eggs radially in a cylindrical hopper onto a counter-rotating ring. Rotating brushes assist in positioning the eggs in the circular receptacles in the ring. A conveyor chute facilitates the dropping of the eggs onto the chain link conveyor having spaced separating pins defining compartments for receiving a single candy egg. The conveyor feeder is suitable for positioning candy eggs on a chain link conveyor feeding automatic wrapping machine.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus for transporting parts having a bowl provided with an upright curved wall surrounding a rotatable floor. The curved wall is formed with a track that supports an endless belt capable of bending in an edgewise direction for movement along a helical path from an entrance point located at the level of the floor to an exit point located above the entrance point. As the belt moves along the track, it gradually inclines towards the center of the bowl with a portion of the belt being sufficiently inclined to cause parts to move into engagement with a rail located at the inboard edge of the track and formed so that parts not properly oriented will drop by gravity to the rotating floor.

Abstract: Capsule orienting and turning apparatus and method for use in a wrap-around capsule printing procedure. Many capsules, randomly arranged in a hopper, are picked up in a rotary conveyor which arranges them first in an upright arrangement relative to the path of movement of the conveyor, some capsules arranged cap-up and some body-up, and novel gaging block means cooperates with air means to tilt the body portions of the bodies-up capsules in the machine direction while retaining the caps-up capsules substantially untilted so that all the cap portions can subsequently be shifted in a sidewise direction by a subsequent sideward-directed air suction means. Those capsules which are arranged caps-up are not affected by the first means because of a novel gaging block which prevents substantial tilting movement; the cap portions of these capsules are then drawn sidewise by a sidewardly-directed vacuum.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying cops from bulk storage to a usage station through intermediate storage points which includes a first conveyor belt which is sloped substantially upwardly carrying lateral limiting dividers to define single cop compartments, a second substantially horizontal or downwardly sloped conveyor belt, carrying pivotal limiting dividers to define single cop compartments whereby the limiting dividers for forming the single cop compartments pivot downwardly; an intermediate storage point substantially parallel and above the second belt carrying lateral guides for the cops and a frontal stop at the end of the intermediate storage point. At least one compartment of the first conveyor belt substantially coincides with one compartment of the second conveyor belt at a temporary position where they are both halted at the same time. The first belt moves step by step out of phase with the second belt which moves step to step.

Abstract: In an apparatus for processing items wherein there is a rotatable sorting table for orienting items and delivering the properly oriented items to a discharge passage, and an air jet for driving the items along the discharge passage, a pressure responsive device operable by blocking of the air jet to stop rotation of the sorting table.

Abstract: A conveying system for lifting and orienting bottle caps comprises a conveyer belt of articulated sections and with guide rollers with an upper lifting section having an essentially vertical path of travel and a lower loading section with an angled path of travel. Sprockets on the guide rollers effect movement of the belt in an upward path of travel through the lower section and then the upper section. Cleats are secured to the exterior surface of the conveyer belts belt. Supporting surfaces of the cleats extend at right angles from the exterior surface of the conveyer belt for retaining bottle caps thereon when the upper top surface of the bottle cap is in contact with the conveyer belt and the lower edge thereof generally cylindrical perimeter of the bottle cap is supported in a trough of on the supporting surfaces of the cleats but to effect. The trough effects the dropping thereof when the of bottle caps that are not in the proper orientation.