Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for helical container conveyance. In one embodiment, an example container conveyance system may include a set of rails having a first rail and a second rail, the set of rails configured to guide a container from an upright position at a first point along the set of rails to an inverted position at a second point along the set of rails. The system may include a drive mechanism configured to propel the container along the set of rails, and a conveyor disposed under a portion of the set of rails corresponding to the second point.

Abstract: A system includes a flip-over mechanism. The flip-over mechanism includes a base and a guiding element. The base includes a bottom surface and a flipping surface. The guiding element includes a feeding surface. There is a feeding angle between the feeding surface and the bottom surface. The feeding surface faces the flipping surface. An opening direction of the flipping surface faces the feeding surface. There is a flip-over spacing between guiding element and the flipping surface. The flip-over mechanism is adapted to flip, by 180 degrees, a workpiece that enters from the feeding surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for guiding and pivoting bodies via sliding the bodies through the device. The device is produced using a generative manufacturing method. A system includes at least two of the devices arranged in parallel, a conveyor device, and a control device. The control device controls the conveyor device responsive to receiving a control command and feeds bodies selectively to one of the devices. A treatment line for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers includes a process path, a preform storage unit, a preform oven of a stretch blow-molding machine, and the device arranged between the preform storage unit and the preform oven. A treatment line for PET containers includes a process path, a container closure storage unit, a closing unit for closing the PET containers, and the device arranged between the container closure storage unit and the closing unit.

Abstract: An improved container transportation and filling system and method is provided. The system can deliver cartridges and other containers, such as tubes, in a horizontal orientation. The containers can have a closed bottom end and an open top end. A screw conveyor(s) is used to engage the containers and urge them forward and into rotation around the axis of the screw conveyor, from horizontal to vertical. A guide engages an end of the containers. The guide acts as a camming surface and guides the end of the container downward as it is advanced by the screw conveyor, to orient the container vertically for filling, capping and sealing. A second mirror image downstream screw conveyor and guide can reorient the container from vertical to horizontal.

Abstract: A system for overturning plate-shaped bodies, in particular slabs and sheets, having at least one overturn arm pivotally arranged about a pivot axis and can be brought into physical contact with a flat side of a plate-shaped body to be overturned, and at least one other overturn arm pivotally arranged about another pivot axis and can be brought into physical contact with another flat side of the plate-shaped body to be overturned. The two pivot axes are parallel to each other and mutually spaced. A permanent system is provided for overturning plate-shaped bodies with different dimensions, wherein noise generation associated with the overturning process is greatly reduced using the system. The system has at least one drivable eccentric arrangement with which a position of one of the pivot axes can be adjusted before and/or during an overturning process.

Abstract: An automated packaging line for C- or U-shaped profiles are related methods are disclosed. An example method includes transferring a first profile and a second profile to a first location, each of the first and second profiles having a u-shaped or c-shaped cross-section defining an external convex side and an internal concave side. The example method also includes rotating a first blade and a second blade about a horizontal central axis, where the first blade and the second blade are coupled to opposite ends of a pair of rotor arms including a first rotor arm and a second rotor arm. The first and second rotor arms rotate about axes that are parallel to and offset from each other. The example method also includes inserting the first profile into the first blade with the internal concave side of the first profile facing upwards as the first blade moves upward through its rotation.

Abstract: A method for inspecting and sorting a plurality of IC units comprising the steps of: delivering a frame containing said IC units to a unit picking station; conducting a first inspection of said units during the delivering step and recording the subsequent result; removing said units from the frame, and moving said units from the unit picking station to a flipping station; conducting a second inspection of said units during the moving step and recording the subsequent result; flipping said units to expose an opposed face said units; conducting a third inspection of said opposed face and recording the subsequent result, then; sorting said units into categories based on the recorded results from the first, second and third inspecting steps.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a cover includes an inlet transport, a turning unit for redirecting and turning the cover and an outlet transport, wherein the turning unit, the inlet transport and the outlet transport are arranged such that at least the inlet transport or the outlet transport transports the cover moving through the turning unit.

Abstract: A conveyor system for re-orienting strips of laminated corrugated board which includes: a first conveyor assembly; and a second conveyor assembly, wherein the first conveyor assembly conveys a plurality of adjacent strips having an upright orientation to the second conveyor assembly; wherein the second conveyor assembly includes a conveyor belt configured to convey the plurality of adjacent strips at a faster speed to that at which the strips are delivered to the second conveyor assembly by the first conveyor assembly; and wherein the acceleration of each strip upon contacting the second conveyor assembly causes that strip to move away from the adjacent strip and tip over from the upright orientation to a flat orientation.

Abstract: An overhead conveyor system for transporting articles, especially for transporting vehicle bodies, in a surface treatment line comprises at least one transport carriage which has a fastening device to which at least one article can be fastened. The transport carriage can be displaced along a track carrying it by at least one drive means. The fastening device is received so that it can be rotated about a vertical axis of rotation. The invention further relates to a dip coating line comprising at least one dip-coating tank which can be filled with a treatment liquid, into which tank articles to be treated can be dipped. The dip coating line comprises a conveying system which displaces the articles to be treated towards the dip-coating tank, into the interior of the dip-coating tank, out of the dip-coating tank and away therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tray handling apparatus in which the conveyance and inversion of a tray can be performed simultaneously to thereby achieve a rapid inspecting operation and a simplified apparatus configuration, and a semiconductor device inspecting method using the tray handling apparatus. The tray handling apparatus includes an inverting unit to turn the tray, in which objects are received, upside down, and a transfer device to convey the object receiving tray from one conveyor to another conveyor while being reciprocally moved above a body of the apparatus. The inverting unit is integrally provided at a lower end of the transfer device, to allow the conveyance and inversion of the tray to be performed simultaneously.

Abstract: A pan inverting system (10) comprises a rotating table (11) having a central longitudinal axis (13), the table being rotatably mounted within a static frame (15) for rotation about the longitudinal axis (13). Conveyors (21) are disposed on opposed pan-receiving surfaces (20) of the table (11). The conveyors (21) are independently operable to displace a pan (12) along the table (11) in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (13). A pan engagement device (24) within the table (11) is operable to releasably fasten the pan (12) to the pan receiving surface (20) of the table (11), such that when the pan (12) is fastened to one of the pan receiving surfaces (20) by the pan engagement mechanism (24), rotation of the table (11) about the longitudinally extending axis (13) will invert the pan (12).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming two filters in a two-up configuration. The apparatus includes a feed wheel 18, an assembly wheel 20, a take-off wheel 22, and a flipping wheel 24. According to the method of the invention, tubes 10 are loaded from the feed wheel 18 to the assembly wheel 20 where one hollow end of the tubes is filled. The half-filled tubes 10? are then transferred to take-off wheel 22 and then to a flipping wheel 24 where the tubes are flipped. The half-filled and flipped tubes 10? are returned to vacant positions on the feed wheel and transferred back to the assembly wheel so that the remaining hollow ends can be filled. The filled tube 10?? is transferred to a take-off wheel 22, where it is then removed from the take off wheel 22 using a stripper and/or additional wheels for further processing.

Abstract: A method for forming a number of side by side lying rows of objects such as for producing sandwich biscuits. Firstly the products being supplied to the even channels are turned over and, as well as the not turned over products are brought on a conveyor belt. In a second step by means of a continuous rotatable first roller positioned above the conveyor belt and being provided with pins a product can be released from each channel and the next product can be stopped for the formation of rows of turned over and not turned over products running in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the conveyor belt. Thereupon by means of rollers at least one of which is movable in axial direction, the turned over and not turned over products are moved in longitudinal and transverse direction to obtain alternate transverse rows of turned over and not turned over products.

Abstract: A conveyor for transporting bottles from a sterilization machine or rinsing machine to a filling machine, in which the container mount, which is configured to move around and/or all along at least one axis on the transport element, is moved to invert a container to allow that container to drain or empty before being filled with a liquid beverage material at a filling station in a beverage bottling plant.

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting a spheroidal container comprising a spheroidal body and a neck portion and the method for using the same, the apparatus comprising a container feeder, a channel having a longitudinal gap and arranged for receiving the spheroidal containers from the container feeder and operative to orient the spheroidal containers in an upside down orientation with the body supported by the channel and the neck portion extending below the spheroidal body and into the longitudinal gap; and a twister for receiving the spheroidal containers in the upside down orientation and inverting the spheroidal containers. An apparatus for packaging a beverage in a spheroidal container and the method for using the same, comprising the apparatus for orienting a spherical container and further comprising a filler for receiving the spheroidal containers and filling the spheroidal containers with the beverage, and a sealer for sealing the beverage in the spheroidal containers.

Abstract: A method and device to form packing units (12) consisting of at least two packs (10, 11). To this end, the successively conveyed packs (10, 11) are tilted by 90° in the region of a turning line (20) in such a way that the associated packs (10, 11) are oriented towards each other in the correct relative position for the packing unit (12). Every second pack (11) is delayed during the turning process so that it can be oriented towards the associated pack (10).

Abstract: The disclosed device includes a feed conveyor (2), on which printed products (6) are transported within certain distances from one another, a turning section (1) with a path guide arranged tangentially downstream of the feed conveyor and a delivery conveyor (4) for the turned printed products (6) that extends underneath the feed conveyor (2) in the opposite transport direction. Lateral guides (12) are assigned to the path guides (13) and can be adjusted to the format width of the printed products (6). The delivery conveyor (4) is a suction conveyor belt with at least one suction segment (19) in the region of the delivery point of the turning section (1) in order to decelerate the printed products (6) to the transport speed of the delivery conveyor (4).

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for flipping electronic components in the sense of changing their orientation, such as for changing the orientation of electronic components between ‘live bug’ and ‘dead bug’ orientations. The apparatus comprises a rotary device that is configured to receive the electronic component and a force actuator operative to bias the electronic component into engagement with the rotary device. A driving mechanism coupled to the rotary device is operative to rotate said rotary device for changing the orientation of the electronic component, after which an ejector is used to eject the electronic component from the rotary device after changing the orientation of the electronic component.

Abstract: A system for handling vehicle frames. The system includes a conveyor assembly including a loading end and an unloading end, and the conveyor assembly carries a plurality of vehicle frames thereon. The system also includes a frame transfer assembly disposed at the unloading end of the conveyor assembly. The frame transfer assembly may be adapted to grasp a vehicle frame from the conveyor assembly and transfer the vehicle frame from the conveyor assembly. A vehicle frame inversion system is also provided that includes a first robotic inversion device that may include a first clamping system, and a second robotic inversion device that may include a second clamping system. The first and second clamping systems are adapted to grasp a vehicle frame, and the first and second robotic inversion devices are adapted to lift and invert the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing and inspecting pellet-shaped articles, comprises structure for of the step of conveying the plurality of pellet-shaped articles along a transport path. Each of the pellet-shaped articles includes a first side and a second side. The conveyer has a plurality of article receiving recesses (125) configured to convey the pellet-shaped articles such that either the first side or the second side of the pellet-shaped articles is randomly exposed in the recesses. A first process (laser etching, printing and/or drilling) is performed only on the pellet-shaped articles having the first side exposed. The pellet-shaped articles are manipulated such that the exposed side of all of the pellet-shaped articles is reversed. A second process is performed only on the pellet-shaped articles with the second side exposed.

Abstract: An alternate package flip-over device includes an intermittently operable primary conveyor feeding batches of packages to a continuously operating secondary conveyor, and a flap for routing the batches to either a flip-over mechanism or to an intermediate transfer conveyor, the successive batches from the transfer conveyor and the mechanism rejoining on a merging conveyor, alternate batches having been flipped in the mechanism.

Abstract: This application relates to a self-contained apparatus for mechanically turning individual workpieces travelling on a conveyor, such as lengths of lumber travelling into or exiting from a sawmill. The invention reduces the need for lumber graders to turn lumber manually and thereby helps avoid repetitive motion injuries. The apparatus includes an adjustable height frame which is positionable alongside the conveyor. The frame supports a workpiece holder defining an open-ended slot for temporarily receiving an end portion of a workpiece. When the end of a lumber board or other workpiece is received within the holder, a proximity sensor causes the holder to rotate, thereby turning the workpiece lengthwise 180 degrees. The workpiece is then deposited on to the conveyor in its inverted orientation for further travel thereon. The apparatus may also optionally permit workpieces to pass through the holder when a “skip” rather than an “invert” signal is received.

Abstract: A turnover apparatus and method for inverting articles such as lumber or board pieces being conveyed sideways on two or more conveyor chain loops in which each article is advanced on the conveyor chain loops by speed up belts engaging the underside of the articles to force a leading side against a pair of lugs mounted on a respective conveyor chain loop, the article thereafter flipped up to an on edge position by flipper arms also mounted on the conveyor chain loops which each engage an adjustable cam ramp at a turnover station, the article thereafter tipped over backward by being driven by the speed belts against an elevated overhung trailing edge on the lugs to complete the turnover. Optional pivoted let down elements may be arranged to engage the trailing side of the articles to controllably lower the same by motion induced by a second cam ramp at the turnover station.

Abstract: The invention relates to an object turner or a turning apparatus (4) for end-turning of e.g. ice-cream cones (22) after selective deflection of the objects (22) from an object conveyor (2) on which the objects are placed lying in horizontal trays (6). The novelty of the turning apparatus (4) according to the invention is that the turning apparatus (4) has selection means, which makes the turning process selective, and means ensuring that the process operates in parallel and synchronously with the object conveyor (2). The selected objects (22) are forwarded into a turning unit (8), where the object (22) is end-turned around a horizontal axis (38), and returned onto the object conveyor (2) in the same tray (6) previously occupied by the object. Such a turning apparatus (4) makes it possible for objects (22) to be end-turned in a predetermined pattern of e.g. all objects, every second or third object.

Abstract: On a processing apparatus with step-by-step conveying of the articles to be processed and a turning module for the articles, turning is performed transversely with respect to the conveying direction. This allows much space to be saved in the turning arrangement.

Abstract: An automatic packaging apparatus has an arraying and supplying station, a sorting station and a packaging station. The arraying and supplying station forcibly arrays and supplies encased products to orient their caps in one direction. The sorting station selectively sorts the arrayed encased products to a first feed path for feeding the encased products to package the encased products in a abreast-arrayed attitude and a second feed path for feeding the encased products to package the encased products in a tandem-arrayed attitude. The packaging station automatically packages the encased products by a shrink sheet in the abreast-arrayed attitude or the tandem-arrayed attitude.

Abstract: On a processing apparatus with step-by-step conveying of the articles to be processed and a turning module for the articles, turning is performed transversely with respect to the conveying direction. This allows much space to be saved in the turning arrangement.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for simultaneously inverting a plurality of semiconductor devices includes a conveyor (12) for conveying an input tray below a frame (32) having a primer tray captured therein by tray captivators (64). The input tray is elevated by an elevator (20) and the primer tray is lowered by lowering the frame (32) until the trays are closely adjacent. After the tray captivators (64) release the primer tray, tray clamps (44) are moved inwardly to extend over the sides of the trays, and jaws (52, 56) are moved to clamp the trays together. The frame (32) is rotated to invert the clamped trays. The input tray s then captured by the tray captivators (64) as the tray lamps (44) are released and acts as the primer tray for the next operation. After release of the tray clamps (44), the ay including the devices in an inverted orientation is lowered to be conveyed by the conveyor (12).

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a cylinder housing a rotary scroll Tubular preforms are fed into the cylinder in an upright state and displaced along the cylinder by a fin of the scroll. An upstream cam engages each preform in turn and inverts it. The inverted preforms are then driven over a series of nozzles discharging ionized gas to purge the preforms of debris. The preforms are then reinverted by a downstream cam and/or discharged.

Abstract: A product inverting and diversion system for selectively inverting, diverting or skipping various types of products transported upon a high-speed conveyor system. The inventive device includes a frame, a pair of side members, a pair of first shafts and a pair of second shafts rotatably attached between the side members, a first belt and a second belt respectively positioned about the first shafts and second shafts defining a passageway between thereof, a pivot shaft attached to one of the side members, a drive shaft rotatably attached to one of the side members opposite of the pivot shaft, a drive belt connected between the drive shaft and a drive motor, and a pivot belt connected between the pivot shaft and a servo motor. A secondary belt is connected between the drive shaft and the first shafts and second shafts.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a cylinder housing a rotary scroll Tubular preforms are fed into the cylinder in an upright state and displaced along the cylinder by a fin of the scroll. A spring mounted on the fin engages each preform in turn and inverts it. The inverted preforms are then driven over a series of nozzles discharging ionised gas to purge the preforms of debris. The preforms are then discharged.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for inverting a plurality of plate-like materials to provide for the treatment of plate-like material using techniques that must be applied to the surface from a direction other than from above the material, such as from beneath the material in meniscus coating techniques. The apparatus includes a base, a back attached to the base, a top that is removably attachable to the base for retaining a cassette between the top and the base and retractable material holders attached to the base for engaging and disengaging the plate-like material. In a preferred embodiment, the retractable material holders are in the form of support blocks having notches corresponding the edges of the plate-like material that are reciprocally moved by a side actuator to enable the blocks to engage and disengage the plate-like material.

Abstract: A device for turning over work pieces includes a base, a pair of conveyor belts for transferring the work pieces in one direction, with the work pieces being kept on upper surfaces thereof. The pair of conveyor belts are mounted on the base in a parallel relationship with each other, putting a separation therebetween. The turning-over device further includes a receiving holder provided with a substantially U-shaped receiver and a connection joined thereto, having a rotation axis horizontally extending at a right angle with the transfer direction of the conveyor belts. The receiving holder is located between the pair of conveyor belts and is rotatable between a first position, wherein the work piece is inserted into the U-shaped receiver and a second position, wherein the work piece is discharged from the U-shaped receiver.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for upending and transporting bottles (2) in continuous cycle is utilized especially in continuous cycle bottling plants using plastic bottles. The apparatus (1) comprises a horizontal axis (X) tubular body (70) having a guide (7) constituted by a slot (71) in a wall thereof, which slot (71) is of a breadth such as to permit passage of a neck (20) of a bottle (2). The slot (71) has an intermediate portion (71b) winding helically about the tubular body (70) by an angle equal to half a revolution. A bottle feed line (3) feeds the bottles (2) one at a time to the apparatus (1). Internally of the tubular body (70) a drive screw is rotatable about its axis (X) to engage the bottles (2) by the necks (20) thereof, urging them along the guide (7).

Abstract: An envelope inverter comprises a conveyor (14) arranged below a surface (2) onto which envelopes (6) are delivered through a slot (4). The surface (2) is arranged such that each envelope (6) is unstable thereon, and tends to rotate about the edge (12) of the surface, striking the conveyor (14), which moves in a direction tending to continue the rotating movement until the envelope (6) comes to rest inverted on the conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting an O ring which detects surface flaws of O rings by successively sending O rings by a conveyor, projecting light and inputting pictures of O rings, and processing the pictures. The apparatus is provided with a vibrating screening machine for separating products and flashes removed from the products and feeding the products of O rings to the conveyor.

Abstract: A rotary board inverter is provided for use in a conveyor for a lumber processing machine, with the motive force to invert the boards being provided by the forward motion of the boards themselves as they are transported along the conveyor. The device comprises a rotatable hub with regularly spaced, co-planar arms radiating outwardly from the hub. Each of the arms incorporates a board retainer adapted to sequentially receive boards from the board transporter of the conveyor; to releasably retain a board as the arm rotates about the hub; and to redeposit the now-inverted board on the conveyor downstream of the inverter. Rotation of the device is driven by the forward movement of the boards as they sequentially engage the inverter. The inverter is particularly adapted for use in a conveyor having an array of evenly spaced, longitudinally-displaceable lugs extending upwardly from the conveyor to transport the boards along the conveyor.

Abstract: An inverting apparatus for inverting a product package being moved by a conveyor belt comprises an auxiliary conveyor having a pick-up end to receive the package from the conveyor surface and a discharge end located vertically above the pick-up end and the conveyor belt to discharge the package back onto the conveyor surface. The auxiliary conveyor moves the package along an inclined path from the pick-up end to the discharge end, and a fulcrum element at the discharge end horizontally spaced from the discharge end catches a forward end of the package and supports the package off center such that the package temporarily rocks on the fulcrum element and falls with a package trailing end falling forward of the package forward end to thereby invert the package as it is discharged back onto said conveyor belt.

Abstract: An apparatus for inverting articles that includes a receiving chute which is mounted for movement between a generally horizontal receiving position and an inclined discharge position. A curved inverting chute has an inlet end disposed to receive articles from the receiving chute when the receiving chute is in the discharge position and has an outlet end from which the inverted articles are discharged to a discharge site. A releasable stop member is associated with the receiving chute and prevents the articles from sliding from the receiving chute as the chute is tilted to the downward inclined discharge position. The stop member is automatically released as the receiving chute approaches its discharge position, so that the articles can then slide from the receiving chute to the inlet end of the inverting chute.

Abstract: According to the invention, bodies are oriented head-to-foot by propelling the bodies and deflecting them onto adjacent guide members so that the bodies on one guide member are inverted with respect to the bodies on the adjacent guide members. The bodies are then guided to a packing station where the bodies are packed head-to-foot so as to maximize the use of space in the package. The apparatus of the invention includes a feed device which holds the bodies vertically with the same orientation. A throwing device propels two adjacent bodies upward, which are deflected by a deflecting device so that one of the bodies lands on a ramp and is oriented in one direction, and the other body lands on a second ramp and is oriented the opposite way. The bodies are then fed to a packing apparatus which packs the bodies head-to-foot.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for washing of eggs in order to remove adhering dirt in which egg transport means and egg guiding means are present. The egg transport means and egg guiding means cooperate and form egg rotation means which cause an egg to rotate substantially around its shortest main axis; dirt removal is achieved with use of one or more brushes and a washing liquid. The egg's longest main axis thereby remains substantially in a plane parallel to the direction of transport of the eggs, said plane being perpendicular to the plane going through the centerlines of the egg guiding means.

Abstract: A unit for testing a can includes a first unit for testing a first end of a can, and an optional and substantially identical second unit for testing the second end of the same can. The first unit is connected to the second unit by a twister which rotates the can. The conveying apparatus for each unit includes an inside chain and an outside chain moving in opposite directions to make the rotate as it moves past the sensors. A can is rejected if the sensors so indicate.

Abstract: Plates destined to receive frozen dinners on them are washed automatically by apparatus which receives a train of horizontal plates, tilts the plates progressively upwardly to a more upright position as they move along a conveyor, applies sprays of cleaning and rinsing materials to them and dries them with warm air while they are moving along in that more upright position, and then progressively tilts the plates back to their horizontal positions as they continue to move along the conveyor. The tilting of the plates is accomplished by means of a twisted track serving as a guide along which the plates slide in response to moving belts frictionally engaging both sides of each plate as the plate executes its upwardly and downwardly tilting motions.

Abstract: In a double wire belt conveyor for conveying newspapers along a line of travel, a series of grooved, wire belt-carrying pulley rolls is provided, spaced along the line of travel and rotatably mounted on axes in planes substantially perpendicular to the line of travel, successive of the rolls being skewed angularly, in the same direction, from the previous roll. Preferably, the skew is about 18 degrees, the number of skewed rolls is 10, the axis of the last of the rolls being substantially 180.degree. skewed from, hence parallel with, the axis of the first, and the entire series extends no more than 10 linear feet along the line of travel.

Abstract: The inverter section of the present peanut digger-shaker-inverter may be used under all types of field conditions and comprises two downwardly and inwardly inclined drums, each drum being associated with a set of inverting tines. Each drum includes a plurality of equally spaced discs each holding a plurality of curved finger rods with adjacent pairs of the inverting tines having portions straddling a disc and curving similarly thereto beneath the outer extremities of the curved finger rods so that peanut plants are subject to a positive force in moving along and through the set of inverting tines with the plants being bumped and agitated by the gentle prodding of the ends of the rods and thereby affording an additional cleaning or reshaking action which lets the loosened soil fall freely through the drums and not on the inverted peanut vines which have been deposited on the ground and also assuring proper drying conditions and minimum field losses of the peanuts.

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting halved fruit with the cut sides thereof facing upwardly includes a longitudinally extending vibrating table which is inclined slightly downwardly from the receiving end to the discharge end. The table is provided with longitudinally extending opposed side walls, with a bottom extending therebetween to define a channel along which the fruit translates. In the first, receiving section of the apparatus, the bottom is inclined laterally as well as longitudinally. In the second section, contiguous with the first, a trough narrower than the width of the fruit is disposed generally adjacent to the lower edge of the laterally inclined bottom. The vertical side walls of the trough diverge slightly to increase the width of the trough. In the third section of the apparatus, the bottom is inclined more steeply longitudinally, and the medial side wall of the trough flares outwardly to join one of the side walls of the table.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for washing and drying reusable containers are disclosed. In the apparatus and method, the containers to be cleaned, after successively passing through washing and rinsing stations, are, thereafter, flipped by 180.degree. before passing through a drying station. This flipping action, which abruptly turns the containers end over end, causes a significant amount of excess fluid to be shaken from the containers. As a result, drying of the containers when passing through the drying station is greatly facilitated.In a further aspect of the apparatus and method of the invention, the containers after flipping are initially moved at a faster speed than a first speed associated with their passage through the washing and rinsing stations and, thereafter, moved through the drying station at a speed between the aforesaid two speeds.

Abstract: As a plurality of rows of baked cookie halves, each having a flat side and a rounded side, leave the oven-cooler on a transfer conveyor belt they are allowed to fall off the end of the belt onto a lower conveyor belt. Every other row is allowed to free-fall with the result that they flip 180.degree. in mid air while the remaining rows are guided by a slide which is moved into position so that alternate rows of cookie halves on the lower conveyor belt are disposed with the flat side up and the flat side down, respectively. A filling is automatically deposited on the cookie halves having the flat side up and a vacuum pick-up device raises each row of cookie halves having the flat side down and deposits them on the filled cookie halves as they pass underneath.

Abstract: Apparatus for inverting an article being transported by a conveyor includes means extending into the travel path of the article to restrict the forward motion of the leading portion of the article relative to the forward motion of the trailing portion of the article, thus causing the leading portion to rise relative to the trailing portion until the article is partially inverted to an overcenter position, and means to permit the overcenter leading portion to descend, preferably maintaining engagement with the article as the leading portion descends, thereby to controllably deposit the article on the conveyor in a fully inverted position.