Abstract: A row former of a conveying system is provided with a plurality of protrusions projecting from a side of a row forming arm that engage with portions of objects arranged in a row and pushed before the arm across a row forming table surface and prevent relative movement of the objects in the row.

Abstract: A conveyor system comprises a novel row former, a novel array rake and a novel sweep mechanism that are all designed to prevent relative movement between objects arranged in rows and then formed in two dimensional arrays of the objects as the objects are moved through the conveyor system, where the objects have triangular shaped cross sections.

Abstract: For transporting bottles with a carrying ring in the neck region, particularly PET bottles, along a specified path of motion through processing stations (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), of a processing installation particularly a bottle-filling installation, in each case a number of bottles (8), grouped in a row (9) transversely to the direction of transport (20), is transported by a carrier (13) and positioned relative to the latter. The carriers (13) can be moved by conveying chains (11) or similar driving means at uniform intervals consecutively from a bottle feeding station (1) past at least one processing station, especially a filling station, to a bottle delivery station (7) and, from there, empty back to the bottle feeding station. As carrier for a row (9) of bottles (8), a cellular board-like flat carrying strip (13) is provided.

Abstract: A sterilization tunnel for pharmaceutical containers such as vials has an inlet zone, a sterilization zone, and a cooling zone. A conveyor belt for the vials is disposed inside the sterilization tunnel. An emptying device that can be raised and lowered is disposed in the vicinity of the cooling zone. In order to empty the sterilization tunnel, the frame-shaped emptying device is lowered onto the conveyor belt and then pushes an emptying slider, which is being moved through the sterilization tunnel together with the last vials disposed on the conveyor belt, out from the sterilization tunnel. The emptying device permits a particularly simple operation of the sterilization tunnel.

Abstract: A pocket belt is continuously advanced by a drive at a variable pocket-belt speed, and a package supply feeds packages at a variable spacing one after another to a transfer station offset from the pocket belt. A feeding system has an intermediate belt extending through the transfer station from the supply to the pocket belt, and a drive for advancing the intermediate belt at an intermediate-belt speed and thereby moving the packages on the intermediate belt at the intermediate-belt speed from the supply to the pocket belt. A controller connected to the drives maintains the intermediate speed at a predetermined ratio to the pocket-belt speed as determined by the spacing between succeeding packages as they arrive at the transfer station from the supply.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic device for discharging, from a vibrating table to an on-line conveyor, continuously arriving flat-bottomed objects, which device operates in cycles and each of the cycles of which includes the following stages: said objects are accommodated in a ditch contiguous with the forward edge of said vibrating table (1) so as to form a row; said row of objects is pushed by a pusher (11), the initial speed of which is zero, towards a smooth surface (12) extending in a transverse direction in relation to the vibrating table (1) in the continuation of the ditch (4); said objects arrive on a conveyor belt (13) located in the continuation of the smooth surface (12); and, while the pusher (11) discharges said row and then returns to its initial position, a fresh row of objects gradually forms in the ditch (4).

Abstract: A conveyor system for transporting cigarettes between a making machine and a packing machine includes a mass flow conveyor (204) for transporting cigarettes directly and a reservoir system (212) in which successive batches of cigarettes comprising portions of the stream on an input conveyor (204) are diverted when required into compartmented containers (224). Transfer to the containers is made by way of a plunger (232) and shuttle (234) arrangement which allows the stream to move continuously during transfer of a batch. Unloading containers to reform a continuous stream may involve use of a similar plunger and shuttle arrangement so that the reformed stream can move continuously on an output conveyor (218). The input and output conveyors (204, 218) may be provided with retractable spaced partitions to bound the ends of batches of cigarettes transferred from or to the respective conveyor.

Abstract: A transporting apparatus includes a conveyor for advancing items and a transfer apparatus for lifting the items off the conveyor and for depositing the items at a location externally of the conveyor. The transfer apparatus has hoisting devices spaced from one another in the conveying direction. Each hoisting device has first and second lifters spaced from one another in a direction transverse to the conveying direction and being situated bilaterally of the conveyor. A first drive moves the first and second lifters into raised and lowered positions; and a second drive moves the first and second lifters toward and away from one another to cause them to assume a normal position and a spread-out position. First and second tray parts of a tray forming part of each hoisting device are mounted on the first and second lifter, respectively. In the raised and lowered positions the trays are clear of a travel path of the items on the conveyor.

Abstract: System for grouping and transferring articles from an upstream station to a downstream station. Articles are pushed onto a transfer station table and transferred as a row of articles to a downstream conveyor extending at right angles to the direction of the upstream conveyor. The transfer cycle is initiated by an article deflecting a whip switch, which actuates a pilot actuator. The pilot actuator sends air to a lifting ram, thus causing a rocker arm with a tooth to disengage from a timing wheel; the disengaged rocker arm opens an air valve, pressurizing a master cylinder. The master cylinder forces a ratchet arm to rotate a shaft having push-rod assemblies mounted on it. As the shaft rotates, push-rods jut up through slots in the transfer station table and push the row of articles onto a staging area, as new articles continue to move onto the transfer station. Flow of air to the lifting ram is interrupted as the article loses contact with the ship switch.

Abstract: A lehr loader (20) for transferring a line of freshly formed glass containers (C) on a cross-conveyor (XC) transversely of the cross-conveyor into an annealing lehr (L). The lehr loader has a superimposed stack of three carriages (48, 76, 94), the lowermost carriage (48) being supported on a frame (22) and being movable longitudinally in a horizontal plane with respect to the frame toward and away from the lehr. The intermediate carriage (76) is supported on the lowermost carriage (48) and is movable longitudinally with the lowermost carriage and is movable laterally in a horizontal plane with respect to the lowermost carriage. The uppermost carriage (94) is supported on the intermediate carriage (76) and is movable horizontally with the intermediate carriage and vertically with respect to the intermediate carriage. An enclosed linear actuator (50) in the form of an enclosed ball screw mechanism with a housing (56) is attached to the frame, and a reversible, co-axial a.c.

Abstract: A lehr loader (20) for transferring a line of freshly formed glass containers (C) on a cross-conveyor (XC) transversely of the cross-conveyor into an annealing lehr (L). The lehr loader has a superimposed stack of three carriages (48, 76, 94), the lowermost carriage (48) being supported on a frame (22) and being movable longitudinally in a horizontal plane with respect to the frame toward and away from the lehr. The intermediate carriage (76) is supported on the lowermost carriage (48) and is movable longitudinally with the lowermost carriage and is movable laterally in a horizontal plane with respect to the lowermost carriage. The uppermost carriage (94) is supported on the intermediate carriage (76) and is movable horizontally with the intermediate carriage and vertically with respect to the intermediate carriage. The uppermost carriage carries a pusher bar (120) for transferring glass containers (C) from the cross-conveyor (XC) into the lehr (L) upon motion of the lowermost carriage (48) toward the lehr.

Abstract: An apparatus for intermittently feeding glass containers continuously approaching in a first plane in a first direction into an annealing lehr in a second direction in the first plane by a feed bar mounted for reciprocal movement in the second direction on a carriage suspended by support struts slidably connected to parallel guide rails disposed in a plane substantially normal to the first plane.

Abstract: In an individual section (IS) glassware forming system that includes a lehr loader having a loader bar and electric actuators for controlling motion at the loader bar along forward, sideshift and lift axes independently of each other to load glassware from a cross conveyor across a transfer plate onto a lehr conveyor, apparatus for controlling motion at the loader bar includes an operator station for entry of a plurality of control parameters that relate to physical characteristics of the glassware, cross conveyor, transfer plate, lehr and loader bar. The operator station includes prestored programming for automatically translating the control parameters entered by the operator into motion profiles for each of the three axes, with each of the profiles comprising a data set of motion data versus time data. An electronic controller is coupled to the electric actuators for controlling motions at the loader bar along the three axes as a function of associated sets of motion data versus time data.

Abstract: A lehr loader (20) for transferring a line of freshly formed glass containers (C) on a cross-conveyor (XC) transversely of the cross-conveyor into an annealing lehr (L). The lehr loader has a superimposed stack of three carriages (48, 76, 94), an enclosed linear actuator (50) in the form of an enclosed ball screw mechanism with a housing (56) is attached to the frame, and a reversible, co-axial a.c. servo motor (52) is provided to cause reciprocation of the lowermost carriage. An enclosed linear actuator (78) in the form of an enclosed ball screw mechanism with a housing (82) attached to the lowermost carriage (76) and a co-axial reversible, a.c. servo motor (80) is provided to cause reciprocation of the intermediate carriage. An enclosed linear actuator (96) in the form of an enclosed ball screw mechanism with a housing (102) attached to the intermediate carriage (76) and a reversible, a.c. servo motor (98) is provided to cause reciprocation of the uppermost carriage (94).

Abstract: Packages arriving continuously one after the other at an input station are loaded into boxes by continuously displacing an endless pocket belt through the input station and loading the packages at the input station into respective pockets of the belt. At a transfer station offset along the belt from the input station groups of the packages in the pockets are displaced transversely of the belt out of the respective pockets while the packages are still being displaced parallel to and synchronously with the belt at least until the packages being displaced transversely are clear of the pocket belt. These groups of packages displaced out of the respective pockets of the belts are then loaded into respective boxes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for increasing the speed of removal of eggs from an egg-tray conveyor and unloading of the eggs onto a roller conveyor. The invention includes two or more loader head pairs, which can operate either alternatively or in tandem between the egg-tray conveyor and the roller conveyor. The loader head pairs can also be indexed. The invention allows for an increase in speed of an egg-grading machine without an increase in risk that the eggs to be graded will be damaged during removal and unloading.

Abstract: A continuous motion stacking apparatus (10) is disclosed including a positive drive device (14) which places abutting products on a conveyor (12). When the leading series of products is detected to have reached a predetermined position by a sensor (94), the series of products are pushed from the conveyor (12) by a pusher plate (32) which has a first movement component equal to the conveying speed parallel to the conveyor (12) and a second movement component perpendicular to the conveyor (12). The series of products are pushed onto a shelf (30) simultaneously moving perpendicular to the conveyor (12) with the pusher plate (32). When the shelf (30) retracts, the products fall onto a vertically, movable platform (24) or products supported thereon. A guide (34) moves forward at the conveying speed parallel to the conveyor (12) to keep the remaining products on the conveyor (12) and to keep the last product of the series being pushed from the conveyor (12) parallel to the conveyor (12).

Abstract: A cigarette packing machine comprises a series of individual cigarette hoppers (18) carried by an endless band (16), the hoppers receiving cigarettes from an input conveyor (15) in a receiving region and supplying groups of cigarettes to a pocketed bundle conveyor (22) in a delivery region. Each hopper (18) may be vertically movable, with its position controlled so that it occupies an upper position in the receiving region and a lower position in the delivery region. The hoppers may be vibrated during movement by the endless band, so as to promote downward movement of the cigarettes. Preferably each hopper has an associated transfer plunger (46) which is extended to deliver cigarettes in the delivery region, the hopper being lifted when the plunger is in its extended position and lowered when the plunger is in its retracted position.

Abstract: A transfer device for products, in particular aluminum cans, conveyed by a first transport system, which are transferred from the first transport system in groups in the form of a row aligned in the first transporting direction to a second transport system, wherein the placement of the products on the second transport system takes place in such a way that the row extends transversely in respect to its transporting direction. The transfer device includes a pickup mechanism holding the respective group of products during the transfer movement, the pickup mechanism being guided along a movement track by at least one drive linkage, wherein the drive linkage has a first arm which is pivotably connected at one end to a first shaft on the pickup mechanism and by its other end is pivotably connected to a second shaft on a rotating drive crank, and with a second arm, which is pivotably connected to a third shaft on the first arm and is pivotably connected to a fourth shaft, which is a fixed shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for serially transferring objects between a supply conveyor and a receiving conveyor, in which the speed of the supply conveyor is not smaller than the speed of the receiving conveyor. The apparatus includes a feed cam which is inserted into the stream of supplied objects, an object being overtaken by pushing from behind in order to transfer it to the receiving conveyor means, whereby the feed cam must return for the transfer of each object outside of the serial stream of objects to its insertion location. The apparatus according to the invention comprises a four bar linkage with a drive crank (a), a coupling (b), a driven crank (c), and a stationary link (d) in which the feed cam is connected to the coupling (c) at a coupling point (C). The four bar linkage is designed such that it is an mechanism which additionally obeys certain conditions.

Abstract: An ice cream sandwich collating apparatus comprising a substantially horizontal accumulator platform; conveying means for conveying the ice cream sandwiches along a first substantially horizontal axis onto the accumulator platform; detecting means for detecting when a predetermined number of the conveyed ice cream sandwiches have accumulated on the accumulator platform; an elevator assembly disposed adjacent the accumulator platform, the elevator assembly having a substantially horizontal elevator platform that is movable along a substantially vertical axis; mounting means disposed above the accumulator platform, the mounting means being movable along a second substantially horizontal axis between a beginning position and an ending position, the second horizontal axis being substantially transverse to the first horizontal axis; pushing means mounted to the mounting means so as to be freely pivotally movable between a vertical position and a horizontal position, the pushing means assuming the vertical position

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring articles such as glass containers from a first conveyor, on which the containers are travelling generally horizontally in line one after another, on to a second conveyor extending generally at right angles to the first conveyor from one side of the first conveyor. The apparatus is operable in cycles to transfer on each cycle a group of articles from the first to the second conveyor with the articles in the group extending in a row transversely of the second conveyor. The apparatus includes a support, a first carriage on the support movable generally parallel to the second conveyor, a second carriage on the first carriage movable with respect to the first carriage generally parallel to the first conveyor, and a third carriage on the second carriage movable vertically with respect to the first and second carriages. The third carriage carries a pusher bar.

Abstract: A loader for an automatic packaging machine received an inflow of product subject to a randomly variable product delivery. The loader delivers an outflow of product at a defined rate and in a predetermined pattern despite the variations of the inflow. A buffer storage device stores an adjustable amount of product between the inflow and the defined outflow in order to compensate for the random variables. The buffer storage device is a link chain trained over three principal sprocket wheels arranged in a triangular pattern with the wheel at an apex of the triangle being in a fixed position. The portion of the link chain which forms the base of the triangle provides the buffer storage. The product output is taken from approximately a midpoint on the base of the triangle.

Abstract: A system for handling cylindrical cans or the like and conveying them from filler and closure equipment to and into hydrostatic sterilizer carriers. After the cans have been filled and closed, they are conveyed upright to a receiving area. A screw assembly is periodically actuated, taking cans from the receiving area, grasping their cylindrical sidewalls and laying them down and forward into a metered can stick. This can stick is rolled laterally by a clamp-kicker assembly into the hydrostatic sterilizer carriers as they are conveyed past it. The screw assembly includes a pair of horizontally disposed screws, both rotatable downwardly and inwardly and with the axis of one spaced above that of the other. With one complete rotation of the screws a can held therebetween on its cylindrical sidewalls is positively laid forward onto its side. With an adequate supply of cans in the receiving area, the controlled rotation of the screws determines how many cans are laid forward to thereby form the can stick.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a tyne layer in an automatic brick stacking system having a conveyor for moving courses of brick from a kiln car to a stacking and straping station is disclosed. The apparatus includes a set-down transfer head for removing a course of brick from the conveyor. A separation conveyor receives brick from the set-down transfer head. The separation conveyor has a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart conveying means for moving the bricks in a longitudinal direction. A stop means engages and stops the movement of bricks therepast. A lift means is disposed between the conveying means and between one end of the separation conveyor and the stop means for lifting and redepositing a portion of the bricks upstream of the stop means. The conveying means, stop means, and first lift means are sequentially operated in a cooperative relationship to space the rows of brick apart in the longitudinal direction of conveyance and at predetermined intervals to form the tyne layer.

Abstract: A brick dehacking apparatus is disclosed. The dehacker is operable to vary the number of rows of brick and number of brick in a row of brick courses removed from a kiln car and selectively combine and alternate courses of brick removed from at least two kiln cars in preparation for stacking and straping.

Abstract: A pusher mechanism of an IS transfers a plurality of glass bottles onto a conveyor belt by rotating the bottles through an arc to align the bottles with the conveyor belt while simultaneously linearly moving the bottles at a converging acute angle toward the conveyor belt. The combined rotational and linear movements effectively lengthen the radius of curvature of the path of the bottles and increases the speed of the bottles onto the conveyor belt. The centrifugal force applied to the bottles is limited or reduced to allow the bottles to be more quickly moved onto the conveyor belt without introducing instabilities in the bottles. Other horizontal and vertical movements may be applied. A nozzle may be positioned to deliver a flow of air against the bottles to counteract instabilities. A take-out mechanism used with the pusher mechanism rotates the bottles at an acute angle to the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A method and device for aligning flat products whereby the products, substantially aligned in transverse rows on a first conveyor, are fed on the first conveyor through a pickup station where the products in at least a portion of each row are picked up by a suction head traveling, parallel to itself at all times, along a circular path extending partially over the first conveyor; the aspirated products being transferred by the suction head along a portion of its path extending over an arc of 90.degree. and between the pickup station and an unloading station where the aspirated products are unloaded on to a second conveyor perpendicular to the first conveyor.

Abstract: Machine with handling assemblies to package layers of bars, which cooperates with a feeder conveyor (11) and with a collection and discharge device (35), the feeder conveyor (11) comprising a first coordinated plurality or stationary abutments (14a) to position a layer to be engaged containing "N" or "N-1" bars (13) alternately and a second coordinated plurality of movable abutments (14b) to position momentarily a waiting layer containing "N-1" or "N" bars (13), the machine including a drive shaft (17) located below the plane of, and at a terminal position of, the feeder conveyor (11) and at a right angle to the direction of feed of the feeder conveyor (11), the drive shaft (17) setting in rotation a plurality of non-inverting rotary arms (21), each of which rotary arms (21) bears a non-inverting handling assembly (18) always kept substantially horizontal, the drive shaft (17) setting directly in rotation a substantially coaxial plurality of rotary spindles (16) parallel to the drive shaft (17), each of the s

Abstract: A device for the translation or discharge of articles from a transport conveyor to a discharge conveyor includes a push-off ledge that is moveable into the transport conveyor path. The elongated push-off ledge is pivoted at each of its ends to an endless pull member that is guidely driven around a start-deflection roller, an out-deflection roller and a displaceably-tensioned guide roller that are rotatable about vertical roller shafts. Each of the pair of pull members are synchronously driven so that the push-off ledge remains substantially parallel to the conveyor's article transport direction while the ledge is advanced, for displacing an article from the transport to the discharge conveyor, at an oblique angle to the article transport direction. The push-off ledge is retracted substantially perpendicular to the transport direction, thereby avoiding interference with following articles being carried on the transport conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for buffering or temporarily storing articles is disclosed. The apparatus includes a feed for the articles with at least one endless flexible member moving past the feed. Doglike elements which engage the articles and between which the articles are transported are movable together with the flexible member. One or more guide members for guiding the flexible member during changes of direction are provided with a discharge for discharging an article from between two doglike elements. A mechanism for diminishing the impact to the articles is provided wherein the guide members are movable relative to the feed and/or discharge.

Abstract: There is shown an endless conveyor having a loading station and an unloading station. Articles, such as pouches are loaded individually onto platters on an endless chain by a walking beam type device. Each platter on the chain co-operates with the next adjacent platter to form article receiving pockets and each platter has a plurality of slots aligned with the plurality of slots in the next adjacent platter. Articles are driven up an inclined ramp by a delivery conveyor to a loading platform. From the loading platform the articles are loaded onto the endless chain conveyor by the loading walking beam device. Articles are discharged from the endless chain conveyor at an unloading station where a series of platters pass through a vertical run of the chain onto upstanding rods which are inserted into the rear of the slots and then, whilst the conveyor is stationary, move horizontally to discharge the articles onto a platform.

Abstract: A forming, filling, and sealing machine, whereon a carton transfer mechanism includes an indexing turret having a plurality of dual mandrels formed thereon, and two bottom-closed pivotally mounted carriers for alternately moving two cartons at a time from two respective indexed dual mandrels to a conveyor. The conveyor is adapted to receive two sets of two cartons each before indexing four cartons at a time to a filling station.

Abstract: A pair of closed loop chains running in parallelism have uniformly spaced apart paddles on them for transporting an article such as a pad between each paddle to a pad ejection station. A shaft orbits about an axis which is parallel to the direction in which the paddle conveyor is moving. The shaft carries a plurality of ejector rods which are mounted on a sleeve that is slidable reversibly axially on the orbiting shaft. After the orbiting rods collectively eject a series of pads from the paddles, the shaft continues its orbital movement until it reaches the back side of the pads again. While the rods are passing through the paddles to eject the number of pads composing a stack, the sleeve on the orbiting shaft is translated axially in the same direction and at the same speed as the paddle conveyor is moving. The sleeve is shifted by having a cam follower thereon come into contact with a stationary cam when the rods begin their passage through the spaces between the paddles.

Abstract: A pusher apparatus, particularly for the handling of glassware articles from a cross conveyor in which continuous lines of articles are formed, to a perpendicular linear conveyor of a lehr in a common plane, in a transference cycle comprised of pushing and return strokes, is provided with an adjusting mechanism that can be operated while the apparatus is in operation, to impart a plurality of velocity profiles to said pushing and return strokes.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring articles such as glass containers from a first conveyor, on which the containers are traveling generally horizontally in line one after another, on to a second conveyor extending generally at right angles to the first conveyor from one side of the first conveyor. The apparatus is operable in cycles to transfer on each cycle a group of articles from the first to the second conveyor with the articles in the group extending in a row transversely of the second conveyor. The apparatus includes a support, a first carriage on the support movable generally parallel to the second conveyor, a second carriage on the first carriage movable with respect to the first carriage generally parallel to the first conveyor, and a third carriage on the second carriage movable vertically with respect to the first and second carriages. The third carriage carries a pusher bar.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring articles such as glass containers from a first conveyor, on which the containers are travelling generally horizontally in line one after another, on to a second conveyor extending generally at right angles to the first conveyor from one side of the first conveyor. The apparatus is operable in cycles to transfer on each cycle a group of articles from the first to the second conveyor with the articles in the group extending in a row transversely of the second conveyor. The apparatus includes a support, a first carriage on the support movable generally parallel to the second conveyor, a second carriage on the first carriage movable with respect to the first carriage generally parallel to the first conveyor, and a third carriage on the second carriage movable vertically with respect to the first and second carriages. The third carriage carries a pusher bar.

Abstract: Apparatus for collating ice cream sandwiches for packaging, includes a substantially flat dead plate; a conveyor which conveys the sandwiches in a first direction onto the dead plate; an optical detector which detects when a predetermined number of the sandwiches have been conveyed to a first position on the dead plate; a rodless air cylinder mounted above the dead plate and including a sliding plate for movement therealong and opposite air ports for controlling movement of the sliding plate by pressurized air supplied thereto; a mounting bracket fixed to the underside of the sliding plate and extending therefrom in a cantilevered manner; a pusher plate pivotally mounted by a pivot rod to the underside of the mounting bracket and retrained from moving past a limit position in a first direction by a stop pin secured to the mounting bracket, such that upon detection of a predetermined number of ice cream sandwiches on the dead plate by the detector, the sliding plate is caused to move from a start position to a

Abstract: A machine having multiple stationary weighing and filling platforms serviced by parallel straight line in-feed and discharge container or material conveyors. Positive grippers transfer the containers or other material to be weighed transversely to stationary weighing and filling platform and the same or similar grippers transfer the containers from the platform to a parallel discharge track. This eliminates centrifugal forces, increased throughput reduces floor space and permits greater sensitivity in weighing since there is no inherent motion or vibration at the weighing station.

Abstract: A line for the positive conveyance of packaged articles (for example food products) extends in correspondence with a removal station at which groups of a predetermined number of the articles must be brought to a substantially stationary condition for a predetermined time interval. The duration of this interval is such as to enable the operation of a removal unit, such as a manipulator, a robot, etc. The conveyor line operated intermittently with a condition in which it is substantially stationary during the removal period and a condition of movement in which the line advances by a number of positions equal to the number of articles in each group. The articles, which are supplied in a substantially but not necessarily continuous flow, are accumulated, using a spacer conveyor upstream of the batching conveyor which supplies the conveyor line. The conveyors in question also move intermittently in synchronism with the movement of the conveyor line.

Abstract: Apparatus for collating ice cream sandwiches for packaging, includes a flat dead plate; an endless belt conveyor for conveying the articles in a first direction onto the dead plate; a stop and guide for limiting movement of the ice cream sandwiches on the dead plate to a first position; an optical detector which detects when a predetermined number of the ice cream sandwiches have been conveyed to the first position on the dead plate against the stop; an air cylinder mounted above the dead plate; a sliding plate movable along the air cylinder; a pivot bracket secured to the sliding plate; an L-shaped pusher member pivotally mounted on the bracket for pushing the ice cream sandwiches from the first position to a second position in a second direction substantially transverse to the first direction so as to collate the ice cream sandwiches; a cam track fixed to the frame; a roller mounted on the pivot rod of the pusher member and which rides along the cam track from the first position to the second position so as

Abstract: A vertically extending stripper bar is manipulated to strip a stack of articles from a conveyor while the conveyor is carrying the articles downwardly at high speed. A carriage is mounted for being vertically movable. A pneumatic cylinder is coupled to the carriage. The stripper bar is supported on horizontal guide rods which slide in the vertically movable carriage. A pneumatic cylinder moves the stripper bar horizontally in and out relative to the conveyor. When the correct number of articles has accumulated next to the bar, a stripping cycle is initiated. This involves activating one pneumatic cylinder which pushes the stripper bar horizontally across the path of the downwardly moving articles. A gear rack is mounted to the vertically movable carriage and it is engaged by a gear which begins to drive the carriage and stripper bar downwardly at the same speed that the articles are moving downwardly at the instant the stripper bar begins to move horizontally.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is apparatus for delivering separator sticks to a stacking station, which apparatus comprises a frame, a stick conveyor supported on the frame for movement between a stick supply station and a stick transfer station and including structure for transporting sticks from the supply station and for delivering to the transfer station a predetermined plurality of the sticks in predetermined spaced and parallel relation to one another, a carriage supported on the frame for movement relative to the frame between a pick-up position adjacent the transfer station and a delivery position adjacent the stacking station, a sub-frame supported by the carriage for movement in common therewith and for movement relative to the carriage between a lower position and a raised position, and a plurality of fingers carried by the sub-frame for engaging the predetermined plurality of sticks located on the conveyor at the transfer station when the carriage is in the pick-up position and when the sub-frame is in the low

Abstract: A transfer apparatus for transferring objects to be processed, susceptible to damage, such as eggs and which includes a delivery conveyor for supplying rows of the objects successively. Adjacent to the delivery end of the delivery conveyor extend a secondary conveyor having a number of supporting stands which are fed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the delivery conveyor. A transfer device is interposed between the delivery end of the delivery conveyor and the secondary conveyor. The transfer device has a number of object receiving stands. A row of objects delivered from the delivery conveyor is placed on the receiving stands which are temporarily stopped. Thereafter, the receiving stands with the objects thereon are accelerated so as to move in parallel with the supporting stands until they reach the same speed as the supporting stands.

Abstract: A yoke-type stripper for an article stacker in which a series of paddles extending horizontally from vertically moving conveyor chains each carries an article that becomes a member of the stack. The stripper has rear and front rows of laterally spaced apart vertical bars. Carrier bars extending horizontally from vertical bars in the rear row constitute the bottom of the yoke. The paddles have fingers which support the articles and which pass downwardly between the bars to let the bottom article in the stack rest on the top edges of the carrier bars. A shuttle table is located adjacent the yoke and the table has slots into which the yoke bars can shift. The carrier bars are at a higher level than the table top when the stack is accumulating. Fluid work cylinders shift the yoke and the stack therein to the table slots while the carrier bars are kept at said higher level clear of the table so the pads are not dragged.

Abstract: An automatic tension spring mounting device used for spreading a pad receive member onto a seat frame in a seat for a vehicle such as an automobile is disclosed. In the device, there are provided a plurality of guide means respectively located so as to correspond to engagement portions in the seat frame and adapted to be able to restrict tension springs each having end hooks in the two ends thereof in the peripheral and longitudinal directions thereof. When mounting the tension springs, the end hooks of the tension springs can be guided into the seat frame engagement portions by the guide means.

Abstract: A product supply system for an accumulation packaging machine which may permit a high speed operation of a product discharge section and smoothly supply a product to the accumulation packaging device with a row arrangement of the product retained. The product supply system comprises a push conveyance line provided between the product discharge section and the accumulation packaging machine through an acceleration feeding device, and a product separating device and a product retaining device each provided in the push conveyance line and adapted to be interlocked with the accumulation packaging machine, wherein a product feed velocity of the acceleration feeding device is higher than that of the product discharge section.

Abstract: A device for transferring crosswound coils from a crosswound-coil delivery location of a textile machine into a box-shaped conveyance includes a flat conveyor for collecting crosswound coils in mutually adjacent rows, and grippers for unloading the collected crosswound coils, the flat conveyor and the grippers being combined into one structural unit, the structural unit being pivotable in a vertical plane through an angle of substantially 180.degree. and being controllably changeable in position in vertical and horizontal direction.

Abstract: A tension spring takeout device for use in an automatic tension spring mounting apparatus for automatically mounting tension springs for mounting a pad receive member to a seat frame forming an automotive seat. The tension spring takeout device comprises a stock mechanism into which the tension springs are discharged from a part feeder having a separation mechanism for separation of the tension springs that are successively supplied, and which are arranged in a line and stocked; a takeout mechanism comprising a predetermined number of takeout means located in the stock mechanism so as to correspond to the mounting intervals of the tension springs to the seat frame and operable to push out a predetermined number of tension springs simultaneously; and a transfer device adapted to catch the tension springs pushed out by the takeout means of the takeout mechanism as well as to transfer and mount the tension springs to the mounting portions of the seat frame.

Abstract: An arrangement for handling conical thread packages includes a sensing device which senses the orientation in which the package arrives on a main conveyor to a juncture with an accumulating auxiliary conveyor, and a manipulating device capable of gripping the package and reorienting it if needed to obtain the desired orientation of the package on the auxiliary conveyor. A removing device may be provided to engage a group of the packages accumulated with the desired orientation on the auxiliary conveyor and to transfer such group to a receiving conveyor in such a manner that the packages are deposited in the container in respective layers with orientations which are the same in each layer but opposite in directly superimposed layers.