Abstract: A system for automatically distributing and supplying parts includes a parts distributing device for delivering an array of parts, and a parts supplying device for feeding the parts to a parts installing device at spaced intervals corresponding to parts installing positions. The parts supplying device has a first positioning member for receiving the delivered array of parts, a second positioning member connected to the first positioning member through flexible tubular members for spacing the parts at the spaced intervals, and a parts feed mechanism movable selectively into confronting relation to the second positioning member and the parts installing device for receiving the parts from the second positioning member and feeding the parts to the parts installing device.

Abstract: A receiving and arranging apparatus for bringing electronic components, or other workpieces, into a molding apparatus and unloading them from suitable magazines into a mechanism which arranges them in a proper orientation for placement into a mold. The apparatus includes a vertically movable and horizontally rotatable turntable mechanism which operates in conjunction with a conveyor system to arrange the electronic components in a side by side manner for transfer to a subsequent workstation in the molding process.

Abstract: A lane divider for automatically dividing a single row of objects into a plurality of rows is shown in its preferred form as including a diverting conveyor having an outfeed end movable between a plurality of lane positions. The diverting conveyor includes belts located on the faces of first and second elongated pivot bars to form an object passage channel. The elongated pivot bars are pivotally mounted in a parallelogram arrangement about fixed axes adjacent the infeed end and about axes adjacent the outfeed end which are reciproated. Opposite point deflection between the belts is minimized by changing the relative length of the drive chain between the drive shafts of the belts in response to the pivoting of the elongated pivot bars by pivotally interrelating the elongated pivot bars to a plate pivotally mounting idler sprockets on opposite sides of one of the drive shafts.

Abstract: In a poultry processing conveyor system a plurality of evisceration lines are fed from a single kill line by means of a rotary hock cutter transfer carousel.

Abstract: A collating station is disclosed for a machine intended to insert first and second documents into an envelope. Prior to the insertion operation, the first and second documents are advanced serially in a common plane. At a predetermined location, each first document is intercepted and lifted above the common plane and moved to a holding platform spaced above the common plane. The holding platform has a transverse terminal edge downstream from where the first document comes to rest. Thereupon, the first document resting on the holding platform and a following second document which continues to advance along the common plane as the first document travels toward the holding platform are advanced together in a parallel spaced relationship, toward a downstream station. As the documents are advanced, the first document drops off the terminal edge of the holding platform and onto the second document thereby completing the collating operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for arraying and conveying rows of products is provided. The apparatus comprises a first conveyor, a second conveyor, and a third conveyor. The delivery end of the first conveyor is adapted to move forwardly and rearwardly to transfer rows of products onto the second conveyor. The second conveyor is adapted to intermittently move transversely of the conveyance path and receives additional rows of products from the first conveyor and when a sufficient number of rows of products are arrayed on the second conveyor, they are transferred to a third conveyor at a high speed to be carried to a subsequent station. The third conveyor is then restored to a position to receive a fresh rows of products from the first conveyor.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for painting components of an automobile more efficiently and more economically. To achieve the efficient production of painted components, the painting system includes parallel input and output main transfer lines and a plurality of sub transfer lines which are located perpendicular to and between the parallel input and output main transfer lines.A plurality of input intersections are formed between the input main transfer line and the sub transfer lines, and a plurality of output intersections are formed between the output main transfer line and the sub transfer lines. Each sub transfer line includes a turntable within a painting booth which is located at a central portion of each sub transfer line and a painting device is located at the side of each turntable.Further, each sub transfer line includes at least an input side waiting position and at least an output side waiting position.

Abstract: Apparatus for simultaneously accumulating two stacks of paper sheets has a first conveyor which advances a series of sheets into the range of a first transfer member so that successive sheets are respectively adjacent the front and rear surfaces of the transfer member. The transfer member is reciprocable transversely of the path of movement of oncoming sheets, and each of its forward strokes is utilized to expel a sheet into a first stack forming station. Each return stroke of the transfer member is utilized to advance a sheet into the range of a second conveyor which transports sheets forwardly beyond the first stack forming station and into the range of a second transfer member. When the first transfer member performs a forward stroke, the second transfer member expels the foremost sheet from the second conveyor into a second stack forming station.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding articles to a packaging station comprises two longitudinal conveyors which are arranged next to one another, and a cross-slide which extends over both conveyors at the leading ends thereof. The cross-slide alternately advances the articles located at the front ends of the conveyors to a pushing-in device which is arranged between the two conveyors and which pushes the articles into the packaging station. The cross-slide has engagement fingers and is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, so that each time one of the engagement fingers is rotated to engage behind an article on one of the conveyors, the other engagement finger is rotated to travel over and beyond the article on the other conveyor.

Abstract: The transfer apparatus comprises a transfer arm (16) and a distributor (18). The transfer arm has two axes of movement (22,26) and is non-extendable so that it moves between a take-off station and an intermediate station (I) through a fixed distance. The distributor (18) has a table (50) which receives a shoe (S) at the intermediate station (I). Furthermore, the table (50) can be positioned at any one of four stations (I,F1,F2,F3) each aligned with a channel (12) of a heat setting apparatus (14). A pneumatic control circuit causes shoes (S) fed successively to the table (50) to be transferred in a sequence to the channels (12) by operation of pusher means.The apparatus is suitable for transferring shoes from a lasting machine, a shoe support (10) of which can be positioned at the take-off station, to a heat setting apparatus (14).

Abstract: A stacker assembly is provided that removes a product from a conveyor moving a flow of spaced products and that transfers such products to a discharge assembly. A plurality of products are deposited in this manner onto the discharge assembly until a stack of products having a desired size is formed. A product lifter assembly is included that passes through spacings in the conveyor in order to raise the product above the conveyor, and a comb assembly passes through spacings of the product lifter in order to subsequently receive the raised product for transfer to the discharge assembly.

Abstract: To pull apart interfolded, imbricated paper copy products (4, 5), two pairs (1, 2) of upper and lower transport systems, typically sprocket chains, each have engagement projection elements (10-13), preferably roller elements, extending therefrom, and gripping laterally projecting edges of the respective imbricated in-folded copy products. The paths of the upper and lower transport systems (6-7, 8-9) converge towards each other to grip the copy products and, after having gripped the copy products, the pairs diverge laterally from each other to pull out and pull apart the copy products (4', 5') gripped by the respective pairs of the transport systems, the upper and lower transport systems then diverging to release the copy products to further removal transport arrangements, for example transport belts (17, 18).

Abstract: A treatment furnace having a longitudinally extending charging opening has a transversely extending furnace conveyor having an upstream end in the vicinity of the opening. A loading conveyor has an array of transversely extending approach rollers adjacent the charging opening so that a workpiece to be treated in the furnace can be rolled longitudinally along the approach rollers to a position transversely aligned with the charging opening. A loading apparatus for the furnace has at least two transversely extending arms each having an inner end pivoted inside the furnace about a longitudinal axis at the upstream end of the furnace conveyor and an outer end outside the furnace and an array of longitudinally extending loading rollers rotatable about horizontal and longitudinal axes is carried on the arms.

Abstract: An arrangement for dispensing sheets from a store (10) to a withdrawal station (11), including first transport means (13-14) for transporting sheets from the store (10) to a collecting station (15), and second transport means (16-17) for transporting a bundle of sheets from the collecting station (15) to the withdrawal station (11). The collecting station (15) includes two mutually opposing walls between which the bundle of sheets is clamped during the initial stage of transportation from the collecting station.The walls are provided with wheels or rollers which are rotatable about shafts and which co-act with each other, two and two, one on each wall. The shafts of all wheels on each wall have mutually the same rotation direction, which is dependent upon the desired direction of transportation of the bundle of sheets, and the shafts of all wheels can be simultaneously pivoted in one and the same plane, depending upon the desired transport direction.

Abstract: An article processing line has a plurality of first conveyors for advancing articles in a direction of conveyance; a plurality of second conveyors adjoining respective first conveyors for advancing articles in the direction of conveyance; a plurality of normally operating processing machines associated with a respective second conveyor for receiving articles therefrom; a standby conveyor mechanism situated underneath the second conveyors; a standby processing machine associated with the standby conveyor mechanism for receiving articles therefrom; and a plurality of deflector conveyor belts adjoining respective first conveyors. Each deflector conveyor belt is pivotal in a vertical plane to assume an upper position and a lower position. In the lower position the deflector conveyor belt is operatively connected with the standby conveyor mechanism for receiving articles from the respective first conveyor and transferring articles to the standby conveyor mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for distributing disks includes a slide cutter member for dividing a row of stacked disks being conveyed at a continuous constant speed at every predetermined number thereof, one after another, to form cylindrical stacked bodies thereof. An inclined passage is positioned adjacent to and extending at substantially a right angle with respect to the conveying direction of said stacked disks. The inclined passage includes a lower portion being inclined upwardly to a forward end. The slide cutter supplies every cylindrical stacked body one after another to the inclined passage. A push-up member is provided for intermittently pushing upwards the cylindrical stacked bodies supplied one after another to the lower portion of the inclined passage. A holding member is provided for holding upwardly moved one or more cylindrical stacked bodies at an upper stage position on the lower portion of the inclined passage.

Abstract: A case feeder conveyor system is provided with an accumulation conveyor and a central conveyor which is located on an elevator, the accumulation conveyor, at a transfer station, is provided with a pusher bar that extends the length of the accumulation conveyor whereby a predetermined number of cases on this conveyor can be transferred to the central conveyor at one time.

Abstract: An automatic plant for stacking sheet steel pressings received from a press line comprises a pivotal depositing table (5) with two depositing devices (7,8) at each of which several pressings can be deposited in the stack. Associated with each depositing device is a grab (9,10) and a storage system which comprises a turntable (17,18) with two storage devices (A,B,C,D,). The storage devices of each system are charged alternately, while the other loaded storage device is replaced by an empty storage device. When one storage device is full, the relevant turntable (17,18) is rotated through 180.degree., so that an empty storage device replaces the loaded storage device, a distributing carriage (23) common to both turntables, picks up the loaded storage devices, shifts them to a delivery station, picks up an empty storage device at a pickup station, and brings the latter to the relevant turntable to replace the loaded storage device which has previously been collected.

Abstract: Apparatus for selectively diverting articles carried by a conveyor roller system of the type utilizing a field of rollers mounted for rotation upon an underlying drive belt. An angulated transfer roller is rotatably mounted between existing rollers in the field and powered by an aligned drive roller in frictional engagement with the drive belt. The drive roller is mounted and aligned in generally parallel spaced relationship relative to the adjacent rollers of the field. The angular orientation of the transfer, or diverting roller, is provided by a generally "Y" shaped housing. This configuration permits the diverting roller to be angulated and selectively upstand through the notional plane of conveyance of the field of rollers by rotation of the housing. In this position, the angulated transfer roller engages an article passing therethrough.

Abstract: A container rearranging station wherein bottles or other containers enter in single file and are discharged with several of them abreast of each other. The station is comprised of three parallel running conveyor sections. All the sections are tilted at the same angle so as to provide a smooth inclined plane. A supply conveyor on which the bottles arrive in single file is the highest of those on the inclined plane and runs at the highest speed of any of them. The adjacent intermediate conveyor runs at a slightly slower speed and the adjacent lower most discharge conveyors run at a uniform but still slower speed. Inclination angles of the conveyors between the input region of the station and the output region where the containers are abreast are preferably adjustable between 8.degree. and 11.degree. so that the containers drift from the supply conveyor through the intermediate conveyor to the discharge conveyor.

Abstract: A rejection system for use with an inspection system, which inspects a number of products transferred at high speed on a conveyor at a predetermined inspection position and generates a product reject signal as well as a product inspection position arrival signal is disclosed, in which there are provided a plurality of product rejection mechanisms for rejecting unnecessary products from the conveyor at different position and a driving circuit for driving the plurality of product rejection mechanism. In this case, the driving circuit receives the product reject signal and product inspection position arrival signal from the inspection system and then produces driving signals to drive the plurality of product rejection mechanisms in time sharing manner whereby the plurality of product rejection mechanisms reject the unnecessary products from the conveyor at different positions.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting out package units identified as defective by deflecting same from a first horizontal belt to a second belt traveling in parallel, comprises a ram activated at exact times by a detection station for defective package units. The ram has on its free end a roller rotatably mounted about a vertical axis. Preferably, two rollers are arranged in superposition and axial alignment at the free end of the ram in such a way that the center of gravity of each package unit lies in a horizontal plane between the two rollers. Each roller has a circumferential cover of foam rubber or sponge rubber or the like. The rollers project in their rest position a small distance into the path of the package units.

Abstract: Flattened tube sections for making sacks are continuously supplied by a main conveyor and selectively fed longitudinally to one of a plurality of connecting conveyors leading to respective production lines along which the sections are moved transversely after turning by respective turntables. The connecting conveyors for the second and subsequent production lines receive their tube sections from an intermediate conveyor. A deflector is pivotable between the intermediate conveyor and the connecting conveyor for the first production line.

Abstract: In a feed line of articles arranged one after the other on a movable conveyor belt or the like so as to make up a continuous row, the articles being under the control of a longitudinal guide device, a stop member is provided for blocking this row of articles at the cavity of the molding box into which one article is to be introduced by a pusher. A drawing member is provided for another article in the row, the drawing member being reciprocated in a direction at right angles to the row of articles, so as to form a second row guided by second guide devices. A second stop member is provided for the second row, and a second pusher is provided for introducing the individual articles of the second row into a second cavity of the molding box in which such articles are received.

Abstract: A secondary dryer device comprising a drying oven, for subjecting open containers of water detector pads to a secondary drying operation. The oven has a pair of elongate channels disposed side by side with open, outer-most ends and blind inner-most ends. One channel holds a plurality of containers in single file, whereas the other channel holds a plurality of containers in double file, whereby the dwell time is greatly increased. A transfer structure interconnects the blind ends of the channels to provide transfer of the containers from the narrow channel to the wider channel. A powered pushing device applies force to the containers of the single file, to advance said containers inwardly into the oven, toward the blind end of the channel. The oven has means which provides heat to raise the temperature and expel moisture.

Abstract: A device adapted for use as a positively driven steering member in a conveying apparatus, having a wheel with a spherically curved inner surface, a hub with a spherically curved outer surface which fits inside of the wheel, and a coupling which secures the wheel to the hub, permitting the axis of the wheel to be rotated relative to the axis of the hub in any direction while restraining relative motion between the wheel and hub about the axis of the hub. This arrangement provides that, when the hub is driven by a shaft passing through its axis, it drives the wheel, regardless of the angle between the hub and wheel.

Abstract: Rolled stock is conveyed from two side-by-side rolling mills to two cooling beds. Stock can be conveyed from each mill to either one or the other of the cooling beds. Two swingable rollerway sections are provided in each rolled stock line connecting the mills and the cooling beds. These sections can be swung out to transfer stock from one rolled stock line to the other.

Abstract: A loading and unloading device to be installed between two consecutive machines, in which a known unloading device, adjustable in height, interlinked with the outlet of the first working machine and a second known loading device interlinked with the inlet of the second working machine are linked by a moveable trolley arranged between the said two machines with the said trolley carrying a horizontal rotating platform supporting a pair of parallel conveyor belts which can be connected to the unloading device of the first machine and to the loading device of the second machine or else to a loading, and respectively unloading means provided between the two machines.

Abstract: A currency dispensing apparatus has a plurality of customer receipt openings to which an ordered number of banknotes can be sent from a store of banknotes in response to an order signal. The banknotes are dispensed to a collector station through a first feed mechanism in response to the transmitted order signal, and from the collector station to a selected receipt opening by a second feed mechanism which cooperates with a switching device for determining the direction of feed of the second feed mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for laterally deflecting selected articles from a first conveyor to one or more other conveyors comprises either extensible and retractable deflective segments, or gas nozzles whose intensity is adjustable. The deflective segments have tapered front faces which jointly form a smooth deflecting face whose taper increases in the direction of conveyance. The number of segments used depends on the speed component required, and the segments are extended by only a portion of the lateral distance the articles are to cover, the remainder of the distance being covered by the imparted inertia.Alternative embodiments include a deflecting wedge or flap.

Abstract: A roller conveyor having a series of rollers forming a main path of travel for articles, a second series of rollers branching from the main series of rollers and forming a branch path of movement, mechanisms at the junction of the first and second series of rollers for selectively diverting articles to the second series of rollers in a predetermined manner, a flexible drive member having roller engaging passes for both the first and second series of rollers and idle passes out of roller engagement for simultaneously driving the first and second series of article supporting rollers, and a drive for said flexible means for effecting the simultaneous operation of the first and second series of rollers.

Abstract: Apparatus for dividing a single row of articles into two rows comprises a pair of complementary closely spaced parallel screws arranged to receive a single row of articles from an infeed conveyor so that alternate articles are engaged by the thread of each screw and moved laterally into the groove of the other screw to form two rows of articles, the thread of one screw being cut away at the outfeed end thereof, an outfeed conveyor arranged to receive articles from the outfeed end of the screws and to move the articles at a velocity approximately one-half the velocity of movement of the articles longitudinally between the screws so that the two rows of articles are automatically aligned transversely, and a dead plate interposed between the infeed and outfeed conveyors.

Abstract: Container conveying apparatus comprises a conveyor for conveying evenly spaced-apart containers and means for individually engaging containers and shifting containers laterally of the conveyor. Such container conveying apparatus may be used in association with container labelling apparatus where lateral movement of container on conveyor is desired preparatory to the next labelling step.

Abstract: A line of poultry suspended on hangers and moving in alignment in series through a processing plant is divided by engaging and urging alternate one of the engaged hangers laterally with respect to the direction of movement of the hangers along the conveyor line, substantially without deflecting the hangers or the poultry carried thereby from their longitudinal movement with the conveyor line. In one embodiment, paddles carried on a continuous separator conveyor move along a path that diverges laterally beneath the conveyor line and the surfaces of the paddles which engage alternate ones of the hangers are oriented at an angle that does not impart movement to the hangers or the poultry carried thereby along the conveyor line.

Abstract: A method of loading bales of refuse from a horizontally acting baling press on to a transport vehicle without the use of a separate loading machine such as a fork-lift truck comprises aligning the transport vehicle with a discharge from the press; moving each bale as it is discharged from the press on to a transverse table; moving some of the bales laterally so that the bales are formed into two or more rows side by side aligned with the transport vehicle and moving the two rows of bales progressively forwards as successive bales are discharged from the press so that the rows are moved from the transverse table on to the vehicle and the rows are built up on the vehicle until the vehicle is fully loaded.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a machine and method of applying cigarette tax stamps to cigarette packages in cartons. The machine includes an input platform or table that receives cartons from an infeed conveyor, and three incoming cartons are fed to three parallel channels. In each of the channels, the flaps of a carton are opened and folded upwardly and outwardly, thereby exposing the ends of the packages. Tax stamps are applied to the ends of the packages, glue is then applied to the outturned flaps, and the flaps are folded in again and resealed. The three channels are spaced laterally apart of the direction of movement of the cartons as they move through the channels. The cartons are pushed onto the input platform with their long dimension extending parallel to the channels. The carton movement is stopped by an end stop that is located to position the first, third and fifth cartons generally in line with the input ends of the three channels.

Abstract: A divider switch for a roller conveyor selectively switches or displaces the lateral position of objects being conveyed to either separate or merge the objects. The switching apparatus is interposed in a live conveyor system. The divider switch includes a framework of longitudinal and transverse members; a plurality of transverse rollers at either end of the switch; a set of angularly movable rollers centrally located in the switch, the angularly movable rollers being of shorter length than the transverse rollers and switchable between at least two angular positions which define opposite acute angles relative to the transverse rollers; and two additional sets of rollers disposed on opposite sides of the angularly movable rollers, the additional sets of rollers being fixedly mounted to define opposite acute angles relative to the transverse rollers.

Abstract: A method of loading bales of refuse from a horizontally acting baling press on to a transport vehicle without the use of a separate loading machine such as a fork-lift truck comprises aligning the transport vehicle with a discharge from the press; moving each bale as it is discharged from the press on to a transverse table; moving some of the bales laterally so that the bales are formed into two or more rows side by side aligned with the transport vehicle and moving the two rows of bales progressively forward as successive bales are discharged from the press so that the rows are moved from the transverse table on to the vehicle and the rows are built up on the vehicle until the vehicle is fully loaded.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for supplying wood fiber material in both roundwood and chip form to a pulp paper plant through a single off-loading station having a rotary railroad car dumper for unloading fiber material to a receiver box including a platform for receiving the fiber material transferred at an elevated position from the receiver box, a wall for guiding material being transferred onto the platform, and a plurality of plows for segregating the wood fiber material and for moving the roundwood and chip materials along the deck in separate directions toward separate conveying systems.

Abstract: A three-bale load is accumulated on the trailer as bales issue from the rear of the baler, whereupon the accumulated bales may be dumped all at the same location or singly as may be desired. Successive bales issuing from the baler arrive at a central platform from which they are alternately distributed to laterally disposed side platforms in an automated procedure. Once a side platform receives its bale, lockout mechanism prevents the transfer device from presenting the side platform with another bale until such time as the previous bale has been dumped. Once a bale has been dumped from a platform, the transfer device is automatically actuated, if indeed the next bale is ready to be transferred, for loading of the next bale onto the awaiting side platform.

Abstract: A tobacco feeding system for feeding tobacco from a source thereof to a plurality of individual cigarette-making machines includes a tobacco distribution system for the distribution of source tobacco sequentially to a plurality of tobacco reservoirs and a tobacco metering system associated with each reservoir for feed of tobacco to the machine feeds. The system avoids the necessity to recycle tobacco to the source and hence minimizes tobacco degradation.

Abstract: An interrupter unit for producing a gap in the normal flow of product along a conveyor belt system, including a drive member and an actuator member responsive to the drive member for raising a limited portion of the conveyor belt of the conveyor belt system to produce an inclination of the conveyor belt to prevent further progress of conveyed objects; a transfer unit for transferring conveyed objects between first and second conveyor belt systems, one of the first and second conveyor belt systems being a transferor system, the other a transferee system including a rotatable support section for carrying at least a portion of the conveyor belt of the first conveyor belt system and having a free end and an end rotatably interconnected with the support structure of the first conveyor belt system, and a drive mechanism for rotating the support section between a retracted position and an inclined position bridging the first and second conveyor belt systems, with the conveyor belt of the first conveyor belt system a

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a carton sorting device which comprises a main conveyor and at least one subsidiary conveyor angled away from the main conveyor at a branching unit. The main conveyor is adapted to apply a lateral force to articles having a lateral dimension below a preselected value so as to urge such articles onto the subsidiary conveyor. Articles having a lateral dimension greater than said preselected value are not affected. In this way, a mixture of the small and large articles are divided into two streams, the main conveyor carrying a stream of larger articles and the subsidiary conveyor only a stream of smaller articles. The invention also makes provision for sorting streams of articles having differences in their longitudinal dimension.

Abstract: A system for conveying molded bricks known as briquettes from a press to a bed plate wherein the briquettes are each conveyed by a plurality of spaced parallel belts to above a conveyor which carries the bed plates under the briquettes supported by the conveyor belts. An inclined substantially coplanar conveyance track which includes elongated rollers has its after portion periodically raised whereby the rollers located in the after portion penetrate upwardly between the belts carrying the briquettes thus lifting the briquettes from the belt. A removal mechanism pushes the briquettes down the rollers of the conveyance track onto a removal plate which pivots with the conveyance track and extends therefrom at a slight incline, the briquettes being received by the main conveyor carrying the bed plates whereby the briquettes are pushed over the conveyance track and onto the bed plate.

Abstract: Packages are moved from an input conveyor in an input section onto moving rollers in a row-forming section. As the packages move forward on the rollers, a distributing device moves laterally with respect to the motion of the packages on the rollers so as to selectively position the packages in rows. Turning means are placed in the path of the packages as they advance on the rollers to rotate the packages with respect to one another. The rows collect on the rollers and are then moved to a stacking section where they are palletized. Transversely extending bars are provided to control the movement of the rows through the row forming section and the stacking section.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling bundles of sheets and having a pivotal pallet holder which receives the pallet and bundles of sheets in a prone position and which tips them to an upstanding position and onto a conveyor adjacent the holder. The upstanding bundles of sheets are then directed along the conveyor and to selected ones of a plurality of branch conveyors leading to a signature feeder or the like.

Abstract: A conveyor handling system, includes three paths along which articles travel, and a diverter located in an intermediate portion of the paths and operative to effect transfer between the paths. Sensors located upstream and downstream of the diverter monitor the rate at which the articles arrive at and leave the diverter. A comparator is responsive to the downstream sensor to cause the diverter to direct the articles between the paths in such a sense as to maintain the rates of flow of articles along the three paths downstream of the diverter substantially equal. A control unit responds to the upstream sensor to determine whether there is sufficient space for each article to be transferred transversely of the direction of motion to an adjacent path without reducing a predetermined minimum spacing requirement for the articles in each path. If there is insufficient space to effect a transfer, the control unit acts to inhibit the diverter from performing such a transfer.

Abstract: An installation for the pasteurization or sterilization of products packed in containers comprises a treatment space with a conveyor travelling through this space and having carriers for supporting the containers. The conveyor passes along a loading and a discharging station. Each carrier has a plurality of equally spaced partitions to define a number of compartments. A supply conveyor at the loading station has driving dogs spaced from each other equal to the distance between the carrier partitions. A discharge device is provided with the same number of tiltable catching elements as there are compartments in each carrier.

Abstract: The invention relates to dividing a cargo compartment area into zones that can be controllably selected from dual remote control points, so as to permit simultaneous and independent operation of power drive units (PDU's) in each zone for handling of cargo containers or pallets. Also, the method of cargo handling zone selection permits the regulation of the size or area under the control of each remote point. Further, the cargo handling control system allows for the independent load/unload operation from operator stations forward of the division line in conjunction with a first remote control panel, and from an operator station aft of the division line in conjunction with a second remote control panel.

Abstract: A lehr loader or stacker for use with a conveyor for moving ware serially past the moving apron of a lehr, the loader comprising a frame adjacent the conveyor, and a pair of pusher bars on the frame alongside the conveyor and opposite the lehr apron. The bars are movable alternately transversely across the conveyor to sweep ranks of ware transversely from the conveyor onto the lehr apron for movement thereon through the lehr. The bars are mounted upon the frame for movement through the same general path, each bar being provided by a pair of longitudinally extending bar sections providing a longitudinal space therebetween. The mounting system for each bar includes arms supporting, respectively, the bar sections, one of the arms for each said bar being movable through the space between the bar sections of the other said bar as the bars move through the path.