Abstract: Distributive feeding apparatus for separating a plurality of articles fed to a receiving part (12) to a plurality of separated lanes has a bar conveyor (11) comprising two chains (103) with bars (104) extending therebetween and carrier elements (105) slidably mounted on the bars (104). Guide rails (106) are provided below the carrying run of the conveyor and are engaged by lugs (1055) provided on each carrying element (105). During advancement of the conveyor with articles on the carrying surfaces (1051) of the elements (105), the elements (105) are gradually slid apart, guided by the rails (106), so that the elements are directed along each lane so as to feed carried articles in those lanes for further processing.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for aligning articles in parallel rows as the articles are being moved forward on a conveyor in a single row. A plurality of spaced apart dividers are provided for defining parallel lanes into which the articles are to be conveyed. A pivotally mounted guide chute is used for directing the articles into the respective parallel lanes. The guide chute can be readily exchanged for another guide chute by merely disconnecting various quick release mechanisms. A fixed frame member is carried above a conveyor which transports the articles and is used for supporting the guide chute. The guide chute includes a top plate which has a forward end that is pivotally mounted on the fixed frame member. A plurality of stops are carried on the top plate and are spaced apart a predetermined distance corresponding to the spacing between the various parallel lanes. Indexing mechanism is provided for indexing the guide chute between the various lanes.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus includes a first guide assembly defining a plurality of inlet lanes in which inlet columns of flat articles are forwarded in a direction of advance determined by the first guide assembly and a second guide assembly defining a plurality of outlet lanes in which outlet columns of the flat articles are advanced. The outlet lanes are different in number from that of the inlet lanes. A plurality of routing gates is arranged at a discharge end of the inlet lanes. Each routing gate is arranged to be pivoted into one of two end positions for redistributing the articles from the inlet lanes into the outlet lanes. There are further provided separate actuating units operatively connected to separate routing gates for independently operating each routing gate.

Abstract: A divider for a tunnel oven converts the moving surface of the oven into at least two lanes so that two or more different brands or types of articles can be dried without intermixing. The divider comprises at least one cable guide mounted to the tunnel oven housing at the inlet and the outlet of the oven. The cable guides extend downwardly to a point adjacent to and above the moving surface. A cable extends the length of the oven from one cable guide to the other and effectively divides the moving surface of the oven into two lanes. In a preferred embodiment there is a pulley wheel at one end for reversing the direction of the cable to provide a two strand divider and a ratchet wheel for adjusting the cable.

Abstract: A re-routing apparatus for selectively channelling articles conveyed in at least two side-by-side arranged rows to one of a first and a second article advancing mechanism has an inclined chute arranged for simultaneously receiving articles belonging to different rows; a base plate extending from below the chute for receiving the articles sliding off the chute; and a plurality of parallel, generally vertically oriented, mutually spaced separating walls arranged above the base plate and defining therewith a plurality of side-by-side arranged, alternating first and second channels. Each channel has an upstream end corresponding to the receiving end of the base plate and a downstream end corresponding to the discharge end of the base plate. The first and the second channels are arranged to supply articles to the first and the second article advancing mechanism, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for pre-washing and accumulating eggs which includes within a pre-wash station a pre-wash housing as well as spray conduits and spray jets for receiving pressurized cleaning fluid from a pump for spraying upon eggs traveling upon a conveyor located therebelow. A holding tank receives the spent fluid for recirculation through the pump. An egg diverting mechanism is included to prevent the grouping of eggs upon one lateral location upon the conveyor. The diverting mechanism includes rods extending laterally across the conveyor and one or more vertically extending plates positioned immediately above the conveyor to divert or guide the eggs into a somewhat more random orientation upon the egg conveyor when they reach the diverting mechanism in a group or bunched configuration. An accumulator is included to divide the randomly positioned eggs into rows upon the conveyor.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is an apparatus for automatically aligning and feeding articles on an article loading machine between dividers to form lanes of articles. The apparatus includes a pivoting guide chute which swings back and forth across a conveyor to discharge a predetermined number of articles intermittently into parallel lanes through actuation of jaws and/or a presser bar clamp assembly. An indexing assembly for the guide chute is provided which includes a double acting pneumatic cylinder and a connecting block which is slidably mounted and connected to the piston of the double acting cylinder. The connecting block has a plurality of interconnected guide slots in its upper surface with a stop position at each end of each slot. A second pneumatic cylinder having a cam follower which slides within the guide slots, blocks and releases the cam follower at each stop and thereby frees the first cylinder to move the chute to the next lane.

Abstract: A sheet receiver has a plurality of trays to receive paper sheets in a sequential or selected order as sheets are successively fed to the receiver from a source, such as a printer or copier, and transported to the inlet ends of the trays between opposing transport rolls which define a continuous straight paper path past the trays. Selected pressure or nip rolls are actuated from positions relative to feed rolls forming the straight path past the trays to positions relative to an adjacent feed roll to interrupt the straight paper path and form a nip at which the rolls are positioned to change the direction of sheet travel to direct a sheet into a tray.

Abstract: A device for supplying a mixture of pieces of material or fragments of different materials and sizes to one or more receiving units wherein the mixture is supplied to the device within a relatively limited area from where it is distributed to the receiving units so that each of them receives a substantially uniform layer of the mixture at the same time as it is spread out over a wide area. The device comprises one or more vibrating troughs each with a supporting surface at the receiving end and a protuberance centrally mounted in the trough from which the material is spread over the supporting surface (15) during the formation of a uniformly thick layer of material which is carried along the supporting surface to the discharge end of each vibrating trough where it is discharged.

Abstract: To increase the efficiency of a packaging machine for tobacco portions (10) without adversely affecting the tobacco, two or more tobacco portions (10) are supplied to a packaging turret (11) at the same time. The tobacco portions (10) supplied individually, for example by a bucket chain (13), are collected in cells of a collector formed of two star feeders (32, 33), until the number of tobacco portions corresponding to the simultaneous packaging requirement is available. A distributor (22) with portion receiving chambers is located in front of the collector to sequentially receive tobacco portions.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically aligning and feeding articles upright on an article loading machine between spacer rails to form lanes of articles such as bottles aligned in a row is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pivoting chute (A) which pivots to and fro across a conveyor (32) to feed articles (34) intermittently into the parallel lanes (24, 26, 28, 30) defined by spacer rails (14, 16, 18, 20, 22) over the conveyor. The pivoting guide chute includes an inlet (38) which receives bottles already conveyed in a single row. The guide chute includes an outlet (39) where a releasable feed mechanism (C) holds the bottle as the chute mechanism swings from one lane to the next and then releases a predetermined number of bottles at the entrance end (24a, 26a, 28a, 30a) of each lane. Serially connected air cylinders (120, 122, 124) provide a stepwise indexing of the chute means fron one lane to the next for dispensing of the bottles.

Abstract: Apparatus for diverting selected sheets of a scalloped stream of paper sheets from a first horizontal path into a second path which is coplanar with an adjacent and parallel to the first path has two superimposed rollers movable about a vertical axis to and from operative positions above the first path, and a flap which is located upstream of the rollers and is pivotable to and from a position in which it diverts successive sheets into the nip of the rollers when the sheets enter the second path. The axes of the rollers make an oblique angle with the direction of advancement of sheets along the first path, and the speed at which the rollers are driven is such that the sheets approaching the nip cannot catch up with the sheet in the nip.

Abstract: Device to separate without gaps the trailing end of a leading individual length of rolled stock and the leading end of a following length, which are parted from a rolled billet by cross-cutting shears, in the live-roller feed bed upstream of cooling beds, comprises a separate trough section disposed downstream of a switch in the form of a separating diverter subdivided into two parallel longitudinal sections, one with a fixed trough section and one vertically displaceable trough section which forms a depressed portion at a lower level.

Abstract: A feed roller table with rollers (11a) is divided into partial widths (A and B). The rolled shapes to be stacked are passed onto the feed table in layers of different numbers of bars n and n-1 and are braked during bar movement by elevation of braking skids (38 and 41). The skids of one series of braking skids (41) are designed to function as turnover magnets and may be rotated 168.degree. to a position above another series of skids (38) in order that de-energization of the turnover magnet braking skids (41) will permit an interlocked layer of rolled shapes to be formed on the other braking skids (38). This double layer of bars is picked up by horizontally shiftable receiving magnets (43) and deposited on stacking table arms (49) which index downward into a position (49') below the level of the stacking roller table for rotation through 90.degree. to pass horizontally underneath the stack of bars exiting on the roller table and to return to the upper receiving position.

Abstract: An automatically adjustable mechanism for feeding or guiding workpieces along a predetermined flow path from a first position toward a second position adjacent a centerless grinder work rest. The mechanism includes a guide assembly having a pair of parallel spaced apart guide members defining an elongated flow path extending between the assembly first and second ends generally corresponding to the first and second positions, respectively. The guide assembly first end is adapted to be fixedly secured to some stationary structure and the second end is adapted for connection to the work rest. A bearing arrangement at the first end of the guide assembly facilitates selective automatic movement of the guide assembly laterally of the flow path in response to periodic lateral adjustments of the grinder work rest. Preferably, an elongated vibratory structure is disposed beneath and at least longitudinally coextensive with the guide assembly for establishing a flow path bottom wall.

Abstract: Apparatus for laterally deflecting articles, such as bottles, from the normal path of a series of such articles, on the basis of a predetermined criterion, such as size or shape. The apparatus may be in the form of extensors which operate transversely to the direction of travel of the articles, in such manner that at any given moment only those extensors are extended which contact the article then being deflected.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for distributing articles 90 comprising a conveyor 26 having a set of mutually spaced rollers 28 from which a ramp 30 upwardly inclines. An array of mutually spaced bars 34 is aligned between the rollers 28 and a cylinder 40 provided for raising and lowering the array of bars. A conveyor 10 is also provided for successively feeding articles 90 onto the ramp 30.

Abstract: An arrangement for a low-noise speed reduction of a one-track bottle flow in a bottle distributing station, especially in bottling plants, according to which a flow of bottles arranged in spaced relationship to each other in conformity with a desired bottle spacing is supported by and transferred by way of a guiding rail or guiding wall from the first moving conveyor section onto a second moving conveyor section adjacent and substantially parallel to the first conveyor section. The bottle flow or advancing speed of the bottles on the second conveyor section where it forms a closed-up bottle flow corresponds to the speed v.sub.2 or slightly higher speed of the closed-up bottle flow on the second conveyor section. Subsequently, the now closed-up bottle flow is transferred by a following guiding rail or wall onto one or more leading-off conveyor sections the speed of which is considerably reduced over that of the last mentioned closed-up bottle flow.

Abstract: A container conveying device includes two conveyor wheels mounted for rotational movement for conveying containers along either one of a main path of movement for containers to be used later, or a shunt path of movement for containers to be removed and inspected or discarded. A pair of tongue members are mounted for pivotal movement in the vicinity of both of the wheels, one of the members conforming to the contours of the containers to engage and confine containers moving along either one of the paths. The other tongue member is adapted to engage and confine containers moving along at least the main path of movement.

Abstract: Apparatus for classifying photographic prints which are severed from the leader of a downwardly moving web of exposed and developed photographic paper has side walls which define a downwardly extending channel whose upper end constitutes an inlet for descending prints and whose lower end has two or more discrete outlets. The channel contains one or more blade-like switching members which are movable between several positions to thereby establish paths for descent of sheets from the inlet into a selected outlet. The switching member or members are movable between such positions by electromagnets which are installed externally of the channel and each of which can attract or release one or more swtiching members. The channel can be mounted on a pivotable carrier which can move at least one outlet between two different positions for admission of prints which descend through such outlet into either of two discrete receptacles.

Abstract: Belt type conveyors for letters and the like, having a switching device between them, which device comprises a roller having a flattening on its circumference i.e. a segmented roller, driven by means of a one-rotation coupling when a letter is sensed on the conveyor approaching the switching device.

Abstract: The printing plate processing machine includes a first conveyor for receiving printing plates and a second conveyor for receiving plate-separating sheets, and a feed mechanism for selectively transporting the plates and sheets from a loading station in which the plates and sheets are alternately disposed in a stack, toward the first and second conveyors. A plate and sheet diverting mechanism is located between the first and second conveyors for alternately delivering the plates to the first conveyor and the sheets to the second conveyor. The plates are processed after disposition on the first conveyor. A collecting station received the plates and sheets from the first and second conveyors alternately in a stack after processing of the plates. The feed-mechanism includes a fluid-operated cylinder and ram, the ram being movable selectively between an extended position and a retracted position.

Abstract: An improved high speed egg grading system wherein a pair of opposed lifting bars disposed on rotating rings transfer eggs over a plurality of weighing stations, and a conveyor belt is provided for removing graded eggs spaced two abreast. An improved drive is provided for the bars which insures gentle pick-up and set down of the eggs at weighing stations where scales incorporating damping means to reduce settling out time are located.

Abstract: Shiftable L-shaped guide tracks are provided perpendicular of the direction of conveyance of the conveyor belt in an installation for introducing containers sequentially into several tracks disposed in parallel side-by-side fashion.

Abstract: Conveyer load shunting apparatus having a housing with a main shaft equipped with a radial shunt bar extending over the conveyer to divert a load traveling on one conveyer to another. A lever on the main shaft is swung by a solenoid via a push-pull rod to swing the shunt bar from neutral to a shunting position. A spring biases the shunt bar to neutral and the solenoid armature extended. A horizontal rocker bar extends from the housing into the conveyer and has a radial leg equipped with a load engaging wheel. A spring and a radial switch bar on the rocker shaft biases the rocker shaft angularly to swing the wheel to a neutral position below the conveyer. A radial blocker arm on the rocker shaft has an end which is engageable with a peg on the lever of the main shaft to block the angular position of the main shaft with the shunt bar in shunt position. Thus the weight of the load holds the apparatus in shunt position with no strain on the solenoid.

Abstract: A conveyor system for charging at least two processing machines with flat items includes a trunk conveyor belt; at least eight parallel, spaced channels oriented in the conveying direction of the trunk conveyor belt for guiding the items on the trunk conveyor belt in at least eight rows; and a separate feeder aligned with each channel for receiving the items from the associated channel and for depositing identical groups of items on at least two conveyor tracks arranged above and transversely to the trunk conveyor belt for advancing the item groups to the processing machines arranged at a respective discharge end of the conveyor tracks. With each feeder there is associated a separate ramp; each ramp has an inlet end adjoining the trunk conveyor belt for receiving the items from the associated channel and an outlet end operatively coupled with the associated feeder for introducing the items thereinto from the associated ramp.

Abstract: The invention relates to bottle feeding apparatus in which bottles in an upright position are moved continuously in a stream along a path, means being provided for deflecting the mouth of a bottle transversely of the direction of its forward movement to tilt the axis of the bottle, the neck of a deflected bottle being engaged by a plough positioned adjacent to and downstream of the deflecting means and shaped progressively to displace the body of the bottle sideways out of the stream of moving bottles. As a deflected bottle is moved sideways out of the stream it is guided by the plough into a deflection channel and its axis is restored to an upright position by its neck engaging with a rail at the opposite side of the deflection channel and by the squeezing action of adjacent bottles.

Abstract: An upright conveyor belt is made to run only at one side of the row of papers. A section plate is operatively arranged to be inserted into the line of the conveyor, for retaining subsequent papers within the row. A blade is adapted to be moved across the line of the conveyor so as to sample a predetermined number of papers out of the row. A feeler for detecting the leading end of the earliest subsequent paper is provided at a position spaced downwardly from the location of the blade insertion. The blade can be timely actuated by the signal from a limit switch provided at the base of the feeler. A fork is provided at the side of the row of the papers so as to interrupt the line to eject the subsequent papers along the fork.

Abstract: Increased reliability is afforded with this simplified apparatus for assembling and transporting a loose stack of documents. The documents are stacked on edge upon a pair of pinch rolls, normally stationary. A back plate is provided for supporting the documents in a loose stack, and preferably a foot plate is included for reliability in accepting documents and in forming the stack. Documents from a plurality of asynchronous sources as well as a single source of documents are readily assembled in the desired stack, for example, with the use of a conventional tined stacking or loading mechanism. The apparatus is readily adaptive to operation by computer for determining the particular documents to be stacked and, upon completion of the stacking, for applying a driving force to the rolls for transporting the assembled loose stack of documents between the rolls to the desired destination.

Abstract: A dividing conveyor system is disclosed for directing articles such as milk bottles traveling along a stem conveyor to either a first or second branch conveyor. The divider conveyor system includes a diverter assembly disposed over the intersection point of the stem, first and second branch conveyors, and a diverter positioner for locating the diverter in an appropriate position to divert articles from the stem conveyor to either of the branch conveyors. A first branch sensor is located near the first branch conveyor and downstream of the conveyor intersection point, and a second sensor is correspondingly located near the second conveyor and downstream of the conveyor intersection point. Appropriate switching circuitry includes logic elements to divert articles from the stem conveyor to a branch conveyor at which the associated branch sensor has sensed the absence of articles on that branch conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for withdrawing a predetermined box from a flow of folded boxes traveling in a plane in a device, such as a box folding and gluing machine, which has conveyors for moving the folded boxes in the plane characterized by a detector for detecting an undesired or damaged box, a deflector mounted for reciprocal movement adjacent a discharge of the conveyor for deflecting the damaged or undesirable box out of the plane of the flow of boxes and a conveyor for conveying the deflected box away from the flow of boxes.

Abstract: Switching device for switching a flow of cigarettes, transversely aligned with respect to the flow in plants for directly feeding individual cigarettes from and to operating machines. The plant has a compensating device for compensating output unbalances between manufacturing and packeting machines. A conveyor withdraws the cigarettes from the manufacturing machines. The conveyor has a branch leading to the grouping hopper of a packeting machine, and another branch leading to the compensating device. The switching device comprises two arms movably supported at the branching-out zone of the conveyor. The end portions of the arms are shaped so as to define guide surfaces which are parts of corresponding switching paths, and are respectively located on both sides of the cigarette flow.

Abstract: A mail handling system and apparatus accepts randomly arranged mail, determines the location of postage indicia on individual pieces and feeds the pieces to separate conveyors in response to the determination of indicia location to orient the same and enables combining the conveyed mail pieces so that the indicia thereon appears entirely on one edge. Feed rollers singulate and feed randomly stacked mail past indicia detectors to a positionable chute-like receptacle which is positioned in response to the detection to eject and direct mail pieces to separate conveyors depending upon whether indicia is present adjacent the right or left edge of the piece as it is presented. The conveyors unite to provide a mail output stream with all indicia either adjacent the leading or trailing edge of the moving piece.

Abstract: A sandwich making machine for automatically making sandwiches having filling material located between the two cookie halves. The machine comprises a dividing mechanism for receiving rows of cookie halves and for automatically directing alternate rows of cookie halves to a top conveyor and a bottom conveyor. The bottom conveyor is positioned below the divider mechanism and the top conveyor is positioned adjacent the divider mechanism. A cookie aligning mechanism comprising a deadplate and a pusher bar is positioned adjacent the bottom conveyor and under the top conveyor to receive cookie halves and feed the cookie halves in aligned rows onto the bottom conveyor. A filling applicator is located above the bottom conveyor and in the path of travel of the bottom conveyor for applying filling to rows of cookie halves carried by the bottom conveyor. The top conveyor transports alternate rows of cookie halves and deposits the cookie halves at a sandwich location downstream from the filling applicator.

Abstract: To permit random loading of workpieces for passage through a furnace, and removal of the workpieces for subsequent handling by presses and the like, the furnace is constructed as a roller hearth furnace in which the width of the roller hearth is a multiple of the diameter of the ring-shaped workpieces, and adjacent the outlet an aligning means is provided in the form of a funnel of which one side wall is movable, for example by longitudinal or transverse reciprocation to align the randomly positioned workpieces in single file. A roller conveyor, with progressively increasing conveyor speed, is located beneath the aligning funnel to remove the aligned workpieces in single file for subsequent handling and treatment.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming multiple rows of articles from a single incoming row of articles. The apparatus has an elongated guide adapted to swing about a pivot point adjacent the incoming single file of articles. The downstream end carries a freely rotatable wheel with circumferentially spaced lugs engageable by the articles. A brake is connected to the wheel and a counting mechanism, associated with the wheel, operates the brake and effects the shifting of the swinging guide from one downstream lane to another when a preselected number of articles is counted.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing articles supplied in one line amongst a plurality of conveying tracks comprises guides pivotable about a vertical axis and defining a pivotable passage for said articles. A starwheel which is rotatable about a vertical axis is mounted on one of the guides and has its teeth successively projecting into the passage so that the starwheel is advanced by one tooth by the articles passing through said passage. A steering member is pivoted by one end to a crank driven by the starwheel, the other end being pivotable about a vertical axis so that an outlet end of said pivotable passage swings between said conveying tracks upon rotation of said starwheel. The starwheel is operatively connected to said crank by way of gearing.

Abstract: A device for collecting a number of bales whereby to form a group of bales comprises a plurality of parallel bale-collecting compartments divided into two groups, one on either side of a central longitudinal partition. The number of compartments corresponds to the number of rows to be provided in the group and the length of each compartment corresponds to the number of bales in each row. A pivotal diverter directs successive bales from a bale press to the alternate groups of compartments, and further pivotal diverters associated with the two groups distribute the bales among the compartments of that group.

Abstract: Apparatus for simultaneously transporting and coating bar stock has a conveyor system and a loading device feeding a coating station. A plurality of stock pieces are serially fed into the loading device and temporarily stored therein for concomitant movement to the coating station.

Abstract: A system wherein tobacco leaves are dropped onto a continuously moving belt in a grid like pattern defined by means which are arranged to deliver the tobacco leaf in a sequential manner on the moving belt. The leaves, when arranged on the belt, are passed before a photo-electric detector which senses the color or reflectivity of same. An air blast ejector is positioned downstream of the detector for separating leaves determined to be undesirable.

Abstract: A guiding device is defined by lateral guides which are pivotally movable about a vertical axis disposed in the entrance portion of the guiding device. A star-shaped stepping wheel is connected to one of the guides to meter the articles passing therethrough. The stepping wheel has a crank arm eccentrically connected thereto which in turn is pivotally connected to the stationary frame. As the articles rotate the stepping wheel, the crank incrementally oscillates the guides such that they are essentially aligned with each of the two paths for one-half revolution of the wheel. A tongue member is pivotally mounted adjacent the entrance of the two paths and connected to the guides by a linkage which causes the tongue to pivot in a direction opposite that of the guides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dividing a stream of articles into several streams. The operation is accomplished by moving articles along a horizontally swinging conveyor. The operation of the conveyor may be changed by changing a programming card. Thus the conveyor may be programmed to provide for a various number of rows of various widths.

Abstract: A sorting switch comprises a plurality of channel-shaped pallet support members mounted on drive chains for movement around a course including an upper article sorting portion and a lower return portion. The upper article sorting portion of the course includes parallel article conveying paths, and the pallet support members extend across both article conveying paths. A pallet is slidably supported on each pallet support member and has a switch engaging member depending therefrom. The pallets are arranged in sets, with alternate sets of pallets being normally aligned with opposite article conveying paths. Switching mechanisms are provided for selectively allowing each set of pallets to remain aligned with the article conveying path normal thereto or for diverting the pallets comprising the sets into alignment with the opposite article conveying path.

Abstract: Apparatus and method automatically for moving elongated objects into and out of a hot dip galvanizing kettle or the like includes a screw feed conveyor system that continually maintains control over the elongated objects while feeding and removing the objects at a uniform predetermined rate. The screw feed conveyor system includes at least two generally U-shape screws which are rotated about their axes to feed elongated objects horizontally placed thereon at opposed diametrical sides thereof through the galvanizing kettle, said screws, if desired, having flights with selectively varying pitches to tilt the objects for entry into the kettle and drag out from the kettle.

Abstract: A packaging handling system for detecting and rejecting faulty packages and for maintaining a packaging or boxing machine in operation for a specific period of time if one or the other goes down. The system comprises a plurality of photocell sensing units to detect the imperfectly formed packages and a .[.means for rejecting.]. .Iadd.pneumatic rejection device .Iaddend.the faulty packages. An accumulator is positioned in the conveyor line between the packaging machine and the boxer and will store a limited number of packages should the cartoning machine discontinue to operate and will feed a limited number of packages on the conveyor should the packaging machine become inoperative. When the system is utilized on a boxer being fed by two packers, a distribution table is also provided in the system to divide the work from one packer to both lines should the other packer cease to function.