Abstract: In a circulating vibratory linear parts-feeder including: a main trough for transporting parts in one direction; and a return trough for transporting the parts in the opposite direction to the one direction, arranged closely to the main trough, and spaced with a small gap from the main trough, in which the parts are transferred from the downstream end of the return trough into the upstream end of the main trough. The parts are orientated in the main trough by orientating means and discharged from a discharge end to the outside and the other parts are returned from the downstream end of the main trough into the upstream end of the return trough. Thus the parts are being continuously circulated in the main trough and return trough. The main trough has a transport surface for orientating the parts, and an inward circulating surface which is lower than the transport surface. The return trough includes a circulating surface.

Abstract: A generally cylindrically shaped feeder having a feeder housing defining a cavity bounded by an inner surface having a plurality of spiral grooves spaced apart from each other and extending from a front end to a back end of the inner surface of the feeder housing. A generally cone shaped end cap is dimensioned such that a cone base engages the back end of said cylindrically shaped feeder housing. The cap has an inner surface which faces the cavity and forms a plurality of grooves cut into the inner surface which extend radially from a cone top to the cone base and are spaced about a periphery of the end cap to align with corresponding spiral grooves in the feeder housing. A drive rotates the cylindrically shaped feeder about an axis of rotation to move parts along the pluralite of spiral grooves to the pluralite of radial grooves for delivery to a discharge zone at the top of said cone.

Abstract: An apparatus for arranging and supplying a plurality of objects, the apparatus including a hopper which stores the objects in bulk and which has a funnelform bottom surface at least a portion of which extends in a reference direction inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, a chute which includes an end portion extending, from a lowest portion of the hopper, substantially parallel to the reference direction, and which causes the objects arranged in an array to be moved, a discharging-promoting member which is provided in a vicinity of the end portion of the chute, which is movable substantially parallel to the reference direction, and which promotes discharging of the objects from the hopper to the chute while arranging the objects into the array, and a drive device which reciprocates, relative to the chute, the discharging-promoting member between an advanced position where an end portion of the discharging-promoting member projects into the hopper and a retracted position away from the advanced position

Abstract: Machine for aligning objects, such as variously shaped cylindrical containers to be fed to printing machines, filling machines, labelling machines or the like, comprises a rotary disc shaped as a cone with its vertex facing upwards, an underlying flat circular concentric disc the periphery of which projects beyond the edge of the upper disc and which is rotated in the same direction as but at a different speed from the upper disc, a fixed first portion of rigid cylindrical wall bounding a sector of said upper disc, and a second portion of curved wall adjustable in the radial direction and connecting the first wall overlying the edge of the upper disc to a deformable third wall extending from said second wall to lie in front of and at an adjustable distance from at least a portion of said first wall, said third wall being a flexible wall constructed of synthetic material and being supported by a series of supports, the distance of which from the centre of the machine is adjustable in synchronism.

Abstract: The present invention provides a product collator for unscrambling scrambled products received at an input point, such as a hopper, and for delivering the unscrambled products to an output point, such as a transfer conveyor. The collator includes an endless conveyor belt made up of a plurality of laterally extending flights. The conveyor belt includes a first, generally upwardly and forwardly extending path and a second, generally rearwardly extending path positioned below the upwardly and forwardly extending path.

Abstract: ? Device for receiving, directing and dropping containers (20;120) arranged randomly inside hoppers (52) of rearranging machines (50) and the like, which is formed by at least two side walls (10a) and by a back wall (10b) and comprises automatic rotating means (11,111) for directing the container, which are arranged inside the device and extend in a substantially transverse direction with respect thereto, which means may be rotationally actuated by means of associated actuators (12,13,15,90;12,13,15,190,100) so as to cause dropping of the container (20;120) present inside the device, directed in a predefined manner.

Abstract: A compact article singulation and accumulation conveyor includes a receiving portion which receives articles in random order including clusters of side-by-side articles and a discharge portion from which articles are discharged in a single file singulated stream. A first conveying surface transports articles longitudinally from the receiving portion to the discharge portion. A recirculating bed removes side-by-side articles from a downstream portion of the first conveying surface to an upstream portion of the first conveying surface. The recirculating bed is made up of at least one peel-away conveyor having a second conveying surface adapted to move side-by-side articles laterally off the first conveying surface, at least one coupling conveyor having a third conveying surface adapted to move articles from the second conveying surface upstream and at least one return conveyor having a fourth conveying surface adapted to move articles from the third conveying surface to the first conveying surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating flexible packages has a first stage. The first stage has an inclined conveyor having a lower end for receiving flexible packages and an upper end. The inclined conveyor has an inclination sufficient for causing an overlying flexible package to slide relatively to an underlying flexible package as the flexible packages travel from the lower end to the upper end. A drum is rotatably mounted for receiving the flexible packages from the upper end. The drum has a plurality of radially extending resilient paddles for successively engaging and carrying the flexible packages as the drum rotates. The successive engagements and rotation vibratingly separate the flexible packages and discharges a stream of substantially separated flexible packages.

Abstract: The present invention provides a product collator for unscrambling scrambled products received at an input point, such as a hopper, and for delivering the unscrambled products to an output point, such as a transfer conveyor. The collator includes an endless conveyor belt made up of a plurality of laterally extending flights. The conveyor belt includes a first, generally upwardly and forwardly extending path and a second, generally rearwardly extending path positioned below the upwardly and forwardly extending path.

Abstract: A conveyor defining a horizontal transport surface receives elongated workpieces in crossed-over and nonparallel orientation at an input side of the surface and moves them in a horizontal transport direction to an output side of the surface. A workpiece-aligning apparatus has a guide extending generally parallel to the workpieces along the surface, a carriage displaceable along the guide parallel to the workpieces, and a pushdown element vertically displaceable on the carriage between a lower position engaging and pushing down the workpieces and an upper position above the workpieces. A drive displaces the carriage along the guide with the element in the lower position and thereby presses the workpieces down against the transport surface and moves the workpieces into generally parallel alignment with one another.

Abstract: A machine and a method for wrapping an elongated object, such as a drinking straw, with a plastic film are disclosed. The machine has a drive for continuously advancing a thin narrow film strip from a supply roll to a wrapper loading and forming station. The wrapper loading and forming station has a trough former for folding the advancing film strip into a film trough. An inserting device positions spaced-apart elongated objects, such as the drinking straws, into the film trough of the advancing film strip for engagement by the film trough. The objects are supplied by a dispenser and disposed in a pre-oriented manner to be grasped by the inserting device. The film trough is advanced through sealing and severing stations wherein individually wrapped elongated objects or straws are produced.

Abstract: A foodstuff collating apparatus having a plurality of discrete channels within which foodstuffs are collated. The apparatus is elevated at one end to provide a slide for the foodstuff with the channels converging from one end of the apparatus to the other. As the foodstuff slides down a channel, the former is oriented from a random position to an ordered vertical disposition.

Abstract: A foodstuff collating apparatus having a plurality of discrete channels within which foodstuffs are collated. The apparatus is elevated at one end to provide a slide for the foodstuff with the channels converging from one end of the apparatus to the other. As the foodstuff slides down a channel, the former is oriented from a random position to an ordered vertical disposition.

Abstract: The invention relates to an article feeding apparatus for arraying and feeding articles having nearly spherical shape or nearly elliptical shape such as fruits and balls for sports, and more particularly to an article feeding apparatus comprising support rollers arranged in a conveying direction, with the support rollers being arranged at an angle of a nearly V form large in the opening angle as seen from the plane toward said conveying direction, and rotating means for rotating the support rollers in an article transferring direction, in which the articles are centered in the central part of the conveying route, the articles conveyed in overlaid or gathered state are dispersed back and forth, a transfer force is applied in a direction moving toward the central part of the conveying route, and the articles are transferred to next process accurately and securely one by one while maintaining the centered state of the articles.

Abstract: A component supply apparatus includes a rectangular cross-sectional component passage which can house a plurality of chip components in a longitudinal direction, and at a first side surface of the tip of this component passage a rectangular-shaped component discharge opening is formed, and at a second side surface opposing the first side surface of the tip of the component passage a rectangular-shaped pusher insertion opening is formed. Inserting the pusher into the component passage through the pusher insertion opening enables a forefront electronic component to be pushed by the pusher and be discharged outside from the component discharge opening in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating flexible packages has a first stage. The first stage has an inclined conveyor having a lower end for receiving flexible packages and an upper end. The inclined conveyor has an inclination sufficient for causing an overlying flexible package to slide relatively to an underlying flexible package as the flexible packages travel from the lower end to the upper end. A drum is rotatably mounted for receiving the flexible packages from the upper end. The drum has a plurality of radially extending resilient paddles for successively engaging and carrying the flexible packages as the drum rotates. The successive engagements and rotation vibratingly separate the flexible packages and discharges a stream of substantially separated flexible packages.

Abstract: A compact article singulation conveyor includes a receiving portion which receives articles in random order including clusters of side-by-side articles and a discharge portion from which articles are discharged in a single file singulated stream. A first conveying surface transports articles longitudinally from the receiving portion to the discharge portion. A recirculating bed removes side-by-side articles from a downstream portion of the first conveying surface to an upstream portion of the first conveying surface. The recirculating bed may be made up of at least one peel-away conveyor having a second conveying surface adapted to move side-by-side articles laterally off the first conveying surface, at least one coupling conveyor having a third conveying surface adapted to move articles from the second conveying surface upstream and at least one return conveyor having a fourth conveying surface adapted to move articles from the third conveying surface to the first conveying surface.

Abstract: A foodstuff collating apparatus having a plurality of discrete channels within which foodstuffs are collated. The apparatus is elevated at one end to provide a slide for the foodstuff with the channels converging from one end of the apparatus to the other. As the foodstuff slides down a channel, the former is oriented from a random position to an ordered vertical disposition.

Abstract: A flatware sorting machine including a feed bin for holding unsorted flatware, a sorting system for sorting the flatware, and a flatware pick-up and transport system for retrieving the flatware from the feed bin and transporting them to the sorting system.

Abstract: A compact article singulation conveyor includes a receiving portion which receives articles in random order including clusters of side-by-side articles and a discharge portion from which articles are discharged in a single file singulated stream. A first conveying surface transports articles longitudinally from the receiving portion to the discharge portion. A recirculating bed removes side-by-side articles from a downstream portion of the first conveying surface to an upstream portion of the first conveying surface. The recirculating bed is made up of at least one peel-away conveyor having a second conveying surface adapted to move side-by-side articles laterally off the first conveying surface, at least one coupling conveyor having a third conveying surface adapted to move articles from the second conveying surface upstream and at least one return conveyor having a fourth conveying surface adapted to move articles from the third conveying surface to the first conveying surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting magnetic objects (8) has at least one magnetic transport roller (20) mounted to a frame (10) for conveying a ferromagnetic carrier (12), and means for rotating the transport roller. The means comprises a ferromagnetic stator member (62), integrally associated with the transport roller (20), which has a plurality of spatially separated pole teeth (64) each of which has an operably connected coil (66) arranged for producing rotation of the transport roller (20). The transport roller (20) has a magnetic core (22), a first bonding layer (24) at least partially surrounding and bonded to the core (22), a first layer (26) at least partially surrounding and bonded to the first bonding layer (24), a second bonding layer 28 for bonding second layer 30 to the core (20). Second layer (30) comprises a wear and abrasion resistant material. Further, a ferromagnetic web (12) is arranged for movement along the magnetic transport roller (20) for transporting materials thereon.

Abstract: In an apparatus for inspecting small articles, such as in particular tablets, for obtaining a precise lining up of the articles there is a rotationally symmetrical separating body (4) rotatable about a vertical rotation axis (A), which has a substantially conical feed section (6) and a section (7, 8) for orienting and/or separating the articles (G) surrounded by a ring slot (S) at least corresponding to the thickness of the articles (G). The separating section (8) is subdivided into individual shafts (11) for receiving the articles (G) by ribs (9) circumferentially succeeding one another with a spacing at least corresponding to the width or diameter of the articles (G).

Abstract: A spring untangling apparatus for separating tangled coil springs comprises a box having spring inlet and outlet apertures at opposed walls thereof. A spring inlet duct is led to the spring inlet aperture. A vibration device is provided for vibrating the spring inlet duct to cause the tangled coil springs in the inlet duct to move toward the spring inlet aperture. The box is configured so that the tangled coil springs are placed in order so that clusters of the tangled coil springs are led into the box one cluster after another. An air jet nozzle is arranged for forcing the tangled coil springs into the box through the spring inlet aperture with an aid of compressed air, and another air jet nozzle is arranged for blowing up the tangled coil springs in the box to violently hit the same against inner walls of the box thereby untangling the same.

Abstract: A collator for a food product packaging system includes first and second laterally spaced side frame members. Each frame member has an upper portion and a lower portion. A plurality of interconnected flights form a continuous flight chain. At least some of the flights have a recess extending therealong for receipt of food product. At least three sprockets are rotatably mounted to each of the side frame members. The first and second sprockets are mounted proximate the lower portion of each frame member, and the third sprockets are mounted proximate the associated upper portions. First and second cooperating aligned guides are secured to each frame member and extends substantially between the first and third sprockets. Each guide has sequentially arranged first, second, and third portions. The flight chain is trained about the sprockets and cooperates with the guides so that rotation of the sprockets causes advancement of the flight chain.

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

Abstract: Device for separating bodies with: a conveying device comprising at least one rim proceeding in the conveying direction; at least one guiding device which is permanently mounted at a distance which is significantly smaller than the dimensions perpendicular to the conveying device of the bodies to be separated, which guiding device comprises a deflector which forms an angle with the direction of movement of the conveying device; and a feeding position for the bodies. In order to allow a reliable separation of the bodies, it is provided that the deflector of the guiding device with its--viewed in the conveying direction--trailing edge ends at a distance before the nearest rim of the conveying device, so that an unobstructed conveying path for the bodies to be separated remains between the trailing edge of the deflector and the nearest rim of the conveying device.

Abstract: Randomly delivered parcels are singled and/or sorted with a central separator which receives a random stream of parcels from a first conveyor. The parcels are removed in single file from the central separator with a second conveyor. The central separator has a semicircular belt curve with a conveyor belt incoming at an incoming-side curve radius and outgoing at a diametrically opposite, outgoing-side curve radius. The first conveyor discharges the parcels randomly into the semicircular belt curve. The second conveyor for removing singled parcels adjoins the belt curve at the outgoing-side curve radius and at a periphery of the belt curve. A return device returns to the belt curve any parcels not directly removed from the belt curve in singled condition. The return device is disposed adjacent the diametrically opposite curve radii and adjacent the second conveyor.

Abstract: A singulator conveyor receives randomly oriented articles and positions those articles in single file. The conveyor includes skewed rollers for driving articles longitudinally and laterally against a side wall. The width of the singulator conveyor becomes gradually stepped-down, and a return conveyor system is provided which includes secondary return conveyors or chutes disposed at respective ones of the steps for receiving excessive articles from the singulator conveyor and delivering them to a main return conveyor which returns the articles to an upstream end of the singulator conveyor.

Abstract: A package and bundle singulator having a cone shaped housing with an input receiving opening and an outlet discharge opening. A helix or spiral is formed on an inner surface of the housing to engage and separate packages and bundles entering the input receiving opening. A support frame rotatably supports and maintains the housing in an orientation where the input receiving opening is at a higher level than the output discharge opening. The housing is rotated by a drive assembly engaging the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing randomly received items, such as poultry carcasses, in a single file and for placing adjacent single filed items in a substantially equidistant spaced relationship 10 includes a rotatable cone 12 having an outer periphery 14, a conveyor belt 28 disposed about the outer periphery 14 of the rotatable cone 12, a guide wall 64 for effecting disposal of the items in a single file on the conveyor belt, a speedup conveyor section 160 for receiving and accelerating the single filed items, and an inclined conveyor section 162 having a plurality of substantially equidistantly spaced carriers 220 for receiving the items from the speedup conveyor section 160 and placing adjacently received items in a substantially equidistantly spaced relationship to each other.

Abstract: An article removal conveyor includes first and second conveying lanes disposed in parallel alongside one another and driven in a manner imparting mutually divergent conveying forces. The first conveying lane has a conveying surface with a higher coefficient of friction than that of the second conveying lane so that any articles contacting the first conveying lane will be controlled by that lane.

Abstract: An automatic pellet feeding apparatus and method for delivering plastic pellets to a plastic molding machine for encapsulating semiconductor chips stores a plurality of plastic pellets for ultimate delivery to the plastic molding machine. A stair like structure is provided for vertically moving the plastic pellets from a plastic pellet storage location to a conveyor which moves the plastic pellets to the plastic molding machine. The stair like structure has an arrangement of members which alternates between a movable member and a stationary member. The movable members are all moved up and down together, and when the movable members are down, plastic pellets may be loaded thereon from either the storage location or from an adjacent stationary member. Alternatively, when the movable members are up, plastic pellets may be off-loaded therefrom to either an adjacent stationary member or to the conveyor.

Abstract: A first conveyor belt has a transverse tilt from horizontal and a wall along one side. Crushed plastic containers dropped onto the belt fall against the wall and are thus aligned under gravity action. The first belt transfers aligned containers to a second belt operating at a faster rate of speed and having a width capable of supporting only a single article in the transverse direction. The second belt transfers the containers to a third belt operating at a faster rate of speed than the second belt thereby further spacing the containers one from another. A scanner checks the spacing of each adjacent pair of containers and causes an air cannon to blow containers from the third belt when spacing does not conform to a predetermined spacing criteria. Containers falling from the end of the first belt and those blown from the third belt are received by a hopper having a conveyer therein which returns such containers to the first belt.

Abstract: An unscrambler for unscrambling a bundle of elongated tubes comprises a plurality of forward belt-support columns, a plurality of aft support columns, a plurality of flexible belts suspended in parallel between the forward and aft support columns forming a belt magazine for retaining the bundle of tubing which extend longitudinally in a direction perpendicular to the belts, and a plurality of ramps positioned longitudinally between each pair of adjacent belts sloping upwardly towards the forward support columns and positioned such that they provide support for the bundle in the belt magazine. The ramps each have a wedge extending from their upper surfaces, and each wedge has a forward face which intersects the upper surface of the ramp to form a v-shaped groove on the ramp. Furthermore, each of the belts have a cleat attached to their upper surfaces. Tightening of the belts causes the bundle to be guided up the ramps and lifted above the wedges on the ramps such that the bundle expands outwardly.

Abstract: Electronic chips accumulated at random directions are arranged in an orderly line by a chip part supplier. A chip part feeder transfers the first aligned chip onto a printed circuit board. Chip parts having random directions in a hopper are fed to a discharge channel, organized in a prescribed direction and transferred through the discharge channel before being discharged through the channel bottom end onto a conveying belt before being carried by the belt in a prescribed direction. A clearance forcefully caused between the first chip and next chip separates the two chips completely just before the first chip is picked up. The thus separated first chip part is picked up by a suction head before being transferred to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling irregular shaped linear items comprising a hopper for holding a plurality of irregular shaped linear items, and a lifting device operable with the hopper for upwardly removing the items from the hopper. The upward movement of the lifting device rotates the items in the hopper providing a substantially parallel and transverse feed alignment of the items to the lifting device. The apparatus further includes a device to separate and deliver product or items in spaced relationship, and a device for delivering the spaced product to a continuously moving conveyor. The continuously moving conveyor delivers product to a v-shaped trough where the trough angle is selected to provide downward deflection of product or items delivered by the moving conveyor system.

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

Abstract: There is disclosed a static mixer for intimate mixing of granular solids, a solids flow controller and a solids transfer tube which are useful to mix polycrystalline material with dopant solids, and to feed the resultant mixture continuously and accurately into a modified Czochralski-type furnace for growing single crystal material. The static mixer is a series of conical funnel plates interspaced by thieving divider plates that are formed by a plurality of triangular V-shaped, radial sectors. Contiguous to the static mixer is a storage hopper which has sufficient storage capacity for all the polycrystalline feed material required in a single run of the furnace. Located beneath the hopper is a solids flow controller that is a V-shaped trough which is vibrated along its longitudinal axis. At one end, the trough has a transverse baffle located with a gap between its bottom edge and the bottom of the trough that controls the rate of flow of the solids.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting particles of a bulk material moving on a transport ribbon (38) comprises an electro optical monitoring unit (101) above transport ribbon (38) for detecting the particles to be sorted out. Jet nozzles (45, 46) are controlled by a signal emitted by this electro optical monitoring unit (40), the jet nozzles being provided at the side opposite the bulk material of transport ribbon (38), which consists of an air permeable material. By means of the gas jet passing through transport ribbon (38), the particles to be sorted out are lifted off from the transport ribbon and are thrown into storage containers (47, 48).The bulk material is passed through a gap between rollers or grinding elements to provide flake-shaped particles which are then observed to provide first and second measurements which are subtracted from each other. A vibrating conveyor 87 with feeding channels 87.1 separate particles for disposition upon a ribbon 538 with the aid of a jet nozzle n.

Abstract: Singulation apparatus (10) for transforming a plurality of randomly oriented tires (T) in an inlet hopper to a linear alignment of tires reposing on their sidewalls including, a singulator assembly (20) having a plurality of stepped conveyor stages (21-24) with tire sidewall engaging surfaces (25-29) which are angularly upwardly inclined, mechanisms (35, 35', 36, 37, 38, 39) for driving the sidewall engaging surfaces of each of the conveyor surfaces at differing linear velocities for unscrambling and spacing tires passing through the singulator assembly, an unloading chute (70) for accumulating tires received from the singulator assembly in laterally aligned relation, a download conveyor (85) for intermittently receiving tires from the unloading chute and depositing the tires in linear alignment on a discharge conveyor (100).

Abstract: A fruit juice extracting machine has a pair of opposing endless cup chains extending around a rotatable reamer wheel. The peel guide or retainer holds reamed peel halves in cup until ejector directs peel half into peel chute. A filler plate panel substantially closes off the reamer wheel to help to prevent the accumulation of stagnant juice or pulp. A peel chute behind the reamer wheel has a back surface with slotted opening to recover additional juice and pulp as the peels are ejected from the cup chain and collide against the back surface of the peel chute. The new cup track is a stiffer structure for maintaining the cup chain in proper engagement to the reamers, for improved yield and reduced wear. A full width bulkhead divides the juicing area from the peel chute area.

Abstract: A rubber tire individual separation transport apparatus including a rubber tire individual conveyor surface section and a rubber tire sliding surface section separately formed on a slat conveyor surface, with the conveyor having a horizontal charge zone, a sharply inclined individual transport zone, and a horizontal discharge zone. Also included is an upright plate erected for contact with the peripheral surface of a rubber tire at one end of each slat in the individual conveyor surface section. A support plate of such a size as to support only one rubber tire laid flat on said individual conveyor surface is mounted at a larger pitch in the direction of transport than the maximum diameter of the rubber tire being conveyed. A stationary side wall is erected along the side edge of the other end of the slat of the sliding surface section. Cooperative action between the selected tire and the side wall causes frictional force on unwanted tires to cause them to fall back to the supply of tires.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying and aligning various types of film packages recovered for recycling. A conveyer of the apparatus is constructed by a pair of parallel belts combined to form a V-shaped bearing gutter and driven in the same conveying direction. The film packages are conveyed on the conveyer and are slid downward through an inclined cylindrical tube which rotates about the longitudinal axis and has spiral ridges on the inner periphery. Thereby, the longitudinal direction of the film packages are aligned with the conveying direction. Then a posture discriminator discriminates between the upright posture and the upside-down posture of the film packages on a first conveying path, based on the position of the viewfinder. The film packages having the upright posture are caused to fall headlong from the first conveying path onto a second conveying path, so as to have the upside-down posture on the second conveying path.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for sorting waste into different waste types. A first division of the waste is effected into at least two waste types in that each waste type is placed in a bag or container (100, 101) which is provided with at least one marking which indicates the waste type for which the bag is intended. The containers are collected and mixed together for transport to a common sorting plant in which the containers pass an identification mechanism (6) establishing, with the aid of the marking on the bag, the type of waste for which the bag is intended. The information is transmitted to a recording and control system (7) which, via a signal transmission device (73) switches a separating mechanism (9) for adjusting the same into a position in which the bag, on its passage of the sorting plant, is brought into a position reserved for that type of waste indicated by the marking on the container.

Abstract: The sharply inclined transport surface of a slat conveyor is divided into an individual conveyance surface section and a sliding surface section; and a support plate in said individual conveyance surface section supporting only one rubber tire laid flat on said individual conveyance surface section is mounted at a larger pitch in the direction of transport than the maximum diameter of the rubber tire being conveyed. A mixed-suspended state collapsing member is mounted on a frame of said slat conveyor so as to project toward said rubber tire sliding surface section. Not only is a single rubber tire separated and carried out by a support plate but also a plurality of tires not supported by the support plate but being carried upward together in the sharply inclined individual transport zone of the slat conveyor may be raised by the mixed-suspended state collapsing member which is fixedly mounted protrusively on the sliding surface section, and securely returned to the horizontal take-in zone.

Abstract: An apparatus having a rotary member which utilizes various forces acting upon articles when rotated on a surface of the member for singulating the articles. The rotary member has a surface that forms an angle .theta. to a horizontal plane where the angle .theta. is between about 0.degree. and 200.degree.. A motor and coupling elements couple the motor to the surface and the surface is rotated about an axis at about 10 to 15 RPM. The surface of the device has a coefficient of friction with respect to the articles such that the articles entering onto the surface at the region of ingress are moved toward a stationary wall circumscribing the surface. Outboard articles, i.e., articles that are lodged in an abutting relationship with the wall, are translated while the inboard stacked articles, i.e.

Abstract: A machine for aligning lumber received from a previous processing station into an orientation suited for a subsequent processing station. The machine has an infeed conveyor for receiving lumber from a previous processing station. Large rotating drums are positioned in the infeed conveyor adjacent to carriers of the infeed conveyor with a portion of the drum periphery extending above the infeed conveyor. An angled conveyor having multiple carriers, such as belts, is mounted strategic to the infeed conveyor and drums with the second conveyor extending upwardly at an angle to the infeed conveyor and drums. The drums are rotated such that the peripheral velocity of the drums is greater than the carriers of the infeed and angled conveyor. The drums elevate (lift) and accelerate the lumber from the infeed conveyor onto the angled conveyor.

Abstract: The method of orienting plastic pipe fittings in predetermined positions by passing the fittings downwardly through an inclined, rotating tube having a relatively smooth-walled bore so that the frictional agitation of the gravitating articles permits them to settle into a predetermined position with the center of mass in the lowermost possible position. The rate of rotation and the angle of incline are adjusted for different articles, and tubes of three different sizes are provided for interchangeable use. Two pairs of supporting rollers on opposite sides of the tube position are engageable with axially spaced annular collars on the tubes, the collars being sized to hold the tubes at the same discharge level and one of the rollers of each pair being driven by a variable speed motor to rotate the tube.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a singulation system for recyclable materials which has a vacuum chamber having a slot down the middle. The vacuum chamber is substantially hollow such that air being pulled through one side of the vacuum chamber is pulled through the slot. Air is pulled through the vacuum chamber using a vacuum. A belt is rolled around the vacuum chamber, and the belt has hole arrays. The vacuum pulling air through the slot pulls air through the hole arrays, thereby allowing the belt to grab hold of and pull containers up the belt. Various outlet hoses can be provided from the vacuum to blow containers off the belt which are not firmly attached at the hole arrays, or to blow air against the diverter which then blows air across the belt, or to blow air through the hole arrays on the underside of the vacuum chamber to clear out holes which may be clogged from time to time.

Abstract: A vibratory feed device is described for producing a high-speed single-file stream of aligned food articles. The feed device comprises a vibratory guide trough extending longitudinally from a receiving end to a discharge end. The guide trough has inclined and transversely-opposed sidewalls. An endless feed belt travels longitudinally through the guide trough from the receiving end to the discharge end. The feed belt has outer portions which incline upwardly to form a concave conveyor surface for conveying food articles through the guide trough. The guide trough oscillates to singulate and align food articles within the concave conveyor surface. The feed device also includes a redirection sheave at the discharge end of the guide trough. The redirection sheave supports the feed belt along a redirection arc which extends at least partially about the redirection sheave. An endless hold-down belt faces the feed belt along the redirection arc to hold food articles against the feed belt.