Abstract: A pick and place machine having an electronic component feed device is described. The feed device feeds electronic components to various pick up locations with such high positional accuracy that alignment jaws on the pick up head are not necessary. Elevated tracks run parallel to a printed circuit board conveyor belt. These elevated tracks support an arm which in turn supports the electronic component pick up head. The feed device is positioned under the elevated tracks so that an operator can replenish the supply of electronic components in the feed device without reaching over the tract.

Abstract: A lumber positioner having one or more parallel straight decks, and one or more parallel angle decks disposed transversely of, and adjacent a straight deck to extend at an angle thereto. One or the other of the straight deck or angle deck, is raised and lowered so that at least a portion of a piece of lumber extending across aligned lumber carrying surfaces of respective decks, can be transferred between a normal position, corresponding to the piece sitting on the lumber carrying surface of the straight deck, and a position vertically spaced therefrom in which it is sitting against a lumber contacting surface of the angle deck, so that the lumber piece can travel in a direction along either as desired. Preferably, a plurality of straight decks are constructed alike with each having at least one section.

Abstract: A system for transferring workpieces generally vertically from a station at one height in a workpiece support or transfer device to a station at another height in another transfer device or support. The workpiece is moved vertically by an elevator which travels along a path through the stations from a point below the lower station to a point above the upper station. To smoothly and rapidly move the workpiece the elevator is accelerated and decelerated and dwells at least when picking up and depositing a workpiece. To avoid collisions, interference and the necessity of precisely synchronizing movement of the transfer and elevator, when in its fully raised and lowered positions, the elevator is clear of and does not interfere with the transfer and supports and any workpieces in the stations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for staging a plurality of products into a grouping of a desired number of the products having a given center-to-center spacing therebetween. The staging assembly includes an endless track that indexes in order to feed, without gaps, a desired number of products thereonto, which endless track off-feeds in a generally constant manner in order to provide, in association with the takeaway speed of a receiving conveyor, the desired center-to-center spacing.

Abstract: A centering apparatus for ceramic articles or the like is disclosed, which articles are conveyed by a conveyor belt from one station to another. To facilitate further handlings of the articles, e.g. a clamping operation by a clamping device, the apparatus is arranged to align the articles into a proper orientation. The apparatus includes a first pair of centering members to center the article substantially transversely of the conveyor belt, and a second pair of centering members to center the article substantially longitudinally of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Electronic components, such as resistors with bodies of different lengths and axially protruding leads, are fed along a feed path and between a pair of rotating members. Each rotating member has fingers that are flexed away from the feed path for reception of the component bodies between cooperating fingers of the rotating members, after which these fingers close onto the bodies to center them on the feed path.An opposed pair of the flexible fingers, one from each rotating member, retain each component in a centered condition along the feed path until corresponding leads of consecutive components are taped together at a subsequent taping station to form a ladder-like belt of components.

Abstract: A device to feed bars located upstream of a machine to shear bars to size from a bundle to be sheared, the single bars being withdrawn from a selected bundle of bars, a bundle of aligned and butted bars for shearing being delivered to such shearing machine by at least one support frame holding a bundle of bars to be sheared. A movable carrier advances the support frame. An assemblage to align and abut the bundle of bars prepares the bars for shearing. The assemblage to align and abut the bundle of bars including a movable gripper into which the bundle of bars are introduced and a movable abutment plate for contacting and aligning the bundle of bars.

Abstract: The apparatus for filing or ordering a scale flow of folded, flat printed products from a rotary printing press has sliding teeth formed into a filing comb arranged on both side of the scale flow and fixed to tooth supports and with, in each case, at least one sliding tooth engaging to the left and right of a printed product in the scale flow behind its fold. The tooth supports are fixed to rotatable chains arranged to the right and left of the scale flow. One drum runs laterally along side the scale flow, so that said engagement is permitted. An equal number of filing combs is fixed to the rotary chains and run in each case around two sprockets, at least one being a driving sprocket, the spacing of two teeth on the same rotary chain determining the new scale spacing.

Abstract: This invention relates to a packaging machine in which an item is stored on a container such as tray. The container is mechanically and automatically packaged in a bag-form with a stretch film. The film is folded down to the bottom surface of the container. The width of the container may be different in size. A label can be attached to a desired position on the item.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously forming a product having elongated members at least about one foot long which are oriented, compressed and bonded is provided. The apparatus deposits elongated members on a moving carrier with an orientation that is substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the carrier. The members are deposited on the carrier over a length of carrier that is at least as long as about one and one-half times the length of the elongated members and is at least as long as about 30 times the final thickness of the compressed, composite product.

Abstract: A conveyor with reciprocating flights elevates tapered articles to an elevated discharge point. Conveyor flights have powered elements thereon to move articles lengthwise of the flight into endwise abutment with a flight mounted stop. The conveyor has discharge flights delivering singular articles to cooperating oscillating and pinch plate components which serve to detain the larger end of the article to tip same for subsequent endwise contact of an article end with a transversely running belt surface which contributes to article small end first orientation. A reciprocating surface serves to position the articles in mutual alignment for subsequent simultaneous delivery of the articles to a conveyor for further article processing.

Abstract: Collation of folded printed signatures or sheets is accomplished by a rotating collating cylinder or rotary collator which is rotatably driven about its longitudinal axis of revolution. The rotary collator comprises a plurality of collating conveyors arranged substantially parallel to this longitudinal axis. These collating conveyors are substantially annularly positioned about this longitudinal axis and extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rotary collator. The folded printed signatures or sheets are fed or conveyed by three feeding conveyors or infeed devices and are deposited to straddle the collating conveyors or the respective folded printed signatures or sheets already straddling the collating conveyors. The folded printed signatures or sheets are displaced in the direction of conveyance of the rotary collator while revolving about the longitudinal axis of the rotary collator.

Abstract: Apparatus for aligning a moving stream of overlapping signatures includes a pair of elongated endless jogger belts mounted on supporting bases on opposite sides of said moving stream. Each belt is formed of resilient flexible sheet material mounted on edge with an inside run adapted to engage the edge of the signatures as they move between the belts. A final portion of each inside belt run is aligned parallel with the stream of signatures and spaced from the opposite belt by a distance determined by the size of the signatures. Each belt run has an entry portion joining a final portion and the spacing between the entry end of the belts is greater than the spacing between the belts at the discharge end in order to accommodate misalignment of the signatures in the stream initially entering between the belts.

Abstract: A mechanism for centering the body of an electrical component in a carrier during a phase of processing the component. A pair of centering fingers are pivotally supported for movement toward and away from the carrier and adjustably downwardly biased toward the carrier to accurately position the centering fingers at the juncture of the component body and leads during centering.

Abstract: When pipes 8 are rollingly conveyed through a furnace along parallel rails 7, any lateral migrations of the pipes are periodically corrected by movable stops 18 which are extended inwardly in unison to abut the pipe ends and re-center them. The stops are mounted on elbowed arms 14 articulated about axes 15 disposed beneath the furnace bed together with fluid control cylinders 16 for the arms, thus providing unobstructed access around the side walls 2 of the furnace. The pipes roll over elevated slide runners 11 during their lateral re-centering by the stops, thereby avoiding the wear and abrasion of the rail crowns.

Abstract: A first set of parallel rollers are arranged in the longitudinal direction, and a second set of parallel rollers are also arranged in the longitudinal direction, lying substantially parallel to the first set of rollers and transversely spaced apart therefrom. A third set of parallel rollers are arranged somewhat obliquely to the longitudinal direction, and are located in the space between the first and second sets of rollers. First and second longitudinal guide plates extend approximately along the outsides of the first and the second sets of rollers respectively and project somewhat above their level. First and second transverse guide plates extend approximately along the front and rear ends of the first and the second sets of rollers and project somewhat above their level. Thus an object resting upon the rollers, by the revolution of the rollers, can be nestled against the corners between the longitudinal and the transverse guide plates, and can be accurately positioned.

Abstract: In a conveyor system of the type having laterally spaced side frame members supporting a plurality of load-carrying rollers for rotation about transverse axes to transport a load in a longitudinal direction between an upstream end and a downstream end of the conveyor system, a load-pusher assembly comprises first and second assembly sections including drive and idler mechanisms, respectively, two tracks spanning the space between the side frame members of the conveyor section in parallel relationship to the transverse axes of the load-carrying rollers, a first movable trolley carried by the tracks for pushing the load in a second direction transverse to the first direction, a second movable trolley carried by the tracks for pushing the load in a third direction opposed to the second direction, and linkages connecting the trolleys.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to enable the mechanical processing in the usual manner without presorting, of fish caught in drift or stationary nets, a very high percentage of these fish thus being damaged at their heads. This is made possible in that the fish placed in troughs of a conveyor transverse to their longitudinal axis come into operational relationship on their path of conveyance with a circumferential surface of a driven rotational body moved to swing in the axial direction of the fish. Therein the head of the fish enters the wedge formed between a support surface of the conveyor and the circumferential surface of the rotational body so that the circumferential surface comes into contact with a head flank of the fish. By limiting the swinging movement of the rotational body by placing a thickness sensing element operationally related to a rotational body onto the fish the desired positioning for a beheading of the same is achieved.

Abstract: Apparatus to move rectangular blanks from a receiving station to a loading station position. The apparatus has a support framework and a driven track to move the blanks from the receiving station towards the loading station. A feed station receives the blanks. Alignment devices in the feeding station position a blank. A blank is prevented from moving along the feed station while a further blank is being aligned. A separator separates the stacked blanks and a scanner system detects blanks of a predetermined width. A magazine stores blanks detected by the scanner system. Blanks detected by the scanner system can be moved from the track to the magazine. An end stop is on the track and a transfer device, over the track, before the end stop, receives a course of blanks. A scanner system, remote from the end stop, determines how a partially formed course of blanks should be completed.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing sprinkler pipe from a field in which the sprinkler pipe is disposed in rows in the field with the sprinkler pipe in each row being formed of serially connected lengths of sprinkler pipe having an elongate framework. Ground engaging means is carried by the framework. First and second sprockets are rotatably mounted on the framework in positions spaced apart longitudinally of the framework. An endless chain is mounted on the sprockets. A drive motor is provided. Control means for connecting and disconnecting the drive motor is provided to one of said sprockets. At least one attachment is carried by the chain. The attachment is adapted to engage lengths of the sprinkler pipe whereby as the chain is advanced the length of pipe connected there is withdrawn from the field and carried onto the elongate framework.

Abstract: An insertion apparatus is provided for inserting continuously supplied products into containers. The insertion apparatus includes an ejection device which moves parallel to products along an endless conveyor system, and a curved directrix which is adapted to guide the ejection device in a direction which effects lateral movement of the products. The directrix is inclined relative to the direction of movement of the products, and a device is provided for bypassing movement of the ejection device with respect to the directrix so that the ejection device will move independently of the movement of the products.

Abstract: An apparatus for the centered feeding of pieces of laundry to a conveyor comprises a support for hangingly supporting a piece of laundry to be fed to the conveyor, the support is reciprocally movable parallel to the centerline of the conveyor between a first position where a front face of the support is in front of the conveyor and a second position where the front face is disposed above the conveyor. The support comprises a hollow body with a front face formed by a belt with apertures therethrough. The belt is movable transversely of the conveyor centerline and the hollow body. A vacuum source is connected to the hollow body through a valve. Application of vacuum pressure to the hollow body allows an edge of a piece of laundry to be held against the apertured belt. Transverse movement of the belt allows centering of the piece of laundry with respect to the conveyor centerline.

Abstract: An article feeding apparatus capable of reliably feeding articles one by one to the next process. It comprises a plurality of feed troughs (5) adapted to be individually vibrated and disposed side by side with each other with their take-in ends formed as flat surfaces in juxtaposed relation in a plane, a plurality of arranging conveyors (10) disposed adjacent the feed troughs in the direction of feed of articles, each conveyor serving to arrange articles in a line which are being fed from its associated feed trough and feed them, pool hoppers (14) installed at the take-out ends of the arranging conveyors and adapted to open and close, a bucket conveyor (15) for transferring to the next process the articles dropped from the pool hoppers one by one into buckets supported to turn around the axes of pivots, and means disposed at a predetermined position in the path of travel of the bucket conveyor for separating a plurality of articles from each other if such plurality are charged into a bucket.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating and conveying substantially rectangular, plate-like objects has a delivery conveyor, a removal conveyor situated adjacent the delivery conveyor and having a transporting direction substantially parallel to the transporting direction of the delivery conveyor; and a fork gripper mechanism for sequentially transferring the objects from the delivery conveyor to the removal conveyor.

Abstract: The magazine for parallel cigarettes in a packing machine has several groups of ducts each of which serves to accumulate successive layers of cigarettes at different levels so that the layer which is formed in the first group is disposed at a level below the layer formed in the second group, and so forth. A conveyor advances stepwise along the groups of ducts and has openended receptacles for layers which are transferred from the groups of ducts during each period of dwell of the conveyor by an intermittently actuated transfer unit. The conveyor is flanked by two stationary guide members whose undersides have sections disposed at different levels and staggered with reference to one another, as considered at right angles to the direction of travel of the conveyor. The guide members further have end faces against which the ends of cigarettes abut during travel from a preceding toward the next-following group of ducts.

Abstract: A front feed system that includes powered rollers for feeding sheet metal into the front of a shear. In one embodiment, the system uses ball transfer apparatus for facilitating feeding the sheet metal at various angles to the shear blade as desired by the operator. The transfer apparatus may then be lowered to rest the oriented sheet metal on the rollers for delivery to the shear. In a second embodiment, a turntable is positioned proximate the shear to further facilitate final orientation of the sheet material to be sheared. In a third embodiment, the sheet metal is automatically forced against a squaring arm on the shear to assure cuts perpendicular to the edge of the sheet metal, whether the sheet is positioned on the ball transfer apparatus or on the rollers through inclination of portions of the conveyor and/or the ball transfer apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for the evaluation of test strips conveys the strips on a disposable web (e.g., a paper tape) from a first position where the test strips are placed onto the web, past a second position where the test strips are evaluated by a reflex photometer or other probe, to a take up position where the strips are wound up with the web for disposal. At the second position a barrier strip is disposed between two reciprocating arms or connecting rods, and serves to align the test strips with the probe. The connecting rods also carry at least one gripper having a beveled edge to urge the aligned test strip into registry with the probe. After evaluation, the barrier and gripper or grippers are lifted so that the evaluated test strip can be carried to the take up position.

Abstract: The contact positioning apparatus comprises a plurality of contact holding portions (11, 11') adapted to receive a series of contacts at a first pitch and to deliver the contacts to a second, different pitch. The portions (11, 11') are arranged in spaced parallel coplanar relation and are supported from a carriage (19) on respective cranks (13, 14) individually rotatable by respective pinions (16, 16'). Arms (13, 13') of the cranks are of progressively increased length and elements (55, 23) provide for bringing the pinions (16, 16') into engagement with a common rack (27), traversable to rotate the cranks and bring the contact holding portions to the desired different pitch. The carriage is suitably supported on an XYZ positioning mechanism to move the contacts between receiving and discharge stations.

Abstract: This relates to a metering device particularly adapted for separating articles being conveyed in end-to-end relation and in side-by-side rows into sets of transversely aligned articles with adjacent sets of articles being displaced in a direction transversely to the direction of movement of the articles so as to provide for the metering or separation of the articles of adjacent sets. To this end there is provided a metering device which includes a pair of endless conveyors having opposed runs and each endless conveyor including first and second sets of article supports or carriers with one set of such article supports or carriers of each conveyor being transversely offset and the article supports or carriers being of the same length in a longitudinal direction as the length of the articles or a unit multiple of such articles. The transverse offsetting of articles of longitudinally adjacent sets serves to automatically transverse the aligned articles of each set.

Abstract: Apparatus for aligning large planar workpieces on a feed table wherein a plurality of pivoted arms are provided which are biased to a raised pivotal position to engage the edge of a workpiece, with the arms being urged to a lowered pivotal position by the weight of a workpiece resting thereon so that lateral movement of a plurality of the arms which may be arranged in rows will enable one of the arms of a row to engage the edge of a workpiece while in its raised pivotal position thereby to effect positioning or alignment of the workpiece.

Abstract: An infeed table for an edging device adapted to trim the longitudinal wane edges of a sawn cant to produce dimensioned lumber as the cant is moved therethrough along a prescribed edging path including an infeed conveyor for moving the sawn cant into the edging device along the edging path; and a pair of positioning assemblies are positioned along the infeed conveyor means at spaced apart positions to selectively clamp the cant therein and shift the cant transversely of the edging path to orient the cant with respect to the edging path. A manual control is provided for the positioning assemblies to selectively shift the cant and an automatic control is also provided for shifting the positioning assemblies to a position centered on the edging path when the manual control is not activated. A set control is provided for causing the positioning assemblies to shift one edge of the cant to fixed distance from the edging path.

Abstract: A jogger for aligning signatures fed in shingled relation on a delivery belt. The delivery belt is straddled by a pair of upstanding guide belts presenting opposed faces to the edges of the signatures. Each guide belt has an upstream sheave and a downstream sheave mounted on vertical shafts and which are driven in unison with one another and at the same speed as the delivery belt. The guide belts are convergently arranged, with the downstream sheaves being spaced to define between them a discharge opening having the width of the stream in the aligned state. The upstream sheaves are spread apart with respect to the downstream sheaves by substantially the same amount of offset to define a funnel-like entryway adequate to accommodate entry of the stream in non-aligned condition with individual signatures irregularly displaced from the stream.

Abstract: A device for pushing objects lying end to end on an endless conveyor from the conveyor one at a time, including two parallel discs arranged on top of each other and with axes of rotation spaced apart in a vertical plane. A number of pins situated at equal distances from each other being pivotally secured in the upper disc as equal distances from its center, with a second set of pins being connected to the lower disc at the same radial distance from its center and with connecting members connecting the lower ends of the first set of pins to the upper ends of the second set of pins. Each pin of the second set of pins carrying at its lower end a push plate having a length shorter than the length of the objects to be pushed off. The discs overlap the conveyor in such a manner that when the discs are rotated the push plates will brush over the conveyor over a distance at least equal to the width b of the objects, while the radial distance between each pin and the center of the discs exceeds (4b.sup.2 +1.sup.2)/8b.

Abstract: Apparatus for pressing nailing plates or the like into opposite ends of elongate members, such as railroad ties, thereby to end-plate the ties. The apparatus comprises a press and apparatus for conveying the ties forwardly one after another in generally horizontal position with the ties extending transversely with respect to the direction of conveyance to a first station, and for feeding the ties one at a time from the first station to a second station where each tie is end-plated. The conveying apparatus, which comprises a series of walking beam units, is also operable to discharge a tie from the second station after it has been end-plated.

Abstract: Apparatus for isolating and feeding objects, particularly sweets, to a pang machine in which objects are transported on a conveyor in a longitudinal row closely one behind the other, displaced sideways one at a time and accelerated to a higher speed spaced longitudinally from one another. Sideways displacement is provided by pressure pieces moving longitudinally with the objects and providing abutment stops for the next succeeding object to be isolated. Part of the rear face of each object is exposed by the sideways motion and a dog of a dog-chain engages the object at this point at the same speed as the pressure piece and then accelerates the object engaged by it such that the row of objects is longitudinally spaced one from another.

Abstract: Apparatus for pressing nailing plates or the like into opposite ends of elongate members, such as wooden railroad ties, thereby to end-plate the ties. The apparatus comprises a press having upper and lower platens engageable with the top and bottom faces of a tie adjacent the ends thereof. The lower platens are movable through an upstroke for raising the tie while generally horizontal from a lowered position to an elevated position and for pressing the tie against the upper platens thereby to apply a vertical compressing force to the tie adjacent the ends thereof, and a downstroke for lowering the tie. Side platens are engageable with opposite side faces of the tie adjacent the ends thereof when the tie is in its elevated position. The side platens are movable toward and away from one another whereby a horizontal compressing force can be applied to and removed from the opposite side faces of the tie adjacent the ends thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for picking, transportation and depositing of sheeted and/or folded material from different bundles or bunches of material comprises a conveyor module for transport and registration of the sheeted material, the conveyor module including a control device for controlling and registering the material to be transported by the conveyor in a desired direction of transport, at least one conveyor belt, chain or the like driving the material along the conveyor module, a motor coupled to drive the at least one belt, chain or the like, the direction of travel of the belt, chain or the like being placed at a sharp angle in relation to the control device. Also disclosed is an inserter which can pick different sheets of material by means of suction from a raised or a lying position and to transport the sheets in a desired position, such as on the conveyor. Still further, apparatus and a method of calibration and adjustment of the inserter is provided.

Abstract: A packaging device comprises three conveyor assemblies, each having a belt mounted on wheels in turn rotatably attached to a carrier disposed within a loop formed by the respective belt. The carriers have apertures for being removably secured by screws to a vertical plate of a supporting frame, while the wheels include respective shafts with couplings for forming a locked driving engagement between drafts upon assemblage of the packaging device, the rotation of one wheel by a power source thus serving to drive all of the belts. A first pair of assemblies transport goods and containers along parallel paths from respective feeders and a third assembly carries reciprocating pushers along a third parallel path for loading the goods into the containers. A carrier is formed from a pair of members slidably interconnected for increasing the distance between peripherally mounted belt-bearing wheels and thereby increasing belt tension.

Abstract: A conveyor for sorting and arranging in single file randomly received articles is disclosed. The unscrambling device has an acticle conveying surface consisting of skewed rollers divided into a number of zones arranged in tandem along the conveyor. The rollers in each zone from infeed to discharge are driven at increasingly higher speeds with the zones overlapping in such a manner that abrupt speed changes occur in steps both lengthwise and laterally of the conveyor. The articles are biased to one side of the conveyor which side is equipped with an article contacting rail divided into segments at least some of which are inclined to impart a jostling effect to the articles.

Abstract: A system including method and apparatus for conveying and orientating tie plates for use with a railway track renewal or construction machine designed to run along a railway track. The system provides a delivery of tie plates to mechanisms for positioning and laying the plates on new or reconditioned ties adjacent both ends of each tie with the field side of the tie plate facing outwardly. A first longitudinally directed power driven conveyor is located centrally with its inlet end in a gondola car used to store the tie plates. This conveyor is divided along its longitudinal center by a wall to provide a means for conveying two adjacent lines of tie plates. The tie plates are introduced to this first conveyor on both sides of the dividing wall with the plates facing upward and the field end of the plates facing forward. A pair of second longitudinally directed power driven conveyors are located on the track working machine downstream of and outwardly from the first conveyor and at a lower level.

Abstract: In a centering device for electronic components equally spaced and traveling on a continuous conveyor, an actuator provided including a pair of pivoting, spring-loaded blades for positioning the bodies of the components before they are transferred from the continuous conveyor into a taping mechanism.

Abstract: A method and a mechanism for feeding waned boards to an edger comprising a cross conveyor for the boards, a measuring apparatus, a computer, and centering and side-adjustment means to enable centering and side-adjustment of the boards in dependence of the determined values to optimize the yield in the edger. Adjacent the outlet end of the cross conveyor there are provided slide planes (i.e. movable planar support surfaces on which the boards can slide or be slid) which form a part of a longitudinal infeed conveyor and which are adapted to receive the boards from the cross conveyor and to support the boards during the centering and side-adjustment. The slide planes can be lowered or removed, after the centering and side-adjustment has been carried out, in a manner to place the board on a longitudinal conveyor means of the infeed conveyor to be fed into the edger. Preferably the longitudinal conveyor means are stationary during adjustment and are then accelerated in a controlled manner.

Abstract: Article transfer mechanism or apparatus for changing the direction of movement of articles while maintaining the orientation of the articles, including an infeed conveyor conveying articles in a first direction while in a predetermined orientation, a transfer conveyor having a continuous belt with a plurality of groups of rollers thereon with windows therebetween receiving articles from the infeed conveyor, a plate disposed below the lower reach of the transfer conveyor and closing at least one of the windows to provide a container for an article deposited thereon, structure for rotating the groups of rollers to cause the rollers to move an article deposited thereon into the adjacent window, an article conveyor having a plurality of pockets open at the top for receiving articles from the plate of a transfer conveyor for conveying the articles in a different direction from that of the infeed conveyor; there also is shown conveyors for equally spacing randomly spaced articles and for laterally aligning articles

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering ties after unmolding from a first location to a trimming station which includes a conveyor operative between the first location and the trimming station, a gantry having a pair of arms for grasping the ends of the tie, lifting the tie from the first location, rotating the tie and delivering it to said conveyor.

Abstract: A device for deflecting a product stream consisting, in particular, of folded sheet products, from a first to at least one following longitudinal conveying device which are laterally displaced apart is provided. The distance between the first and second longitudinal conveying device is bridged by a further longitudinal conveying device which is inclined to an extent corresponding to the lateral displacement of the first and second longitudinal conveying device. The further longitudinal conveying device preferably includes two parallel, uniformly-driven conveying elements positioned adjacent to one another.

Abstract: An improvement in conveyors is disclosed in which the conveyor rollers are mounted in bearing blocks designed to pivot about a vertical axis and, thus, adjust to the angular relationship between the rollers and their supporting frame. The bearing blocks also provide a wear resisting and noise suppressing support for the roller shafts.

Abstract: A machine for cyclically receiving a plurality of containers from an unloading station and for transporting them to a discharge station, which is spaced apart from, and above the unloading station by a predetermined distance, includes a platform operable in a first position thereof below the loading station and near the discharge station for accepting the containers, and which is movable thereafter to a second position spaced substantially vertically above the first position for unloading the containers to the discharge station; the platform is thereafter returned to the first position. A control device is connected to the platform for controlling the operation thereof, and a drive arrangement is provided for moving the platform from the first position to the second position and vice versa.

Abstract: An infeed conveyor feeds logs lengthwise toward a sawing, chipping or other log processing machine. The infeed conveyor has two endless conveyor chains which circulate in an infeed conveyor path carrying flights along low-friction guides. To assist in obtaining optimum lumber recovery from logs, each flight has a load-engaging portion for cradling logs which is movable transversely of the infeed path so that a tapered log is laterally and angularly positioned as desired with respect to the centerline of the moving conveyor. Line bars along the conveyor, moved by manually or automatically-actuated cylinders engage the load-engaging portion of the flights to shift them and a supported log laterally to a desired alignment. The load-engaging portion of each flight is held in an adjusted lateral position after the line bars retract by friction blocks compressed between the load-engaging portion and the base portion.

Abstract: System of transferring wane-edged boards through a control station for edging to detect the wane consistent and possibly other characteristics of the board automatically. The board is first aligned automatically by transporting each board separately and sequentially against a first group of fixed transversal stops to provide the same sawing line for each sequentially fed board; then each is moved sequentially from the transversal stops to and through a control station where the wane consistent and other features may be detected. The information is recorded in a data processing unit memory, and then the board is transferred to an edging station and aligned against a second group of transversely positioned adjustable stops. The movable stops are optimized on the basis of information supplied by the data processing unit based on quantities measured at the control station and other information so that each of the boards is transferred to the same sawing line.

Abstract: A machine for cyclically receiving a plurality of containers from an unloading station and for transporting them to a discharge station, which is spaced apart from, and above the unloading station by a predetermined distance, includes a platform operable in a first position thereof below the loading station and near the discharge station for accepting the containers, and which is movable thereafter to a second position spaced substantially vertically above the first position for unloading the containers to the discharge station; the platform is thereafter returned to the first position. A control device is connected to the platform for controlling the operation thereof, and a drive arrangement is provided for moving the platform from the first position to the second position and vice versa.