Abstract: A gas feed apparatus is described for the transport of articles between assembly line stations. A turbulent gas flow is generated which provides a balanced driving force for, in particular, lightweight, irregularly shaped articles, and thus reduces the incidence of inconsistent feeding and jamming. Incorporated into the apparatus are features for controlling both the number and the speed and stability of articles fed at any one time from the line to a station. In this way rapid and efficient transfer of articles between stations is ensured.

Abstract: The apparatus for feeding closures provided with a tube to an operating unit, has a rotatable disk-like body, having a substantially vertical axis and a fixed or movable wall which delimits the body peripherally. The disk-like body has a circular supporting wall which is permeable to air at an outer annular portion, and is provided with a peripheral annular track adapted to accommodate closures arranged with their tubes directed upward. A pump is provided and arranged below the supporting wall to direct a jet of air with a substantially vertical direction toward a portion of the lower surface of the supporting wall so as to lift the closures from the circular supporting wall and push them toward the peripheral annular track from which closures exit through a passage defined in the wall which delimits the disk-like body.

Abstract: A method of optically checking the appearances of chips and sorting the chips comprises the steps of feeding chips onto chip-passage body to cause the chips to run on the chip-passage body in a predetermined direction; during the running of the chips on the chip-passage body, individually separating the chips to stop the chips one by one at each of two predetermined checking positions; irradiating light obliquely and straightly with respect to a chip at one of the predetermined checking positions to pick up an optical image of one of undersurface and top surface sides of the chip as a video signal by means of a first TV camera; irradiating light obliquely and straightly with respect to the chip at the other of the predetermined checking positions to pick up an optical image of the other of the undersurface and top surface sides of the chip as a video signal by means of a second TV camera; sending the video signals to image processing sections, each of which includes at least an analog-to-digital conversion un

Abstract: A tube is held or guided parallel to its length by providing a channel-like structure aligned with the tube and having sides which are spaced apart by a distance less than the diameter of the tube. Circumferentially spaced longitudinal portions of the outer surface of the tube bear respectively on the two sides of the channel. The channel is open to the outer surface of the tube between those longitudinal portions, and the bottom of the tube is spaced from the outer surface of the tube between those longitudinal portions. The tube is held against the channel-like structure by directing a stream of gas (e.g., air) along the channel.

Abstract: A plastic cutlery feeder for receiving a backlog of cutlery items from a source and for feeding individual items in proper orientation and proper phase to a flighted conveyor of a wrapping machine. The backlogged items are received in a vertically oriented position by the cutlery feeder which changes the items to a horizontal orientation with a single item supplied to each flight of the wrapping machine conveyor.

Abstract: An air conduit is carried by each pocket of a ware handling device to direct air under pressure towards the corner of the pocket which is to receive a container. The source is cylinder air which is fed through a hole in this piston/rod to the ware handling arm.

Abstract: A film conveying apparatus for conveying a film by conveyors is provided with a fluid spray mechanism for spraying fluid in a flim discharging direction of the conveyors. A film conveying apparatus is also provided with a container for containing the film conveyed by the conveyors, the container being arranged above a board conveyance path in the board feed side of the film peeling position, with its distance from the film peeling position being small.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting stacks of paper sheets has a first conveyor which delivers stacks in a first direction, a second conveyor which removes stacks in a second direction at right angles to the first direction, and a transfer conveyor having an endless foraminous band which is disposed between the discharge end of the first conveyor and the receiving end of the second conveyor and is operated intermittently to accept stacks from the first conveyor or to deliver stacks onto or toward the second conveyor. The upper reach of the endless band is located above several rows of nozzles which can discharge streams of compressed air to cause a stack to levitate during transfer onto the band or during removal from the band while the transfer conveyor is at a standstill.

Abstract: A modular assembly line apparatus for automatically assembling multiple component devices, such as sprinkler units and the like, includes a central support table including upper and lower reference rails for mounting assembly fixtures and mechanisms, high and low pressure air manifolds built into the table, a conveyer for continuously moving support pallets along the table, and multiple station pallet stop and support fixtures for selectively stopping and supporting work pieces for assembly functions.

Abstract: In an installation for conveying delicate objects such as semiconductor layers during processing operations and for handling such objects in a controlled atmosphere, wheeled carriages are drawn along tracks by an endless belt and are not driven by motors in order to satisfy conditions of cleanliness and freedom from pollution hazards. By means of transfer tools, object-holding cassettes are taken from the carriages during operation and replaced on the carriages after processing in the different machines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are used for automatically cutting workpieces on a portable lathe. By using the method and apparatus, the machining processes including charging the workpieces into a chuck, holding the workpieces on the chuck, cutting the workpieces with a cutting tool, loosening the workpieces from the chuck, and discharging the workpieces from the chuck are automatically performed under a timing control of a timer. In the method, the workpieces are charged into and discharged from the chuck by blowing the compressed air of a pair of air nozzles respectively onto the opposite ends of the workpieces. The operation of the chuck is controlled by a hydraulic clutch drivable by a hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A machine for milling a drill point on the end of a screw blank has a rotary conveyor with a plurality of clamps positioned radially around the periphery of said conveyor. A stationary cam is formed around the center about which the rotary conveyor turns. A number of cam followers are mounted on the conveyor for opening and closing the clamps as a function of their instantaneous positions in the excursion of the rotary conveyor. At the discharge end of the rotary excursion, a blast of air topples the screw blank head first off the conveyor to protect the tip end from damage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel high pressure water cleaning device. The cleaning device of the present invention provides means to mechanically manipulate a high pressure water nozzle. The invention is particularly suitable for cleaning the drier trays of tunnel driers which are used in rubber manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A slide fastener overturning conveyer includes an elongate hollow rectangular guide member having a guide channel for the passage of a slide fastener, and air nozzles disposed adjacent to an inlet of the guide channel and directed toward an outlet of the guide channel. The guide member is rotatably movable about its longitudinal central axis through an angle of 180 degrees for overturning the slide fastener while the latter is received in the guide member. The air nozzles eject a compressed air to convey the overturned slide fastener. The angular movement of the guide member and the compressed-air ejection are controlled by a sensor provided for detecting leading and trailing ends of the slide fastener. The overturning conveyer thus constructed is relatively small and simple in construction and is effectively operative even when a slide fastener is relatively long.

Abstract: The invention specifies a method and a device for supplying assembly parts which adhere to or entangle with each other. Individual assembly parts are extracted from an unsorted quantity of assembly parts in a separating or singling operation. These are aligned in a predetermined position and delivered to a delivery point. A partial quantity of separated or singled assembly parts aligned in a predetermined position is formed during a scooping operation. The assembly parts of this partial quantity are extracted singly and in aligned form.

Abstract: The specification discloses an apparatus for harvesting vegetables such as onions, including a topping plenum and a root cutting bed. Onions are removed from the ground by a self-adjusting digger conveyor which conveys them to an elevator conveyor. The elevator conveyor rises steeply over the large diameter, wide tires which convey the apparatus through the field. From thence the onions are conveyed beneath a vacuum plenum through a first air flow zone which is baffled so that the air flow is just sufficient to raise the tops of the onions off the conveyor and then through a second air flow zone where the onions are actually lifted off the conveyor and into registry with a registering and cutting means which cuts the tops off the onions. From thence they drop onto a root cutting bed which removes the roots of the onions and conveys them to a bulk loading conveyor. Dirt and offal drawn into the vacuum fan are conveyed out of the vacuum fan housing by a continuous conveyor system.

Abstract: A hopper assembly for use in a product transporting apparatus having a rotary drum having at least one circumferential row of equally spaced, radially inwardly recessed pockets for receiving therein products to be transported while they are sucked therein by the effect of negative pressure developed in the respective pockets as the rotary drum rotates in one direction. The hopper assembly has a container having a bottom plate inclined at a particular angle downwardly towards the periphery of the drum and terminating at a particular position, and a nozzle assembly for supplying jets of compressed air into the container for permitting the products to be upwardly moved thereby to facilitate the supply of the products successively into the respective pockets.

Abstract: An unloader for bulk materials is provided to transfer material such as cement from a barge or other bulk container. It includes a moveable and rotatable support member such as a crane or cantilevered arm that is adjacent the bulk container. A first conveyor or auger is connected to the support for pivotal movement and extends generally horizontally. A second conveyor or auger is connected to the distal end of the first conveyor for pivotal movement and is generally vertically oriented. A feeder unit is connected to the distal end of the second conveyor for universal and rotational movement. The feeder includes an uplift portion communicating with the second conveyor, the uplift portion advancing the bulk material at a rate slower than the second conveyor, and a collector portion communicating with the uplift portion. The collector portion includes converging auger assembly to advance the bulk material towards the uplift portion and to assist in transferring it into the uplift portion.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus has a conveying member on which an article such as a bundle of newspapers to be conveyed is laid, a driving device for driving the conveying member, and a lifting device to lift the article so as to separate at least a part of the article from the surface of the conveying member. Thyis lifting device is located near by the tail end of the conveyor member. This lifting device consists of a mechanical lifting unit or a pneumatic lifting unit, or the combination of them. This lifting device is actuated in accordance with a signal from a sensor for detecting the article.

Abstract: A conveyor belt scraper blade assembly having an elongate blade body made of a resilient material and having a longitudinally-extending belt scraping surface, a frame attached to the body which imparts a convex shape to the belt scraping surface, and a pair of brackets mounted on the ends of the body for attaching the blade assembly to supporting structure. In a preferred embodiment, the blade body includes a central longitudinal slit and the frame includes an insert having a double convex shape which is fitted within the slit. The frame further includes a pair of opposing side walls which are attached to the insert and include a plurality of inwardly-directed prongs which engage the blade body and hold the body in position relative to the insert.

Abstract: A machine for positioning containers such as plastics bottles has an upper, larger disc (11) and a lower, smaller disc (12) which rotate together about an axis inclined to the vertical in order to transfer containers from a lower level to a higher level. During this transfer the containers are positioned in peripheral recesses in the disc (11). Below each peripheral recess, a chute or passageway (20) extends from the disc (11) to the disc (12), and a fixed annular plate (14) projects between the recesses and the passageways (20) to prevent containers falling into the passageways (20) except at the higher level where there is a discontinuity on the plate (14). The recesses for receiving the containers circling the periphery of the disc (11) are formed by detachable parts (16) which can be interchanged with replacement parts (16) to suit the particular shape of the containers being handled.

Abstract: In order to avoid caking of bulk material when feeding from a feeder into an inlet opening of lesser cross-section, there is provided a trough with a central discharge opening located below the discharge of the feeder. Two double paddle conveyors extend in the trough towards the central discharge opening. A vertical gravity tube joins on the trough. The tube is surrounded by one or several annular channels guiding a gaseous medium. This medium forms a gaseous screen between the bulk material flow and the gravity tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to the moulding of dough pieces, for instance in the production of bread. In a dough moulding machine, there are pairs of sheeting rollers, which roll out the piece of dough into a sheet. In the method of the present invention the dough piece is caused to pass over a fluidized bed in its approach to a pair of sheeting rollers. Further, the dough piece may pass over a fluidized bed as it is transferred from one pair of sheeting rollers to a following pair of sheeting rollers.The invention also includes an arrangement for replacing the usual feed hopper of a dough panner by a conveyor, a fluidized bed and lateral locating devices for the dough piece.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for arranging balloons or the like in a nozzle-up orientation. The apparatus comprises a pair of downwardly inclined, elongate members, at least one of which has an upwardly movable surface, such as the surface of a rotatable roller. The members define a gap therebetween, and a row of spaced, unoriented balloons are fed at random, some with the baggy body leading and others with the less baggy nozzle leading, into the gap at the upper end of the members from below or the underside thereof. A baggy body leading balloon is advanced upwardly by the roller through the gap and discarded, whereas only the nozzle of each less baggy nozzle leading balloon is advanced through the gap. The nozzle leading balloons then slide down the members all arranged in a nozzle-up orientation.

Abstract: A parts supplying apparatus for use with a button assembling and setting machine includes a chute having a longitudinal guide track in and along which parts slide down one at a time, and a loading unit having a guide groove communicating with the guide track and a pusher disposed in the guide groove and slidably movable toward and away from a working station in the machine for feeding a part which has fallen from the guide track into the guide groove, in and along the latter to the working station. The chute has an exhaust nozzle disposed adjacent to a discharge end of the guide track and opening in such a direction that compressed air issued from the nozzle impinges against the underside of the part to force the latter to move smoothly from the guide track to the guide groove without stopping at a junction therebetween.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for sorting tobacco into two groups: a group of satisfactory leaves and a group of unsatisfactory leaves. Tobacco leaves, spaced so that they pass one by one along a conveyor, travel through a zone illuminated by pulsed polychromatic light and an optical sensor receiving light reflected from the tobacco leaves. In a manner which is synchronous with the pulsations of light there is measured the quantity of the light reflected by each of the leaves in the green, orange, red, and infrared areas of the spectrum. Sums are formed from the values corresponding to the reflected light in such areas of the spectrum and relations are obtained between sums corresponding to the green and orange as well as to the red and infrared ranges, of time in which the value of the reflected light in the infrared area is greater than a value preliminarily preset by the operator.

Abstract: Rod-like articles, such as cigarettes, moving in a transverse stream are decelerated by directing air at the stream from adjustable vanes before the articles reach a slower moving stream formed in a transfer region. The arrangement may be used in a stack former in which a single-layer stream of articles is converted into a multi-layer stream.

Abstract: An apparatus for counting and stacking food products such as tortillas. The tortillas are initially placed on an entry chute containing a large number of air outlets for creating a cushion of air to allow the tortilla to slide down the entry chute onto an incline conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is of an open mesh design and it is supported on a belt support having a large number of air inlets which create a vacuum that maintains the tortilla in contact with the belt. The tortillas are carried by the belt down one end of the belt support and along the underside of the belt support with contact between the tortilla and belt being maintained by vacuum creating air inlets formed in the belt support. The air inlets terminate at a location on the underside of the belt support thereby allowing the tortillas to drop from the conveyor belt. The tortillas drop onto a stationary rack formed by rods which are interleaved with conveyor belts moving together as a unit.

Abstract: Device for dividing a stream of loose material, on which one layer of material, fed in a given direction on the conveying surface of a conveyor device, is divided into at least two strips parallel to each other and to the direction of feed. At least one pair of nozzles is provided for supplying fluid pressure to each pair of adjacent strips.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming an elongated continuous mat of elongated wood flakes mixed with a binder and adapted to be compressed to form a densified composite wood product for continuously depositing wood flakes on that supporting surface and for aligning the elongated wood flakes being deposited in mutually parallel relation and in alignment with the direction of movement of the supporting surface. A hopper for containing wood flakes deposits wood flakes into the upper end of a fan-shaped flake loader comprised of a plurality of channels positioned in side-by-side relation and sloping downwardly from the hopper to a supporting surface. The channels are generally V-shaped in cross-section and converge toward their lower ends such that the wood flakes deposited in the upper ends of the channels become aligned in mutually parallel relation as the flakes slide down the channels and are deposited on the supporting surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus with the aid of which tubular transport containers (10) having a substantially U-shaped hollow cross-section for DIL housings can be aligned prior to their filling or emptying. The apparatus comprises a first storage space (22) for the transport containers to be filled or emptied and a second storage space (65) for filled or emptied transport containers. A transport means (32, 33) is provided with the aid of which the transport containers can be conveyed out of the first storage space into the second storage space. At least one alignment means (50, 51) is provided which is equipped with at least one compressed air nozzle and produces an air flow which is directed from below against a transport container on its way from the first storage space to the second storage space. Under the influence of this air flow the transport container assumes a defined position in which the DIL housings disposed therein can be removed or introduced into said container.

Abstract: Apparatus for ejecting cigarettes, comprises a conveyor (10) arranged to carry a sideways-moving row of cigarettes (14) through an ejection station at which there is a nozzle (20) arranged, when a cigarette is to be ejected, to direct a jet of air (32, 34) transversely past the cigarette and onto an air-deflecting surface (26) on the conveyor which deflects the air jet onto the cigarette so as to blow the cigarette transversely off the conveyor.

Abstract: Damage to foodstuffs, such as eggs, during handling operations is reduced by providing the handling apparatus, such as a conveyor, with a layer of an aqueous foam to cushion the foodstuffs from hard contact with each other.

Abstract: A device for weighing eggs is disclosed which is usable with a two element egg supporting conveyor and is particularly usable for the weighing of eggs while they are moving through a conveying system. The present invention actually places the eggs upon two rail members which are positively secured with respect to a high speed weighing means such as an electronic weighing means to very quickly determine the proper grade. The egg weighing device includes a delivery ramp for lifting the egg out of the egg receiving recess defined by the supporting members of the conveying configuration. The delivery ramp actually delivers the egg through a descending ramp section to the weighing platform. This weighing platform is positively secured with respect to the electronic weighing device to facilitate a high speed determination of the weight of the egg while the egg is traveling over the weighing platform.

Abstract: In bottle transporting apparatus, noise resulting from bottles colliding with each other and noise emitted by the transport mechanism is suppressed by moving the bottles in a water bath which immerses the mechanism and at least partially immerses the bottles so the sound is absorbed and attenuated by the water. Means are provided for partially filling the bottles with liquid before they reach locations where noise would be generated and this further suppresses noise. Water jets are used to assist bottle movement where the bottles are transported on conveyors and the jets may be used as the sole propulsion force in apparatus wherein the bottles are simply pushed along smooth support surfaces.

Abstract: A receiver unit for a pneumatic plug feed is adapted to feed the rods away transversely as a stack. Each successive leading rod is accelerated towards retarding means and then deflected sideways by means of one or more air jets and possibly also by a conveyor which engages the trailing end of the rod and quickly moves it out of the forward path of the next rod. Conveyor means for the stack may be arranged to move the rods into a magazine underneath a considerable "head" of rods.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring articles, e.g. thermoformed plastic cups along a conveyor and then removing them from the conveyor. To overcome problems of interference between closely positioned cups on the conveyor when removing them, a device is provided to accelerate cups in succession as they approach their position for removal from the device. This acceleration increases the distance between cups and permits sufficient time for their individual removal. In a practical apparatus, the accelerating device is an air nozzle to apply pressurized air along the conveyor and push along the cups.

Abstract: A mechanism 30 ejects an article 12 in an ascending path from a position 10 on a carrier wheel 20. An inverted "V" shaped trough 43 is located to face the ascendent path of the article 12, and to be oriented substantially parallel thereto. The article 12 is captured and removably held in an apex portion 49 of the trough 43 by an elongated magnet 56 which establishes a force field parallel to such trough 43, concentrating in the apex portion 49. The article 12 is also oriented by magnet 56 and the apex portion 49 of trough 43 in a desired direction. An air nozzle 60 has a needle-like tube 64 disposed in the apex portion 49 ending adjacent to a body 16 of an article 12. A hose fitting 66 is attached to tube 64 for introducing an air stream therein which impinges upon body 16 and propels article 12 in the desired direction.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing compounds in a liquid, wherein it is constituted by a helical vibrating elevator having a tank with a vertical axis, a fixed cover, an annular helical ramp fixed to the tank wall, means for imparting a reciprocating movement about its axis and in a vertical plane to the ramp, said movement being such that the rotation speed of the ramp in one direction exceeds the rotation speed thereof in the opposite direction, at least one liquid supply pipe in the cover, at least one lateral discharge opening for the liquid in the tank, a supply chute for the compounds carried by the cover and whose axis coincides with that of the tank and a discharge chute for the compounds located at the top of the helical ramp and in an extension of the latter.The apparatus can in particular be used for the continuous dissolving of nuclear fuels in nitric acid during the reprocessing of said fuels.

Abstract: Spaced groups of component filter portions for forming into composite filter rods are assembled by retarding selected portions of the stream by means of transversely-applied suction. The suction means may include a rotary valve operable periodically to connect a suction manifold to a suction outlet adjacent the path of the stream. The stream may be formed and conveyed at an endless band which receives the portions indirectly from a hopper via a fluted drum. The hopper may incorporate an additional feed band which agitates the rods in the hopper to ensure that each flute of the fluted drum receives a rod.

Abstract: In a belt arrangement including two endless belts revolving about deflection cylinders with their axis parallel to each other, for transporting loose, finely divided material, the upper sections of which belts are in approximately the same plane, the belts being driven in the same transport direction and following each other immediately in the transport direction and thus forming an upper wedge space between the two belts; an auxiliary device for transferring the material from one belt to the next one is obtained by means of a liquid which is of higher specific gravity than the material to be transported and does not wet the latter disposed in the upper wedge between the last deflection cylinder of the one belt and the first deflection cylinder of the following belt with seals sealing said wedge at the bottom and sides to retain the liquid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding and orienting parts. The parts are fed in sliding engagement along a guide step and ejected when misoriented. Misoriented parts are either blown off the guide step by an air knife or transversely displaced on the guide step by an ejector that alters their line of travel and causes them to fall off the guide step. All excess and misoriented parts are recirculated for refeeding and orienting.

Abstract: A wafer sheet cooler has a frame in the form of an archway in which two driven conveyor chains are guided parallel to the frame. The frame is preferably adapted to be assembled in accordance with a unit construction system. The archway frame has two upwardly converging vertical parts which enclose between them an angle (.alpha.) of between 15.degree. and 60.degree., preferably 30.degree., and merge into one another by means of a circular arcuate frame part.

Abstract: The device of this invention comprises a drum 11 rotatably mounted on a mounting frame 10. The device is designed to receive articles to be sorted from a controlled feed conveyor 12. The rotating drum 11, through its internal structure including lift fins 16 and associate structure, position the oblong articles on counter-rotating shaft conveyor 13. The articles proceed down the counter-rotating shaft conveyor 13 to a chain link loading mechanism 36 placing the sorted articles in receiving slots on chain link conveyor 37. Incorporated in the invention of this device are control structures such as feed control tilt flaps 20 and their associated structure which controls the rate of supply of articles to the rotating drum 11 by feed conveyor 12 and return rejected articles to the rear of the drum. A detector 29 is incorporated in association with the counter-rotating shaft conveyor 13 and include shaft conveyor light source 30, the shaft conveyor electric eye 31, and clearing means 32.

Abstract: An article handling system for cans and the like, wherein improved means are employed for selectively isolating individual cans from a substantially continuously recirculating mass or plurality of cans and for, therafter, transferring the isolated cans in single file fashion away from said recirculating mass of cans to a discharge station located somewhat remote from the recirculating mass of cans in such a fashion as to avoid adverse interference with the normal movements of the recirculating mass of cans. The single file movement of the isolated cans is then continued as the isolated cans are individually transferred from the discharge station to a further location.

Abstract: A pump for spraying an anti-freezing liquid on a conveyor belt exposed to freezing temperatures is controlled by an electric circuit containing a timer, a relay provided with a normally open switch, and a normally open thermostat that closes to start the timer when the ambient temperature falls below a given low temperature. The relay is connected in series with the timer switch and the thermostat to close the relay switch when both the timer switch and the thermostat are closed, whereby the pump will be operated until the timer times out or the thermostat reopens. If desired, the relay can be omitted.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously lubricating a conveyor belt with a mixture of water and soap or detergent during normal operation and for washing the conveyor belt during a preselected time interval after normal operation has ceased. Solenoid valves are interposed in water lines to a lubricating nozzle and wash nozzles to control the flow of water to the nozzles, and pumps are provided to inject soap or detergent into each of the water lines. During normal conveyor operation, electrical power is supplied only to the lubricating line solenoid valve and the lubricating line pump to produce a lubricating spray of water and soap or detergent from the lubricating nozzle which is directed onto the belt. When the master on-off switch is switched to the "off" position, a wash timer is actuated for a predetermined interval of time and cooperates with a relay to also enable the wash line solenoid valve and the wash line pump to deliver water and soap or detergent to the wash nozzle for cleansing the conveyor belt.

Abstract: The device for the removal of rod-like articles from a hopper in which a bulk supply of articles is provided and a rotating fluted drum is arranged to form the bottom wall of the hopper so that the articles are removed from the hopper by being picked by the flutes of the drum, presents the feature that each flute of the rotating drum has a depth so as to be capable of housing at least two superposed articles. The flutes filled with the articles come out of the hopper zone and a stripper takes out from each flute just one article, while the other article, if two of them were present in the flute, is again inserted in the operational cycle of the flute.

Abstract: In the assembly of groups of component filter portions for forming into composite filter rods, predetermined leading components moving on a conveyor are retarded for a predetermined period while following components are consecutively conveyed into abutment. The assembly is improved by subjecting the components to an air stream along their direction of movement in the vicinity of the retarding means so that any gaps which may be present are closed up. A similar air stream can also be useful for closing up gaps in the production of a continuous rod from component filter portions.

Abstract: A continuously moving stream of pieces taken from a storage bin is separated into precisely counted batches, for bagging, or the like. The flow speed of the pieces is optimized and substantially constant at a highest possible speed of flow higher than the batcher operating speeds will handle. Thereby this invention provides an alternative to eliminate the need for reducing flow speed because batchers require relatively long operating times and to avoid the disadvantage that reduction of the flow line speed when handling many successive batch pieces which is a slow process because of the high inherent inertia to changes of speed. In order to increase the flow speeds to higher effective batch handling rates, some of the pieces are removed from a high speed stream flow to create gaps in the flow stream between batches, thereby permitting optimized time interfacing with the necessary batching operations which thereby may proceed at a slower rate than the average piece by piece flow rate.