Abstract: The bag roller in a fixed position serves as a transport device for supporting and moving material having uneven and/or fragile surfaces and, in a specific embodiment, is mounted in a support for use as a transportation element in a conveyer system, or as a forceful puller for lineal objects, such as pipelines, accommodating uneven dimensions.

Abstract: In a double wire belt conveyor for conveying newspapers along a line of travel, a series of grooved, wire belt-carrying pulley rolls is provided, spaced along the line of travel and rotatably mounted on axes in planes substantially perpendicular to the line of travel, successive of the rolls being skewed angularly, in the same direction, from the previous roll. Preferably, the skew is about 18 degrees, the number of skewed rolls is 10, the axis of the last of the rolls being substantially 180.degree. skewed from, hence parallel with, the axis of the first, and the entire series extends no more than 10 linear feet along the line of travel.

Abstract: A cigarette elevator for conveying upwards a stack-like stream of cigarettes comprises substantially parallel upwardly-extending conveyors of which at least one has transversely extending ribs on its operative face for engaging the cigarettes, a first pulley around which the ribbed conveyor passes at the upper end of the elevator, and a second pulley which is adjacent to the first pulley and has an axis of rotation which is parallel to (but slightly offset from) the axis of rotation of the first pulley, and including a substantially horizontal conveyor which passes around the second pulley, the arrangement being such that the ribs on the ribbed conveyor disappear progressively below the upper surface of the horizontal conveyor.

Abstract: A separator for separating plant stalks into components includes a feeder in the form of opposite endless conveyors which propel stalks against a splitter. The splitter comprises two oppositely traveling, notched bands which are in contact to define a cutting edge. Stalk sections have at least their pith removed by a milling roll disposed opposite a slower traveling hold-back belt, the latter controlling the speed of the stalk sections. The milling roll includes removable blades which are held in place by wedges and pairs of blades are adjusted by tiltable members at each blade end. The tiltable members move the blades into contact with reference surfaces on the milling roll to define a proper blade location. Stalks are fed to the separator by being dropped onto a chute which guides the stalks into separate feed passages, the latter being maintained throughout stalk travel through the separator.

Abstract: A cover belt conveyor including a carrier belt and a cover belt entrained over respective return drums and having proximal runs defining a conveyor path therebetween. The belts have closure strips with a periodic wave form defining wave ridges thereon and profile knobs arranged in longitudinal rows which contact one another to aid in maintaining the closure strips of one belt in a desired relation to the closure strips of the other belt during movement of the belts along the conveyor path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for straightening elongated articles such as sausage links. The apparatus includes a pair of horizontal endless belt conveyors that operate at slightly different speeds. The lower belt conveyor has a greater length than the upper belt conveyor so that the end of the lower conveyor projects beyond the corresponding end of the upper conveyor. Chilled sausage links are conveyed upwardly by an elevator and deposited on the projecting end of the lower conveyor and passed between the belts. As the sausage links pass between the belts, they are rotated to thereby straighten the links.

Abstract: A transport mechanism for feeding cylindrical or prismatic parts of discrete or indefinite lengths at a rapid rate and with accurate position control, through a work station for treatment by automatic inspection devices, part counters, roll printers, or other processing apparatus. A system of opposed belts and guides feeds the parts without rotation and without appreciable slippage at a uniform rate along a fixed feed axis, in such manner that the lateral relationship of the parts to the axis depends on their degree of conformity to a correct geometrical form. This facilitates the inspection of part form as well as dimensions, and improves the uniformity of other treatments. An arrangement of nip rolls driven at reduced speed separates discrete parts uniformly to ensure correctly-phased registration with inspection, rejection, counting, printing, or other treatment devices. The mechanism is readily adjustable to accept parts of different diameters or transverse dimensions.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling moving articles such as signatures or books. A conveyor means is moveable in timed relation to a series of the moving articles. The conveyor means carries a series of first and second guide means which are adapted to engage moving articles and which are moveable with the conveyor and relative to the conveyor. First and second cam means are engageable with the respective first and second guide means for positioning the guide means relative to the conveyor to establish a guide path for the articles which are engaged by the guide means. The guide paths are oriented so that the first and second guide means are disposed in a single stream over at least a portion of the path of travel of the conveyor.

Abstract: First and second endless conveyor arrangements respectively comprise a first and a second endless conveyor having a first and a second run. The second run adjoins the first run, and they together define an elongated path for fibrous material which is to be transported gripped between the runs. The first elongated endless conveyor comprises a plurality of parallel endless first elongated conveyor sections arranged side-by-side to define a plurality of elongated parallel first intermediate spaces extending along substantially the entire length of the first run. The second conveyor is similarly constructed so as to define similar second intermediate spaces. Along substantially the entire lengths of the first and second runs, the aforementioned sections of the conveyors project in direction from the respective run towards the other run into respective ones of the intermediate spaces of the other conveyor.

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

Abstract: A conveyor system for conveying cigarettes or similar rod-like articles includes machinery for delivering cigarettes into a junction, and a reservoir including a reversible conveyor for delivering cigarettes to or from the junction to accommodate differences between the rates of supply and demand at the junction, characterized in that the reservoir is formed by a plurality of conveyors defining a zig-zag path extending substantially in a constant plane normal to the axis of the cigarettes and comprising at least two substantially horizontal runs with one or more connecting portions through which cigarettes pass from one run to another.