Abstract: A method is described of filling and/or sealing a packaging container. The packaging container can include a packaging laminate and having a top portion and a lower portion including one or more side walls and an open base. The method can include: supporting the packaging container with the open base uppermost on a support with an upstanding portion, wherein the support engages the top portion of the packaging container and engages part of the one or more side walls via the upstanding portion of the support; and filling the packaging container via its open base and/or sealing the open base of the packaging container, wherein the support ensures dimensional stability of the packaging container during the filling and/or sealing step. A related apparatus, support and packaging container are also described.

Abstract: A device and method for inductively heating package sleeves including: at least one unit for producing an alternating current, at least one inductor having at least one effective section, and a holding unit having a front holding area and a rear holding area for mounting the inductor, wherein the inductor is connected to the unit for producing an alternating current, and wherein the holding areas arranged in such a way that a gap is formed between the front holding area and the rear holding area, the longitudinal direction of which gap corresponds to the conveying direction of the package sleeves. The effective sections of the at least one inductor may be at least in sections arranged asymmetrically to one another in relation to a center plane lying in the gap.

Abstract: A container gripper adapted for mounting on a container carrying (transport) chain of a container processing machine, the gripper body having a body portion with first and second banks of upstanding resilient, elastomeric fingers upstanding thereof, wherein the fingers of the first bank cross over the fingers of the second bank at upper portions of each finger to allow the upper ends of the fingers to contact and grip a container in a scissor-like manner.

Abstract: A distribution conveyor having a proximal and a distal ends, a first and a second sides and one or more adjustable side-discharging flow control valves between the proximal and distal ends, and a recirculation conveyor having a proximal end, proximal to the distal end of the distribution conveyor, and a distal end proximal a redeposit section of the distribution conveyor, wherein the valves can discharge a portion of a source stream of product from the distribution conveyor to a receiving structure underneath each valve, wherein the distal end of the recirculation conveyor is positioned to recirculate a tail stream from the distal end of the distribution conveyor to a redeposit section of the recirculating conveyor, and wherein the distal end of the recirculation conveyor is positioned to return the tail stream to the distribution conveyor laterally offset to a centerline of the distribution conveyor for preferential discharge in the valve(s).

Abstract: A feeding control mechanism of packaging machine includes a chassis, a feeding guide, a forwarding device, a conveyor belt, and a feeding controller. The feeding guide is arranged at a front side of the chassis to forward a product into the chassis. The forwarding device includes a feeding channel defined by left and right pulleys for clamping and moving a product onto a conveyor belt. The feeding controller is arranged above the conveyor belt. The product tray carried by the conveyor belt are used to trigger first and second sensor of the chassis to activate the feeding controller for opening/closing stop pegs so as to control each product to be correctly positioned on each product tray of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A separator system includes a conveyance assembly and one or more blocking components. The conveyance assembly moves a leading group of product and a trailing group of product along a feed direction toward a packaging system to separately package the leading group of product into a first container and the trailing group of product into a second container. The one or more blocking components are disposed upstream of the packaging system along the feed direction. The one or more blocking components stop movement of the trailing group of product upstream of the packaging system along the feed direction while allowing the leading group of product to move toward the packaging system.

Abstract: A system with rotatable levers spaced and positioned to alternately retain or release components from a plurality of lanes simultaneously into slots of a component receiving mechanism. The levers may be differently sized and shaped to hold back certain components at different positions than others, or the levers may be attached to a rotatable member at varying angles to one another to accomplish such varying holdback patterns. Alternatively, a cam and pin arrangement may be utilized.

Abstract: A belt plough assembly (10) is used to deflect material on a conveyor belt (15). The belt plough assembly (10) comprises a support structure (11), and a blade (13) operatively positioned by the support structure (11) on the material carrying side of the conveyor belt (15) and orientated to deflect or redirect outlying material on a conveyor belt back inside the alignment of the skirts. The support structure (11) comprises a housing having an upright slot (12) within which the blade (13) is slidably mounted. The blade rests on the belt (15) under its own weight, but is freely movable relative to the support structure (11). This enables the blade (13) to maintain contact with the belt (15) and follow any undulations in the belt, and self-adjust for wear on the blade. A damper (16) may be provided for damping movements of the blade.

Abstract: The invention falls in the field for transferring empty/full plastic containers provided with a collar or neck ring and, more particularly, it refers to a lever-shaped drawing device acting between the neck ring and the closing thread of the container. Said lever is kept pressed against a sliding channel (3) of the suspended bottles (2) and can retract for not interfering with said area when bottles build up. A substantially semicircular recess (9) partially surrounds the bottle neck where it interferes with the latter. Two levers are overlapped and by two springs (M1,M2) having different rigidities, two working conditions are defined: a first drawing condition and a second building-up condition; said springs allow the lever to draw also heavy containers and at the same time to disengage from the same if, along the path, there are other building up containers.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stop device including a swinging unit which includes a workpiece abutment portion which stops a workpiece being conveyed by abutting against the workpiece, and is pivotal between an abutment position and a retraction position, an elastic member for the swinging unit which gives a biasing force to the swinging unit, an electromotive drive unit including a movable portion and a driving portion, and a pivot restricting member which performs pivot restriction of the swinging unit by moving to engage with the swinging unit in response to movement of the movable portion and releases the pivot restriction.

Abstract: An apparatus for catching shingles includes a shingle receiving apparatus configured to receive a shingle moving at a machine speed and a deceleration assembly configured to decelerate the moving shingle upon the moving shingle's engaging the deceleration assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying containers with a guiding element which contacts the container in at least one area of the peripheral wall thereof and guides the container on a pre-set path, with a driving device which drives the guiding element in order to convey the container, and with a base support element which supports the container at least in part during the conveying in a base region of the container. According to the invention the base support element is vertically displaceable.

Abstract: A device for grouping and/or separating of articles which are transported on a conveyor device (10) along a conveying plane in at least a row in an essentially closed stream and which are grouped by at least one separating finger (16) which is inserted into the stream from below, transverse to the conveying direction (t). The separating finger (16) is inserted in the stream in such a way that a targeted article and the articles following the targeted article are slightly delayed or accelerated during their forward movement in the conveying direction (t) whereby a gap is formed. The separating finger (16) engages with a lateral edge of an outer surface of the article includes a contact area (26) that at least partially contacts and/or at least partially encompasses the outer surface of the article.

Abstract: A deflection apparatus (1) for a conveying system has a central body (5) with a roller body (2) which circulates around the central body (5), wherein the roller body (2) has a multiplicity of rollers (3) which are guided with play and roll in a roller track (13) of the central body (5), wherein the deflection apparatus (1) forms an independent structural unit which can be assembled, dismantled and transported as a unit, and thus can be installed as an independent structural unit in order to deflect a conveying means (20, 40) in a conveying system. The deflection apparatus (1) is preferably configured in a lightweight design, having rollers (3) made from plastic and the central body (5) made from plastic or aluminium.

Abstract: An arrangement (10) for assembling into batches (Ln), via a phasing device (23), a plurality of products (Pn) traveling on a conveyor belt (16) from an intake zone upstream to an exit zone downstream. The phasing device (23) is placed between the intake zone and the exit zone. The arrangement has at least one retractable catch (60, 62, 64), and the catch (60, 62, 64) is moved successively into an engaged position, causing a first product (Pn) to be slowed down until a second product (Pn) located immediately uptream moves up to it, so as to form a batch (Ln), and into a retracted position which enables the previously formed batch (Ln) to continue its downstream movement at the running speed of the belt.

Abstract: Product is conveyed as a continuous stream by a meter conveyor (12) unto a transfer plate (32) and a transfer device (42). The transfer device (42) is movable between a retracted position and an extended position extending over a sweep conveyor (22). In a preferred form, the transfer device (42) is in the form of a thin piece of flexible material and is moved in the conveying direction from the retracted position to the extended position by engaging with the sweep conveyor (22) and is moved to the retracted position by being wrapped around a rotated roller (46). Product is transferred from the transfer device (42) to the sweep conveyor (22) as the transfer device (42) moves from the extended position to the retracted position and is engaged by a metering bar (52ba) which controls the product acceleration on the sweep conveyor (22) to match the meter conveyor (12) until the product group leaves the transfer device (42).

Abstract: A conveyor for conveying bulk material includes a conveyor loop (2) having an upper section forming a transport deck (5) extending along a transport path and a lower return section. The conveyor loop (2) includes an array of pins (7) and connections (8, 9) interconnecting the pins (7) and an array of carrier beams (10) each extending transverse to the array of pins (7) and connections (8, 9). A side barrier (11) above and along a side of the transport deck (5) for restraining bulk material from moving laterally off the is formed by an array of side barrier plates (24; 124). The side barrier plates (24; 124) are each fixedly connected relative to axes (35) of a pair of the pins (7). Leading and trailing ends (36) of successive side barrier plates (24; 124) are in at least close proximity of each other.

Abstract: Device for intermittently transporting objects, in particular coated wafer sheets or filled wafer blocks. At least one stop (5) that can be lowered below a transport plane is mounted downstream of a device (2) that pushes the objects (1) forward in the transport plane. The stop (5) has a bearing surface which is associated to the front face of the objects (1) and can be moved back and forth between an upper position in which it projects upwards with its bearing surface above the transport plane and a lower position in which it is lowered below the transport plane. At least one scraper (12, 13) associated to the bearing surface is arranged along the path of displacement of the bearing surface. The stop (5) consists of a moulded body (7) that be moved up and down and of a bearing surface that can be moved in relation to the moulded body (7) between a work position associated to the front face of the objects (1) and a rest position removed therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for stopping a roll set, quickly in a controlled fashion. Typically, such a roll set is comprised of a plurality of rolls which is launched from a slitter wherefrom it is rolled along a downward ramp to a conveyor. On the downward ramp, on the side of the conveyor opposite the ramp is a number of adjacent stop gages suited for being controlled to a home position and an operating position, respectively. For each roll, a required number of the stop gages located along the rolling path of the roll is selected to operate, while the rest of the stop gages are left in their home positions. In this fashion, each roll can be stopped individually even when the rolls move simultaneously and, moreover, the stopping force can be adjusted separately for each roll.

Abstract: A guide system for packages on a conveyor system includes a generally linear guide member. The guide member aligns the packages as they move along the conveyor system. A generally linear control member is connected to the guide member and lies generally parallel thereto. The control member can be rotated around its longitudinal axis to move the guide member in a generally arcuate path. This causes adjustment of the guide member to accommodate different sizes of packages.

Abstract: The present invention provides a can feeding apparatus for a can seamer, in which can bodies are fed to a seaming turret are slid on a plate rail and alongside opposed guides by fingers of a drive chain. The seaming turret or a turret opposed to the seaming turret, or both turrets, are provided with claws at their outer circumferential portions. The claws project radially outwardly of pitch circles of the turrets and these projecting portions have profiles of cycloids so that the turrets will not pierce the can bodies. A plate-shaped magnet and/or a brush are disposed on the guides to steady the can bodies as they are transferred to a can lifter of the seaming turret. Furthermore, the angular position of a conveyor sprocket of the can feed conveyor can be adjusted easily in a short period of time by a phase adjusting device. Still further, in a can lid feeder disposed in front of the can seamer, a can body centering turret is also provided with projecting portions having profiles of cycloids.

Abstract: A textile machine transport apparatus is provided for transporting tube support members to and between locations at which yarn packages supported on the tube support members are handled. The transport apparatus includes an assembly for advancing the tube support members along a delivery path. The advancing assembly is reversibly drivable in a forward direction and in a reverse direction opposite to the forward direction to provide the capability to, for example, reverse the advancing movement of some of the tube support members or to advance other tube support members in a different advancing direction. The transport apparatus also includes a device extending laterally relative to the delivery path of the tube support members for engaging a tube support member to prevent further upstream movement thereof. The laterally extending device may be in the form of a stop guide extending into the path of the tube support members as they are transported in an upstream direction.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for evenly distributing coated cereal pieces across the width of a conveyer is disclosed including a steep angled, V-shaped plow (24) supported in varying angular positions by saddles (38) above the conveyer. Specifically, three saddles (38) slideably support a semicircular shaped carrier (12) secured to and between the first and second legs (26, 28) of the plow (24). A connector arm (66) is connected to a leg (28) of the plow (24) for moving the carrier (12) and the plow (24) secured thereto along an arc having a center downstream of the interconnection of the legs (26, 28) of the plow (24) and in the preferred form at the center of the semicircular shape of the carrier (12). The saddles (38) are vertically, adjustably secured to a support arm (46) which in turn can be raised or lowered relative to the conveyer. The plow (24) is positioned to engage the product pile on the conveyer and due to the steep angle of the legs (26, 28) of the plow (24) and the Teflon.RTM.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a continuous belt type conveyor transporting containers from the exit portion of an automatic machine for uprightly positioning and feeding containers, includes at least one first braking unit (1, 11) each having an endless belt (6) running over two spaced cylinders (7), flexible paddles (8) mounted on the belt (6) so that they extend outwardly therefrom over the area above the conveyor belt 3 and are engageable with the containers (2) as they are transported by the conveyor and a drive motor (34) for driving one of the cylinders (7) at a speed predetermined to control the linear speed of the paddles slower than the linear speed of the conveyor belt (3) to thereby move the containers relatively on the conveyor belt closer together downstream of the exit portion of the machine.

Abstract: A stop mechanism mountable on a powered conveyor, such as a conveyor having continuously-driven drive rollers which support and drivingly move loads such as pallets. The stop mechanism is mounted directly under and between sidewardly-spaced drive rollers to permit use of through shafts between sidewardly-spaced pairs of drive rollers. The stop mechanism has a vertically-oriented stop lever which projects upwardly for contacting a moving load, which contact effects limited vertical swinging of the lever into engagement with a fixed stop. The lever is coupled to a hydraulic shock absorber which effects rapid deceleration of the load to cause cushioned contact thereof with the fixed stop. The shock absorber preferably has an internal orifice arrangement associated with a pressure chamber which results in the orifice flow area progressively decreasing as the stop lever is moved by the load to provide more optimum control over liquid pressure and control over the resistance force imposed against the load.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatic, quantitiative determination of an impurity contained in a product with an uneven upper surface travelling in bulk on a conveyor belt. The apparatus includes a leveling system including a half-cylinder formed of a plastic sheet, and having an arcuate surface downwardly directed toward the belt with the cylinder axis perpendicular to the direction of the belt and having a length which is less than the width of the belt. The half-cylinder is fixed to a frame attached to a lever arm which is in equilibrium about a horizontal shaft. A jack is provided for adjusting the lever arm and enabling the arcuate surface of the half-cylinder to be brought into contact with product travelling on the belt, the jack having a head connected to the lever arm so as to enable the lever arm to oscillate as the leveling device follows variations of the thickness of product travelling on the belt.

Abstract: A pallet transport device having a securing element positioned between two longitudinal rails in projections of a non-driven pallet transport device. A shaped body is seated on an axle. When docking with a driven pallet transport device, each projection is pushed into a docking receptacle so that a lower, shaped activation surface contacts and pushes the shaped body into a specified position. The shaped body thus pivots about an axis and the pallet can be displaced as desired. When the pallet transport device is undocked, the shaped body pivots upwards and the securing surface locks the pallet in a locking direction. Thus, the pallet transport device can be locked or unlocked without external help and has a high degree of operational dependability.

Abstract: A device for braking advancing packages being transferred on a conveyer including a pair of rubber tubes of a predetermined length having flat surfaces, the tubes being inflated toward the packages being conveyed so that the tubes interpose and stop the packages. The pair of rubber tubes can be inflated so that they expand in an upwardly inclined direction in order to slightly lift the packages above the conveyer surface. Each of the rubber tubes are provided along the conveyer and are inflated with air. In addition each rubber tube has a flat braking surface, a reinforcing part at the back of the braking surface for maintaining the flatness of the braking surface, attaching wall part and a hollow section between the braking surface and the attaching wall part so that the rubber tube is normally small and narrow, but can be enlarged when inflated with air.

Abstract: A work station module which includes a buffer storage area (B) for the transitory storage of workpiece carriers (A) which are received at non-specific intervals and an escapement station (C) to facilitate performance of some operation of a workpiece carried by each carrier. The buffer storage area includes a conveying surface (30) which is defined by a multiplicity of fibers (36) and which is vibrated to move the carriers longitudinally therealong. The resiliency of the fibers permits carriers which are adjacent the escapement station to remain stationary even though the conveying surface is vibrating. A directing rail (50) extends upward through the fibers and terminates just below their upper surface such that the carriers are supported on the fibers and not the directing rail. The carrier includes a plurality of pins (18, 20) which extend downward therefrom to define a slot for receiving the rail.

Abstract: Apparatus for turning flat articles supported on a substantially flat surface, including a device for receiving a serial stream of the articles, each of which travels along a first linear path, and a device for rotating each article through a preselected angle and for then steering the articles in a preselected direction. The rotating device includes a first and second pair of fixed, positioned rollers whose axes are located at substantially a right angle to each other. The apparatus further includes a guiding device and a conveyor which causes the articles to move along a path which is parallel to the preselected path of travel. The apparatus is utilized in executing a method of receiving, rotating and conveying the articles along the preselected direction.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping shrinkable plastic labels about bottles as they are moved in a single file. As the bottles exit the wrapping machine, they are resting on a moving belt conveyor which is driven in the direction of a heat shrinking tunnel. In order to have the bottles, with the labels applied, pass through a circulating hot air, infrared tunnel in properly spaced intervals to assure proper shrinkage of the tubular labels, a spacing device in the form of a bottle side-engaging set of brushes is used. The brushes have their bristles extending horizontally across the path of movement of the bottles on the conveyor. The bottles are actually pushed at the speed of the labeling machine through the gap between the brushes and therefore the bottles are released by the brushes at equally spaced time intervals and thus become equally spaced on the moving conveyor belt that carries them to the heat shrink tunnel.

Abstract: Conveyor element with spaced rollers, including a main body with bores which contain plungers that are movable by means of an inflatable bladder.

Abstract: In connection with a feeding conveyor for feeding articles laterally onto a sorter conveyor is mounted a retractable V-shaped stop for the articles as conveyed on the feeding conveyor, whereby these articles are temporarily stopped and concurrently centered towards the top point of the V-stop. Hereby it is achieved that the remaining article transfer distance is well defined such that the transfer of the article to the sorter conveyor, upon retraction of the V-stop, may take place in a well defined manner. When the respective edges or sides of the V-stop are orientated parallelly with and orthogonally to the moving direction of the sorter conveyor, it is achieved, additionally, that a rectangular article as fed to the feeding conveyor with any arbitrary orientation, will be orientated so as to take up a minimum space on the sorter conveyor, whereby the capacity of the latter may kept at a maximum.

Abstract: Device and a method are taught for specifically orienting and conveying products in a common direction of travel. The products are individually mounted on a plurality of identical, circular, product-carrying pucks. Each circular puck has a flat conveyor-contacting bottom surface and at least one circular peripheral surface contactable by corresponding circular peripheral surfaces of other pucks when located in a random surge thereof. Each puck is surmounted by a product support. Between its bottom surface and its product support, each puck has a peripheral slide surface parallel to the desired direction of travel of the oriented puck and at least one peripheral rotation-producing surface, the slide and rotation-producing surfaces being inset from the circular peripheral surface.

Abstract: Conveyor system with spaced rollers, including a main body formed with bores which contain plungers that are movable by means of inflatable bladder.

Abstract: A roller conveyor including: a plurality of spaced generally parallel roller rods; a number of rollers mounted on each of the rods and defining an upper surface for engaging conveyed objects; and a comb structure. The comb structure includes at least one comb element extending longitudinally along the conveyor transverse to the rods and being disposed between pairs of adjacent rollers on each of at least two successive rods. Each element has a plurality of recesses disposed in a lower longitudinal edge thereof for receiving a plurality of successive rods and a substantially level upper longitudinal surface extending upwardly above the rods and beneath the upper surface defined by the rollers.

Abstract: Apparatus gathering writing pads into stacks has a row of receptacles disposed at a level below the discharge end of a feeding conveyor which delivers several lines of pads, one for each receptacle. The receptacles have a common horizontal floor assembled of spaced-apart elongated strips mounted in a main frame and extending in the longitudinal direction of the row, and the receptacles are separated from each other by separating units having sets of upright rods which extend upwardly through the spaces between the neighboring strips and can be lowered to move out of the way preparatory to removal of assembled stacks of pads by two endless conveyor belts which flank the row of receptacles and have inner reaches movable into engagement with the respective sides of the stacks. The conveyor belts are set in motion after their inner reaches engage the stacks and after the rods are retracted to a level below the floor.

Abstract: In the conveyor system disclosed herein, a plurality of elongate lifting assemblies are interleaved with parallel moving belts on which articles are transported. Each lifting assembly utilizes an air bag which is supported in an upwardly facing, rigid, U-shaped channel and which, when inflated, lifts a longitudinally-flexible, inverted, U-shaped channel member. The channel members include respective lips which engage and locally limit upward movement of the inverted channel member to a height sufficient for lifting articles on the conveyor out of driving contact with the moving belts. The ends of the inverted channel members are fixed or fastened with the upper surface of that part of the inverted channel below the level of the moving belts. Accordingly, when the air bags are inflated, the moving belts can drive successive articles up on to the resulting ramp surface of the inverted channels without developing crushing pressures between adjacent articles.

Abstract: A continuously movable conveyor supports a plurality of articles for movement along a path leading to and beyond a zone at which selected articles are transferred from and returned to the conveyor. At the transfer zone is stop apparatus movable from a position clear of the path of movement of the articles on the conveyor to a position in which it projects into such path of movement so as to engage and stop an oncoming article as the conveyor continues to move. The stop apparatus includes a stop member supported by a parallelogram linkage which is rockable by an extensible and retractable hydraulic ram to effect movements of the stop member into and out of the path of conveyor borne articles. The coupling of the ram to the stop member includes a lost motion connection enabling displacement of the stop member upon engagement of the latter by an article on the conveyor and the ram is yieldably retractable in response to such engagement so as to absorb and cushion the shock of such engagement.

Abstract: A conveying system including a pair of endless belt conveyors that are in vertically spaced relation. A series of work stations are located along the length of the conveyors and a plurality of small pallets which contain workpieces or component parts are conveyed on the upper conveyor and are individually pushed from the upper conveyor onto an inclined lateral conveyor where they are delivered to a work station. After a working operation has been performed on the workpiece, the pallets are conveyed to the lower conveyor. A plurality of finger stop assemblies are located in the conveyor system and are arranged to stop and accumulate a series of pallets. On signal, the finger stop assemblies are retracted to permit movement of the pallets on the conveyor. A pivotable conveyor section is incorporated in the system and can, when pivoted, transfer pallets from the lower conveyor to the upper conveyor.

Abstract: For blocking containers that are moving on a conveyor between parallel guide rails, a rotatable star wheel is positioned adjacent the container path. A locking member selectively locks the star wheel in a neutral position wherein it lies completely outside of the container path and in a blocking position wherein it is rotated to block containers. When the star wheel becomes unlocked at neutral position, a rotary device causes the wheel to rotate sufficiently for one of its arms to project into the container path so the moving containers will force further rotation until the wheel becomes locked automatically in the blocking position.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for feeding components by vibration, halting the feed of the components at an unload station, and picking-up the components by an unloader at the unload station in which the pick-up head and the means for stopping the feed of components is isolated from the vibrations of the feeder so that a uniform, accurate pick-up of components by the unloader is facilitated.

Abstract: An article processing apparatus including a frame and feed conveyor on the frame for supply of a plurality of rows of abutted articles has provided therefore a stop member positioned above the feed conveyor and extending transversely of the rows of abutted articles, a power device operatively engaging said stop member to move it vertically downwardly to engage the tops of corresponding articles in all of the rows simultaneously to press them downwardly and prevent forward movement thereof whereby feed of articles into the apparatus can be controlled, and guide and connector means operatively connect the power device to the stop member to provide oscillation of it in a vertical plane to compensate for irregularity in engagement with a transverse row of articles.

Abstract: Apparatus gathering writing pads into stacks has a row of receptacles disposed at a level below the discharge end of a feeding conveyor which delivers several lines of pads, one for each receptacle. The receptacles have a common horizontal floor assembled of spaced-apart elongated strips mounted in a main frame and extending in the longitudinal direction of the row, and the receptacles are separated from each other by separating units having sets of upright rods which extend upwardly through the spaces between the neighboring strips and can be lowered to move out of the way preparatory to removal of assembled stacks of pads by two endless conveyor belts which flank the row of receptacles and have inner reaches movable into engagement with the respective sides of the stacks. The conveyor belts are set in motion after their inner reaches engage the stacks and after the rods are retracted to a level below the floor.

Abstract: A retractible stop mechanism is disclosed, for a conveyor system or the like, in which a stop member is moved up and down between a retracted position and a position in which it blocks an article, and a pivoted tension link is connected between the supporting structure and the stop member to provide the reaction force against the force exerted by the blocked article on the stop member, thereby removing frictional resistance to retraction of the stop member. Also, the location of the pivot of the tension link is such that a force component is developed which assists the retracting force acting on the stop member.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for drying substantially flat and approximately circular workpieces, such as container covers, by transporting the covers by means of a conveyor belt through a heated zone and subsequently a cooling zone. The covers are maintained at an acute angle with respect to a lateral edge of the conveyor belt by means of a guide disposed adjacent and parallel to the conveyor belt, which serves to elevate one side of the covers. Simultaneous contact of the covers with the conveyor belt and guide causes linear and rotational motion of the covers in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt. The space between the covers and the conveyor belt permits circulation of air beneath the covers to allow removal of liquids.

Abstract: A pan indexer for use with a moulder/panner with a gate and a conveyor, having a carrier for a cantilevered template with a spaced series of tangs for successively engaging and releasing pans on the conveyor when the template is moved up and down in synchronism with dough pieces being deposited through a gate from the moulder/panner to pans on the conveyor.

Abstract: A brake assembly for stopping moving sheet stacks on a folding table of a rotary printing press and a method of operating the brake assembly is disclosed. A rotatable drum carries a plurality of axially extending stop rods spaced about the periphery of the drum. Each of these stop rods is carried on bearing arms that are spring biased. Each moving sheet stack contacts a stop rod which absorbs the energy of the moving sheet stack and causes it to stop on the folding table. The drum rotates in an intermittent fashion to bring a different stop bar into engagement with each succeeding sheet stack. A gear drive assembly for the brake assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A conveyor arrangement for moving steel slabs on motor driven rollers includes a stop assembly which is positionable in the path of movement of the slabs for preventing further movement. The shock of the moving slab against the stop plate is absorbed by a plurality of spherical elastomeric cushion members positioned to achieve maximum cushioning efficiency.

Abstract: In a case packer lanes are provided for advancing articles into a grid structure where they are segregated for packing into upwardly open packing cases positioned on a lift table associated with the packer. A line brake assembly is provided to interrupt the flow of articles during the actual packing step, and the line brake disclosed is conveniently adjustable in height to accommodate articles of different size. Individual brake subassemblies clamp the endmost articles in several side-by-side lanes, and all of these are driven by a single air cylinder. Down bottle detectors determine when an article falls down, and these detectors are mounted in the same vertically adjustable line brake assembly. The lane defining structure is adjustable to accommodate articles of different diameter, and the detectors themselves are also movably mounted for convenient adjustment to accommodate articles of different diameter.