Abstract: The invention relates to the filling of a frozen dessert product in a container, by performing the steps of: arranging at least one container to be filled on a slat conveyor, moving the container on the slat conveyor towards a dispensing nozzle, vertically displacing at least one slat supporting the container, and horizontally displacing the slat supporting the container in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the slat conveyor, while dispensing the product from the dispensing nozzle into the container.

Abstract: A conveying device includes a housing, a linear driving mechanism, a first sliding assembly, a second sliding assembly, and a carrying mechanism. The linear driving mechanism is assembled within the housing. The first sliding assembly is slidably assembled together with the second sliding assembly within the housing, and both sliding assemblies are driven by the linear driving mechanism to slide horizontally. The carrying mechanism is slidably sandwiched between the first sliding assembly and the second sliding assembly. The first sliding assembly and the second sliding assembly are driven by the linear driving mechanism to slide within the housing along either a same direction or along opposite directions. The carrying mechanism may slide linearly together with the first sliding assembly and the second sliding assembly, or slide upwards and downwards perpendicular to the linear sliding direction of the first sliding assembly and the second sliding assembly.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for imparting movement to one or more articles includes placing the one or more articles on a surface of a support member and imparting vibratory motion to the support member by vibrating actutators connected to the support member wherein the vibratory motion includes at least a rotational vibratory component about one or more axes out-of-alignment with the gravity vector to produce effective force fields on the surface.

Abstract: A horizontal conveyor for transporting bulk materials, in particular of containers for food, has at least one conveyor belt encompassing at least one assembly surface for the material to be conveyed. There is at least one sliding part, which is moveably guided parallel to the conveying direction thereof, be arranged below the assembly surface of the conveyor belt. At least one drive is assigned to the sliding part for its positively driven motion. There is at least one height-adjustable actuator for the material to be conveyed, arranged on the sliding part. The actuator is capable of being brought into an entrainment position, that projects into the plane of the assembly surface by means of a lifting device. A discontinuous conveyance of materials is possible in a simple manner with this horizontal conveyor.

Abstract: The invention provides novel mechanisms and methods for effecting rotational and translational motion in three dimensions of objects carried by, or coupled to, actuators that move along a pathway. Vehicles or other conveyances (collectively, “vehicles”) that utilize mechanisms and methods can increase the performance of and decrease the cost of transportation, shipping, manufacturing, materials handling and other systems. In one aspect, the illustrated embodiment provides such a vehicle or other conveyance having two (or more) actuators adapted for movement along a pathway. The actuators are propelled or otherwise capable of motion, relative to each other so that the distance between can be increased or decreased. When desired, that distance can also be maintained the same, e.g., regardless of whether the actuators are moving.

Abstract: A supporting device includes a support body for supporting a substrate and an auxiliary wing for supporting the corner of the substrate, so that the substrate is substantially horizontally disposed on the supporting device. Also disclosed is a substrate transportation equipment including the supporting device and a movable protruding member. The substrate transportation equipment can prevent the movable protruding member from hitting the edge of the substrate when the movable protruding member moves.

Abstract: The invention provides novel mechanisms and methods for effecting rotational and translational motion in three dimensions of objects carried by, or coupled to, actuators that move along a pathway. Vehicles or other conveyances (collectively, “vehicles”) that utilize mechanisms and methods can increase the performance of and decrease the cost of transportation, shipping, manufacturing, materials handling and other systems. In one aspect, the illustrated embodiment provides such a vehicle or other conveyance having two (or more) actuators adapted for movement along a pathway. The actuators are propelled or otherwise capable of motion, relative to each other so that the distance between can be increased or decreased. When desired, that distance can also be maintained the same, e.g., regardless of whether the actuators are moving.

Abstract: Arrangement for moving a heavy load wherein the arrangement includes at least one actuating unit. The at least one actuating unit utilizes a support for supporting the heavy load. A plurality of jacks are coupled to the support. A first movable element is adapted to slide within a channel of the support. The first movable element is movable in reciprocating manner. A second movable element is adapted to slide within the channel of the support. The second movable element slidably engages the first movable element and is movable in reciprocating manner. An actuating system is used for controlling sliding movements of the first and second movable elements. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A dosing device of a pulverulent material uses an oscillating drive mechanism with straight to-and-fro movement to extract and dose a pulverulent material contained in a hopper with a calibrated outlet aperture, and then to transfer the extracted mass to a removal point. The hopper can be fixed or movable. To measure the mass flowrate extracted from the aperture, the hopper is connected to the mechanism by a flexible blade and bears on a table equipped with a weighing cell formed by a weight sensor. The weight variation indicates the mass flowrate, which can be adjusted by acting on the oscillation frequency of the mechanism, or on the opening of the outlet aperture.

Abstract: An article carrying apparatus for carrying, in a carrying direction, an article placed on a carry face of a carry section making use of a vibration, includes: the carry section provided with the carry face of which the carrying direction is linearly restricted; and a vibration applying mechanism that applies the vibration to the carry section. The vibration applying mechanism includes: a first cam mechanism for converting a motion that has been input from a predetermined drive source into a reciprocating linear motion in a first direction that has at least a component in the carrying direction, and for transmitting the reciprocating linear motion to the carry section; and a second cam mechanism for converting a motion that has been input from a predetermined drive source into a reciprocating linear motion in a second direction that has at least a component in a normal direction of the carry face, and for transmitting the reciprocating linear motion to the carry section.

Abstract: A conveyor (10) that delivers product to a plurality of transverse conveyors of chutes (11). The conveyor (10) includes conveyor segments (12) along which the product is conveyed. Product is removed from the conveyor (10) by the lateral displacement of an upstream end 15 or a downstream end 16 of adjacent conveyor segments (12).

Abstract: A conveyor comprises laterally spaced apart lifting/holding slats (12) and laterally spaced apart conveying slats (10) between the lifting/holding slats (12). The conveying slats (10) are advanced in a first direction for conveying a load and are retracted in a second direction for returning them to a start position. The lifting/holding slats (12) have lower portions (62) which reciprocate and upper portions (60) which move up and down. Cams (92, 94) operate in response to longitudinal movement of the lower portions (62) to raise and lower the upper portions (60).

Abstract: A transfer line for transporting workpieces from a first workstation to an adjacent second workstation comprises a frame with a depositing place for at least one workpiece. It further comprises a transporting beam, each end area of which having respective work supports. The transporting beam is supported for height adjustment between two positions of lifting such that the work supports are located above or below the depositing place. The transporting beam is further designed for longitudinal displacement between positions of transfer for the work supports to coincide horizontally with the depositing place.

Abstract: An inflatable bladder (50) is positioned between the top (24) of a lower slat (22) and the top (36) of an upper slat (20). An air supply/exhaust conduit (52) extends upwardly from a transverse manifold (76) to the inflatable bladders (50). Flanges (32, 34) on the lower slat (22) contact flanges (42, 44) on the upper slat (20) to stop upward movement of the upper slat (20).

Abstract: A transfer device has an undercarriage with two or more carriage portions which are movable along a travel path between a first location and a second location. The carriage portions carrying at least one work piece support. A linkage extending between the carriage portions, where the linkage is operable to change the position of the work piece support when one carriage portion moves relative to another along the travel path.

Abstract: Method and device for resetting the position of pins in trays with pins for supporting objects to be clad inside presses, comprising a tray arranged on a substantially horizontal plane and in which there are multiple receptacles having a substantially vertical axis, each receptacle accommodating a pin provided with a head protruding from the upper face of the tray. The pins form with their heads a supporting surface for the lower face of the object to be placed in the press. Each pin has elastic means that keep the pin in a raised position and are flexible so as to allow the pin to pass from the raised position to a lowered position or vice versa. The method consists in making the tray slide along a resetting surface having, along its extension, a region raised with respect to a plane that is parallel to the plane of arrangement of the tray.

Abstract: A transfer device has an undercarriage with two or more carriage portions which are movable along a travel path between a first location and a second location. The carriage portions carrying at least one work piece support. A linkage extending between the carriage portions, where the linkage is operable to change the position of the work piece support when one carriage portion moves relative to another along the travel path.

Abstract: An interlocking transfer system includes a workstation having four or more sides, each of which is positioned at 90° angles from the next adjacent side. A cam lift assembly is provided on each of the sides and a means for moving the pallets horizontally. The cam lift assembly is actuated by a reciprocating cylinder which operates to lift and lower the pallets. While pallets are lifted, they are also advanced horizontally using either an external reciprocating cylinder, a motor or by hand. The interlocking transfer system of the present invention provides high efficiency and low transfer rate. It also eliminates the need for lift and locate devices, transfer space due to traffic control, and end-to-end cross transfers. The interlocking transfer system of the present invention also provides for interchangeable fixtures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for stepwise conveying of massive objects, comprising a fixed series of laying stations (3) spaced by a constant pitch and a mobile series of recovery stations (2) spaced by the same pitch and arranged on a supporting beam (1) that is movable vertically and longitudinally.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting and carrying articles having a support frame and carriage for transferring an article. The apparatus includes at least one first drive for converting rotational movement of a crank member into harmonic linear motion for lifting and lowering the carriage between a first position and a second position along a first path of travel. A second drive moves the carriage between a first position and a second position along a second path of travel.

Abstract: A workpiece positioner is provided which is adapted to move a workpiece from a load/unload zone to a work zone spaced from the load/unload zone. The workpiece positioner comprises a first stationary frame, a second frame coupled to the first frame so as to be rotatable relative to the first frame about a first axis, a first drive device for effecting rotation of the second frame about the first axis, and a first workpiece holder adapted to releasably receive a workpiece. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, the first holder is rotatably mounted to the second frame so that the workpiece holder and the workpiece are maintained in a substantially constant orientation relative to the first frame as the second frame is rotated about the first axis. In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, the workpiece positioner further includes a second drive device coupled to the second frame so as to move with the second frame.

Abstract: A circuit-like system which includes a lower conveyor line, an upper conveyor line and a pair of lift or transfer mechanisms at the end of each line constructed for moving a work piece. A travel and hoist mechanism and a beam assembly are provided for discontinuously moving work pieces along the lower line and raising and lowering them for treatment. A hook assembly is provided for restraining the downward movement of a work piece at a selected location when the hook assembly is in an operative position. The lift or transfer mechanism is provided which includes telescoping arms for grasping a work piece, which arms are carried by a vertically moveable carrier that is mounted in a stationary frame.