Abstract: Various conveyor designs suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction and various related link designs are disclosed. The conveyor may include a plurality of the connected links. Each link may have a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport, a conveying surface, and at least one gripping member moveable along at least a portion of length of the link from a first position to a second position. The gripping member when in the first position is disposed below the conveying surface of the link, and the gripping member when in the second position is disposed above the conveying surface of the link for contacting one of the objects to hold the object during transport. Various designs of gripping members and related elements are disclosed, including spring loaded, cam driven, rack and pinion, and overhead designs. Various elements of the disclosed designs may be combined in various ways to form numerous link and conveyor options.

Abstract: Various conveyor designs are disclosed, along with related link designs, suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction. The conveyor may include a plurality of connected links. Each link may have a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport. Each link may have a body, a slider, at least one gripping member, and a gear drive mechanism interconnecting the slider and gripping member. The slider is slidable along the length of the body to selectively move the gripping member between a first position and a second position via the gear drive mechanism. The gripping member when in first position is disposed in an open position, and the gripping member when in the second position is disposed in a gripping position for contacting one of the objects to hold the object during transport.

Abstract: A pick-up plug for supporting and transporting preforms of thermoplastic resin, includes a central body, and an engagement mechanism adapted to slip into the neck portion of the preform, in which elastic members are provided on the engagement mechanism so as to press them against the wall of the neck portion, wherein a central body is provided with at least three groove-like recesses opening towards the exterior and the engagement mechanism is constituted by individual and independent gripping members that are housed in respective ones of the groove-like recesses. The elastic members are constituted by respective preloaded springs acting between the inner wall of each groove-like recess and the inner wall of the respective individual gripping member.

Abstract: A conveyance device, particularly relating to a shaking pocket star wheel for conveying containers, with a carrier, a reception element and a reception opening for the conveyed material. The reception element is fixed against the force of a spring in a manner so it can be withdrawn and swiveled about an axis of rotation. To simplify the construction of the conveyance device, and to make the design more universal and operationally reliable, a spring is arranged in such a manner that the force is applied substantially at a right angle to the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A sheet punching and embossing machine has a gripper carriage and a positioning device for the gripper carriage. The gripper carriage has grippers for clamping sheets, being fixed with limited springing to a transport chain and, by the transport chain, being movable intermittently between the processing stations. The machine further has at least one stop face on its leading side in the running direction. The positioning device contains at least one stop that can be pivoted into the movement path of the gripper carriage and is fixed to a driven pivoting shaft. A pivoting drive of the stop used being at least one electrically operated, controllable servomotor, which is connected directly to the pivoting shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying and/or transferring relatively vulnerable products, such as fruits, wherein the fruits are held in grippers while being conveyed and transferred. The grippers comprise a first gripper portion and a second gripper portion, which are movable over sliding elements substantially in the direction in which the gripping force is exerted on the products.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a back-up plate up/down apparatus in which a back-up plate is ascended or descended without rocking, maintaining a parallel state. The back-up plate up/down apparatus includes a base plate; guide blocks installed with a constant distance to the base plate; a first driving cylinder installed between the guide blocks; fixed blocks installed with a constant distance to both ends of the base plate and having rotating shafts inserted to both ends thereof; rotating links, in which the rotating shaft is inserted to an end thereof and a connecting member is connected to the other end thereof; a second driving cylinder connected to the connecting members by means of a rod; holders fixed at rods of other connecting members slidably and for fixing the back-up plate; and sensors installed to the holders with a constant distance.

Abstract: Flat articles are gathered on stack supports (2) being conveyed past feed points substantially continuously and one after the other. After the gathering operation, bottom edge zones (13) of the gathered articles are exposed for a further processing operation. The corresponding device includes continuously conveyed stack supports (2) each with an inclined supporting surface (3) and a foot element (4) located in the bottom area of the supporting surface (3). The foot elements are actively connected with the supporting surfaces such that they are capable of being pressed against the supporting surface and of being spaced from the supporting surface. In an exposure zone downstream of the gathering zone (1), stack support structure, which are conveyed in synchronism with the stack supports (2) and substantially in the same direction, and a control device are provided.

Abstract: A sheet material conveying apparatus has at least one pocket running along a track, the pocket including a base section for receiving sheet material and an upper section including at least one upper gripper for holding an edge of the sheet material. The at least one upper gripper is movable between a gripping position and a non-gripping position, and the upper section is movable with respect to the base section to alter a distance of the at least one upper gripper with respect to the base section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gripping clamp for receptacles, each comprising a body and a neck having a projecting collar presenting a substantially radial bearing face beside the body, the clamp having first and second jaws, the first jaw being arranged to co-operate with the bearing face of the collar and the second jaw being arranged to co-operate with a zone of the neck that extends in the vicinity of the bearing face on its side facing away from the body, when the clamp is in a closed, gripping position.

Abstract: A conveyor device 10 to aide a person 11 to place bags 12 of snack foods in a box 13. The device includes a base 14 that rotatably supports a hub 17. The hub 17 has a plurality of clips 20 that engage the bags 12 and move them to a position at which the bags 12 are griped by the person 11 and placed in the box 13.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transporting and sorting flowers or other stem-shaped or elongate products with a conveyor provided with arm-fork units which are moved along a transport path in a substantially horizontal plane. In one form, the method includes taking over a substantially vertically hanging flower from a take-over position with a fork at the end of the arm-fork unit remote from the conveyor. The flowers are transported along the transport path, with the arm-fork unit in a transport position, to an apparatus for bunching the transported flowers with generally several bunching stations. The transporting takes place in the plane along at least one detector for detecting at least one respective flower characteristic, whereby detection signals are obtained. The detection signals are processed in a processing unit into corresponding selection signals.

Abstract: A bag conveying apparatus including a sprocket continuously rotated on a horizontal plane, a fixed guide member having a guide section of a semicircular shape, and an endless chain mounted between the sprocket and the guide section of the guide member. The endless chain is comprised of a plurality of links connected by connecting shafts. Guide rollers rotatable about their own vertical axes are disposed on and under each connecting shaft, and an inside guide roller rotatable about its own horizontal axis is disposed on the inner side of each link. The guide section of the guide member has roller guide sections that contact the guide rollers of the endless chain, and the guide section also has a guide groove in which the inside guide rollers of the endless chain are fitted. Grippers that grip both edges of a bag are installed on each link.

Abstract: A chain conveying apparatus for spouts or bags having spouts, including a pair of annular chains. The attachment plates are provided on the respective oppositely-rotating annular chains so that the attachment plates have play in a vertical direction. Centering guide members are disposed so as to be close to the axial portions of the spouts so as to regulate the movements of the spouts in the direction perpendicular to the attachment plates' moving direction; upper-side guide members and lower-side guide members are disposed above and below the attachment plates so as to regulate the height position of the attachment plates; and flange regulating members are disposed so as to be above the flanges of the spouts, which is being conveyed, with a narrow gap between the flange regulating members and the flanges so as to regulate an upward movement of the spouts.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus for spouts or bags with spouts thereon, including: a circular rotating body which is driven rotationally, a guide rail disposed around the circumference of the rotating body with a predetermined spacing in between, and a plurality of grippers disposed on the rotating body and rotated with the rotating body. The rotating body has an outer circumferential edge that supports the flanges of the spouts, and the guide rail has on its inner edge an arc-shaped guide portion that also supports the flanges of the spouts. During the rotation of the rotating body, the grippers close to hold the spouts at the flanges and then opens to release the spouts. A rotational force is imparted by the rotating body to the spouts while spouts are held at the flanges by the grippers.

Abstract: A pick-up member for use with an apparatus for transporting a container from a pick-up station to a deposit station. The pick-up member being substantially formed of plastic and includes a bell-shaped head having a longitudinal bore for receiving containers and transverse bores intersecting the longitudinal bore and causing transverse movement engaging members for engaging with the containers. A control mechanism is provided to control the position of the engaging members.

Abstract: The invention provides a gripper assembly comprising a mounting base having a first magnet coupled thereto and having a moveable gripper coupled to the mounting base. The moveable gripper has a second magnet coupled thereto and comprises an end effector adapted to contact a wafer. The first and second magnets are adapted so that the magnetic force therebetween biases the end effector away from the mounting base. An inventive method of gripping a substrate comprises coupling a moveable gripper to a mounting base and magnetically biasing the moveable gripper in a closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting parts along a fixed path. At least one cradle is provided for receiving at least one part to be transported. An endless conveyor extends around first and second rollers disposed at first and second ends for movement of the conveyor along the fixed path. A mechanism retains each part to be transported with respect to a corresponding cradle while moving along at least a portion of the fixed path. The retaining mechanism can be actuated between a part-retaining position and a part-releasing position by operable engagement of a cam follower with a cam surface extending along either the entire fixed path, or any one or more parts of the path as required for the particular application. A spring can be provided for biasing the retaining mechanism toward either the open or the closed position as required.

Abstract: A delivery of a machine for processing sheet-like printing materials, includes sheet grippers passing through a gripper path during operation, an actuating element adjustable from adjustable basic positions into an extreme position and the reverse and, at locations of the gripper path corresponding to the basic positions and the extreme position, serving for shifting the sheet grippers from a closed, sheet-conveying operating state into an open operating state, a linkage mechanism provided for adjusting the actuating element, and an actuating drive for actuating the linkage mechanism, the linkage mechanism being movable between a predeterminable extreme position corresponding to the extreme position of the actuating element, and adjustable starting positions corresponding to one of the adjustable basic positions of the actuating element; and a machine for processing sheet-like printing materials including the delivery.

Abstract: A device for the hooking of printed circuits includes a support constituted by a roughly U-shaped structural shape with a seating designed to allow the insertion of the printed circuit, one or more pins inserted into holes in one wall of the structural shape, and thrust systems designed to push the pins against the opposite wall of the structural shape, and devices designed to engage the thrust systems in order to retract the pins and allow the insertion of a printed circuit.

Abstract: An arrangement is described for transporting cardboard blanks or the like in the flat, in particular for book cover or letter file machines. The arrangement includes at least two sequenced transport belts extending parallel to one another, which are guided over deflecting wheels. Grippers are applied to the transport belts to hold the blanks. The grippers comprise controlled, swivelling clamping elements, which can be opened at the deflecting wheels.

Abstract: The transfer conveyor system utilizes at least one endless conveyor belt of reinforced flexible rubber-like material with cogs or teeth on its underside and with a series of nests fitted into holes in the belt. Nests for carrying can end shells are attached at their opposite edges to the belt. The belt is supported by and routed around an idler drum, located outside the press frame posts and by a toothed drive drum located within the press frame adjacent the opposite frame posts. Progressive conversion tooling for making shells into completed easy-open can ends is located between the posts above and below upper and lower tooling sets. The drive drum is provided with circumferential teeth for a positive drive to the belt. Attachments of nests to the belt are located on transverse center lines which permit the flat nests to travel around the end turns of the belts.

Abstract: The transfer nest for an endless conveyor belt of reinforced flexible rubber-like material, optionally with cogs or teeth on its underside, a series of such nests fitted into holes in the belt. The nests are attached to the belt solely at their opposite edges on lines extending transverse to the belt. The belt with attached nests, having end shells trapped therein, is moved stepwise through progressive conversion tooling for making shells into completed can ends. Shells are positively seated into the nests by moving the shells through a discontinuous entrance rim, preferably defined by the upper parts of a circular array of independent flexible stepped (preferably L-shaped) fingers which support the shells which are each trapped in a nest as the nests are transferred through the conversion tooling. Completed ends may be carried around the end of the conveyor upper flight, and the ends can be ejected from the nests.

Abstract: A conveyor chain for a gripper system-bearing chain conveyor of a printing press, the conveyor chain having standard chain links and special chain links, both types of which are formed by link pins carrying chain rollers, and chain plates articulatedly connecting the link pins to one another, the special chain links serving to connect the conveyor chain to the gripper system, includes two row-wise arranged chain-roller sections rotatable independently of one another, the chain-roller sections being disposed on the link pins of at least the special chain links; and a sheet-processing printing press with a chain conveyor including the conveyor chain.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making compact packages for spreadable products involving flights mounted on a conveyor chain having tiny cam operated pivoting clamps which open to precut cards fed in by a card feeder. The pivoting clamps on the flights are opened by cam pressure and pick the cards on the fly as they travel. After passing the end of the cam they close down on the card. The cards are then, after passing over rails with spring resistance members, transported through a unique rotary scoring and bending assembly, which simultaneously scores and bends up longitudinal side flanges to create a channel shaped member from the flat paperboard card.

Abstract: In a method for removing printed products (2) from a conveying stream and for forming stacks of the removed printed products (2), the conveying stream is a stream of printed products (2) held by a gripper in a hanging position and conveyed in a direction substantially perpendicular to their main surfaces. For removing the printed products (2) from the conveying stream and for stacking them, the printed products held by the gripper (1) are conveyed over a stacking surface (4) which protrudes into the conveying stream such that a lower region of each printed product (2) conveyed in the conveying stream is laid against the stacking surface (4) or against a printed product already lying against the stacking surface (4), respectively.

Abstract: A support device for supporting, in a cantilevered-out position, a receptacle having a neck that includes a collar, the device comprising a resiliently-closable clamp having first and second hinged-together jaws, and a rigid support element presenting a lateral opening forming a housing for a portion of the neck and a support for the collar of the receptacle, the support element extending beneath the clamp and being spaced apart therefrom.

Abstract: A clamping claw assembly is secured to an endless transport device, such as a chain conveyor. A fixed clamping jaw is engaged by a movable clamping jaw to secure a product placed between the two. The movable clamping jaw is carried by a lever arm which is movable by an actuating lever. The actuating lever is biased by a tension spring between stable open and closed positions, through a dead center position. The movable clamping jaw is in a locked condition when it is in its closed position due to the force applied by the tension spring.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting and/or classifying objects such as fruits, comprising: a supply conveyor (11) for supplying the objects at a relatively small pitch; a discharge conveyor (13) for discharging the objects at a relatively large pitch, for instance for classification purposes; and a transferring device (12) for transferring the objects from the first conveyor (11) to the second conveyor (13), wherein the speed of forward movement of the transferring device is adapted to the speed of the discharge conveyor and wherein the transferring device comprises gripper members (17) arranged in pairs for gripping the objects.

Abstract: A gripper assembly for a conveying device for conveying printed products. More particularly, a gripper assembly having: (a) a first gripper part, having a clamping surface and an external surface; (b) a second gripper part, having a clamping surface and an external surface; wherein the first gripper part and the second gripper part are connected together for pivotal movement about a common axis, the first gripper part being pivotable between an open position and a clamping position in which it cooperates with the second gripper part to clamp a printed product under spring force; (c) a spring element arranged between the first gripper part and the second gripper part, which spring element imparts a biasing force on the first gripper part which biases the first gripper part into the clamping position; and, (d) at least one conforming biaser which conforms to the external surfaces of the first and second gripper parts and which biases the first gripper part into the clamping position.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a gripper having a stationary gripper member and a movably mounted gripper member being relatively movable toward said stationary gripper member. An actuating member extends through the stationary and the movable gripper members respectively. Cam surfaces are assigned to said pretensioned actuating member being contacted by contacting members causing the gripper members respectively to close upon removal of external forces.

Abstract: Printed products are guided from an infeed to a delivery belt by a plurality of partially overlapping paddle blades. The paddle blades are secured to an endless carrier such as a chain or a toothed belt. The printed products are deposited on the delivery belt in a smooth, gentle manner as they slip out of the pockets defined by the adjacent overlapping paddles.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus for transferring a body side of an automotive vehicle is disclosed. A moving body is provided on a transfer line. A clamp member is provided on the moving body to fix and position a lower end of a side sill of the body side in an upright position. As a result, the roof rail end of the body side is an upper portion and the side sill end of the body side outer is a lower portion.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for precise electrolytic precipitation and etching of metals up to the marginal area of printed-circuit board and printed-circuit film panel in a continuous-cycle plant. In continuous-cycle plants, the panels are grasped by clips at least at one edge. The clips are used for current supply to the panels and, if necessary, for transporting the latter. Among other factors, owing to the shielding effect of the clips there are great plate thickness differences in the marginal area of the panels. This marginal area cannot be used for precise printed-circuit boards. The invention improves the plate thickness distribution in this marginal area by separating the plant into several partial plants and a defined offset V of the clip gripping points from plant part to plant part. The offset is preferably adjusted to values corresponding to the quotient of the clip distance T and the number of subsequently arranged plant parts.

Abstract: A device for transporting a sheet or a folded product by a transport belt includes at least one holder for holding the sheet or the folded product, the holder being operatable by an effect selected from the group consisting of magnetic and thermal effects.