Abstract: A dual lane board handling apparatus includes a first zone including first and second parallel pairs of rails extending in a first direction; a second zone including third and fourth parallel pairs of rails extending in the first direction; first tracks supporting the first and second pairs of rails so that the first and second pairs of rails can move on the first tracks in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a drive for moving the first pair of rails on the first tracks in the second direction such that the first pair of rails can be selectively moved between a first orientation wherein it is in alignment with the fourth pair of rails and a second orientation wherein it is in alignment with the third pair of rails; a drive for moving the second pair of rails in the second direction; and belts on the first, second, third, and fourth pairs of rails for conveying boards along the rails in the first direction.

Abstract: The receptacle transfer installation comprises an upstream transport starwheel adapted to support the receptacles via their collars, a first downstream transport starwheel, a second downstream transport starwheel. An upstream guide extends as far as the first downstream transport starwheel, and a fixed downstream guide having a first branch extending around a portion of the first downstream transport starwheel and a second branch extending around a portion of the upstream transport starwheel between the two downstream transport starwheels. A deflector member is mounted to move between a first position in which the deflector member extends the first branch of the downstream guide and a second position in which the deflector member connects the upstream guide to the second branch of the downstream guide.

Abstract: There is provided a tray accommodation unit having a simple construction capable of restraining the increase of a manufacturing cost, and being excellent in maintenance and installing workability. The tray accommodation unit comprises multiple tray accommodation sections arranged in parallel with each other in a horizontal direction, each tray accommodation section having an opening at the upper portion through which multiple trays can be accommodated in a stacked state, a holding unit for holding the trays, and a moving unit for movably supporting the holding unit in horizontal and vertical directions, wherein the holding unit is engaged with the inside of each tray accommodation section through the opening by the moving unit.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for feeding product carriers through a system including a first rail along which the product carriers can move, branches associated with the first rail so that the product carriers can be supplied to and removed from the first rail along the branches, an endless belt for moving the product carriers along the first rail, and a second rail disposed above the first rail, the endless belt including downwardly extending sides and being suspended from the second rail whereby the downwardly extending sides of the endless belt are accessible for driving of the endless belt thereby.

Abstract: A system for sorting objects includes an upstream and a downstream conveyor positioned to sequentially receive and convey an object along a first path, and a sorting conveyor belt positioned transversely in a gap between the upstream and downstream conveyors. The sorting conveyor is tilted with respect to the plane of the other conveyors, and carries flexible projections that lift one edge of the object and push it The operation of the sorting belt reduces static friction between the object and the main conveyors as the object is pushed. The system also includes a measuring device operatively linked to provide dimensions and position information about the object to a sorting conveyor controller.

Abstract: A conveyor system for automatically transporting items along a conveyor path has at least one guide rail and a plurality of vehicles. The vehicles each have a load carrier movable between a substantially horizontal position and two different tilted positions. A lever gauge is movable in an E-shaped shifting gate and a disconnect element is located on the vehicle to move the lever gage between a position engaging the guide rail and a position not engaging the guide rail.

Abstract: A displaceable conveyor is used to convey selected printed products to different destination points. A reversing device is positioned intermediate the different destination points and a rigid guide track. A partial guide path connects the reversing device with the rigid guide track.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor comprising a frame and a drivable endless conveying element, which is provided with carriers extending transversely to the intended direction of movement of the conveying element during operation, which carriers are coupled to at least one endless flexible coupling member, while at least a few carriers support pusher elements. The pusher elements are connected to guide means, which are capable of cooperation with guide rails supported by the frame, all this in such a manner that a pusher element can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the associated carrier in one or more places during operation. The carriers are provided with wings, which bound receiving spaces being disposed one behind the other and having mutually different dimensions, measured in the intended direction of movement of the conveying element.

Abstract: A conveyor diverting system having an endless conveying surface and diverting shoes transversely movable across the conveying surface for diverting articles having an upstream and a downstream diverting track where the upstream diverting track is oriented parallel to the downstream diverting track for a portion of its length, and converges with the downstream diverting track along its other portion. The conveyor system further includes a controller which utilizes only the downstream diverting track if the article to be diverted is less than a first predetermined length or greater than a second predetermined length. If the article to be diverted is between the first predetermined length and the second predetermined length, then both diverting tracks are utilized.

Abstract: A conveyor diverting system having an endless conveying surface and diverting shoes transversely movable across the conveying surface for diverting articles having an upstream and a downstream diverting track where the upstream diverting track is oriented parallel to the downstream diverting track for a portion of its length, and converges with the downstream diverting track along its other portion. The conveyor system further includes a controller which utilizes only the downstream diverting track if the article to be diverted is less than a first predetermined length or greater than a second predetermined length. If the article to be diverted is between the first predetermined length and the second predetermined length, then both diverting tracks are utilized.

Abstract: A method and device in a conveyor for preventing the collision of guide pins on a transversely moving diverting shoe with the side of the conveyor in a conveyor having an endless conveying surface comprised of a plurality of surface members on which diverting shoes are slidably mounted to permit transverse movement thereon with respect to the direction of conveyance. The diverting shoes each have a downwardly depending guide pin which engages a rail network underlying the conveying surface. Magnets are positioned near the end of a diagonally oriented rail to attract the guide pins so as to prevent the transverse momentum of the guide pins and diverting shoes from carrying them into a collision with a stopping surface of the conveyor. The magnets are so positioned that non-diverted guide pins traveling adjacent the side of the conveyor are not substantially altered from their course of travel by the magnets.

Abstract: A load forming apparatus is described for forming a load comprised of layers of bundles, in which first and second conveyors are configured to deliver individual first bundles of load components to individual respective first and second transfer stations. A load former operatively joins the conveyor transfer stations. A transfer device adjacent the transfer stations is alternatively operable to (a) move the first bundles from the first transfer station to the load former to form a load comprised of first bundles; (b) move the second bundles from the second transfer station to the load former to form a load comprised of second bundles; or (c) alternate moving the first and second bundles from the first and second transfer stations to the load former to form a load comprised of first and second bundles. A load former feed system is also described in which the bundle transfer station and bundle transfer device are selectively separable to form a manual operator station.

Abstract: A flow directing conveyor mechanism includes a lower conveyor defining an article supporting surface for transporting articles for movement along a path of travel extending between inlet and discharge ends of the lower conveyor; and an upper conveyor having pushing mechanisms for displacing articles, while supported by the surface, transversely of the path of travel, as an incident to movement of the articles between the inlet and discharge ends.

Abstract: Described is a method of sorting a plurality of individually conveyed articles in groups in at least one sorting step in a suspension-type conveyor, the articles being introduced in substantially unsorted manner into a first conveyor circle and being delivered from said circle in sorted fashion to at least one second conveyor circle, with an identification source identifying every article to be conveyed individually. To be able to use such a method in a universal manner and to accelerate the sorting process, the articles are delivered in a partial quantity containing a predetermined number in a first sorting step, independently of the loaded state of the first conveyor circle, from the first conveyor circle to the second conveyor circle as soon as the partial quantity of articles to be sorted in the first sorting step has been identified on the first conveyor circle.

Abstract: A conveyor includes a frame and at least one moving mechanism which can be moved in a longitudinal direction thereof by a driving mechanism. Carriers extending transversely to the direction of movement of the moving mechanism are coupled to the moving mechanism. At least a few of the carriers support sliding pieces, which can be moved along the respective carriers by guide mechanisms, so as to move objects to be conveyed by the conveyor during operation. A carrier is coupled to the moving mechanism near its center, which moving mechanism includes links, which are pivotable with respect to each other about pivot pins crossing or intersecting each other at least substantially perpendicularly.

Abstract: A multi-tier storage unit is defined by vertical array of rotary conveyors. Independently operable transfer devices for transferring devices to be stored onto selected conveyors and retreiving stored products from the conveyors are positioned at a pair of spaced points along the sides of the storage unit. The retrieval apparatus includes one or more distributors in the form of trolley systems which operate at preselected vertical levels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor comprising a frame and drivable transport means, provided with carriers extending transversely to the direction of movement of the transport means, parallel to each other. The carriers are pivotally coupled to at least one flexible coupling means, whilst at least some of said carriers support pusher shoes. A pusher shoe is connected to a group of three guide wheels positioned at the side of a respective carrier remote from the pusher shoe, which guide wheels are capable of cooperating with a guide rail extending at an angle to the intended direction of movement of the carriers. At least one of the guide wheels of a group of guide wheels is capable of cooperating with a guide rail at a lower level than another guide wheel, whereby at least part of a guide rail is designed to have a height such that at least one of the guide wheels of a group is positioned higher than the upper end of the part in question of the guide rail.