Abstract: A device for conveying flat articles, in which device the flat articles are moved in series while being at a pitch one from the next that is normally constant, includes a synchronization device for compensating for a certain amount of variation in said pitch. This device includes: means for categorizing the articles on the basis of certain physical characteristics of the articles; means for identifying a certain amount of variation in the pitch for the current article and for recording said pitch variation in a memory in correspondence with the class of the current article; and means for servocontrolling the synchronization system on the basis of said pitch variations recorded in the memory in correspondence with said classes of articles.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for continuous non-destructive testing of bar-shaped specimens formed of iron-containing material of specific quality characteristics, where the bar-shaped specimens, such as pipes, move on a roll table (2) along an elongated path through two testing blocks (8, 9) spaced apart along the path. The testing blocks (8, 9) are mechanically decoupled from one another and are logically linked to an electronic testing installation (10). As a specimen moves through a first testing block (8) a signal is developed indicating the presence or absence of flaws and their location in the specimen. The location is referred to the length of the specimens. The testing blocks (8, 9) are located between a supply station (1) and a sorting station (3) with the roll table (2) extending between the two stations. Based on the signals generated, the specimens are sorted in the sorting station between an accepted tray (4) and a number of rejected trays (5, 6, 7) for reworkable or scrap specimens.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of this invention are to sort disks into predetermined ranks depending on their thickness. The disks are conveyed stepwise in each supply cassette at equal intervals, and partly pushed to measure their thickness. They are transferred from the supply cassette to a receiving cassette of the corresponding thickness rank.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing the compressability of golf balls and sorting them in accordance with predetermined compression ratings. The apparatus includes a golf ball movement path having a rotary anvil on one side thereof for driving the golf balls one at a time through a restricted gap between the anvil and a deflectably biased lever. The gap is sized to be smaller than the diameter of the golf balls so that they will deflect the lever an amount determined by their individual compressability. The amount of lever deflection is sensed and transmitted to an electric circuit which operates a golf ball sorting device that directs the golf balls to different outlets in accordance with their sensed compressability.

Abstract: Drills (35), vertically oriented in a row/column array in a drill block (31), are moved in the column direction across a slot (49) located at a loading station (41). As the drills in each partially or fully occupied row reach the slot and drop, drill block movement halts. Thereafter a vertically oriented turn-over tube (51) is moved in the row direction beneath the slot (49). When an occupied drill position is reached, the drill drops into the turn-over tube, tube row movement temporarily halts, and the tube is rotated. The drill slides out of the turn-over tube (51) and down the channel (59) of a measuring station (43) until it hits a movable stop (61). After drill diameter is measured by a pneumatically positioned LVDT (87) and overall drill length is measured by a pneumatically positioned linear potentiometer (69)/proximity detector (PX3) combination, the stop (61) is withdrawn and the drill enters a clamp (95), which grips the adapter shank of the drill.

Abstract: The present invention relates to inspection devices for containers such as glass bottles. In prior art inspection devices, it has been a problem to automatically inspect bottles with concave side panels for sunken or bulged panels. The present invention provides an inspection device (10) that includes an optical gauging device (24) for automatically gauging the side panels of a container (74); and a digital signal actuates an ejector actuator (54) for ejecting defective bottles from a conveyor (12). The optical gauging device (26) includes a light beam detector (28), and a transducer (30) that is optically interposed between a light source (48) and a photoelectric sensor (50) of the light beam detector (28). The transducer (30) is connected to a mechanical contactor (32) that is actuated into contact with a concave side panel either with or without stopping movement of the conveyor. Principle uses include inspection of flat and concave side panels of glass bottles and other containers.