Abstract: An apparatus for unloading a comminuted material contained in a bag having means disposed at an upper end portion thereof for suspending the bag and a closable discharge outlet disposed at a lower end thereof generally consisting of a support means; and a hopper having an upper inlet functional for receiving the closable discharge spout portion of the bag when the bag is disposed in a suspended position above the hopper, a lower outlet communicable with a material conveying means, a side opening through which an operator may obtain access to a lower end of the bag inserted into the hopper, and a baffle extending downwardly and transversely from a wall section of the hopper, from and below the access opening, toward and short of a hopper wall disposed opposite the hopper wall provided with the access opening, providing a flow path of material introduced into the hopper for the hopper outlet.

Abstract: An unloader for discharging and feeding dry, granular type materials from bulk bags. Among the many improvements of the discharge apparatus is an open frame (20) and offset discharge location. Other improvements include an I-beam (23) and frame design that keeps the hoist (25) movement within the four corner posts of the frame. The unloader may be provided with vibrators, vibration isolators, load cells, actuators (107, 108), massage paddles, or plates (106, 109) to assist in the discharge function.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a device for removing the contents of a valve bag using suction. The invention further pertains to a method of removing the contents of a valve bag using the device.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system for automated loading of a side-by-side stack of thin objects to a feeder is provided. The system can include, e.g.: a) a transporter having a transport surface upon which a side-by-side stack of thin objects can be conveyed; b) a carrier, configured to carry a side-by-side stack of thin objects, over the transport surface; c) a pusher over the transport surface; d) the pusher and the carrier being movable relative to one another between a first position in which the pusher is inside the carrier behind a side-by-side stack of thin objects on the carrier and a second position in which the pusher is laterally displaced from the carrier, such that the side-by-side stack of thin objects on the carrier is laterally slid off of the carrier by the pusher.

Abstract: A loading assembly is provided that is configured to load transport containers with bulk material quickly and efficiently. The assembly includes a load bin having a cross section conforming to an open end of a container and a drive mechanism configured to urge the load bin into and out of the container. When fully inserted, the contents of the load bin are completely disposed within the container. The loading assembly further includes a barrier configured to keep the load confined within the container, while the load bin opens to allow the load to remain within the container upon retraction of the load bin. In this manner, the container can be filled to capacity in a single operation.

Abstract: An opening device for a solid material package includes a package supporting unit for fixedly supporting a main body of a solid material package having a pair of pulling flaps, an opening unit formed from grips for gripping the pair of pulling flaps so that an opening angle formed by the pair of pulling flaps is 10° to 180°, a pair of movable pieces for supporting the grips, and pulling units for pulling the pair of movable pieces to open the package, and a moving unit for moving the package supporting unit upward in conjunction with the pulling unit such that the solid material package is caused to move upward as the movable pieces grip the pulling flaps with the grips and the pulling units pull the movable pieces within the opening angle to peel off a seal section of the solid material package to discharge the solid material from the package.

Abstract: A refuse vehicle is disclosed comprising a refuse loader capable of moving a load of refuse along a path and into the refuse vehicle and an electronic control system capable of controlling the refuse loader. The refuse loader controlled by the electronic control system is capable of moving the load along the path and performing an operation in relation to a position along the path.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and methods for separating an article of laundry from a bundle of articles. The bundle is located in a truck which is clamped into a carriage by means of clamping arm or attached to guide rails. The truck is moved by suitable drive means in a controlled manner beneath a grip device which is movable into and out of the truck. The grip device is mounted on a carriage which is movable upwards relative to a frame by means of a winch and downwards by gravity. The grip device picks the article from the bundle using a dual clamp structure and lifts the article up past an adjacent conveyor which is mounted so as to oscillate about a roller. An air jet means is also provided to blow the article into a nip defined between the conveyor belt and a spring loaded nip roller. Sensors are provided for sensing overload conditions for the conveyor and the grip device.

Abstract: A refuse receptacle lifter is disclosed which is movable between a retracted and a dumping position for lifting and inverting refuse receptacles of the type including spaced apart upper and lower engagement surfaces. The lifter may include an actuator with a rotary output shaft, a lift arm attached to the rotary output shaft, an upper engagement member carried at least in part by the lift arm, a first actuator arm pivotally mounted to the lift arm and a second actuator arm pivotally mounted to the base. The actuator arms are attached to an extension assembly that carries a lower engagement member. Upon rotation of the output shaft, the upper engagement member is moved between a lower retracted position and a raised position and the lower engagement member is moved between a retracted position and an extended position, for lifting and inverting a refuse receptacle.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a vacuum wand assembly for extracting a product from a container, especially a non-self supporting container that collapses as the product is extracted. The assembly includes a wand for extending into the container and for withdrawing the product therefrom. A vacuum source is connected to the wand for applying a vacuum to extract the product through the wand. A supporting structure supports the wand and is moveable relative to the container for carrying the wand as the product is extracted from the container. The wand is limited in a vertical direction by the supporting structure. This keeps the wand at the pre-determined level relative to the product within the container.

Abstract: A supply module for feeding electrical components to an automatic component-mounting machine has a locking element which is a piezoceramic bending transducer that extends in the longitudinal direction of the supply module along a supply path for the components. A free end of the locking element projects into a window of the supply module to an extent such that the locking element is located slightly above the component which has been conveyed there and is ready for removal. By applying an operating voltage to the locking element, the locking element can be deflected laterally to an extent such that it is moved out of the coverage region over the component transversely with respect to the component advancing direction.

Abstract: A tape feeder feeds electronic components by advancing a tape intermittently. The tape feeder comprises a motor controller for controlling a motor, which rotatively drives a sprocket to advance the tape, and a communication unit for receiving a control signal from a control unit of an electronic component mounting apparatus and transmitting a control parameter such as a rotating speed, an amount of rotation, and acceleration and deceleration pattern to the motor controller. The tape feeder has such a structure that a tape advancing speed and an amount of tape advancement are easily changeable according to a type of the electronic components by changing the control parameter of the rotating speed and the amount of rotation of the motor.

Abstract: A system and method for unloading a viscous product from a bag constrained by a bin where movable scrapers are utilized to increase the amount of product evacuated from the bag, to prevent damage to the bag containing the product, and to ease removal of the pump after pumping is complete by breaking the vacuum created during pumping.

Abstract: A carrier is carried between a receiving stage (21) (or a delivery stage (22)) by a movable table (24). Each of the stages is provided with a cut-away area (30) extending from one end of the stage to a predetermined position at which the carrier is placed on the stage and allowing the movable table (24) to move vertically therethrough. The movable table (24) is moved under the stage to a position directly below the carrier mounted on the stage, is raised through the cut-away area (30) to lift up the carrier, and is moved away from the stage together with the carrier. A sensing device (10) incorporated into the movable table (24) inspects the condition of wafers contained in the carrier while the movable table (24) is being moved to the position directly below the carrier placed on the stage.

Abstract: An apparatus transfers a workpiece between a plurality of transport media moveable along a path of travel. The plurality of transport media define at least two groups of different transport media. The apparatus includes a lift workstation located along the path of travel for transferring a workpiece carried by one transport media to another transport media. At least two vertically extending frame members are positioned on opposite sides of the path of travel through the lift workstation. A reciprocal member is moveable vertically along each of the two vertically extending frame members for lifting a workpiece from one transport media and for delivering the lifted workpiece to another transport media. A controller operates at least one motor in response to arrival and departure of transport media to the lift workstation. A sensor senses whether a transport media is located in a ready position at the lift workstation, and generates a signal corresponding to a sensed condition of the transport media.

Abstract: A four-bar linkage mechanism for a material transfer device includes a center driving linkage, a center interconnecting linkage, right and left hand support linkages, and right and left hand main linkages. The present invention further includes the method of transferring material using a material transfer device incorporating the four-bar linkage by loading the material container into a dumper frame, positioning a pour hood over the material container, activating a hydraulic cylinder thereby rotating the material container and pour hood about 180 degrees, and releasing the contents of the material container.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in unloading bulk material from containers that is vertically adjustable and provides a mechanism for maintaining a coupling engagement with an outlet on a container. The apparatus has a plurality of inflatable flexible members configured and arranged to maintain the coupling engagement of the apparatus to the container outlet.

Abstract: A system for supplying preforms, of the type including a hopper inclined relative to the horizontal and at the bottom of which are arranged two substantially parallel rollers driven in rotation about their respective axis, and wherein the preforms are delivered in bulk at the upper end of the hopper. The hopper includes at least a wheel for ejecting wrongly oriented preforms which is driven in rotation about its axis, which is inclined relative to a perpendicular to the direction of axes of the aligning rollers so as to sweep the wrongly aligned or nested preforms and to eject them directly towards a lateral discharge orifice of the hopper.

Abstract: For automatic unloading of soft-drink pack carriers form boxes, and depositing same into the carrier-magazine of a packaging machine. The carrier box is loaded into a bucket, from a full-box-conveyor. The bucket is pivotable, and is overturned to enable the box to be extracted from the bucket, leaving the carriers inside. The bucket is pivoted in a cradle, and the cradle is carried in a bucket-elevator, and the bucket can undergo up/down movements on the elevator. Because of the elevator, the box conveyors can be overhead, out of the way of the magazine into which the carriers are to be transferred.

Abstract: A portable tube holder apparatus and tube loading method facilitates safe and rapid loading of tubes containing electronic components into a machine. The tube holder has a tube guide sized to receive a plurality of tubes and a support to selectively hold the tubes in that guide. The holder can be loaded with a relatively large number of tubes at a workstation area and then used to safely transport the tubes to the machine without risk of the components falling out of the tubes. The support, which is preferably slidable, permits all of the tubes in the guide to be readily released into the machine's feeding system, enabling fast loading of the machine and also minimizing down-time for machines that cannot run while being loaded. The portable tube holder preferably has an interface designed to facilitate alignment of the tube holder's guide with the feeding system guide in the machine.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus S transfers tablets ejected from a tableting machine 1 to a container 7. The transfer apparatus S comprises a tablet carrying chute 2 as chute means, a cloth chute 3 as buffer means disposed in the tablet carrying chute 2, a winding apparatus 4 for lifting the end portion of the cloth chute 3, a bucket 5 for receiving the tablets from the cloth chute 3, and a swiveling lift 6 for moving the bucket 5 to a predetermined position. Here, the bucket 5 and the swiveling lift 6 compose transport means.

Abstract: Fastener delivery apparatus for automatically selecting and delivering fasteners such as rivets to a setting tool. The fasteners are pre-loaded in a package and dispense via at least one fastener delivery tube that interconnects the setting tool to a fastener feeder device. The fastener feeder device releases selected fasteners from the package into the delivery tube. The fasteners are transportable individually or in groups in the tube from the feeder device to the tool. A transfer station attached to the tool or the delivery tube transfers a fastener from the delivery apparatus into the tool, the transfer station being moveable between a first position in which an exit of the transfer station is adjacent to the tool so that a delivered fastener may be inserted by the transfer station into the tool and a second position in which it is clear of the tool so as to permit the tool or a portion thereof to move towards a workpiece to insert a loaded fastener. The delivery tube has wear resistant elements.

Abstract: A method of mounting electronic components on a circuit substrate using an electronic component mounting device. The electronic component mounting device is operatively associated with (1) a component-supply table which includes a displaceable table and a plurality of component-supply units on the displaceable table and (2) a table displacing device which displaces the displaceable table in a desired direction and which positions the component-supply portion of each component-supply unit at a predetermined component-supply position. The electric component mounting device includes a plurality of component holders which are positioned at a component received position opposed to the component supply position. The method includes causing the component holder to receive, at the component receive position, an electric component from the component-supply portion of each component-supply unit which is positioned at the component-supply position.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and methods for separating an article of laundry from a bundle of articles. The bundle is located in a truck which is clamped into a carriage by a clamping arm or attached to guide rails. The truck is moved by a suitable drive in a controlled manner beneath a grip device which is movable into and out of the truck. The grip device is mounted on a carriage which is movable upwards relative to a frame by a winch and downwards by gravity. The grip device picks the article from the bundle using a dual clamp structure and lifts the article up past an adjacent conveyor which is mounted so as to oscillate about a roller. An air jet means is also provided to blow the article into a nip defined between the conveyor belt and a spring loaded nip roller. Sensors are provided for sensing overload conditions for the conveyor and the grip device.

Abstract: A self-adapting refuse receptacle lift has a carriage for raising and dumping the contents of a refuse receptacle into a collection load box or refuse gathering vehicle. The carriage is carried on extending arms, the rotation of which may be controlled with a hydraulic or other powered drive device. The carriage includes attachments comprising a pair of moveable clamp arms. The clamp arms have self-adapting features so that a variety of receptacles of different sizes and shapes may be lifted by the apparatus. Sequencing elements rotate the clamp arms down from a vertical stored position into a horizontal position for clamping a receptacle to be dumped. Then, the entire carriage is raised for inverting and dumping and the contents of the receptacle, and then reverse operations follow, whereby the clamp arms return to an upright stored vertical position to be out of the way during the movement of a refuse collecting vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for picking up module ICs from customer trays utilizes a rotating table. In the apparatus and method, the customer tray is placed on the rotating table, and the rotating table is inclined a predetermined amount. The inclination of the rotating table causes the customer tray, and the module ICs held in the tray, to also be inclined. A grasping apparatus is then used to pick up the module ICs from the customer tray. The pick up apparatus may also be configured to incline the same amount as the rotating table. Once the module ICs have been picked up from the customer tray, they can be delivered to an unloading station, or to a module IC carrier.

Abstract: A device for de-palletizing stacks of blanks stacked on pallets with flat spacing layers disposed in-between, includes a displaceable gripping head and an insertion tool arranged approximately horizontally oriented on the gripping head. The insertion tool is positioned in front of at least one stack of blanks through displacement of the gripping head for being inserted with an approximately horizontal movement between the stack of blanks and the spacing layer for picking up the stack of blanks and for removing the picked up stack of blanks from the spacing layer through a displacement of the gripping head. At least one lifting mechanism is coupled to the gripping head for lifting up one side of the stack of blanks.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus wherein the thin semiconductor wafer is cut into a unit of a thin semiconductor element under the condition of being stuck on an adhesive sheet. A group of the semiconductor elements are removed from the adhesive sheet at high speed without incurring and breaking each semiconductor element thereof, and the semiconductor elements are picked up from the removed group of the semiconductor elements by a predetermined unit.

Abstract: For automatic unloading of soft-drink pack carriers form boxes, and depositing same into the carrier-magazine of a packaging machine. The carrier box is loaded into a bucket, from a full-box-conveyor. The bucket is pivotable, and is overturned to enable the box to be extracted from the bucket, leaving the carriers inside. The bucket is pivoted in a cradle, and the cradle is carried in a bucket-elevator, and the bucket can undergo up/down movements on the elevator. Because of the elevator, the box conveyors can be overhead, out of the way of the magazine into which the carriers are to be transferred.

Abstract: A pellet picking apparatus for separating a pellet adhered on an adhesive sheet from the sheet and picking the pellet thus separated is provided, which prevents the pellet from being damaged during the pellet picking process without lowering the productivity. This apparatus comprises (a) a stage having a surface with which a lower face of the adhesive sheet is contacted; the pellet being adhered on an upper face of the sheet; the stage having a suction hole that pulls down the sheet; the suction hole having a suction end to be contacted with the sheet on the surface of the stage; the stage being movable in a horizontal plane with respect to a specific reference position; and (b) a collet for holding the pellet by a suction force; the collet having a suction end to be contacted with the pellet; the collet being capable of holding the pellet by the suction force at the suction end.

Abstract: Mechanism for exchanging chip-carrier plates, in particular for use in a hybrid chip-bonding machine (1), with: a plurality of chip-carrier plates (12), a magazine (10) to store the plurality of chip-carrier plates (12), a transport arrangement (40) comprising a first and second clamping device (42, 44) that are disposed on a movable holder (46), such that the transport arrangement is designed to remove a selected chip-carrier plate from the magazine, deliver it to a processing station, in particular a chip-detaching system (8), of the chip-bonding machine, and after processing remove it from the processing station and deposit it in the magazine, a control means to move the chip-carrier plates within the magazine in such a way that the selected chip-carrier plate is positioned at a collection point to be collected from the magazine, and a control means to move the holder of the transport arrangement, wherein the first and second clamping devices (42, 44) are disposed one above the other, in particular in a ve

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and a method to unload bulk powders from large bulk containers. The system and method are particularly useful for unloading bulk cohesive powders.

Abstract: A bulk material handling facility includes an unloading tube positionable for connection to several discharge openings of a transport vehicle without requiring repositioning of the vehicle. The unloading tube is pivotally supported so that it can be swung out of the way when not in use. The unloading tube may include an elevated portion permitting passage of personnel and equipment when the unloading tube is in use.

Abstract: A portable tube holder apparatus and tube loading method facilitates safe and rapid loading of tubes containing electronic components into a machine. The tube holder has a tube guide sized to receive a plurality of tubes and a support to selectively hold the tubes in that guide. The holder can be loaded with a relatively large number of tubes at a workstation area and then used to safely transport the tubes to the machine without risk of the components falling out of the tubes. The support, which is preferably slidable, permits all of the tubes in the guide to be readily released into the machine's feeding system, enabling fast loading of the machine and also minimizing down-time for machines that cannot run while being loaded. The portable tube holder preferably has an interface designed to facilitate alignment of the tube holder's guide with the feeding system guide in the machine.

Abstract: A method and means for exposing components (13) positioned in sequence in a carrier tape (7) and covered by a cover tape (8), in order to release and lift the cover tape from the carrier tape and expose the components in a picking position (12) for subsequent picking by a pick-up head in a component mounting machine. Comprising steps and means for continuously directing and discharging any released debris such that accumulation of debris is prevented.

Abstract: A component suction method including feeding components accommodated in component storage spaces of a tape base to a predetermined position, lowering a nozzle capable of sucking the components supplied to the predetermined position, stopping the nozzle at a predetermined distance from an upper surface of the tape base, pushing an undersurface of the component up when the nozzle is at a bottom dead center position or a position adjacent to the center, vacuum-sucking the component by the nozzle at the bottom dead center position or at the position adjacent to the center, and moving the component sucked by the nozzle to a predetermined position of a board after the vacuum-sucking.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for removing material from a bulk bag with reduced atmospheric contamination. The invention provides for engaging the bulk bag in a substantially airtight arrange with a reservoir that receives the material being unloaded and airflow discharge system that filters the airflow prior to it entering the surrounding atmosphere. The apparatus is specifically intended for removing residual material from the bulk bag and collapsing the bag through vacuum pressure. This simplifies bag removal and folding while reducing atmospheric contamination from uncontrolled residual material.

Abstract: In the device for emptying of rectangular open-top mail piece containers (1) featuring lateral guiding elements (2), the mail piece containers (1) are guided and shifted on lateral guiding tracks (3). The bottom of the mail piece container (1) features continuous recesses (11) that extend in the shifting direction. Between the guiding tracks (3) freely protruding supporting fingers (6) are provisioned that are oriented in a direction toward the shifting direction. The recesses (11) in the container bottom and the supporting fingers (6) are dimensioned and positioned in such a way that the supporting fingers (6) move into the recesses (11) underneath the mail pieces, when the mail piece container (1) is shifted in its position. The—in the shifting direction—forward and rearward side walls of the mail piece container (1) feature, at least above the supporting fingers (6), cuts (5) that are open at the top.

Abstract: A material distribution system for stick-like objects such as railroad spikes includes a rake for peeling the stick-like objects from the top of a pile, and transferring them to another location, for example, where they might be reached by a human operator. Use of the rake to peel the object from the top of the pile, with minimized downward pressure applied by the rake, minimizes the tendency of the objects to entangle with each other.

Abstract: A mechanism for handling semiconductor wafers includes a feed section which comprises a vertically movable elevator able to hold a number of vertically spaced carriers. Each carrier has a film frame mounted thereon for supporting a wafer. A pulling mechanism pulls a selected carrier out of the elevator along a first axis and into a pick and place section. A transfer mechanism removes individual dies from the wafer and moves them to a flip station along a second axis oriented perpendicularly to the first axis. The transfer mechanism can move different distances along the second axis to be able to remove dies arranged in a row along the second axis. The flip station is driven by a single motor to both lower and invert the dies.

Abstract: A device for automatically opening a cassette includes a holding mechanism, an unlatching mechanism and an opening mechanism. The cassette to be opened has a top portion hingedly fixed to a bottom portion, the top portion being pivotable between a closed and an open position relative to the bottom portion, the cassette having a latch movable between an engaged position for securing the top portion to the bottom portion when the cassette is in the closed position and a disengaged position for allowing the top portion to pivot relative to the bottom portion to the open position. The holding mechanism is for receiving the cassette and securing the bottom portion of a received cassette.

Abstract: A vertical type wafer supporting jig is provided in which a ring-like support plate can be fixed to support pillars by a simple structure without conventional welding as a way of fixing and without risk of the ring-like support plate falling off, and in which repair can be rapidly made when needed. The vertical type wafer supporting jig is configured for mounting many wafers onto many support plates stacked and fixed in a vertical direction to plural support pillars with a predetermined wafer mounting interval being provided between them. Support groove parts for inserting and supporting the support plates are respectively formed in the vertical direction of the support pillars with a predetermined interval being provided between them. A fixing rod is provided adjoining at least one of the support pillars.

Abstract: A rotary-type circuit-component supplying apparatus including a plurality of feeders each of which stores a plurality of circuit components of a same sort and which supplies the components one by one from a component-supply portion thereof, at least one rotary table which is rotatable about a first axis line which is substantially vertical and which holds the feeders such that the respective component-supply portions of the feeders are arranged along a circle having a center on the first axis line, and a table-driving device which rotates and stops the rotary table to position the component-supply portion of each of the feeders at a predetermined component-supplying position, the feeders including at least one pendent feeder which includes a main portion which is held by the rotary table such that the main portion extends in a substantially horizontal direction, and which supports a tape-feeding mechanism which feeds a tape carrying the circuit components to the component-supply portion of the pendent feeder,

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for substrate handling. In a first aspect, a temperature adjustment plate is located below a substrate carriage and is configured such that a substrate may be transferred between the temperature adjustment plate and the substrate carriage by lifting and lowering the substrate carriage above and below the top surface of the temperature adjustment plate. The temperature adjustment plate may be configured to heat and/or cool a substrate positioned thereon. In a second aspect, the substrate carriage is magnetically coupled so as to rotate and/or lift and lower magnetically, thereby reducing particle generation via contact between moving parts (and potential chamber contamination therefrom). In a third aspect, a substrate handler positioned below the substrate carriage is both magnetically coupled and magnetically levitated, providing further particle reduction.

Abstract: A chip peeling apparatus has a plurality of protrusions which include first protrusions and second protrusions lower than the first protrusions. A vacuum pump communicates through holes with grooves defined between adjacent ones of the protrusions. A UV sheet is attached to chips, and the chips are supported in the vicinity of their corners by the tops of the first protrusions. When the vacuum pump is actuated, the chips and streets disposed between the chips are lowered, and the chips are curved and supported in abutment against the tops of the second protrusions. Each of the chips is gradually peeled off the UV sheet under a force tending to recover the original shape of the curved sheet. The chip peeling apparatus is effective in preventing the chips from being damaged and positionally deviated when the chips are attracted and carried.

Abstract: A component feeding material is useful for taking a forefront electronic component outside from electronic components transferred in alignment. The electronic components are transferred forward in alignment along a transfer passage such that the forefront electronic component abuts against a component stopper, and when the forefront electronic component is taken outside through a component ejection port, air pressure for relieving pressing force is exerted rearward on at least one of following electronic components, thereby relieving the pressure force exerted on the forefront electronic component abutting against the component stopper from the following electronic components.

Abstract: A contact arm for bringing ICs to be tested to contact a contact portion, comprises a holding head for holding said electronic devices, a floating mechanism provided between a drive mechanism for moving close to or away from said contact portion and said holding head for supporting said holding head movable about said drive mechanism, a diaphragm cylinder provided between said drive mechanism and said holding head for adjusting a relative pressing pressure from said drive mechanism to said holding head. A plurality of diaphragm cylinders are provided to one holding head.

Abstract: A handling apparatus for groups of thermoformed objects constantly held in a correct axial alignement, which apparatus includes at least one picking up-release head (2) having as many receiving seats extending parallel to one another from said head (2) as are the stacks (4, 4a, 4b) to, be handled, and drive means (7, 19) arranged to move a respective pick up and release head (2) between a stack pick up station (10) and a stack release station (12, 17) of one or more stacks (4) of thermoformed objects and to position it correctly both at the said stack pick up station (10) and at the said stack release station (17, 12), at least one mobile pusher member (21) arranged to be moved between, and parallel to, the said receiving seats in order to engage at the top thereof the stacks (4, 4a, 4b) of thermoformed objects (5) located in each receiving seat, and control drive means (23) for each mobile pusher member (21), thereby following and hold down each stack (4, 4a, 4b) while the same is being released from its res

Abstract: An unwrapping apparatus unwraps a slide pack wrapped with a wrapping sheet to obtain a slide contained therein. As paired rollers forward the slide pack, a squeezing member squeezes the slide backward within an unsealed space in the slide pack to form a wide cut allowance at the front edge of the slide pack. After the slide reaches the rear end of the unsealed space, nip pressure applied to the slide pack by the paired rollers is reduced to further forward the slide pack to a predetermined position. At the predetermined position, a cutter partially cuts the cut allowance to form a slit thereon. Then, the slide pack is transferred back by the paired rollers under a raised nip pressure which is sufficient to squeeze the slide out from the slit. Accordingly, the slide will be gradually separated from the wrapping sheet.

Abstract: A device used in the tobacco-processing industry for emptying a container filled with rod-shaped articles into a magazine, in which the container has an open upper narrow side and an open wide front side. The device includes a container holder that accommodates the container and which can be tilted by 180° so that the container assumes an emptying position above the magazine. The container holder includes an article support comprising two support strips mounted for being adjacent and movable relative to the open narrow side of the container. An actuation mechanism is connected to the article support for effecting an opening movement in which the two support strips undergo a vertical drop movement and a horizontal spreading movement in which the two movable strips move in opposite directions to respective sides of the container to allow the articles to be released from the container.