Abstract: A turnover device of a liquid crystal panel which comprises: a panel holding portion including a base, a panel face supporting portion having plural pairs of panel face touching portions to support both panel faces of a liquid crystal panel, a supporting arm of a panel long edge having a long edge touching portion to support a long edge of the panel, and a supporting arm of a panel short edge having a short edge touching portion to support a short edge of the panel; and a driving portion including a rotation shift to form a right angle with a bisector to divide an angle formed by the long edge touching portion and the short edge touching portion, and an actuator for turnover to rotate and drive the rotation shaft.

Abstract: A system for repositioning row bars includes a base support including a top surface, and a support arm positioned on the top surface and configured to rotate from a first position to a second position, a tray assembly coupled to the support arm, the tray assembly including a first tray including a plurality of first channels, each configured to retain one of the row bars in an initial position, a transfer substrate including a plurality of transfer channels, each configured to receive one of the row bars from the first tray as the support arm moves from the first position to the second position, and a second tray including a plurality of second channels, each configured to retain the one of the row bars in a final position, where the row bars in the final position are rotated by a preselected number of degrees from the initial position.

Abstract: An intermediate guide member is provided attachable and removable between a head portion and a supporting frame of a stocker for printing plates. A number of intermediate guide members is an element to set a time of starting downward movement of hooks supporting a leading end of a printing plate. Three conditions in accordance with lengths of non-detection times are set for detecting the printing plate to judge authenticity of the detection. When the hooks reach vicinities of stoppers provided at supporting bars of a reversal unit, the hooks swing, are pulled-in from above the slope, and transfer the printing plate to the stoppers. Thereafter, by rotating the supporting bars and the stoppers integrally around a shaft, the printing plate is pivoted over toward a back plate, and a lower end of the printing plate is transferred from the stoppers to a receiving plate without damaging the printing plate.

Abstract: An assembly for orienting and fixturing an array of contact lenses in a lens-fixturing tray to enable automated picking of the lenses includes an array of tubes to which a first support tray having an array of lens receptacles each having a respective contact lens therein is removably mounted. A lens-fixturing tray having an array of lens receptacles is removably mounted to the other end of the tubes and the assembly is rotated and submerged in a fluid bath whereby the lenses release from the first support tray and float downwardly through a respective tube coming to rest in a centered, concave side-up position in a respective receptacle of the lens-fixturing tray.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for transferring ordered articles between carriers. Generally, an empty partitioned carrier is aligned in a generally opposing relationship with partitions in a carrier containing at least one article to be transferred to the empty carriers. The carriers are aligned to perform the transfer of the articles, while maintaining the relative order, or arrangement, of the articles in the carrier. The aligned carriers are then rotated through a gravitational field to exert a sufficient force to transfer the articles between the carriers. An apparatus of the present invention for transferring articles preferably includes a fulcrum and a lever arm having a transfer end. The lever arm is attached to the fulcrum to allow the lever arm to be rotated about the fulcrum. The transfer end includes a clamp having first and second adjacent carrier retaining portions configured to retain two carriers in an opposing relationship to allow for the transfer of articles between the carriers.

Abstract: An article transfer apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a fulcrum, a lever arm rotatably attached to the fulcrum, and a clamp coupled to the lever arm having a first carrier retaining portion and a second carrier retaining portion.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for transferring ordered articles between carriers. Generally, an empty partitioned carrier is aligned in a generally opposing relationship with partitions in a carrier containing at least one article to be transferred to the empty carriers. The carriers are aligned to perform the transfer of the articles, while maintaining the relative order, or arrangement, of the articles in the carrier. The aligned carriers are then rotated through a gravitational field to exert a sufficient force to transfer the articles between the carriers. An apparatus of the present invention for transferring articles preferably includes a fulcrum and a lever arm having a transfer end. The lever arm is attached to the fulcrum to allow the lever arm to be rotated about the fulcrum. The transfer end includes a clamp having first and second adjacent carrier retaining portions configured to retain two carriers in an opposing relationship to allow for the transfer of articles between the carriers.

Abstract: An apparatus for the coating of flat-form substrates, especially of printed circuit boards, solder masks and the like, wherein there is arranged between two coating stations a turning station for the printed circuit boards, which are conveyed on a transporter pathway through the coating stations and the turning station, wherein in the turning station (4) there are provided in the same plane as the incoming transporter pathway (2) receiving elements (5) located, spaced apart, opposite one another, which enter into engagement with the edge of a printed circuit board (11) or a holding element attached to the printed circuit board, it being possible to pivot those receiving elements (5) through 180.degree. so that, when the printed circuit board is discharged, they again lie in the plane of the onwards-leading transporter pathway (2').

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for transferring ordered articles between carriers. Generally, an empty partitioned carrier is aligned in a generally opposing relationship with partitions in a carrier containing at least one article to be transferred to the empty carriers. The carriers are aligned to perform the transfer of the articles, while maintaining the relative order, or arrangement, of the articles in the carrier. The aligned carriers are then rotated through a gravitational field to exert a sufficient force to transfer the articles between the carriers. An apparatus of the present invention for transferring articles preferably includes a fulcrum and a lever arm having a transfer end. The lever arm is attached to the fulcrum to allow the lever arm to be rotated about the fulcrum. The transfer end includes a clamp having first and second adjacent carrier retaining portions configured to retain two carriers in an opposing relationship to allow for the transfer of articles between the carriers.

Abstract: The present invention permits reliable lifting and inverting of one or more casting core elements and positioning the one or more casting core elements in a mold flask. The invention generally includes an outer frame and an inner frame assembly, which are coupled such that they may move vertically relative to each other. The invention further includes apparatus which engage the casting core and invert the casting core, and further align the casting core to a mold to which the core is transferred. The present invention also allows for simultaneous engaging, inverting and aligning of a plurality of core elements. The present invention allows cores to be inventoried and located for automatic handling in a position that permits visual inspection and reliable handling and placement at high production rates therefor.

Abstract: An article handling device for handling identical articles having one end that is thicker than the other end entering the device along a supply path containing a plurality of identically aligned articles wherein the leading end of each article is of the same thickness. The article handling device effects a dividing of a specified number of articles entering a transfer section into two groups, a first group being transferred directly to an exit section, a second group being transferred directly to a reversing section while a still further third group, previously transferred to the reversing section and reversed in orientation relative to the first and second groups, is transferred from the reversing section to the exit section. The first and third groups of articles are thereafter united as the orientation of the second group is reversed. The united first and third groups form a solid rectangular volume which can be easily packaged with no wasted space.

Abstract: An apparatus for turning over a package (9) through 180.degree. out of a first position (I) on a supply conveyor (6) into a second position (II) on a removal conveyor (12), a frame (2) mounted on the floor (1) being provided to support a propulsion unit provided with a driving motor (13). To provide a turn-over apparatus for a tubular package, the propulsion unit (15, 20) comprises a movable linear carriage driven between the two positions (I, II) and a stationary slotted guide (20) with a control cam (22) and at least one gripper element is movably mounted in the linear carriage and is rigidly connected to a follower roller (24) guided in the control cam (22).

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding an electrical connector to a connector termination press includes a slotted rotary drum that receives the leading connector from a ribbon of taped connectors carried on a reel, rotates the connector ninety degrees to reorient the connector and places it in a connector positioning track, and a push rod assembly that advances the connector into an aligned position underneath the ram of a connector termination press.

Abstract: A component carrier includes a matrix of raised platforms on a space that support components with depending leads extending toward the base beside the raised platform and raised portions releasably support a cover plate formed with an opening that accommodates a tapered stud having an undercut portion for receiving a sliding lock attached to the cover plate. In one form the raised platforms are annular spacers. In another form the raised platforms are milled grooves transverse to the bar length.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically mounting chip devices provided in tape units onto a printed circuit board at given positions thereof, the printed circuit board being placed on an XY table so that it is movable horizontally in X and Y directions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for transporting and forming batches of flat pieces with decreasing thickness. The device has a piling unit having a rotatably mounted double storage device for receiving two batches of flat pieces, one after the other, so that the first batch is placed on the second batch in a head-to-toe relationship to form a double batch for bundling.