Abstract: An apparatus and method to lift a carrier housing an object onto a secondary unit. The carrier is connected to the secondary unit, configured to rotate about an axis. A tether is provided with at least two branches on one end, and a single branch on a second end. The two branches are secured to the carrier in a spaced relationship, such that a pull of the single branch rotates the carrier about the axis and places the carrier on the base unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for changing orientation of a container to facilitate subsequent processing of the container is disclosed. The apparatus includes a ramp having a first end and a second end. The ramp is disposed to receive the container from the feed path in a first orientation and to cause the container to slide down the ramp toward the second end of the ramp. The apparatus also includes an obstruction located at the second end of the ramp. The obstruction is configured to contact a leading edge of the container to arrest a sliding motion of the container down the ramp. The ramp is configured to pivot to impart an angular acceleration to the container to provide sufficient angular momentum to cause a center of gravity of the container to move past the leading edge causing the container to change orientation such that the container is received on the discharge path in a second orientation.

Abstract: In an apparatus for transferring products from a first conveying line to a second line conveying line operated stepwise in a feeding direction and particularly for feeding a boxing machine a plurality of compartments are aligned along the feeding direction. Each compartment has a bottom and a pair of lateral boards. The compartments receive products released by a manipulator and taken from the first conveying line. An actuator rotates the compartments from a loading configuration for receiving the products, to an overturned configuration, in which the compartments face corresponding, dwelling seats of the second, feeding line. A holding element closes the upper part of the compartments, moving from the loading configuration up to the overturned configuration. A pusher moves into the compartments in the overturned configuration, to push the products into the facing seats of the second, feeding line.

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: Disclosed are machines and methods of orienting and stacking a stream of workpieces when it is desirable to stack at lease some of the workpieces in a face-to-face or back-to-back orientation. The apparatus has a receiving assembly for receiving a continuous stream of workpieces. A flipping assembly follows the receiving assembly for selectively flipping selected workpieces onto their opposing faces. Downstream from the flipping assembly, a stacking guide is positioned for guiding the workpieces into stacks for further manual or automated handling.

Abstract: A material handling method and apparatus for flipping a workpiece. The method involves raising a retracted arm out of the worksurface to pivot the workpiece up and away from an edge of the worksurface. The workpiece is then slid in the direction of the edge before being guided thought the remainder of its 180 degree rotation. The guiding step further slides the workpiece toward the edge so that the workpiece is flipped at least partially in place. The apparatus for carrying out the method includes an arm and catcher plate both having an idle position below the worksurface. Pneumatic drives under microprocessor control pivot, slide and flip the workpiece, at least partially in place. An optical sensor array monitors a peripheral area around the worksurface which may be smaller than the workpiece. The drives may be halted upon the array sensing movement of the workpiece beyond a certain distance from the worksurface periphery.

Abstract: A pivotal mail tray unloader for unloading a tray having mail pieces horizontally stacked therein includes a frame having an elongated, inclined support surface, a carriage slidably mounted to the frame, and a retaining member slidably mounted to the frame. The carriage includes first, second and third pivotal support members. The first support member pivots upwardly and forwardly from said support surface and carries the tray thereon. The second support member is also pivotal upwardly and forwardly and is positioned adjacent to and forward of the first support member. The second member receives the tray from the first support member. The third support member is mounted to the second support member forward thereof and is adapted to receive the mail pieces thereon. The third support member pivots forwardly to receive the mail pieces and subsequently, pivots rearwardly to reorient the mail in a generally vertical orientation.

Abstract: A bale transfer system for transferring bales from a baler mechanism to a support vehicle including a baler mechanism a bale tipper mechanism and a bale receiving station for receiving bales ejected from the baler mechanism. Each bale when ejected has a height dimension and a width dimension. A tipper mechanism is mounted at the bale receiving station and is operable to reposition a bale 90.degree. so that its height dimension becomes its width dimension. A bale loading means is provided for loading the repositioned bales into a transport vehicle. The tipper is comprised of a rotatable bale tipping wing having a bale support surface and a rotatable bale support wing having a bale support surface. The bale tipper mechanism further includes a power means for activating the tipping and support wings to thereby reposition a bale 90.degree. as it is moved from the tipping wing support surface to the support wing support surface.

Abstract: Agar-filled petri dishes with covers on them are taken in rows from a first conveyor belt through interface equipment to a horizontal infeed conveyor transporting them in axially aligned packs of ten through a conventional wrapping machine. Two alternate types of interface are used. A "parallel" interface stacks dishes from six columns simultaneously adjacent the end of the first conveyor, to create six stacks of dishes. These are transferred as a group to a lateral conveyor. The lateral conveyor transports the six stacks to a single stack transfer station where a transfer wheel having a horizontal axis receives the stacks and turns them from a vertical attitude to a horizonatal attitude moving in synchronization with the linear motion of the infeed conveyor.

Abstract: A feed device for a corner finishing machine for finishing frames consists f a framework which supports the frames, a conveyor for longitudinal movement of the frames along the support plane and a pivot device to rotate the frames around a normal pivot axis to the support plane in the area of the finishing tools. In order to achieve reliable, careful support of the frames, the framework forms an inclined support, with a guide rail, interrupted in the area of the finishing tools, and the pivot device includes two support arms which fit into the break in the guide rail in their extended position. The arms can be pivoted up out of their extended position by an angle that corresponds at least to the greatest corner angle of the frames via a suitable drive.

Abstract: An apparatus for turning bodies such as cardboard boxes or cartons or the ke, especially for use in a machine for packing envelopes into cartons, includes at least one bottom carrier which is tiltably driven about a horizontal axis, and at least one top carrier which may be tilted on top of the body to be turned over. At least one connecting member and journalling elements connect the two carriers with each other in such a manner that both carriers can be tilted together or in unison and so that one carrier can also be tilted independently of the other carrier by a respective drive or tilting member. At least one carton supporting lip protrudes from at least one of the carriers for holding the carton while it is being turned.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for separating and feeding a preformed container fron a nested stack, said apparatus adapted for accepting a nested stack of containers in a vertical array, tilting the nested stack to a horizontal array by means of a tilting carriage assembly (34), advancing the horizontal stack (170) on an advancing portion (36), stopping the nested stack at a preferred position and immediately lifing the nested stack from the advancing portion (36) by means of an elongated rail assembly 96. A separating assembly (38) separates a first container from the nested stack, said first container advances to a pivoting hook assembly (40) where the first container is oriented from a substantially horizontal array to a substantially vertical array, and a stabilizer assembly (42) steadies the horizontal container for transfer to subsequent machinery.

Abstract: A series of inverter assemblies are spaced across a board conveyor with each assembly including a plate having an abutment to arrest the board and a lifting surface. An extension on the plate provides a supplementary lifting surface and further a curved edge which stops the following board (s) during cycling of the inverter assembly. A control system includes both manually actuated switches as well as board actuated limit switches in circuit with an adjustable delay component for regulating cycling of the inverter assemblies.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for manufacturing panels for forming walls, roofs, or floors of a timber-framed residence constructed by a two-by-four construction method and of setting these panels on a pallet. A panel formed on a frame manufacturing table is supported and floated over the table by free-roller conveyors. The panel is thereafter slid by being light pushed over the free-roller conveyors of the frame manufacturing table and over free-roller conveyors which are disposed on a fixture work and which are also moved upward to the same level as that of the conveyors of the frame manufacturing table, thereby transferring the panel to the frame manufacturing table to the fixture work table. The panel finished by fixture work on the fixture work table is supported by free-roller conveyors which are perpendicular to the transferring free-roller conveyors, thereby floating the panel over the table.

Abstract: An apparatus for making wooden pallets includes a conveyor for moving a plurality of parallel stringers under a nailing machine where deckboards are nailed transversely across the stringers to form one side of the pallet. During operation of the preferred embodiment, the gripping carriage of the stringer conveyor normally propels in front of it one set of stringers, on which three bottom deckboards have already been nailed to form a half-pallet, and pulls behind it a set of stringers that have had no deckboards at all nailed thereto. As the stringer of the half-pallet move under the nailing machine, five deckboards are nailed to its upper surface to complete the pallet and, when the trailing stringers move under the nailing machine, a set of three deckboards are nailed thereto to form a half-pallet. At a point downstream from the nailing machine, the full pallet is discharged and the gripper carriage starts to move rearwardly.