Abstract: Apparatus for separating workpieces which preferably consist at least in sections of wood, wood-based materials, plastic or the like, having a workpiece magazine with a magazine area for holding a plurality of workpieces, in particular a stack of workpieces, a discharge device for discharging a workpiece out of the workpiece magazine, characterized in that the apparatus has a feed device which is set up to feed at least one workpiece held in the workpiece magazine to the discharge device.

Abstract: A cartridge for histological specimen slides includes a generally enclosed body and a slide holder. The body is configured for removable insertion into a specimen slide printer, and includes a slide holder receiving opening and a slide feed opening. The slide holder holds a plurality of specimen slides and is configured to be positioned within and removed from the body through the slide holder receiving opening. When loaded in the body the slide holder positions and presents the slides to the slide feed opening in the body. A memory chip for storing information relating to the slides can be mounted to the holder, and is located adjacent an access opening in the body when the holder is positioned in the body.

Abstract: The apparatus for moving and grouping flat products (10) having two main faces and a perimetral edge comprises: a conveyor device (16) from which catch elements (18) suitable for pushing the products (10) along a longitudinal conveying direction protrude; a plurality of magazines (22) which contain stacks of products (10) and are arranged in succession along the conveying direction above the conveyor device (16); respective guide members arranged below the bottom end of each magazine (22) and suitable for guiding products (10) exiting from the magazine (22) towards the conveyor device (16); and a respective pair of rotating elements associated with the bottom end of each magazine (22).

Abstract: The device includes a stacking surface movable in a substantially vertical direction, on which layers of products to be packaged are superposed, and a pair of conveyors substantially superposed to feed the layers of products to the stacking surface. The device also includes a pair of walls substantially parallel, and substantially vertical, between which the layers of products are inserted by the conveyors when they are stacked on the stacking surface. The walls move reciprocally towards and away from each other to take a position of greater reciprocal distance, in which they do not interfere with the products deposited on the stacking surface, and a position of lesser reciprocal distance, in which they interfere with the products inserted therebetween.

Abstract: A device for separation of damp silicon wafers from a wafer stack, whereby the damp wafers may be removed individually from the stack, transferred to a subsequent conveyor device and the damp thin fragile wafers held in the stack can be rapidly separated and isolated even in large format. The device comprises separation rollers on which the wafer stack may be placed. On rotation of the separation rollers, the lowest wafer is displaced under a doctor strip through a wafer-thin gap between the roller plane and doctor strip and withdrawn from the wafer stack by elastic pressure by a pair of superimposed delivery rollers driven at the same speed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a destacking device for dispensing planar food products, such as tortillas, from a stack bottom. In some embodiments of the invention, the device includes a frame and a carriage assembly configured for linear reciprocation with respect to the frame. The carriage assembly has a drum that rotates in response to linear reciprocation of the carriage assembly, and a suction lip is positioned proximal a wall of the drum. A stack of tortillas can be disposed on the suction lip, and a negative pressure is applied to close the suction lip and “suck” a bottommost tortilla against the lip. A movable arm has a leading edge for cooperating with the suction lip to separate the bottommost tortilla from a next bottommost tortilla. The drum rotates the suction lip and tortilla, and the vacuum is released to allow the tortilla to fall downwardly onto an endless belt.

Abstract: A device (100) for feeding blanks (99) to a packaging machine (M), includes at least one rotating group (G) for picking up flat folded carton blanks from the bottom of a stack (94) of blanks (99), in a picking up position (P), by the use of a picking up vacuum device (7) supported by the group (G). Then, the picked up folded blanks are erected into box-like configurations (A) in an erecting position (K). Then, the group (G) feeds the blanks (99) to an inlet station (98) of the machine (M), to place them one by one in the station (98) in a placing position (ID). The group (G) includes one first kinematic series (C1) for determining the movement of the picking up vacuum cups (7) along a closed path (T), extending between the picking up position (P) and the placing position (ID). A second kinematic series (C2) controls and maintains constant the orientation of the picking up vacuum cups (7, V).

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for separating objects from a quantity of objects located in a receptacle. In order to keep the constructional and technical effort of said device low while allowing for great tolerance regarding the dimensions or diameters of the objects, a pivotable flap is provided at the outlet of the receptacle for releasing an object that is to be separated while an element for retaining the remaining objects in the receptacle is provided above the flap in the direction of movement of the objects.

Abstract: Inserter for inserting postal items into envelopes, wherein an envelope catcher separates the envelopes and transports the envelopes away from the stack of empty envelopes and the envelopes are subsequently transported further with the initially leading flap end trailing. The envelope catcher is suspended for movement and drivable along a catcher path, of which at least a section extends closely along the envelope to be separated. When the envelope is transported away from the envelope catcher with its flap end trailing the flap is folded open.

Abstract: A dunnage removal apparatus is situated adjacent a load conveyor and more particularly at a transfer device that moves a unitized load from the load conveyor to a pre-feeder. The dunnage removal apparatus includes a guide chute that funnels a loose flap of the dunnage sheet toward a sheet stripper mechanism. The mechanism includes a motor driven drive roller and a pair of pinch rollers that pinch the flap and pull the dunnage sheet from beneath the load. The pinch rollers are supported for movement relative to the drive roller to accept dunnage sheet(s) of variable thicknesses. A backstop plate is provided that moves with the pinch rollers. The load bears against the backstop plate as the dunnage sheet(s) is removed.

Abstract: A storage device for storing trays, the device including a first movable member and a second movable member positioned opposite the first movable member. The first and second movable members are adapted to selectively vertically move and support at least one tray therebetween. A conveyor moves a tray to transfer position, and a transfer mechanism elevates the tray to a storage position between the two movable members. A stack of nested trays may be stored.

Abstract: The apparatus for transmitting a workpiece along a press line includes a support frame; a support frame driving unit; a plurality of air pipes; an air flow forming unit; a plurality of rollers; and a roller driving unit. The plurality of suction cups are provided at a perimeter of each of the rollers A plurality of air exhaust passages extends from an inner surface of each suction cup to a respective air passage are formed in each of the rollers, such that air within a closed space formed between the suction cup and the workpiece is exhausted to the air passage by a difference between a pressure within the closed space and a pressure in the air passage.

Abstract: A pipe handling device with an auxiliary pipe loading device for use with a horizontal boring machine is disclosed. The auxiliary pipe loading device includes an auxiliary pipe receiving member that is connected to a pipe handling assembly at a location remote from the boring machine. The pipe receiving member is adapted to receive and support a pipe section when the pipe handling assembly is retracted such that the auxiliary pipe receiving member is positioned beyond the magazine of the pipe handling device. The auxiliary pipe receiving member is pivotally connected to a lockout assembly that is operable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the lockout assembly prevents a pipe section from entering the auxiliary pipe receiving member. Whereas in the open position, the lockout assembly permits a pipe section to be manually placed in the auxiliary pipe receiving member.

Abstract: A stacker (10) for plate members includes a platform (15) on which plate members (20) are to be stacked and at least one pair of guides (11, 13) disposed at both sides of the platform (15) relative to a transferring direction of the plate members. Each of the guides (11, 13) has a ridge (12a, 14a) spirally formed on a rotational axial portion (12, 14) and a groove (12b, 14b) formed along the ridge (12a, 14a). The aforementioned at least one pair of guides (11, 13) are rotated with opposite edges of the plate member (20) engaged with the grooves (12b, 14b) of the guides (11, 13), to thereby move the plate member (20) toward the platform (15).

Abstract: In a biaxial stretch blow molding apparatus (10) for wide-mouthed containers, preforms (6) that are in an inverted state are conveyed on a single plane by preform carriers (40) that go around a carrier circuit (30) in the form of a loop, are heated via a heating station (60), and are then transferred via a transfer station (80) to stretch blow molding mold assemblies (72) that go around a circular looped path (71). The molded wide-mouthed containers (1) are taken out of the stretch blow molding mold assemblies (72) along a conveying path on a same plane and collected by a collection station (90). Wide-mouthed containers can be formed continuously and at high speed, which is less wasteful and more economical than the case where wide-mouthed containers that are formed from films.

Abstract: A holding plate includes a flat base member with a surface that is formed with a plurality of stations (wells or depressions) for holding specimens. A panel extends downwardly from the edge of the surface to create a concavity for receiving a lid member therein. The panel also has a flange extending outwardly from the concavity. The flat lid member has a skirt with a rim that extends from the edge of the lid member to create a hollow for receiving a base member therein. In operation, a robot or mechanical device selectively engages the flange of the base member and the rim of the lid member to engage or disengage the base and lid members. This allows for individual movement of either the base member or the lid member. This also allows for collective movement of the engaged base and lid members for stacking and storage.

Abstract: An identification card manufacturing system that includes first and second identification card manufacturing device modules and a unification mounting. The first identification card manufacturing device module includes a first card transport mechanism and an output, through which the card transport mechanism is configured to discharge individual cards. The second identification card manufacturing device module includes a second card transport mechanism and an input, at which the second card transport mechanism is configured to receive cards. The unification mounting positions the output of the first device module in card handoff alignment with the input of the second device module.

Abstract: A system for continuously packaging or sorting fragile articles having varying thicknesses in a stack includes a plurality of proportional shifters coupled to each of a plurality of stripping devices in an article infeed assembly. Each proportional shifter has an article gauge for measuring the height of a stack having a set or desired number of fragile articles, such as crackers or cookies. An article stripping device may be quickly and accurately adjusted in-process to measure the thickness of a set number of stacked articles contained in a given batch coming from an article infeed. The article gauge provides a measure of the height of a stack of a set number of articles sampled from an article infeed. The stack height is equivalent to the height of the stack of articles stripped by the strip feeder.

Abstract: An automated filter changing system comprises a rotatable filter dispensing assembly and a filter clamping assembly. The filter dispensing device receives filter storage magazines in which a plurality of filters are initially stored in the form of connected stacks. The filter dispensing assembly includes a filter separating device having a stationary portion. The filter separating device separates one or more stacks of filters into discrete filter units, such that individual filters are transported sequentially from the filter dispensing device. The filter clamping assembly operates in conjunction with the filter dispensing device to receive one or more individual filter units dispensed therefrom, and provides one or more coupling sites which can fluidly communicate with one or more fluid lines. The filter clamping device couples unused filters to fittings associated with the fluid lines by applying an evenly distributed force to the filters.

Abstract: A stick placer includes a stick magazine and a stick receiver. A stop regulates passage of the lowermost stick from a lower opening in the stick magazine. The stick receiver is rotatable and has a stick receiving pocket. The stick receiver is selectively rotatably mounted adjacent the lower opening in the stick magazine. The stick receiver is rotatable between a stick receiving position and a stick depositing position. In the stick receiving position the pocket cooperates with the lower opening so as to receive the lowermost stick into the pocket when the stop is selectively removed so as to release the lowermost stick from the lower opening in the magazine. In the stick depositing position, the stick receiver is angularly displaced from the stick receiving position so as to dispose the pocket for deposit of the stick from the pocket onto an upper tier of a stack of lumber.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a screw device (10) arranged to deliver the articles one at a time, in a manner spaced from the others, after withdrawing them from a vertical pile resting on it, means for counting the articles delivered by the screw device (10) and, downstream thereof, a continuous track (20) along which the articles slide in a stacked arrangement and which leads the stacks containing a predetermined number of articles to a final station (50) in which the stacks are positioned horizontally or inclined; finally a rotary device (30) accompanies the stacks of articles of predetermined number and urges them one at a time along said track (20) from the point in which they leave the screw device (10) to the final station (50).