Abstract: A transfer assembly incorporated into a part forming operation including a structure exhibiting a generally open interior. A pair of elongated pivotal supports extend in parallel fashion along inner facing sides of the structure and channel the received opposite edges of each part delivered from the part forming operation. A rotary actuating component is mounted at an intermediate end location of the structure between the sides and pivotally interconnects to the end supports via a pair of linkage arms. A proximity trigger switch determines delivery of a part from the out feed location and, upon being activated, actuates the rotary component to separate the side extending supports to release the part for stacking in plural fashion within the open interior, following which reverse actuation of the rotary component pivotally resets the supports for receiving a subsequent part.

Abstract: A palletizing robot includes at least one rotatable pallet; a crane comprising a rotary base, a lifting frame fixed on the rotary base, and an extensible mechanical hand slidably engaged to the lifting frame to grasp a good; and a controller. The controller controls the crane and the at least one rotatable pallet to cooperatively stack the goods on the rotatable pallet, and control the at least one rotatable pallet to rotate itself to package the stacked goods.

Abstract: A device for controlling delivery of sheets from a stack includes a lift for a stack of sheets. A sheet inserter removes sheets from the top of the stack to move them. A detector detects the front top level of the stack and measures the extent of variations in the level of the stack. A computer receives a measurement from the detector and acts on a first electric motor for the lift to raise the stack. A source of information connected to the computer relates to the supply frequency in real time and to the nominal thickness of the sheets. The computer output is connecting to a sheet supply frequency varying device for controlling the first motor to the lift. The computer is programmed so that the signal at its output is characteristic of the difference between the measured level of the stack and the calculated level thereof. An auxiliary supply device may support and raise the stack, based on the computer program, independently of the lift.

Abstract: A stacked articles accumulating apparatus functions by down-stacking. The apparatus includes a surface supported on an air cylinder member with a solenoid valve controlled by a photo eye sensor to release air from the cylinder member to maintain the top article of an accumulating articles stack on the support surface substantially at a predetermined elevation. Additional components include a limit switch for setting a minimum elevation of the support surface, a compressed air source supplying the air cylinder member, and an article supply mechanism. A method of article accumulation at substantially a predetermined level is also disclosed.

Abstract: A banknote store comprises a rotatable structure such as a drum which has a number of banknote storage regions arranged around its periphery. Each stores a stack of banknotes, the stacks growing inwardly as banknotes are added. The drum can be rotated to bring each storage region into proximity to means for delivering banknotes to and/or retrieving banknotes from the store.

Abstract: A method of controlling or regulating the vertical position of piled or stacked sheets, which includes determining at the leading edge and at the trailing edge, respectively, of the sheet resting on the top of the sheet pile, the vertical position of the sheet: and, depending upon the vertical position of the leading edge and the trailing edge, respectively, moving in the vertical direction at least one lifting element associated with the sheet trailing edge. The method further comprises, displacing the sheet pile and the lifting element, respectively, a given distance in the vertical direction, when a large discrepancy is found between the vertical position at the leading edge and a nominal value.

Abstract: A method for dispensing, receiving, storing, testing or binning packaged integrated circuit devices using at least one vertically oriented, removable, tubular magazine disposed above a controllably driven, rod-like indexing element extending from a drive below the magazine. A magazine, with an associated indexing element and drive, is configurable as an individual magazine module. The indexing element, under power of the drive, raises or lowers a vertical stack of devices to a desired level adjacent the top of the magazine to dispense or receive an individual device from a feed mechanism, such as a pick-and-place mechanism. A number of magazine modules may be assembled in a multi-module array, which is particularly suitable for binning tested devices, with a sort category being directed to each magazine.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for loading or stacking objects into open top containers. The objects may be flat with wide and narrow sides and may further comprise mail pieces. The system comprises a pivoting unit for pivoting a container holding member into one of at least two positions: a top position, and a stacking position. In the top position, the container is held such that the open top faces substantially upwards, while in the bottom position the top faces substantially horizontal. A stacking aid is introduced into the container when it is held in the top position. The stacking aid includes an inclined wall that helps guide the objects into the container. A height sensor may also be included. The pivoting unit may also include a horizontal extension unit which may telescope the container in a horizontal direction. This facilitates easier manual handling of the container.

Abstract: Devices for stacking sheet-fed paper or cardboard sheets (1) on pallets (4) are known to have a vertically stationary conveyor (2) at a height above the maximum stack level above the floor and a storage platform (5) which can be raised and lowered upon which the stacks are formed. An optical sensor (17) which senses the stack level is arranged at the input side prior to the stacking area to control the lowering of the storage platform (5). According to the invention, at least three optical sensors (17) are disposed below the conveyor level at a slight distance from each other in a vertical line. The maximum vertical distance between the two sensors (17) is 20 mm. By activating any two sensors (17), the drop in height of the sheets (1) can be set depending on the type of sheet and without the need for extensive adjustment upon a change in the type of sheet.

Abstract: A stacker and cart are provided for vertically stacking forms fed from a printer, folder, or other mechanism, by a conveyor, which do not require tilting of the cart to allow offloading of the forms. The stacker has a housing with side walls parallel to and spaced from each other in a first dimension and a base which mounts the side walls so that they are inclined with respect to the vertical (e.g. about 15 degrees), tilted in a second dimension perpendicular to the first. A number of forms-supporting stacker tines are parallel to and spaced from each other in the first dimension, and an elevator mechanism moves the tines in unison generally vertically with respect to the side walls. A stacker cooperates with a cart, a part sensor mounted on or adjacent the stacker base, and a latch on the cart cooperating with a latching mechanism on the stacker.

Abstract: Flat mail pieces of intermixed sizes and thicknesses are received and distributed to separately arranged storage compartments. Each such compartment contains special features and functions which ensure smooth entry of incoming mail, maintain the facing and orientation of received mail pieces, readily permit stack accumulation, and readily enable release of a full stack from the storage compartment. A vertically-mobile stack support plate maintains a relatively short but constant drop distance for all mail pieces entering the stacking compartment. To transfer a stack of mail, the stack is stripped off its support plate and onto a bed of rollers by lateral movement of the storage compartment away from the support plate. After a tray container has been positioned to accept the stack of mail, the bed is rolled out from beneath the stack, gently transferring the stack onto the bottom of the tray.

Abstract: A hand cart for carrying sheets and other stacked objects has a motorized self-leveling platform, so the things being carried are kept at a constant elevation convenient to a worker, whether things are being added or removed from the platform. For carrying sheets, such as moving sheets of paper in document processing operations, the cart upright and platform are tilted, and the upright has opposing wings extending at 90 degree. Thus, sheets tend to move against the wings and their alignment is either obtained or maintained. When the cart is tilted to move it about, the cart design and load positioning system desirably keep the upward force which a worker must apply to the cart handle at low levels.

Abstract: ICs with leadframes can be efficiently transferred, stocked and positioned without the need for preparing jigs for each kind of IC.A cassette 4 accommodating a stack of ICs is inserted into a cassette space 35 and held in the center thereof. A moving table 9 is driven to move by a servomotor 21. A lifting member 67 of an IC lifting mechanism 60 raises the ICs in the cassette 4 from the bottom by an amount corresponding to the thickness of one IC at a time. A pulling-over device 70, which is disposed above the cassette space 35, centers the IC in both the lateral and longitudinal directions to thereby effect positioning.

Abstract: A self-contained offset stacker tray assembly is operable in conjunction with the sheet output of a host printer or copier to receive sheets from the host machine and deposit the sheets in offset sets. The assembly includes a supporting base for a frame structure reciprocable transversely of the direction of sheet infeed from the host and containing a receiver tray, infeed rolls to supply sheets to the trays, a rotary cam mechanism for shifting the frame assembly relative to the output from the host machine and the receiver tray being vertically movable within the frame structure and biased upwardly by counter balancing springs to be moved downwardly as the weight of the sheets in the tray increases.

Abstract: A transport path is branched into a main pass and a bypass. A deflector is provided at a branch point, for switching the path either to the bypass or to the main pass. Sheet detection switches are respectively provided along the bypass and the main pass, and also on a stapler plate, for controlling the rotation of a transfer roller. In this way, a first sheet being transported through the main pass and a second sheet being transported through the bypass can be discharged onto the stapler plate at the same time. As a result, the problem of the device being made larger or reducing the quality of the sheets can be prevented, and a faster process after copying can be achieved.

Abstract: A paper accumulator unit comprising a table which can be lifted and lowered, being kept in a horizontal condition and on which paper which has been discharged from above is continuously stacked and stored, a stepping motor for lifting and lowering the table with the driving torque of its rotary shaft, and an electromagnetic brake coupled to the rotary shaft of the stepping motor, which brakes the rotation of the rotary shaft when the brake is in a deenergized state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding sheets from a top of a sheet stack supported on a stack lifting table to a sheet processing machine. The stack lifting table supporting the sheet stack is raised by a motor until the top of the sheet stack has reached a predetermined maximum level. At this position, the sheets are fed by a feeding mechanism from the sheet stack to the sheet processing machine to lessen the stack height until the top of the sheet stack has reached a predetermined minimum level as determined by a sensor. The rate at which the stack height is lessened as sheets are fed from the stack lifting table is then determined by a controller from the known distance between the predetermined maximum and minimum levels and a value corresponding to the speed at which sheets are fed from the stack. The speed value, or sheet cycle time, may be received from the processing machine, or may be a time duration measured by a timer.

Abstract: The combination of a sheet-processing machine and a transport system for sheet piles includes a device for passing sheets through the sheet-processing machine in a given direction of travel; a pile support assigned to the machine; a device for carrying the pile support; and a device for raising and lowering the carrying device together with the pile support to upper and lower levels, respectively; the carrying device including a first transport device for moving the pile support horizontally with respect to the carrying device; second transport device disposed on both sides of the sheet processing machine and assigned to the first transport device for moving the pile support horizontally; the first transport device of the carrying device in the lower-level position of the carrying device and the second transport device assigned to the first transport device forming a conveyor section composed of aligned conveyor section parts for transporting a pile support in a transport direction transverse to the given dir

Abstract: Apparatus for frozen patties wherein one wide and slow conveyor feeds a plurality of narrow and fast conveyors to spread out the patties prior to stacking. Each fast conveyor conveys a stream of patties to a stacking module, each module includes a vertically-extending stacking cylinder. Each stacking cylinder includes a vertically-movable plunger which decrements as a patty is added to the top of the cylinder. When a cylinder contains enough patties for a stack, a patty-blocking member blocks patties from entering that fast conveyor, and the plunger in that cylinder raises the stack vertically out of the cylinder to a horizontal stage platform. A pusher member pushes the stack off the plunger and onto the stage platform. Vertically-hanging spring leaves stabilize the position of the stacks on the stage platform. When a desired number of stacks have accumulated on the stage platform, the stacks are moved to a collection station.

Abstract: A plurality of sheet-bundle piling lanes are disposed in perpendicular relation with respect to a common sheet-bundle feed lane for gradually feeding sheet-bundles. At a communicating portion between the sheet-bundle feed lane and each sheet-bundle piling lane, a sheet-bundle take-in lever, for taking the sheet-bundles from the former lane to the latter lane, is disposed. Blocks of bundles of sheets that are piled up are formed at each sheet-bundle piling lane.

Abstract: A fabric piece handling apparatus for picking up and placing fabric pieces. The fabric piece handling apparatus includes a pickup assembly having a pair of opposed jaws, a "trapeze" unfolder assembly adjacent to the pickup assembly, and a vacuum assisted magazine for supplying a stack of fabric pieces to the pickup assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for mechanically removing a thin sheet of material, such as food dough, from a stack of such sheets and depositing the sheet on a moving conveyor in a desired orientation so that a food filling may be automatically placed on the sheet of material. The apparatus picks up the thin sheet with suction nozzles, carries the thin sheet to the conveyor where pressurized air is delivered to the nozzles to release the thin sheet from the suction nozzles. A combined hydraulic-pneumatic lifting mechanism is provided to incrementally lift the stack of thin sheets to the pick-off apparatus.

Abstract: A method for stocking a plurality of containers in a stocking device and feeding one container at a time to a robot includes the steps of separately supporting each container in a vertically moveable frame and moving the frame to align a selected container at a drawing position. The selected container is withdrawn from the frame and a lid of a pallet on the withdrawn frame is removed. The articles are then supplied to the robot.

Abstract: A material handling system employs a sheet separator capable of handling sheets of varied thickness and flexibility and a positioner which repetitively positions sheets relative to a pressing unit in a fixed location. A sheet stacker receives and stacks the processed sheets at a rate of up to five sheets per minute.

Abstract: A lead frame separating device which picks up lead frames stored in a lead frame magazine has downwardly urged detection probes which come in contact with the uppermost lead frame raised by a lead frame lift and a detection sensor which detects movement of the detection probes. With signals from the sensor, a chuck picks up the lead frame.

Abstract: A device for edgewise stacking flat single objects such as letters from a belt conveyor system or the like into a container or a fixed or mobile stacking system utilizes a moving container mounted on its side in front of an output module of a sorting system and moving downwardly at a controlled rate. The container is inclined relative to the vertical and the sorted objects are guided into the container by an inclined flat bottomed chute having a single rib at its lower edge, whereby the objects are flatwise stacked into the container. When the container is then turned upwards, the objects (letters) are stacked edgewise and their orientation and face are maintained.

Abstract: A palletizing robot for displacing stackable objects, particularly for printed products arranged in stacks, including a gripping device arranged at an arm driven to rotate about a vertical axis, a horizontally oriented transverse member including a track along which the rotatably mounted arm is guided so as to be displaceable in the direction of the transverse member and a bearing rotatable about a vertical axis for the gripping device. The part of the arm extending in the horizontal direction is here disposed below the transverse member and the gripping device is furthermore arranged so as to be vertically displaceable by a predetermined lifting movement, particularly a lifting movement of a few centimeters, in the horizontally extending arm.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for conveying, classifying, and packing goods is disclosed. The goods move on a plurality of lanes to containers for packing. The goods move on conveyors to classifiers where goods outside a predetermined specification are discarded. Goods which meet the specifications move to a counter and retainer. A predetermined number of goods moves to a stacker in a cycle. The stacker moves within a set of spindles configured to receive the goods there between. A controller counts the number of goods stacked in the set of spindles. When a full count is reached the spindles rotate and the goods are placed into a box which is positioned proximate the spindles.

Abstract: A control method for a sheet sorter including a plurality of sorting bins, a sheet discharger for discharging sheets to the sort bins and a driver for moving the sort bins to present the sort bins to the discharger includes moving the sorting bins at a first speed in association with receipt of the sheet by one of the sorting bins and moving the sorting bins at a second speed in association with a discharge interval between the sheets discharged by the sheet discharger, by controlling the driver.

Abstract: A conveying system comprising two conveyors interconnected for adjustment relative to each other and an arrangement of rollers some of which convey and during a set period others serve as drag against the stock items carried thereon to obtain single item feeding.

Abstract: A (drying) turret (27) is used for the form-stablizing storage of cuboid packs with folding tabs connected by means of glue spots, and a plurality of pivotably mounted storage pockets (29), each intended for receiving a multiplicity of packs (20), is arranged on the periphery of this turret (27). The packs are introduced via a radially outer pushing-in orifice and are pushed out again in the axis-parallel direction via a radially inner pushing-out orifice. As a result, a dwell time amounting to several revolutions is obtained for the packs.

Abstract: In a delivery safety apparatus for a sheet-fed printing press, regardless of the operation mode of the delivery table lifting unit, a delivery table is automatically moved downward on the basis of a detection result from a pile height detecting means for detecting a sheet pile height exceeding a predetermined position for sheets delivered and stacked on the delivery table. If automatic descending of the delivery table is not started even when a predetermined period of time has elapsed, this abnormal state is detected, and an alarm is generated. When automatic descending is not yet started when another predetermined period of time has elapsed after the alarm is generated, this abnormal state is detected to interrupt delivery of sheets onto the delivery table.

Abstract: A machine for handling flat sheets employs a pair of conveyors in series to receive the sheets from a processing machine and to deliver them to a downwardly moving platform to form a stack thereon and to deliver the stack so formed. Both conveyors operate at a predetermined initial speed to deliver to the platform until a predetermined number of sheets is received from the processing machine. At that point both conveyors are speeded up for a short interval to clear the first conveyor and then the first conveyors is tilted upwards and slowed down which stops the flow to the second conveyor and accumulates the sheets on the first conveyor. The second conveyor continues at a high speed to complete the stack on the platform. The sheets are then discharged from the platform. The first conveyor is returned to its original angle of tilt and both conveyors are returned to their original speeds and the platform returns to its original height to start forming a new stack.