Abstract: A work head changer is disclosed which automatically changes a capping head used in a rotary multicapper or a filling nozzle in a rotary filler. A controller controls the rotation of a rotatable body of the rotary multicapper, for example, thus bringing the individual capping heads to a stop successively and intermittently at a predetermined work head replacement position. In case of the rotary multicapper, each capping head is detachably mounted on the rotatable body through a connection. A work head delivery mechanism removes a capping head which is brought to a stop at the work head replacement position from the connection, and attaches a capping head of another variety which has been stored in a stocker to the connection at an empty location from which the capping head has been removed.

Abstract: A transporting apparatus for a container 1 has a sequentially arranged filling process path 13C for performing filling process for the container 1, a empty container infeed starwheel 12 for introducing the container 1 into the filling process path 13C, a discharge starwheel 16 for feeding out the container 1 from the filling process path 13C and a discharge conveyer 17. One of the empty container infeed starwheel 12, and the discharge starwheel 16 and the discharge conveyer 17 is arranged in an intersecting manner with respect to the filling process path 13C with a different level.

Abstract: A container holder which can be used with a variety of containers when positioning them in a container processing step is disclosed. Pairs of container holding members are disposed within a holder body which receives a container. One pair of holding members are disposed opposite to each other on one of orthogonal lines defined within a holder body. The holding members are urged from the outside to be movable toward the center, and are also retractable toward the outside of the holder body. All of the container holding members are once returned to a start position (where they have been retracted to their full extent), and are then driven to advance to a position where they conform to a container model which is inserted centrally within the holder body.

Abstract: A container holder which may be used in a container processing step as performed with a filling machine, a capping machine or the like to hold a container when positioning the latter is disclosed. A remodelling apparatus enables an efficient and reliable remodelling of a multi-purpose container holder 308 which can be used with a variety of containers. The container holder includes a body in which a plurality of fingers (container holding means) 318 are disposed for movement toward and away from the center of the holder. The container holder is conveyed on a remodelling line 302 which includes a resetting apparatus 310 for returning the respective fingers to their home positions which are used as a reference for positioning, a container model insertion device for inserting into the container holder a container model 344 having an outer profile slightly greater than the profile a particular container to be held, and a pusher 354 for moving the fingers into abutment against the container model to position them.

Abstract: A container positioning apparatus as may be used in a labeller is adapted to serve a variety of containers having different configurations. The apparatus comprises a container receptacle on which containers are placed and a support which is located below the receptacle. The container receptacle is supported by a spring so as to be elevatable with respect to the support. The support carries a plurality of pins which are resiliently urged upward. The pins are disposed in a manner to conform the configuration of containers to be positioned, and extend through pin openings formed in the container receptacle. When containers are placed on the container receptacle, which is then depressed, those pins which are located directly below the containers will be depressed together with the container receptacle, whereby those pins which surround the containers and projecting above the container receptacle are effective to position the containers.

Abstract: Flat folded carton blanks with four end flaps are taken out of a carton magazine one by one by a takeoff mechanism. A carton blank thus taken out is delivered to a vacuum plate provided on the outer circumference of a rotary drum. While the carton blank is sucked to the vacuum plate and circularly transferred, it is knocked from the trailing side thereof by an unfolding guide so as to be set up. A flap, which is on the leading side in the direction of advance, of the carton unfolded to a cross-sectionally rectangular shape is bent outward by a tucker moving at a speed higher than that of the vacuum plate, and the other flaps are pressed at their inner surfaces against a fixed guide to also be bent outward.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting vessels for the presence of foreign matters inspects the vessel as it undergoes a reverse rotation which follows a forward rotation. A receptacle on which the vessel is driven for rotation is mounted on a rotatable body, and a receptacle is driven by a control motor for rotation in the forward and the reverse direction. A controller which controls the control motor detects any change in the speed of rotation of the rotatable body, and responds to such change by controlling the motor so that a given, predetermined permissible inspecting condition of the vessel is maintained during its forward and reverse rotation in the presence of a change in the speed of rotation of the rotatable body.

Abstract: An article hand-off apparatus comprises a rotatable body having a plurality of article receiving pockets formed around its outer peripheral surface, and an arcuate guide member disposed in surrounding relationship with the outer peripheral surface of the body. An article received in one of the pockets is conveyed along the arcuate guide member. The pocket size is adjusted in accordance with the size of articles to be conveyed. Both the rotatable body and the arcuate guide member are integrally movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which an article travels at an article hand-off position, thus allowing articles to be handed over at a proper position.

Abstract: A vessel manufacturing system is disclosed which manufactures vessels having a rectangular configuration from a tubular body which is filled with a content. The system includes a transverse sealing unit which applies transverse seals to the tubular body at a given spacing, a cutter for cutting through the transverse seals in the succession of vessels which are formed by the transverse sealing unit, a diversion unit for handing the vessels separated by the cutter by changing the orientation of the vessel from one in which the pair of transverse seals are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of a rotatable member to another in which the pair of transverse seals are spaced apart in the radial direction thereof, and a vessel shaper receiving vessels from the diversion unit to shape them into a rectangular configuration and adhesively connecting the flaps to the body.

Abstract: The invention relates to an article transfer apparatus with clamper which rotationally transfers an article, held between a pair of clamp arms, as a rotatable body rotates. The clamp arms are driven for swinging motion in response to the rotation of clamp shafts, which are driven for rotation by a cam mechanism. An adjusting mechanism controls the angle through which the clamp shafts rotate until a given angle position of rotatable body is reached, thereby controlling the degree of swinging motion or opening between the pair of clamp arms so as to permit articles of different sizes to be grasped or released at a given position.

Abstract: A three dimensional machining system includes a three dimensional measuring unit which is separate from a three dimensional machine which actually applies a machining operation upon a three dimensional object. In this manner, a teaching operation with respect to an object to be machined can be performed during the machining operation by the three dimensional machine, thus improving the working efficiency of the three dimensional machine.

Abstract: A dialysis system operates to supply dialysate to a dialyzer from a feed chamber in response to a reduction in the volume of the feed chamber, and to recover used dialysate which is flowed out from the dialyzer into a recovery chamber in response to an increase in the volume of the recovery chamber. The increase in the volume of the recovery chamber is greater in magnitude than the magnitude of a reduction in the volume of the feed chamber, with a difference therebetween being effective to control the amount of ultrafiltration. At least two sets of feed chambers and recovery chambers may be provided, and a supply of the dialysate from the other feed chamber may be initiated before the supply from one of the feed chambers is completed, thus allowing the dialysate to be continuously supplied to the dialyzer.

Abstract: A carton delivery apparatus is disclosed which removes cartons, one by one, which are already scored and stored in a stack in a magazine, as folded down flat against each other. A suction mechanism removes cartons one by one from the magazine by holding it attracted thereto and delivers it to a conveyer. The suction mechanism is mounted on a rotatable member which is rotatable about a horizontal shaft disposed between the magazine and the conveyer. The suction mechanism is also rockable about a support shaft which is mounted on the member so that as the member rotates, the suction mechanism removes a carton and deliver it to the conveyer while holding it attracted thereto on its lower side.

Abstract: The invention relates to article containment apparatus which is adapted to store articles such as vials on shelves disposed at different elevations by placing them on the successive shelves. In a known article containment apparatus including an elevating mechanism which drives a plurality of shelves, disposed at different elevations for stowing articles thereon, up and down, and a conveyor for conveying articles to a shelf disposed at a given elevation, the invention is characterized by the provision of a plurality of infeeders disposed between the shelf and the conveyor. The infeeders are operated in an alternate fashion so that while one of the infeeders is operating to store articles from the conveyor, another infeeder conveys the stored article thereon onto the shelf. In this manner, there is no need to interrupt the supply of articles by the conveyor during the time the articles are conveyed onto the shelf, thus improving the efficiency of stowage.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining distance by the use of laser beam is disclosed. An optical measuring system which derives a measuring beat wave in a known manner is combined with an optical reference system which derives a reference beat wave for allowing the distance to be determined to a higher precision. An optical measuring system causes laser beam to be reflected from an object being determined and also causes the laser beam to be reflected from a standard reflector which is spaced by a given distance. The both reflected beams are superimposed upon each other to produce a measuring beat wave. The optical reference system causes the laser beam to be refected from a first and a second reference reflector, which are spaced by given distances, to provide reflected beams, which are superimposed upon each other to produce a reference beat wave.

Abstract: A laser-applied treatment apparatus includes a TEA type laser unit and a flexible link, such as a multi-joint arm assembly, for leading a laser beam emitted from the laser unit to a desired location, such as a part of a person's skin which is affected by dermatophytosis, in any desired orientation. Also provided is a pair of convex and concave lenses in the optical path of the apparatus for narrowing and collimating the laser beam such that it has an energy density suitable for use in treatment, e.g., athlete's foot. In one embodiment, a hand switch is mounted on a hand piece portion of the flexible link, and it controls the operation of the laser unit. Also provided is a foot switch which is operatively associated with the hand switch such that the operation of the first switch is rendered valid as long as the foot switch is kept depressed. Such a double switch structure provides an advantageous safety feature.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a fixed volume, rotary filling apparatus. A rocking cam mechanism drives metering cylinder units. During cleaning, the rocking cam mechanism brings the individual pistons of several metering cylinder units to a common elevation, and a rotatable member lowers the corresponding cylinders so as to relatively slidably displace the pistons and the cylinders to a greater degree than during a normal filling operation, to enable seals (which normally seal the cylinder during the filling operation) to be separated from each other to define a cleaning passage therebetween. A valve mechanism selectively swtiches communication of the metering cylinder unit between a tank to be filled and the filling nozzle, during the normal filling operation, by changing paths formed in the sliding surfaces of a valve housing and a valve element by relative displacement therebetween. The valve housing and the valve element are relatively movable between a filling position, and a cleaning position.

Abstract: A laser beam processing robot having a multi-joint arm assembly includes a main body, which is provided to be movable along a predetermined straight line, and a multi-joint arm assembly mounted on the main body. The assembly includes a first arm which is rotatably coupled to its base portion through a first joint, which, in turn, is fixedly mounted on the main body. The assembly also includes an optical system which defines an optical path for a laser beam. The first joint is provided with a first through-hole which extends in parallel with the predetermined straight line and through which a laser beam supplied from a source is passed to be guided into the optical path of the assembly. Moreover, optical elements of the optical system are arranged on both sides of the assembly so that repair and maintenance of the optical system is facilitated.

Abstract: Apparatus for adhesively affixing together flaps of a container box includes a conveyor belt on which the box is carried, a glue applicator for applying glue to at least one of the flaps, a main flap folding unit for folding the flaps together during normal operation and an auxiliary flap folding unit which is held inoperative during normal operation but which is set in operation when the conveyor belt is brought to a halt.

Abstract: A method for curing athlete's foot includes a step of carrying out an irradiation of a laser beam having the energy density of 2 Joules/cm.sup.2 for a time period of 10 milliseconds or less to the affected part of a patient's foot.