Abstract: An improved guide railing assembly for a conveyor system is provided comprising an elongated railing for providing lateral support to articles being conveyed along a path defined by the conveyor, the railing having a substantially half-moon shaped cross-section. A generally U-shaped clamp is also provided having a pair of gripping fingers corresponding to the legs of the U, the fingers being curved toward each other in a shape substantially corresponding to the curvature of the curved surface.

Abstract: A device is provided for unloading parts from a plurality of stacked trays. The device includes a receiving station with an elevator for lifting a topmost tray to a predetermined position; a temporary holder for the topmost tray while the elevator lowers the remaining trays a preselected distance; a conveyor for moving from an initial position to below the topmost tray; the temporary holder further for releasing the topmost tray onto the conveyor for conveying to an unloading station; an unloader disposed above the topmost tray to unload it; an additional elevator for receiving the topmost tray after unloading; and the conveyor further for returning to the initial position to receive the next topmost tray.

Abstract: A method is provided for conveying a series of articles along a conveyor path freely disposed on a conveyor surface while maintaining protective article-to-article separation. The method comprises the steps of introducing each article one at a time in a series to the conveyor surface, alternating the introducing of the articles with introduction to the conveyor surface of at least one relatively noncompressible and inelastic spacer freely disposed between adjacent articles in the series for separating the adjacent articles from each other, and conveying the series of articles alternated with the spacer on either side thereof along the conveyor, the articles being free to contact the spacer but not any other article in the series.

Abstract: A device is provided for conveying a workpiece along a conveyor path having spaced therealong at least two workstations to present the workpiece in seriatim to the workstations in at least two positional orientations as required for each particular workstation. The device comprises a base for being transported along said path from a first workstation to a next successive workstation along the path, a member mounted on the base for nesting the workpiece in a positional orientation with respect to the base to present the workpiece to each of the workstations, and at least one device for repositioning the nesting member from one position to at least a second position.

Abstract: An accumulating conveyor is provided having a plurality of zones between opposite ends of the conveyor. The conveyor has a continuously operable conveying surface extending through the zones for engaging articles on the conveyor to propel the articles through the zones along a conveyor path from a generally upstream to a generally downstream position in either a first direction towards a selected one of the ends or a second direction opposite the first direction towards the opposite end. The conveyor can select in which direction the conveyor surface is to propel articles. A plurality of cam operated lifting platforms lifts the articles from the conveyor surface to halt the progress of the articles along the conveyor, and sensors in each zone sense the presence or absence of articles.

Abstract: A wheel turn bracket assembly is provided for an article conveying system for coupling inbound and outbound tracks of a moving surface conveyor to inbound and outbound sides respectively of a wheel turn at an angle between said tracks that can be adjustably selected depending upon the angle of the desired turn.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a rigid joint between two tubular frame members positioned end to end but not necessarily in abutment, each said member having a tubular wall defined by an outer surface and an inner surface defining an interior passageway, each member being congruent with the other said member in the region of the ends to be joined, each said member having a substantially square cross section with at least one pair of diagonally opposing corners. The method comprises the step of securing one of said members to the other by passing at least a pair of elongated fastening means, one through each member, diagonally through the wall of each member at diagonally opposing corners of said member adjacent the ends to be joined.

Abstract: A rinsing machine for articles of glassware or the like comprises a pair of endless conveyors, each of the conveyors defining a travel path comprising a flight path and a return path. Each flight path extends from a lower level article-intake segment, through an upwardly-extending article-inversion segment, along an upper flight segment of appreciable length, through a downwardly-extending article-re-inversion segment, and to a lower level article-discharge segment. Each return path is generally parallel to, but horizontally spaced from, the flight path. The machine also includes converging wheels for bringing the conveyors into article-grasping juxtaposition at the article-intake segment, diverging wheels for bringing the conveyors into article-releasing juxtaposition at the article-discharge segment, and retaining guides for retaining the conveyors in the article-grasping juxtaposition between the article-intake and article-discharging segments.

Abstract: A conveyor support way for a table top chain comprises a series of alternating first and second cross members in spaced disposition transverse to the axis of the conveyor support way. Each of the first cross members contains a first pair of open top spaces and each of said second cross members contains a second pair of open top spaces, the first pair of spaces being disposed laterally inwardly of the second pair of spaces. A pair of serpentine wear strips are provided to support the chain, each of the wear strips extending along the length of the series of cross members, alternately through an associated one of the first cross member spaces and through an associated one of the second cross member spaces. Each wear strip is axially slidably and easily removably mounted on the series of cross members.

Abstract: A carriage is mounted for movement along a track situated above, and generally parallel to, the case conveyor. When the case reaches a predetermined location, conveyor movement is terminated and the carriage is moved along the track by a pneumatic cylinder. Affixed to the side of the track is a rack having a plurality of gear teeth. The teeth of a pinion gear, situated on one end of a shaft extending from the carriage, operably engage the gear teeth of the rack. In this manner, the gear is rotated in accordance with carriage movement along the track. A flap engaging disc is operably connected to the other end of the shaft and situated adjacent the top of the case. Movement of the carriage along the track causes the disc to rotate as it is displaced relative to the case. As it moves, the disc engages the leading flap of the case and pivots same to an opened position.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning intersecting partitions in a container to form compartments to receive articles comprises a support plate and a plurality of straightening heads extending from the support plate in a given direction. Each of the heads is adapted to engage a respective intersection of two partitions in the container and defines an intersecting pair of open bottom slots for receipt therein of the respective partition intersection. Means are also provided for moving the support plate between a first position wherein the heads are spaced from the respective partition intersections and a second position wherein the heads engage the respective partition intersections to position the partitions.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning partitions in a container to form compartments to receive articles comprises first and second assemblies, each of the assemblies comprising a support and a plurality of mandrels secured to the support, extending generally from the support in a given direction towards the container bottom, and terminating in heads adapted to align and straighten the partitions in the container to form compartments for the receipt of articles. A drive mechanism moves one of the assemblies in said given direction toward and away from the container bottom, and the first and second assemblies are secured together in a manner enabling at least limited relative motion therebetween in said given direction. The mandrels of the first assembly preferably are disposed inwardly of the mandrels of the second assembly in the thus-produced mandrel pattern, and the first assembly mandrel heads normally extend further towards the container bottom than the second assembly mandrel heads.