Abstract: An automatic tool changer for a lathe is provided having a rotating drum-type tool storage magazine mounted to the cross slide of the lathe and rotatable to align any one of a plurality of tool holder assemblies and their tools, supported by the magazine, with a guide channel through which a selected tool holder assembly and tool can be slid to the active position, or tool post, on the cross slide, for operating on the workpiece supported by the lathe. A stationary, double-acting, hydraulic piston is disposed in the central portion of the drum-type magazine, having its piston rod in alignment with the guide channel and having a tool holder assembly shuttle member attached to the rod, for transporting an active tool and holder assembly from its ready position in the magazine, in a straight line radially outward from the magazine to the tool post, and for returning the tool holder assembly and tool to their storage position on the magazine after use.

Abstract: An automatic tool changer for a lathe is provided having a rotating drum-type tool storage magazine mounted to the cross slide of the lathe and rotatable to align any one of a plurality of tool holder assemblies and their tools, supported by the magazine, with a guide channel through which a selected tool holder assembly and tool can be slid to the active position, or tool past, on the cross slide, for operating on the workpiece supported by the lathe. A stationary, double-acting, hydraulic piston is disposed in the central portion of the drum-type magazine, having its piston rod in alignment with the guide channel and having a tool holder assembly shuttle member attached to the rod, for transporting an active tool and holder assembly from its ready position in the magazine, in a straight line radially outward from the magazine to the tool post, and for returning the tool holder assembly and tool to their storage position on the magazine after use.

Abstract: A case packer for packing bottles from an upright position to a necks down or upside down position in a case. A grid is provided for marshalling upright bottles and a conveyor is provided for bringing a case, to be packed, under the grid. A rotator, located between the grid and case, is adapted to receive a pattern of bottles from the grid, rotate the bottles to invert them, and then deposit the bottles into the case. Gripping devices are located above the grid to grasp the tops of the bottles on the grid and push them into the rotator. After a first pattern of bottles has been inserted into the rotator and held there by a frictional arresting device, the second set of bottles forces the first set through the rotator and into the case.

Abstract: An automatic tool changer for a lathe is provided having a rotating drum-type tool storage magazine mounted to the cross slide of the lathe and rotatable to align anyone of a plurality of tool holder assemblies and their tools, supported by the magazine, with a guide channel through which a selected tool holder assembly and tool can be slid to the active position, or tool post, on the cross slide, for operating on the workpiece supported by the lathe. A stationary, double-acting, hydraulic piston is disposed in the central portion of the drum-type magazine, having its piston rod in alignment with the guide channel and having a tool holder assembly shuttle member attached to the rod, for transporting an active tool and holder assembly from its ready position in the magazine, in a straight line radially outward from the magazine to the tool post, and for returning the tool holder assembly and tool to their storage position on the magazine after use.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing bottles from a case wherein the bottles are in a 3.times.4 pattern and depositing the bottles in a 2.times.6 pattern on a conveyor. The apparatus includes a center carriage having a 2.times.3 pattern of lifting devices and two outboard carriages having 1.times.3 patterns of lifting devices with mechanism for moving the outboard carriages toward each other as the center carriage is moved longitudinally with respect to the outboard carriages, thereby converting a 3.times.4 pattern to a 2.times.6 pattern.

Abstract: Combining apparatus wherein plural upstream conveyors feed articles into a single downstream conveyor lane. A swinging guide pivoted at its downstream end has an upstream end adapted to be moved from lane to lane at the discharge end of the plural conveyor lanes to receive articles from the conveyor lanes, one at a time, and feed them onto the single conveyor lane.

Abstract: An apparatus employed with elements for transferring articles, such as open mouth containers like glass jars, is actuable to frictionally grip the interior surface of a container during handling. The apparatus includes a cup which forms a cylinder. A post member is mounted in the cylinder and depends downwardly to a point outside the interior of the cup. A piston is slidably mounted within the cup. A flexible element, such as four circumferentially spaced straps, is secured at one end to the piston and at the other end to the post member at a point outside the cup. A duct connects the cup to a controllable source of air pressure. An urging element, such as a coil spring disposed between the post means and the piston, normally urges the piston to the top of the cup. Upon application of air pressure to the cup, the piston is driven downwardly, and the straps flex radially outwardly so as to frictionally grip the interior surface of a container.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring articles from the first station to a second station wherein the articles are rotated through 90.degree. as they are transferred. The apparatus includes plural lifting heads, each lifting head having two plates carrying depending gripping devices for grasping a pattern of articles and transferring them from the first station to the second station. During the transfer, the plates are spread apart to split the pattern in half and the plates are rotated through an angle of 90.degree. before the articles are deposited at the second station.

Abstract: Apparatus for indexing cases into an uncaser or the like having a case conveyor with upstanding lugs which space the cases apart by a predetermined distance as the cases move in end-to-end abutting relation toward the uncaser. The indexer includes an endless chain having outwardly-projecting lugs spaced along its length a distance less than the length of each case. Each lug moves into the rear portion of a case as the case moves toward the case conveyor and swings the rear portion of the case to one side whereby the lug engages the leading wall of the next succeeding case and times the entry of the case onto the case conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming multiple rows of articles from a single incoming row of articles. The apparatus has an elongated guide adapted to swing about a pivot point adjacent the incoming single file of articles. The downstream end carries a freely rotatable wheel with circumferentially spaced lugs engageable by the articles. A brake is connected to the wheel and a counting mechanism, associated with the wheel, operates the brake and effects the shifting of the swinging guide from one downstream lane to another when a preselected number of articles is counted.

Abstract: Apparatus for packing bottles in cases wherein bottles are marshalled in two parallel lines with a case conveyor between the bottle lines. A bottle transfer mechanism straddles the bottle lines and case conveyor, the transfer mechanism having at least one, and preferably more than one, bottle lifting head for each bottle line. The transfer mechanism operates the lifting heads in tandem so that while one head is lowering bottles into a case, the other head is lowering to grasp bottles on a conveyor line. The lifting heads alternate in picking up bottles from the conveyor line and depositing them in cases.The apparatus includes a roller chain conveyor mechanism to provide assurance of gentle handling of the bottles. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for forming plural lanes of bottles from a single file supply of bottles.

Abstract: Apparatus for lifting tightly spaced bottles from cases, spreading the rows of bottles apart and placing the bottles on a bottle conveyor having spaced lanes. The apparatus includes a carriage having a plurality of elongated manifolds, each supporting rows of bottle grippers, the carriage having means for shifting the manifolds laterally with respect to each other to vary the spacing between rows of grippers.