Abstract: A production line for working on a succession of workpieces has a transporter or conveyor defining a longitudinal path for carrying and displacing the succession of workpieces in longitudinal stop-and-go steps through a succession of stations generally longitudinally equispaced along the path, respective machines at the stations for lifting the workpieces off the conveyor and working on the workpieces as same are stopped between transport steps, and a lifter at at least one of the stations for raising the workpieces thereof off the conveyor and holding them clear thereof between transport steps. Thus some of the stations are merely holding or nonworking stations where nothing is done to the workpieces. The machines at this or these stations can be adapted to work only on other types of workpieces mixed in with the production run, or only on certain of the workpieces for custom work.

Abstract: A group of six floor slat members (FS1-FS6) are staggered in position relative to each other. Each is first advanced and then returned by a linear hydraulic motor (M1-M6). Each motor (M1-M6) is provided with a two position directional valve (DV1-DV6). A mechanical connection (56, 58, 60, 62, 66, 68) is provided between one floor slat member (FS1) and a pilot valve (PV1) for the directional valve (DV1), for the motor (M1), and for the first floor slat member (FS1). This mechanical connection and the pilot valve (PV1) function to switch the position of directional valve (DV1) at the end of each advance and return stroke of the floor member (FS1). During the return stroke, the motor (M1) is connected to a pump (P2) designed to return the floor slat member (FS1) within the same amount of time as the floor slat members (FS1-FS6) advance a distance equal to the stagger distance.

Abstract: Transportation apparatus for transporting passengers between spaced landings, including a conveyor, a conveyor drive unit, a handrail, a handrail drive unit, and a handrail drive pulley. The conveyor drive unit includes first and second spaced sprockets, and a drive chain reeved about the sprockets which drives the conveyor. The handrail drive pulley and a predetermined one of the sprockets are separately journaled for independent rotation about a common axis, with a drive belt linking the handrail drive pulley and predetermined rotational elements of the handrail drive unit. The pulley is selectively engageable with the predetermined one of the sprockets, to drive the handrail in synchronism with the conveyor when they are engaged, and enabling the frictional forces resisting the movement of the handrail to be directly measured when they are not engaged.

Abstract: Apparatus for arranging articles in groups includes a conveyor for moving a single row of articles in contacting relation with each other, a plurality of shuttle elements movable alongside the articles and at a velocity less than the velocity thereof and slidable in a direction transverse thereto, the shuttle elements being engageable respectively with a leading part of an article so as temporarily to control the velocity thereof, shuttle withdrawing cams engageable in sequence with the shuttles to impart transverse movement thereto in a direction away from the articles together with a stabilizing element engageable with the articles for preventing rotary movement thereof during shuttle withdrawal movement.

Abstract: An automatic bottle handling machine comprises a storage hopper for bottles in random orientation, a plurality of conveyor channels having conveyors extending between the hopper and a corresponding plurality of drop chutes and selective reversing devices for turning around neck first bottles before reaching the drop chutes. A sensor in each drop chute detects the prolonged presence of a bottle therein to stop the corresponding conveyor. A yoke member below each sensor indefinitely arrests the downward movement of an incorrectly oriented bottle or a defective bottle having a spur or flash on the bottom thereof to stop traffic in the corresponding drop chute and thereby stop the supply of bottles by the corresponding conveyor until the offending bottle has been removed by the operator. Another sensor for detecting a crushed bottle may be provided at the upper end of each drop chute for similarly stopping the corresponding conveyor.

Abstract: An article unscrambler which utilizes at least one elongated wall which is reciprocated back and forth in contact with the articles as the articles are moved in a large mass to a restricted width of articles for ensuring an orderly movement thereof. The reciprocating elongated wall is hung on the conventional rails extending over the conveyor system and is thin and flexible so as to reciprocate around corners. During the reciprocating motion, the bending or flexing action of the wall shifts along the length of the wall as the wall is reciprocated back and forth around the corner of the rail. Such prevents dead spots from forming on the table conveyor in the corner.In one embodiment, a pair of opposed reciprocating walls are utilized which are shifted in synchronism in opposite direction so as to rotate the articles wedged therebetween in opposite directions to prevent jamming of the articles therebetween.

Abstract: A drive unit for distribution systems for materials of fluid behavior, such as livestock feed materials, in which a cable provided with spaced-apart conveying elements is caused to slide inside a tube, said drive unit being of the type comprising a geared motor, on the output shaft of which there is fixed a toothed wheel about which the cable winds. The geared motor is mounted on a supporting structure in a freely oscillating manner such that as the tension in the slack branch of the cable varies, the position of the axis of the toothed wheel varies by virtue of its rotation about an axis passing essentially through the point of tangency between the toothed wheel and the taut branch of the cable.

Abstract: An angle scraper chain face conveyor comprising a pan line which includes pans that couple one another in a separable fashion forming a face part and a gate part coupled together in a separable fashion by means of an angle section. The conveyor also includes two chain assemblies each having its conveying run situated in a conveying channel of the pan line and also having its return run situated in a return channel of the pan line. There are flights which are joint-coupled with the chain assemblies. A drive section comprises three parts which are coupled together in a separable fashion. A first part of said three parts of said drive section has a portion whose shape is the same as that of the conveying channel, is situated adjacent to said conveying channel and has attachment elements adapted to couple it with said gate and face parts.

Abstract: An autowalk with individual step segments with a lower return travel coarse therefor, in which an elastic bridge closing the gap between step plates is provided between every two adjacent step segments.

Abstract: A carrier conveyor system wherein carriers are disengaged from the main conveyor in advance of a work station and re-engaged beyond the work station and a transfer conveyor is positioned such that it receives the carriers as they are disengaged, transfers them as required to the work station, removes them from the work station after the work is performed and returns them to the main conveyor. The transfer conveyor comprises a plurality of transfer assemblies positioned along each side of the path of the carriers from the area where the carriers are disengaged from the conveyor through the work station and to the area where the carriers are re-engaged with the conveyor. Each transfer assembly comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced wheels mounted with their axes transverse to the path of the carriers. The rollers are driven continuously when it is desired such that the carrier is moved by each transfer assembly to the succeeding transfer assembly or position.

Abstract: Continuously self-adjusting handrail apparatus for transportation apparatus, such as escalators and walks, in which the handrail guide automatically responds to forces therein to reduce the magnitude of load induced forces which tend to dislodge the handrail from its guide. The curved guide section adjacent each newel of an associated balustrade is arranged to change its curvature and increase or decrease its length, as required, in response to such forces, with the forces being such that when one section increases its length, the other section reduces it length.

Abstract: An apparatus for arranging cross-wound packages, wound on a spinning machine, upon an auxiliary transport belt which is aligned with a main transport belt extending longitudinally of the spinning machine and serving for carrying away the cross-wound packages. One end of the auxiliary transport belt adjoins one neighboring confronting end of the main transport belt. A detector is actuated by the cross-wound packages moved by the transport belt and initiates starting of the auxiliary transport belt upon the arrival of a cross-wound package. Also, there is provided a stopping device for the auxiliary transport belt, whereby the latter is stopped after it has moved through a distance at least approximately equal to the bobbin length. The currently known continuous sliding of the transport belt under the full cross-wound packages is thus avoided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a work-clamp pallet used to clamp workpieces on a table of a machine tool to improve the working efficiency of the machine tool. This is achieved by shortening the time for exchanging workpieces on the table and for positioning workpieces on the table along both X and Y axes. A large number of workpieces are positioned on a work-clamp pallet along the Y-axis by the aid of a standard frame secured to a base block and along the X-axis by the aid of positioning stoppers projecting from the standard frame. The workpieces are clamped against the standard frame by clamping devices disposed at least on one side of the standard frame. The positioning and clamping a large number of workpieces on the base block is done outside the machine and, when the machine has stopped a machining over, a work-clamp pallet is transferred onto the table in exchange for that with finished workpieces which is removed.

Abstract: A conveyor drive and guide chain having links pivotably coupled to each other by a cylindrical socket and trunnion structure, the cylindrical socket being formed by an end member integral with the links and the trunnion being on the end of an offset member integral with another link, the trunnion being engaged in the half cylindrical recess and held in position with a cap clamped over the socket member and having a cylindrical segment surface preventing the trunnion from escaping its pivotal position. For the purpose of longitudinal alignment, the cylindrical socket is provided with a longitudinal ridge engaged in the corresponding longitudinal groove in the surface of the trunnion member.

Abstract: A device for feeding and orienting cigarette packets includes a driven wheel 10 having a plurality of rearwardly directed resilient members, such as spring arms 12, mounted on the periphery of the wheel. Packets P are fed to the wheel down a twisted chute 20, and they leave from an outlet 23 under the wheel, where the packets are pushed out by the spring arms 12 to form a short stack. At the bottom of the stack each packet is transported away in a regular manner by a flighted horizontal conveyor 27.

Abstract: To permit unloading and release of statically stored dynamic energy in a run of a loaded conveyor, e.g. a mining conveyor belt, the return stop mechanism or back-run safety mechanism is coupled to a fixed structure, such as a frame (50, 73, 89) through a releasable friction coupling which is formed by a two-part holding ring (48, 49; 71, 72; 87, 88) coupled to the frame, and having facing inwardly directed surfaces which can be clamped, by controlled friction force against facing surfaces of an outer operating ring (45, 64, 84) of a ratchet or other one-way clutch or drive to prevent back-run or a return stop for the conveyor. Upon controlled release of the frictional engagement, for example by counter-acting spring force or releasing a spring force, the friction surfaces are permitted to slip, thus permitting dissipation of stored energy in the conveyor, for example due to sudden stoppage upon malfunction or external interference, for example by rocks, boulders or the like.

Abstract: A conveyor for supporting a substrate having a substrate support guided in a track for linear movement, the support being the sole support for transporting the substrate.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a vertically extending magazine, of the carousel type, bearing the piece goods to be supplied which are supported on suitable mandrels, and which piece goods are discharged, according to a programmable sequence, on a provided loading device.The latter comprises a first carriage pair which, by firmly engaging the ends of the piece bearing mandrels, transfer the piece goods, in a co-ordinated way, from the mentioned magazine to the spreading machine turret.A second carriage pair, on the other hand, is operative to displace the mandrels discharged by the spreading machine to the vertical magazine.

Abstract: An apparatus for a raking device which illustratively includes a harrow, which moves along a bridge in a reciprocating direction and which includes a mechanism for ensuring that any motion of an apex of the harrow is substantially linear as the harrow moves throughout its entire range of travel, is described. Specifically, this mechanism is comprised of a flexible tension element which forms part of a hoist and is reeved between a stationary support and the harrow such that the effective length, of the part of the flexible tension element which determines the inclination of the harrow, is adjusted in direct response to the distance through which the harrow has moved along the bridge with respect to an end point of its travel.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for transferring articles between adjacent conveyors. The apparatus includes a first conveyor for conveying articles therealong. A pushing device includes a pair of spaced plates that are disposed in the same plane. The plates move transversely relative to the articles supported by the first conveyor. A pair of gripping arms move to a first position to grasp the laterally pushed articles. The gripping arms together with the grasped articles are moved laterally and away from the direction of movement of the articles along the first conveyor. The gripping arms are moved to a second position in which the articles are released onto a second conveyor disposed adjacent to and laterally relative the first conveyor. The apparatus has particular utility relative to the stabilization of packaged articles during transit through a wrapping and sealing station prior to heat shrinkage.