Abstract: A control apparatus for a passenger conveyor driven by a three-phase induction motor which is capable of being put selectively into a star-connection or a delta-connection mode. A load of the conveyor is detected on the basis of a current and a voltage supplied to the induction motor, so that when the load is large the motor is driven in the delta-connection mode while when the load is small the motor is driven in the star-connection mode so as to save the power consumption of the conveyor when the load is small.

Abstract: A product conveyor lane divider for dividing cartons, tubs, jars, boxes and various products from a single infeed product lane into two product discharge lanes. The product infeed lane feeds products onto a work or separator conveyor in single file and a driven divider wheel having lugs or separating members disposed thereon engages every other product or group of products and moves it laterally on the separator conveyor for discharge onto a product discharge conveyor which discharges the two lanes of products formed by displacement caused by the divider wheel. Apparatus is included that adjusts the divider wheel to selected various heights and an angle drive mechanism is provided for driving the wheel. The speed, angle and spacing of the lugs may be adjusted to satisfy installation requirements.

Abstract: A pallet changer for a machine tool is provided wherein a pallet clamper for guiding a work pallet during transfer movements onto and away from a rotary table of the machine tool is supported at its center portion and vertically movable by a hydraulic cylinder. This cylinder moves the clamper up to unclamp the pallet from the rotary table prior to the transfer movements and moves the clamper down to clamp the pallet on the rotary table upon completion of the transfer movement onto the rotary table. Auxiliary hydraulic cylinders are further provided at either end portions in a pallet transfer direction of the clamper and between the rotary table and the clamper for auxiliarily supporting the clamper while the pallet is unclamped, so that the clamper can be prevented from being deformed due to the weight of a mass of the pallet and workpiece supported only by the clamper during such time.

Abstract: A poultry load is pivotally suspended by a hook from a carrier body in a travel position without latching and is displaced to a load releasing position by a signal operated mechanism during travel of the carrier body along a conveyor path. A stop bar engages the load during displacement of the hook to the releasing position for load drop purposes.

Abstract: An accumulating conveyor having a plurality of spaced article support stations. A plurality of conveyor modules are reciprocally mounted along the length of the conveyor, with each module being so mounted as to be movable between a pair of adjacent stations. Each module comprises a housing having a reciprocally mounted actuating rod, the outer ends of which are adapted to alternately engageably abut the outer ends of the actuating rods carried by the modules immediately ahead and behind. Article engaging levers carried by each module become operative upon movement of their associated actuating rods to engage an article in one of the associated support stations to transfer the article to the next advanced or forward station when the modules are reciprocated towards the unload station. Each support station has a sensing arm rotatably affixed thereto which detects the presence or absence of an article in the next advanced station.

Abstract: The disclosed mechanism includes multiple links having adjustable-length drive units connected in series and operated coordinately. The illustrative form of adjustable-length drive unit has oppositely extending elements oppositely threaded in a body that is secured to a mount, the oppositely extending elements being keyed to each other for conjoint rotation that allows extension and contraction of the drive unit. In one form, successive drive units of successive links produce tilting of articulated links in respective planes perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: A chain driven, live roller accumulating conveyor is defined by a plurality of accumulation zones, each having a pneumatically actuated clutch for selectively driving each zone, and a pneumatically controlled brake for braking an idler roller in each zone when the clutch is disengaged. Methods for accumulating are included.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting elongated sample holders in a sample holder storage compartment past an operating station at which sample tubes contained in the sample holders may be removed and then returned to the sample holders. First and second parallel conveyors on opposite sides of the operating station drive the holders toward and away from the operating station. A lateral drive system engages the holders in longitudinal stop positions at opposite ends of the conveyors and drives them laterally between the conveyors to lateral stop positions, one of the holders during lateral movement being driven into and away from an operative position at the operating station. Encoded labels are displayed on each sample holder for indicating the incremental spacing between the sample tubes carried in the sample holder.

Abstract: Damage to foodstuffs, such as eggs, during handling operations is reduced by providing the handling apparatus, such as a conveyor, with a layer of an aqueous foam to cushion the foodstuffs from hard contact with each other.

Abstract: For the transport of packs in packaging systems, especially for vertical transport, an efficient elevator conveyor system which transports the packs carefully is proposed. These are supplied alternately from two different sides to a common elevator conveyor which has engaging pieces (supporting arms) movable up and down for the packs.

Abstract: An article alignment and conveying apparatus 10 is described for aligning elongated articles 12 in single file in a plurality of transversely spaced lanes and moving the articles while in the lanes past a work station 13. The apparatus 10 includes an article feed bed in the form of a series of stepped conveyor beds 20 for receiving the articles and subdividing the articles into a number of channels 32 corresponding with the lanes. The articles fall from the channels 32 onto a belt conveyor 40 having a plurality of parallel narrow belts extending from the channels 32 past the work station. The belt conveyor 40 has a grooved bed section for corrugating the surface formed by the belts to transversely space and longitudinally align the articles. The belt conveyor 40 has a second bed section that is flat to flatten the supporting surface of the belt as the aligned articles moved past the work station 13.

Abstract: An improved workpiece storage and shuttle apparatus is fabricated of a base into which a carousel is journaled for indexable movement. Located about the periphery of the carousel are a plurality of workpiece storage pedestals, each pedestal having a pair of spaced apart guides thereon, each of the guides being parallel to a carousel radii. Affixed on the carousel is at least one and preferably two pairs of spaced apart guides, each of the guides of each pair of carousel guides extending from the center of the carousel beyond the carousel periphery so as to be parallel to a carousel radii. Between each pair of carousel guides is a pallet shuttle arm which is extendable out from and retractable into the guides by a hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: An assembly consisting of a conveyor chain link having sides and ends defining an open center, a supporting bracket having an attachment portion which engages the sides of the link and interlocks longitudinally and transversely within the center of the link, a clamp member engaging the sides of the link opposite to the bracket, and a fastener engaging the bracket and clamp member and extending through the center of the link. The clamp member is interlocked with the link and the bracket by lugs projecting into the center of the link and has tabs deformable into interlocking engagement with the fastener after assembly.

Abstract: An improved gauging assembly for a capsule orienting and turning apparatus is disclosed. Many capsules are picked up in a rotary conveyor which arranges them first in an upright arrangement relative to the path of movement of the conveyor, some capsules arranged caps-up and some bodies-up. The gauging assembly cooperates with air jets to tilt the body portions of the bodies-up capsules in the machine direction while retaining the caps-up capsules subsequently untilted so that all the cap portions can subsequently be shifted in a sidewise direction by subsequent sideward-directed vacuum ducts. Those capsules which are arranged caps-up are not affected by the air jets because of the gauging block which prevents substantial tilting movement; the cap portions of these capsules are then drawn sidewise by a sidewardly-directed vacuum. The gauging assembly defines a passageway extending in the direction of conveyor movement and comprises a ceiling member and contiguous sidewall member.

Abstract: Container transport apparatus for transporting containers such as plastic bottles and the like which are subject to damage without damaging the containers. The container transport apparatus includes container guiding members for guiding containers such as plastic bottles through a bottle rinser or the like and elongated endless belt members for contacting the sides of the containers to move the containers along the path of the container guiding members. The container transport apparatus eliminates the problems associated with conventional bottle rinsers and the like when used with non-rigid bottles.

Abstract: A conveyor system for trays, pallets and the like wherein the trays or other articles to be conveyed are supported at each side thereof by spaced parallel sets of rollers, one set comprising a set of drive rollers while the other set comprises idler rollers. The invention includes an arrangement for driving the drive rollers by an endless belt to provide a uniform drive speed of each of the drive rollers. The roller and drive arrangement permits the conveyor to be built in turning as well as ascending and descending configurations. The conveyor can be manufactured and installed in modular sections, each of which may have its own drive or may be driven from an adjacent section. An arrangement is disclosed for producing relatively sharp conveyor turns of any desired angle.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus wherein the conveyed loads, which need not absolutely possess a square or rectangular cross-sectional area or configuration, are received by or delivered from a transport vehicle, without the load itself having to experience a tilting movement, when it departs, for instance, from a stationary chain conveyor and is taken-over by the chain conveyor of a displacement carriage. The gap between the stationary chain conveyor and the chain conveyor mounted upon the transport vehicle is bridged by the laterally movable displacement carriage. The related chain drive serves for moving the conveyor chains of the chain conveyor and the displacement carriage. An alternately effective brake-locking device controls both movements. With blocked conveyor chains the displacement carriage, depending upon the direction of rotation of the drive motor of the chain drive, moves laterally in one or the other direction until reaching a related lateral stop or impact member.

Abstract: A conveying unit with coplanar and parallel conveyor belts is located inside a peripheral frame formed by a pair of longitudinal side members and by a pair of end cross members. The conveying unit is supported at the ends by support brackets extending longitudinally from the end cross members of the frame below the conveyor belts and in intermediate position therebetween. Detachable plates cover the spaces between the sides of the conveying unit and the longitudinal side members of the frame.

Abstract: A material conveying apparatus having a trough assembly for receiving material connected to a tail section. The tail section has a door movable to an open position to facilitate the cleaning of the tail section. An incline section connects the trough section to an elevator section. The incline section has conveyor guide strips that guide a movable conveyor in an arcuate path to the elevator section. The elevator section is connected to a decline assembly having a wear strip for guiding and supporting the movable conveyor. A discharge section is connected to the decline section. The drive for the movable conveyor is mounted on the discharge section.

Abstract: A moving stairway in which articulation of the steps from platform to step mode automatically positions panel members to cover the adjacent stationary skirt boards, between the tread part of each step and the riser part of the next adjacent step, and return to platform mode automatically retracts the panel members for passage through the combplate. In a preferred embodiment, the panel members additionally function as active guide elements for laterally guiding the steps through the load bearing run of the moving stairway.