Abstract: A carrying plate, for use in a bakery, transports formed and fermented dough products and is adapted to be transported by a conveyor means and automatically unloaded. The core plate has an acute-angled front end and the endless flexible belt is provided with laterally extending ridges. The plate is advanced on the conveyor means to an unloading station where automatically a roller swings into contact with the lower surface of the belt on the plate to rotate it and unload the dough products.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying and rotating articles 90.degree. while being conveyed along a predetermined path with rotation being achieved by contacting a forward corner of the article for pivoting it partially as the extending side will be grasped by a side-facing belt to complete rotation and propel the article forward.

Abstract: An automobile sliding roof, adapted to be alternatively positioned, includes a rigid sliding cover guided with forward and rear sliding shoes on laterally-mounted guide rails in the automobile roof opening, thrust-transmitting cables engaging the rear sliding shoes, pivot bearings on the forward sliding shoes permitting pivotal action of the cover about a horizontal axis extending transversely to the sliding direction, guide blocks secured to the longitudinal edges of the cover into which guide pins mounted on the rear sliding shoes engage and by which the cover, from its closed position, can be pivoted such that its rear edge is above the automobile roof surface or can be rearwardly slid underneath the roof surface.

Abstract: A movable link conveyor having an elastomeric effectively continuous conveying surface capable of remaining substantially flat during movement of the conveyor through a curved travel path in the plane of the conveying surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling and transporting rod-like articles between production machines, for example articles such as cigarette filters between filter rod makers and cigarette filter tippers. Rods transported end to end along a longitudinal stream having the leading rods axially separated from the next adjacent rod by separator rollers which engage the rods of the stream, at least one of these rollers being a floating roller resiliently urged against the rod stream. The leading rods are successively deflected downwardly by engagement with and between the peripheries of a pair of rollers, the peripheral portions adjacent the stream of which rollers are inclined upwardly in the direction of travel and when the rollers rotate in the opposite direction such that both peripheries move downwardly adjacent the stream, they receive the leading separated rod, arrest its longitudinal movement and move it downwardly after which the rod is dropped onto a conveyor.

Abstract: A lifting device for moving two goods carrying platforms between different levels. The platforms are provided to perform a synchronous displacing movement in opposite directions relative to each other in one single path of travel. For the movement of the platforms transmission means are provided including two elongated flexible traction elements, preferably two chains. The one end of each element is fixed by anchoring to a stationary part of the lifting device and the other end is fixed to one of the platforms. A number of pulleys are provided to perform a linear reciprocating movement by means of driving means and thereby bring about a longitudinal change of a loop provided for each one of the traction elements and stretching around the respective pulley in opposite directions so that the loop which is connected with one of the platforms is lengthened, at the same time as the loop which is connected with the other platform is shortened and vice versa.

Abstract: A torque motor is directly coupled to a starwheel in a system for conveying containers. The torque motor has the unique characteristics of generating a constant torque while operating at the speeds of the starwheel between standstill and the maximum speed at which the containers are conveyed on the conveyor line. The torque motor normally produces a sufficient torque in a direction to overcome the running friction of the starwheel system, thereby causing the starwheel to be effectively a frictionless freewheeling device under all operating conditions.A detector is disposed at a position along the conveyor line in front of the starwheel. The torque from the motor is reversed to produce a braking action on the starwheel when the detector indicates an interruption in the conveyance of the containers. The braking of the starwheel to a standstill is timed so that a particular number of containers (the prime) remain between the detector and the starwheel.

Abstract: A method of transferring an article carried by a first moving conveyor to a second moving conveyor and apparatus for effecting the same. The transfer is effected by lifting the article from the first conveyor, transporting it to adjacent the second conveyor, and permitting the second conveyor to receive the transported article for further conveying thereof by the second conveyor. Upon sensing of the removal of the article, the transferring apparatus is returned to a start position for effecting transfer of a subsequent article from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. The transfer may be interrupted in the event the second conveyor is not in condition to receive the article being transferred, such as where the second conveyor does not have an available space for accommodating the article. Upon sensing of the receiving capability, the article may be brought from the intermediate position to the conveyor for transfer thereto. The conveyors may utilize hooks for suspending the articles being conveyed.

Abstract: Flow-reducing devices particularly useful as drip emitters comprise a housing having a closure cap snap-fitted thereto and enclosing a flow-retarding member formed with a plurality of recesses on opposite faces each recess bridged by a pair of holes to provide a serial path for the flow of the water through the holes from one face to the opposite face. Also described is the use of a regulator including a valve member sensing the fluid pressure at the inlet of the device to produce a substantially uniform output of water despite variations in the line pressure at the inlet.

Abstract: A safety arrangement for an elevator system includes a governor means driven by a vertically suspended elongated flexible member. The flexible member is attached to the actuating member of a braking means which is mounted on an elevator car. When the car overspeeds in a downward direction the governor, operating through the flexible member, actuates the braking means to stop the car. When the car is moving upwardly and decelerating, the flexible member produces an inertial force which is applied to the actuating member of the braking means. To prevent this inertial force from operating the braking means, the safety arrangement includes a compensating means. The compensating means is mounted on the car and operates in response to its deceleration at a predetermined rate to apply a compensating force to the actuating member. This compensating force has a predetermined magnitude and opposes the inertial force of the flexible member to prevent such inertial force from operating the braking means.

Abstract: A rotatable atomizer having a stationary supporting member and a rotatable disk with a shaft. The disk has an internal atomizing chamber with a plurality of substantially radially positioned discharge channels with a reduced cross-sectional outlet. Two labyrinth seals are provided between the supporting member and the disk as well as the shaft. Both seals have a steam supply.

Abstract: A method of pneumatically feeding material in succession, through separators, to receiving stations, with conveying air being discharged from the system only at the last separator in the circuit. Conveying is stopped when the material reaches a predetermined level in the last separator, but commences again when the material falls below that level, which can be achieved by feeding material back through the conduit to the feed station. The apparatus has a series of separators, the last of which filters out exhaust air, with valves responsive to the level of material in the last separator or a pressure rise in the conduit, to stop conveying and to blow back through the conduit to clear the last separator.

Abstract: A reciprocating harpoon-type conveyor for transporting swarf-like material along a conveyor trough is provided with non-jamming barbs each of which comprises a multi-faced member secured to the inside surface of the upwardly extending walls of the conveyor trough. Each barb has an inwardly-slanted feed surface which increasingly projects into the conveyor trough in the downstream direction and a rearwardly slanted retaining surface which extends upwardly in the upstream direction and away from the bottom of the trough. An upstream edge portion and a downstream edge portion of each barb substantially merge with an upstanding wall of the conveyor trough. The feed surface is adapted for slidable passing of swarf-like material thereover as the material is moved forwardly in the conveyor. The slanted retaining surface is adapted for engaging and retaining a portion of the swarf-like material in place as the harpoon is retracted from a forward position to a rearward position during return stroke.

Abstract: A drive unit having a toothed endless member for driving a conveyor. The drive unit includes an endless driving chain having tooth-like projections extending outwardly from the driving chain, each tooth-like projection having a bearing surface which coacts with the toothed side of the endless member to drive the endless member in response to movement of the driving chain. The driving chain engages a pair of sprockets to be moved around each in response to the rotation of one of the sprockets by a drive motor. Each tooth-like projection is inserted into or removed from a respective groove defined by the teeth of the endless member when that tooth-like projection is advanced around a circular path defined by the endless chain driven around one of the sprockets.

Abstract: A motorized conveyor pulley in which a rim and two end discs form a closed compartment and an electric motor and speed reducer are disposed in axial alignment with one another in the compartment. The motor is supported by a nonrotatable shaft extending through one end disc, and the speed reducer is connected to the motor by an input shaft and has an output shaft which is rigidly connected to the other end disc for rotating the pulley in response to the operation of the motor. A bearing is provided on said first shaft for permitting free rotation of the pulley with respect to the motor and the shaft, which are preferably prevented from rotating by a torque arm connected to the shaft. The air in the compartment is recirculated through the motor and along the inside surface of the pulley rim to cool the motor.

Abstract: A stabilizer is provided for the mast of a lift truck for resisting torsional forces applied to the elevating system as the lift truck changes attitude. The stabilizer includes a pair of "A" frames with the apexes of the frames pivotally secured together. The spaced legs of the frames are connected, in the case of the one "A" frame, to the respective uprights of the mast and, in the case of the other "A" frame, to the vehicle chassis or fender. The connections between the "A" frames, the mast and the vehicle chassis are such that the forward and rearward tilt of the mast is not restricted, but twisting forces between the mast and the chassis are restrained. The "A" frames also provide a protective guard for the operator's cab and, because of the openings through the frames, the frames do not restrict the visibility of the operator.

Abstract: The equipment according to the present invention renders possible the continuous charge and similarly, continuous discharge in the case of two-chamber feeders considerably shorter than the original chambers, respectively, and by their operation according to a cyclic order deviating from the usual one. More precisely, the set aim is achieved according to the invention in such a way that to the pipe chambers, intermediate chambers are connected which can be connected to the pipe chamber or to the clear water basin, or to one of the two pumps (charging pump and high-pressure pump) by means of corresponding locking means.

Abstract: A workpiece elevator which includes an upright housing in which is arranged a vertically-extending endless conveyor chain having workpiece supports mounted thereon at regularly spaced intervals. The upwardly extending run of the chain is located along the outer face of the front wall of the housing. A guide rail assembly for ascending workpieces carried by the supports on the conveyor chain is constructed so that it can be mounted on or removed from the front wall of the elevator housing as an integral unit.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for handling a column of nested, uniformly shaped snack chips. The apparatus comprises a pair of parallel, spaced elongated conveying surfaces which support an imbricated column of chips and a stationary support bar positioned therebetween. A gate engages the chips causing them to rotate backwardly transferring the support of the chips from the conveying surfaces to the bar thereby eliminating frictional drag on the articles. A second gate is provided to segregate the column into two portions.

Abstract: A device for rupturing a pressurized cylinder containing a fire extinguishing product wherein when the temperature is high enough to melt the fusible link, it will cause a spring-loaded punch to forcibly propel the punch downwardly to rupture a rupturable disk in the cylinder to allow the contents to be ejected therefrom.