Abstract: A cover for a napkin dispenser includes an elongated dispensing aperture having a major and a minor axis. The cover also includes a pair of support members disposed on an inner surface of the cover on opposing sides of the elongated dispensing aperture. Each of the support members includes a central portion and the height of at least a portion of the central portion relative to the inner surface generally increases as a distance between the elongated dispensing aperture and the central portion increases.

Abstract: An automated writing instrument storage apparatus designed to receive, sanitize and dispense a writing instrument includes a housing member with a top face having a slot to permit the writing instrument to pass through, a support assembly disposed within the housing member and having a transparent tubular member generally aligned with the housing member slot to receive the writing instrument, an ultraviolet lamp disposed within the housing member and able to direct light generated by the lamp through the transparent tubular member to sanitize the writing instrument stored therein, and a motor assembly disposed within the housing member and operably connected to the support assembly. The motor assembly activates to permit the sanitized writing instrument to slide within the transparent tubular member and through the slot of the housing member, thereby dispensing the sanitized writing instrument to a user.

Abstract: Described is a needle assembly magazine comprising of a housing adapted to contain a plurality of needle assemblies and a slider movably disposed within the housing. The housing has a first opening providing access to an unused needle assembly and a second opening for receiving into the housing a used needle assembly. The slider separates the housing into a first region for unused needle assemblies and a second region for used needle assemblies. Movement of the slider advances the unused needle assemblies within the housing toward the first opening.

Abstract: Systems and methods for manually filling a prescription order. A manual fill device may be incorporated into a manual fill center of a pharmacy operated by one or more pharmacists and/or pharmacist technicians to manually fill certain prescription containers. The manual fill device may include a control unit which may operate at the direction of the order processing device. The manual fill device may also include a distribution section automating distribution of containers for manual fulfillment, and a manual section in which a pharmacist may utilize available pharmaceuticals to manually fill orders.

Abstract: The present invention is an endless carrier for a conveyor. The endless carrier is equipped with a chain including roller bearings for engaging a wall of the conveyor and slats with landing gears for engaging tracks of the conveyor. The endless carrier is particularly useful for a conveyor having one or more curves.

Abstract: An assembly line may include a first pallet elevator, a second pallet elevator, an upper track, and a lower track. The upper track may be connected between the first elevator and the second elevator, and may be configured to transport pallets between the first pallet elevator and the second pallet elevator. The lower track disposed below the upper track, and may be configured to transport pallets between the second pallet elevator and the first pallet elevator. A lower track drive system may be connected between the first pallet elevator and the second pallet elevator, and may be configured to engage a first set of a plurality of pallets. An upper track drive system may be configured to engage at least one of the plurality of pallets and to drive a second set of the plurality of pallets via the at least one pallet.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying electronic devices comprises a track for conveying a plurality of electronic devices in a row towards a pick-up position on the track where the electronic devices are removed by a pick-up device. A guiding portion located over the track has a first restraining mechanism formed in the guiding portion that is operative to restrain and secure a first electronic device at a first position next to the pick-up position and a second restraining mechanism formed in the guiding portion that is operative to restrain and secure a second electronic device at a second position away from the pick-up position which is immediately subsequent to the first position. The first and second electronic devices are configured to be released and conveyed towards the pick-up position when the first and second restraining mechanisms respectively are deactivated. A corresponding method is also provided.

Abstract: A belt tracking system for controlling the lateral position of a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a roller shaft, a slidable member, and a rotation restrictor. The roller shaft extends outward in the axial direction from an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers. The slidable member is slidably disposed around the roller shaft to move along the roller shaft as the belt moves laterally outward in the axial direction. The rotation restrictor is disposed adjacent to the slidable member to restrict rotation of the slidable member around the roller shaft.

Abstract: A hopper configuration comprises a hopper tray configured to receive a material from a source. The hopper configuration also comprises a conveyance mechanism configured to transport the received material from the hopper tray. The hopper configuration also comprises a first bar pivotably coupled to the hopper tray at a first point and also pivotably coupled to the conveyance mechanism at a second connection point. The hopper configuration further comprises a second bar pivotably coupled to the hopper tray at a third connection point and also pivotably coupled to the conveyance mechanism at a fourth connection point. Each of the connection points comprises a pivot point that substantially limits movement of the first and second bar to movement in a rotational direction.

Abstract: The embodiments disclose a ground sliding type flexible framing system, comprising a vehicle body transport system, welding systems, framing fixtures, a splicing system, a fixture storage system and a fixture switching system. The fixture storage system comprises a plurality of bidirectional sliding rails arranged in parallel, storage positions for storing framing fixtures are formed on the bidirectional sliding rails, and the fixture switching system comprises a left and a right sliding table transport rail which are led to two sides of the splicing system from two ends of the bidirectional sliding rails, fixture transport rails led to the left and the right sliding table transport rail from two sides of the splicing system, respectively, sliding tables capable of running on the left and the right sliding table transport rail and a transport mechanism capable of pulling the framing fixtures positioned on the bidirectional sliding rails and the fixture transport rails.

Abstract: A conveyor employs a low-tension, direct drive conveyor belt, and a snap-on position limiter for ensuring proper engagement of the belt and a drive sprocket. The position limiter includes a body, a limiting surface and a snap clap opposite the limiting surface for snapping the position limiter to a mounting shaft. The limiting surface may comprise rotatable rollers mounted to the body, or a continuous arcuate surface. The position limiter may include a mounting arm for mounting a conveyor belt scraper at the front of the position limiter.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and program products for controlling a conveyor. One embodiment of the method includes operating a motorized roller of the conveyor to rotate in a first direction corresponding to a direction of travel, and in response to detecting that a jam has occurred, operating the motorized roller to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction. Another embodiment of the method includes sending a message to a second controller controlling a downstream conveyor requesting data to determine whether the downstream conveyor is occupied by an article. In response to determining the downstream conveyor is not occupied by the article, operating a motorized roller of an upstream conveyor to convey an incoming article at a target speed, and in response to determining the downstream conveyor is occupied by the article, operating the motorized roller to convey the incoming article at an adjusted target speed slower than the target speed.

Abstract: A surface treatment plant for vehicle bodies having a first treatment area which comprises a first conveyor system enabling a vehicle body to be conveyed through the first treatment area, and a second treatment area which includes a second conveyor system enabling the vehicle body to be conveyed through the second treatment area. A transfer device enables the vehicle body to be transferred from the first conveyor system to the second conveyor system. The transfer device includes supports which engage on regions of the vehicle body and at least one is arranged in particular on the highest point of the horizontal and the vehicle body is oriented roof upwards. Also a method for conveying vehicle bodies through a surface treatment plant.

Abstract: Diverting device for diverting containers, for example bottles, from a transport path, the diverting device including a stationary frame that is disposed next to the transport path and in which at least two movably formed diverting segments are disposed perpendicularly to the central axis of the transport path, the diverting segments being suitable to divert a container from the transport path. Each of the diverting segments includes a diverting surface that is parallel to the transport direction of the containers in the transport path and that can come in contact with a container to be diverted.

Abstract: Wipe dispensers are provided wherein particular wipe-gripping and wipe-ripping structures are provided to overcome problems encountered with the prior art. Particularly, gripping and ripping structures are provided to prevent the removal of more than one wipe at a time from a dispenser and to prevent a following wipe from falling back into the interior of a container when separated from a lead wipe being removed from the container. In particular embodiments, structures are provided to avoid pinching an individual's finger when feeding a wipe up through the gripping and ripping structures. In yet other particular embodiments, a boss is provided to prevent wipes from bunching up during the dispensing thereof.

Abstract: A modular conveyor belt constructed of a series of articulating rows of belt modules having flights formed atop laterally consecutive interleaved hinge elements of adjacent belt rows. The flights on leading and trailing rows are aligned when the belt is running flat, but open up for cleaning as their rows articulate about a sprocket.

Abstract: A prize dispensing hook assembly is provided for retaining a prize suspended from a base of a prize dispenser and releasing the prize therefrom at a predetermined release location. The hook assembly includes a hook structure mounted on the base for movement relative thereto. The hook structure is engageable with the prize in a prize retaining position and is disengagable from the prize in a prize releasing position corresponding to the predetermined release location. The biasing arrangement is continuously engaged with both the base and the hook structure, and provides a biasing force continuously urging an open of the hook structure into direct engagement with the base. An actuator arrangement is mounted within the prize dispenser and is provided with a movable release element which is selectively engageable with the hook structure to move the hook structure to the prize releasing position.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a disposable moist tissue dispenser applicable to dispensing of moist tissues. The invention includes a center roller, a pair of side panels, a housing, a moist tissue roll, an outlet, and a resealable cover. The side panels are separately attached at opposite ends of the center roller. The housing is disposed about the center roller and is attached to an outer edge along each side panel. The center roller, side panels, and housing form an interior space. The moist tissue roll resides within the interior space and includes a plurality of separable moist tissues. The moist tissue roll is disposed about and rotatable with respect to the center roller. The outlet is disposed along a portion of the housing for dispensing the separable moist tissues from the moist tissue dispenser. The resealable cover is disposed along the housing over the outlet.

Abstract: A workpiece conveyer apparatus of a machine tool corresponding to the unequal pitches among the individual processing stations, smaller in the number of operation steps, shorter in the traveling distance, shorter in the cycle time, capable of saving the space, capable of saving energy, and capable of enhancing the durability. Having a processing station block with five processing stations disposed straightly, slide rails extended and provided straightly along the processing stations, and four sliders movably provided on the slide rails, for loading or unloading workpieces on the processing station, distances of the processing stations are unequal pitches, the longitudinal dimension of the processing station block is set as small as possible, two outside sliders in the longitudinal direction of the processing station block are integrally coupled to each other, and two inside sliders are integrally coupled to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a frame defining a machine direction. The apparatus includes first and second transport members operatively engaged with the frame. The apparatus includes first carriage and second carriage drive mechanisms each having a carriage drive belt, a drive shaft, and a sprocket drive belt operatively engaged with the drive shaft. The carriage drive belts are operatively engaged with the carriage drive mechanisms and operatively connected with the respective transport member such that the carriage drive belt moves the transport member in the machine direction about an endless loop. The sprocket drive belts engage the drive mechanism in a position of the drive mechanism not connected with the carriage drive belt.