Abstract: An apparatus for channeling a disorderly array of articles that are being transported on a conveyor into a uniform single row of articles. The apparatus includes a pair of spaced article confining walls. The walls converge towards each other in a direction corresponding to the flow of the articles. One of the walls has a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertically extending rows of beads provided thereon for engaging the disorderly array of articles as they pass therethrough and force such into single file minimizing jamming thereof.

Abstract: To provide yarn cops to textile machines in predetermined, uniform alignment and orientation of the yarn cops, typically to supply yarn cops to spooling or spinning machines, the diameter of the core ends of the yarn cops is sensed and a difference signal obtained. This difference signal is stored, mechanically or electrically and, when a cop is required to be fed to the spinning machine, the stored difference signal is transferred to an orientation alignment apparatus, typically a pair of pins which retain the cop in horizontal position and, upon withdrawal of a selected one of the pins, permit the cop to drop into a delivery chute, selectively, with the selected end first, to deliver the cop in properly oriented alignment to the textile machine, that is, typically to the spooling or spinning machine.

Abstract: The invention provides improved apparatus for transferring articles from a transfer station to a receiving station which comprises gripping members including oppositely disposed elastic bands for gripping the sides of an article to be transferred, engagement members for displacing the elastic bands toward one another to grip the sides of the article at the transfer station, and transfer members for transferring the gripping members from the transfer station to a receiving station. The use of the oppositely disposed elastic bands renders the apparatus especially suitable for transferring fragile articles such as bakery products from a transfer station to a package or packaging station.

Abstract: A conveyor path comprising three conveyors, namely, a first conveyor disposed at the delivery point, a second conveyor disposed on the build-up stretch, and a third conveyor disposed at the outlet or pick-up point; and further comprising a driving mechanism which enables the second conveyor to be driven independently of the two other conveyors in backward direction, or in conjunction with one of the other conveyors, or both of them, in forward direction; the driving mechanism controlled by a switching arrangement actuated by the passing goods so that, during delivery, the goods accumulate or "build-up" at the beginning of the build-up stretch and, during the release of goods, the goods accumulate at the end of the build-up stretch.

Abstract: Document handling apparatus for use in connection with a demand type of document feed for supplying documents which are operator-fed in bulk, to a demand type of document separator, including apparatus for fluffing and jogging the documents. The fluffing is obtained by a differential increase in the speed of the transport of documents coupled with the use of document stabilizers which are automatically inserted into and retracted from the document stack while the documents are passing through a jogging station which includes apparatus for jogging the documents in two directions.

Abstract: In apparatus for aligning a stream of elongate articles, such as chocolate bars, delivered in a randomly ordered arrangement to a turntable, the apparatus including a stationary guide rail disposed above the turntable and extending along a path which spirals outwardly away from the axis of turntable rotation, the speed and reliability of the aligning operation are improved by forming the guide rail to have a series of breaks in the guide path which it defines and by disposing the rail so that articles come to abut only against the surface thereof which faces away from the turntable axis.