Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for marshalling out individual objects (1) from a row of such objects (1). The apparatus includes two pusher arms (8) placed one on each side of the row of objects (1). The apparatus also includes two arrest pins (20, 21) on either side of the row, one front (20) and one rear (21). The apparatus further includes a linkage (13) on each side of the row, axially connected to a pusher arm (8) and interconnected with each other via a spring (14), respectively. The pusher arms (8) are moved, in a closed position, forwards with the aid of a piston and cylinder assembly (19) and, in this movement, marshal out the first object (1) in the row. Thereafter, the pusher arms (8) open in that they enter into abutment against the front arrest pin (20). The linkage (13) ensures that the pusher arms (8) assume an open position. The pusher arms (8) thereafter move backwards in the open position with the aid of the piston and cylinder assembly (19).

Abstract: A method for transferring blister packs to a step-less moving feeding line of a packaging machine, according to which a gripping member of a three-axes robot device picks up at least one group of blister packs from an outlet line of a blistering machine. The robot device moves in a direction as the outlet line, so as to follow the movement thereof. The group of blister packs is transferred to the feeding line, following the movement thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a perforated, transport belt has belt surface cleaner mechanisms that include a pair of moveable, consumable webs. A scrubbing of the belt by a wet web is followed by a scrubbing of the belt by a dry, absorbent web. A solvent dispensing mechanism can be fluidically coupled to re-soak the wet web. Mechanisms for selectively engaging and disengaging the belt surface cleaner mechanisms ensure free belt travel during flexible material transport and the cleaning of both surfaces during cleaning cycles. The system includes consumable piece-part elements for refurbishing and remanufacturing.

Abstract: A system and method for grouping products for packaging, including a metering station in which a line of products is engaged by a series of metering lugs. The metering lugs urge the products into off-set positions to form multiple lanes of products. Selected ones of the products are then engaged by a series of selector lugs at a selector station to urge the products together to form product groups for packaging.

Abstract: A trap door system for receiving a plurality of articles from a pick and place mechanism, moving those articles to the vicinity of an underlying tray on a conveyor, and dumping those articles on said conveyor in a pre-arranged layout, forming loaded trays, which loaded trays may then be positioned in a frame to form a cube for retort processing of the contents of the articles. The preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates a horizontally situated product gate for receiving a plurality of pouches which are received upon four side-by-side holding slots running the length of the pouch gate by a pick and place mechanism.

Abstract: A conveyor belt assembly (10) for conveying an object to be portioned (54) by a fluid jet (52) is disclosed. The conveyor belt assembly (10) includes a conveyor belt formed from at least a first and a second picket (12) each having a length comprised of a sequence of geometrically shaped links (20) disposed transversely across the conveyor belt. The pickets (12) are disposed in a nested relationship to each other. The pickets (12) include upper edge portions (22) that form a conveying surface (42) for supporting and advancing the object to be portioned (54). The upper edge portions (22) are tapered in the upward direction to reduce dispersion of the fluid jet (52) during impingement of the fluid jet (52) on the conveying surface (42).

Abstract: A transport system for transporting transport containers storing articles in a sealed condition is disclosed. Each transport container has a support portion formed on an upper portion thereof. When the transport container is moved with the support portion suspended, a receiving device supports the bottom of the transport container to lessen the load applied to the support portion. As a result, deformation of the transport container is restrained to maintained the sealed condition.

Abstract: The accumulator (5) comprises at least two continuous flexible members (55) equipped with supports (57) for the products (A). The supports (57) project laterally with respect to the respective flexible member; each flexible member and at least one first guide wheel (63A) being arranged so that the supports face the axis of the wheel in the section of flexible member trained about said guide wheel. The guide wheel is equipped with a plurality of radial arms between which a space is provided for the elongated products resting on said supports. The position of the supports is timed with respect to the position of the radial arms.

Abstract: A device for adjusting conveyors for printing presses that process flat products or further processing units (40) arranged downstream therefrom, in which are received belt movers (1) containing a plurality of individual belts (5) for transporting the flat products, the belt movers including guide rollers (6) and setting rollers (7), which have a drive (2), and use tensioning devices (3) which keep constant the tension in the individual belts (5) of the belt mover (1). Accommodated in the further processing unit (40), whether it be a folder with pins or a folder that works without pins, arranged downstream from the rotary press, are shafts (16, 28, 34) having elements (25, 31, 39), which are arranged in a stationary mount and guide the individual belts (5). Supported on these so as to enable sliding in the axial direction, symmetrically with respect to the machine center (13), are movable elements (20, 27, 36), which guide, drive, and/or prestress the individual belts (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to a reciprocating slat conveyor comprising a plurality of side by side disposed elongated conveyor slats, means for attaching the slats to at least one of a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart transversely extending drive beams for driving the reciprocating movement of the slats connected thereto, wherein each slat comprises an elongated plank-like upper portion having an upper and a lower surface, at least one leg extending in longitudinal direction of the slat and depending from the lower surface of the slat, the at least one leg being positioned substantially central of the upper portion, the connecting means for connecting the slat to the guide beam being provided to exert a gripping action upon opposite sides of the substantially centrally disposed leg.

Abstract: A palletizer for bottles having loader carriage with a plurality of horizontal corridors (11) formed by pairs of laterally adjustable guides (21), which suspend the collars (92) of the bottles, and pairs of laterally adjustable side walls (31), which can move toward each other to lock the bottle bodies from movement along the corridors. During loading of the carriage, the guides are moved to engage the bottle collars and the side walls are moved apart. During unloading of the carriage, the side walls are moved inward to lock the bottles and the guides are moved apart so that the gripper (52) can enter the carriage from above.

Abstract: A bonding machine chip-transferring station, with a multi-axial positioning mechanism and a suction-needle module mounted and positionable thereon, with a housing, a suction needle connected to a vacuum conduit, and a suction-needle conveyance unit, including a drive motor, a belt transmission coupled thereto, and a suction-needle reversal means driven by the transmission, wherein the suction-needle reversal means includes a suction-needle holder seated on an axle and a pulley nonrotatably connected to the axle, where the suction-needle holder includes a guide block on which is mounted a suction-needle carriage movable only in the Z direction, supports the suction needle, and bears a carrier bolt oriented parallel to the axle, and an actuator fork nonrotatably connected to the pulley, via the axle, with which is engaged the carrier bolt extending from the suction-needle carriage and by means of which the suction-needle carriage is driven and constrained exclusively in the ±Z directions.

Abstract: A conveyor roller includes at least one axle cartridge and is mounted at opposite sidewalls of a conveyor. The axle cartridge includes a bearing assembly at an outer end and an inner support at an inner end. The bearing assembly provides rotational support of a roller portion about the axle portion, while the inner support is spaced from an inner end of the axle portion during normal use of the roller. The inner support may provide contact support at the inner axle portion in response to loading induced deflection of the roller, whereby the inner support limits flexing or bending of the roller portion and may limit binding of the bearing assembly during such loading conditions. The axle portion may include one or more guide members arranged along a generally tapered or conical-shaped axle end for guiding the axle portion into a correspondingly formed opening in the conveyor sidewall.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus comprising a modular belt having a plurality of modules connected to adjacent modules and articulated by pivot rods that extend through openings in the link ends of the modules. The openings extend transverse to the direction of belt travel. The apparatus also includes a drive sprocket having a plurality of teeth disposed about the circumference of the wheel. Each tooth has a center driving surface and a link end driving surface. The teeth are disposed such that each belt module may be driven in either direction from the center by one of the teeth and simultaneously driven at a link end by one of the other teeth such that there is positive engagement with each belt module by two teeth. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Abstract: A method for feeding automatically metal profiles in bar form entails gripping a group of the metal profiles from a magazine for collecting the profiles and transferring the group of metal profiles or their end to a raised position. The raised metal profiles are arranged on a movable transfer device provided with means for separating the metal profiles, at which the initial portion of a preset number of metal profiles to be fed to the machine at each work cycle is conveyed transversely and counted. The metal profiles are transferred, in the counted number, at receiving elements of the machine, while the excess metal profiles are unloaded inside the collection magazine.

Abstract: Apparatus for the alignment of a plurality of bottles whose body is in the shape of a parallelepiped, and which are furthermore oriented in such a manner that said bottles are provided with respective axes centered on to the respective mouth, and the respective walls are inclined at either acute or obtuse angles with respect to the plane passing through said axes, in which there is provided a structure comprising two comb-like members (10, 11) and plurality of cylindrical cups (26) inserted in appropriate housings provided between said comb-like members (10, 11), wherein said cups (26) hold respective bottles (3) and are made in such a manner as to ensure that the corners of the bottles (3) are capable of being arranged in contact with the inner surface of said cups; said surface is in the shape of a plurality of plane surfaces spaced from each other by configurations in the shape of an arc of a circle having a radius (R) that is equal to the inner radius of the cups (r).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of constructing a wheel of the type comprising a first portion (12) connected to a second portion (11), the second portion providing a rim, comprising the steps of providing a n outer surface of the first portion with at least one, recess (15), positioning the second portion (11) such that it surrounds the outer surface of the first portion and deforming a surface of the second portion such that the resulting deformation(s) protrude into the or each recess provided on the outer surface of the first portion such that the first portion is connected to the second portion (11).

Abstract: A method and a system for disconnecting passenger transport systems, especially escalators and moving walkways. Functional units of a passenger transport system monitor for malfunctions of the passenger transport systems by using switching elements and the signals of the functional units are combined to form a security chain. The signals of the functional units and signals from a drive monitoring unit are supplied to at least one pilot unit. Subsequently, a disconnecting signal is provided to a respective disconnecting contact as a result of a malfunction detected by the functional units and/or the drive monitoring system.

Abstract: A bar guiding device in a feeder for feeding a machine tool, composed of two elements that have respective slots and can move with respect to each other between an open position, which allows insertion of a bar between them, and a mutually adjacent position, at which the slots form a longitudinal channel for advancement of a bar to be fed to the machine tool by way of a bar pusher connected to an actuation chain that is external to the channel by means of a bridge that is guided through regions where the elements mate, the regions being in mutual contact, so as to close the channel, and undergoing elastic deformation in order to allow passage of the bridge between them.

Abstract: The device includes a protection and safety assembly which covers the downstream end of said device and which, in said decelerated safety zone, includes a moving member disposed above said handrail elements and adapted to be entrained by a foreign body itself entrained by said handrail elements in the same direction as and at the same speed as said handrail elements along a substantially horizontal path, and detector means adapted to detect predetermined displacement of said member in said direction, and to cause at least said device to stop.