Abstract: A device for increasing the uniformity of solids within a solids fabrication system, such as a direct light fabrication (DLF) system in which gas entrained powders are passed through the focal point of a moving high-power light which fuses the particles in the powder to a surface being built up in layers. The invention provides a feed through interface wherein gas entrained powders input from stationary input lines are coupled to a rotating head of the fabrication system. The invention eliminates the need to provide additional slack in the feed lines to accommodate head rotation, and therefore reduces feed line bending movements which induce non-uniform feeding of gas entrained powder to a rotating head.

Abstract: In a high speed sheet printing or coating machine there is a tendency for the sheets to move about as they are being fed to the datum stops, so that precise registration is not achieved. This is remedied by exerting a damping force which pulls each sheet continuously towards a fixed support surface 12 before and during registration and during printing or coating. The damping force comprises vacuum and/or magnetic forces which settle each sheet rapidly on the fixed support surface as it is fed into contact with the datum stops. The vacuum force is provided by drawing air through an array of holes 26 in the fixed support surface into an underlying chamber 24 evacuated through a pipe 28 by a vacuum pump, and is adjustable either by controlling the flow rate through the pump or by controllably venting the chamber or pipe to atmosphere.

Abstract: For conveying individually held products (3) in a network of conveying paths. (A, B), a holding element (4) is associated with each product (3) and is conveyed together with the product along the entire conveying route for the product (3) which route contains various conveying paths (A, B). Each holding element (4) comprises at least one first coupling part (1) for being coupled to a conveying element being movable along a given conveying path (A, B) and comprising a second coupling parts (2) or for being coupled to guides extending along the conveying paths. In transfer areas (U) in which products and holding means are transferred from one conveying path to another conveying path control means are provided for uncoupling holding elements (4) from conveying elements or guides of a first conveying path (A) and for coupling holding elements (4) to conveying elements or guides of a second conveying path (B).

Abstract: A self propelled vehicle for transport and placement of an onboard supply of fill material in an onboard hopper. The hopper is connected to said vehicle at a point operatively positioned to discharge fill material placed therein on a conveyor belt mounted to a support structure. At the distal end of the conveyor where the material is discharged a flow director is operatively attached to the support structure to receive the flow of fill material carried by said conveyor from the hopper. The flow director bifurcates the stream of fill material allowing the operator to place more or less of the fill in two streams using a plurality of independently adjustable channeling ramps. The hopper is optionally adjustable from an angle normal to the vehicle to allow for adjustment in the vehicle center of gravity on grades. The flow director can also be configured for attachment to existing conveyors to increase their utility or used as part of the entire self propelled device in a single unit.

Abstract: A sorting conveyor for transporting objects and unloading objects at one or more unloading stations adjacent the conveyor. The sorting conveyor includes: a conveyor track; a train of conveyor carts connected end-to-end. Each of the conveyor carts includes a trailer frame base having a roller structure for engaging the conveyor track, an extended fin driven member responsive to an linear induction motor including a guide roller assembly, and a hitch mechanism for connecting each conveyor cart to an adjacent conveyor cart. The linear induction motor including a guide roller assembly for moving the conveyor carts on the conveyor track includes a motor; a mounting frame attached to the conveyor track for supporting the motor; and a pair of cantilevered, guide rollers connected to a motor and adjacent to each surface of the extended fin driven member for off-setting the mechanical load of the other guide roller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mechanical vibrating drive system for supplying a consistent, elliptical driving force to a conveyor trough. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vibrating conveyor has a set of vertical leaf springs connecting the conveyor trough to a vibratory frame, and a set of horizontal leaf springs connecting the vibratory frame to a stationary frame. The leaf springs amplify the motion initiated by a reversible motor, and the net result is a force output from the drive module that produces a uniform elliptical vibratory motion throughout the length of the conveyor trough. By reversing the motor, a symmetric elliptical motion for moving product in the opposite direction is generated without any further adjustments to the leaf springs.

Abstract: A workpiece transfer apparatus with a shuttle underlying workpieces received on workstations which is raised and lowered by a lifting mechanism disposed above the workpieces. The shuttle has a support rail and an indexing rail operably connected to a drive for advancing and retracting the indexing rail relative to the workstations. To transfer one or more workpieces from their current workstations to respective subsequent workstations, the shuttle is raised by the overhead lifting mechanism to engage the workpieces from underneath and raise the workpieces from their current workstations. The indexing rail is advanced to position the workpieces above respective subsequent workstations and the shuttle is lowered to place the workpieces on these subsequent workstations. Subsequently, the indexing rail is retracted to its starting position so that the apparatus is ready for the next transfer cycle.

Abstract: A fold linkage is provided that is usable in combination with a conveyor assembly having a foldable conveyor section and a main conveyor section. The fold linkage includes linkage members and hinge sections that are rotatably attached to each other and that are connectable to the conveyor sections without interference with the conveyor assembly truss members. The fold linkage further includes a pressure operated cylinder that is extendable and retractable so as to fold and unfold the conveyor assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for batching articles from a continuous stream of articles has a conduit comprising an entry duct (2) in which the articles are accelerated by suction. The suction air is drawn from the exit end of the duct, close to a pair of counter-rotating sealing rollers (20) which have resiliently yielding peripheral faces between which the articles pass. At the exit end of the conduit a pair of closure members (24) on opposite sides of the conduit are rotatable in 90° steps in order to collect the articles in batches. The closure members counter-rotate so that in each step they move in the general direction of movement of the articles. In this way it is possible to batch relatively delicate articles at high rates of throughflow.

Abstract: A system for positioning an end effector of a wafer handling robot with respect to a wafer to be extracted from a cassette, and for thereafter reading an indicial mark on the wafer. The system includes a pair of sensor units fixedly mounted on the end effector, which sensor units are capable of detecting the wafer edge upon approach of the end effector toward the wafer. Based on the positions of the end effector when the first and then the second sensor units detect the edge of the wafer, a computer may determine the orientation of the end effector with respect to the wafer, and adjust a position of the end effector to a center of the wafer. Thereafter, the indicial mark on the wafer may be read by a camera by withdrawing the wafer from the cassette on the end effector, positioning the center of the wafer over the central axis of rotation of the wafer handling robot, and rotating the robot until the indicial mark is located under the camera.

Abstract: A medium feeding apparatus comprises a driving motor for moving a backup plate to press a medium against a pickup roller, piezoelectric elements for sensing slippage between the pickup roller and the medium which occurs while the roller rotates, and a controller for driving the driving motor to thereby vary a force for pressing the medium against the pickup roller, when the sensing means has sensed slippage between the pickup roller and the medium.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a conveyor comprises identical carriages and apparatus for connecting the carriages end to end. The carriages each include first wheel pairs supported for rotation about spaced apart parallel axes and a second wheel pair supported for rotation about a perpendicular axis. The first and second wheel pairs are rotatably supported by self-lubricated bearings. The connection apparatus may comprise either connection rods or a wire rope. In another embodiment, the conveyor comprises identical links each including first and second link portions. The link portions are pivotally interconnected by a first connecting pin which also supports a first pair of wheels. Adjacent links are interconnected by a second connecting pin which also supports a second wheel pair. The first and second wheel pairs are rotatably supported by self-lubricated bearings.

Abstract: A carrier for orienting and conveying things to be transported includes a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side periphery, and a second side periphery. The bottom surface is intersected by a traverse slot which is upwardly communicative with a traverse through bore. Either of the first side periphery or the top surface provides a transport section adapted to receive and convey the thing to be transported, and the second side periphery provides a drive control section suited to engage a drive mechanism. The body may include a hold lip, detent, or other structure cooperative with the first side periphery or top surface to contact, receive, and convey the thing to be transported.

Abstract: The invention relates to a clamp (10) for holding sheet-like objects, having a support (12) on which a clamp tongue (20) is fixed. A clamping jaw (32) is stored in a guide slot (30) in the support (12) in such a way that it can move both in and against the direction of closing (S). When the clamping jaw (32) moves from open position (34) in closing direction (S), the clamp end (42) is displaced along the path of movement (46), until it rests against the clamp tongue (20) or an adjacent object. As the clamping jaw (32) continues to move in closing direction (S), the clamp end is driven back from the path of movement (46), and a clamping force for holding the object is formed as a result of the elasticity of the clamping jaw (32).

Abstract: The invention is directed to an overhead pusher finger guide system, preferably for use with a sheet handling apparatus. The guide system prevents the lower conveyor run from sagging or otherwise moving out of the proper feed plane. Accordingly, superior sheet handling is achieved.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus comprises a substrate processing chamber, a transfer chamber, a substrate mounting body having a through hole formed in a vertical direction and being provided in the substrate processing chamber, a substrate lifting member capable of vertically moving in the through hole, a first arm, capable of extending from the transfer chamber into the substrate processing chamber, for transferring the substrate in a horizontal direction, a second arm capable of extending from the transfer chamber into the substrate processing chamber, capable of moving in a vertical direction and separating the substrate upward from the substrate mounting body by moving the substrate lifting member upward, and a driving mechanism provided in the transfer chamber for extending the first and second arms from the transfer chamber into the substrate processing chamber and for moving the first arm in the horizontal direction and moving the second arm in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A system is described for lining or protecting a working surface of a chute, hopper, trough, etc. or other material-handling equipment with a wear-resistant material. The system includes a framework of parallel elongated rails secured to the working surface and separated by spacer bars which define the spacing between adjacent rails. The framework is tack-welded to the working surface. A plurality of wear-resistant panels having opposing side edges are held in place on the rails. The side edges of the panels have recesses for frictionally engaging the rails, and worn panels can be easily removed and replaced when necessary.

Abstract: An apparatus for movably supporting an article includes a plurality of raising units arranged in a row on a mount, with their outer side surfaces contacting with those of adjacent ones. Each raising unit includes a lifting member including a piston and a ball disposed on top of the piston. A casing has a cylinder bore which is formed therein to open upward and in which the lifting member is disposed to be vertically movable. A pressure chamber is formed beneath the piston. A portion of the ball can protrude through the opening when the lifting member is raised. An air path extends from one to opposite side surfaces of the casing through the pressure chamber. When compressed air is supplied to the pressure chamber of the raising unit at one end of the row, it is also supplied to the pressure chambers of the remaining raising units.

Abstract: For handling elongate and flat workpieces flowing in a manufacturing line, two arrangements are disclosed, one being an arrangement including a workpiece posture changing device which changes the posture of each workpiece at the time when the workpiece is transmitted from a first conveyer to a second conveyer, and the other being an arrangement for bundling the workpiece flowing in the manufacturing line.

Abstract: An inverter for reversing the orientation of a pharmaceutical dosage form at a discontinuity in a path of travel is described. The inverter receives dosage forms from an input path and delivers rectified dosage forms to an output path. In addition, a dosage form rectifier comprising an inverter is described. The dosage form rectifier receives randomly oriented dosage forms and delivers uniformly oriented dosage forms without recycling any of the dosage forms. In a repeating cycle for each dosage form supplied to the rectifier, the orientation of the dosage form is determined and dosage forms having a desired orientation are maintained in the desired orientation and delivered from the dosage form rectifier while dosage forms having an inverted orientation have their orientation rectified at the inverter before being delivered from the dosage form rectifier.