Abstract: A new display carrier container for displaying a message, such as an advertisement. The inventive device includes a generally transparent tubular body having inner and outer surfaces and a pair of opposite ends. The inner surface of the body defines a lumen. Each end of the body has a opening into the lumen of the body. A pair of end caps are coupled to the ends of the body such that they close the openings of the ends of the body. One of the ends of the body has a slot therein. The slot is located between the inner and outer surfaces of the body and extends from the one end towards the other of the ends of the body. The slot is adapted for receiving a sheet therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating flexible packages has a first stage. The first stage has an inclined conveyor having a lower end for receiving flexible packages and an upper end. The inclined conveyor has an inclination sufficient for causing an overlying flexible package to slide relatively to an underlying flexible package as the flexible packages travel from the lower end to the upper end. A drum is rotatably mounted for receiving the flexible packages from the upper end. The drum has a plurality of radially extending resilient paddles for successively engaging and carrying the flexible packages as the drum rotates. The successive engagements and rotation vibratingly separate the flexible packages and discharges a stream of substantially separated flexible packages.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portable apparatus for cleaning containers that can be installed alongside a conventional conveyor belt on which containers are transported. The cleaning apparatus comprises a container pick-up station designed to direct oncoming containers toward a local transport system designed to transport the containers through various container processing stages. The container processing stages include a first station that blasts ionized gas into the container to place contaminants in suspension and a second station that sucks out the suspended contaminants from the container. Once the container processing has been completed, the container is transported to a container return station that directs the container onto the conveyor.

Abstract: A speed control system for a sorting conveyor for transporting objects and unloading objects at one or more unloading stations adjacent the conveyor. Each of the tilting conveyor carts includes a trailer frame base, a carrying tray for holding the objects and a two-axis tiltable support apparatus for supporting the carrying tray above the trailer frame base and for allowing tilting of the carrying tray towards at least one side of the conveyor to unload objects into unloading stations on at least one side of the conveyor. The conveyor system includes a plurality of selectively energized linear induction motors for driving the train along the conveyor track. A speed control system including a fixed-frequency, variable-voltage transformer is connected to a portion of the linear induction motors for varying the speed of the train.

Abstract: A magnetic drive system for moving a substrate transfer shuttle along a linear path between chambers in a semiconductor fabrication apparatus. A rack with rack magnets is secured to the shuttle, and a rotatable pinion with pinion magnets is positioned adjacent the rack so that the pinion magnets can magnetically engage the rack magnets. Thus, rotation of the pinion will cause the shuttle to move along the linear path. The magnets may be oriented with a helix angle between their primary axis and the axis of rotation of the pinion. One rack and one pinion are located on each side of the shuttle. A set of lower guide rollers supports the shuttle, and a set of upper guide rollers prevents the shuttle from lifting off the lower guide rollers.

Abstract: A conveyorized apparatus for performing work operations on one or more layers of sheet-type work material includes a frame having at least three flexible drive members coupled thereto for movement in a direction longitudinal of the frame. A plurality of slats are also provided, each extending transversely across the frame and positioned consecutively relative to one another. Each slat defines an upper surface, and a lower surface attached for movement to the flexible drive members. The upper surfaces of the plurality of slats, collectively define a supported adapted to carry the layers of work material thereon, during the performance of the work operations. The flexible advancing members and the slats are driven by a suitable drive, such as a motor.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing a variety of fast and slow operations including mounting operations upon workpieces affixed to workpiece carriers in which the slow operations are carried out at one station and the fast operations are carried out at another. The linear transfer device of the fast station operates at a stroke rate which is greater by a whole number than the stroke rate at the slow operation station, the workpiece carriers are fed in groups equal to this whole number to the slow operation units simultaneously and the slow operation units perform the same slow operation at each of a number of these units equal to that whole number.

Abstract: A dining table top conveyor having a flat base of rectangular/oval shape and flat endless belt guided over two flanged pulleys. One pulley is electrically driven by a variable speed geared motor and other is an idler and belt tensioning pulley. The flat belt has special steel hooks riveted into it, and it engages with a steel bracket on serving bowl holder plates. These plates are made of heat resistant material like cork or heat resistant plastic and move around on top of the table following the belt. On top of these plates are placed the serving bowls containing food items. As the serving bowls/pots go around the table, diners serve themselves as the bowl passes in front of them. Also at each end of the conveyor are two beverage dispensers which can swivel 330 degrees and extend in and out to self serve beverages. Under the table is a beverage container pressurized by a mini-air compressor and a small motor control panel.

Abstract: A conveyor which includes one or more pocket assemblies which are adapted to be transported in a closed path. The assembly includes a pocket having two walls which are hinged to each other. In the closed position, the walls retain the product (newspaper) between them and, in their open position, they are spaced apart and can receive the product inserted therein. There is a pair of aligners mounted on the pocket which move from a retracted position to a forward position. If the product is misaligned in either direction transverse to the path of the pocket, one of the other of the aligners will contact the nearest edge of the product and push it into a central position in the pocket.

Abstract: A low pressure accumulation table for accumulating products is described herein. The accumulation table includes an inlet, an outlet, at least one feed conveyor and at least two accumulation conveyors. The feed and accumulation conveyors define an accumulation surface. The feed conveyor and the two accumulation conveyors are so mounted side by side that the feed conveyor alternate with the two accumulation conveyors. The two accumulation conveyors, when energized, convey the products from the accumulation surface towards the outlet at a rate which is a function of the conveying speed of the two accumulation conveyors.

Abstract: A pneumatic pop-up unit having an open-topped housing and a piston slidably received therein, the piston accommodating a contact element at least partially extending above the open top of the piston and a seal attached to the outside surface of the wall of the piston about the circumference thereof, configured and arranged to form a substantially air-tight seal with the inside surface of the side wall of the housing, wherein the bottom wall of the piston, and the seal form a sealed volume with the bottom wall and side wall of the housing, a cap attached to the open top of the housing, the cap having a flange and a central opening having a descending guide channel sized to slidably receive the outside surface of the side wall of the piston, wherein the cap is secured about its circumference to the side wall of the housing at the open end thereof by a single-seam crimped, rolled, coined, spun or swaged joint.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting profiles of different size and cross section, such as flats, angles, I sections, U sections, T sections and bulb sections, in longitudinal direction, includes a plurality of support elements for transporting the sections along a transport path, a stop mechanism arranged laterally of the support elements along the transport path, and a clamping device movable in the direction of the transport path, wherein each support element is formed by two rollers, with at least one of the rollers being movable with respect to the other one of the rollers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to endless belts and fabrics for use in a process control loop which can be used in the production of the products specified in the specification. The belt is provided with means for emitting electromagnetic radiation upon excitation by an energy source. That is, the belt is provided with a sensor which emits electromagnetic radiation when excited by an energy source, such as an external one that is directed at the belt. A sensor is comprised of an electromagnetic radiation emitting compound dispersed within a matrix. The sensor may also contain a scattering material. The sensor can take the form of a filamentary material, coating or film that can then be incorporated on or in the belt. In operation, energy emitted from an energy source is directed at the belt. Upon excitation of the sensor by the energy, the sensor emits electromagnetic radiation, which is detected by a detector located nearby.

Abstract: A trip device serves to cause at least one function on one or more means moved along a predetermined path of motion. It comprises an mounting rail on which a plurality of trip units and at least one bus station are mounted. The bus station is connected by a serial bus with a control means and is connected by flexible control cables with several trip unit. The bus station for its part produces suitable actuating signals from serial bus signals intended for the trip units, such actuating signals being fed to the respective trip units by means of the flexible control cables. On the other hand the bus station produces serial bus signals on the basis of sensor signals arriving from the trip units. Generally the trip device possesses a straightforward structure, renders possible high speeds of operation and is easily serviced.

Abstract: A transfer system that moves packages on a conveyor to an accumulator and back thereto includes a plurality of spaced-apart rollers which rotate to transport the packages. The accumulator includes a plurality of storage shelves, each of which is formed from a plurality of spaced apart fingers. The transfer system includes a support structure, an actuator for moving the support structure a predetermined vertical distance and a predetermined horizontal distance, and a plurality of transfer fins secured to the support structure. Each transfer fin has a relatively small thickness and is adapted to fit within a space between a pair of adjacent rollers used in the conveyor and a space between a pair of accumulator shelf finger. The space between the rollers and the space between the accumulator fingers are generally aligned such that the fins can be moved vertically to supportably lift the package off of the conveyor rollers and moved horizontally to deposit the package on the accumulator shelves.

Abstract: A stream of signatures is delivered by a conveyer belt to an angled conveyer. The angled conveyor grips a set of signatures from the stream. The gripped set of signatures is transported by the angled conveyer to a third conveyer belt, and deposited on the third conveyer belt. By transporting the set of signatures at an angle, a lateral offset between the individual signatures within the set of signatures is created. A diverter on the third conveyer belt grips the laterally offset signatures, separating the signatures into substreams.

Abstract: A magnetic guide for a chain conveyor with ferromagnetic parts comprises at the top a U-shaped member (12) in a single piece having a central channel (13) and upper surfaces (25) arranged at the two sides of the channel to define running surfaces for the chain. The U-shaped member is assembled on a base member (11). The base member (11) comprises at least one seat (16) open above and completely receiving the magnets (17) for attraction of the chain against the running surfaces of the U-shaped member. The U-shaped member (12) identifies a lower supporting surface (20) on the base member for closing of the seat (16) of the magnets in the base member.

Abstract: Rotationally symmetrical containers (10) are transported under backup pressure on a conveying surface (12) limited laterally by railings (14). For rotating the containers (10) at a predetermined site along the conveying surface (12), one of two consecutive containers (10) is arranged stable against one railing (14) and the other stable against the other railing (14) in the direction of conveyance after the site at which the containers are to rotate.

Abstract: A modular roller-top conveyor belt constructed of a series of rows of belt modules having hinge elements at opposite ends of each row. The hinge elements of each row are interleaved with the hinge elements of an adjacent row and interlinked by hinge pins to form an endless conveyor belt. Each of the belt modules includes a body section extending between opposite ends of each row in the direction of belt travel. Cavities formed in at least some of the modules open onto an upper conveying surface of the belt. Rollers residing in the cavities protrude onto the upper conveying surface to engage conveyed articles in rolling, low-friction contact. The rollers may be cylindrical rollers that rotate about axles, spherical balls that rotate in all directions, or caster-like roller assemblies.

Abstract: An elevated loading/conveyor platform includes a generally rectangular knock-over gate positioned in the load-in side opening of the platform structure, where the knock-over gate is pivotally mounted within the load-in side opening and pivotable from a vertically upright barrier position to a generally horizontal loading position. The knock-over gate is biased to the vertical position by a return mechanism, which is designed to return the knock-over gate to its upright vertical orientation when no pallets are being conveyed thereover in the generally horizontal loading position. Preferably, the return mechanism utilizes a spring mechanism (such as gas springs), where the spring mechanism is of sufficient strength to pivot the knock-over gate from the horizontal loading position to the vertical position when no weight or force is being applied to the load-in side of the gate.