Abstract: An improved bundle transfer apparatus for sheet material in signature form is provided. The apparatus includes a frame having rails on which a bundle transfer vehicle is mounted. The bundle transfer vehicle has a platform which is movable to a position under the signatures and a mechanism for raising the platform and the signatures. The signatures on the bundle transfer vehicle are transferred to an end of the table where it is moved by powered rollers to a compression and strapping station where it is tied and delivered for further handling.

Abstract: A pallet construction for use in conjunction with transport apparatus in a sheet-processing system includes spaced grooves adapted to receive automated insertion apparatus. The pallet construction includes webs separated by spaced grooves disposed to receive levelling elements. The levelling elements are movable relative to the webs to provide a relatively planar pallet surface and prevent the deformation of printed sheets. The construction also permits exposure of the grooves as desired.

Abstract: A beverage terminal for the automatic delivery of beverage crates including a delivery terminal for pallets charged with beverage crates, at least one high-shelf, an individualizing device, at least one depot, at least one customer conveyor, and at least one beverage supply point provided with a customer control panel. The individualizing device and a depalletizer include at least one horizontally arranged linear conveyor assigned to a storage surface of the depot. The linear conveyor has a gripping mechanism for gripping and lifting or lowering individual beverage crates.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading bulk material into a ship has a carriage movable alongside the ship, an elongated outrigger tube having an inner end on the carriage and an outer end and provided internally with a longitudinally extending partition subdividing the tube into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, and an elongated tensioning element extending longitudinally above the outrigger tube, connected to the outer end thereof, and supporting the outrigger tube. An endless outrigger conveyor belt has a U-section upper stretch riding in the upper compartment on the partition and a lower stretch riding on an inside wall of the outrigger tube in the lower compartment. The outrigger belt is driven to advance the upper stretch from the inner end to the outer end. A looped endless supply belt deposits bulk material onto the upper stretch of the outrigger belt at the inner end of the outrigger tube.

Abstract: An apparatus according to the present invention comprises a lift mechanism provided at the end of an introducing-aligning conveyor mechanism and a shutter mechanism overlying the lift mechanism. A plurality of cases are arranged in alignment on the conveyor mechanism. The cases are pushed up by the lift mechanism and supported by the shutter mechanism. When cases of another set are then aligned on the introducing-aligning conveyor mechanism, the shutter mechanism opens, so that the cases supported thereon fall to be stacked on the second set. The stacked cases are pushed up by the lift mechanism and supported by the shutter mechanism. These processes of operation are repeated so that the cases are stacked in layers.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a collecting device for sheets 3 for forming stacks of sheets 6 from individual sheets 3 fed in at a stop 26, as well as with a removing device 28 for the stacks 6 formed. To remove the stacks of sheets 6 with a high reliability of operation, the present invention provides for a movable stop 26 and a driven roller arrangement 29, 30, 31, which is mounted such that it can be fed to the stack of sheets 6. On the other hand, the present invention discloses a special, elastic conveying means 8, 11, which guides the sheets 3 onto the stack of sheets 6 along a transport path 7 and over a deflector 16. Both measures can be embodied both as a combination and separately.

Abstract: Automation of stacking of lamina included in a modular circuit package is provided by use of a plurality of heads carried on a preferably rotating head transport assembly. The head transport assembly is movable between two locations in which heads simultaneously brought to respective supply, alignment and disposal stations alternately pick up or deposit lamina, plates, separator sheets or protective sheets, respectively. Each lamina, sheet or plate deposited at the alignment station is pressed down over elongated alignment pins while maintaining only a short protrusion of the alignment pins above the existing stack. Continuous production is provided by carousels which bring alignment fixtures to the alignment station and magazines containing lamina to the supply station. Selection among lamina is provided by an elevator assembly which moves a magazine to a location at which a desired lamina can be selected therefrom, preferably under computerized control.

Abstract: A trailer adapted to carry in piggy-back fashion, a removable, replaceable dolly onto which small or personal watercraft is to be loaded or off-loaded. The trailer is provided with higher pressure tires capable of withstanding such impacts and jarring as are associated with highway usage, while the dolly is provided with lower pressure tires for travel over sand, dirt, gravel, or other off-the road use. A first stop, on the trailer, limits movement of the dolly once secured; and a second stop, on the dolly, limits the movement of the watercraft. A plurality of rollers are employed to ease the dolly loading with the trailer, and the watercraft loading with the dolly.

Abstract: A fully adjustable conveyor system for transporting loose items of cargo which are to be manually loaded or unloaded by a worker. In one embodiment, the conveyor system includes a powered device, such as a driveable, maneuverable tug which is provided with a vertically adjustable operator platform, expandable and vertically adjustable first and second powered conveyor units. In a second embodiment, the conveyor system includes an electrically powered mobile base frame which is provided with an adjustable operator platform, a vertically adjustable first conveyor, and a flexible expandable second conveyor. The conveyor system of the present invention includes a control system for positioning the conveyor system at the optimum height and location for efficiently loading and unloading cargo and significantly reducing the risk of strain and injury to the workers handling the cargo.

Abstract: There is disclosed a telephone cord winder having a single, torsional spring driven cord reel which is rotationally mounted within a cord winder housing. The extendible telephone cord is wound on the reel and electrically connected, through an internal rotary connector, to a stationary cord. Each of the extendible and stationary cords terminates in a modular phone plug adapted to be received in conventional modular phone sockets with multiple contacts, conventionally four or six contacts for phones.

Abstract: A spare wheel storage apparatus for a vehicle includes a mechanism for moving a spare wheel between a storage position and an unloading position along a path of travel, and a wheel presentation mechanism for presenting the wheel extending at least to a partially exposed unloading position from underneath the vehicle, wherein the spare wheel extends generally horizontally with a portion protruding outwardly with respect to a vertical plane corresponding to an outermost external periphery of the vehicle body contour. The wheel presentation mechanism includes first and second elongated, flexible members, such as cables, wires or the like, connected to the vehicle body portion at positions disposed between the storage position and the vertical plane corresponding to the vehicle body contour.

Abstract: Palletizers and methods of palletizing are disclosed. The palletizers are adapted to receive and arrange units of material and to concurrently fabricate first and second layers therefrom; or to place them in layers at either of first and second delivery support areas; or both. A plurality of layer forming stations can be vertically spaced, horizontally spaced, or both. Plural load forming stations can be horizontally spaced, vertically spaced, or both. Pallets can be sequenced into the load forming stations when empty or partially empty; and can be sequenced out of the load forming stations when empty, partially empty, or full. A given layer may be a hybrid layer comprised of the sum of partial layers fabricated separately. In some embodiments, the transfer apparatus can transfer layers to more than one of more than one load forming stations.

Abstract: A multiple compartment storage body for a refuse collection vehicle includes a floor, a roof, a plurality of walls extending between the floor and the roof, a partition and a bulkhead latch. The partition has a first opposing end portion pivotally coupled intermediate the floor and the roof between the walls to allow a second opposing end portion to pivot between the floor and the roof. The partition is supported at a plurality of distances between the floor and the roof. The bulkhead latch is pivotally supported adjacent the roof and extends from the roof proximate the second opposing end portion. The bulkhead latch includes a plurality of sections removably coupled to one another. Sections above the lower most section may be removed to adjust a vertical length of the bulkhead.

Abstract: A ski bar hold down assembly including a post is rotatably and slideably mounted to a ski bar for use in mounting the ski bar to a trailer. The assembly includes a stop on a lower end of the post engaged with a lower surface of the trailer. The assembly further includes a releasable clamp mounted to an upper end of the post and engaged with a top of the ski bar. The clamp selectively mounts the ski bar to the trailer so as to mount snowmobile skis of a snowmobile between the ski bar and the trailer. If desired, the hold down assembly can also be mounted to the trailer even if no snowmobile is present. A method of mounting the ski bar is provided including the steps of inserting a post of a hold down assembly into a passage in the platform of the trailer, rotating the post 90.degree., then moving a clamp on the assembly to clamp the ski bar to the trailer.

Abstract: A cargo net for retaining a load in a container. A cargo net (12) comprises a plurality of hexagonal-shaped cells (44) formed by knitting or weaving strands (40) together along opposite adjacent sides (42) of adjoining cells. Since the strands are joined by knitting or weaving along the common sides of each cell, use of knots to form the mesh of the net by tying strands is avoided. The hexagonal shape of the net, and the nautilus construction used in forming the net contribute to its characteristic elasticity, which enables the cargo net to conform to irregular shapes and sizes of objects comprising the load. The cargo net is thus ideal for containing and securing a load in a bed (26) of a pickup truck (10). A binding strip (28) surrounds the perimeter of the cargo net, distributing any stress applied when securing the net around the perimeter of the bed or other container with which it is used.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus for transferring objects from a first location to a second location includes a transfer device adapted to be coupled to a lifting device. The transfer device comprises an outer structure which defines an inner space in which an object to be transferred may be located and securing device is provided to secure the object to the transfer device during transfer.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively orienting consecutive fin strips relative to one another as a preliminary step in the manufacture of a heat exchanger includes a sensor for sensing the presence of each of a series of fin strips all having a common orientation relative to one another. The apparatus includes an orienting member which receives signals from the sensor as to the presence of each fin strip and rotates each consecutive fin strips in alternating clockwise and counter-clockwise directions to orient consecutive fin strips 180.degree. relative to each adjacent fin strip.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for stacking sheets on a stationary stack is disclosed comprising conveying a sheet to a roller and rolling the sheet onto the stack of sheets. The roller is preferably moved across the stack of sheets by a carriage while the sheet is being rolled onto the stack.

Abstract: The conveying apparatus has a feed conveyor which is intended for conveying printed products against a stop. The printed products arrive at the conveying apparatus in an imbricated formation in which each printed product rests on the following printed product. The distance (A) between the stop and the directing member can be changed in time with the arriving printed products, with the result that, when the distance (A) is shortened, the directing member engages beneath the printed product respectively butting against the stop and directs it into the range of action of the removal conveyor.

Abstract: The bicycle carrier apparatus of the invention has a commercially obtainable pneumatic or similar power lift device positioned longitudinally in and along an elongate bicycle lifting and supporting columnar standard whose lower end is pivotally mounted on a preferably rotatable turntable as part of a mounting base that is adapted for attachment, usually through longitudinal bars inserted in such base, to conventional transverse bars of the usual rooftop luggage rack of an automotive vehicle. The columnar standard includes a bicycle-securing lift bar having a height adjustable lift arm carrying a device that is attachable to the frame of a bicycle to be carried in upstanding position on the rooftop of the vehicle and that accommodates the pivotal swinging movement of such lift bar and of the columnar standard to which it is attached.