Abstract: Embodiments of a log bunk shear-pin system are shown and described, each embodiment including a shear-pin that engages a log bunk and prevents the bunk from swiveling when the truck is being loaded or unloaded, but that releases the bunk when the shear-pin is mistakenly left engaged during travel. The shear-pin shears, or otherwise comes apart, when the power of the log load or the turning tractor forces the bunk to swivel relative to the tractor or trailer. The preferred shear-pin comprises a shoulder pin and a pin cap connected with a threaded insert. When the forces of a swiveling bunk push on the pin cap and the shoulder pin sideways in opposite directions, the insert breaks. A new insert may then be easily installed into the undamaged pin cap and shoulder pin. Thus, the shear-pin prevents damage to the bunk-ears and only allows damage of an inexpensive and replaceable portion of the shear-pin.

Abstract: A partition inserter has a vacuum assembly which pivots out to contact an end partition in a stack, pivots back to remove the partition, and then moves downwardly to release the partition. The positioning of the vacuum assembly is controlled by a set of cams and a cam follower for controlling the horizontal position of the vacuum assembly and a third cam and cam follower for controlling the vertical position of the vacuum assembly. The vacuum assembly has an upper set of cups which move down with the assembly to lower the partition. The upper vacuum cups are also adjustably mounted to the assembly so that the same assembly may be used for partitions of various sizes. When the partition is released from the vacuum cups, the partition is guided downwardly by a pair of conveyors to a set of shooter wheels. The conveyor and shooter wheels are mounted to a set of plates which are adjustably mounted to the frame of the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention is a coin sorter apparatus for sorting a group of mixed coins by denomination and immediately terminating the sorting process in response to a predetermined operating condition, such as the filling of a coin receptacle with a predetermined number of coins. Sorting is provided by a stationary sorting head and a rotatable disc positioned sufficiently proximate to one another so that when the group of mixed coins are dropped into the center opening of the stationary sorting head, they are rotated by the rotating disc and guided by the sorting head on a outward spiral sorting path to exit channels along the periphery of the stationary sorting head. Each of the exit channels acts as an exit chute for a particular coin denomination by releasing pressure on that particular coin and freeing the coin to move outwardly along the exit channel and exit into a coin receptacle.

Abstract: A pickup and feed unit for stacks of blanks, wherein a movable pickup head provides for successively picking up the stacks off a pallet, on which the stacks are arranged and oriented in a given manner, and for feeding them to a receiving member. The head presents a frame oriented in a given manner in relation to the receiving member; and a pickup device with suction cups, rotating in relation to the frame and about a vertical axis, so that the stacks, once picked up, are always oriented the same way in relation to the frame and the receiving member.

Abstract: A container system for one-level and two-level freight cars and double-deck coaches, especially for high-speed trains. The object is to ensure safe shipping at high speeds along with simple and well conceived loading and unloading. The containers are stowed inside the car or coach and secured for shipment by stops. The fronts of the containers are coplanar with the outer surface of the car or coach and constitute a continuous surface with its side. The car or coach is provided with mechanisms that lock the container into position without compromising the continuity of the surface, and any residual gaps around the edges of the containers are occupied by sealing strips.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading reels into a packaging machine comprises a loading device that has a post rotating about a vertical axis under the actuation of a drive unit; a lifting element, which is provided with elements for supporting a reel to be loaded and is guided so that it can slide longitudinally with respect to the post and can move under the actuation of an additional drive unit between a lowered position for picking up the reel and a raised position for transferring the reel to the packaging machine; and sensors for controlling respectively the angular rotation of the post and the coordinated longitudinal sliding movement of the lifting element.

Abstract: This invention is a novel load forming system, including a layer forming station, a load forming station, and a transfer vehicle for transferring to a load forming station, a layer at a time, units of material which have been formed into layers at a layer forming station. The transfer vehicle, including transfer plate and support frame, is mounted on underlying support wheels, which are preferably mounted on an underlying track whose length is generally confined within the load forming system.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for automatically delivering a glass sheet for a preparation. The apparatus including a rack for receiving a stack of glass sheets, rollers for feeding out a lowest glass sheet until the lowest glass sheet has been completely ejected from the stack, and a switch mechanism capable of terminating the operation of the rollers by the contact of the leading edge of the lowest glass sheet. The roller includes a plurality of protrusions for pushing the trailing edge of the lowest glass sheet in order to operate the switch mechanism by the contact of the leading edge when the lowest glass sheet has been completely ejected from the stack. The switch mechanism can reliably be operated by the force of the pushing operation.

Abstract: A coins receiving and dispensing apparatus suitable for food shops or restaurants allows precise transfer and reception of various coins without error and confirmation of the balance of the coin. When coins received from customers are inserted into this apparatus, the coins are immediately sorted by a sorting mechanism with respect to the denominations of the currency and stored at the respective storage portions. When the coins are paid out as change, the coin feeder operates based on a dispensing command signal produced corresponding to the differences between the sold amount inputted in the register and the received amount from the customers to feed the coins of the wanted denomination in the necessary number.

Abstract: A reverse pulse cleaning system for use in a bag house filter including a blow tube (2) having outlet holes (3) to direct high velocity air pulses into filter bags to be cleaned. The systems includes a nozzle (1) having a control formation between the inlet and outlet ends of the nozzle. The control formation determines air flow characteristics such as velocity and direction of flow emerging from the outlet holes (3) and can improve uniformity and effectiveness of filter bag cleaning. A clampable and releasable fixing of the nozzle (1) to the blow tube allows replacement of the control formation with one of different characteristics during manufacturing or insitu fine tuning. The fixing allows the precise alignment of nozzles (1) on assembly which reduces the need for costly precision in forming the blow tube outlet holes (3).

Abstract: A self-scanning checkout device includes a stationary scanner for reading an article code affixed to an article, and a cash register disposed adjacent to the stationary scanner, for performing a settlement process based on article codes sequentially supplied from the stationary scanner. The cash register has a printing unit for printing a result of the settlement process. In particular, the cash register has a housing section having an article table which is exposed at a top of the housing section and on which an article whose article code is difficult to read by the stationary scanner is placed. The housing section is provided for receiving the printing unit below the article table and permitting the printing unit to be freely exposed.

Abstract: A vibratory distributor 10 is described in preferred form having an elongated vibratory bed 16 for conveying bulk articles in a flowing stream past a plurality of metering gate stations 12 to selectively distribute the articles at the stations. A metering gate assembly 40 at each station includes a stationary upper metering plate 44 and a lower movable metering plate 46. Each of the plates 44, 46 have matching elongated metering apertures formed therein at evenly spaced center-to-center intervals across the width of the flowing stream. Each of the elongated apertures 62, 64 is oriented at a diagonal angle to the direction of flow with a segment of each aperture laterally overlapping an adjacent aperture. The apertures 62, 64 have parallelogram shapes. A screw gate drive 78 is connected to the lower metering plate 46 to move the plate 46 to adjust the relative alignment of the apertures to regulate the metering of the articles at each of the stations 12.

Abstract: A skid steer loader having a main frame supported on four wheels and including a compartment in which an engine, hydraulic drive components and other elements are contained. A cab is mounted above the compartment on the main frame with side walls extending upwardly to define an operator control area therebetween. Supported on the frame is a boom structure including a pair of arms and a mounting assembly. The engine is operatively associated with the wheels for propelling the loader. The engine is also operatively associated with the boom structure for raising and lowering the pair of arms. The wheels are controlled by a pair of hand actuated levers in the operator control area, while boom control is convertible between a foot actuated control lever in the operator control area and a hand operated element pivotally operative on one of the hand actuated levers.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for elevating a cargo container chassis for storage in a substantially vertical position. The chassis is positioned on a lifting platform having a hinged axis around which the platform may tilt upwardly. The platform is then tilted upwardly to lift the chassis to an elevated position in which the longitudinal axis of the chassis approaches or assumes a vertical or upright position. The chassis may then be transferred to a transport vehicle. The transport vehicle does not actively tilt the chassis upward, but instead accepts the already tilted chassis and transfers it to a storage area for vertical storage. This method thereby avoids the necessity of a transport vehicle firmly clamping the chassis and actively tilting it into the storage position, which may damage the chassis. Also, the transport vehicle need not be fitted with expensive heavy tilting devices, and a very large and heavy chassis may more easily be moved to the vertical storage position.

Abstract: In an envelope stacker, a normal force roller mechanism drives a mail piece vertically then retracts without adding significant torque to the stacker. The normal force roller mechanism is comprised of a frame and a bracket pivotally mounted to the frame, the bracket further having an aperture and an arm with a shaft extending therefrom. An idler roller is mounted to the shaft. A hub having a slot is rotatably mounted to a plate. An assembly is provided for moving the plate in a substantially horizontal direction. A generally L-shaped pin having a first end portion and a second end portion extends through the slot so that the first end portion engages the aperture of the bracket. A spring is mounted onto the L-shaped pin between the second end portion and the hub.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking golf balls in an aesthetically pleasing manner includes the use of a invertible form having a cavity therein. By placing golf balls within the cavity, the form may be inverted and the balls therein allowed to assume a stacked configuration atop a supporting base, which can be maintained after the form is lifted upwardly and away from the stack/base combination.

Abstract: A loader for a machine for printing objects presented in a stack includes a lifting device which lifts a stack of objects to be printed stepwise as objects are taken from the stack and a reciprocating transfer device having at least one take-up unit taking an object from the stack on each cycle to convey it to the printing machine. The loader has a retaining clamp with two branches moveable between an away position and a close position in which they can hold a specific number of objects. Level compensating arrangements operate between the retaining clamp and the associated take-up unit. The printing machine can be a machine for printing compact discs, for example.

Abstract: An anti-skid device adapted to be used with a truck bed liner, wherein the truck bed liner has a plurality of liner ribs forming a plurality of liner rib recesses. The anti-skid device is constructed of an anti-skid material. At least two device ribs are formed on the anti-skid device. The device ribs are sized so that the device ribs are disposed within the liner rib recesses when the anti-skid device in placed on the truck bed liner. A portion of cargo is disposed on the anti-skid device. The anti-skid device grippingly engages the cargo and the truck bed liner for substantially preventing movement of the cargo.

Abstract: An article release assembly mounted on the from or exit end of an article supply magazine. The article release assembly is for use in feeding successive thick or heavy rigid articles from an article supply magazine. The article release assembly cooperates with an article transfer assembly and comprises an upper magazine clip assembly and a lower magazine clip assembly which cooperate to shift upward the next-out article from the article stack in the magazine. The upper clip assembly has an elongated body with an upwardly extending retention slot having specified dimensions. The lower clip assembly has an elongated body with an upwardly extending terminal end having a rounded portion. The retention slot of the upper clip assembly and the rounded portions of the lower clip assembly cause the first or next-out article to be repositioned with respect to the article stack as the article transfer assembly transfers successive articles from the article stack in the magazine.