Abstract: A transfer mechanism for transferring articles one by one from one position to another position, particularly for use with a forging press having a plurality of molds arranged in series to successively transfer blanks from a receiving position to the mold of the first step and then to the mold of the second step and so on. The transfer mechanism comprising a pair of parallel feed bars provided on their opposing surfaces with plural pairs of clamping jaws and three separate sets of hydraulic cylinders for moving the feed bars in three orthogonal directions, respectively, and cam-operated hydraulic pumps operated with cams mounted in different phases on a drive shaft rotated in timed relation with the forging press, each cam-operated hydraulic pump being hydraulically connected to each hydraulic cylinder so that the feed bars effect cyclic movement to clamp, lift up, carry ahead, lift down, and unclamp blanks and to return to an original position.

Abstract: A belt type conveyor is provided for conveying segments of wire cut from a continuous strand by a cutting machine to other wire processing machines, such as terminal attachment machines or the like. The conveyor comprises a pair of endless flexible belts supported one above the other by pulleys and guide rails so that the upper flight in the lower belt closely confronts the lower flight in the upper belt whereby wire segments entrapped between the flights are movable along the path of travel of the confronting flights. Each wire segment is disposed so that its axis is perpendicular to the path of travel of the flights and the ends of the segment extend beyond the sides of the flights so as to be accessible to the processing machines. A drive mechanism drives the confronting flights in steps or increments in the same direction and at the same speed. The belts and guide rails are constructed so that the confronting flights are biased toward each other to ensure a firm grip on the wire segments.

Abstract: Bruising of fruit in a fruit bin filling operation accomplished by mechanism including an elevationally adjustable endless fruit-depositing conveyor having fruit-carrying pockets is minimized by mounting the pocket dividers so that they may swing between a position substantially perpendicular to the endless conveyor and a position sloping outward and backward away from the direction of movement of the endless conveyor. This feature eases movement of fruit from the supply conveyor to the depositing conveyor and eliminates flipping of fruit out of the depositing conveyor discharge by the pocket divider behind the fruit being deposited. Also a slightly declined support plate is swingably mounted to the depositing conveyor discharge end and maintained in such slightly declined attitude as the depositing conveyor is swung about a horizontal axis to change the elevation of the discharge end of such conveyor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for turning a log. In the method, the turning is carried out in two stages in such a way that the first stage comprises the turning of the log to a somewhat oblique position in relation to the transverse direction of two rollers (2) rotating in opposite directions, and the second stage comprises the turning of the log by means of the rollers in a controlled manner onto a conveyor (11), which is at the bottom of a trough (14). The device according to the invention has two rollers (2) rotating in opposite directions and, adjacent to each roller, a preferably V-shaped blade (3), which effects the first stage of the turning. The second stage of turning, effected by the rollers (2), is controlled, a factor which provides a considerable improvement in efficiency.

Abstract: An improved arrangement for mounting the lift bar of a humper type conveyor in which the lift bar is mounted on the conveyor frame structure by means of support arm structure. The support arm structure is disposed generally parallel to the path of travel of conveyed articles and a mount is provided for mounting one end of the support arm structure on the conveyor frame and another mount for mounting the lift bar on the other end of the support arm structure. The preferred construction for the support arm structure comprises a pair of spaced apart fiberglass elements which are separated at their ends by spacers. An eccentric is disposed to operate through the second-mentioned mount to impart displacement to the lift bar, the fiberglass support arm elements resiliently flexing in the process.

Abstract: The mechanism makes it possible to control the advance of operating units (9, 9') in a much simpler fashion than known mechanisms which use cams or long tappets. It comprises the following: a plurality of toothed wheels (3), one for each station (9, 9'), all of them activated by a single toothed belt (1) through one or more motors (4) which can be asynchronous. Each toothed wheel (3) controls the following: one upper shaft (4), one endless screw (6), one companion wheel (7), one roller (5), and one lever (10, 18) for the advance of the upper operating units (9). At the same time it controls the following: a lower shaft (4'), an endless screw (6'), a companion wheel (7'), a roller (5'), a lever (10', 18') for the advance of the lower operating unit (9').

Abstract: Apparatus for introducing elongate objects (M) into a transfer corridor (4) from a feed corridor (10) along which the objects (M) are axially moved in sequence. The transfer corridor (4) has star wheels (3') driven rotationally in synchronism, each wheel (3') having at least one socket whose section corresponds to that of the object. A receiving wheel (1) receives the objects (M) at the outlet of the feed corridor (10), to which wheel the guide members (4) of the transfer corridor are extended. The receiving wheel (1) is rotated at regular intervals corresponding to the rhythm of succession of the objects. At least one intermediate wheel (2) is interposed between the receiving wheel (1) and a first transfer wheel (3) for the passage of the objects (M) from one wheel to the other. The intermediate wheel (2) is rotationally driven continuously and at variable speed between the angular velocity of the receiving wheel (1) and that of the transfer wheel (3).

Abstract: In spaced relationship from an infeed track or path for an imbricated product formation there is arranged an outfeed track or path. Between the infeed and outfeed tracks there is provided a group of movable track elements which are spaced in overlying or superimposed relationship from one another in their direction of movement. This group of track elements is guided and moved transversely with respect to the infeed and outfeed tracks or paths. Conveyor means serve to transfer the printed products from the infeed track in each case by means of one of the track elements to the outfeed track. In this way it is possible, without releasing the printed products out of the imbricated product formation and without altering the movement of the imbricated product formation or interrupting such movement, to render accessible each of the printed products for performing further processing operations thereat during the throughpass thereof at the relevant track element.

Abstract: Horizontally conveyed flat glass articles are halted and oriented in a precise location. Vertical stop pins removably affixed to a table attached to one end of the apparatus arrest the leading edge of the moving article whereupon pins removably mounted in a pair of transversely movable tables advance toward the article substantially normal to its arrival direction, thus engaging the edges of the article and orienting it in a vise-like manner. Lastly, adjustable pins mounted in a vertically and longitudinally moving table engage the trailing edge of the article and urge it toward the stop pins, thus orienting and aligning the article in a precise position relative to a fixed reference point. The apparatus is particularly adapted to the precise orientation and alignment of pattern cut sheets of glass to be removed from a conveyor platform by a robot.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding balls one by one from a cylindrical reservoir in which a rotary saw blade disposed at the bottom of the reservoir is driven to move balls resiliently fed to the intertooth recesses of the blade into the entrance of a passage out of which the balls are fed. Balls are biased into the intertooth blade recesses for reliable high-speed operation by a helical coil spring disposed over the blade in one embodiment or by a plurality of permanent magnets fixedly disposed below the blade recesses in another embodiment.

Abstract: A steel connector for joining the steel cable ends of a conveyor belt is provided. The connector comprises a pair of tubular sleeves--one of which is slipped onto each cable end. Each sleeve has a bore having an inner section of reduced diameter relative to the outer section. The cable end is expanded radially, by driving a cone into its end, and then the expanded end is wedged tightly into the inner section of the sleeve to fix them together. Bridging members are threaded into the outer sections of the two sleeves to hold them together in lineal alignment. The bridging members are operative to permit the sleeves to flex relative to each other.

Abstract: An agricultural baler including a bale case, a feed platform adjacent the bale case, a first feeder mechanism which feeds crop material across the feed platform toward the bale case, and a second feeder mechanism which feeds crop material from the feed platform into the bale case. The second feeder mechanism includes feeder elements that rotate in a generally "apple" shaped path during operation.

Abstract: This relates to a pallet for carrying and simultaneously presenting to a plurality of blow molds preforms. The pallet includes an elongated bar which has rotatably journalled therein a number of collets and the bar is provided with support and guide rollers which are engageable with opposed channel-shaped track members to guidingly support the pallet for movement along a predetermined path and into the space between one set of blow mold halves. The pallet is provided with drive means for effecting the feeding thereof together with a holding pin to permit the retention thereof in a selected position. Each collet is rotatably journalled within the bar so that it may be rotated to facilitate the even heating of the preforms. The lower end of each collet is provided with ball detent devices which are so associated with a retaining surface on each preform so as to effect a tight, but releasable, holding of the preform within the collet in alignment with the collet.

Abstract: An alignment apparatus for positioning a substrate in a determined position comprises three rotating rollers having outer circumferences contactable with the circumference of the substrate at three different portions thereof. A first roller and at least one of the remaining rollers are driven to rotate the substrate in a predetermined direction. A holder holds the first roller and is displaceably biased toward the remaining rollers. A rotation inhibitor comes into close contact with a flat on the substrate when the substrate comes to a predetermined rotated position in which the flat and the first roller are in opposition to each other. The rotation inhibitor is provided integrally with the holder in such a predetermined positional relation to the first roller that as a result of the close contact with the flat of the substrate, the inhibitor can inhibit the holder from being moved in the direction for contact between the first roller and the flat.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding and removing work pieces to and from first and second work stations coupled in parallel comprises first and second transporters for transporting work pieces to and from the first and second work stations, respectively; and a transfer system for each of the work stations for transferring work pieces from the first transporter to the corresponding work station and from the corresponding work station to the second transporter. Each of the transfer systems comprises a displaceable work piece receiver disposed in a first position thereof in alignment with the first and second transporter such that work pieces being transported by the transporters can pass through the work piece receiver.

Abstract: A vibratory conveyor for conveying material. The vibratory conveyor has a conveyor with a conveyor frame and means for vibrating the conveyor relative to the base. The conveyor frame mounts a flexible trough which can flex and change its static shape as the conveyor frame is vibrated. The flexible trough is defined by a material-conveying flexible member attached along opposite edges thereof to side members of the conveyor frame and having a major part thereof extended therebetween which flexes and changes its static shape as the conveyor frame is vibrated.

Abstract: A conveyor installation for the displacement of components along an assembly line, which includes a series of consecutive work stations, comprises a pair of horizontal translator bars which extend laterally along the assembly line and are reciprocally movable, and a series of spaced support units carried by the bars and movable relative thereto, and thus relative to the work stations of the assembly line, between a lowered position and a raised position. Actuator means are provided to control the simultaneous displacement of the supports between a lowered position and a raised position to permit respectively the setting down of the components at the stations and the transfer of these components, on completion of the operations, to the consecutive stations in the assembly line, by means of the translator bars.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assisting in turning or reorienting cartons during transition between conveyors is disclosed wherein a moving finger engages one side of the carton adjacent the leading edge of the carton. The moving finger initiates the turning action and assists in the final turning action generated by a friction plate and pressure brush. The finger is mounted in a horizontal plane for rotation about a vertical axis and engages the side of the carton within leading 15%-35% along the length of the carton. The finger provides sufficient turning assist action to assure reorientation of a carton through at least 90.degree.. The finger should be flexible in order to provide shock absorbing action.

Abstract: A troughed belt conveyor has a roll supporting base beam with downwardly diverging flanges, one of which supports the bottom roll with the other supporting the angled side rolls. The side rolls are longitudinally offset from the bottom roll and the upper end portions of adjacent rolls are laterally overlapped. The frame structure units for the conveyor are joined by U-section wedges that slidably fit wedge-receiving apertures and which have outwardly bent wedge-retaining tabs.

Abstract: An apparatus for checking features, particularly linear dimensions, of mechanical pieces being transported by a conveyor, comprising a slide supporting a gauging device adapted to check the subsequent pieces and cam devices for actuating the slide and the gauging device. The actuating devices are coupled to the slide in such a way that the slide performs a reciprocating motion including a forward stroke, during which a piece is checked, and a return stroke for rendering possible the checking of the subsequent piece. The checking of each piece is carried out during a portion of the forward stroke of the slide, while the slide moves in synchronism with the conveyor.