Abstract: A stream of rod-like articles such as cigarettes in multi-layer stack formation is separated by a movable gate having a leading end capable of limited reversible movement in a direction generally transverse to the direction in which the gate is advanced, so as to facilitate advancement of the gate between articles of the stream. The gate may cooperate with a resilient closing strip in its closed position. Another form of gate comprises a pivoted plate biased into its closing position by a progressively increasing force.

Abstract: A mechanism for the transportation of objects has an endlessly rotating roller chain (4) supported and guided by a support structure (1). Pallet-like sliding carriages (12) are situated on the roller chain (4) for receiving objects to be transported. The sliding carriages (12) are conveyed by guide elements (17,23) engaging tracks (18,25) of the support structure (1). The sliding carriages (12) are connected in straight conveyor sections with the roller chain (4) for conveyance therealong by friction-carrier elements (29) and are connected in curved conveyor sections with the roller chain (4) by roller engaging recesses (34).

Abstract: A conveyor system for use with rotary screw conveyors located side by side has a mechanical arrangement allowing individually adjusting the speed of each conveyor. One end of each conveyor has driven teeth disposed in a circle and coaxial with the rotation axis of the conveyor. Each conveyor is rotated by a circular disk rotating about an axis normal to the axis of the conveyor and provided with driving teeth disposed in a circle on the disk and positioned to mesh with the driven teeth of the conveyor. The driving teeth of each disk are individually mounted so that they may be moved between a working position where they mesh with the companion conveyor driven teeth and a non-working position where they are retracted wholly within the disk. By thus retracting some of the disk teeth, the rotation of the companion conveyor may be step-like, thus controlling its conveying capacity.

Abstract: A conveyor belt transporting apparatus for conveying carriers includes at least one conveyor belt frictionally engaged with the carrier, the conveyor belt formed of two belt layers, one lying on top of the other and extending between pulleys. A friction finger on the carrier is in frictional engagement with the belt by extending between its layers in frictional contact with both layers. Frictional contact force between the belt layers and the friction finger is variable by a moveable tension finger controllable by an automatic release element in response to blockage of movement of the carrier along the conveyor system. When the motion of a carrier is blocked by a stopped carrier or other impediment ahead of it, the release element is moved to release the friction force on the carrier finger engaging the belt. Verticle and horizontal guide and support rollers guide the carrier and support its weight.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveying device comprising a platform conveyor, which is provided with a plurality of rectangular platforms, each being flexible in one direction, and with two pairs of endless chains, the pairs being connected to the corners at the front and rear side, respectively, of the platforms and being led over pairs of aligned guide sprockets, the chains extending substantially parallel to each other and guiding the platforms in a substantially horizontal position from a load point to an unload point through a transport part and bringing them back through a return part, the transport part including a section having a substantial vertical component.

Abstract: A device and method for removing and reinstalling tube bundles from and into heat exchanger shells. The device features a portable base with a pivotally mounted vertical telescoping column. A bundle support member is movably attached to one side near the top of the telescoping column. A carriage which is connected to the tube bundle is driven along the bundle support member thereby extracting or inserting the tube bundle. An off-loading mechanism comprising a pair of telescoping masts pivotally mounted to the bundle support member and having a boom pivotally mounted at the top of said masts can be used to transfer a tube bundle from the bundle support member to an adjacent bundle dolly. The masts feature a linkage which is attached to the boom thereby pivoting the boom as the telescoping masts are raised or lowered.

Abstract: A novel product feeding device for a combination weighing machine. The feeding device is designed to feed a plurality of weighing hoppers of the machine with product, such as uncooked meat, having sticky characteristics so that it cannot be conveyed by vibrating conveyor troughs as used in prior art conventional combination weighing machines. The novel feeding device includes a plurality of horizontal rotating discs corresponding to respective weighing hoppers. The discs are arranged in successively overlapping fashion for transferring product fed to the discs at one sides thereof to respective weighing hoppers disposed under the discs at the opposite sides thereof.

Abstract: The balustrade decking profile (14), or handrail guide, for an escalator clips, or "self-fastens" to the top edge of a glass balustrade (10), and presents a minimal yet sufficient sliding area to the handrail (12). This is accomplished by folding or molding a single rigid strip of material (20) as disclosed herein. The profile (14) itself and a method of forming it are disclosed.

Abstract: A conveyor belt having electrically conductive antennae spaced along the direction of movement of the belt and extending from edge to edge of the belt for carrying signals thereacross to detect rips in the belt. The antennae are constructed of a material, the major component thereof being a blend of natural and synthetic rubbers and also including 10% to 30% by weight of substantially electrically conductive carbon black to carry the signals thereacross.

Abstract: Two chain conveyor systems have two sets of grouper pins mounted on flight bars at a predetermined pitch so that the pins move upwardly between articles fed through a common upper run of the chain conveyors. One chain conveyor system is driven at a speed that varies sinusoidally and is synchronized with the speed of the articles. The other chain conveyor system is driven through a differential device so that its pins move at a speed which varies oppositely to the one chain conveyor system. Also disclosed is an improved chain conveyor and outfeed lug conveyor system for such a grouper.

Abstract: A distributing device for placing cakes of meat into trays comprising a frame, a carriage mounted on the frame for reciprocating movement therealong between a home position where meat cakes are received to a meat drop position where the meat cakes are dropped into trays, and a pair of trap doors mounted on the carriage for reciprocating movement therealong in opposite directions and arranged to receive meat cakes. A drive device is connected to the carriage for movement of the carriage relative to the frame, while another drive device is connected to the doors for movement of the doors relative to the carriage. Provisions are made for successively moving the carriage with its load of meat cakes from its home position to its meat drop position where the trap doors are aligned with a row of trays, opening the trap doors to drop the meat cakes into a corresponding number of trays, closing the trap doors and returning the carriage to its home position.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering singularized stacks of paper sheets to a packing machine has a first conveyor which intermittently receives groups of several abutting stacks and is intermittently driven by a variable-speed electric motor to advance the groups onto the individual endless bands of a gathering conveyor which serves to accumulate the groups into a row of abutting stacks ready to be singularized and delivered to the packing machine. The bands of the gathering conveyor are normally driven at a constant speed by a prime mover which further drives a first encoder serving to transmit a first signal whenever the bands cover a unit distance. A second encoder generates second signals whenever the motor is on and the first conveyor covers the same unit distance. The motor can also drive the bands at a speed higher than that at which the bands can be driven by the prime mover whenever the speed of the first conveyor exceeds the speed of the bands.

Abstract: A continuous conveyor is provided having horizontal and vertical runs wherein articulated carrier members are combined with spacing members so that on horizontal runs a continuous belt is formed without gaps and wherein the separators form a supporting lip for the horizontal carriers during vertical runs.

Abstract: A device for the orientation of chips into a preferred direction during production of particleboard includes parallel vertical guide surfaces arranged at a distance from one another and horizontal parallel rotating shafts arranged at a distance from one another above the guide surfaces. Each shaft has spacer rings and pin plates that collectively provide pin roller arrangements for the orientation of chips in a preferred direction as the shafts rotate. Chips are discharged without congestion between the guide surfaces and without damage to the pins of the pin rollers. Free passage is also possible for chips to be oriented in the production of OSB boards.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the invention are for collecting particulate material which falls off the underside of the lower return run of a belt conveyor, and returning that material to the carrying run of the conveyor. An elevator is mounted around the conveyor at the position of a support roller for the lower run, where there is vibration and material is dislodged. The dislodged material is conveyed to a chute over the upper rim of the conveyor without any scraping contact with the underside of the lower run.

Abstract: A conveyor belt having plural metal links arranged in rows which extend transversely of the belt. The links in adjacent rows are staggered to interfit with one another, and elongated rods extend transversely for joining the links together. The metal link comprises a central tubular body having a hollow interior and defined by top and bottom walls joined together by spaced sidewalls, the top wall being substantially planar and having planar wings which project outwardly beyond the sidewalls. Front and rear hinge portions are defined at opposite ends of the tubular body, and each hinge portion includes a substantially semi-cylindrical end wall which joins to the adjacent ends of the top and bottom walls, and also integrally connects to the adjacent end of the respective sidewall to define a substantially cylindrical, transversely extending opening.

Abstract: An automatic system for feeding integrated circuits (IC's) stored in hollow tubes to the input of a test handler/sorter has an accumulating conveyor table that carries the tubes laterally to a pick-up position. The conveyor table is inclined from the horizontal and a stop surface at its lower edge supports and aligns a closed end of each tube. Sensor assemblies limit the lateral movement of the leading tube, assist in orienting the tube, and detect when it is located at the pick-up position and is properly oriented. The sensor assemblies generate a control signal that activates a gripping assembly organized about a plate that pivots on a rotating support frame. The gripping assembly includes centering cam inserts on one movable gripping member. One motor mounted on the frame rotates the gripping assembly and the gripped tube to the test handler/sorter input. The gripping assembly has a mechanism for controlling the discharge of IC's from the open end of the tube.

Abstract: A gripper head for attachment to the Z axis shaft of a robot or a pick and place machine to pick up objects and position them on a workpiece, comprises a body from which projects a pair of gripping jaws which are slidable horizontally relative to the body by first and second pneumatic piston and cylinder units, respectively. A hold down and tamper member is vertically movable between the jaws by a third piston and cylinder unit so as to hold down an object to be picked up while the jaws are being closed about it and to tamp the object down against the workpiece. A brake is provided for stopping the piston of one of the first and second piston and cylinder units in a desired position. The hold down and tamper member may be arranged also to act as a vacuum pick up device.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating article groups of predetermined length from an article stack of indefinite length, comprises a conveyor for advancing the article stack in a conveying direction; a pickup element arranged for a back-and-forth displacement parallel to the conveying direction and for being periodically abutted by a momentarily leading article of the stack; and at least two separating elements upstream of the pickup element and spaced from one another parallel to the conveying direction. The separating elements are moved towards the conveyor to introduce them into the article stack for forming a first article group between two separating elements and a second article group between the pickup element and the separating element adjacent the pickup element. The separating elements are also moved in synchronism with the pickup element, in the conveying direction away from the conveyor.

Abstract: A clamping device for conveyor belts has a pair of crossbars disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor belt and clamping bars each disposed between a respective crossbar and the conveyor belt. The device is mounted through the clamping bars and a hydraulic unit such as deformable hoses or an array of piston-and-cylinder units is braced between one of the clamping bars and the respective crossbar.