Abstract: In a curved conveyor with end rollers disposed at a certain angle between which a belt body is stretched, a plurality of bead constituting elements is detachably disposed along the outer peripheral end of the belt body. Alternatively, in a linear conveyor with end rollers disposed in parallel between which a conveyor belt body is stretched, a plurality of bead constituting elements is detachably disposed along both ends of the belt body. In these conveyor belts, only damaged bead constituting elements may be readily replaced.

Abstract: A valve circuit, including a first and second circuit portion, for hydraulically controlling a loading dock vehicle restraint. The first circuit portion permits raising and lowering of the vehicle restraint. The second circuit portion permits extension and retraction of the vehicle restraint. Preferably, the first and second circuit portion are separate and are configured on the same valve block.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the automated loading of integrated circuit carrier tubes into a tube dispensing device in a predetermined, preferred orientation without the attention of a human operator are described. The method utilizes a roller equipped with tube cavities in its peripheral surface and rotates the roller in a clockwise direction for receiving tube carriers from a top hopper-shaped opening and discharging the tube carriers from a bottom opening by gravity.

Abstract: A semiconductor device testing system is provided efficiently utilizes a plurality of semiconductor device testing apparatus. More particularly, a host computer controls a plurality of semiconductor device testing apparatuses and a dedicated classifying machine. A storage information memory stores storage information of each semiconductor device such as a number assigned to each tested semiconductor device such as a number assigned to each tested semiconductor device, the test results of each semiconductor device, and is provided in the host computer. Without sorting the tested devices or with the sorting operation of the tested devices into only two categories in a handler part of each testing apparatus, the tested devices are transferred from the test tray to a general-purpose tray, and during this transfer operation, the storage information of each device is stored in the storage information memory.

Abstract: A conveyor chain unit possessing a central straight rib extending longitudinally from one end of the unit to the other end. The rib has a vertical height extending from the conveying surface to the bottom surface of the unit. A plurality of pairs of vertical side walls extend from the rib perpendicular to through-holes to form projections. The projections are positioned alternately on opposite sides of the rib having equal interval spacing. The number of the projections on one side is even and identical to the projections on the opposite side. At least one pair of projections positioned on opposite sides of the rib have recesses that are formed at the rib, and the projections are connected along the full height of the rib and spaced in a manner that chain units may be coupled together interchangeably via projections on either side of the rib.

Abstract: An asynchronous conveyor system with controlled smooth stopping and starting. The conveyer system defines a path with sections (Z1 . . . Z6) independently driven. The conveyed items (2A, . . . 2D) may be independently accumulated on one or more path sections of the conveyor system. External sensors (8, 8A, 14, 14A) are distributed along different path sections of the conveyors system and are used to control the location and the flow of items in either direction. An idler wheel with a sensed rest position is also disclosed as an item sensing mechanism. The drive system for the conveyor system may be stepper motors, DC, AC, hysteresis motors or other such motors. In each case the motors are controlled to provide smooth transportation of the items. In another embodiment, servomotors are used and an internal sensed characteristic of the servo motor provides and indication of an item being on the conveyor path section associated with the servo. The operation then is similar to the use of an actual sensor.

Abstract: A roller body having a shaft formed from a first thermoplastic material and defining at least one roller. The shaft is a single component injection-molded shaft. A casing at least partially encases the roller and is formed from a second thermoplastic material different from the first thermoplastic material. The casing is bonded to the roller by an injection-molding process.

Abstract: A system for loading two items, such as bags, into a bucket on a bucket conveyor, first selects a first item for delivery to a second loading station. Thereafter, a second item is delivered to a first loading station and then loaded into a bucket at the first loading station. The bucket is then moved to the second loading station where it is loaded with the first item.

Abstract: An improved continuous feed book turning apparatus and method for receiving improved book blocks of gathered signatures and for transferring the book blocks into book block clamps ready for edge milling and gluing. The invention takes advantage of efficiency benefits derived from improved signatures as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,866. The improved signatures gathered into book blocks are moved continuously into the apparatus in an upstanding orientation with each longer binding edge upright to substantially increase feed rate. However, the book turning apparatus must rotate each such improved book block through about 90.degree. to present a downwardly facing binding edge for clamping, edge milling, and gluing.

Abstract: The flexible conveyor belt is flat when at rest. It has internal reinforcement embedded in layers of elastomer material. The reinforcement comprises a first sheet of longitudinal cables that provide traction strength, a second sheet of transverse cables that provide transverse traction strength, and a stiffening layer having high resistance to transverse compression. The stiffening layer consists of several narrow strips lying in a common plane at rest, the strips are mutually adjacent and are separated by gaps of sufficient width to allow the conveyor belt to be folded between two rows of rollers in a conveyor.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting a condition indicative of a chain jam in a power driven endless chain are disclosed. The chain of such a system is forced into a zigzag pattern by the inclusion of deflectors at various positions along the chain pathway and the force exerted against these deflectors is measured by sensors. When a jam occurs the force on the deflectors between the location of the jam and the drive, in the direction upstream from the drive, increases, and this increase is sensed and used to actuate indicators near each of the sensors at which such an increase has occurred. The chain jam is found upstream of the furthest actuated indicator from the drive.

Abstract: A document feeder to be mounted atop an image reading device having a stationary optical system disposed under a contact glass. The document feeder includes a document original plate for holding thereon document originals, a document original feeding mechanism for feeding a document original from the document original plate onto a contact glass, a document original transporting mechanism for transporting the document original fed by the document original feeding mechanism along the upper surface of the contact glass, a document original discharging mechanism for discharging the document original transported by the document original transporting mechanism, and a document original discharge plate for receiving the document original discharged by the document original discharging mechanism. The document original feeding mechanism, the document original transporting mechanism and the document original discharging mechanism are integrally supported in a unit body to constitute a single unit.

Abstract: A feeder (1) for supplying magnetically attractable electrical components (20) to a pick-and-place machine. The feeder (1) comprises a hopper (2) for storing the components (20) and a pick up location (3) for supplying the components to the pick-and-place machine. A passage (4) provides communication between the hopper (2) and pick up location (3). An air jet outlet (6) in passage (4) provides for propelling the components (20) and one or more magnets (35) are located adjacent an intermediate portion of the passage (4) and provide a magnetic field to assist in reducing the velocity of said components (20) passing through the intermediate portion.

Abstract: A cleat for a conveyor belt, particularly for a vertical conveyor, with a cleat foot 2 attachable to the support side of the conveyor belt, and in which at least one anchoring member 5 is incorporated, and with a cleat section 1 forming a transverse wall of the conveyor belt, which is releasably attachable to the cleat foot 2 with the aid of the anchoring member 5. With the object of enabling a simpler attachment of the cleat section to the cleat foot, the anchoring member 5 is a rod, which extends transversely to the direction of travel 6 of the conveyor belt in the cleat foot 2. The rod may have threaded holes 12, which match holes 13 in the cleat foot 2 and holes 3 in the cleat section 1, through which screws 4 can be thrust in order to attach the cleat section 1. Alternatively, the rod may have bolts projecting radially therefrom, the bolts for extending through respective holes in the cleat section for securing the cleat section to the cleat foot with nuts.

Abstract: A foodstuff collating apparatus having a plurality of discrete channels within which foodstuffs are collated. The apparatus is elevated at one end to provide a slide for the foodstuff with the channels converging from one end of the apparatus to the other. As the foodstuff slides down a channel, the former is oriented from a random position to an ordered vertical disposition.

Abstract: 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 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.

Abstract: A support for the guide rail of a conveyor which enables the guide rail to be adjusted among a plurality of pre-set positions in a quick and simple manner with precision. The guide rail is supported by a generally horizontal support arm which is supported by a vertical post on the frame of the conveyor alongside the conveyor belt. The arm has a series of notches or receptacles along the underside of its length and the post has a stop member having a latch adapted to engage in the receptacles. The stop member is a cap telescopically engaged on the post and biased upwardly by a spring. The cap includes latch portions facing upwardly adapted to engage in the notches on the arm.

Abstract: A circuit-component transferring apparatus including a component holder which includes an axial portion and a component holding portion which is provided at a lower end of the axial portion and which holds the circuit component, a holder-holding movable member which holds the axial portion of the component holder such that the component holder is movable in an axial direction thereof and which is movable to cause the component holder to move in a direction intersecting an axis line of the axial portion thereof, a cam member which is provided above a locus of the movement of the component holder caused by the movement of the holder-holding movable member and which has a lower cam surface including a height-changing portion, a spherical cam follower which is held by an upper end of the component holder such that the spherical cam follower is rotatable in all directions and which is rollable on the lower cam surface of the cam member, and a biasing device which biases the component holder toward the cam member.

Abstract: An underguard assembly is provided for use with a modular conveyor of a conveyor system. The underguard is formed of a flexible web that hangs beneath the conveyor to catch debris falling from the sides of or through the conveying surface. To support the web, a stiffener rod is placed in an elongate pocket formed along each longitudinal edge. Opposed support assemblies spaced along the sides of the conveyor frame hold the enlarged pocket formed by the stiffener rod. An adjustment means is provided on each support assembly that allows the web to be easily attached and detached from the conveyor frame. Further, the support assemblies adjacent the end of the conveyor are modified to support the web beyond the end of the conveyor. This allows the web of a first modular conveyor to overlap with the web at the start of an adjacent modular conveyor, thereby providing a substantially seamless underguard function for a conveyor system.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus for transferring items from a first conveying device to moving assigned item carriers carried on a second conveying device is disclosed. The item carriers and the second conveying device move in a second transporting direction which is opposite to a first transporting direction of the first conveying device. The transfer apparatus includes a transfer member which includes a continuous circulating conveying belt and a continuous circulating pressure-exerting belt. The transfer member receives items from the first conveying device between the two belts and discharges them through a discharge region to the moving item carriers. The discharge region of the transfer member pivots along the second transporting direction of the item carriers.