Abstract: An improved jogger includes a sidewall with a guide groove, a chain defining a closed path including a sloped loading end and a straight transport section, the sloped loading end being angled toward the transport section in the direction of the travel of the chain at least two sprockets, the sprockets defining the slope of the sloped loading end of the closed path, a plurality of fingers coupled to the chain at spaced apart intervals, the fingers receiving flat articles therebetween at the sloped loading end and conveying the articles along the horizontal transport section and a plurality of guides coupled to the fingers, the guides engaging the guide groove and orienting fingers in a position perpendicular to the horizontal transport section as the fingers are carried into the sloped loading end.

Abstract: A heat exchanger bundle extractor apparatus (1), comprises: a supporting base (2, 29, 40), onto which a hoisting column (6) is rotatably mounted; a guide frame (7), mounted onto supports (8) on the hoisting column (6), and controlled hoisting and lowering means (9) for the moving of said supports (8) and said guide frame (7) along said hoisting column (6); a push/pull device (14) suitable for coupling to a respective front flange of a bundle, mounted on said guide frame (7); longidudinal translation means (15) apt to longitudinally moving said guide frame (7) with respect to said supports (8); and transversal translation means (19) mounted at said supports (8) and apt to transversally move said guide frame (7) with respect to said supports (8) and to the hoisting column (6).

Abstract: Disclosed are both a method and apparatus for preventing facial defects from occurring to the face of a panel as it is removed from a stack of similar panels. The apparatus includes at least two synchronized cams working together to lift a stack of panels as the bottom most panel is removed from the stack. In supporting the stack of panels as the bottom panel is freed, the bottom panel can be slid out from under a stack without damaging the facing of the panel.

Abstract: A self-pivoted catcher for the up-stacking of die-cut thermoformed components comprises a low mass loop of material having opposed ends thereofjournaled in a guide pin which is affixed in a narrow web of a catcher plate between apertures therein. The catcher is adapted to move upwardly with movement of the die-cut component as the individual component is separated from a previously die-cut larger sheet of components by the pusher as the pusher is advanced through the catcher plate. The loop is also adapted to engage the underside of a lip of the die-cut component thereby retaining the die-cut component on an upper side edge of the catcher.

Abstract: A coin acceptor produces an output or operates a switch or vending mechanism when a coin acceptor slide reaches a certain point of advance relative to a housing. The slide receives coins or tokens tendered by a customer (“coins”) and carries the coins into a discriminator responsive to size, shape or the like. The discriminator can have feeler levers, a limited passage size or similar features that permit the slide to advance if all the correct coins are present, or obstruct movement of the slide if coins are missing or are the wrong type. The discriminator is breakable with sufficient force, which could break away the feeler levers or other test structures the obstruct movement unless the correct coins are in place, which would permit the slide to be operated repeatedly without the correct coins.

Abstract: An assembly for positioning and removably supporting cargo on the exterior of a vehicle, wherein the cargo is preferably mounted on a mobile carrier assembly such as a hand truck. A hoist assembly includes a winch and lifting cable and is concurrently supported, along with the mobile carrier, on a base which is removably secured to a hitch structure mounted on the vehicle. A support assembly is secured to the base and is structured to independently but concurrently support both the hoist assembly and the mobile carrier, with or without the cargo thereon. Upon removal of the mobile carrier from the vehicle, the cargo supported thereon can be transported over the ground or other support surface to an intended location for use without requiring repeated loading and unloading of the cargo from the mobile carrier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking slices of food products such as wrapped cheese slices and the like at high speeds. The apparatus comprises a vacuum conveyor for supporting slices from above, and at least one transfer bridge for mechanically peeling the slices sequentially from the conveyor and directing them downward into one or more stacking locations. The transfer bridge preferably comprises a plurality of downwardly sloping surfaces disposed beside the belts. To assist the transfer bridge in separating the slices from the belts, and to control slice position after separation, fluid pressure is applied to the slices during and after separation from the belts.

Abstract: In a bill validator (1) which includes a bill inlet (3) through which a bill (2) is inserted, a transfer path (4) arranged behind the inlet and connected to the inlet, a transferring mechanism (11, 10) for transferring the bill in the transfer path, a validating unit (18-20) for validating the bill on a predetermined validating position of the transfer path, and an optical detecting section (5), the optical detecting section includes a light emitting portion (7) for emitting a light beam, a transmission light guide (8) having a light input portion (8a) supplied with the light beam from the light emitting portion and a light output portion (8b) for outputting the light beam inputted through the light input portion, and a light receiving portion (9) for receiving the light beam from the light output portion.

Abstract: A counter-stacker includes an infeed conveyor having a plurality of lanes for containing planar food articles. A vacuum conveyor system is located adjacent to the infeed conveyor and includes a plurality of vacuum conveyors. Each vacuum conveyor includes a frame, a pair of pulleys rotationally mounted to the frame, a drive shaft coupled to one of the pair of pulleys, a vacuum generator for generating vacuum conditions within the frame, and a vacuum belt mounted to the pair of pulleys. Each vacuum conveyor is pivotable about one of the pair of pulleys. An oscillating catch cup frame containing a plurality of catch cups is used to stack the planar food articles.

Abstract: An object-sorting system has a conveyor having a horizontally extending stretch, a plurality of pushers fixed on and spaced along the conveyor and extending upward from the stretch thereof, and an upright chute adapted to hold a stack of objects and having a downwardly open outlet spaced above an upstream end of the conveyor stretch. An elongated support surface extends horizontally above the stretch and has an upstream end below the outlet port. A drive advances the stretch and thereby displaces the pushers downstream past the outlet so that the pushers engage at least a lowermost object of the stack in the chute and move the engaged object(s) downstream along the support surface. The support surface can pivot about an axis at the support-surface downstream end and thereby change a vertical spacing between the support surface upstream end and the outlet port.

Abstract: In a coin pay-out device to which the present invention is applied, the rotary arm of the second change slide is extended to a space between adjacent first change slides and the rear end side of the rotary arm is used as a stopper for disabling the rotation of the rotary arm. Consequently, it is possible to dispose the solenoids of the second change slide and the solenoids of the first change slides side by side. As a result, the disposition space of each solenoid can be reduced both in the transverse direction, as well as in the front-rear direction, thereby the whole size of the coin pay-out device can be reduced. Furthermore, because the second change slide is the rotary arm that turns around the fixed supporting member having a movable supporting member at its tip, which is to be fit in the guide groove of the pay-out link, the second change slide is simplified in structure.

Abstract: Wafers are separated individually from a stack by directing multiple jets of fluid between an outermost wafer in the stack and an adjacent wafer. The jets have sufficient pressure and are sufficiently spaced apart around the wafer stack to cause the outermost wafer to separate longitudinally from the adjacent wafer without lateral movement there between. In the illustrated embodiment, a chuck is attached to a planar surface of the outermost wafer. The attached wafer and wafer stack, once separated by the jet of fluid, are moved relatively apart, such as by movement of the chuck. The wafers in the stack are thereby separated without contact between a wafer edge and a solid object (such as a container wall or hand), minimizing the risk of wafer breakage.

Abstract: A Tray input-output module, comprising a power unit, a clamp unit and a support unit, is capable of automatically retrieving a tray from a transport device and automatically delivering a tray to a transport device for facilitating automation in chip sorter operation, reducing manual work and raising productivity.

Abstract: A plurality of gates with control arms and cam arms that pivot to open and close a plurality of coin stalls, so that a coin will enter the first open stall, engage the cam arm to pivot the control arm to close that stall, and come to rest on one of a plurality of support arms. A coin select mechanism includes an actuator operatively connected to a coin select member with pins that engage slots with openings in the arms. The actuator is selectively operated to slide the coin select member to align one of the pins with the opening of one of the arms, to permit that arm to pivot to release the coin in that stall. A coin release mechanism includes an actuator operatively connected to a release member with pins that engage the release the arms so that only the desired coin stall is emptied.

Abstract: A wafer carrying system includes an intermediate cassette device having a plurality of wafer support holders, a robot arm device to carry wafers, an aligner unit to align the wafers, and a wafer feed and storage cassette. The wafers held by the robot arm device are transferred to the aligner unit are aligned in the intermediate cassette device, and are then directly delivered from the aligner unit to the wafer support holders of the intermediate cassette device.

Abstract: An apparatus and process of loading rolls of roofing material onto a stationary pallet, wherein the process performs a series of operations, in accordance with the present invention. Each operation includes the steps of: (a) loading rolls of roofing material onto an upwardly inclined conveyor; (b) depositing the rolls of roofing material onto a downwardly inclined-table; (c) dropping the rolls of roofing material onto a sloped, rotating table until the desired number of rolls of roofing material are accumulated; (d) rotating the table and then tilting the plate until it is nearly upright into a vertical position; (e) traversing the rotating table over the pallet conveyor; and (f) unloading the roll of roofing material from the rotating table onto the pallet.

Abstract: An adjustable coupling connector apparatus for accommodating a range of mating excavator couplers. The connector apparatus includes two parallel bars upon which an excavator coupler clamps. One of the bars is fixed in position to risers extending from a connector base. Each end of the other bar is attached to a point off center of a circular plate so that as the plate is rotated, the bar moves laterally relative to the bar axis. The plates are rotatably positioned in holes in the risers, and captivating side plates are welded to the risers for covering a portion of each plate, securing the plates from movement parallel to its axis but allowing the plate to rotate. Holes in the circular plates and side plates are provided, and a bolt is placed through each of the side plates and circular plates for securing each circular plate in a fixed position.

Abstract: A bale lifter (5) suitable for lifting bales of hay etc. onto a vehicle (1). The bale lifter (5) includes a bale holder (6,7), the movement of which is prescribed by a transporting mechanism (9,12,15 and 18) so that a bale impaled by prongs (6) may be rotated onto the chassis (2) of a vehicle. When a bale (8) is just above the chassis (2) of a vehicle a release mechanism (16, 17 and 21) is actuated to allow the bale lifter (7) to rotate about a pivot point (11) to facilitate the removal of the prongs (6) from the bale.

Abstract: A coin bank (A) having one or more coin holders (70A-70D) removably aligned with one or more coin chutes (56A-56D) for receiving coins therefrom. The coin bank (A) preferably includes a coin sorter assembly (32) for sorting coins by diameter, a separator assembly (30) for conveying coins one at a time to the coin sorter assembly (32), a coin chute assembly (54) including the one or more coin chutes (56A-56D) each accommodating coins of a respective maximum diameter. The one or more coin chutes (56A-56D) each include at least one finger for abutting the top edge of the corresponding coin holder (70A-70D) for maintaining the alignment. An overflow passage (62) is defined in the wall of at least one of the coin chutes (56A-56D) for allowing coins to pass therethrough when the associated coin holder (70A-70D) is filled with coins.

Abstract: A tortilla stacker has stacker and lift subassemblies that may be logically programmed for simultaneous operation in differing configurations of tortilla numbers and sizes.