Abstract: Apparatus for handling biscuits, (or like laminar articles), comprises a plurality of article delivery channels, a reduced number of article receiving channels, and article transfer troughs disposed between the delivery and receiving channels, the transfer troughs being operable to select batches of articles from the delivery channels and to transport the batches to the receiving channels, whereby the overall number of streams of articles is reduced. The article transfer troughs are pivotally movable about substantially vertical axes, whereby one end of a transfer trough may be aligned with the outlet of one of three delivery channels, while the other end of the trough remains in general alignment with the inlet of a receiving channel.

Abstract: A conveyor belt cleaning arrangement consisting of a transversely disposed support which includes a plurality of connector slots. One or more elastomeric cleaner blades, either of the doctor blade type or the arm and blade type, include a locking device to releasably connect the blade to the support without the use of fasteners and secure the blade against lateral motion and hold the blade in position for cleaning the belt.

Abstract: A lifting surface, a deposit surface and a transfer assembly is equipped with electromagnets and counter-magnets, which when they are activated permit the grasping of one or more thicknesses of a material supplied upon the surface. The assembly transfers the grasped pieces to the surface and the counter-magnets are recuperated at the same time as the electromagnets, to their initial position.

Abstract: According to the invention a extendible and retractable luffing jib (13) is hingedly supported by a main boom (10,25) which can be positioned in a horizontal position, which luffing jib (13) protrudes at its rear side over some distance beyond the main boom (10,25), whereby a first block of sheaves (15) is fitted on the main boom (10,25) at a lower level than the luffing jib (13) while wire ropes (19,20) are reeved between these sheaves (15) and a second block of sheaves (14) mounted on the rear end of the luffing jib (13) for luffing the luffing jib (13) as well as for hoisting.

Abstract: An article infeed unit includes a plurality of carrier pocket devices movable to and away from an article delivery station, and a confronting receiver pocket is mounted at the delivery station. The receiver pocket has upstanding sides, and the sides are partly defined by vertical margins confronting the carrier pocket. On demand, a spreader cam operates to spread the receiver pocket side margins apart from one another, so as to accommodate passage of the articles from the carrier pocket into the receiving pocket. At the bottom of the receiving pocket, a base plate is inserted, and the inserted articles rest upon this base member. After the spreader cam is withdrawn, the receiver pocket sides close around the articles. Thereafter, the base plate is withdrawn, and the received articles to descend through the receiver pocket toward a processing device.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to enable the mechanical processing in the usual manner without presorting, of fish caught in drift or stationary nets, a very high percentage of these fish thus being damaged at their heads. This is made possible in that the fish placed in troughs of a conveyor transverse to their longitudinal axis come into operational relationship on their path of conveyance with a circumferential surface of a driven rotational body moved to swing in the axial direction of the fish. Therein the head of the fish enters the wedge formed between a support surface of the conveyor and the circumferential surface of the rotational body so that the circumferential surface comes into contact with a head flank of the fish. By limiting the swinging movement of the rotational body by placing a thickness sensing element operationally related to a rotational body onto the fish the desired positioning for a beheading of the same is achieved.

Abstract: A floor mounted power drive unit for moving containerized cargo or pallets within a cargo airplane; and the cargo drive unit generally comprises, a rotatable wheel or roller which is both steerable and retractable, and which is of modular construction for ease of insertion into a mounting opening in the floor of the cargo compartment with the only interface being a torque reaction means and an electrical connection.

Abstract: A towing device (23, 35) which seizes a tabular element (1) on at least one of its side surfaces in conjunction with a device for the conveyance of tabular elements, e.g., insulating glass panes. In addition, a horizontal conveyor belt (3, 14) at least partially supports the tabular elements from below. The towing device (23, 35) is displaceably guided back and forth on a guideway (25, 26; 40) parallel to the conveyance direction (20) and is synchronized in its movement in the conveyance direction (20) with the transport element (14) of the conveyor belt, either by interengaging stops (32, 33) on the towing device and conveyor belt, or else by a transmission (38) that drives the towing device at precisely the speed of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: An article conveyor having live rollers forming an article conveying run and in which a continuous padded drive chain is operably mounted to have flexibility in a direction substantially parallel to the conveying run, and in which a first direction of article conveyance is provided with controllable pressure fluid lifters for zoning the first direction of conveyance to control the drive of articles approaching a standing article. In addition, controls are provided to render the conveyor reversible as to travel of articles.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding platelike workpieces to a tool station of a machine tool comprises a frame carrying a straight track, and a carriage, which is guided by said track and carries transverse conveying means for conveying the workpieces. In order to ensure that the workpieces will be properly supported, the transverse conveying means comprise at least one pair of endless conveyors, which are arranged one behind the other in their direction of travel and are adapted to support a workpiece. The endless conveyors of said pair or of each of said pairs are spaced apart in their direction of travel to provide an adequate space for the operation of the tools of the tool station, or at least one endless conveyor of said pair or of each of said pairs is mounted on a carrier, which is movable relative to the carriage in the direction of travel of said endless conveyors.

Abstract: A self-tracking roller comprised of a plurality of individual elements is presented. These elements alternate between evenly distributed idler rings and spacer rings arranged in two groups having a central space therebetween. This central space permits two superimposed dual belts to form a sandwich for conveying solid material therein. Each idler or tracking ring has a conical shaped configuration which acts to urge a conveyor belt thereon toward the center of the roller. The relative dimensions and number of rings may be flexibly varied depending on the application. The result is a self-tracking roller aptly suited for use in conjunction with dual or sandwich conveyor belt systems.

Abstract: A product transporting apparatus for transporting solid products of generally similar shape and/or size successively from a take-in station towards a take-out station, which has first and second rotary drums rotatable in the opposite directions to each other. The first and second rotary drums are of identical construction each having at least one circumferential row of tubular receptacles protruding radially outwardly from the outer periphery of the respective drum and circumferentially equally spaced from each other. The products can be successively supplied onto the first rotary drum and held by suction in position on the tubular receptacles then communicated with a vacuum source at the take-in station, which are in turn transported, during the rotation of the drums, to the transfer station where they are released from the receptacles on the first drum then communicated with a compressed air source, onto the respective tubular receptacles on the second rotary drum then communicated with the vacuum source.

Abstract: A belt conveyor for steep or vertical conveyance of bulk material has a conveyor belt (1) of the type having corrugated side walls which travels upstream and downstream of the upper discharge end drum (9) along a steep incline or in the vertical direction, that is, there is no additional deflection means at the upper end of the conveying track.

Abstract: An improved friction roller including arcuate sections applied to an external surface thereof, the sections configured to receive and engage a magnetic flexible element such as a cable, and including a magnetic field generating coil means for attracting the cable to the arcuate section and thereby to the frictional roller.

Abstract: A workpiece conveying apparatus for a working machine including provided with a slider rail arranged vertically on the body of the workpiece conveying apparatus, a drive source, a parallel link consisting of the slider link which is fitted crossing at right angles to and slidably in said slider rail, a slider arm, a lower slider link carrying a work holder and a sub arm and being connected rotatably with each other, a rocking lever being connected to the middle portion of the slider arm rotatably and rocked by a driving mechanism at a predetermined angle, whereby the work holder can convey a workpiece into or out of the specified position along with the intentional locus settled selectively so as to reduce the operating range, and keep a continuous working operation of the working machine, resulting in the durability of the working machine.

Abstract: In a ball screw transfer drive for a transfer machine, first and second carriages are translated by rotation of a ball screw, the ball screw being actuated by a DC electric or other type of variable speed motor through a ball screw drive train. The first carriage is coupled to the ball screw through a first ball nut which is immovably joined to the first carriage and which has threads in engaging relationship with threads of the ball screw. The second carriage is coupled to the ball screw through a second ball nut which is journaled in bearings attached to the second carriage, threads of the second ball nut likewise being in engaging relationship with the ball screw. A power transmission train is mounted between the ball screw and the second ball nut to rotate the second ball nut during a specified rotation of the ball screw to maintain a pre-specified relationship between the speeds of translation of the first and second carriages during the specified ball screw rotation.

Abstract: A chain for a trough conveyor having individual chain links (2, 3) connected with each other by hinge bolts (1). Flight attachment members (5, 5a) connected with each other by at least one cross piece (10, 10a) are provided on both sides of said chain links (2, 3). Two bearing blocks (7, 7a) are provided, each with a bore (8) for receiving the hinge bolt (1). The cross piece (10, 10a) rests on the trough by way of a rest surface (9, 9a). At least one support surface (12) disposed in relation to the cross piece (10, 10a) in the direction of the chain serves for preventing the tipping of the flight attachment arms when under the action of operating forces (11).

Abstract: A material unloading conveyor is arranged in overlapping relation to the discharge end of a bristle conveyor and includes an endless belt which has a plurality of U-shaped staples secured to its surface to pivot relative thereto. The staples move in combing relation to the bristles, which comprise the bristle conveyor, and the material supporting surface defined by the bristles to lift sheet material from the bristle conveyor and onto the unloading conveyor as the material is discharged by the bristle conveyor.

Abstract: The device includes an actuating lever adjacent the intake end so that the intake end portion of the auger can be disengaged from the main auger flight if desired. A remote actuating lever is situated adjacent the discharge end of the auger tube operatively connected to the actuating lever adjacent the intake end so that remote control is possible. Over center linkage is provided so that the slip clutch assembly is held in the engaged position and disengaged is in the release position, depending upon the position of the actuating lever.

Abstract: A yieldable gripper unit for a conveyor of the type in which the gripper units form two endless tracks which converge to engage and support a sheet of material clamped between them. The gripper units of the endless tracks move on rails mounted on tubular supports. One of the endless conveyor tracks is equipped with non-yielding gripper units and the other is equipped with yieldable gripper units. Each yieldable gripper unit includes a generally rectangular base plate having one side facing the sheet of material which is to be clamped and the other side facing its tubular supports. A yieldable arm is cantileverly attached to the base plate and is inclined at an acute angle relative to its base plate on the sheet material side thereof to permit the arm to yield towards the base plate when the sheet of material is clamped. A plurality of rubber buttons are mounted on the yieldable arm and are positioned to engage the sheet of material which is to be clamped by the gripper unit.