Abstract: Stacks of generally dish-shaped, nested plastic articles are gripped and transferred from elevated, horizontally adjacent chutes comprising circumferentially disposed, axially extending supports, which are open at both ends to permit articles to be both fed thereto and removed axially therefrom, to a conveyor disposed at a lower level. A transfer arm, mounting stack gripping receivers, which pivot on the transfer arm, is swung in an arcuate path and the receivers are moved relative to the transfer arm, responsive to swinging movement of the transfer arm, such that the receivers travel from a first position, horizontally axially aligned with said chutes and axially intermeshed with the supports, in a path having a first axially linear increment, then a downward arc to rotate said stacks substantially 90.degree., and finally a vertically linear path to deposit the stacks on the conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus to accumulate automatically articles traveling between downstream and upstream machines in a production line. The accumulator includes an input magazine, a bin, and an output magazine. When the downstream machine ceases operation, a vertical plunger feeds articles into the input magazine, forming a stack. A loading plunger pushes the completed stack into the bin, where multiple stacks may be held, the stacks being moved from one position to another within the bin by a powered belt. To feed articles from the accumulator back into the production line, a stack is moved into the output magazine. There, a discharge plunger feeds successive lowermost articles in the output magazine onto an output conveyor. The output conveyor has at least twice the throughput capacity as the upstream machine, and articles from the accumulator may be merged into the production line stream, thus making up production time lost during shutdown of the downstream machine.

Abstract: Article rotating apparatus includes an endless element having a working reach movable alongside the path of movement of the articles and having a curvilinear reach forming a continuation of the downstream part of the working reach and extending in a direction away from the path of movement of the articles, and an article engaging lug mounted on the endless element and engageable with an article for imparting angular movement thereto while being moved along the curvilinear reach of the endless element.

Abstract: A self-cleaning support for a conveyor belt having a shaft with first and second ends and a longitudinal center capable of being adapted to rotate at each of the ends. The shaft is provided with a first flighting to convey material from a first point proximate the longitudinal center toward the first end and a second flight to convey material from a second point proximate the longitudinal center towards the second end, with the first and second points being spaced apart. Two annular members are mounted at the first and second points respectively both encircling the shaft and defining axial openings permitting material to pass through to their respective flights. These annular members may provide a guide for the underside of the belt by being spaced apart to receive the width of a belt guide.