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: An infeed assembly for use with an air conveyor system. The infeed assembly has a guide mechanism configured for engaging an article, such as a lightweight plastic bottle, and guiding it as it is conveyed through the conveyor system, a plurality of air jet conveyor nozzles, a plenum in fluid communication with the conveyor nozzles for forcing pressurized air through the conveyor nozzles and adjacent the guide mechanism in a manner to push the article downstream along the guide mechanism from an inlet end of the guide mechanism to an outlet end of the guide mechanism. The infeed assembly comprises an article alignment mechanism, at least one air jet infeed nozzle adjacent the article alignment mechanism, and at least one conduit providing fluid communication between the plenum and the infeed nozzle. The article alignment mechanism is positionable adjacent the inlet end of the guide mechanism and is configured for directing the article into the inlet end of the guide mechanism.

Abstract: A flexible parts feeder includes a flexible membrane for supporting parts and defining a selection zone where the positional state of parts is analyzed by a machine vision system. The output of the sensor is used to control a transformer that selectively applies impulse energy to the flexible membrane so as to change the positional states of at least some parts in the selection zone to a desired positional state. Those parts having the desired positional state are selected and removed from the membrane by a robot.

Abstract: A scanner apparatus comprises a tunnel housing having a top, two sides and entrance and exit openings; a bed assembly having a top and side portions wherein the side portions of the bed assembly are substantially fixed to the side portions of the tunnel housing to form a substantially enclosed area; an isolating device located at each of the entrance and the exit of the tunnel housing; a conveyor device for moving an object though the tunnel housing; and an analysis device for analyzing objects within the substantially enclosed area in the tunnel housing. The scanner apparatus has an essentially frameless structure which enhances its capability for scanning tall, wide items.

Abstract: Sorting apparatus has a delivery system for creating a stream of product pieces to be sorted in free flight at a sorting station where selected pieces are rejected from the stream. The system comprise a delivery conveyor inclined to the horizontal for receiving product and directing it towards the sorting station. The length of the delivery conveyor, its inclination and speed are selected to effectively create a low friction chute and establish a uniform, stable and constant velocity product stream for delivery to the sorting station.

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: A card dispensing cassette includes a housing in which cards are stacked. A dispense outlet is provided in the housing through which cards are laterally dispensed from the cassette. A card retainer, cooperating with the dispense outlet, is slidably mounted to the cassette for substantially lateral movement between a closed position in which cards cannot be dispensed and an open position in which cards can be dispensed. The card retainer has a retaining lip which engages any cards protruding through the dispense outlet when the card retainer moves to its closed position so as to return those cards into the cassette.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a paper supply inlet and a first paper ejection outlet disposed above the paper supply inlet, a paper supply path for leading a document supplied from the paper supply inlet to a reading section, and a paper ejection path for leading the document from the reading section to the first paper ejection outlet. The automatic document feeder further includes a circulation path situated between the paper ejection path and the paper supply path for reversing a transfer direction of the document, and a document reversing path connected between the paper ejection path and a second paper ejection outlet different from the first paper ejection outlet for reversing front and rear surfaces of the document. The transfer direction as well as the front and rear surfaces of the document can be changed, as desired.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring a continuous revolving conveyor belt (4) having a connecting region (8). The connecting region (8) is monitored with the aid of two transponders (12) and (14). One of the transponders is arranged forward of the connecting region (8) and the other transponder is connected rearward of the connecting region (8). Both transponders (12) and (14) transmit respective signals to an external transmitter/receiver unit 16 wherein a conclusion is drawn as to the spacing of the two transponders (12) and (14) on the basis of the time-dependent spacing of the two signals. If the spacing s of the transponders (12) and (14) exceeds a pregiven amount, then a conclusion is drawn by the external transmitter/receiver unit (16) as to a critical change in length of the connecting region (8) and corresponding measures are initiated.

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: An automatic vending machine has a plurality of commodity storage chambers in a side-by-side arrangement that are divided from one another by thermally-insulating vertical dividers so that each chamber can be heated or refrigerated individually. Each chamber has a plurality of vertically spaced commodity shelves and an elevator bucket that is adapted to receive a commodity from a selected shelf. All of the elevator buckets are rigidly connected by laterally extending connecting members that are disposed through respective vertically extending slots in the dividers, so that a single unit of plural elevator buckets acts to fetch a selected commodity, heated or cooled. A pair of flexible heat-shielding sealing strips are securely fitted in each of the slots in a manner that each of the connecting members slides on and between the corresponding pair of the sealing strips to prevent communication between the adjacent chambers as the connecting member moves vertically.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for dough handling includes a first conveyor for receiving dough and having a first discharge end for discharging dough. A second conveyor receives dough and is positioned along side the first conveyor to convey in the direction of the first conveyor. The second conveyor has a second discharge end that is spaced-apart from the first discharge end. The first and second conveyors can be used to separate dough pieces from an elongated dough product such as a roll and/or phase individual dough pieces to provide them in succession for packaging or further processing.

Abstract: A sheet advancing over a transport plane by pairs of transport rollers is rotated through an angle of 90.degree. by retaining the sheet at a point of rotation coupled with the releasing of one of the transport roller pairs so that only the other transport roller pair exerts a torque on the sheet. By disposing the other of the transport roller pairs exerting the torque somewhat downstream of the center of rotation, the sheet is maintained taut during rotation.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated concrete transfer chute having a plurality of telescoping generally U-shaped chute sections which are arranged to telescope together onto a first chute section pivotally connected to a concrete truck, the inner end of the first chute being aligned to receive the concrete discharged from the concrete truck, the first chute section having a planar bearing surface on each of the top sides and inside of the first chute, each of the two parallel planar bearing surfaces extending from the outer end of the first chute at least to the point at which concrete enters the first chute section, and each of the plurality of telescoping chute sections having a plurality of roller bearings aligned in a row along the inside of each of the top sides of each of the telescoping chute sections, each of the rows of roller bearings being covered on their top side by a planar bearing surface.

Abstract: A transport system (1) is provided for removing individual signatures (2) from a transport flow. The system includes grippers (3) which are attached in substantially equal distance therebetween to an endless loop pulling means for holding the signatures (2), and an actuating device (11) causing the grippers (3) to open, with the actuating device (11) displacing a lever arm (13) which is connected to the moveable gripper element (10), to a laterally spaced-apart guide rail (12).

Abstract: The invention provides an exemplary dispensing unit which includes a cabinet having a plurality of drawers. A plurality of light sources are attached to a bottom of each of the drawers. A liner is removably held within each of the drawers above the light sources. Further, a plurality of adjustable dividers are provided to divide the liner into a plurality of bins for holding items. A processor having a memory for storing a list of items which are held within the bins and an entry device for entering a request for item removal is further provided. A plurality of light indicators are operably attached to the dividers and are arranged such that each light indicator is aligned with a corresponding light source.

Abstract: Embedded in a transport assembly are arrays of microelectromechanical devices for detecting and making adjustments for perceived changes in their environment. The arrays of sensors and actuators are tightly coupled to each other so that coordinated action of neighboring actuators minimizes the cumulative effort required to move the object. The sensors and actuators are controlled using a multi-hierarchical organization of computational elements. Each computational element in lower levels of the multi-hierarchy communicates with one or more higher level computational elements to define zones of control. An object moving along the transport assembly lies principally in the domain of at least one zone of control. As an object moves along the transport assembly, dominant control over the object moves along the transport with the object.

Abstract: A trigger assembly for use with an accumulation conveyor includes two opposing pivot brackets. A pair of carrier-type roller extend between the pivot brackets and are respectively mounted for rotation about shafts that mount the pivot brackets to the side channels of the accumulation conveyor. Two sensing rollers extend between the pivot brackets and are respectively mounted for rotation about shafts that pivot about the shafts of the carrier-type roller during actuation and deactuation of the trigger assembly. A common counterweight roller is positioned between the first and second carrier-type rollers and is mounted on a shaft that pivotally connects the links of each of the pivot brackets to bias the sensing rollers upwardly into the travel path of the conveyor.

Abstract: The conveyor comprises a conveyor belt (5), two main drums (R1,R4) around which the conveyor belt forms a main loop, two auxiliary drums (R2,R3) mounted between the main drums and around which the conveyor belt forms a secondary loop, and two auxiliary rolls (R5,R6) close together and forming a return for the upper strand of the conveyor belt towards each of the auxiliary drums. The main drum (R1) located at the end where objects begin to be conveyed is shifted as one back and forth parallel to the conveyor belt in such a way that as it shifts backward, the conveyor belt has a section (S1) with zero speed. The forward travel is such that an object placed on the zero-speed section catches up with the objects lying on that section of the belt that is traveling at constant speed.

Abstract: An improved coupler assembly for pans in a longwall mining conveyor system for handling coal or the like is provided. The assembly includes a dog-bone coupler having notched ends. A first end of the coupler is received and secured in place by a stop in a first recess formed in one conveyor pan. A cooperating second recess in the mating pan receives the opposite or second end of the coupler. A T-shaped retainer includes a crosspiece which is pivotally received in upper and lower retention holes formed in the second recess to engage the second end. The retainer rotates such that the leg of the T that projects outwardly therefrom is received in a slot that includes opposed resilient inserts for holding the leg and, thus, the retainer, securely in place.