Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for marking an object, particularly a vehicle, by disrupting the material of the interior or surface of the object. The system comprises a laser emitter (102), a laser beam delivery means (104) which can be flexible, and a marking heading (105) which is light enough to be carried by an operator. The laser marking system is very flexible in use, allowing many parts of objects, particularly vehicles, to be marked.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for marking vehicles using a laser. In order to allow any part of the vehicle to be marked using a simple, strong laser beam delivery conduit, the laser is mounted on a structure 101 which extends over a vehicle station 102. The structure defines at least three laser mounting positions and preferably four laser mounting positions A, B, C, D, spaced apart from one another in two dimensions for mounting at least one laser apparatus 107. The laser apparatus 107 comprises a laser emitter 108 for producing a laser beam adapted to mark a part of the vehicle and laser beam delivery means 110 for delivering a laser beam from the laser emitter 108 to a selectable point of the vehicle station 102. The laser apparatus 107 is movable between at least two and preferably all four of the laser mounting positions A, B, C, and D.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for marking vehicles using a laser. In order to allow any part of the vehicle to be marked using a simple, strong laser beam delivery conduit, the laser is mounted on a structure 101 which extends over a vehicle station 102. The structure defines at least three laser mounting positions and preferably four laser mounting positions A, B, C, D, spaced apart from one another in two dimensions for mounting at least one laser apparatus 107. The laser apparatus 107 comprises a laser emitter 108 for producing a laser beam adapted to mark a part of the vehicle and laser beam delivery means 110 for delivering a laser beam from the laser emitter 108 to a selectable point of the vehicle station 102. The laser apparatus 107 is movable between at least two and preferably all four of the laser mounting positions A, B, C, and D.

Abstract: Apparatus for accumulating and stacking articles, such as sausages or other food products, in cylindrical shaped casings, includes a conveyor moving the articles in groups to positions where portions of the group are removed by a conveyor to positions from which they are further moved into a conveyor having carriages receiving a group portion as a lower tier of a stack thereof and subsequently receiving another group portion as an upper tier.

Abstract: A conveyor system comprising a lane conveyor for moving articles in separate lanes with random spacing between the articles, an endless conveyor having article receiving carriers thereon each arranged to receive one or more articles from a lane of said lane conveyor, a second lane conveyor having lanes thereon preferably greater or less in number than the number of lanes in the first lane conveyor, and structure for simultaneously discharging a number of the carriers so as to distribute the articles substantially equally among the lanes of the second lane conveyor. Provision is made to prevent repetition of failure to load a lane in such instances where the number of lanes in the first lane conveyor is equal to the number of lanes in the second lane conveyor.

Abstract: The end wall of a Bliss-type container is secured to the flanges extending from the side walls and the bottom of the container, the securing being accomplished by a single stitching device. The container body is caused to move in a closed path on a carriage or platen for the stitching operation.The term "stitching" herein is not intended to merely mean the use of staples, but is intended to mean, for example, the use of an eyelet machine, a riveting machine, or a commercial sewing machine.

Abstract: Apparatus for counting yieldable flat articles such as paperback books or the like consisting of a stack of books with their sides in contacting relationship, the books being guided in such a fashion that a measured quantity may be removed by structure engaging the stack and movable translatively of the longitudinal axis of the stack. The stack guiding structure is provided with means for preventing movement of the stack in the guiding structure during the removing operation and return thereof. Structure is provided for moving the books in the guiding structure and subsequently placing a load on the books along the longitudinal axis thereof and counting the books by measuring part of the stack when so loaded.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for packaging of flat articles, such as paperback books or the like, in a base number or multiples thereof, and includes structure for arranging the flat articles in a plurality of stacks and imposing a known pressure on each stack whereby the number within a given dimension is a constant, removing the desired number from the stack while retaining the remainder of the stack in position, enclosing the stacks in a container, adding additional flat articles to make the base number of multiples thereof, and closing the flaps of the container.

Abstract: Packaging apparatus for placing reduced pressure on an open top flexible walled receptacle previously loaded at a higher ambient pressure and subsequently sealing the same, comprising a walled chamber having means therein for sealing the top of the receptacle, the chamber having a wall movable between an open position and a closed one, and having conveyor means disposed both interiorly and exteriorly of such wall, both conveyor means being selectively aligned with other conveyor means for transport of both sealed and unsealed receptacles. A preferred form of the apparatus comprehends a battery of such walled chambers where sealing of the receptacles takes place in tandem fashion, all the while movement taking place along conveyor means exterior of the walled chambers, as desired.

Abstract: A shipping container having an integral flange arrangement adjacent the upper end thereof for facilitating the lifting of the container by the vertically disposed blades of a lift truck.