Abstract: A permanent magnet motor is constructed of a plurality of permanent magnets arranged in a circular arrangement on a base of the motor, and with a first cylindrical magnet and a second cylindrical magnet mounted on respective first and second radial shafts that project from a gear box on a center shaft to positions over the circular arrangement of permanent magnets. The motor operates to move the first and second cylindrical magnets in rotation over the circular arrangement of the plurality of permanent magnets in response to a one time initial motion and does not require communication with any outside source of energy and does not require an input of energy to the permanent magnet motor for continued operation of the permanent magnet motor.

Abstract: A glass bottle array lifting and transferring apparatus is operable to vertically lift a two-dimensional arrayed layer of bottles, and in particular glass bottles, and transfer the lifted arrayed layer of bottles horizontally from a stack of bottles. More specifically, the present invention pertains to an apparatus having pluralities of pairs of rails that are operable to lift a top, two-dimensional arrayed layer of glass bottles from the top of a stack of bottles on a pallet, then transfer the lifted bottles horizontally to a position over an accumulator table and then lower the bottles onto the surface of the accumulator table.

Abstract: A glass bottle array lifting and transferring apparatus is operable to vertically lift a two-dimensional arrayed layer of bottles, and in particular glass bottles, and transfer the lifted arrayed layer of bottles horizontally from a stack of bottles. More specifically, the present invention pertains to an apparatus having pluralities of pairs of rails that are operable to lift a top, two-dimensional arrayed layer of glass bottles from the top of a stack of bottles on a pallet, then transfer the lifted bottles horizontally to a position over an accumulator table and then lower the bottles onto the surface of the accumulator table.

Abstract: An apparatus and its method of use with a conventional tape measure confirms right angles of the corners of a rectangular structure. The apparatus is a two-part tool including a tape measure tab part and a tape measure tape part. The tab part secures a tape measure tab at one corner of the rectangular structure as the tape measure tape is pulled from the tape measure housing diagonally across the structure. The tape part of the apparatus is secured to the diagonally opposite corner of the structure and is used to check the diagonal distance measurement of the tape across the structure. The process is then again performed between the other diagonally opposite corners of the structure to obtain a diagonal distance measurement across the other corners to determine if the two diagonal measurements match and confirm the right angles of the rectangular structure.

Abstract: An apparatus and its method of use with a conventional tape measure confirms right angles of the corners of a rectangular structure. The apparatus is a two-part tool including a tape measure tab part and a tape measure tape part. The tab part secures a tape measure tab at one corner of the rectangular structure as the tape measure tape is pulled from the tape measure housing diagonally across the structure. The tape part of the apparatus is secured to the diagonally opposite corner of the structure and is used to check the diagonal distance measurement of the tape across the structure. The process is then again performed between the other diagonally opposite corners of the structure to obtain a diagonal distance measurement across the other corners to determine if the two diagonal measurements match and confirm the right angles of the rectangular structure.

Abstract: An apparatus vertically realigns pallets in a stack of pallets. The apparatus has left and right panels with upper portions that are angled outwardly, and lower portions that are substantially vertical. Misaligned pallets in a stack placed in the apparatus engage the upper portions of the panels and are moved toward vertical alignment as the stack is lowered into the apparatus. The apparatus also includes compression plates that are movable between first and second positions relative to the apparatus. In the first positions, the compression plates have surfaces that angle toward each other and engage with misaligned pallets in the stack of pallets as the stack is moved from the apparatus toward a pallet dispenser. In the second position, the compression plates pivot toward the rear of the stack of pallets exiting the apparatus and push the stack into the pallet dispenser, thereby achieving additional vertical alignment of the stack.

Abstract: A vacuum conveyor apparatus stabilizes multiple single file lanes of objects conveyed on a conveying surface of the apparatus by directing vacuum pressure through multiple slots beneath the conveying surface where the multiple slots are aligned with the multiple lanes of objects on the conveying surface.

Abstract: A tier sheet dispensing apparatus for a conveyor system stores a stack of tier sheets and sequentially dispenses the tier sheets, one at a time, onto the top of a two-dimensionally arrayed layer of objects that is being conveyed on a conveyor system. The tier sheet dispensing apparatus has a curved surface that supports the stack of tier sheets. The curved surface bends the stack of tier sheets in a convex curve that facilitates the removal of a single sheet from the top of the stack. The apparatus also has a lift mechanism that moves vertically over the stack of tier sheets to selectively attach to the top tier sheet in the stack and raise the top tier sheet from the stack. The lift mechanism also moves transversely relative to the stack of tier sheets to position the attached tier sheet over the conveyor for placement of the tier sheet on the layer of objects conveyed by the conveyor.

Abstract: A flat belt clamping pulley securely clamps the end of a flat belt to the pulley without requiring fastener holes being provided through the end of the flat belt. The design of the flat belt clamping pulley enables the pulley to be economically constructed without requiring difficult or troublesome machining steps.

Abstract: A flat belt clamping pulley securely clamps the end of a flat belt to the pulley without requiring fastener holes being provided through the end of the flat belt. The design of the flat belt clamping pulley enables the pulley to be economically constructed without requiring difficult or troublesome machining steps.

Abstract: An apparatus vertically realigns pallets in a stack of pallets. The apparatus has left and right panels with upper portions that are angled outwardly, and lower portions that are substantially vertical. Misaligned pallets in a stack placed in the apparatus engage the upper portions of the panels and are moved toward vertical alignment as the stack is lowered into the apparatus. The apparatus also includes compression plates that are movable between first and second positions relative to the apparatus. In the first positions, the compression plates have surfaces that angle toward each other and engage with misaligned pallets in the stack of pallets as the stack is moved from the apparatus toward a pallet dispenser. In the second position, the compression plates pivot toward the rear of the stack of pallets exiting the apparatus and push the stack into the pallet dispenser, thereby achieving additional vertical alignment of the stack.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus for a conveyor system raises a two-dimensionally arrayed layer of objects conveyed by the conveyor system and stacks the raised layer of objects on a subsequent layer of objects conveyed by the conveyor system. The apparatus then dispenses the stacked layers of objects from the apparatus, whereby the stacked layers of objects can be received by a palletizer for loading on a pallet in a more time efficient manner.

Abstract: A bagging conveyor quickly positions two-dimensional arrayed layers of objects inside a sealed, flexible bag prior to the layers of objects being delivered by the bagging conveyor to a palletizer. The bagging conveyor receives continuous films of packaging material from below and above the conveying surface of the bagging conveyor and positions the films of packaging material below and above the layer of objects being conveyed by the conveyor. The bagging conveyor then forms seams along the laterally opposite side edges of the packing material films at the sides of the conveyed layer of objects and forms seams laterally across the upper and lower films of packaging material in front of and behind the conveyed layer of objects, thereby quickly enclosing the conveyed layer of objects in a sealed bag as they are conveyed through the bagging conveyor.

Abstract: A bagging conveyor quickly positions two-dimensional arrayed layers of objects inside a sealed, flexible bag prior to the layers of objects being delivered by the bagging conveyor to a palletizer. The bagging conveyor receives continuous films of packaging material from below and above the conveying surface of the bagging conveyor and positions the films of packaging material below and above the layer of objects being conveyed by the conveyor. The bagging conveyor then forms seams along the laterally opposite side edges of the packing material films at the sides of the conveyed layer of objects and forms seams laterally across the upper and lower films of packaging material in front of and behind the conveyed layer of objects, thereby quickly enclosing the conveyed layer of objects in a sealed bag as they are conveyed through the bagging conveyor.

Abstract: A bagging conveyor quickly positions two-dimensional arrayed layers of objects inside a sealed, flexible bag prior to the layers of objects being delivered by the bagging conveyor to a palletizer. The bagging conveyor receives continuous films of packaging material from below and above the conveying surface of the bagging conveyor and positions the films of packaging material below and above the layer of objects being conveyed by the conveyor. The bagging conveyor then forms seams along the laterally opposite side edges of the packing material films at the sides of the conveyed layer of objects and forms seams laterally across the upper and lower films of packaging material in front of and behind the conveyed layer of objects, thereby quickly enclosing the conveyed layer of objects in a sealed bag as they are conveyed through the bagging conveyor.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus for a conveyor system raises a two-dimensionally arrayed layer of objects conveyed by the conveyor system and stacks the raised layer of objects on a subsequent layer of objects conveyed by the conveyor system. The apparatus then dispenses the stacked layers of objects from the apparatus, whereby the stacked layers of objects can be received by a palletizer for loading on a pallet in a more time efficient manner.

Abstract: A tier sheet dispensing apparatus for a conveyor system stores a stack of tier sheets and sequentially dispenses the tier sheets, one at a time, onto the top of a two-dimensionally arrayed layer of objects that is being conveyed on a conveyor system. The tier sheet dispensing apparatus has a curved surface that supports the stack of tier sheets. The curved surface bends the stack of tier sheets in a convex curve that facilitates the removal of a single sheet from the top of the stack. The apparatus also has a lift mechanism that moves vertically over the stack of tier sheets to selectively attach to the top tier sheet in the stack and raise the top tier sheet from the stack. The lift mechanism also moves transversely relative to the stack of tier sheets to position the attached tier sheet over the conveyor for placement of the tier sheet on the layer of objects conveyed by the conveyor.

Abstract: A reject bottle detection and ejection apparatus has a plurality of sensors positioned along the length of a belt conveyor that senses whether a bottle conveyed by the conveyor is positioned in an upright orientation, in an inverted orientation, in a sideways orientation, in a slanted orientation, or whether the bottle is damaged, and an air jet nozzle positioned downstream of the plurality of sensors that selectively emits a jet of air at a bottle conveyed past the air jet that has been sensed to be not in the upright orientation or to be damaged, thus removing the bottle from the conveyor.

Abstract: A conveying system includes a photoelectric sensor and a gate where the sensor senses objects having triangular cross sections that are conveyed past the sensor by the conveyor system and the gate is configured to close across the conveyor path and hold back the objects having triangular shaped cross sections.

Abstract: A bagging conveyor quickly positions two-dimensional arrayed layers of objects inside a sealed, flexible bag prior to the layers of objects being delivered by the bagging conveyor to a palletizer. The bagging conveyor receives continuous films of packaging material from below and above the conveying surface of the bagging conveyor and positions the films of packaging material below and above the layer of objects being conveyed by the conveyor. The bagging conveyor then forms seams along the laterally opposite side edges of the packing material films at the sides of the conveyed layer of objects and forms seams laterally across the upper and lower films of packaging material in front of and behind the conveyed layer of objects, thereby quickly enclosing the conveyed layer of objects in a sealed bag as they are conveyed through the bagging conveyor.