Abstract: Article packing or unpacking apparatus, including two correlated driven conveyors one for articles and one for moving cases through a fixed course having a horizontal section and with both conveyors having fixed orbits, the article conveyor being in a vertical plane above the one conveyor horizontal section; and article grippers are positioned by carrier bars engaged with the article conveyor, which grippers depend from the carrier bars in a lower reach of such article conveyor. A pair of control arms are individually secured to each carrier bar at different ends thereof to engage guides as the article conveyor is moved downwardly towards an inflection area so that the article grippers are presented on vertical axes as they are moved into, along with, and lifted from cases moving through the horizontal section of the case conveyor fixed course.

Abstract: A pressure reducing valve that is particularly adapted for use with steam at high pressures and temperatures. The valve embodies a main valve seat member that is provided with a valve seat and flow control means disposed downstream of the valve seat to prevent development of zones of excessive velocity of flow through the valve seat and to prevent excessive noise in operation. The position of the main valve spool that controls flow through the main valve seat is controlled by a piston operating in a cylinder and the supply of fluid under pressure to the cylinder is controlled by a pilot valve assembly. The main valve seat member and the main valve spool and the pilot valve assembly can readily be removed from and replaced in the housing of the valve without breaking the connections between the housing and external fluid conduits.

Abstract: This invention relates to article casing and uncasing apparatus and especially to a mounting bar and gripper jaw assembly used for article engaging and transport action and including a bar adapted to extend transversely of a longitudinal axis of the apparatus and engage a driving means for movement through a fixed course and a plurality of gripper jaws are carried by each mounting bar. A pair of positioning members and connecting means therefor are provided for each gripper jaw means and the mounting bar operatively engages such members and positions them on opposite sides of a portion of the gripper jaw means with a connecting shaft extending therebetween. The mounting or carrier bar has an entrance and release opening in a bottom lateral portion thereof for such pair of members to permit engagement and disengagement of the gripper jaw means in relation to the mounting bar.

Abstract: Apparatus for article deposit and/or removal from carrier cases and comprising a pair of endless carrier conveyors operatively positioned on an upper portion of a frame in adjacent parallel relationship for movement through a fixed course extending longitudinally of the frame; a plurality of positioning members or carrier bars for article grippers are operatively connected to the carrier conveyors for movement therewith, which positioning members extend transversely of the frame and have the article grippers depending therefrom; and a pantograph that extends longitudinally of the frame is present for each set of carrier bars corresponding to the array of articles in the cases to be processed, the pantograph has a leading and a trailing end with different ends being secured to different ones of the conveyors for movement therewith.