Abstract: A method and apparatus to automatically orient golf balls for milling comprising a plurality of aligned cups. Each cup has a generally hemispherical recess to receive a golf ball. A first component is provided to move the golf balls from cup to cup. A second component is provided to detect the height of the golf ball in the cup as a function of whether excess circumferential material is in the cup or resting on the upper surface of the cup. A third component is provided to initiate blasts of air when excess material is in the recess. A fourth component is provided to terminate the blasts of air at subsequent cups if there is no excess material in the recess.

Abstract: A high speed wrapping machine designed to wrap individual tablet-like products utilizes a wrapping wheel having a plurality of peripheral pockets into which the individual products are moved in the axial direction to drape a panel of wrapping material snuggly over the product. A rotary folding mechanism is situated adjacent the periphery of the wrapping wheel and tucks and folds panel portions extending axially from the pocket against the product as the product moves past the folding mechanism. The rotary folding mechanism is comprised of two rotors, each of which has a plurality of folding blades, and which rotate adjacent the pockets at one side of the wrapping wheel in synchronized relationship. The rotors have spaced and parallel axes of rotation, both of which are located outside the periphery of the wrapping wheel.

Abstract: A high speed stacker for grouping small tablets or similar products utilizes a vertically oriented tumble wheel having peripheral pockets for carrying the products serially between a receiving point and a discharge point. At the discharge point, the products are unloaded onto a stacking tray by means of a pair of stacking wheels on opposite axial sides of the tumble wheel. The stacking wheels are driven rotatably in opposite directions about axes lying in a plane generally tangent to the tumble wheel at the discharge point. The stacking tray immediately below the wheels receives the discharged products in series from the stacking wheels and holds them in a stack on a support surface of the tray.