Abstract: A product orienting and loading system includes a powered disk conveyor which receives product to be oriented from an infeed conveyor. A turntable is parallel to the support plane of the disk conveyor and is movable between a lowered position below the support plane and a raised position above the support plane and accommodating rotation of the turntable to orient the product. The turntable has cruciform slots for respectively receiving the disks to allow the turntable to pass to its lowered position in any of several rotational orientations spaced 90.degree. apart. The reoriented product is transferred to an endless window conveyor overlying a container supported at a loading level of a loading station. A counter-rotating pusher shifts the product through the window of the window conveyor into the container while the window conveyor moves the container in a discharge direction.

Abstract: A system for loading groups of articles into containers includes an infeed conveyor which groups the articles into subgroups which are then selectively reoriented by a turntable-type orienting device. The oriented subgroups are then conveyed to a transfer area where they are accumulated into elements of a predetermined pattern of articles. A pusher sequentially pushes the pattern elements onto the lower reach of a window conveyor disposed at a loading station. A container conveyor runs beneath the window conveyor to deliver an empty container to the loading station, a lifter assembly then raising the empty container to a loading position immediately beneath the support reach. The window conveyor is then operated to drop the pattern of articles through the window thereof into the container.

Abstract: An article unstacking system includes an infeed conveyor which delivers stacks of articles to an unstacker which has an inclined support wall and a carriage reciprocatively movable parallel to the support wall and carrying a platform disposed in a plane perpendicular to the support wall for cooperation therewith to define a generally V-shaped trough into which the stack is received. The carriage is moved upwardly until the top article is engaged by a discharge roller which lifts it from and peels it off the stack. To facilitate separation of the top article, the stack is retracted a short distance as soon as the top article is engaged by the discharge rollers, so that the carriage undergoes repeated up and down movements until the stack is depleted. Carriage drive is effected by short-stroke and long-stroke air cylinders, with the former being carried by the movable element of the latter.

Abstract: A roller conveyor includes a belt of parallel free rollers interconnecting endless conveyor chains which move along a conveyor path. At least certain ones of the rollers carry encircling O-rings engageable with traction shoes for effecting rotation of the rollers. A given roller may carry more than one O-ring of different cross-sectional thicknesses, and the roller may be provided with recesses in which the O-rings are seated. The O-rings and traction means can be arranged in various configurations for effecting rotation of different groups of rollers, for effecting rotation in opposite directions, and for effecting rotation at varying speeds.

Abstract: An in-line pattern forming apparatus includes a windowed endless roller conveyor disposed in a longitudinal system path for sequentially receiving sets of articles. A friction shoe shifts the set of articles through the conveyor window to an underlying turntable which is rotatable for selectively reorienting the set, whereupon the lead roller at the end of the window pushes the set off the turntable to a staging support which sequentially receives a plurality of sets to form a pattern. The pattern is then swept as a unit from the staging support to a container loader or other associated apparatus in the system path. Means may be provided for selectively shifting sets of articles on the staging support laterally of the path to facilitate formation of certain patterns.