Abstract: An apparatus for crimping edges of workpieces comprises a workpiece supplying device for consecutively supplying the workpieces, a rotary support member situated under the workpiece supplying device for supporting the workpiece one by one, a crimping device for crimping the workpieces, and a driving mechanism for operating the rotary support member and the crimping device. The crimping device includes a base member immovably situated under the workpiece supplying device, a first frame pivotally connected to the base member, a crimping member rotationally connected to the first frame, a roller connected to the crimping member, and a frame moving device for pivotally moving the frame relative to the base member. The driving mechanism comprises a first driving device for rotating the rotary support member, a second driving device for reciprocally moving the rotary support member toward the workpiece supplying device, and a third driving device for operating the frame moving device.

Abstract: An opener for an ampule having a head and a body to prevent contamination of material in an ampule from particles formed when the ampule is opened comprises at least one opening mechanism including a head holder and an annular flexible jacket situated around an end of the head holder to extend outwardly therefrom. The head holder includes a hole with a cylindrical opening at one end for receiving at least a part of the head of the ampule, and an outlet communicating with the hole. The inner diameter of the flexible jacket is almost the same as the outer diameter of the body of the ampule to be opened. The outlet of the head holder is connected to a vacuum source to inspire air through the hole. Therefore, the head and the body of the ampule are respectively located in the hole and the flexible jacket, and then the body is bent, so that the particles formed by thereby snapping apart the ampule are inspired with air into the vacuum source.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for inverting articles and transporting the articles from a first station to a second station. The apparatus comprises conveyor means including an endless rotational member and a plurality of holding members secured to the rotational member, at least one feeding means for providing the articles to each holding member successively at the first station, receiving means for receiving the articles from the holding members at the second station, and transfer means for transferring the articles supported in the holding members to the receiving means. The rotational member is consecutively indexed to allow the holding members to substantially register with the feeding means and the receiving means when the rotational member is stopped. The orientation of the articles at the first station is different from the orientation of the articles at the second station.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously inverting the orientation of sheaths comprises a rotationally indexing wheel having a concavity at a side surface thereof and a plurality of holes provided around the wheel spaced from each other, the holes extending from the outer periphery of the wheel to the concavity thereof for receiving the sheaths at a first station and transmitting the same to a second station at which the orientation of the sheaths is different from the orientation of the sheaths at the first station. The apparatus further comprises means for consecutively feeding the sheaths to the holes at the first station including means for continuously supplying the sheaths in an upright position in alignment with the hole to which the sheath is fed and means for transporting the sheaths supported by the supply means to the holes of the wheel, and means for releasing the sheaths from the holes at the second station to thereby place the sheaths onto the articles consecutively indexed.

Abstract: Apparatus for arranging and transporting articles comprises a conveyor for transferring articles to a first position, a first rotation wheel having a plurality of recesses around the outer periphery thereof for consecutively receiving the articles in the recesses from the conveyor at the first position and transferring the articles to a second position angularly displaced from the first position with respect to the axis of the first wheel, and a second rotation wheel having a plurality of recesses around the outer periphery thereof. The second rotation wheel is arranged normal to the first rotation wheel to consecutively receive the articles supported in the recesses of the first wheel at the second position and to transfer the articles to a third position angularly away from the second position with respect to the axis of the second wheel.