Abstract: A sorting installation comprises a plurality of conveyed item carriers, circulating on at least one conveying mechanism, for receiving, transporting and controllably delivering the conveyed items. The conveyed item carriers are fastened by pairs on circulating transport carriages of the conveying mechanism. The transport carriages are guided by rollers on two profiles aligned at a vertical distance in relation to each other and extending in the transporting direction. The transport carriages are driven by an endlessly circulating transporting, cable. The conveying mechanism according to the invention forms, with little constructional complexity, a reliable transporting system by which the conveyed items can also be transferred to sorting containers arranged on different levels.

Abstract: The sorting apparatus includes a plurality of conveyable-article carriers (FT) which circulate on at least one conveying device (FE) and are intended for receiving, for transporting and for discharging, in a controllable manner, the conveyable articles to sorting containers (SB),the conveyable-article carriers (FT) circulating, via at least one vertical deflection of the conveying device (FE), in at least two planes (E1, E2), andthe sorting containers (SB) being provided in at least two levels (ET1, ET2) assigned to the planes (E1, E2) of the conveying device (FE). The guidance of the conveying device (FE) in at least two planes (E1, E2), and the provision of sorting containers (SB) in at least two levels (ET1, ET2) assigned to said planes (E1, E2) makes it possible, with the same surface area on which to set up the sorting apparatus, for the number of sorting containers (SB) available for sorting purposes to be doubled or multiplied.

Abstract: In a strip of nails or like fastening elements for use in a nail or like driving machine the heads of the elements are inclined at an angle of about 15.degree. to the plane normal to the axis of the element so that the heads of adjacent elements can overlap and be welded together when the elements are assembled into a flat strip.

Abstract: A strip of nails or other fastening elements for use in a suitable driving machine is made by resistance-welding together a number of fastening elements. For example, the heads of adjacent nails may overlap and be resistance-welded together through protuberances on the undersides of the heads.

Abstract: At the beginning of a working stroke of a compressed air loaded working piston disposed reciprocally in a pneumatic operated ramming tool said piston is initially set in motion under the action of minor amounts of compressed air until its top becomes immersed into stored compressed air and the working piston is then exposed to the full force of said stored compressed air to perform its working stroke. This working process permits to use a substantially simpler ramming apparatus.