Abstract: A flange feeder utilizes a pair of left and right handed gripper assemblies mounted to an overhead horizontal transport drive to successively convey a pair of flange members into overhead vertical alignment with left and right handed infeed sections of a longitudinal conveyor leading into a chords and webs assembly machine. The pair of flanges are successively conveyed from a lateral flange conveyor into two or more sets of rotating grippers mounted on a common rotating shaft. The rotating grippers are positioned to clamp opposite sides of the flange member which is positioned in alignment therewith by means of stops located at the discharge end of the lateral conveyor. The clamped flange is then rotated upwards into vertical alignment with an open one of the left and right handed overhead grippers. Initially, the flange is fed into the right hand gripper and the left hand gripper is indexed into operative position as the rotating grippers return to grip a next in-line flange.

Abstract: On an inspection machine for bottles or the like with an inward conveyor and arranged thereon a first lateral inspection device, with an outward conveyor and arranged thereon a second lateral inspection device, and with an intermediate conveyor which spans a gap between the latter and arranged thereon a base inspection device, the inward conveyor and the outward conveyor are arranged at an angle with respect to one another, whereas the intermediate conveyor incorporating two endless conveyor mechanisms adapted to be driven at the same speed extends at least partly in an arc. This enables the two lateral inspection devices to check different peripheral zones of the bottles without the bottles rotating independently and the malfunctions thereby caused, so as to achieve a high level of inspection accuracy.

Abstract: In a pallet exchange apparatus according to the prior art, it has been necessary to raise two pallets to be exchanged and therefore, a load sufficient to raise the weight of the two pallets has been necessary. To raise and turn a heavy pallet, it is necessary to raise the pallet to a certain degree of height when flexure is taken into account. However, to raise the weighty pallet to that height, a considerably great load has been required.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus for transferring a body side of an automotive vehicle is disclosed. A moving body is provided on a transfer line. A clamp member is provided on the moving body to fix and position a lower end of a side sill of the body side in an upright position. As a result, the roof rail end of the body side is an upper portion and the side sill end of the body side outer is a lower portion.

Abstract: Workpieces such as chips are removed from a receiving plane by a transfer unit, which carries them to a delivery plane. The workpieces are transported in two segments during two phases, each workpiece being deposited between the phases on an intermediate station arranged in the region of the feed path. The transfer unit has two working heads, which simultaneously transport one workpiece from the receiving plane to the intermediate station, and another workpiece from the intermediate station to the delivery plane. The workpiece can be pivoted or rotated at the intermediate station so that its lower surface can be grasped by the depositing head.