Abstract: Successive individual filled trays or successive groups of filled trays for stacks of parallel cigarettes are transported by a carriage from a source at a first level to a higher second level, and their contents are dumped into the magazine of a packing machine. The thus emptied tray(s) is or are returned to the first level and is or are expelled from the carriage, at least indirectly and/or at least in part, by the next following filled tray(s). The expelled emptied tray(s) is or are lowered into a storage facility at a level beneath the first level. The carriage has open front and rear sides for admission of filled trays through the front side and for expulsion of emptied trays through the rear side.

Abstract: A system for temporarily storing and subsequently reintroducing parts into an industrial assembly line is disclosed having a first and second side-by-side conveyor, each having a first end. A robot manipulator is positioned adjacent both the assembly line and the first ends of the conveyors and the manipulator is configured to selectively engage and release the parts. The system includes a plurality of containers wherein each container is adapted to receive a plurality of parts within the container. A first alignment rail is positioned adjacent one corner of the first conveyor while a second alignment rail is positioned a corner of the second conveyor. An actuator is associated with each alignment rail so that, upon activation of the actuator to its extended position, the actuator engages a container at the first end of its associated conveyor and moves the container against the alignment rail thus positioning the container at a predetermined position relative to the conveyor.

Abstract: A method and device for feeding elongated tobacco articles, whereby, on a wrapping machine, a mass of articles, oriented a given way, is fed along an annular path in a hopper connected to at least one channel for feeding the articles and in which the articles are fed in an orderly column.

Abstract: A variable-capacity store for objects, wherein an endless conveyor defines a conveying branch, for conveying a mass of objects, and a return branch, which respectively form a first and a second spiral of given lengths, each of which coils about a respective fixed first drum and a respective second drum movable to and from the relative first drum; and wherein the second drums are located on the same side with respect to the relative first drums, and are connected to each other by a transmission powered by a single reversible motor to equally and oppositely adjust the distances between the second drums and the relative first drums.

Abstract: A storage apparatus for storing goods (G) conveyed along a conveying section from an entry station to an exit station has a flexible conveying means (1), which is subdivided into a storage strand (10, 10′) and an idle strand (11, 11′, 12, 12′), and a carriage (2) which can be displaced along a conveying plane. The carriage (2) serves for changing a storage capacity of the storage apparatus, it being the case that the carriage (2) has a first deflecting roller (21) for deflecting the storage strand (10, 10′), and a second deflecting roller (21′) for deflecting the idle strand (11, 11′), in the at least one conveying plane.

Abstract: A stream of newspapers (2) is stored temporarily by dividing the stream (2) into longitudinal sections. A carrier (5, 6) is releasably connected to one long edge of each generally flat section (3), to form product units (7) which are hung side-by-side in a transport cassette (30), by resting the end-parts of the carrier on respective bearing surfaces in the cassette (30). The cassette is carried by lowerable legs which enable the newspaper sections to hang freely down from the cassette. The cassette includes transport handling means (32). A newspaper stream (2) is formed from the temporarily stored units (7), by removing the carriers (5, 6) from said sections (3) and joining said sections end-to-end.

Abstract: A mattress storage and sorting conveyor, which discharges to one or more extendable conveyors, has a feed section that collects the mattress from one or more wrappers and inserts the mattress onto a circulating system which stores the mattresses until ready to be transferred. A short length of the circulating system may be repositioned to discharge a particular mattress to one or more conveyors that transport the mattress to a respective extendable conveyor. An operator at a control station selects which mattress to discharge from the circulating system. The conveyor system is controlled by a series of sensors, relays, and motor controllers to prevent or minimize the collisions between mattresses on the circulating system of the conveyor.

Abstract: A conveying unit for transferring a mass of cigarettes includes a feed channel equipped with a conveyor by which cigarettes are made to flow along a given path and in a given direction toward the mouth of a hopper that forms part of a user unit. One section of the feed channel presents a movable wall consisting of an articulated mechanism having two rigid restraints, one rectilinear and one arched, connected together pivotably by a hinge; the end of the arched restraint is connected to a fixed hinge, whilst the end of the rectilinear restraint is connected to a movable hinge rigidly associated with a guided slide device capable of movement along the direction of the advancing flow of cigarettes, in response to variations in the rate of flow along the channel. As the movable end is displaced, the movable wall shifts between two limit positions corresponding respectively to a maximum and a minimum capacity of the section of the feed channel occupied by the wall.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for manipulating trays for groups of rod-shaped articles which constitute or form part of smokers' products. The apparatus has a tray filling unit, a tray emptying unit including a magazine for filled trays, a source of empty trays, a predetermined storage facility for filled trays, a first conveyor, a second conveyor, and a device for transporting filled trays from the predetermined storage facility to the emptying unit. The first conveyor feeds a succession of empty trays from the source to the filling unit. The second conveyor feeds successive filled trays from the filling unit to the predetermined storage facility.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises an incoming conveyor and a revolving device, in which grippers (9) circulate at a regular first spacing (T1) over a closed circulating path (10). The grippers (9) can be individually switched between a first state, in which they take hold of the products (2) and carry them along, into a second state, in which they release the products from the grippers. At a transfer point (11) the grippers (9) pass above the incoming conveyor (1). They are switched at the transfer point (11) into the first state, in which they each take hold of a product and carry it along. A store (16) has carriers (19) which circulate at a regular second spacing (T2) in a closed, second circulating path (15). The second circulating path (15) runs over a buffer region (20) parallel to the first circulating path (11). Within the buffer region (20) the grippers (9) can be switched into their second state. The circulating speed of the grippers (9) is greater than the circulating speed of the carriers (9).

Abstract: A transporting apparatus has two storage means with plate form body supporting members in a plurality of stages in vertical direction. Each plate form body supporting member is constructed with a plurality of string like members having widths to pass through clearance between adjacent transporting rotary bodies for vertical movement therethrough and arranged on the same plane for simply being lifted up and down for loading and unloading the plate form body. The storage mean scan be arranged within an installation region of the transporting passage portion. Also, necessary length of the transporting passage portion is merely two or three times of the plate form body. The storage means can be installed in a relay transporting passage portion arranged between two transporting lines arranged in parallel relationship to facilitate installation with simple and compact construction.

Abstract: An assembly for processing blanks comprises a first endless conveyor (1) with locations for holders for the blanks and at least one stationary processing station as well as optionally a second conveyor (6) arranged next to said first conveyor (1). The first conveyor (1) comprises a number of self-propelled vehicles (2), where each vehicle carries a tool (4) and a holding device (3) for the blank device. The first conveyor (1) comprises at least one guiding line (19) marked on the running surface (18). Each vehicle (2) comprises sensors (20) detecting the guiding line, and guiding means (22) guiding the vehicle into the guiding line (19) of the running surface.

Abstract: A work transfer apparatus is equipped with a work feeder 23, a rotatable turn table 11 formed several work-storing pockets 11a at its outer periphery and a separation mechanism 24 provided between the work feeder 23 and the turn table 11. The separation mechanism 24 has a communicating passage 24a. A work detector (15a, 15b) is provided in the work-storing pocket 11a. A work stopper 14 is provided at the work feeder 23 on an upstream side of the work detector (15a, 15b), for separating a preceding work W1 and the succeeding work W2.

Abstract: The installation for temporary storage and ready for dispatch delivery of objects comprises a closed-in-itself rail system with holding elements (30) movable on it independently of one another, at least one packing and take-over station (10), at least one addressing and delivery station (11) and at least one computing unit (12). Between the packing and take-over station (10) and the addressing and delivery station (11), the rail system is designed as a storage area (2), for example, with controllable switch points or switch point systems (5) on the input and on the outlet side (5) and with functionally parallel storage tracks (2.1, 2.2, . . . ) between the switch points or switch point systems (5). Prior to being stored, the objects (32) supplied to the installation are individualized, individually packed and taken over by one holding element (30) each. Packed objects (33) and holding elements (30) are transported to the storage area (2) together, are stored along the storage tracks (2.1, 2.2, . . .

Abstract: A skid handling system includes at least two skid conveyance lines for skid handling with a transfer arranged between them to pass skids from one to the other. The transfer includes a skid conveyor with a clearance table at each end at the transfer point from and to the two conveyance lines. The skids are accumulated directly on the conveyor between the tables.

Abstract: A horizontal belt conveyor delivers a mass flow of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry at a variable rate to a deflecting station where successive increments of the mass flow are caused to descend into an upright duct. The increments at the deflecting station are overlapped exclusively by two arcuate baffles which deflect the oncoming articles into the duct. The baffles are pivotable relative to each other about parallel axes and include intermeshing tongue-like end portions remote from the respective axes. A linkage couples the baffles to each other in such a way that any pivotal movements of one of the baffles entail predetermined movements of the other baffle.

Abstract: A storage arrangement has a channel for accommodating chip-like electronic components in a predefined order and alignment. Simplified operation is achieved in that the channel between a first and a second end of the storage arrangement is led at least largely along a helical line. A device having such a storage arrangement optionally includes a first sub-assembly for preferably filling the storage arrangement with components and a second sub-assembly for preferably unloading the components, or a combination of the two.

Abstract: In a device for handling face cutting products, in particular a buffer, arranged between a face cutting device (1) and a further processing device (4), with a table (6) that receives layers (7) comprised of sequential rows (2), a forward feed device (10, 11) that incrementally advances the layer (7), a take-off device (17) that takes the respective foremost row (2) of the layer (7) from the forward feed device and places it against a transverse stop (12) running transverse to the take-off device, and an evacuating device (13) allocated to the transverse stop (12) for removing the row (2) placed against the transverse stop, a high operational reliability and gentle mode of operation can be achieved by virtue of the fact that a gap is provided between the table (6) and transverse stop (12), which accommodates the take-off device (17), which exhibits a plate arrangement moveable in and against the take-off direction, comprised of a front take-off plate (18) proceeding coplanar to the table (6) and a follower pla

Abstract: A method of feeding cigarettes, of a length considerably greater than their diameter, to an outlet of a hopper, whereby masses of cigarettes having a number of orientations are fed to an inlet, and the cigarettes are selected according to orientation by means of the orientation and size of the inlet.

Abstract: A baggage handling system includes a plurality of baggage trays for carrying baggage and a conveyor for transporting the trays at a given speed. A diverter selectively removes baggage from the conveyor and positions the baggage on an accumulator. An unloader is provided to unload the baggage from the accumulator. The accumulation in one mode slows baggage as received from the conveyor and presents the slowed baggage to an unloading device at a generally constant rate, such a rate being dependent of the rate at which the baggage is diverted from the conveyor. The unloader uses a tipping mechanism employing wheel guides an and actuator for gentle tipping of the baggage from the accumulator to another zone such as a make-up area in an airport baggage handling system.

Abstract: An article retention apparatus includes a roller conveyor unit with a plurality of rollers arranged in a horizontal plane and a plurality of ladder-shaped rack units on which articles rest. The roller conveyor unit and rack units are configured such that the rack units may be moved above and below the plane of the conveyor unit rollers without interference between the conveyor unit rollers and the rack units. By lifting the rack units one by one from below the roller plane to emerge above the roller plane, the article is transferred from the roller conveyor unit to the rack unit. The articles are taken aside of a transport system and temporarily retained by the apparatus. A belt conveyor unit can be used instead of the roller conveyor unit.

Abstract: A storage buffer for a multi lane conveyor system is provided, which generally consists of a carriage containing a plurality of storage magazines each having a plurality of storage conveyors, means for raising and lowering the carriage such that an article can be fed to and discharged from each storage conveyor, at least two drive systems for running the storage conveyors of each magazine one at a time, and at least two drive means for driving the two drive systems.

Abstract: A process for controlling the operation of machines for processing articles includes the step of synchronously controlling the movement or speed of a feeding device and an intake branch of the machine. The process provides a method of adapting a processing machine to adjust to discontinuities in an otherwise continuous flow of articles being supplied to the machine for processing. The process provides for the speed of the feeding device and the speed of the intake branch to both be reduced simultaneously. The speed of the feeding device is slowed sufficiently that it obtains a minimum speed at the time that the perceived discontinuity reaches the interface of the feeding device and the intake branch. Simultaneously, the speed of the intake branch is reduced to a substantially standstill condition at the time that the feeding device obtains its minimum speed.

Abstract: A conveyor system for transporting cigarettes between a making machine and a packing machine includes a mass flow conveyor (204) for transporting cigarettes directly and a reservoir system (212) in which successive batches of cigarettes comprising portions of the stream on an input conveyor (204) are diverted when required into compartmented containers (224). Transfer to the containers is made by way of a plunger (232) and shuttle (234) arrangement which allows the stream to move continuously during transfer of a batch. Unloading containers to reform a continuous stream may involve use of a similar plunger and shuttle arrangement so that the reformed stream can move continuously on an output conveyor (218). The input and output conveyors (204, 218) may be provided with retractable spaced partitions to bound the ends of batches of cigarettes transferred from or to the respective conveyor.

Abstract: A supply line for supplying parallelepiped products to a user machine, whereby the products are fed to the user machine by a conveyor which feeds the products along a horizontal path and through a transfer station where a transfer unit removes the products off the conveyor and feeds the products to an input-output of a vertical store in which the products are stored contacting one another; the transfer unit being reversible for also removing the products from the input-output of the store and feeding the products onto the conveyor.

Abstract: A handling installation disclosed, in particular for cigarettes. Known installations for handling cigarettes have a reservoir for temporarily storing the cigarettes, a maker (10) for the cigarettes and a packer (11). The maker (10) is arranged upstream of the reservoir (12) and the packer (11) is arranged downstream of the reservoir (12). In known installations, synchronising the action between reservoir (12), packer (11) and maker (10) causes problems. In the disclosed installation, the working speed of the maker (10) and the packer (11) is controlled depending on a measured filling level of the reservoir (12). When the filling level of the reservoir (12) is low, the working speed of the maker (10) is increased, when the filling level is high, said speed is decreased. On the contrary, the working speed of the packer (11) is increased when the filling level is high but reduced when the filling level is low.

Abstract: A computer-controlled storage device for packaged goods has a storage area with parallel storage tracks having a first and a second end, wherein each one of the storage tracks stores only one type of packaged goods. A supply area is positioned at the first end of the storage tracks. The supply area has a feeding device feeding newly arriving packaged goods into a respective one of the storage tracks. An order filling area is positioned at the second end of the storage tracks, wherein in the order filling area packaged goods are compiled to fill a customer order. The order filling area has independently operated removal devices for each one of the storage tracks.

Abstract: An apparatus for temporarily storing or buffering and/or setting the pitch of products, comprised of a conveyor belt, a product carrier for transporting by the conveyor belt and for carrying a plurality of products, a feed conveyor for feeding products into the product carrier at a first predetermined location of the conveyor belt, and a discharge element such as a robot, top loader or pushing member for discharging the products from the product carrier at a second predetermined location a distance from the first predetermined location.