Abstract: A holding-and-centering device for holding and centering a container has fixing section and holding-sections on opposite sides of the fixing section. The fixing section fixes the holding-and-centering device to a structure of a container-treatment machine but is also detachable from that structure. Each holding section picks up and holds a corresponding container.

Abstract: An automated system and method is provided for separating left and right animal carcass cuts from one another. The system includes a conveyor to carry cut meat pieces along a path. A sensor generates a signal corresponding to the left or right cuts, and sends the signal to a processor or controller, which actuates a product diverter, which moves across the conveyor so as to push and remove selected meat pieces from the conveyor for further processing on a separate line. The diverters are pivotal out of the conveyor path if engaged by meat piece intended to continue along the conveyor path.

Abstract: A process for forming and filling pouches on a vertical, fill, seal (VFFS) machine having an apparatus for producing an oscillating force that actuates a mechanism comprising: a frame; channels attached to sides of frame; a servo motor positioned on top of frame; a shaft assembly having an off-set slider assembly where top end is attached to servo motor and bottom end is positioned adjacent to bottom of the frame; a pusher block having a rectangular shaped opening therein and horizontal rails each attached to opposite sides of block and slidably positioned in channels of frame and off-set slider assembly positioned in rectangular shaped opening of pusher block; an actuation mechanism attached to pusher block that provides a forward and backward oscillating motion to pusher block; and a heat sealing mechanism actuated by the actuation mechanism.

Abstract: The invention relates to an article orienting machine for elongate articles, said machine comprising an endless first conveyor by which articles are conveyed with a first predetermined spacing, said elongate articles having their main axes arranged transverse to the direction of movement of said conveyor; at least a first and a second wheel on which the conveyor is supported; a first drive means arranged to rotate one of the wheels on which the conveyor is supported; and opposed pairs of holders attached to said endless conveyor at said first predetermined spacing, each pair of holders being arranged to contact and support an elongate article at opposite ends thereof while the article is received and released by the article orienting machine.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of applying a fluid pressure to a portion of a transfer member of a transfer assembly. The transfer member rotates about a first rotation axis and comprises leading and trailing portions. The portion of the transfer member is rotatable about a second rotation axis between a first position and a second position. The method comprises providing a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the leading or trailing portion of the portion of the transfer member when the portion of the transfer member is in the first position, rotating the portion of transfer member between the first position and the second position, and maintaining the fluid conduit in fluid communication with the same of the leading or trailing portion of the portion of the transfer member after the portion of the transfer member is moved into the second position.

Abstract: Conveyor for moving and positioning objects along a conveyor path, the conveyor including: a conveyor rail extending through a predefined conveying path; at least one carriage having a rotatable article support; and a turning block associated with the rotatable article support, to allow rotatable movement of the article support relative to the at least one carriage, wherein the conveyor further includes an aligning station for rotating the article support into a predetermined position, wherein the turning block has first disk with a first perimeter contour and a second disk with a second perimeter contour, and wherein the alignment station has means for engaging the second disk for rotatingly aligning the article support into the predetermined position.

Abstract: A lumber sorter using a conveyor system with hooks that pick up, move and drop lumber. The lumber sorter includes limiters attached to the hooks that restrict the rotation of the hooks while the limiters are running in raceways. The limiters restrict the rotation of the hooks between a first and second orientation through the use of opposing contact points that contact with opposing walls of the raceways. The limiters maintain the hooks in a substantially vertical position while they carry lumber, but permit the hooks to be pivoted to drop the lumber at a designated position. The use of limiters having first and second contact points allows for the pivot direction and degree of rotation to be configurable and predetermined by the position and placement of the contact points.

Abstract: A squaring-up device for a package converting line, located between a blank folding section and a folded-blank assembly section. The device has a frame, at least one jogger, having a deployed active position for correcting a geometry of a folded blank, and a drive for transporting the jogger. The squaring-up device includes an effector for moving the jogger from the active position to a retracted inactive position, and vice versa, and control the effector.

Abstract: A coating device includes a main body, a transport device, at least one loader, a driving device. The main body has a top plate, a bottom plate, and a pair of sidewalls connecting the top plate and bottom plate. The sidewalls respectively define an input gate and an output gate. The transport device includes a transport track passing through the input gate and the output gate, and at least one lifting arm mounted on the transport track. Each loader is configured for loading workpieces and includes a rotary shaft, at least one loading frame rotatably connected with the rotary shaft. The driving device is mounted on the top plate. Each lifting arm is configured for clamping a corresponding loader and transporting the corresponding loader to engage with the driving device. The driving device rotates the corresponding loader rotary shaft through the rotary shaft of the corresponding loader.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly suitable for use in a substrate processing system includes: at least one substrate carrier having a substrate-carrying surface configured to support at least one substrate; a processing track; a return track; a drive system configured to drive the substrate carrier along the processing track and the return track; and at least one swivel unit configured to pivot the substrate carrier around a substantially horizontal axis from a first orientation into a second orientation, and/or vice versa. Also provided is a method for conveying a substrate carrier including: providing a substrate carrier; positioning the substrate carrier in a first orientation; conveying the substrate carrier along a first track; and rotating the substrate carrier around a substantially horizontal axis into a second orientation.

Abstract: An article support assembly (1) is adapted for movement by a conveyor along a path of conveyance. The article support assembly (1) includes a trolley (5) for engagement by the conveyor and a shackle (3) configured to support an article, and rotatable with respect to the trolley. A turning block (33) is associated with the shackle (3), and rotation of the turning block with respect to the trolley (5) causes corresponding rotation of the shackle relative to the trolley. Yieldable indexing features (23, 27, 29, 31) are operatively arranged between the trolley (5) and the turning block (33) to define at least a first and a second incremental rotational position or orientation for the shackle (3). The yieldable indexing features (23, 27, 29, 31) of the article support assembly (1) are biased into yieldable engagement by magnetic repelling forces.

Abstract: A transfer arrangement (10) for gripping articles (at 60) comprises a central wheel body with a multiplicity of arms (20), which can be pivoted about a first axis (23) in each case, articulated along its periphery. The arms (20) have a gripper (60) for receiving in each case one or more articles (15). Each gripper (60) can be rotated about a second axis (33) for predetermined positioning of the articles, while the connecting body (30) can be rotated about the first axis (23). The rotary movement of the gripper (60), then, can be transferred to the gripper (60), rotating about the second axis (33), via a shaft (28) arranged along the first axis (23), with the aid of a transfer element (25, 26, 27). Finally, a third axis (43) is arranged on the connecting body (30), between the first and second axes (23, 33).

Abstract: Rotation and positioning of a rotary index table supported from a base is effected using a cam supported from a conveyor and cam follower lock, with the conveyor and cam follower lock being mounted on a carriage set for radial movement on the base inwardly and outwardly with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotary index table, and a plurality of cam followers depending from the rotary index table.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus (10) comprising a turning mechanism which is adapted to change the orientation of a number of packaging containers (12) in motion in a filling machine, from a first orientation (20) to a second orientation (22), comprising a conveyor (26) provided with at least one carrier (28) to which at least one carrier unit is connected. According to the invention, the carrier unit is rotary in relation to the carrier (28) about a geometric axis of rotation and is adapted to carry the packaging container (12) in such a manner that the point of gravity of the packaging container during the change in orientation is substantially located on the geometric axis of rotation, and the point of gravity of the packaging container thereby maintains substantially the same direction and speed from the first to the second orientation (20, 22).

Abstract: A workpiece-transporting apparatus of in-line sputtering machine includes a conveyer unit and a carrying salver. The conveyer unit has a holder, and a transporting wheel group is arranged in the holder. A conveyer belt covers around the transporting wheel group. A driving wheel group is arranged in one side of the conveyer belt and located in the holder. The driving wheel group connects to a motor and surrounded by a connecting belt. The carrying salver is placed on the conveyer belt of the conveyer unit. The carrying salver has a base, a plurality of supporting shafts are assembled in the base and linked together for being driven together. A workpiece base is arranged on the supporting shafts. At least one of the supporting shafts is surrounded by a supporting wheel. The supporting wheel engages with the connecting belt for being driven by the connecting belt.

Abstract: An exemplary device, for the support and rotary transfer of one or more parts, is integral with an operating shaft whose movement is brought about by the relative displacement of a transverse finger connected to the shaft on a cam-forming path. The exemplary device includes a means for moving the operating shaft translationally, which is free in axial rotation and equipped with a finger extending radially, which moves along a stationary path so that the translational movement of the shaft also ensures its rotation via the passage of the finger inside of the path, the finger moving inside a shaped track provided in a stationary cylinder called a cam cylinder, inside of which the operating shaft moves.

Abstract: A system and method is described for treating workpieces, in particular vehicle wheels, especially in the context of a powder coating process, with a conveying device that guides the workpieces along a movement path through the arrangement. The conveying device comprises a conveyor. The workpieces can be arranged on spindle-shaped elements that are secured to the conveyor and that are rotatable about their own axis. The conveyor device comprises at least one means for generating a spatially and/or temporally altering magnetic field, which produces a force to rotate or stop the spindle-shaped elements.

Abstract: A device for processing containers with a lip on container support units arranged at regular intervals on a support frame and having at least a container support and a container dish, with the distance from the container support unit to a conveyance plane being changed through variation of the overall height of the container support unit. Also, a method for labeling containers with a support ring, with multiple container support units arranged at regular intervals on the rotating support frame, the container support units having at least a container support and a container dish, with the containers being at least partially clamped between a container support unit and a centering bell during their conveyance through a processing track, and with the distance from a transport plane to the container support unit being varied by changing the overall height of the container support unit according to the size of the containers to be processed.

Abstract: In an apparatus for transferring products from a first conveying line to a second line conveying line operated stepwise in a feeding direction and particularly for feeding a boxing machine a plurality of compartments are aligned along the feeding direction. Each compartment has a bottom and a pair of lateral boards. The compartments receive products released by a manipulator and taken from the first conveying line. An actuator rotates the compartments from a loading configuration for receiving the products, to an overturned configuration, in which the compartments face corresponding, dwelling seats of the second, feeding line. A holding element closes the upper part of the compartments, moving from the loading configuration up to the overturned configuration. A pusher moves into the compartments in the overturned configuration, to push the products into the facing seats of the second, feeding line.

Abstract: A transfer device is provided for transferring tires from a tire conveyor line to a wheel conveyor line. The transfer device includes first and second surfaces rotatable with respect to one another. The first surface can receive tires from the tire conveyor line. A rotating device rotates the first surface to induce movement of the tire to the second surface. The second surface can receive the tire from the first surface and rotate toward the wheel conveyor to position the tire to engage the wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying spouts (or bags attached with spouts) to spout holding members provided on the edge of a circular rotor, including a pair of guide rails that engage with the groove portions of spouts, a timing screw that conveys spouts along the guide rails, and a pushing pawl that pushes out at a high speed a leading spout among the spouts, which are being conveyed along the guide rails, from the guide rails into the holding section of each spout holding member. The pushing pawl is disposed beneath the guide rails, and it is retracted so as not to interfere with the leading spout and then rotated inward so as to be behind the leading spout, advances and overtakes the leading spout, and then contacts the leading spout from behind, thus pushing the spout out in the forward direction and to the spout holding member.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting non-round containers includes a pair of carriages coupled to associated motors for rotation independently of each other on a common axis. Each carriage carries a corresponding plurality of semi-circular gripping fingers, which may be moved toward and away from each other by controlled rotation of the carriages. The fingers are widely separated from each other to accept non-round containers at an in-feed station, and to permit removal of the containers at out-feed and reject stations. For transporting the containers between stations, the finger are brought closely together to grip the containers for indexing, and springs on one of the carriages resiliently urge the associated fingers toward the fingers on the opposing carriage for accommodating size variations among the containers.

Abstract: A drum-shaped conveyor rotates about a fixed axis and its core carries a set of angularly distributed sections indexible about axes extending radially of the fixed axis when the core is set in rotary motion. Each section has several parallel flutes for sets of discrete filter cigarettes which are turned end-for-end, as well as moved circumferentially and axially of the core, in response to each revolution of the core. Rotation of successive sections about the respective radial axes takes place at timely spaced intervals and in opposite directions. The conveyor can receive filter cigarettes from a maker and inverts the sets of cigarettes prior to admission of such articles into a packing machine.

Abstract: With an article transfer apparatus 1 of the present invention, when a negative pressure is applied on an air outlet 20 in a non-attracting state, the amount of air that is sucked through suction holes 6 in a front attracting section 2f is greater than the amount of air that is sucked through suction holes 7 in a rear attracting section 2b. Therefore, the suction amount through the front attracting section 2f is increased while reducing the suction loss of the attracting pad 2, thereby improving the reliability of the attraction operation.

Abstract: A rotary turret has a plurality of rotatable pedestals thereon, each pedestal being controlled by a separate motor. The location of each motor for each pedestal is fixed so that the motors do not change location as the turret rotatesl. There is a separate ring gear for each pedestal, the ring gear being concentrically mounted relative to one another. Each motor is indirectly connected to a different ring gear. As the turret rotates the pedestals rotate independently of the turret and independently of each other. The motors for each pedestal can be wired in a conventional manner.

Abstract: An indexing system for rotary orienters for positioning articles so that a feature of each article is facing in the same predetermined direction so that further operations may be accurately performed on the articles. The rotary orienter may be used in conjunction with filling, capping, labeling and inspection of containers, or other similar operations. The apparatus comprises a support frame to which is mounted a central column that is rotatable about its axis by a rotating means. The rotary orienter has at least one station that comprises a rotatable spindle to which a turntable is attached to one end and an indexing assembly is attached proximal the other end. The indexing assembly comprises a slip clutch and a means for rotating the spindle that is mounted proximal the second of the spindle. An indexing wheel, that has at least two detents formed therein, is mounted on the spindle intermediate the turntable and the slip clutch.

Abstract: A dual indexing system for rotary orienters for positioning articles so that a feature of each article is facing in the same predetermined direction. The invention comprises a turret having at least one station that is connected to the turret column and rotates therewith as the column rotates about its axis. The station comprises a spindle with a driven turntable attached to support the bottom of an article and a shaft with a driven platen attached to hold the top of the article, the spindle and the shaft being rotatable about their longitudinal axes, which are coincident. A lower indexing assembly and an upper indexing assembly initiate simultaneous rotation of their respective turntable and platen. Each indexing assembly comprises a slip clutch, an indexing wheel that has at least two detents formed therein, an arm that is engageable with the detents and an actuator that is engageable with the arm. When the arms engage their respective indexing wheel, the spindle and the shaft are prevented from rotating.