Abstract: A part packing system includes a bag holding machine including a part funnel having an opening configured to receive an end of a part and having a bag end manipulator holding first and second bag end gripper mechanisms that receive an end of the bag therebetween to open the end of the bag to form a mouth at the end of the bag. The bag end manipulator moves the first and second bag end gripper mechanisms to position the mouth of the bag immediately downstream of the opening of the part funnel. A part loading machine including a part manipulator holding the part and moving the part to a loading position upstream of the part funnel and moving the part gripper mechanism to load an end of the part through the opening in the part funnel into the mouth of the bag to load the part into the bag.

Abstract: A multiple stage processing device having a plurality of radial stages, each individual radial stage is positioned between adjacent dividing walls and indexable though a plurality of processing stations. A plurality of fixture mount assemblies are positioned on an actuation surface of the rotatable indexing assembly, each individual fixture mount assembly is associated with and mechanically coupled to an individual radial stage. One or more slotted drive hubs communicatively coupled to independently operable drive motors are positioned adjacent to the actuation surface of the rotatable indexing assembly and are engageable with the plurality of fixture mount assemblies.

Abstract: An apparatus for arranging and transferring ammunition, includes a slope conveyor, which is configured into an endless track structure so as to lift cartridges placed on a transfer track thereof using magnetic force, a plurality of permanent magnets, which are arranged on the slope conveyor so as to create a magnetic field outside the transfer track, one or more hole sifters, which are disposed near an outer surface of the transfer track and which have cartridge passage holes formed at locations through which the plurality of permanent magnets pass, and magnetizing controllers including electromagnets, which are disposed above and under the hole sifters and are assigned to the plurality of permanent magnets, wherein the magnetizing controllers detect a position of the permanent magnet when the permanent magnet passes through the cartridge passage hole, and controls the electromagnets to create a magnetic field, having polarity, orientation and density at least one of which is controlled, above or under the ho

Abstract: A system is disclosed for loading at least one item into each of a plurality of containers. The system includes a plurality of buckets, each configured for supporting at least one container. The system also has a conveyor interconnected to each of the buckets. The conveyor has a conveyor axis of rotation that is oriented at an acute conveyor angle to a horizontal plane. The buckets are oriented relative to the conveyor axis of rotation by a wedge angle. The buckets move in series around the axis of rotation from a first path portion to a second path portion. An inner surface of the container is oriented generally in or parallel to the horizontal plane when the buckets are moved along the first path portion and the inner surface is oriented at an angle to the horizontal plane that is of an amount that is twice the wedge angle when the buckets are moved along the second path portion.

Abstract: A container-printing arrangement configured to print graphic, numeric, and/or alpha-numeric information or an image on an external surface of a bottle or similar container. The arrangement comprises at least one electrostatic print head having a plurality of openings configured to dispense printing liquid and a plurality of corresponding electrodes. The openings are located in a row one after another along a print head longitudinal axis. A container handling arrangement is used to position a container adjacent the at least one electrostatic print head to permit dispensing of printing liquid onto an external surface of the container.

Abstract: A device (10) is provided for handling workpieces, in particular vehicle chassis (22) of modular construction, and having a first module with a handling line (12) in turn having one or several handling regions (14) for surface handling of the workpieces (22), and a guide device (44) along the handling line (12). A second module has one or several carriages (20b) to which the workpieces (22) may be fixed and moved along the guide device (44). Various types of second module may be combined with the first module to achieve various configurations of the whole device (10) with regard to throughput and flexibility.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying and simultaneously turning objects has a first conveyor device for conveying the objects into the area of two conveyor-turning stations and a second conveyor device for conveying the objects out of the area of the conveyor-turning stations. The conveyor-turning stations have a conveyor that rotates horizontally and at least one turning device for contacting and turning the objects. The two conveyor-turning stations are used for alternate conveying of the objects along a common conveyor path. Each conveyor-turning station can be driven by its own electric motor with controllable speed. In an access area of the conveyor-turning stations, there is a device for detecting the position of the next object to be contacted and to be conveyed by the respective conveyor-turning station.

Abstract: A micro device using assembly system for feeding, programming, and placing micro devices on circuit boards includes a robotic handling system capable of picking up and placing the micro devices on the circuit boards on a conveyor system. A control system controls the conveyor system and the robotic handling system. An input feeder provides the micro devices and a programming system is capable of programming a plurality of micro devices in sockets which are in line parallel with the input feeder. The input feeder responds to communication with the control system to feed the unprogrammed micro devices while the programming system programs the micro devices and communicates to the control system. The robotic handling system responds to communication of the programming system with the control system to pickup and places the programmed micro devices on the circuit boards at high speed.

Abstract: A conveyance truck movable along travel rails includes a suspended supporting device for supporting a vehicle body, a raising and lowering device for raising and lowering the suspended supporting device, and a posture adjusting device for adjusting the posture of the vehicle body. The raising and lowering device includes a first supporting axle disposed in the front section in the travel direction, a second supporting axle provided in the rear section movable towards and away from the first supporting axle, a crank arm supported rotatably on the second supporting axle and having the suspended supporting device supported rotatably at its free end portion, a swinging arm fixed to the first supporting axle and having a free end portion coupled to an intermediate position of the crank arm, and an arm drive mechanism for causing the crank arm to rotate about the second supporting axle.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically loading socks on forms (1) comprises a suction unit (20) at an inlet, a carousel (10) with several stations (2, 3, 4, 5), a positioning unit (30) of the sock (S), a tucking-up unit (40) and a pick-up robot (50). The carousel has intermediate supports (12) onto which can be put, partially or completely, the socks (S). The carousel (10) brings the intermediate supports (12) through successive stations (2, 3, 4, 5) up to a pick-up station (5), where an arm (52) is connected pivotally (55a) to a carriage sliding on an upright (53). Means are provided for translating (53a) vertically the carriage vertically upwards or downwards, along the upright (53), and for rotating (55a) integrally the arm (52) about said horizontal axis (55). Pick-up fingers (56) are provided at a first end (52b) of said arm (52) associated to means for opening (56a) and closing them.

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: The present invention incorporates an oscillating sorting and feeding apparatus for sequentially sorting and feeding a plurality of objects in a serial arrangement, where the objects are sorted into a specific orientation. The apparatus includes a hollow receiving member having a generally cylindrical shape and an inner wall. The receiving member includes an inlet adjacent one end for receiving a plurality of randomly orientated objects, and also includes an outlet at the other end for sequentially feeding out correctly orientated objects in a serial arrangement.

Abstract: A circuit-component transferring apparatus including a component holder which includes an axial portion and a component holding portion which is provided at a lower end of the axial portion and which holds the circuit component, a holder-holding movable member which holds the axial portion of the component holder such that the component holder is movable in an axial direction thereof and which is movable to cause the component holder to move in a direction intersecting an axis line of the axial portion thereof, a cam member which is provided above a locus of the movement of the component holder caused by the movement of the holder-holding movable member and which has a lower cam surface including a height-changing portion, a spherical cam follower which is held by an upper end of the component holder such that the spherical cam follower is rotatable in all directions and which is rollable on the lower cam surface of the cam member, and a biasing device which biases the component holder toward the cam member.

Abstract: In a method for transmitting rotation driving force to spindles, a plurality of spindles are intermittently conveyed one after another to a predetermined position, and rotation driving force is transmitted to a spindle, which has been conveyed to the predetermined position. A driving-side magnet coupling is located at the predetermined position. Each of driven-side magnet couplings, which correspond to the driving-side magnet coupling, is secured to an axial end of one of the plurality of the spindles such that the driven-side magnet coupling may be coaxial with the corresponding spindle and such that the driving-side magnet coupling and the driven-side magnet coupling may stand facing each other via a predetermined gap at the predetermined position. The driving-side magnet coupling is rotated, and the rotation driving force is thereby transmitted to the spindle, which has been conveyed to the predetermined position.

Abstract: A body of a vehicle, that is supported by a carrier or conveyor is rotated about a rotational axis extending in an approximately horizontal direction of the carrier or conveyor. When the body is supported in a normally standing position with its roof at the top of the body and its floor at the bottom thereof, the center of gravity of a rotary member containing the body is set to be at a position underneath the rotational axis in a vertically extending plane containing the rotational axis. The body is locked by a clamping unit so as to prevent rotation when the body is coated in the coating station. In the drying station, the locking by the clamping unit is released and the body is then displaced at a given angle so as to cause rotation on account of inertia on the basis of its own weight. After the drying station, the forcible rotation is shifted to free rotation which in turn is caused to be converged into a rest or normally standing position.

Abstract: In order to create a simple car body surface treatment device, a car body is introduced into and removed again from the treatment bath (11) simply by being rotated by a rotating device (2), at the same time as another car body is pushed onto and secured to said rotating device or conveyed past said device. The car body is fixed to a loading carriage (5) and is pushed by means of some driven rotary rollers (3a) onto the rotating device (2). By means of fastening devices (4a, 4b) the loading carriage (5) is detachably secured to the car body on the rotating device (2). By rotating through 180.degree. around an axis of rotation (7), the rotating device (2) dips together with the car body over its tail or front side into the treatment bath (11). While one car body is submerged, another loading carriage (5) together with the car body fastened thereon may be conveyed by the driven rotary rollers (3b) past the rotating device (2) for subsequent treatment, over the top surface of the rotating device (2).

Abstract: A positioning apparatus operates to advance and rotationally orient a container during packaging of a product and broadly comprises a conveyor, a rotor assembly mounted to the conveyor, a rotary drive means and orientation sensing means. The rotor assembly includes a holder adapted to receive a container in a supported state with the supported container being aligned along the rotor axis such that the container may be rotated thereabout. The rotary drive means operates to selectively engage the rotor assembly and the supported container for rotatably orienting the supported container with respect to the rotor axis. The orientation sensing means monitors rotational orientation of the supported container, and the conveyor operates to advance the rotor assembly and the supported container during the packaging of the product.

Abstract: An actuator member is disclosed in which the actuator member is capable of providing linear and selective rotary movement of the table top of the conveyor member. The actuator member includes a platform housing which can be fixedly attached to conventional conveyor links in a conveyor line, or linear slides. A follower wheel is rotably mounted in the platform housing and includes a table top. The follower wheel is provided with an actuation mechanism for engaging a stationary cam and selectively preventing rotation of the table top or rotating the table top a predetermined radial distance as the conveyor member progresses down the conveyor line. The stationary cam includes dwell portions and index portions which are selectively placed so that, when the actuation mechanism engages the dwell portions, the rotatable table top is not rotated and, when the actuation mechanism engages the index portions, the table top is rotated a predetermined radial distance such as 90.degree., 180.degree. or some other amount.

Abstract: A pallet exchange apparatus has a bed and an arm assembly supported on the bed to be rotatable between a workpiece loading-and-unloading station and workpiece machining station. A pair of cylindrical holes are formed at both ends of the arm assembly for receiving the pallets. The apparatus is further provided with driving means for rotating the arm assembly, a turntable rotatably mounted on the bed at a position corresponding to the workpiece machining station, first engagement portions formed at the ends of the arm assembly, second engagement portions formed on the pallets so as to be engaged with the first engagement portions for preventing the rotation of the pallets, and a moving device disposed on the turntable for moving the pallet located at the workpiece machining station in the vertical direction. When the pallet is lowered by the moving device, the pallet is separated from the turntable and the second engagement portion of the pallet is engaged with the first engagement portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary vice construction which can be specifically applied on the rotary table of a transfer machining apparatus, which vice comprises a first and second bodies, opposite to one another and forming a vice assembly adapted to hold a workpiece to be machined, which is supported by a rotary table. Inside each of the vice bodies there is rotatably supported a supporting shaft which supports the vice jaws for holding the workpiece, a removably locking ring element being moreover provided in each body for the rotation of the shaft, which can be disengaged by means of a hydraulic cylinder, and to each shaft, on the side thereof opposite to the jaws, there is keyed a gear element which can be removably connected to an outer drive assembly in order to rotate the shaft.

Abstract: A hanger tilt mechanism for a hanging transportation apparatus in which a carrier traveling along a rail is equipped with a hanger having a circular arc-shaped portion so as to be tiltable. The carrier is further equipped with a driving motor and a tilt mechanism for transmitting a rotational force of the driving motor to the circular arc-shaped portion for tilting the hanger. The tilt mechanism, in a preferred embodiment, includes a chain stretched along the circular arc-shaped portion of the hanger and a sprocket which meshes with the chain and is rotated by the driving motor.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying panels, such as vehicle body side panels to and from work stations located at spaced locations along a conveyor includes a panel support frame mounted on the conveyor for movement along the conveying path with the support frame in an elevated generally horizontal conveying position. The support frame carries a plurality of mechanically actuable releasable clamps adapted to retain a panel engaged against a group of locator pads fixedly mounted on one side of the support frame. A second group of locator pads movably mounted on the frame are normally biased into engagement with the panel at spaced locations around its periphery to hold the panel in a predetermined position laterally of the support frame. The support frame mounts an actuator member coupled to all of the clamps to position all clamps in a panel clamping position when the actuator member is in a first position and to position all clamps in a panel release position when the actuator is in a second position.

Abstract: A plurality of screening stations are arranged in a circular array around a continuous conveyor for advancing in step-by-step fashion a plurality of modules from station to station. A module is provided for each station and includes a holder for receiving and securing in place a glass panel for photoprocessing red, blue, and green pixels on each glass panel in the fabrication of a cathode ray tube. The glass panels are supported on each module for rotational and angular movement controlled by a drive mechanism housed on each module. A controller for initiating programmed motion of the glass panel operates the drive mechanism of each module in response to the actuation of selected magnetic switches corresponding to the operations to be performed at a specific station.

Abstract: A tube holder is adapted to be positioned in a ring on the conveyor of the tube filling machine. The tube holder is cup-shaped and has a central, generally cylindrical, tube gripper consisting of eight upwardly extending fingers. The fingers have radially inwardly directed pads on their upper ends. The fingers lean radially inwardly. When a tube is placed in them, they flex outwardly and provide a friction grip to the tube.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus for transferring objects to be processed, susceptible to damage, such as eggs and which includes a delivery conveyor for supplying rows of the objects successively. Adjacent to the delivery end of the delivery conveyor extend a secondary conveyor having a number of supporting stands which are fed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the delivery conveyor. A transfer device is interposed between the delivery end of the delivery conveyor and the secondary conveyor. The transfer device has a number of object receiving stands. A row of objects delivered from the delivery conveyor is placed on the receiving stands which are temporarily stopped. Thereafter, the receiving stands with the objects thereon are accelerated so as to move in parallel with the supporting stands until they reach the same speed as the supporting stands.

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting logic information from two members which move relative to one another by use of fluid logic signals. A shaping turret employing an upper structure carrying a plurality of bladderless shaping drums or flanges which ae driven and controlled by apparatus requiring only one rotary coupling between the upper structure and its associated base is employed.

Abstract: Method and an apparatus for binding coils, for example, of sheet steel, which enable the whole process, from the formation of the coils to the completion of the ready-to-be-shipped bound coils, to be automated. Provision is made so that the strips, produced in a slitting line for example, in each case are coiled in coaxially aligned groups and, while their free severed ends in each case are held down they, are collected. Each collected group of coils, while retaining the coaixal alignment and the holding down of the severed ends, are moved into a transfer position, from which the coils, while the respective severed end continues to be held down, are isolated cyclically and transferred into an operating cycle passing through a first and a second binding position as well as a removal position, one or several additional groups of coils being collected while the coils are being worked off cyclically.

Abstract: A conveyor device for transferring a workpiece along a conveyor path between work stations located at various positions along the conveyor path includes a pallet for supporting a workpiece which is rotatable and a pallet drive device located at selected work stations along the conveyor path. The pallet drive device is drivingly connectable to the pallet positioned at that work station to rotate the pallet so as to present various portions of the workpiece supported on the pallet to an inspection or manufacturing process.

Abstract: Apparatus for supplying and transferring electronic components includes a plurality of pallets each for receiving and holding one electronic component. An endless conveying mechanism conveys the pallets in and intermittent fashion on a substantially horizontal plane. A supply unit mechanism selectively supplies electronic components to the pallets.

Abstract: In a substrate processing apparatus, a substrate is processed to form a thin film thereon while it is maintained in the vertical direction, Furthermore, the rear surface of the substrate is cooled by a substrate cooling mechanism which contacts the rear surface thereof. The substrate cooling mechanism moves in a reciprocating fashion, whereas a substrate holder for holding the substrate moves both in horizontal and vertical directions.

Abstract: The system for suspendingly transporting bodies according to the invention comprises a carriage (4) movable along a predetermined path (P) as guided by guide rails (2) and a support (5) mounted to a lower portion of the carriage (4) through suspenders (32A, 32B). The support (5) comprises a support frame (28) tiltable relative to the carriage (4) and a hanger (30) attached to the support frame (28) and rotatable about a vertical axis (29), the hanger (30) being adapted to support a body (X) thereon. The support frame (28) has lock devices (31) for locking the hanger (30). At a specified location there are disposed a release device (51) for releasing each lock device (31) and a hanger handling device (60) which engages the hanger (30) from below to turn it through a specified angle.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically sequentially processing a large number of substrates. A plurality of substrate processing stages are arranged around a single imaginary circle, and a substrate attaching/detaching stage has its center as one position on the single imaginary circle. A conveyor transports substrates to or from the substrate attaching/detaching stage. A substrate holder receives each substrate from the conveyor and transfers each substrate to the conveyor after processing. The holder includes a mechanism for changing the attitude of a substrate from horizontal to vertical, for conveying the substrate in the vertical attitude to the processing stages, and for changing the attitude of a processed substrate from vertical to horizontal. A revolving mechanism sequentially conveys the holder in the vertical attitude from the attaching/detaching stage to each processing stage and returns the holder to the substrate attaching/detaching stage.

Abstract: A tube printing apparatus includes a rotatable mandrel wheel which successively moves tubes to be printed to different stations of the apparatus; a plurality of mandrels which hold the tubes on the mandrel wheel; a printing station including a printing blanket which prints the tubes successively moved to the printing station in contact with the printing blanket; a tube orienting head which circumferentially orients the tubes which are moved to the printing station so as to always provide printing on the tubes at the same circumferential position thereof; a reciprocating control assembly which intermittently reciprocates the tube orienting into engagement with the tubes at the printing station; a rotating control assembly which intermittently rotationally orients the tubes for printing to a desired circumferential position; and a common drive connected to the reciprocating control assembly, rotating control assembly and printing blanket to synchronously drive each of the same, thereby eliminating any complex e

Abstract: A manipulator for positioning a series of workpieces relative to a robot. The manipulator contains at least two separate fixture supports. The fixture supports are alternately transferred between a loading position and an operative position adjacent the robot by a transfer motor. The fixture supports are rotated by a single turning motor which is alternately placed into engagement with each fixture only when that fixture in the operative position.

Abstract: Apparatus for supplying and transferring electronic components includes a plurality of pallets each for receiving and holding one electronic component. An endless conveying mechanism conveys the pallets in an intermittent fashion in a substantially horizontal plane. A supply unit mechanism selectively supplies electronic components to the pallets.

Abstract: A hanger conveyance for the transport of left-hand and right-hand automobile door assemblies from and back to a loading site through a door fitting station and then through an unloading site, which hanger has first and second door supports for the support of the door assemblies generally in parallel relation to each other. The door assemblies removed from an automobile body structure are loaded onto the respective first and second supports at the loading site and are then transported towards the door fitting station with the left-hand and right-hand door assemblies confronting first and second directions opposite to each other, respectively. At the door fitting station, the hanger is turned 180.degree. about a vertical axis to render the left-hand and right-hand door assemblies to confront the second and first directions, respectively, after one of the door assemblies has been tooled up from one side and is again turned 180.degree.

Abstract: A holding device for holding an open-end hollow body with a pivotal carrying handle includes a mounting member for mounting the hollow body. Disposed at one end of the mounting member is an annular support member carrying a locking member. The support member serves as an abutment to define a given position for the pivotal handle, such as not to impede access to the hollow body for the printing mechanism. The locking member is movable relative to the mounting member between an operative position of securing the handle in its given position, and an inoperative position in which the handle is free to pivot into and out of its given position.

Abstract: A packing machine for cigarettes, in particular for soft packs, with a plurality of pack-forming assemblies 1-16, has at least one operating member 21-23 in each assembly which is movable, e.g. to clamp a sheet of foil 300 or a paper lable 400 against a packet mandrel 20. The assemblies are each indexed past a number of stations at each of which a drive shaft 33 (FIG. 3) engages a coupling shaft 35 connected to the respective operating member. The shafts lie perpendicular to the direction of movement of the assemblies and they engage with one another through a tongue 34 and fork 36 coupling.The coupling shaft 35 may be connected to the operating member through an eccentric 52 or, where the operating member has to be moved linearly, through a rack and pinion 61.

Abstract: A heated metal plate drying system for drying either green veneer or partially dried veneer can have a plurality of modular hot presses mounted on a frame. At a loading station, individual sheets of veneer to be dried or redried are fed into a hot press, and at an unloading station the dried veneer sheets are unloaded from the system. Within each individual modular hot press, a direct contact drying process occurs that functions to reduce the moisture content of a veneer sheet down to the desired uniform level such as within a range of from 1 to 10%. The drying process accepts veneer of different species, thickness, and beginning moisture contents and the controlled process variables include contact time, temperature and pressure.Each individual modular press can be multi-opening and has the ability to open and close on command. Specially designed heated metal plates are part of each press and each plate has substantially parallel grooves on at least one surface.

Abstract: An arrangement for surface treating workpieces has a pair of rotary conveyors each rotatable about a respective vertical rotation axis and provided with a plurality of angularly spaced holders each of which can grip a respective workpiece and advance it angularly stepwise through a plurality of respective working stations. In addition each of these holders can be rotated about an axis generally radial of the respective rotation axis for the rotary conveyor for treatment on all sides of each workpiece as it is stepped through the various surface treatment stations. A line conveyor extends tangentially passed the two conveyors and is of the walking-beam type. This line conveyor feeds workpieces to the upstream conveyor so that they then move around the working stations of this upstream rotary conveyor, then takes them off the upstream rotary conveyor and feeds them to the downstream rotary conveyor where they are stepped through the respective working stations of this conveyor.

Abstract: Four six-packs of labeled bottles are picked up and spun while being illuminated by light sources, each of the 24 bottles have an optical sensor focused at a spot through which successive portions of the peripheral surface of the bottle passes as the bottle is spun. The six-packs are fed broadside first; the two center bottles in each six-pack remote from the sensors are illuminated by light, mounted adjacent thereto so that the lights pass between necks of bottles as the assembly approaches the four six-packs to pick them up. Certain of the sensors are longer than others to permit viewing of some bottles underneath the sensors related to other bottles. Each of the bottles is illuminated by a light positioned at an elevation which is substantially different than the elevation of the focus spot on the bottles so that the sensors are substantially insensitive to specular reflection from the shiny bottles, yet provide a substantial amount of light diffusely reflected from labels.

Abstract: A plurality of core rods with parisons thereon are mounted to an indexing head with the core rods disposed in a temperature conditioning chamber and wherein the core rods are simultaneously rotated to effect temperature distribution throughout the parisons. Pluralities of core rods are angularly disposed and simultaneously rotated. The apparatus is particularly useful in orientation injection blow molding, wherein the parison is a relatively thick cross section or wherein the parison thermoplastic has a low thermal conductivity.