Abstract: A machine for inspecting bottles. The machine has a belt conveyor with upper and lower opposed pairs of belt drives. Each belt drive includes a casing which supports opposed drive and idler pulleys which support a belt for displacement. A motor drive, mounted on the casing, drives the drive pulley.

Abstract: Apparatus for indexing glassware through a series of angularly spaced stations includes first and second arrays of glassware gripping fingers mounted on associated carriers that are rotatable about a common axis, both conjointly and with respect to each other. Each carrier is connected to as associated servo motor, which in turn are connected to a controller for rotating the carriers with respect to each other to grip and release glassware between the fingers, and to rotate the carriers conjointly to index the glassware between apparatus stations. One array of glassware gripping fingers includes coil springs for biasing the fingers toward the fingers of the opposing array for accommodating tolerance variations in the glassware. Drive rollers are located at at least some of the stations, and are pivotal into and out of positions for rotating the containers about their axes for inspection or other purposes.

Abstract: A device for changing the position, by turning, of individual or stacked products conveyed along a transport path, has a conveyor for conveying the products along the transport path, a turning device arranged along the transport path for turning the products around an axis perpendicular to the conveying direction. The turning device is attached to a traversing stand that can be moved along a conveying section of the conveyor that is defined by laterally spaced conveying belts. In the conveying section, the conveying belts form a loop that extends downward, perpendicular to the conveying direction, being guided around deflection rollers on the traversing stand.

Abstract: A machine for inspecting bottles. The machine has a belt conveyor with upper and lower opposed pairs of belt drives. Each belt drive includes a casing which supports opposed drive and idler pulleys which support a belt for displacement. A motor drive, mounted on the casing, drives the drive pulley.

Abstract: A machine for inspecting containers has a belt drive having upper and lower pairs of belt drives. Each belt drive has its own motor and each opposed pair of belt drives can be relatively horizontally displaced and as a unit displace vertically so that 1. the upper drive belt pair can be raised clear of the lower drive belt pair; 2. the lower drive belt pair can be separated and lowered to an out of the way location; and 3. the upper drive belt pair can then be lowered to be the only belt pair engaging a small container.

Abstract: Apparatus for indexing glassware through a series of angularly spaced stations includes first and second arrays of glassware gripping fingers mounted on associated carriers that are rotatable about a common axis, both conjointly and with respect to each other. Each carrier is connected to as associated servo motor, which in turn are connected to a controller for rotating the carriers with respect to each other to grip and release glassware between the fingers, and to rotate the carriers conjointly to index the glassware between apparatus stations. One array of glassware gripping fingers includes coil springs for biasing the fingers toward the fingers of the opposing array for accommodating tolerance variations in the glassware. Drive rollers are located at at least some of the stations, and are pivotal into and out of positions for rotating the containers about their axes for inspection or other purposes.

Abstract: Method of raising sheet-like products (2), in particular printed products, which are taking part in a conveying process and follow sequentially one after the other, the products (2) resting, at least in certain regions, on a conveying means (1) during the conveying process, it being the case that, for at least a period of time of the raising operation, gravitational force being overcome in the process, the products (2) are pivoted actively about an axis (B) which extends essentially parallel to the direction (A) in which the conveying process is oriented immediately prior to the raising operation.

Abstract: The present invention is an edge grip aligner with buffering capabilities and a method for increasing the throughput of wafers through the device. According to one embodiment, the present invention has first and second buffer arms, and a chuck arm. A workpiece can be aligned while supported on the chuck arm. Once the workpiece is aligned, the chuck arm transfers the workpiece to the buffer arms so that a second workpiece can be aligned on the chuck arm. While the second workpiece is being aligned, an end effector can transfer the first workpiece away from the buffer arms and retrieve another workpiece to place upon the chuck arm.

Abstract: Apparatus for indexing glassware through a series of angularly spaced stations includes first and second arrays of glassware gripping fingers mounted on associated carriers that are rotatable about a common axis, both conjointly and with respect to each other. Each carrier is connected to as associated servo motor, which in turn are connected to a controller for rotating the carriers with respect to each other to grip and release glassware between the fingers, and to rotate the carriers conjointly to index the glassware between apparatus stations. One array of glassware gripping fingers includes coil springs for biasing the fingers toward the fingers of the opposing array for accommodating tolerance variations in the glassware. Drive rollers are located at at least some of the stations, and are pivotal into and out of positions for rotating the containers about their axes for inspection or other purposes.

Abstract: On a processing apparatus with step-by-step conveying of the articles to be processed and a turning module for the articles, turning is performed transversely with respect to the conveying direction. This allows much space to be saved in the turning arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention is an edge grip aligner with buffering capabilities and a method for increasing the throughput of wafers through the device. According to one embodiment, the present invention has first and second buffer arms, and a chuck arm. A workpiece can be aligned while supported on the chuck arm. Once the workpiece is aligned, the chuck arm transfers the workpiece to the buffer arms so that a second workpiece can be aligned on the chuck arm. While the second workpiece is being aligned, an end effector can transfer the first workpiece away from the buffer arms and retrieve another workpiece to place upon the chuck arm.

Abstract: Apparatus for indexing glassware through a series of angularly spaced stations includes first and second arrays of glassware gripping fingers mounted on associated carriers that are rotatable about a common axis, both conjointly and with respect to each other. Each carrier is connected to as associated servo motor, which in turn are connected to a controller for rotating the carriers with respect to each other to grip and release glassware between the fingers, and to rotate the carriers conjointly to index the glassware between apparatus stations. One array of glassware gripping fingers includes coil springs for biasing the fingers toward the fingers of the opposing array for accommodating tolerance variations in the glassware. Drive rollers are located at at least some of the stations, and are pivotal into and out of positions for rotating the containers about their axes for inspection or other purposes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety arrangement in a package turning device. The package turning device is of the type which turns selected packages which are conveyed on a conveyor path through the package turning device. The package turning device essentially comprises a piston and cylinder assembly whose piston rod is disposed to move parallel with the conveyor path, a turning member and a gripping member. The safety arrangement includes an anchorage disposed on the piston rod of the piston and cylinder assembly, and a bracket. The bracket is disposed to support the turning member and the gripping member. The anchorage and the bracket are united in spring-biased fashion and enclose between them a cavity. An incoming air conduit and an outgoing air conduit are connected to the cavity. A pressure guard is disposed on the outgoing air conduit. The cavity is closed in the normal operation of the package turning device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for the handling of containers, in particular bottles.

Abstract: The invention provides a gripper assembly comprising a mounting base having a first magnet coupled thereto and having a moveable gripper coupled to the mounting base. The moveable gripper has a second magnet coupled thereto and comprises an end effector adapted to contact a wafer. The first and second magnets are adapted so that the magnetic force therebetween biases the end effector away from the mounting base. An inventive method of gripping a substrate comprises coupling a moveable gripper to a mounting base and magnetically biasing the moveable gripper in a closed position.

Abstract: Resin vessels 10 are conveyed on a air conveyor 2 while they are supported at a point below a flange 10b, and are conveyed into a drier 8 which is disposed within a sterile chamber 14 through an inlet wheel 24. The drier carries resilient grippers 11 including a pair of arms which are urged toward each other by a spring to hold a vessel sandwiched therebetween. A vessel is dried up while it is rotatively conveyed as gripped by the resilient grippers, and is then returned to the air conveyor 2 through an outlet wheel 26. A reject wheel 28 is disposed upstream of the outlet wheel and includes unlockable grippers 130 which grips the vessel at a point above the flange for taking out the vessel from the drier. A reject arm 46 is disposed downstream of the reject wheel and is movable into and from a conveying path of vessels within the drier. The reject arm causes a vessel which the reject wheel failed to grasp to be dropped onto a discharge chute 30.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety arrangement in a package turning device. The package turning device is of the type which turns selected packages which are conveyed on a conveyor path through the package turning device. The package turning device essentially comprises a piston and cylinder assembly whose piston rod is disposed to move parallel with the conveyor path, a turning member and a gripping member. The safety arrangement includes an anchorage disposed on the piston rod of the piston and cylinder assembly, and a bracket. The bracket is disposed to support the turning member and the gripping member. The anchorage and the bracket are united in spring-biased fashion and enclose between them a cavity. An incoming air conduit and an outgoing air conduit are connected to the cavity. A pressure guard is disposed on the outgoing air conduit. The cavity is closed in the normal operation of the package turning device.

Abstract: A system and method for packaging oriented containers in a container carrier wherein a plurality of containers are fed into an orientation wheel including one or more chucks. Each chuck engages one end of the container and rotates the container into an oriented position. A transfer belt having a plurality of tactile fingers is operatively connected to the orientation wheel and transfers an oriented container nested within the tactile fingers in a fixed rotational position from the orientation wheel to a packaging machine. In a method of packaging containers according to this invention, multiple containers are positioned within the carrier in one or more rotational positions based upon the desired appearance of the package.

Abstract: The conveyor system for clinical test apparatus includes a main transport conveyor and a plurality of auxiliary conveyors located alongside the main transport conveyor. The auxiliary conveyors define straight line paths of travel parallel to the straight line paths of travel of the main conveyor. Each of the auxiliary conveyors is operated by drive means separate from the main transport conveyor. Two crossover points are provided between the main transport conveyor and the auxiliary conveyor. One crossover point is an entrance from the main transport conveyor to the auxiliary conveyor and the other crossover point is an exit from the auxiliary conveyor to the main transport conveyor. Each crossover point is controlled by a gate. One of the gates is a divert gate which can be actuated to block the main transport path thereby diverting puck traffic onto the auxiliary conveyor.

Abstract: A low cost, high-speed device for rotating a variable thickness substrate stacks in a short distance, and with neatness and precision. The substrate stack rotating device includes a lower rotating disk and an upper rotating disk that are located in a substrate path to receive a moving substrate stack. The upper disk is driven downward such that a substrate stack is pinched between the lower and upper rotating disks. The resultant clamping force helps maintain substrate stack integrity and neatness. Once a substrate stack is clamped, one of the disks is rotated, bring the substrate stack into a desired orientation. The upper rotating disk is then released, the substrate stack beneficially moves away from the disks, and the substrate stack rotating device is ready to accept another substrate stack.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for turning the top side of planar objects (1, 2) such as plywood or particle boards into the underside, the apparatus comprising an importing conveyor and an exporting conveyor, and a board turner assembly mounted between the conveyors. The board turner is formed by at least two sets of turning fingers (5, 6), each one of the sets having its fingers aligned in the same plane and being adapted to rotate about a common axis parallel with said plane. The construction of the conveyors is such that it permits the fingers (5, 6) during their rotary motion to pass through gaps of the conveyors. Each one of said sets of turning fingers (5, respectively 6) are arranged to be turned independently from each other.

Abstract: A sod-collecting apparatus, comprising a collecting platform (70) for supporting juxtaposed rows of coiled sods, a feed conveyor (20, 310) for feeding coiled sods, and a conveyor belt (40, 50, 330) downstream of said feed conveyor, said conveyor belt extending along the collecting platform (70, 350), wherein the feed conveyor (20, 310) and the conveyor belt (40, 50, 330) are arranged for displacing the coiled sods on the conveyor belt (40, 50, 330) along the collecting platform (70, 350) in a direction parallel to an axial body axis of coiled sods located on the conveyor belt (40, 50, 330), with a positioning structure for stopping each individual sod on the conveyor belt in at least one predetermined position along the collecting platform (70, 350).

Abstract: An apparatus for the personalization of identification cards (8) with integrated circuits (35) consisting of at least one personalizing station, for example printing stations (2, 3), furthermore a rotor (1) with a card transport device (16). Around the rotor (1) are laid out contacting devices (31a-m) in a stationary position for loading the integrated circuits (35) of the cards (8) each of which contacting devices is fitted with a card transport device (32) to pick up the cards (8) fed by the card transport device (16) of the rotor (1) and to return them after loading (1) of the integrated circuits (35) to the rotor (1). The rotor (1) is fitted with a contacting device (38) for test reading the integrated circuits (35).

Abstract: The conveyor system for clinical test apparatus includes a main transport conveyor and a plurality of auxiliary conveyors located alongside the main transport conveyor. The auxiliary conveyors define straight line paths of travel parallel to the straight line paths of travel of the main conveyor. Each of the auxiliary conveyors is operated by drive means separate from the main transport conveyor. Two crossover points are provided between the main transport conveyor and the auxiliary conveyor. One crossover point is an entrance from the main transport conveyor to the auxiliary conveyor and the other crossover point is an exit from the auxiliary conveyor to the main transport conveyor. Each crossover point is controlled by a gate. One of the gates is a divert gate which can be actuated to block the main transport path thereby diverting puck traffic onto the auxiliary conveyor.

Abstract: A rotatable shuttle transfer unit for transferring a workpiece from a first work station to a second work station along a predetermined path of travel wherein a pair of spaced carriages carry the workpiece along the predetermined path of travel and rotate the workpiece from a first angular orientation to a second angular orientation with respect to an axis of rotation. Preferably, the carriages rotate the workpiece while carrying the workpiece along the predetermined path of travel. The carriages are transported along a guiderail which extends between the first and second work stations. A continuous drive belt reciprocally drives the carriages along the guiderail wherein the continuous drive belt extends from one end of the guiderail to the opposite end of the guiderail. A vertical lift portion reciprocally moves the workpiece in a direction substantially normal to the predetermined path of travel. In addition, the carriages provide releasable power clamps for engaging and securing the workpiece.

Abstract: The device includes selectively operable article re-orienting means, allowing groups of articles to be packed together in a variety of orientations using a single standard packaging machine. An infeed conveyor carries the articles in a predetermined orientation using a single standard packaging machine. An infeed conveyor carries the articles in a predetermined orientation in a plurality of lanes. A group collator comprising a set of lane brakes and a movable backstop aligns a group of articles in one or more rows transverse to conveyor. A paddle transfers the group to the packaging machine. The re-orienting means turn a sub-group of articles making up the group to a specified orientation for such transfer, each article sub-group being turned about a respective axis normal to the plane of the infeed conveyor.

Abstract: The conveyor system for clinical test apparatus includes a main transport conveyor and a plurality of auxiliary conveyors located alongside the main transport conveyor. The auxiliary conveyors define straight line paths of travel parallel to the straight line paths of travel of the main conveyor. Each of the auxiliary conveyors is operated by drive means separate from the main transport conveyor. Two crossover points are provided between the main transport conveyor and the auxiliary conveyor. One crossover point is an entrance from the main transport conveyor to the auxiliary conveyor and the other crossover point is an exit from the auxiliary conveyor to the main transport conveyor. Each crossover point is controlled by a gate. One of the gates is a divert gate which can be actuated to block the main transport path thereby diverting puck traffic onto the auxiliary conveyor.

Abstract: A rotary drive device for a flat object which is transported by a conveyance means to a processing station. At the processing station the object is rotated about an axis orthogonal to its surface extension by the rotary drive device. The rotary drive device includes a receptacle for the object and an axially projecting guidance means which cooperates with a hole in the object to center the object. When the object is positioned on the conveyance means above the receptacle, the object can be connected to the receptacle free of rotational play by a releasable fixation means. The receptacle is arranged on a rotatable plunger that can be moved back and forth so that elaborate pivoting and lowering motions of the conveyance means is not required.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rotating wafers in a scrubber, wherein both sides of a wafer are scrubbed without slipping or hesitating. A rotating roller imparts rotary motion to a semiconductor wafer during a cleaning process wherein both sides of a wafer are scrubbed. The rotating roller and wafer contact at their outer edges and the friction between their outer edges causes the wafer to rotate. The roller has an outer edge with a groove. The wafer edge is pinched inside the groove to create enough friction that when cleaning solutions are applied the wafer does not slip and continues to rotate. Also, the groove allows the roller to pinch the wafer just enough so that when the roller reaches the flat of the wafer, the roller may regain the radius of the wafer without hesitating.

Abstract: A device and process is described for positioning a bundle having a top surface and a bottom surface. The device includes a low friction surface positioned to support the bundle fed along an infeed path to a first position along the bottom surface for free movement in a prescribed plane. A carriage assembly is adjacent the low friction surface and includes a bundle engaging foot configured for selective movement along an axis substantially normal to the low friction surface to engage the top surface of the bundle and press the bundle against the low friction surface. The carriage assembly and bundle engaging foot are configured to selectively rotate and move the bundle at the feed rate along the plane of the low friction surface to a position spaced from the first position for movement along a discharge path. In the process, the bundle is moved at the infeed rate from the infeed path to a discharge path while the bundle is selectively rotated about an axis to a selected orientation.

Abstract: A device for conveying, lifting and rotating containers (521; 522; 523), (510) are conveyed in lying position past a detector (515) in order to inspect characteristic data regarding the containers, and means (124; 538) which, on the basis of such data, determines how the containers are to be handled. Along a first and a second longitudinal side (510'; 510") of the conveyor (510) there are provided respectively a first and a second rotatable roll (511, 512), wherein the rolls can be made to rotate with the aid of respective first and second roll driving motors (513, 514) about their longitudinal axis in the same direction of rotation.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for orientating articles being moved along a conveyor for processing, so that a selected feature of each article is facing in the same predetermined direction, ie. handle leading. The apparatus comprises a support member having a pair of parallel longitudinally extending drive belts attached thereto, for gripping an article therebetween for advancement of the article along the predetermined path. The apparatus further comprises structure for selectively rotating the support member to orientate the feature of the article in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: A device which centers bottles beneath a filling nozzle and which can be very quickly changed when there is a change in the bottles being run on the line. The device includes an upper bracket which receives the mouth of the bottle and may also include a lower foot against which the back of the bottle is received. The bracket holds the bottle while the bottle is filled. Both the mouth receiving bracket and the foot against which the back of the bottle rests are readily changeable with brackets and feet, respectively, of other sizes. Typically the bottles will be conveyed to the bracket by a star wheel.

Abstract: A device for positioning and clamping a board includes a plurality of clamping devices for clamping an edge portion of the board. Each clamping device includes positioning members for positioning the board with respect thereto, and a dragging device disposed between the clamping devices for dragging the board into contact with the positioning members. The dragging device is provided with a board clamping portion including a lower claw and an upper claw having rotating disks rotatably installed thereon for swivably clamping the board, and a reciprocating mechanism connected with the board clamping portion for reciprocating the board clamping portion. A board is first clamped by the dragging device and is dragged into contact with the positioning members of the clamping devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for the manufacture of curved insulating glass, for use on automobiles, is made providing separate paths for the two sheets of glass making up the insulating double-glazed glass, until an assembly station (M) is reached. Two separate centering stations (D and D1) are also provided. The apparatus has, in the single assembly station (M), a pressing device to press the insulating glass (V) until the desired thickness is obtained.

Abstract: A wafer holder which grips a wafer by its edges is disclosed. The wafer holder is mounted on a spindle assembly which spins the wafer so held, for example, to spin dry both the front and back side of the wafer. The wafer holder includes two pairs of wafer holding bumpers, each pair coupled to one end of a reciprocating arm which swings each pair inward and outward to define an open position for releasing or loading a wafer, and a closed position for holding the wafer. Each arm is coupled to an insert and thrust bearing allowing for rotation to provide the reciprocating motion. After the insert and thrust bearing have toggled past a predefined position while the wafer holder is in the closed position, further motion is prevented, to lock the wafer holder in the closed position. Further, the insert member rotates back and forth in response to up and down movement of a rod within the spindle to allow for opening and closing of the wafer holder.

Abstract: A carrying apparatus comprising an endless roller chain belt that moves on a circular track and includes a plurality of fixture plates. Each fixture plate has several interrupted slot lines each of which comprises vertically elongate lower, middle and upper slot sections, and a work holding device formed with a resilient coil section intermediate a fixing section at an upper end and a work holding section at a lower end. The work holding device being engaged with the slot line such that the coil section seats within the middle slot section and the fixing and work holding sections extend respectively through the upper and lower slot sections to hold a workpiece between the holding section and an edge of the fixture plate. The middle slot section being skewed at an inclined angle with the upper and lower slot section having vertical axes parallel to and spaced one from the other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for trimming and inspecting hollow plastic containers having a neck which has an opening that forms an angle with the vertical axis of the hollow container wherein as the hollow container is moved by a conveyor intermittently past a succession of stations of a trimming and inspection apparatus, the neck of the container is clamped and oriented so that the axis of the opening is vertical and the trimming or inspecting tooling is moved downwardly to engage and perform the trimming or inspecting. In one form two containers are simultaneously clamped and oriented.

Abstract: An inventive orientation apparatus is provided in the present invention preferably for use with blow molding operations. The apparatus includes an object having a body portion and a neck portion. The neck portion has an outer peripheral surface and an alignment lug which extends outwardly from the peripheral surface and past the same. Additionally, a rotating support is included for supporting the object and causing the same to rotate, wherein the rotating support is movable with a moving carrier pallet. The apparatus also includes an orientating element located adjacent the carrier which engages the alignment lug on the object and stops the rotation of the object at a desired orientation. The invention may also include an orientation check device which is positioned upstream from the orientation element, adjacent the carrier, which is used for checking the orientation of the alignment lug for preventing a system jam.

Abstract: Printing works products, book blocks having a spine for example, are transferred from a feed conveyor to a receiver with selected products being rotated through an angle of 180.degree. during the transfer. The products to be rotated are frictionally engaged, slowed to a standstill during a first phase of rotation and thereafter accelerated and discharged when rotation is completed. The synchronized first phase of rotation and arresting of product motion is controlled such that the center of gravity of the product will be located approximately in alignment with the axis of rotation when rotation through an angle of approximately 90.degree. is completed.

Abstract: A rotating apparatus for orienting transformer core plates during feed to a laminating station by a conveyer. The apparatus includes a plurality of level guides disposed at spaces between each of plural spaced conveying belts of the conveyer, the level guides including top ends which rise above an upper surface level of the conveying belts while the plate is lifted and rotated by rotating device, and descend to below the upper surface level of the conveying belts when the plate is translated by the conveying belts after the rotation, so that the plate rotates to slide on the level guides.

Abstract: Apparatus for turning a sheet-like workpiece, e.g. a rectangular sheet of glass, and for applying a sealing strip continuously along its edges, includes an air flotation/section support bed (14, 15) covered by an air-permeable mat (16), a sealing strip applicator (32, 59) on a carriage (33), suction cup assemblies (63, 72) mobilely mounted on respective mutually perpendicular slides (24, 25) for gripping the sheet (22) at two adjacent corners thereof, the movement of the assemblies (63, 72) being coordinated such that, while gripping the sheet (22), one assembly (72) is moved towards the initial position of the other assembly (63) and simultaneously the latter (63) is moved towards the corner diagonally opposite the corner at which the first assembly (72) was initially disposed.

Abstract: For use in an apparatus wherein a container is supported for decorating, wherein the container has a neck and a finish with an opening formed at an angle to the axis of the container, a chuck for engaging the finish. The chuck includes a body having an axis of rotation. The body includes an annular axially facing surface having the same axis as the axis of the body. The annular surface is frustoconical and forms an angle with the axis of the body such that the finish is engaged by the surface for holding the end of the container with the neck and finish in position for decoration. The body is mounted for rotation about its axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying labels to containers wherein the web on which the labels are provided is moved from a feed reel over a metering mechanism into position for transfer to containers on a turret. The web is thereafter stored on a reel. The turret has a plurality of circumferentially spaced replaceable container holders which can be readily removed to accommodate containers having a wide range of label panel radii.

Abstract: A device (24) for aligning with a feeding line (8) of a moving transfer conveyor (3) and for bending a round elongated dough piece (13) randomly placed on the moving transfer conveyor for transfer, comprising a pair of stoppers (26, 26) symmetrically arranged in a funnel-shape above the moving transfer conveyor (3) so that the dough piece (13) can be moved to a central position between the stoppers (26) and (26). The stoppers are rotatable to bend the dough piece (13) and movable to release it on the moving transfer conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically stacking differently sized packs of panels (P), or may be differently sized panels, formed by a dividing apparatus, on respective lifting platforms, such that packs of panels (P) of a same size will be stacked on one and the same lifting platform. The rows (H) of packs of panels (P) moved out of a cutting machine in the dividing apparatus, are shifted in a parallel direction to the final cutting line (Z) in the dividing apparatus. The rows (H) consisting of a plurality of successive packs of panels (P) having a same length but an even differentiated width, are fed to at least one transport runway (12) arranged at right angles thereto. The single packs of panels (P), or the single panels, composing a panel row (H), are then individually transferred to the transport runway (12) so as to be mutually set in line thereon in the same way.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotating mechanism for rotating a container including a pair of freely rotatable rollers (351, 351) and one driving roller (349) which holds a flanged portion of a mouth portion of a container at three portions, a pair of roller support rods (352, 352) which support at one ends the rotatable rollers (351, 351) and which can be bilaterally freely opened and closed for embracing the flanged portion of the mouth portion, a mechanism (363, 366, 367) for bilaterally opening and closing the paired roller support rods (352, 352), and a mechanism (353, 356, 357, 358) for driving the driving roller (349).

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting surgical needles includes a needle holding apparatus having a movable jaw structure. The jaw structure is releasably biased in a closed position for holding needles in a predetermined position. The jaw structure may include laterally movable first and second sections for rotating a needle therebetween.The needle holding apparatus may be removably positionable on a work surface such that the needle holding apparatus may interface with a needle loading apparatus. The needle loading apparatus provides accommodating means capable of containing a multiplicity of needles. A needle advancing structure, such as a movable track, advances the needles in a predetermined fashion from the accommodating means. The needle advancing structure positions needles such that said jaw structure of the holding apparatus can selectively grasp the needles and transport the needle to another location.

Abstract: A container positioning apparatus as may be used in a labeller is adapted to serve a variety of containers having different configurations. The apparatus comprises a container receptacle on which containers are placed and a support which is located below the receptacle. The container receptacle is supported by a spring so as to be elevatable with respect to the support. The support carries a plurality of pins which are resiliently urged upward. The pins are disposed in a manner to conform the configuration of containers to be positioned, and extend through pin openings formed in the container receptacle. When containers are placed on the container receptacle, which is then depressed, those pins which are located directly below the containers will be depressed together with the container receptacle, whereby those pins which surround the containers and projecting above the container receptacle are effective to position the containers.

Abstract: A machine for rotationally orientating containers grouped in a multipack comprises endless chains with dogs for feeding the multipacks into the orientation station at which pneumatic cylinders are provided for raising lifters which lift the respective containers into engagement with respective chucks. The chucks are accommodated in pockets formed in a chuck housing and defining tapered surfaces to guide the containers onto the chucks. A stripper bar is provided to disengage the containers from the chucks after orientation is complete.