Abstract: A method for placing packets having a length different from the width into and out of storage in a storage rack in which the packet is oriented extending longitudinally and transversely as selected and the orientation can be changed between a distribution path and it being placed into or out of storage. The orientation of the packet can be changed by 90 degrees between a distribution path and the storage rack, for which purpose in each case two incoming paths and/or outgoing paths are disposed in a crossing arrangement between the distribution path and the storage rack, wherein via each incoming path and/or outgoing path at least two storage rack aisles can be reached or emptied, and a 90 degree deflector is disposed at the crossing point in order to change the incoming or outgoing path as selected.

Abstract: A multiple-lane fruit positioning apparatus, especially suitable for peaches, includes a fruit flight conveyor having fruit holding flights with a number of recesses provided with an opening through which a part of the fruit protrudes. Associated to the fruit flight conveyor is an orientation device including rotating transverse shafts carrying rigidly connected orienting elements. The transverse shafts travel on an operation plane (Pa) that is parallel to a working stroke plane (Pc) of a tape formed by the fruit holding flights in time with a tape of the fruit flight conveyor so that each orienting element, rotating jointly with each transverse shaft by which it is borne, is in the recess opening in contact with the fruit contained therein and moves the fruit until a plane containing the suture line of each fruit is positioned at right angles with the longitudinal direction, and the stalk cavity thereof faces downwardly.

Abstract: A conveyor line for fruit or vegetables has a plurality of rollers defining seats for the products therebetween. At a selection station, a first member detects at least one feature of the product, and at a sorting station, a second member diverts similar products toward the same destination. Upstream of the selection station, the direction of rotation of the rollers is controlled to cause each product to settle correctly in its seat or shift into an adjacent seat, so that during detection of the features of the products, the products remain properly seated.

Abstract: An improved palletizing machine (10) includes a frame (12), a pallet plate (16) for supporting pallets (18), and a pallet raising and lowering mechanism (20). A pusher bar assembly (26) includes at least one raised return rail (44) to facilitate return of a pusher bar (28) to a start position (68). An extendable object positioning wheel (104) on a conveyor (119) feeding objects (24) to an object receiver (22) of the machine (10) facilitates pivoting of objects (24) between positions as the objects (24) impact the wheel (104). A stripper sheet positioning assembly (80) positions and removes a stripper sheet (82) from on top of the pallet (18) or layer (118) of objects (24) to prevent pushed objects (24) from catching upon edges of objects (24) in a layer (116) already on the pallet.

Abstract: Conveyor (1), comprising a number of supporting bodies (10) arranged successively in an array in order to form transporting positions for objects (P) for transporting between two successive supporting bodies (10), wherein the form of the supporting bodies (10) is suitable for urging the objects (P) into a transverse position relative to the direction of movement (B).

Abstract: A conveying assembly for fruit handling, comprising a carriage (20) adapted to be attached to a conveying chain arranged to displace the carriage in a conveying direction, a cup (30) adapted to support a single piece of fruit, the cup being secured to the carriage via a parallelogram linkage (41, 42, 22, 35) extending transversely to the conveying direction, the cup being pivotally secured to the linkage to be moveable from a conveying position to a discharge position, the linkage having release means (60) to cause the cup to pivot relative to the linkage transversely of the conveying direction to the discharge position to effect discharge of the fruit, the linkage allowing the cup to be vertically displaceable to effect weighting of the fruit.

Abstract: A “soft touch” lifter for an automotive “Body in White” geometry station like a framing system is disclosed having a unique lifting assembly for elevating both the automotive body and the underbody tooling to a geometry position. The system includes a lift assembly which is vertically slidably mounted to a stationary base and movable between a first position in which the lift frame is positioned beneath a skid positioned at the geometry station and upon which the automotive body is supported, and a second position elevated from the first position. An underbody tooling assembly is mounted to the lift frame, and this tooling assembly includes a plurality of locators which register with position receptors on the automotive underbody when the skid is positioned at the geometry station. A pair of T-shaped lift arms are slidably mounted to the stationary base at opposite ends of the skid, and these lift arms are movable between a lower and an upper position.

Abstract: The conveyor comprises a fruit loading station, a weighing station, an unloading station and a center conveyor chain that includes, on each side, an alignment of tiltable supports for receiving fruit pieces one by one, to then deposit the fruit pieces on a plurality of output conveyor belts; under the tiltable supports, there is a plurality of side conveyor chains supporting a plurality of rotating cylindrical elements selected from rollers and discs that are combined alternatively with the tiltable supports; these rotating cylindrical elements make the pieces of fruit rotate to control them.

Abstract: An object sorting system includes a product presentation device with a floating portion and a subframe pivotally connected to a frame link driven by a chain. The product presentation device and frame link operate with a latch so that the product presentation device can move objects through the system to be sorted and deposit the objects at an appropriate job station. The floating portion of the product presentation device allows accurate determination of object weights. The product presentation device can also be married to or divorced from wheels which are used to turn the object before a viewer for sorting based on visual characteristics. Because the wheels can be divorced from the product presentation device, objects can be deposited more gently in collection bins at the drop stations. The system may use belt driven or roller driven pre-singulation to assure that only one object is placed in a product presentation device.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for treating a polyolefin surface to become receptive to inks and adhesives is disclosed. The present invention provides a method of and apparatus for treating a polyolefin surface to become receptive to inks and adhesives, using the steps of introducing the shaped object onto a conveyor belt; conveying the shaped object towards an output end of the conveyor belt; aligning and guiding the shaped object across a treatment device to treat the entire 360.degree. surface of the shaped object. The treatment device includes, for example, an electrode spark generator.

Abstract: A pear processing method and apparatus is provided which includes several mechanisms for properly orienting the pear prior to coring, peeling and seed celling of the pear. Each pear is tumbled between a pair of orienting rolls to a position wherein the stem of the pear is oriented downwardly. Whiskers on one of the rolls speed up this orienting of the pear. A friction clutch on the other roll helps maintain the pear in its proper position, once the proper alignment has been attained. The pear is dropped downwardly into a transfer cup having four resilient fingers which tend to orient the pear. The pear is then pushed out of the transfer cup downwardly into a feed cup having a concave receptacle for centering the stem of the pear and three upwardly extending arms which grasp and center the blossom end of the pear. The pear is then transferred to a station wherein the pear is cored and thereafter peeled and seed celled simultaneously. The stem and blossom are also trimmed.

Abstract: A device for centering and aligning vessels, such as bottles in a bottle treating machine handles bottles that have bottom and/or sidewall recesses for being engaged by detents or alignment elements in response to swiveling of the bottle where a centering ring of a bottle support is connected through its housing to an auxiliary control arrangement in the bottle transport table while the bottle support plate which is arranged in the housing is supported so as to be freely rotatable and possesses a cylindrical friction rim against which a friction element such as a closed loop belt interfaces for driving the rim rotationally, the friction element extending through the housing of the bottle supporting assembly features a lateral access opening which allows the rim to be engaged during the time that the particular model is in the alignment zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling an object such as fruit having a major axis, includes at least one roller and a drive unit. The roller frictionally engages the object. The drive unit rotates the roller at a speed sufficient to cause the major axis of the object to be reoriented in a predetermined direction. This facilitates measuring the size and density of objects in a consistent manner.

Abstract: A chip component handling and loading system for orienting and transporting a plurality of generally rectangular chip components includes a storage and feed location which, by means of vibratory action, randomly shakes out the chip components into or onto a series of twenty-five substantially parallel, generally rectangular channels. These channels are sized and arranged to receive the chip components in only one proper orientation. Any chip component which is not properly oriented either will not fit in the channel, or will fit in the channel as to its width and not height and downstream from the entry into the channels is a brush-back station where any improperly oriented chip component is either brushed away from the top surface of the channels or is brushed into a proper orientation.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apple orienting device suited to orient apples, particularly those apples which are relatively long as compared to their diameter. The orientor includes a set of rollers which are rotated intermittently and are mounted on a shaft adjacent to one end of an apple carrying receptacle to roll the end of a long apple upwardly so as to orient the apple vertically in the receptacle. The orientor also includes a larger wheel for rotation adjacent to one side of the apple receptacle that has a number of protuberances spaced along its circumference to align the core of apples in the receptacle with the rollers.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for aligning fish in the position required for decapitation. For this purpose the fish is displaced by means of sprung displacement elements with the point of connection of at least one of its breast fins until the latter engages the catching edge of a brake shoe. The breast fin which is erected thereby is introduced, while being conveyed further, into a gap formed between the brake shoe and a guide track which ensures the guiding of the same and thus of the fish in a well-defined position for decapitation.

Abstract: A work transfer assembly including a transfer car movable along a path for transporting a workpiece carrier between separate processing stations positioned along the path. The car includes a push-pull chain made up of a plurality of links with one of the links defined by a pair of spaced support plates having upwardly extending support flanges interconnected by a shaft which rotatably supports a coupler member. The coupler member is a single unitary member having a pair of side plates interconnected by an abutment plate below which is an L-shaped plate defining a hook. The coupler member is rotatably supported for movement between a hook position with the hook in position for hooking a tray for removing the tray from a station and an abutment position with the abutment plate in position for abutting the tray for pushing the tray into the station.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apple orienting device suited to orient apples particularly those known as the Red Delicious variety and which are generally relatively long as compared to their diameter. The present orientor includes a pair of eccentrically mounted wheels, and represents an improvement over presently known devices. The orienter uses two eccentrically mounted wheels to aid in orienting the apples.