Abstract: Apparatus for processing generally elongate curved products having two ends and having a longitudinal axis extending in the elongate direction, in particular vegetables or fruit, for instance cucumbers, the processing comprising in succession at least: conveying the products with an endless conveyor in a conveying direction T in a substantially horizontal plane, the products positioned with their longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction T; orienting these products with an orienting unit, and taking up the oriented products with a take-up unit for a further handling; wherein the orienting unit comprises two supporting points for each product, with at least one supporting point situated at some distance from an end of the product, wherein the orienting unit is configured for orienting during conveying, and wherein the products upon orienting rotate substantially about their longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A thin-part feeding device is provided which is compact and efficient. The device has a funnel portion with a feeding opening at the bottom thereof, a take-out tube for taking out thin parts from the funnel portion, and a receiving portion with separate opening for receiving thin parts from the discharge opening. The receiving portion is movable, and the receiving opening is sized to receive only one thin part. The device is operative to repeat a state where the receiving opening faces the discharge opening, and a state where the receiving opening is away from the discharge opening to enable thin parts to be taken out from the receiving opening. The device also features a novel, posture-correcting portion to correct vertical posture of thin parts, a delivery portion for receiving posture-corrected thin parts, and a transporting portion as described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transfer system and method for aligning articles. The transfer system comprises a transfer member adapted to transfer the articles along a designated path, an orientation-adjustment portion having an orienter that is adapted to rotate at least a first portion of the articles, and a receiving portion that is adapted to restrict movement of at least a second portion of the articles along the designated path Each of the articles has a surface configuration that allows the articles to compress along an axial direction when at least two of the surface configurations of a respective adjacent two of the articles are aligned, and the receiving portion and the orienter cooperate to align the first portion and the second portion and compress a length of the first portion and the second portion along an axial direction of the articles.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for aligning at least one voucher (12 to 18). The apparatus has first and second transport elements (24 to 52, 224 to 252) for transporting the voucher (12 to 18) on a transport plane (10) of a transport path. At least one first rotating transport element (38 to 52, 238 to 252) generates a driving force acting on the voucher (12 to 18) obliquely to the center axis (20) lying on the transport plane (10) of the transport path. At least one second rotating transport element (24 to 36, 224 to 296) generates a driving force acting on the voucher (12 to 18) parallel to the center axis (20). At least one first drive unit (304, 306, 313 to 322b) moves the first rotating transport element (38 to 52, 238 to 252) at least to the transport plane (10). At least one second drive unit (304, 306, 313 to 322) moves the second rotating transport element (24 to 36) at least to the transport plane (10).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conveying and arranging bakery products such as hot dog buns or breadsticks. The products are delivered with their length dimensions at a variety of angular orientations and some products inverted. An aligning conveyor receives misaligned products on adjacent belts or other drive members which are driven at differential speeds to rotate the products to the proper orientation. Inverted products are conveyed against guide rails which are arranged to interact with the curved edges on the tops of the buns to roll the inverted products over. The products are conveyed in discrete lanes to properly organize them for packaging.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a wafer holder and a related wafer conveyor system. The wafer holder holds a wafer and moves horizontally within a chamber. A contact area between the wafer and the wafer holder is reduced, and potential contaminants generated by ear between components of the wafer holder are trapped by an airtight cover. Since the wafer holder moves horizontally while being fixed to a guide rail, the wafer conveyor system reduces friction between the guide rail and the wafer holder.

Abstract: It is described a container carrier turning device for a specimen container (2) provided with an ID barcode (5) and inserted into a carrier (3) made advancing by a conveyor belt (4). The turning device comprises carrier stopping means (10) for rotatably engaging a lateral surface (21) of said carrier (3) to stop the advancing movement of the carrier while leaving it free to rotate around the container axis and carrier pressing means (14) for rotatably engaging an upper surface (20) of said carrier (3). Elastic means (12) force said carrier pressing means to a carrier engaging position. There are provided first pneumatic means (11) for moving said carrier stopping means (10) to a carrier stopping position and second pneumatic means (15) for moving said carrier pressing means (14) to a carrier disengaging position against the action of said elastic means (12). An idle bearing (16), opposite to the carrier stopping means (10), facilitates the carrier rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus for longitudinally arranging elongated items may include a plurality of parallel rotatable members having at least two radially enlarged portions and a channel portion disposed between adjacent radially enlarged portions. The rotatable members are disposed transverse to the desired longitudinal arrangement. The apparatus may also include a drive mechanism coupled to at least one of the rotatable members. Longitudinally arranging items, such as bakery products having an elongated shape, may be accomplished by receiving a plurality of items that are randomly oriented, introducing the plurality of items into at least one longitudinal channel formed by a plurality of channels portions on parallel rotating members, conveying the items along the at least one channel, narrowing a width of the at least one channel while conveying the items, aligning the items within the at least one channel, and outputting at least one row of longitudinally aligned items.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for collating nails wherein round head nails are fed by gravity along an inclined rail to a periphery of a rotating indexing and feed wheel. The nails are deposited into circumferentially spaced grooves formed in the periphery of the feed wheel in a vertical orientation. The feed wheel is inclined at an angle of approximately 45° and upon 180° rotation of the feed wheel the nails assume a horizontal orientation. A conveyor has a plurality of spaced segments attached to a pair of moving belts. Each segment is formed with spaced notches for receiving the nails in a horizontal spaced relationship from the feed wheel and then transporting the horizontally spaced nails to a collator for forming into a continuous strip. Rotation of the feed wheel is synchronized with movement of the conveyor by a motor, a gear train and drive shafts extending between the feed wheel and conveyor.

Abstract: Method and device for pivoting plate elements travelling on a flat conveyor, the conveyor being provided with two parallel left and right paths, respective driven at different speeds. The paths define between them a separating line on which the plate elements are rotated around an axis by application of each of the two path speeds on a left portion of the plate element and on a right portion of the plate element defined by the separating line. The method involves maintaining the barycenter of each plate element sufficiently close to the separating line to extend the effect of the rotation applied to these plate elements.

Abstract: A robot calibration system and method for robots in semiconductor wafer processing systems is disclosed. The calibration system comprises a calibration array, a dummy wafer and a control system programmed with a calibration routine. The calibration array has an plurality of inductive proximity sensors to determine parallelism of the robot relative to a station and a center locating sensor to determine the center of the station.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus (10) are disclosed for handling pallets (S) to be inspected and sorted. The method can include tipping a substantially vertically oriented pallet (L) in a forward rotational direction to expose and allow inspection of a trailing major (17) surface of the pallet. A lower portion of the pallet then can be moved to cause the pallet to tip in a rearward rotational direction and land in a substantially horizontal position. The apparatus can include a pallet restraining device (16) for blocking the motion of an upper portion of the pallet as it tips in the forward rotational direction and a conveyor (30) for moving the lower portion of the pallet to cause the pallet to tip in the rearward rotational direction.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a controller of a robotic arm in a microelectronics manufacturing apparatus that includes storing a default position for an edge detector, moving a blade on the robotic arm based on the default position of the edge detector such that at least three edge points on the blade pass through and are detected by the edge detector, generating a plurality of arm position measurements from an arm position sensor by measuring a position with the arm position sensor of the robotic arm at each position of the robotic arm at which an edge point of the blade is detected by the edge detector, and determining at least one of an actual position of the edge detector and an offset for measurements of the arm position sensor based on the plurality of arm position measurements.

Abstract: A handling device for electronic chip components includes an indexing table having a plurality of cavities for holding electronic chip components therein and a circulatory feeder for supplying the electronic chip components to the indexing table. One or more cavities are simultaneously disposed at a location which comes close to the circulatory feeder and, by performing a suction operation in the cavities, the electronic chip components are directly put into the cavities, without moving the electronic chip components along the main surface of the indexing table.

Abstract: A device for orienting tubular preforms which are fed in bulk by a supply device, including two continuous endless conveyors which are disposed side by side and which are equipped respectively with two parallel lines which are separated horizontally from one another by a distance that is greater than the largest cross-sectional dimension of the preforms. According to the invention, the preform-supply device is disposed above one end of the two conveyors. The two conveyors are moved by drive device in opposing directions in order to pivot any preforms that arrive positioned sideways across the conveyors and to drop the longitudinally-oriented preforms into the space between the two conveyors. The orienting device also includes an endless belt for collecting preforms, which extends beneath the two conveyors parallel thereto and which is used to collect and move the horizontally-laid longitudinally-aligned preforms one after the other.

Abstract: A device for aligning a plurality of vertically arranged (upright) disks (20), especially wafer disks during the fabrication of semiconductor chips. Two mounting or bearing elements (30, 32) respectively have individually mounted guide rollers (34) positioned next to each other for each disk position. A drive device (40, 42; 50, 60; 240, 242) is for rotating the disks in relation to their azimuthal positions. A device (80) is provided for detecting the azimuthal positions of notches or indentations (22) arranged in the outer circumference in the disks (20). A device is provided for controlling the drive with the signals of the detection device (80) for detecting the azimuthal positions of the notches (22). The drive for rotating the disks in relation to their azimuthal positions has an individually driven drive roller element (42) for each disk (20) mounted on the stationary axis.

Abstract: A bailing apparatus includes a bailer feeder and a bailer. The bailer feeder is arranged to feed handles to the bailer. The bailer is adapted to couple the handles to containers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively orienting an article (28) can include a selective indexing of a movable carriage (94) between a first carriage position and at least a second carriage position, thereby providing a selected face-alignment of a datum surface (74) of the article. In particular aspects, the first carriage position can be configured to provide for a first, twist displacement of the article, and the second carriage position can be configured to provide for a second, twist displacement of the article with the second twist displacement directionally opposite to the first twist displacement. In another aspect, the movable carriage can include an indexing wheel (120). In a further aspect, at least one set of twist-belts (66) can be connected to the carriage (94).

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an article turning-round apparatus improved so that a series of articles can be successively turned round at a high velocity and there is no restriction imposed on the positions at which the articles are loaded and unloaded.

Abstract: A substrate processing system includes a notch aligner. The notch aligner includes a rotating support device, a servomotor for rotating the rotating support device, a sensor for detecting a notch formed in a wafer, a wafer lifting device, a cylinder actuator for vertically moving the wafer lifting device, and a CPU. The rotating support device holds a wafer in a horizontal position. The sensor detects the notch to determine the orientation of the wafer. The wafer lifting device receives the wafer from the rotating support device and lifts up the wafer from the rotating support device. A notch detection signal provided by the sensor is given to the CPU. The CPU gives control signals to the servomotor and the pneumatic cylinder actuator to operate the servomotor and the cylinder actuator so that the wafer is aligned.

Abstract: A directional small part transporter and sorter simultaneously imparts upon a part-carrying platen reciprocating movements along one or two horizontal axis perpendicular to each other and a third vertical axis. A stack of slidingly coupled carriages are each independently driven by a stepping motor. Each motor is coupled to a carriage by means of a mechanism that translates the rotation of the motor into a linear translation of the coupled carriage by means of a worm screw or transmission belt. An electronic module controlled by a data processor allows for adjustment of the duration, amplitude, frequency and phase relationship of the three periodical movements of the platen. A part reservoir along the platen can be either raised to deliver parts onto the platen or lowered below the platen ledge to receive parts off the platen. The transporter and sorter may be used in connection with various electronic component manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A tablet conveying and cutting apparatus capable of adjusting the position of a tablet is a structure suitable for downsizing. A tablet conveying and cutting apparatus has an arranging device for arranging a long side of the tablet to be perpendicular to the tablet's moving direction by moving the tablet for a predetermined distance; and an oblique plate for making the tablet fall a predetermined distance.

Abstract: The present invention is a machine to perform two or more processes to an bottle wherein registration of the first process to the second process is required. The products produced with such registration have distinct advantages over prior art. These include labeling systems comprising multiple labels that can be incorporated into many useful variants for promotional items. Additionally, novel packaging systems can utilize this technology.

Abstract: An edge roller assembly includes first and second grip rings. The grip rings are held together in an opposing relationship such that outer surfaces thereof define a groove for receiving an edge of a substrate. The grip rings may be O-rings formed of a rubber material. In one embodiment, the grip rings are held together by lower and upper clamp plates that are adjustably fastened together so that the clamping forces exerted on the substrate can be controlled. The upper clamp plate may have a height adjustment knob for adjusting the height of the edge roller assembly mounted thereon. A method for contacting an edge of a substrate and a transport system for transporting semiconductor wafers to a wafer processing station also are described.

Abstract: A directional small part transporter and sorter simultaneously imparts upon a part-carrying platen reciprocating movements along one or two horizontal axis perpendicular to each other and a third vertical axis. A stack of slidingly coupled carriages are each independently driven by a stepping motor. Each motor is coupled to a carriage by means of a mechanism that translates the rotation of the motor into a linear translation of the coupled carriage by means of a worm screw or transmission belt. An electronic module controlled by a data processor allows for adjustment of the duration, amplitude, frequency and phase relationship of the three periodical movements of the platen. A part reservoir along the platen can be either raised to deliver parts onto the platen or lowered below the platen ledge to receive parts off the platen. The transporter and sorter may be used in connection with various electronic component manufacturing processes.

Abstract: There are disclosed a conveying apparatus and a conveying system in which a force is efficiently transmitted to an article so as to smoothly convey the article in an arbitrary direction. In each of feed portions 15 provided at a conveying apparatus 10, 11 of the invention, a twist gear 34 is mounted on a twist base 16, and is disposed below feed rollers 17, and therefore the degree of freedom of the configurations of the twist gear 34 and feed rollers 17 are higher as compared with a conventional construction in which a feed roller is provided within a twist gear. Therefore, a compact design of the twist gear 34 can be achieved, and also the feed portions 15 and 15 can be disposed closer to each other as compared with the conventional construction. And besides, a large-size design of the feed rollers 17 can be achieved, so that an area of contact of the feed rollers 17 with the article can be increased.

Abstract: A system can re-orient a series of objects, such as containers, including pouches, from a first orientation that is one of several possible orientations, to a pre-selected second orientation. The system includes an orientation apparatus that can move a series of objects from their first orientation to the pre-selected second orientation by a movement sequence. The system includes a sensor system, such as a vision system, for detecting which of said several orientations is the first orientation. The orientation apparatus responds to a signal from said sensor, and performs a pre-determined movement sequence based on the detected first orientation.

Abstract: A parts feeder for a robot has a selection zone accessible to the robot, a device for changing the orientation and/or the position of the parts stochastically, and a device with a parts recirculation element for recirculating the parts. The device for changing the orientation and/or the position of the parts stochastically is a vibrating platform constructed at the same time as a selection zone vibrating platform can be brought relative to each other into two different positions in such a way that in the first position the vibrating platform can be brought relative to each other into two different positions in such a way that in the first position the vibrating platform can be loaded with parts from the parts recirculation element and in the second position the parts which fall down from the vibrating platform can be collected by the parts recirculation element.

Abstract: An aligning apparatus for aligning food product chips having a generally curved shape includes a longitudinally extending rib positioned with respect to a chip transport surface. As chips are transported along the transport surface, they straddle the aligning rib with respective opposed side edges thereof supported on the transport surface. Engagement with the aligning rib causes the chips to become generally aligned with the aligning rib and thus, with each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for orienting a flexible walled article, such as a pillow type bag. With the method and apparatus, the article is presented to a pattern detector which detects a pattern on the surface of the article. The detected pattern is compared with at least one of a number of predetermined patterns representing respective orientations of the article, to identify the orientation of the presented article. When the identified orientation is not a required orientation, the article is automatically turned in a manner dependent on the identified orientation so that the article takes up the required orientation.

Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for stacking unpacked processed cheese slices. Single stacks consisting of a plurality of superimposed processed cheese slices are continuously supplied by a transportation device to a first turning station. At the first turning station, the single stacks are individually rotated through 90° in the direction of transportation. These rotated single stacks subsequently are supplied to a second turning station. At the second turning station, two or more single stacks are arranged behind one another in a row and then are rotated together through 90° in the direction of transportation. Thus, the two or more single stacks come to rest on top of one another and form a multiple stack of processed cheese slices.

Abstract: A robot apparatus that is able to perform jumping. In a leg structure 110 of the robot apparatus, connecting bars 113, 114 and pivots 112a to 112d constitute a four-point link mechanism. A rod 117 is inserted into an opening formed in the distal end of a leg part 116. A coil spring 118 as an elastic member is provided between one end of the rod 117 and the distal end of the leg part 116. A bar member 120 is connected and secured to a preset point of a connecting member 115 as a knee joint. The coil spring 118 is extended/contracted by the stretching/contraction of the connecting member 115. By the operation of the four-point link mechanism, the trajectory of the distal end of the leg part is linear. The coil spring 118 is mounted at a position such that the distance between a driving shaft 101 and the distal end of the bar member 120 has a substantially linear relationship with respect to the force virtually operating between a driving shaft 101 and the distal end of the bar member 120.

Abstract: There is provided an aligner apparatus and method which can align a semiconductor substrate without contaminating a rear surface. The aligner apparatus for arbitrarily aligning the circular semiconductor substrate having a notch or “orifla” at an edge portion includes at least three spindle units rotatably axially supported by a plate, holding units for holding the semiconductor substrate, attached to respective tip ends of the spindle units, a rotation mechanism for rotating the spindle units, and a sensor for detecting the notch or “orifla”. An edge portion of the semiconductor substrate is brought into contact with the respective holding units, so that the semiconductor substrate is held. When the spindle units rotate, the semiconductor substrate held by the holding units rotates around its axial line.

Abstract: In a sorting apparatus for, for instance, eggs, an apparatus for turning eggs is arranged. The eggs are located on rollers which are mounted on axes of a roller conveyor. Further provided is a detection device for scanning the direction of orientation of each egg during transport on the roller conveyor, while turning elements are mounted on an endless chain, which turning elements during transport on the roller conveyor pick up the eggs from the roller conveyor, if necessary turn the eggs with the point in a pre-set direction, and subsequently deposit the eggs on a next transporting apparatus. The detection device consists of a device for effecting images of the eggs passing and for electronically processing the images, whereby an orientation signal is formed and a turning signal is delivered to the turning apparatus for turning the eggs in the desired direction.

Abstract: Particles are prevented from clinging to the back of a wafer in the notch alignment of the wafer, and the problems encountered when a plurality of wafers were aligned all at once are solved. Three support poles 105 are erected on a turntable 103. The substrate outer periphery 104b of wafers 104 is supported by the tapered portions of support pins 107 protruding from the support poles 105. The turntable 103 is driven by a single motor 106, and all of the wafers 104 are rotated at once. During rotation, the notches 104a of all the wafers 104 are detected by an optical sensor 116 provided to a sensor pole 117, and the angular position thereof is stored. The wafers 104 are rotated on the basis of the angular position data, and notch alignment is performed successively, starting with the bottom wafer 104.

Abstract: A device for orientating bottles in labeling, filling, capping machines and the like, comprising a turning element which is adapted to turn the bottles about an axis perpendicular to the conveyor belt until the intended position is reached, by making contact with the body of the bottles, and coordinated devices which are adapted to keep the head of the bottles in position during the orientation operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for stacking unpacked processed cheese slices and is characterised in that single stacks consisting of a plurality of superimposed processed cheese slices are continuously supplied by a transportation device to a first turning station, in which the single stacks are individually tilted through 90° in the direction of transportation, the tilted single stacks subsequently being supplied to a second turning station, in which two or more single stacks are arranged behind one another in a row and are tilted together through 90° in the direction of transportation, so that the two or more single stacks come to rest on top of one another and form a multiple stack of processed cheese slices.

Abstract: An orientation apparatus (10) includes a pair of conveyor chains (21a,21b) with pins (22) on alternate links for moving a component tube (40) to a lift station (26,27) where the component tube (40) is rotated until it is in a desired orientation. The component tube (40) is rotated by rollers (30,33) until an index tab (28a) falls into an opening (40a)in the component tube (40), stopping its rotation. The component tube (40) is then lowered onto the conveyor chains (21a,21b) and moved to the end of the apparatus where is it removed from the orientation apparatus. A component tube chamber (50) located above the conveyor chains drops one component tube (40) at a time, utilizing two singulators (58,59), onto the conveyor chains (21a,21b).

Abstract: A wafer orienting apparatus for aligning a plurality of semiconductor wafers each of which bas a v-notch formed on its outer periphery. The apparatus includes a cassette process carrier for supporting the plurality of wafers in parallel wafer supporting slots and wafer support means engaging the periphery of each wafer in an individual slot with the central axis of all wafers in coaxial alignment. A supporting platform is placed over the cassette for supporting the wafers in an inverted position in which the wafers are substantially vertical and biased by their own weight against a multiplicity of orienting mechanisms. The orienting mechanisms are arranged to correspond to each wafer position within the cassette. The plurality of orienting mechanisms are intergrated with the supporting platform so that all wafers within the cassette can be aligned during this aligning process.

Abstract: Apparatus for distributing objects to be longitudinally oriented one particular way round includes a selective turning device upstream of a take-off conveyor. A retractable selection conveyor is placed between the selective turning device and the take-off conveyor. Applications include oriented distribution of containers which have a neck.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for orienting a container, or plurality thereof, incident to a packaging operation by engaging the container with an elongate driven member travelling at a different speed than the container along a conveyor or assembly line. In particular, the containers may have the shape of a petaloid bottle, for beverages and the like, and the bottles are rotated into a common position to conform to requirements of the carton, carrier or other packaging material.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a device includes a stage for holding a substrate to be treated, a hand for carrying the substrate to the stage, and a mark detecting system for detecting a mark formed on the substrate, before the substrate is transferred to the stage, in order to roughly position the substrate. The hand is provided with a reference mark which can be detected by the mark detecting system, and the mark detecting system detects a mark of the substrate and the reference mark of the hand. Also, the hand can carry the substrate to the stage after rotating the stage in a rotational direction in response to a value detected by the mark detecting system.

Abstract: Apparatus for detection of an edge of a generally disk-shaped workpiece, such as a semiconductor wafer, includes a light source positioned to direct a light beam at the surface of the workpiece near the edge thereof such that a first part of the light beam passes the workpiece and a second part of the light beam is intercepted by the workpiece. An angle between the light beam and a normal to the surface is equal to or greater than a critical angle that produces total internal reflection of the light beam in the workpiece. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for rotating the workpiece and a light sensor positioned to sense the first part of the light beam and to generate an edge signal that represents the edge of the workpiece as the workpiece is rotated. The apparatus may be used for sensing orientation and location of semiconductor wafers of different materials, including those which are transparent to the light beam.

Abstract: A passive mechanism for centering a wafer on a chuck and with respect to a backside exclusion gas ring includes a plurality of wheels that are rotatably mounted in a circular pattern at the top surface of a chuck. The axis of rotation of each wheel is parallel to the top surface of the chuck and perpendicular to a radius extending outward from the centerpoint of the chuck surface. When a wafer is placed on the chuck, its edge contacts the wheels and, by its own weight, the wafer moves toward the center of the chuck, thereby centering itself. The wafer either slides on the wheels or, if the frictional force between the wafer and one or more of the wheels is great enough, the wafer causes the wheel to turn. The wheels may be mounted on the chuck, a carrier ring or a wafer transfer arm for moving wafers between processing stations. In one embodiment the alignment wheels are mounted on a carrier ring, and a second alignment mechanism aligns the carrier ring to the chuck.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer testing apparatus has a work table on which a carrier containing semiconductor wafers to be checked is placed. The work table is equipped for combined wafer alignment and wafer code recognition while the wafers remain in their carrier in one position on the work table. The alignment is accomplished with a wafer flat zone aligner which has a pair of roller pins each coming in contact with circumferences of the wafers being stacked in the carrier through an open lower part of the carrier and an opening in the table. The wafer code recognition is accomplished with an optical character recognizer that moves up and down and forward and backward with respect to the carrier, and interposes between the wafers in the carrier so as to read out codes which are on each wafer. This combined automated work station helps prevent contamination of the wafers by an operator or by unnecessary handling of the wafers, and also reduces cycle time for the entire inspection process.

Abstract: A process for forming a footed plastic container, comprising the steps of providing a preform having a neck portion with an open top end, an elongated cylindrical body portion with inner and outer walls and a lower end, wherein the lower end includes a plurality of thickened portions; providing a blow mold in the shape of a footed container having an elongated sidewall, wherein the blow mold includes a plurality of separate container foot forming cavities; inserting the preform into the blow mold; placing each of the thickened portions in a predetermined position relative to the foot forming cavities; and stretch blow molding the preform, and displacing material from each of the thickened portions into one of the foot forming cavities to form the plastic container.

Abstract: A can body embossing apparatus has a first mandrel with a first tooling member adapted to receive thereon a can body and a second mandrel with a second tooling member reciprocally movable from a first position distal the first tooling member to a second position proximate the first tooling member. In the second position, the can body side wall is engaged between the first tooling member and the second tooling member. The first tooling member defines one or more recessed portions therein and the second tooling member defines one or more protuberances extending therefrom and adapted to correspond with the recessed portions. The first mandrel and second mandrel are in mechanical communication throughout the reciprocal movement of the second mandrel such that the first and second tooling members rotate continuously with respect to each other and maintain a substantially constant relative position with respect to each other.

Abstract: A method and unit for orienting pump-operated caps, whereby a disorderly succession of caps, each having an elongated head and a draw tube extending from the head, is fed on a conveying surface to an engaging station. At the engaging station the draw tube of each cap is engaged by an orienting seat and an elastic cord. The seat is movable with respect to the elastic cord, and cooperates with the elastic cord to rotate the cap about a respective axis of rotation crosswise to the conveying surface, so as to impart a given orientation to the cap.

Abstract: A method for rotating and orienting cans in a multipack configuration pushes the cans off a conveyor belt to a scanning and rotating stations where the cans are rotated until the sensors detect that the cans are facing the correct direction. The cans are then shifted back to the conveyor belt. This is useful to prevent unintentional reading of e.g. bar codes on a single item.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning substrates is provided. The substrates are typically semiconductor wafers that require centering on a mounting location within a process module and orientation of a notch, flat or perimeter interruption to a known rotational position. A robot arm transfers wafers from a source to the process module. A camera is provided adjacent a path of travel of the robot arm to scan the wafers as they pass thereover. A grayscale analysis determines the centroid, or other reference point, of the wafer and the location of the notch or flat. The path of travel of the arm is altered to account for misalignment of the centroid/reference point from a known location. Data related to the rotational offset of the notch or flat relative to a known standard location is also obtained. The wafer can be rotated to position the notch or flat at a desired standard position using a rotator mounted on the robot arm or at a remote site.