Abstract: A connector delivery system delivers an electrical connector component from a storage container to a processing station regardless of the relative orientation of the storage container to the processing station. The storage container contains a plurality of the connector components. A delivery conduit communicates between the storage container and the processing station. An air jet is located within the delivery conduit for effecting a pressure differential therewithin to create a vacuum to cause movement of the connector components in the delivery conduit in a downstream direction from the storage container to the processing station without the use of gravitational forces. A selector pawl upstream of the air jet feeds the connector components through the delivery conduit one component at a time in an incremental fashion. An orientation track between the selector pawl and the air jet is effective to deliver the connector components in a predetermined orientation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for receiving, in an infeed section, a stream of distributed articles, such as food items deposited in rows of like position. A slide mechanism is used to retard the motion of the items as they drop off the infeed section. In particular, the slide mechanism is alternately moveable between a slide position and a flip position. In the slide position, the item drops off the edge of the belt and slides across the primary slide surface and onto a second slide mechanism having a secondary slide surface that is positioned to be in substantially the same plane as the primary slide surface. The slide mechanism is moved into the flip position for every other row of items. The items to be flipped come off the conveyor belt and come into contact with an abutting surface. This surface changes the direction of the item as it moves towards the transport mechanism in conjunction with a reverse slide surface of the second slide mechanism.

Abstract: A package transport system (1) is provided for transporting yarn packages from a textile machine (2) to a transport conveyor (4) and includes a first output conveyor (14) leading outwardly from a top portion of the textile machine, a second output conveyor (16) adjacent to the first output conveyor (14) also leading outwardly from the top portion of the textile machine, a first chute (18) communicating with the first output conveyor (14) for transporting a first package from an end of the first output conveyor (14 ) to the transport conveyor (4 ) , and a second chute (20) communicating with the second output conveyor (16) for transporting a second package from an end of the second output conveyor (16) to the transport conveyor (4). The yarn packages are thus deposited onto the transport conveyor (4) at a predetermined distance from one another without making contact.

Abstract: An automatic bottle unscrambler is provided located between a rotary bottle pre-feeder and a take-away conveyor, which contains a mechanism that will position each bottle in an upright position, when passing through for the next downstream operation. The mechanism is adjustable to both the width and height of various sized bottles.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling a plurality of lids or other predominately flat articles having two discrete sides, such as a top and bottom, delivering them in a common orientation, which includes a conveyor system for carrying the articles along the apparatus from an inlet end to a final discharge end and an air jet nozzle which directs compressed air to engage at least some of the articles to change their orientation. The conveyor system may include a number of orienting surfaces with at least a single disjoined area to provide conditions for article orientation, or re-orientation in specialized cases. The appropriate arrangement of any two of these surfaces provides varying degrees of automated flipping. Various forces, such as, but not limited to, air, vacuum and gravity, either separately or in combination, may assist in the flipping process. Such forces are selectively enabled by the detection of an improperly oriented article.

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: A screening deck is shown and described including an intermediate frame structure mountable to the screening deck in a manner similar to that of an original screen component, but providing mounting formations for attachment of a plurality of screen modules thereon. The screening deck need not be modified in order to receive the intermediate frame. The intermediate frame may be applied to either a crowned screening deck or a flat screening deck. In the crowned configuration, the intermediate frame takes a form similar to the original screen, but includes mounting rails for receiving the screen modules. In the flat screening deck configuration, individual intermediate frame components mount along the longitudinal support beams and provide formations for mounting of screen components thereon. In each illustrated embodiment, individual screen components are mounted and dismounted without separate fastening elements and enjoy support along at least two edges thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of filling plants for liquid containers, which containers can be closed with nebulizer pumps. The device which is object of the invention positions the pumps with their collecting tubes directed upwards by use of a conveyor belt at which unloading point is provided a motorized roller positioned in such a way as to create a slit which allows the pumps to pass through if positioned correctly, while the motorized roller acts only on the collecting tube of the pumps which are not correctly positioned.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for orienting elongated components, where the components are initially oriented in a random manner with respect to the ends of the components. Improperly oriented components are separated from properly oriented ones and are transferred to a turnaround device; this device rotates the improperly oriented components 180.degree. about a transverse axis running from one end of the component to the other end of the component. The stream of rotated elongated components is then reintegrated with the stream of elongated components which were initially properly oriented. All of the elongated components are then removed from the orienting apparatus. The output stream of properly oriented elongated components coincides with the input stream of randomly oriented elongated components.

Abstract: Device for the positionally correct feeding of test strips to an analysis unit. The test strips 10 include a base layer and at least one raised test field fixed to one side of the base layer. The test strips are contained disordered with respect to their longitudinal axis rotation position in a storage container. A separation and position correcting device 1 serves to feed the test strips 10 individually one after the other in a defined position to the analysis unit. Simplicity of construction and reliable operation are achieved due to the fact that the separation and position correcting device 1 includes a position correcting stage 30 with two rolls, between which a narrow gap 35 exists. The rolls rotate so that the surface 31a of the first roll 31 moves in the region of the gap 35 from top to bottom, while the surface 32a of the second roll 32 moves from bottom to top. The first roll 31 includes peripheral raised webs 37 which are in alignment with test field-free regions of the test strips 10.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning and uniformly orienting fish includes a shuffle feed device for aligning and discharging fish in a single line and a conveyor having a longitudinal upper run positioned for receiving and conveying aligned and discharged fish in a single line, in which fish are orientated in the longitudinal plane of the conveyor. A sensor including an upper photocell and a lower photocell is positioned at a downstream end of the conveyor such that, in operation, the sensor distinguishes between head-end-first and tail-end-first orientations of fish passing the sensor based upon the sequence of activation of the photocells. Fish passing the sensor are uniformly oriented in the same orientation by control of the sensor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for receiving, in an infeed section, a stream of distributed articles, such as food items, deposited in rows of like position. A slide mechanism is used to retard the motion of the items as they drop off the infeed section. In particular, the slide mechanism is alternately moveable between a slide position and a flip position. In the slide position, the item drops off the edge of the belt and slides across the primary slide surface and onto a second slide mechanism having a secondary slide surface that is positioned to be in substantially the same plane as the primary slide surface. The slide mechanism is moved into the flip position for every other row of items. The items to be flipped come off the conveyor belt and come into contact with an abutting surface. This surface changes the direction of the item as it moves towards the transport mechanism in conjunction with a reverse slide surface of the second slide mechanism.

Abstract: In the apparatus for fixing the position of the test zones of a test strip and for reversing the latter, a guide (8) opens into a reversing device (1,1a) for the test strips (2). Between the guide and the reversing device is arranged a closing means (9) for the guide, which is connected to a holding device (10) via a lever (5). The holding device (10) projects into the guide and is mounted rotatably in synchronism with the closing means (9). It is also equipped with a drive device (7). The reversing device has a moveable stop (4, 4a) which is driven by a position-detection means (3) arranged in the guide (8).

Abstract: An apparatus for handling a plurality of lids or other predominately flat articles having two discrete sides, such as a top and bottom, delivering them in a common orientation, which includes a conveyor system for carrying the articles along the apparatus from an inlet end to a final discharge end and an air jet nozzle which directs compressed air to engage at least some of the articles to change their orientation. The conveyor system may include a number of orienting surfaces with at least a single disjoined area to provide conditions for article orientation, or re-orientation in specialized cases. The appropriate arrangement of any two of these surfaces provides varying degrees of automated flipping. Various forces, such as, but not limited to, air, vacuum and gravity, either separately or in combination, may assist in the flipping process. Such forces are selectively enabled by the detection of an improperly oriented article.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided, for separating articles from product boards and transporting the product articles to another processing station or packaging area. Because of the sticky nature of confections which may be handled the product must be scraped from a product board. Articles are separated from product boards on which they rest upon encountering a blade member which acts to wedge the product from a board surface. The boards are ejected from the machine for reuse, while product or confections are moved downstream along a belt take-up transport conveyor for deposit onto product delivery conveyor, whereby product orientation may be accomplished.

Abstract: A conveyer line straightener having a pair of laterally spaced bumpers contractable by conveyer items wherein the bumper first contacted by the item retains it until the second bumper is contacted after which both bumpers release the item.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for selectively inverting flexible and limp planar workpieces such as fabric. The apparatus includes a primary workpiece propeller having a cylindrical means for contacting the workpiece about a central rotating axis. A slot of sufficient size to receive the workpiece is positioned in a substantially vertical orientation beneath the primary propeller. The slot preferably has a flared upper end positioned directly beneath and in contact or near contact with the propeller. The fabric is drawn into the slot by the rotation of the propeller and follows the contour of the flared open end of the slot. The fabric enters into the slot until the trailing edge of the fabric is in contact with the primary propeller. The trailing edge of the fabric is drawn by the propeller to the opposite side of the flared opening of the slot and is subsequently pulled out of the slot. Collisions are prevented between workpieces by a control circuit that instructs the workpieces when to leave the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring test strips (T), which have detectably different sides and ends, to an examining apparatus, having a collecting chamber for receiving a loose bundle of test strips (T) in which identical ends point in the same direction, having a separator which feeds the test strips (T) individually to a slide member which is movable back and forth between a receiving station and a delivery station, and having a turner controlled by a detector, the turner ensuring that all the test strips (T) in the delivery station are arranged on the slide member with identical sides facing upwards, characterized in that the separator has a chute terminating over the receiving station, from which the test strips (T) are individually fed, with a longitudinal edge pointing downwards, to a deflector controlled by the detector, the deflector sending the test strips (T) away with identical sides facing upwards.

Abstract: A device for lining up parts having different shapes of upper and lower surfaces thereof and which are transported from a part feeder to a further transporting device located beneath the part feeder, includes running path conveyor with one end arranged adjacent to the part feeder, and a lining-up conveyor for transporting the parts from the running path conveyor to the further transporting device which is positioned lower than the running path conveyor. The lining-up conveyor includes two spaced rotatable rollers located, respectively, in vicinity of the another end of the running path conveyor and the further transporting device, a belt wound between the two spaced rotatable rollers and forming thereby a slop surface. The slop surface has thereon a member for catching protrudent parts formed on one of the upper and lower surfaces of the parts to thereby retain the parts on the slope surfaces. A drive is provided for driving the belt in a direction opposite to a descending direction of the belt.

Abstract: The current invention is a multi-channel apparatus for inspecting and packaging loose ammunition cartridges into containers such as boxes or trays. The operation of the apparatus is largely automatic so that a single operator can inspect for defects and load into containers up to 28,000 rounds of both rim or rimless cartridges as well as various sizes of ammunition per hour with little manual labor involved.The apparatus includes a frame having an upstanding portion and a horizontal table portion. A reservoir for holding the bulk ammunition in loose form is mounted on the top of the upstanding portion of the frame. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for sorting and feeding the ammunition into feed tubes which feeds the ammunition down onto a conveyor table. The conveyor table moves the ammunition in an ordered fashion through an inspection area to an orienting device where the cartridges are oriented nose downward and directed into a loading mechanism.

Abstract: A queue of randomly oriented chips is advanced down a track. Each chip in the queue is sequentially and individually elevated into a pneumatic circuit and pressed against a mirrored surface of an upper slide member to which it adheres if the chip was oriented with upwardly disposed solder lands. A jet of compressible fluid insufficient in magnitude to dislodge the chip is injected in a direction toward the queue. If the chip, alternatively, was oriented with the solder lands down, this fluid jet propels the chip about the oval-shaped pneumatic circuit so as to reorient the chip with the lands extending in the desired upward orientation, whereupon the chip is injected into a storage magazine.

Abstract: An article orientator (11) for example for bottles is disposed in the path of a conveyor (12) for transporting the articles (13). The orientator (11) comprises a plurality of article holders (21) which are bodily movable to divert an article (13) located in the holder (21) out of the conveyor path and then back into it again with a changed orientation. The article holders (21) are movable independently of each other around a common endless path in incremental movements, the number of articles holders (21) disposed around the path being such as to leave free a path space in the endless path equal to at least one incremental movements.

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: A yarn package transferring apparatus having a slide for sliding yarn packages thereon from a yarn processing machine and a vertical endless belt assembly for raising the packages from the bottom of the slide to a conveyor which carries the packages for delivering to a location for further handling. The slide has an apparatus for orienting a predetermined leading or trailing end of the packages entering the slide for sliding thereon and a recess adjacent its lower end for uniformly positioning the packages for receipt by the vertical endless belt. A plurality of inclined platforms regularly spaced along the vertical endless belt translationally carry the packages to a package stripper which removes the supported packages from the platforms and loads the packages onto the conveyor.

Abstract: In the apparatus for fixing the position of the test zones of a test strip and for reversing the latter, a guide (8) opens into a reversing device (1, 1a) for the test strips (2). Between the guide and the reversing device is arranged a closing means (9) for the guide, which is connected to a holding device (10) via a lever (5). The holding device (10) projects into the guide and is mounted rotatably in synchronism with the closing means (9). It is also equipped with a drive device (7). The reversing device has a moveable stop (4, 4a) which is driven by a position-detection means (3) arranged in the guide (8).

Abstract: The device flips substrates or passes them through without flipping, selectively, and the substrate can enter either end and exit either end of the device, as desired depending on how it is assembled. The spacing between channels which restrain opposite edges of the substrate is adjustable so as to accommodate different widths. The channels are separate from, but cooperable with, feed wheels which extend into the channels and engage the board when the channels are not moved out of alignment with the feed plane, e.g., when the flipping action is not taking place. During flipping, one end of each channel is raised above the feed plane, while the other end is moved substantially parallel to the feed plane so as to eliminate interference with an undercarriage or anything else below the feed plane of the device.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for flipping over flexible and limp planar workpieces such as fabric. The apparatus includes a primary workpiece propeller having a cylindrical means for contacting the workpiece about a central rotating axis. A slot of sufficient size to receive the workpiece is positioned in a vertical orientation beneath the primary propeller. The slot preferably has a flared upper end positioned directly beneath and in contact or near contact with the propeller. The fabric is drawn into the slot by the rotation of the propeller and follows the contour of the flared open end of the slot. The fabric enters into the slot until the trailing edge of the fabric is in contact with the primary propeller. The trailing edge of the fabric is gripped by the propeller and thereby drawn to the opposite side of the flared opening of the slot and is subsequently pulled out of the slot. The fabric has thereby been inverted so that the top of the fabric is now on the bottom.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding a preselected number of unsymmetrical objects into a package has a vibratory transporter for feeding a predetermined number of objects to be packaged into a collector and a photoelectric device for releasing the objects from the collector into a package when the predetermined number of objects are in the collector. The transporter includes a discharge trough which is slopped to one side and has a fixed siderail and a resiliently yieldable siderail which prevent jamming of unsymmetrical objects within the trough. Tracks which feed objects from an object storage unit to the trough are arranged one above the other so that the unsymmetrical objects cannot enter the trough on edge or in stacked relation to each other.

Abstract: A distinguishing feature of an apparatus for orienting parts resides in the provision of members for picking-up improperly oriented parts in the form of identifying and limiting cams and of a reorienter which are located in a gap in guide and confining members which are offset downstream the gap in the direction of rotation of a vertically extending screw conveyor, the picking-up members being mounted in such a manner that the parts being oriented which have asymmetrical surface configuration with respect to a plane drawn through the middle thereof, at right angles to the axes thereof, and which are fed in improperly oriented position are engaged by these picking-up members, whereas the parts which are properly oriented are caused to pass by the reorienter.

Abstract: A distinguishing feature of the device for orienting piece products resides in its being provided with a vertical feed screw, a guide and a restrictor aimed at assigning a required transit position to the products being oriented as well as a device for removal of the properly oriented products located in close proximity to the feed screw, a curvilinear restrictor being interposed between the device for removal of the properly oriented products and the feed screw, said curvilinear restrictor having at least one opening aimed at kicking out correctly and wrongly oriented products therethrough, the former products being free to pass to the device for removal of properly oriented products, whereas the latter products get in engagement with the side face of the opening, become oriented in a correct position and then are free to pass to the device.

Abstract: An electromechanical manipulation system for reorienting the position of sensed conveyed articles such as rail tie plates upon an inclined conveyor surface includes first and second transverse openings in the inclined conveyor surface, the second opening being located closer to the upper conveyor end than the first opening, a stop member located in the first opening and adapted for reciprocal vertical movement therein to obstruct the descent of improperly oriented individual plates down the conveyor surface. Once the descent of the plate has been stopped, a reciprocal flipper member located in the second and opening of the conveyor is adapted to impart an impulse to an end of the immobilized plate to cause the plate to be inverted and thus properly oriented upon the conveying surface. Once inverted, the flipper member and the stop member quickly retract to permit the properly oriented plate to continue its descent and also to prepare for the descent of the next plate.

Abstract: A device is provided for transferring a lithographic plate (S) from a horizontal conveyor (1) to an overhead conveyor (25). The transfer device has orienting means (2) for receiving a transversely extending lithographic plate from the horizontal conveyor (1) and positioning a folded over end portion (12) of the lithographic plate in the path of a hook member (13) carried by an endless chain (30) of an elevator (3), so that the plate (S) is lifted into a vertical position and then deposited on a positioning bed (4). An upper part (23) of the bed (4) is pivotable by a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder (22) to position the end portion (12) of the plate (S) inwardly of the locus of the hook member (13) as the hook member passes around a lower sprocket wheel (15) of the elevator, so that the hook member passes by without again picking up the lithographic plate.

Abstract: A bottle cap orienter has two rotating pin sorters, one positioned above and the other below a path over which randomly oriented bottle caps must travel. A stationary cam adjacent each sorter causes a plurality of pins at selected locations to project into the area of the path through which the bottle caps must travel. Thus, the projecting pins enter the cavity of the caps from above and below so that the caps are captured to rotate with the pin sorters. At one point in the rotation, the pins are withdrawn so that the caps are released to travel under their own inertia over a tangential path. The caps released by one of the pin sorters are inverted, so that all caps are ultimately oriented the same.

Abstract: A bottle orientation system for orientating and uprighting a horizontal flow of bottles being conveyed by coacting endless belt conveyors. The system includes a raised kick-up stop and knock-down stop for positioning all bottles in a bottom-first position between the belt. A raised platform then rights the bottles between the belts.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying electronic parts of having a polarity has a first rotating member which has a parts receiving hole for receiving electronic parts one by one supplied from a parts receiving hole so as to detect the polarity of the electronic part accommodated in the parts receiving hole, a second rotating member having a through hole is inserted, and apparatus for preventing the electronic part from passing through the through hole in the midst thereof due to signals generated in a detector including the electrodes, whereby the electronic part is delivered directly, when the electronic part pases through the through hole, and delivered after the second rotating member is rotated to a predetermined position, when the electronic part is prevented from passing through the through hole, so that the electronic part having polarity can be delivered in the order of a predetermined polarity sense.

Abstract: Apparatus for selecting elongate containers from a mass of randomly-disposed containers such as capsules open at one end and at least partially closed at the other and depositing them with their open ends aligned for receiving a charge of material. The apparatus including first and second rotors, the first rotor including radially-disposed bores for receiving the containers and the second rotor including radially-disposed spokes for receiving containers with open ends toward the spokes. The first and second rotors including operable elements for removing the containers from the bores or spokes for transfer of the containers to a receiving device with the containers in the same orientation.

Abstract: A parts orienting machine comprising a frame, a vertically actuated plunger reciprocating block mounted on the frame with a pair of side-by-side vertical passageways therein. One of the passageways is in periodic co-axial alignment with an inlet parts feeder chute for receiving disoriented piece parts on a one at a time basis. The other of the side-by-side vertical passageways being in periodic vertical alignment with a discharge chute for conveying oriented parts to the discharge chute. The reciprocating block has an axial passageway and an axially extending orientor shaft extends into the axial passageway. A vertically extending parts receiving nest is provided in the orientor shaft which nest is in periodic vertical alignment with the side-by-side vertical passageways. Mechanism is provided for reciprocating the reciprocating block back and forth in the axial passageway for alternatively aligning the nest with the inlet and outlet passageways.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in an automated garment making process detects whether a garment portion on a continuously moving conveyor is right side up by use of a photodetector. If the garment portion is not right side up, the photodetector signals a control unit which causes a flipper assembly to flip the garment portion over as it is discharged from the conveyor. The garment portion retains its original position relative to other garment portions on the conveyor and the conveyor does not stop.

Abstract: A conveyor for turning packages upside down in a very gentle manner in a device which is interposed in line with the feed conveyor and discharge conveyor and conveys the package to the discharge conveyor after the package has been turned over. The conveyor includes a rotatable turning element which receives at least one package, and an intermittent rotational mechanism which tumbles the turning element in rotation. This structure eliminates the need for any mechanism which grips the package in order to turn it.

Abstract: A can unscrambler system, having a longitudinal can arranger and an unscrambler apparatus, orients randomly oriented unfilled cans having an open end and a closed end such that all of the open ends face the same direction. The longitudinal can arranger arranges randomly oriented cans longitudinally onto a conveyer for transportation to the unscrambler apparatus. The randomly oriented cans are loaded into a collection zone of inclined surfaces, at the bottom of which is the conveyer. A turning belt located adjacent to the conveyer rotates cans that are in a crosswise mode over the conveyer and a brush assembly located downstream of the collection zone allows only longitudinally arranged cans to pass therethrough. The cans are then loaded onto a vacuum conveyer belt at the unscrambler apparatus, where they are conveyed into a sorter mechanism. The sorter mechanism distinguishes between the closed and open ends of the cans and sorts accordingly.

Abstract: An orienter accepts trigger pump cap assemblies of the type in which a trigger is spaced from a cap along the pump housing of the cap assembly, the cap assemblies being presented serially in either one of first and second front-to-back orientations, and discharges the cap assemblies in only the second one of the orientations, the orienter including a pusher member which engages the pump housing of each cap assembly, as the cap assemblies travel downstream through the orienter, and pushes laterally against each pump housing to rotate the pump housing about the cap of those cap assemblies in the first orientation to reverse the front-to-back orientation of those cap assemblies so that all of the cap assemblies emerge oriented in the second orientation.

Abstract: In the apparatus for feeding test strips automatically into an analyzer, in order to separate these, fix the position of the test zones and reverse the test strips and moisten their test zones with liquid, a supply container (1) for the test strips (13) is equipped with an orifice (14), in which a transport device (12) is arranged. The transport device is equipped with a guide plate (7) and with drivers and has noses (19, 19a) which interact with a moveably arranged bar (11) projecting into the orifice (14). The guide plate (7) merges into a guide (8) which opens into a reversing device (2, 2a). Between guide (8) and reversing device is arranged a closing means (9) for the guide (8), the said closing means being connected via a lever (5) to a holding device (10) for the test strips (13), and the holding device projects into the guide and is mounted rotatably in synchronism with the closing means. It is also equipped with a drive device (16).

Abstract: An improved chute for a bale loader which enables a quarter-turn rotation of faulty positioned bales prior to loading of the bales. A wheel rotatably mounted on the forward most end of one of a pair of converging arms on the chute is operable to engage the side of a bale of hay, straw, or the like. The wheel, being rearwardly and inwardly inclined toward the bale-receiving channel defined by the conveying arm members of the chute causes one quarter rotation of the bale. The wheel is of proper size to allow the operator of the loader to selectively engage only those bales requiring rotation. The wheel may be spring mounted to minimize repairs and may be driven by an external power source.

Abstract: A turning device for electrical axial components which utilizes a transport element (8) that is mounted on a machine support (9) to rotate about a shaft (10). Mounted on the transport element (8) are a plurality of receivers (11, 11') for holding the electrical axial component (2). Each receivers (11, 11') is rotatable about a shaft (14, 14'). Each receivers (11, 11') has a pair of magnets (17, 17') arranged about shaft (14, 14'). The transport element (8) has a magnet arrangement therein which is also oriented about the shaft (14, 14'). Machine support (9) has a rolling surface (24) for rotating receivers (11, 11') about shaft (14, 14'), rolling surface 24 being movable between a rest position and an operating position.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an apparatus that orients unfilled cans having an open end and a closed end such that all of the open ends face the same direction. Unoriented or scrambled cans are first loaded onto a vacuum belt and then conveyed into a sorter mechanism. The ends of the cans are coupled to the vacuum belt by a partial vacuum. The closed ends are distinguished from the open ends by proximity switches which control a solenoid regulated air blast capable of knocking cans having their open ends facing one direction off of the vacuum belt and into a gravity track. The cans are turned to a desired orientation as they descend through the gravity track. Cans on the vacuum belt having their open ends facing in another direction are not subjected to an air blast and are removed from the vacuum belt by another gravity track which turns descending cans into the same desired orientation. The newly oriented cans blend together upon exiting from either gravity track.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical orientation system for conveyed articles having a distinguishable top and bottom such as a rail tie plate or the like is disclosed comprising a sensor frame having a transverse pivot axis, a plurality of elongate sensor fingers pivotable about that axis and subject to a biasing force, a plurality of notched beam interceptors, one mounted to each sensor finger, a corresponding plurality of opto switches and a logic circuit, whereby the frame is oriented in relation to a conveyor surface so that the sensor fingers intercept and are triggered by the conveyed article. The pattern of triggered sensor fingers is transmitted through the beam interceptors and opto switches to the logic means, from where it may be used to trigger a conveyed article reorientation device.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for arranging capped capsules in a single direction, whereby many capped empty capsules are put one by one into receiving holes which are moving mechanically and while capped empty capsules are being moved, those which were put in with their cap facing upwardly are left to move as they are but those which were put in with their cap facing downwardly are turned upside down so that capped empty capsules facing in the same direction can be supplied to a filling machine.

Abstract: An overhead case positioner for inverting upended cases, including a detector for sensing the presence of an upended case moving along a conveyor, a first stop for retarding movement of the upended case, a second stop for retarding movement of the succeeding case, a third stop spaced downstream of the first for engaging the upended case after it has been released by the first stop and an inverter mechanism for pivoting an upended case in abutment with the third stop forwardly over the third stop.

Abstract: Frusto-conical or cylindrical reels or cones are first oriented with their axes perpendicular or parallel to the axis of a conveyor belt. Then, by a tilting device actuated by a detector device for detecting the position of a through hole in a reel, the reels or cones are all arranged with their axes parallel to the axis of the conveyor belt. In the case of frusto-conical reels or cones a further detector actuates a device for rotating the reels or cones about a vertical axis. The system includes a slanting plate for rectifying the position of the reels or cones, the tilting device and relative detector and the rotating device and relative detector. All these devices can be removed selectively and a flag-shaped device is provided for fitting to the system in order to adapt it for use with disk-shaped reels.

Abstract: A sheet convey apparatus which conveys a mixture of obverse and reverse-sheets set at an inlet port to a collecting section, comprises a first convey path for conveying obverse-presented bills which are distinguished from reverse-presented bills by a sorting convey path, and a second convey path disposed parallel to the first convey path, for conveying reverse-presented bills which are to be reversed.