Abstract: An automatic corrector for electronic parts queuing machines includes an automatic correction apparatus disposed below conveyance rails, and an electronic eye device disposed in front of the automatic correction apparatus. The automatic correction apparatus includes an elevating device, a linkage device, a drive device, and a correction device. The drive device is used to drive the linkage device, which in turn brings the elevating device to perform elevating and lowering motions. The correction device includes at least one to three correction grooves that are provided on the elevating device. The correction grooves can be oblong V-shaped, oblong M-shaped, or triangular V-shaped. When any of the electronic parts on the conveyance rails tilts forwardly or rearwardly, it can be detected by the electronic eye device.

Abstract: A gate for rejecting from a gathering conveyor folded printed products which are found to be defective. The gate includes several mating pairs of ejector rolls positioned to form a nip above the gathering conveyor, and an air ejection system for lifting a defective product into the nip so that the ejector rolls engage the lifted product and convey it to a reject receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively orienting consecutive fin strips relative to one another as a preliminary step in the manufacture of a heat exchanger includes a sensor for sensing the presence of each of a series of fin strips all having a common orientation relative to one another. The apparatus includes an orienting member which receives signals from the sensor as to the presence of each fin strip and rotates each consecutive fin strips in alternating clockwise and counter-clockwise directions to orient consecutive fin strips 180.degree. relative to each adjacent fin strip.

Abstract: An armature shaft having a cam body extending from one end thereof is inserted into a shaft-receiving transfer block of an armature lamination and shaft assembly machine so that the cam body has a desired angular orientation relative to the axis of rotation of the armature shaft. A stack of laminations with which the shaft is assembled is also angularly oriented.

Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a tipping device comprising a conveyor, a photodetector, a chute including two selectively translatable ramps disposed at the discharge end of the conveyor, air cylinders for translating the ramps, and a tipper bar which is exposed when the ramps are translated. More particularly, when the ramps are closed, the containers simply move from the conveyor down the chute to another conveyor. When a signal generated by the photodetector is received by the air cylinders, the air cylinders retract, thus moving the two ramps to an open position, and exposing the tipper bar. The momentum from the weight and acceleration of the container as it impacts the tipper bar flips the container on its top. After receiving a second signal from the photodetector, the air cylinders extend and the ramps close so that the next container slides down the chute without engaging the tipper bar.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning vessels comprises a robot for delivering a vessel from a first conveyor to a second conveyor, a camera disposed on a path of conveyance of the first conveyor for photographing a manner of placement of vessels thereon, and correction device mounted on the second conveyor for erecting a vessel assuming a horizontal position when it is released by the robot. Any change in the size of a vessel does not require a remodelling of components of the apparatus, thus providing a vessel aligning apparatus having a high versatility.

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: A case turning assist attachment for a palletizing machine of the type including a linear live roller conveyor for conveying cases to a pallet loading rake, includes a push member operably connected to a double acting air cylinder controlled by an air switch. The air switch includes an abutment member for activating an air valve upon contact with a forward end of a case. The case turning attachment allows a faster and more efficient operation of a conventional type of palletizing machine by more rapidly orienting cases to be palletized in a correct position.

Abstract: A working apparatus for a work being conveyed wherein a movable base is provided alongside of a conveyor conveying a plate-like workpiece mounted on a carrier in such a manner that the workpiece is held in an upright posture with its side surfaces facing sideward, the movable base being movable in the longitudinal direction in which the workpiece is conveyed, and a robot mounted on the movable base is used to apply predetermined working to the workpiece being conveyed by the conveyor. A clamping device for clamping the carrier is provided on the movable base and operated by signals from a detecting device that detects the carrier. A positioning mechanism is also provided on the movable base, for positioning the workpiece on the carrier in three orthogonal directions with respect to the movable base and holding the workpiece in that position.

Abstract: A series of inverter assemblies are spaced across a board conveyor with each assembly including a plate having an abutment to arrest the board and a lifting surface. An extension on the plate provides a supplementary lifting surface and further a curved edge which stops the following board (s) during cycling of the inverter assembly. A control system includes both manually actuated switches as well as board actuated limit switches in circuit with an adjustable delay component for regulating cycling of the inverter assemblies.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning glass sheets moving on a conveyor line prior to shaping on a bending apparatus includes a pair of stops for engaging the leading edge of the glass sheets and a pair of side pushers for engaging the end edges of the glass sheets to align the glass sheets with respect to a reference line. The spacing between the side pushers is automatically selected in accordance with the predetermined sequence of glass sheets. In addition, a sensor detects a mark on the sheets to generate a sequence signal identifying the sheets. The sequence signal is utilized to signal that a sheet is missing or an improper sequence, and/or the signal is utilized to control the means for automatically adjusting the spacing of the side pushers. The stop pins can be adjusted individually in a direction parallel to the reference line and a direction transverse to the reference line.

Abstract: An orbital cap selection and feeding device is disclosed having a disk rotating within a circular frame so that caps disposed on the disk tend to move by centrifugal force to the perimeter of the disk. The frame includes structure defining a guide chute to retain a procession of caps lying flat within the guide chute and to keep caps at the interior of the rotating disk out of the chute. The guide chute carries the procession of caps about 180 degrees to a discharge chute. About midway along the length of the guide chute is an optical sensor that uses a reflected beam of light to sense the orientation of caps in the procession and generate an electrical signal when an improperly oriented cap is encountered. The signal is received by an ejection airjet downstream of the optical sensor which is actuated in response to the signal to displace the improperly oriented cap from the guide chute and back into the interior of the rotating disk.

Abstract: A transporting apparatus having a main transport path and a plurality of incoming paths extending from the main transport path. Cases, each having a cover, are transported in the main path, with their covers facing to the right of the main transport path. A case-outlet section and a case-orienting mechanism are provided on each of the incoming paths. The case-orientating mechanism rotates a case such that the case is oriented, with its cover facing upward, when it is removed from the case-outlet section. Every case-orientating mechanisms rotates an article in the same direction, whether it is provided on an incoming path located on the right of the main transport path, or on an incoming path located on the left of the main transport path.

Abstract: An apparatus for the transfer of DIP devices to or from DIP delivery tubes is shown to include a hopper for the storage of several tubes, an elevator member for removing individual tubes from the hopper and depositing such tubes into a hopper, an orienting member which positions the tube in a predetermined radial orientation and which moves the tube axially in response to a control signal to a head member which receives the radially oriented tube and guides it to a predetermined second orientation for the transfer of DIP devices and which ejects such tubes upon completion and a computer control member for generating the necessary actuation signals to coordinate the transfer of DIP devices and tube ejection. The head member may also be provided with an extracation member to remove any pin or plug which may seal the tube.

Abstract: A belt conveyor system carrying bagged product toward a packing station is interrupted and offset downward to form the basis of an automatic collating station for placing the bags in a column, side-by-side and upright, for easier packing into a carton. A rearwardly inclined guide surface at the offset between the upper and lower conveyor portions begins the erection of each bag as it is discharge by the upper conveyor portion and slides down into contact with the lower conveyor portion. Automatic sensing of a bag in this position actuates a reciprocating erector platen which emerges from the guide surface and tilts the bag forward against a previously erected bag. Further automatic sensing of this new forward tilted position of the bag actuates forward indexing of the lower conveyor to make room for the next bag. Then automatic retraction of the erector permits the next bag to be delivered into the collating station.

Abstract: A device for mounting or donning of bobbins onto a transport band of a textile machine, especially a ring spinning or ring twisting machine contemplates that incorrectly mounted bobbins are ejected or doffed by a bar member pivotable about a pivot axis or shaft. To eject or doff such incorrectly mounted bobbins the bar member is moved, at a monitoring or control position, in a downward direction towards the head of the bobbin currently there located and ejects incompletely mounted bobbins. The donning device exhibits simplicity and a reliable mode of operation. Furthermore, by means of the invention damage produced by incorrectly mounted bobbins is avoided and damaged bobbins are removed from the operating process.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an erroneously inserted empty bobbin is disposed on a spinning frame which is provided with an automatic doffing and donning apparatus and a conveyor having empty bobbin supporting pegs mounted thereon. The detecting apparatus photoelectrically or electromechanically detects whether or not an empty bobbin is correctly inserted onto the corresponding empty bobbin supporting peg based on the fact that an incorrectly inserted bobbin inclines backwards and projects upwards. When the incorrectly inserted bobbin is detected, an alarm is actuated in order to notify an operator in charge of the spinning frame of the same.

Abstract: A glass sheet is advanced into a sheet determining position with one side of the sheet intercepting two scan paths and the other adjacent side of the sheet intercepting one of the two scan paths. Light rays reflected from the portion of the scan paths occupied by the sheet are incident on selected photodetectors which generate a plurality of signals. The signals are acted on to determine orientation of the sheet relative to a reference plane. The information is forwarded to the program of an industrial robot to alter the path of the robot arm to position a pick up frame mounted on the arm over the sheet. Thereafter the frame engages the sheet to load same in a shipping container.

Abstract: Bobbin handling apparatus including means for feeding bobbins from a supply station in random end orientation to a delivery station for use by a doffing machine. The bobbin handling apparatus is conveniently mounted on the doffing machine, and includes means for sorting bobbins of one end orientation from the other and means to reorient bobbins of the one orientation to the other for presentation to the doffing machine of bobbins of a single orientation. The handling apparatus includes a bobbin supply box adapted to be manually positioned on and removed from the apparatus immediately above floor level, thereby requiring minimum physical effort.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning an article to a predetermined position. The article is provided with a temporary orientation tab struck from the article; the tab eventually being cut off in further manufacture of the article. A reciprocating conveyor deposits the article onto a rotating slip-clutch driven mandrel to which the article is pressed by an overhead spring-biased holder. The mandrel rotates with the article until the tab on the article engages a stop on the apparatus whereupon the clutch slips and means on the conveyor clamp the article in oriented position, the conveyor lifting the article off the mandrel and advancing it to the next manufacturing station.

Abstract: A machine that receives four rows of completely separated but closely spaced cartons from a customer printing and cutting press, and spaces each carton laterally and longitudinally from its neighbors for non-interference therewith. The machine aligns each independent stream of cartons with the longitudinal dimension of the overall machine and directs the streams of cartons to a switching device intended to control carton traffic to a primary automated stacking process or to an essentially secondary manual stacking process. The primary automated process passes the streams of cartons through an underlapping process, over an inspection table, through an inverting process, into a rate controlling hopper. From the rate controlling hopper, the cartons of each stream pass over a set of laterally disposed conveyors and into a discrete stack of cartons formed within a vertical hopper system that is the output receiver of this machine.