Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously inverting a carton blank and folding end flaps thereon includes a system of endless belts, nip rollers, and inversion guides. A blank passes between a first nip assembly and the belts to be fed upwardly between a pair of guides, and withdrawn downwardly and fed out again inverted second nip assembly cooperating with the belts. Flap folders fold flaps on the blank during the operation.

Abstract: A thrusting mechanism with a thrusting member (5) which is moved periodically with an acceleration relative to the conveying speed out of a starting position into an end position and back into the starting position by a drive arrangement is provided on the conveying track (1) along a turning zone. Installed downstream of the starting position are an upward-curved ramp (8) and, at a distance downstream of the latter, a further upward-curved guide track (9) for the objects (2a, 2b, 2c) arriving on the conveying track (1) and moved by pushers (3). The whole arrangement is such that an object can be taken over in the turning zone by the thrusting member (5) and pushed upwards with an acceleration on the ramp (8) and the guide track (9) until it tilts backwards beyond its upright position and, after the return motion of the thrusting member (5) out of its end position, falls back turned onto the conveying track (1).

Abstract: A feed device for a corner finishing machine for finishing frames consists f a framework which supports the frames, a conveyor for longitudinal movement of the frames along the support plane and a pivot device to rotate the frames around a normal pivot axis to the support plane in the area of the finishing tools. In order to achieve reliable, careful support of the frames, the framework forms an inclined support, with a guide rail, interrupted in the area of the finishing tools, and the pivot device includes two support arms which fit into the break in the guide rail in their extended position. The arms can be pivoted up out of their extended position by an angle that corresponds at least to the greatest corner angle of the frames via a suitable drive.

Abstract: Apparatus for rotating an electrical lead through an angle of 180 degrees comprises a frame in surrounding relationship to a conveyor clamp in which the lead is held, rotating assemblies and a control system. The rotating assemblies are in alignment with each other and on each side of the conveyor clamp, and are movable from a remote position to a proximate position relative to the conveyor clamp. The rotating assemblies contain rotating clamps. The control system releases the lead from the conveyor clamp simultaneously with closure of the rotating clamps in the rotating assemblies. After rotation of the rotating assemblies, the lead is released by the rotating clamps and the conveyor clamp is closed to grip the lead in its rotated orientation.

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 transporting and handling piece goods (4), containing a stand; a transport rail (10) carried by the stand; a trolley (17) which can be moved along the rail (10) by a separate drive (19); and a gripping device (22) which is pivotally mounted on the trolley and contains structure to hold the piece goods (4). A rotatably journalled guide shaft (28) of non-round cross-section extends substantially parallel with the transport rail (10); and a follower (30, 31) is rotatably arranged on the trolley (17) and connected to the guide shaft (28) so as to be slidable therealong but torsionally rigid in a radial direction. The guide shaft (28) is rotated by a motor (29); and an angular rotation transmission (23-27) converts rotation of the guide shaft (28) to swinging movement of the gripping device (22).

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for automatically inverting workpieces of limp sheet material, such as fabric sheet material. The apparatus includes an endless conveyor having a forward-traveling upper reach for conveying workpieces in a forward direction. A gripper grasps a portion of the workpiece adjacent its leading edge as the workpiece travels on the conveyor, and lifts the leading edge portion of the workpiece off the conveyor. The gripper holds the leading edge portion stationary with a trailing portion of the workpiece extending downwardly from said pick-up means. A pushing mechanism acting on a generally rearwardly facing surface of the trailing portion of the workpiece pushes the trailing portion forwardly to effect complete inversion of the trailing portion as the leading edge portion is held stationary by the gripper. The gripper releases the leading edge portion of the workpiece after the trailing portion of the workpiece has been inverted.

Abstract: An apparatus for turning bodies such as cardboard boxes or cartons or the ke, especially for use in a machine for packing envelopes into cartons, includes at least one bottom carrier which is tiltably driven about a horizontal axis, and at least one top carrier which may be tilted on top of the body to be turned over. At least one connecting member and journalling elements connect the two carriers with each other in such a manner that both carriers can be tilted together or in unison and so that one carrier can also be tilted independently of the other carrier by a respective drive or tilting member. At least one carton supporting lip protrudes from at least one of the carriers for holding the carton while it is being turned.

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: 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 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: Turnover apparatus for the controlled turning of a flat-sided article, such as a vehicle wheel-tire unit, from a horizontal outside-up position to a horizontal outside-down position includes a chain conveyor for conveying the article in a horizontal position. A turnover device employs two pairs of elongate arms mounted for rotation about respective, spaced, parallel axes from and to a normal rest position wherein the pairs of arms project horizontally in opposite directions from their axes below and parallel to the conveying chains. One pair of arms is coupled to a reversible drive to be rotated upwardly from its rest position through an angle greater than 90.degree. to tilt an article on the conveying chains upwardly to and past the vertical by an amount such that the article, if not restrained, would fall forwardly.

Abstract: An automated painting system where the parts to be painted are placed on a carrying tray in a first position and moved through a painting and a drying station so that first surface portions of the parts are painted. Then the carrying tray with the parts is moved first through a depth gauge unit and then to an inverting location to cause the parts to be deposited back on the same carrying tray but in an inverted position, this being accomplished by the use of two transfer trays and three inversion steps. Thereafter the parts on the carrying tray are again moved through the painting and drying stations and then discharged from the system.

Abstract: An automatic finishing system for a wound coil in a coil winding machine has a conveyor device for moving coil bobbins intermittently along a circulating endless path. Several finishing machines for carrying out different finishing steps are disposed within a limited space around the endless path. The conveyor device and the finishing machines are synchronously controlled by an electronic controller means. Each of the coil bobbins is held by a jig which is mounted on a movable jig-holder. A plurality of movable jig-holders are moved along one of two parallel guide rails and transferred to the other guide rail at each end of the guide rails to move along a substantially rectangular endless path.

Abstract: A turnover device for turning over articles as they are conveyed along a production path. The turnover device comprises a frame, two spaced apart and parallel axis, first and second carrier arms mounted respectively on the axes for rotational movement, first and second meshing gears mounted on the axes respectively, and a drive motor and lever. The first and second meshing gears have pitch diameters such that, as the two carrier arms counter-rotate from a start position to a finish position, the first carrier arm will rotate through an arc of approximtely 108.degree. and the second carrier arm will rotate through an arc of approximately 72.degree.. The arms are then rotated to their start position. An article placed on a first carrier arm will drop off onto the second carrier arm and be carried back down to a horizontal orientation which is flipped end to end with respect to its starting orientation.

Abstract: A slide fastener overturning conveyer includes an elongate hollow rectangular guide member having a guide channel for the passage of a slide fastener, and air nozzles disposed adjacent to an inlet of the guide channel and directed toward an outlet of the guide channel. The guide member is rotatably movable about its longitudinal central axis through an angle of 180 degrees for overturning the slide fastener while the latter is received in the guide member. The air nozzles eject a compressed air to convey the overturned slide fastener. The angular movement of the guide member and the compressed-air ejection are controlled by a sensor provided for detecting leading and trailing ends of the slide fastener. The overturning conveyer thus constructed is relatively small and simple in construction and is effectively operative even when a slide fastener is relatively long.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically and sequentially transferring and inverting preformed pocket-like fabric blanks from a first sewing station where a first seam is applied to an outturned marginal edge to a second sewing station where a second parallel seam is applied to the inturned marginal edge. A first pickup mechanism identifies, lifts, and transfers multiple ply fabric work pieces from the surface of a work table onto a spreading jaw mechanism by clamping on the upper ply or plies of the work piece with a pair of gripping fingers. The first mechanism is inserted between the plies and operable to grip the upper ply of the work piece, even where the confronting, unseamed, marginal edges of the work piece are not aligned. A second spreading jaw mechanism includes a pair of vertically spreadable jaws onto which the fabric blank is placed. A third inverting mechanism slides between the spread jaws to invert the work piece onto a split mandrel.

Abstract: A workpiece conveyor for conveying a workpiece between presses is disclosed. The workpiece conveyor comprises first, second and third stations disposed between the presses, a reversing mechanism disposed at the first station and equipped with a pair of right and left reversing jaws that are driven separately for elevation and rotation, a first workpiece receiver disposed at the second station and capable of moving up and down, an unloader mechanism and a second workpiece receiver disposed on an unloader which is disposed at one of the end portions of a carriage capable of moving between the first to third stations, and a third workpiece receiver disposed at the other end of the carriage which is spaced apart from the second workpiece receiver by a distance equal to the distance between the stations.

Abstract: A portable device is provided for turning billets supported on stands for inspection. The device has a frame, a crank arm mounted in the frame for movement through a quadrant by a hydraulic cylinder, a billet engaging bracket on the end of the crank, and further billet engaging frames extending from the frame to either side of the crank so as to sustain on adjacent billets the reaction from the crank arms as its bracket turns a billet. The turning action is improved by inclusion of a lost motion link between the crank arm and the cylinder. To make the device easier and lighter to handle, it is spring suspended from a movable stand which also supports a power pack for operating the cylinder.

Abstract: A workpiece conveyor for conveying a workpiece between presses is disclosed. The workpiece conveyor includes first, second and third stations disposed between the presses, a reversing mechanism disposed at the first station and equipped with a pair of right and left reversing jaws that are driven separately for elevation and rotation, a first workpiece receiver disposed at the second station and capable of moving up and down, an unloader mechanism and a second workpiece receiver disposed on an unloader which is disposed at one of the end portions of a carriage capable of moving between the first to third stations, a third workpiece receiver disposed at the other end of the carriage which is spaced apart from the second workpiece receiver by the same distance as the distance between the stations, and leaf cams disposed near the first station in such a manner as to be capable of meshing with the unloader lifter and removing along an arcuate or curved path the workpiece.

Abstract: A device for feeding spinning bobbins after spinning to a winder comprises a base supporting a bobbin box thereon, a cover member integrally pivoted about a shaft and being positioned in an opening of the bobbin box to prevent a bobbin from falling when the box is inverted, and a driving mechanism for turning the base and the cover member with the bobbin box upside down to transfer the bobbin box onto a bobbin conveyor, and for moving the cover member to a position at least lower than the bobbin carrying surface of the conveyor.

Abstract: The invention is a robotic parts presentation system for delivering a workpiece into a work envelope of an industrial manipulator. This system also centers the delivered workpiece about the centerline of the workpiece in the X and Y axes directions thereof. The invention provides an accurate system for the location of the part with respect to a programmed pickup point for acquisition by an industrial manipulator. The system comprises in combination a centering device which is disposed within the work envelope of the industrial manipulator and a flip-over mechanism for delivering the workpiece from a transfer station outside of the work envelope onto the centering device.

Abstract: A tube transfer system wherein a hand of tubes is delivered to ender devices in any of four orientations, the system including a by-pass section for receiving hands when the ender devices are unable to accept tubes. The by-pass section is reversed to deliver by-passed hands to the ender devices when newly formed hands are not delivered to the system.

Abstract: In a method and assembly for trimming a stack of veneer sheets, both lengthwise and transverse cutting lines are determined in advance by means of a director light projecting a line. The position data of the determined line are processed by a computer to control the feed to a cutting plane. Alternatively, the cutting lines are marked. The stack is firmly clamped between conveyor belts of a mechanism by which, after the first lengthwise trimming, the stack is turned upside down, after the same procedure for determining the cutting line, fed to the cutting plane. The transverse trimming is effected in similar fashion.

Abstract: A parison transferring device for use in transferring glass parisons from a parison forming mold to a blow mold. The device comprises gripping members operable to grip or release a parison. The gripping members are movable about a horizontal axis between a gripping position and a releasing position. A cylinder is mounted on a horizontal shaft and has the gripping members mounted thereon. A piston is movable in the cylinder and is screw-threadedly connected to the shaft so that movement along the cylinder causes the piston to rotate about the horizonal axis. A driving connection between the piston and cylinder causes the cylinder to rotate when the piston does so.

Abstract: Products made of batter, such as pancakes, are automatically cooked on a continuous elongated, continuously advanced heated conveyor belt. A dispenser adjacent one end of the belt dispenses individual masses of the batter onto the belt to form the individual product units. At an intermediate location along the belt length, the product units are flipped. The dispenser and flipper are activated in synchronism with each other and longitudinal movement of the belt in response to the belt being continuously advanced.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning or orienting a hand of tubes, or the like, includes clamp arms for clamping the hand while on a conveyor, a fluid activated ram for raising the hand, inverting it 180.degree., lowering it back onto the conveyor, and releasing the clamp arms. The device may also be tilted while in elevated position so that the clamp arms and hand avoid contact with personnel during inversion.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring a blank having a first blank-retaining member for retaining a blank before turnover; a second blank-retaining member for receiving the blank from the first blank-retaining member, the second blank-retaining member having its inner end rotatably linked to the inner end of said first blank-retaining member; first and second horizontally moving members adapted to be movable only in the horizontal direction and rotatably supporting the outer ends of the first and second blank-retaining members, respectively; and a driving force transmitting means which maintains the first and second blank-retaining members in their respective horizontal positions in their inoperative states but draws down the linked inner ends of the first and second blank-retaining members in their operative states so that the first and second blank-retaining members come in contact with each other at their respective vertical positions and then returns said first and second blank-retaining members to their respecti

Abstract: An automatic system for exposing and handling double-sided printed circuit boards without scuffing either side, which effects precise positioning of the circuit boards at exposure stations, and which holds the circuit boards firmly clamped on a planar stage during exposure. The system includes a first apparatus to expose one side of each circuit board, and a second apparatus to expose the other side thereof. Air-bearing and mechanical-engagement means cooperate with each other to float and actuate the circuit boards from one station to the other, and coarse and fine positioning means are provided at each station to effect accurate locating of the boards thereat followed by vacuum clamping onto the exposure stage. Means are provided for automatically inverting each board as it moves from the first exposure station to the second, the inverting means incorporating air-bearing and mechanical-actuating means to insure that there is no scuffing at the inverting station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing of workpieces comprising the steps of continuously transferring the workpieces to and fro among a plurality of rotating members, wherein each member carries a plurality of sets of work stations. Workpieces, such as precut tubular sleeves, and tube heads, are sealed to form containers, utilizing continuously rotating turrets and cooperating rotating members designed to produce such containers efficiently and at high rate of production.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for effecting automatic handling of circuit boards prior to exposing them, pins are provided that effect highly accurate location of the circuit board at an exposure station. The pins are extended through slots provided in the circuit board, at least one slot being perpendicular to the others.Each pin is noncircular, being sufficiently small to be inserted through an associated slot when the pin is in one rotated position, but being sufficiently large that rotation of the pin about its axis will cause it to bind with the walls of the slot, so that further pin rotation is prevented. The pins are inserted into the slots when in the non-binding rotated positions, following which the pins are rotated so as to bind with the slot walls, and thereby move the board to a precisely known position relative to the axes of the pins. Thereafter, exposure of the board is effected.

Abstract: A novel turnover device adapted to receive a workpiece at its inlet end and deliver the workpiece in a turned over state from its outlet end at a distance from the inlet end is disclosed herein, which comprises a main body frame, first and second carriers supported on the main body frame so as to be movable in the inlet-outlet direction, first and second arm holders rotatably supported by the first and second carriers, respectively, first and second arm rods slidably held by the first and second arm holders, respectively, first and second workpiece holders fixedly secured to one end of the first and second crank drive mechanisms associated with the first and second carriers, respectively, and adapted to rock the first and second rods, respectively, in the inlet-outlet direction when the carriers are moved in the inlet-outlet direction, and carrier drive means for driving the first and second carriers simultaneously in the opposite directions so that they may approach to each other and they may separate from e

Abstract: A reversible drive device rotates a sprocket wheel so that an endless chain engaging said sprocket wheel moves through a vertical path and then in a semicircular path around a chain guide. A workpiece conveyed by a conveyor device from a preceding stage is clamped by a clamping device extending from a base end of a workpiece retaining arm having an outer end connected to said chain. If the workpiece is to be transferred in an inverted orientation, a slider pivotally supporting the base end of the workpiece retaining arm is raised along a slide guide by the chain; then the outer end of the workpiece retaining arm circles around the upper end of the chain guide together with the chain, thereby rotating the workpiece retaining arm by half a turn and inverting the workpiece.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting, locating and transferring plate-like or disc-shaped workpieces between several stations or between several machines where each of two plane parallel surfaces of each workpiece is subjected to one or more treatments has at least two partially overlapping plate chucks. A workpiece which is introduced by one chuck into the space where the two chucks overlap is released by the one chuck and is then attracted by the other chuck so that the previously exposed surface of the workpiece becomes concealed and vice versa. The chucks can transport workpieces between successive stations of a series of stations where the surfaces of the workpieces can be subjected to a coarse and thereupon to a precision or final treatment such as grinding and polishing, lapping or honing. If the chucks are installed in a separate frame, they can be rotated through 180.degree. about an axis which is parallel to their work-contacting surfaces so that a workpiece between such chucks is inverted, i.e.

Abstract: Welding apparatus for a vehicle body of a two-wheeled vehicle including a machine base, at least one lower jig carrier mounted on the base for reciprocation between the first position and the second position ahead of the first position, clamping devices for holding a workpiece on the lower jig carrier, a machine frame mounted over the machine base at the second position, an upper jig carrier mounted on the machine frame which is moveable upwardly and downwardly and is reciprocatable between the second position and a third position ahead of the second position, a second set of clamping devices for holding the workpiece on the upper jig carrier, welding devices at the second position for welding certain predetermined points on the workpiece, and structure designed for reversibly changing the orientation of the upper jig carrier while holding the workpiece by 180.degree.. The apparatus further includes equipment at the third position for welding another set of certain predetermined points on the workpiece.

Abstract: This invention concerns an apparatus for charging pneumatic gripper heads and maintaining the charge while the heads move between spaced locations.

Abstract: The board turner apparatus and method is capable of turning a board over several times for repeated inspection of both sides of such board for more accurate grading of such board before allowing the board to be conveyed forward past a retractable stop. The retractable stop means when extended above the conveyor engages the leading edge of the board at a fixed stop position along a conveyor means and keeps the board from advancing along the conveyor means until such stop means is retracted. The board inverter means includes a plurality of curved turner arms which pivot about the axis of a common support shaft between a lowered position below the upper surface of the conveyor and a raised position above such upper conveyor surface.

Abstract: Lead frames with semiconductor microcircuit chips bonded thereto are automatically rapidly precisely loaded onto loading frames for subsequent encapsulation of the chips. The lead frames are contained within magazines, each lead frame resting on a separate rack therewithin. An air-actuated piston causes a plurality of pusher bars to each eject a lead frame from each of a plurality of the magazines, horizontally disposed, onto a nest member which pivots to invert the lead frames ejected thereon onto the loading frame. The lead frames are precisely positioned on the nest member early in the pivot thereof when the lead frame are caused to slide downwardly on the smooth-surfaced nest member to thereby contact an abutment and to be retained in that precise position by vacuum until deposited on the loading frame.

Abstract: A turnover mechanism for turning a planar strip through one hundred and eighty degrees is disclosed. The turnover mechanism is particularly useful in the manufacture of tackless strips and is adopted for installation in a tackless strip manufacturing machine. The turnover mechanism includes a ratchet which is activated by the usual pin driving mechanism to rotate a turner in timed sequence with the pin inserting operations. The turner includes a groove and the turnover mechanism incorporates a cam to urge one end of each strip into the groove after the pins are properly seated in the strip. The turner turns over or flips each pinned strip in sequence to permit the tackless strip manufacturing machine to automatically apply a plurality of floor attaching nails in each strip in a direction opposite to the orientation of the pins.

Abstract: Cooking apparatus and method for preparing meats to suit individual tastes of different consumers. The meat is subjected to electric current heating to cook the meat and to radiant broiling to char its surface. The cooking current passing through the meat is regulated in response to a comparison of an input corresponding to the desired degree of cooking and an indication of the interior temperature of the meat as it is being cooked. The apparatus and method are particularly suited to handle effectively a variety of individual orders at substantially the same time.

Abstract: A reversing device for press worked goods which is to be arranged between presses in the secondary press working line, wherein the press worked goods are reversed by 180.degree. for next pressing process. The reversing device comprises in combination a slide base, a slider attached to the slide base, a reverse plate rotatably supported on the slider, a reversing drive apparatus for reciprocatively rotating said reversng plate and a straightway drive apparatus for reciprocative movement of the slider.

Abstract: A conveyor accumulates collapsed, flexible flat tubes into roughly aligned stacks which are transferred to a collator comprising an inclined tray-like receptacle mounted for multidirectional movement. The receptacle is simultaneously rotated and pivoted from a loading station to a discharge station while being rapidly reciprocated to vibrate the roughly stacked tubes. The combined effects of gravity and vibration urge the tubes to shift relative to each other into engagement with adjacent sidewalls of the tray to align the stack. A pallet mounted for multidirectional movement at the discharge station is automatically indexed to allow the aligned stacks to be deposited at preselected locations on the pallet.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering ties after unmolding from a first location to a trimming station which includes a conveyor operative between the first location and the trimming station, a gantry having a pair of arms for grasping the ends of the tie, lifting the tie from the first location, rotating the tie and delivering it to said conveyor.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for orientating elongated articles, in particular bodies of writing pens. These articles are placed in parallel disposition on a conveyor which is moved in step by step fashion. The articles will either be pointing in the desired direction or in the opposite direction to the desired direction. The first pushers are arranged to push the articles not in the desired direction off the conveyor and into an inverting mechanism, and a second pusher pushes the inverted articles from the inverting mechanism back onto the conveyor in the correct disposition. The first pushers distinguish between the articles which are positioned correctly and those which are not in that the configuration of the respective ends of the articles are different, and the first pushers are adapted to engage only one end of each article.

Abstract: A machine is positioned in the line of a gypsum board manufacture to provide lifting arms, which are actuated up through the line to remove board sections, invert and transfer them to an adjacent area for subsequent drying. The lifting arms are reciprocated, end for end, during the elevating and inverting action to subsequently approach the board from beneath. The lifting arms are actuated through slider boxes, attached to a shaft, and a cam is provided to control the ends of the lifting arms, as each end is pivoted at the inverter shaft to which its slider box is attached.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an apparatus or machine which is especially useful in performing an important article handling function in a semi-automatic production arrangement for inverting and moving interlocking, epoxy bonded blocks. These blocks, commonly referred to as Super Blocks, are cast three at a time on a special steel pallet having accurately positioned cavities. During the casting process eight alignment pins or protrusions are formed on the bottom of each block while at the same time matching alignment dimples or depressions are formed on the top of each block. The semi-cured blocks are inverted by the disclosed apparatus to avoid damage to the alignment pins when the blocks are placed on an exit conveyor. The same block inversion or transfer operation conveniently strips the three blocks off of each of the steel pallets making them ready for the next casting cycle.

Abstract: A cooking machine for making hamburgers which includes a pair of aligned ovens and a conveyor adapted to travel separate spaced hamburger patties over the top of the oven, a dispenser is provided at one end of the conveyor run and intermediate the run, a mechanism is provided for rotating the hamburgers through 180.degree. for cooking on both sides, the first cooking operation being over one oven and the second cooking operation being over the second oven; and a compressing assembly is provided to size the hamburgers in its run over the second conveyor portion.

Abstract: In an electronic component manufacturing system, slices are transported in serial fashion between a plurality of work stations. As the slices move through the system, each work station performs a separate manufacturing operation on each slice. The manufacturing operations are performed in immediate succession and within the same time interval so that the slices are processed rapidly and so that slices do not accumulate between the work stations. The slices are maintained in sequence through the system so that the operation of the system is more easily controlled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for inverting articles utilizing a fixture which comprises a pair of hinged plates each containing a plurality of holes. The holes in opposite sides are in alignment with one another and are connected to two vacuum switches so that vacuum to each plate can be independently controlled. Articles recognized as being upside down are placed over the holes in a first plate with the vacuum activated on that side to secure the articles to the plate. The plates are then rotated together about the hinge. The vacuum on the first plate is released, and the vacuum on the second plate is activated. As a consequence, the articles are transferred right side up to the second plate.