Abstract: An apparatus for automatic loading or unloading printed circuit boards (PCBs) for semiconductor modules is disclosed. The apparatus employs an elastic jig carrier into which the PCBs are loaded. The jig carrier includes movable clamps for fixing the PCBs by elastic force. A jig opener of the apparatus applies opening force, in the reverse direction of the elastic force, to the movable clamps so that the PCBs can be loaded into or unloaded from the jig carrier by a picker. The jig carrier is transferred along a conveyor belt, while the PCBs are supplied from a PCB stage such as a tray to the jig carrier. The apparatus may further comprise a gripper and a rotator. The gripper grips the upright PCBs and the rotator rotates them to be horizontal, so that the picker can pick up the horizontal PCBs. The apparatus may also comprise an aligner for exact alignment of the PCBs in the jig carrier. A method for loading or unloading the PCBs into or from the jig carrier is also disclosed in connection with the apparatus.

Abstract: A multilevel storage device for CD cases includes at least two conveyors, upper and lower, respectively, leading to a feeding station which receives groups of containers having relative hinged edges suitably oriented. A station loads groups of cases on the lower conveyor and a transfer unit which picks up the groups of cases from a downstream end of said lower conveyor to the upper conveyor when sensor means detect absence of groups of cases at an upstream end of the upper conveyor. Presence of groups of cases at a downstream end of the upper conveyor, before the feeding station is detected by other sensor means.

Abstract: A lead frame separating and conveying device used with, for instance, a wire bonding apparatus, including a frame separating assembly that includes frame guides which support lead frames that are lined up with the flat surfaces in a vertical direction, frame suspension guides which are installed above the front ends of the frame guides in the feeding direction of the lead frames, and a frame pusher which pushes the rear end of the lead frames lined up on the frame guides so as to convey the lead frames onto the frame suspension guides. The frame suspension guides supports the lead frames in a suspended fashion and have frame separating sections which are inclined upward.

Abstract: An armature manufacturing line includes one or more manufacturing cells, each having a winder facing a fuser and a rotatable armature transfer apparatus that transfers unwound armatures to the winder and wound armatures from the winder directly to the fuser. The armature transfer apparatus has a rotatable turret upon which are mounted a pair of grippers that face in mutually opposite directions and which are movable along mutually parallel axes. Independent drive means drives the grippers along their respective paths of movement relative to the turret. The turret is rotatably driven through 180.degree. in alternately opposite directions to place one gripper in confronting relation with the winder, then in confronting relation with the fuser, and so on. An elevator at the fuser moves wound and fused armatures from the fuser to a conveyor. Different embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: In certain production lines such as for some edible ice products it is actual to transfer the products from a hanging position in a feeding row to a lying position on an underlying conveyor, e.g. for conveying to a packaging station, and it is known to effect such a transfer by means of a product gripping pivot arm which grips the product and swings it down through 90.degree. to a position in which the product is released for falling down on the conveyor. There are associated problems with respect to the delivery accuracy, already because of the necessity of accelerating the products to the conveyor speed. With the invention the pivot arm is arranged and controlled in such a manner that the products, when released to the conveyor, are located very closely above the conveyor and are in motion with a velocity component in the conveying direction roughly corresponding the velocity of the conveyor, whereby the delivery accuracy is largely improved.

Abstract: A system for treating oil laden used products, e.g., oil filters to achieve complete recycle of the products. The used products are heated in a primary combustion zone under reducing conditions to lower the viscosity of the oil for removal and to create oil in vapor form. The oil vapor is passed to a reclamation chamber where oil is condensed and removed. The remaining vapors are led to a secondary combustion chamber under greater than stoichiometric conditions to produce clean exhaust.

Abstract: An apparatus for presenting a flexible article, longer than it is wider, in a predetermined orientation which has an orientation for tumbling the article generally about one direction while retaining the article so that it can rotate about another direction while it is being tumbled. The retention mechanism on the apparatus includes a retention face and is moveable between a first position in which the retention face is disposed to receive the article generally downwardly from the orientation head while it is being tumbled thereby, and a second position displaced from the first. Additionally, when the article is received on the retention face, it can be detected if it is correctly orientated on the retention face. In response to this detection, the retention mechanism moves to the second position and the article is received in a predetermined orientation from the retention face at the second position of the retention mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for removing and transporting articles from molds. More specifically, the present invention pertains to such an apparatus and method which is particularly well suited for removing the articles from a molding machine having molds in which they are molded, and thereafter carrying the articles within a very short period of time away from the molds and depositing the articles for further processing in a high speed, automated production system.

Abstract: The manufacture of bags requires stacks of tube sections to be separated as desired. The stacks must also be able to be turned 180.degree. and then fed to a separating device so that filling valves can be attached to varying end areas. A suitable device for feeding and for turning and feeding bundles includes a support bracket which is seated in bearings in a frame so as to rotate or pivot. The support bracket is provided with a rotary or pivot drive. Guideways, running crosswise relative to the support bracket, are provided for rods which can be moved back and forth by a drive. The rods support a beam parallel to the support bracket which is connected perpendicularly to a number of mutually parallel arms. The device includes a crosswise support bracket which is connected to the support bracket by joining pieces. Tines are supported approximately parallel to the arms.

Abstract: A flexible drive tape conveyor system for conveying items between at least two spaced apart stations includes a carrier member and at least one tape guide track having a tape guide. The drive tape is substantially inflexible in a direction transverse to its width, and is at least partially housed in the tape guide. At least a portion of a tape guide track and tape guide are twisted about their longitudinal axis so that the drive tape and its affected carrier member can be turned in a direction transverse to the width of the drive tape. A drive mechanism is used to selectively reciprocate the drive tape and the carrier member between the spaced apart stations.

Abstract: A stack turner and replenisher 10 is provided for keeping a hopper of a carton prefeeder P filled with carton blanks, traditionally a job that requires a human worker and causes carpal tunnel syndrome due to the inverting motion required. Stack turner 10 allows for the movement of a stack of blanks in a lateral direction as well as in an inverted u-shaped path. Clamp 53, with adjustable upper and lower plates 54,55, is used to pick up a stack of blanks from a source of such blanks. Clamp 53 then moves upwardly, laterally, and downwardly along groove 52, while an upper portion 50 of stack turner 10 simultaneously moves laterally toward prefeeder P. Clamp 53 then deposits the blanks in the hopper of prefeeder P. Finally, stack turner 10 retraces its path in order to pick up another stack of blanks and repeat the procedure, thus ensuring that the hopper of prefeeder P is always filled with carton blanks. Stack turner 10 also squares the stack of blanks both vertically and horizontally.

Abstract: The object of a charging device for semiconductor processing installations is to increase the flexibility of the charging process while excluding negative influences on dependability and clean room conditions. At least in a portion of the movement of a linearly movable part which is supported by a stationary part of a drive for transferring a transport object between two end positions, a gripper for the transport object being attached to the movable part, a rotating movement of the gripper is combined with the linear movement. The device is provided in particular for use in the fabrication of semiconductors.

Abstract: A pass thru port, for use in an automated cartridge library, is capable of transferring a cartridge from one module of the automated cartridge library to another module of the automated cartridge library without the use of motors or other powered devices. A rotating mechanism, operating under the force of gravity, engages the cartridge after the cartridge is released by the robot arm of the first module. The rotating mechanism turns the cartridge so it faces in the appropriate direction to be received by the second module. A pivoting tray in the second module engages the cartridge as the cartridge slides from the rotating mechanism to the second module. The pivoting tray positions the cartridge in the second module so that it may be retrieved by a robot arm in the second module. Multiple cartridges can be loaded into the pass thru port and removed one at a time from the second module with the next module automatically moving into position in the second module when the first cartridge is removed.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing and transporting ophthalmic lens mold sections from a mold, and generally comprising first, second, and third assemblies. The first assembly removes the lens mold sections from the mold and transports the lens mold sections to a first location, the second assembly receives the lens mold sections from the first assembly and transports the lens mold sections to a second location, and the third assembly receives the lens mold sections from the second assembly and transports the lens mold sections to a third location. Preferably, the first assembly includes a hand to receive the lens mold sections from the mold and to releasably hold the lens mold sections, and a support subassembly connected to the hand to support the hand and to move the hand between the mold and the first location.

Abstract: An automatic sheet loader for automatically transferring sheets to a cardboard packer. The sheet loader includes at least a pair of chains disposed between upper sprockets and lower sprockets so that the pair of chains face each other to form a sheet transfer path therebetween, brackets mounted on the chains at predetermined intervals and projecting toward the sheet transfer path for supporting a group of sheets from both sides thereof, and a drive motor for driving the chains so as to move the brackets along the sheet transfer path for transferring the group of sheets. When the dimension of each packaging container, the number of packaging containers in each group, or the manner of packaging is changed, a different type of sheet is set. Since each group of sheets is moved and transferred from the upper side to the lower side by the chains, it is easy to distinguish the new group of sheets from the previous group of sheets during the exchange operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading condoms onto mandrels is disclosed, the apparatus comprising a number of expansion rods adapted to receive and stretch a condom, the rods being mounted on a reciprocating carriage assembly which moves the rods past the mandrel, the mandrel itself stripping the condom from the rods.

Abstract: A separator/feeder 16 in which a chute 18 stores a plurality of headed fasteners 4 in line and feeds them one by one to a shuttle 20 having a storage cavity. A piston-cylinder device 24 reciprocates the shuttle between a first position in which the headed fasteners are singly received in the storage cavity and a second position in which they are conveyed, shanks foremost, to a discharge port and hence a discharge tube 25 connected thereto. A rotatable disk 27 provided in the housing 22 transmits the headed fasteners into an upside-down position in the storage cavity of the slidable shuttle. A rack 32 and a pinion 30 function to link the rotation of the disk with the reciprocating movement of the shuttle so that the headed fasteners can be received from a pocket 28 in the disk when the storage cavity of the shuttle is in the first position and can be received from the chute 18 into the disk pocket when the storage cavity of the shuttle is in the second position.

Abstract: A machine and method for attaching a plurality of preassembled connectors to a length of ribbon cable. The machine has at least one separating module in which the connectors are disposed in a selected orientation. Each connector is separated into a cover member and a connector housing member within the respective module. The modules are indexed and transferred to a press where the connector is terminated on the length of ribbon cable. A preassembled connector is disposed in a lead module and is terminated on the first end of the length of ribbon cable. The ribbon cable, with the attached spaced apart connectors, is cut to a desired length and tested electrically.

Abstract: Plates, especially glass sheets, are fed for sorting to a putting-up machine wherein a glass sheet is set upright against a wall in front of which the glass sheet is held in a determined position by an air flow provided by a blower. One glass sheet at a time is withdrawn from this position and pulled into a sorting carriage by nippers. The sorting carriage is then displaced in front of a compartment carriage and the glass sheets contained in the sorting carriage are pushed out by the nippers and inserted into the corresponding compartment of a compartment carriage. The installation has a simple construction, works particularly efficiently and takes optimally care of the glass sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring while turning upside down a piece of meat such as loins from a supply surface on which the loins are in one position to a receiving conveyor on which a plurality of saddles are mounted at regular intervals to receive the loins in another upside down position. The apparatus has an L-shaped rack for receiving the loins from the supply surface. This rack is pivotable between a stopping position and a delivering position in which its surface acts as an extension of the supply surface on which the loins may slide to reach the saddles. An inverting member is mounted onto the rack and pivotably movable therewith between the stopping and delivering positions.

Abstract: Workpieces are manipulated between the receiving position and the discharge position by supporting gripper arms on a platform mounted on a pivot shaft. The pivot shaft pivots between a position where a workpiece is gripped by gripper arms to a pivotal discharge position where the workpiece is released by the gripper arms. The pivot shaft is moved horizontally by a threaded adjusting screw toward and away from a vacuum chuck in a silk-screen printing machine to compensate for changes to the length of the workpiece to be carried by the vacuum chuck. This allows conveyors to remain at fixed elevations and merely change the site at which the workpieces are picked up in the case of a loading mechanism from a feed conveyor and the site where workpieces are deposited on a conveyor for an unloading operation.

Abstract: A system for handling lamellae in a spaced but face-to-face arrangement includes a pair of facing hoop-shaped guide sprockets arranged in tandem array between the guides, and a rack comprising a pair of parallel legs of roller chain supporting a plurality of slats shaped to receive edges of lamellae. The slats have projections at their end which are positioned on end feed platforms and pass along grooves in the guides with the roller chains engaging and being driven by one of the sprockets.

Abstract: A gripping device reciprocates vertically towards and away from a table surface having at least one groove to grip and remove articles from the surface. The gripping device has two jaw members connected to a cylinder so that a first jaw member is in a fixed position relative to the cylinder and so that a second jaw member is movable towards and away from the first jaw member.

Abstract: The device for feeding stacks of cutouts to a user machine, wherein a fork provided with a supporting plate suitable to support at least one stack of cutouts is connected to a slider that can slide along a straight guide under the action of a first motor; the guide can rotate about an axis which is transverse to the guide under the action of a second motor which cooperates with the first motor to move the fork between a loading station, where the supporting plate arranges itself parallel to a plane for the conveyance of the stacks, and through an unloading station formed by a magazine of the user machine, wherein a stop element allows the disengagement of the supporting plate from the conveyed stack.

Abstract: A sheet-like workpiece delivering apparatus including a workpiece transfer device disposed in front of a work table of a machine tool and a workpiece storing device provided adjacent to and on the side of the workpiece transfer device. The workpiece storing device supports a sheet-like workpiece in a standing condition and supplies the workpiece to the workpiece transfer device or receives the workpiece for the workpiece transfer device. The workpiece transfer device further supports the sheet-like workpiece in a standing condition and receives the workpiece from the workpiece storing device or supplies the workpiece to the workpiece storing device and the workpiece in the workpiece transfer device is swingably moved from a standing condition to a horizontally extending condition or reversely about a longitudinal axis of the transfer device.

Abstract: A gripping device and process comprising:first and second matable jaw members;a cylinder adapted to reciprocate vertically;connecting the first jaw member to the cylinder such that, in operation, the cylinder and connection urge the first jaw member to open and close the jaws;maintaining the second jaw member in a fixed position relative to the cylinder;a fixed table positioned beneath the jaw members, provided with at least one transverse groove;transporting a product downstream on the fixed table to locate it with its upstream or downstream edge overlying the transverse groove;advancing the cylinder downwardly with the jaws in the open position to enable the lower end of the second jaw member to contact the product at its upstream or downstream end above the groove causing the product to tilt in the groove;activating the cylinder to close the jaws to grip the tilted product at its upper end;retracting the cylinder upwardly with the closed jaws gripping the product; anddeactivating the cylinder to open the j

Abstract: A method and device for feeding a succession of reels of strip material to a pickup station; the reels being fed successively, and laid flat, on to a low-friction supporting surface, being centered on the supporting surface in relation to an axis substantially perpendicular to the supporting surface, and being lifted off the supporting surface and rolled over into an on-edge pickup position in the pickup station.

Abstract: On the conveyor track (1) on which the objects (2a, 2b) to be turned are moved at an equal distance apart by slides (3a, 3b), there is provided along a turning zone an advancement mechanism having an advancement member in the form of a spring bar (5), which is periodically moved, at an accelerated speed relative to the speed of conveyance, forward out of an initial position into an end position and back again into the initial position. The spring bar (5) disposed over the conveyor track (1) has a bent section (5b) which reaches down to the conveyor track and the concave side of which points in the direction of conveyance. Between the two aforementioned positions of the spring bar (5), there are fastened on the conveyor track (1) two stops (6) which are aligned in the transverse direction and the height of which is less than the height of the object and the side of which pointing oppositely to the direction of conveyance exhibits in its upper region an inclined face (6a).

Abstract: This invention relates to an overhead work suspension conveyor for conveying a piece of work, for example, a tailgate to a main body in an assembly line of a vehicle main body. An object of this invention is to efficiently and surely hold plural kinds of work pieces of different configurations in a suspended position and to permit their easy loading on a work conveyance mechanism. This invention therefore provides an overhead work suspension conveyor comprising a traverser main body, plural spindles turnably supported relative to the traverser main body, plural work support members fixed at upper ends thereof on the spindles and having work supports at lower ends thereof, said work supports being turnable responsive to turning of the corresponding spindles to support a piece of work at an outer periphery thereof, and a spindle drive mechanism arranged on the traverser main body and adapted to selectively turn the spindle depending on the kind of the work piece.

Abstract: Workpieces are manipulated between the receiving position and the discharge position by supporting gripper arms on a platform mounted on a pivot shaft. The pivot shaft pivots between a position where a workpiece is gripped by one or more moveable gripper arms through a pivotal discharge position where the workpiece is released by the gripper arms. The pivot shaft is moved horizontally by a threaded adjusting screw toward and away from a vacuum chuck in a silk-screen printing machine to compensate for changes to the length of the workpiece to be carried by the vacuum chuck. This allows conveyors to remain at fixed elevations and merely change the site at which the workpieces are picked up in the case of a loading mechanism from a feed conveyor and the site where workpieces are deposited on a conveyor for an unloading operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for picking up parts from a conveyor belt, moving them to a test rig for testing, and returning tested parts to the belt, in which a rotatable shaft is rotated back and forth between first and second positions. The shaft carries first and second pick-up heads at its free end, which are oriented perpendicular to one another and at angles of 45.degree. to the shaft. In the first position, the first pick-up head is aligned with a conveyor while the second pick-up head is aligned with a test rig, while the pick-up head positions are reversed in the second position. First and second drive assemblies are arranged to drive each of the pick-up heads between extended and retracted positions in each of the two rotatable shaft positions. In each of the first and second positions, one of the pick-up heads deposits a tested part onto the conveyor and picks up a new part for testing while the other pick-up head holds a part for testing at the test rig.

Abstract: A process and a device is provided for the positioning of bobbins which are delivered by a conveying device and are tilted from a conveyed position into a position from which they can be picked up by a grasper. Provisions are made for the bobbins to be brought into the desired position for pickup by the grasper. For this, further provisions are made for the tilting action to be triggered by the bobbin which is running up against a tilting surface and for the bobbin to be brought up against a stop so that the predetermined position is achieved.

Abstract: The device for the automatic feeding of cutouts to a user machine, includes an inclined supporting plate for receiving, in succession, stacks of cutouts input to the user machine. A fixed guide is arranged above the supporting plate and a motorized trolley is slidably movable, on the guide, from and toward an output end of a conveyor of stacks of cutouts. An L-shaped element defining a support element is pivotally connected to a rod which extends down from the trolley, and the support element is arrangeable, at the output end, parallel to the advancement direction of the conveyor, and at an unloading station, parallel to the supporting plate. A stop device, defining two spaced uprights, extending from the supporting plate, is arranged at the unloading station, and the space between the uprights allows free passage of the L-shaped element while the stacks of cutouts rest against the uprights.

Abstract: A package transfer system having a package elevator located between an overhead conveyor and stock conveyors. Withdrawable delivery members are installed on the runway of the package elevator. When in an up position, the delivery members function to deliver packages from the descending elevator to the stock conveyor. When in a down position, the delivery members allow the downward passage of the packages on the elevator.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for turning small goods, particularly packages, on a conveyor belt and resides in that the apparatus is composed of mutually perpendicular transporting surfaces which form an independent part of the conveyor belt and are pivotal by way of a pivot drive partially or entirely about 90.degree. in such a manner that, after a 90.degree. pivoting process, the transporting surface which was flush in the conveyor belt direction on transporting surface is flush with the conveyor belt surface and the surface that was flush in the direction of the conveyor belt before the pivoting process is perpendicular to the conveyor belt surface.

Abstract: Apparatus to load workpieces on a carrier for a decorator. A swing arm supports grippers at one end for movement between a workpiece transfer site and a workpiece loading position. An actuating lever moveable with the swing arm moves a gripper into a workpiece gripping position with the stationary gripper at the transfer site and moves the displaceable gripper into a workpiece release position with stationary gripper at the workpiece loading position. A driven cam track coupled by a follower to an oscillating shaft reciprocates the swing arm between a workpiece receiving position and a workpiece discharge position. A belt extends between a bearing block used to support the oscillating shaft and a support shaft for the gripper so that as the swing arm reciprocates the gripper is rotated to transposes the position of the workpiece supported thereby.

Abstract: A storage station for full weft packages transferred to a weft package stand of a weaving machine by a carrier or the carrier is provided with a direction adjusting device for arranging the direction of the full packages in a corresponding direction to the full package accepting direction of the weft package stand. A rail for the carrier is composed of a main rail and a subrail, wherein the main rail is composed of a first rail portion extending through the storage station and a second rail portion connected to the first rail portion and extending along each row of weaving machines in a weaving machine installation region, and the subrail is a closed loop subrail connected to the main rail.

Abstract: An electronic part carrying apparatus is disclosed. If a carrier means moves to a part supplying device (which supplies electronic parts in a laid-down state) in accordance with the actuation of a rodless cylinder, a first roller is lifted along an upper inclined face of a first guide member in order to load electronic parts into a loading means. If the carrier means is moved in the opposite direction in accordance with the actuations of the rodless cylinder, a second roller is guided along a lower inclined face of a second guide member in order to pivot the loading means by 90 degrees. Consequently, the electronic parts are erected to an upright posture, with the result that the chucking is rendered easier, and that the working time is shortened.

Abstract: Apparatus for reorienting books or like objects, for example from a vertical to a horizontal orientation, while the products are continuing to move along a conveying system. The apparatus comprises a transfer device which defines a clamping space into which the moving object is delivered, the transfer device being rotatable between the first and second orientations while object movement continues, the clamping action being releasable when the second orientation is reached so that the object can be fed onto a downstream conveyor.

Abstract: An automatic bottle-turning machine is described in which filled water bottles are conveyed through an automatic turning apparatus that rotates them from an upright position onto their sides, and discharges them. Bottles enter a turning station which is laterally rotatable about a longitudinal axis, and is blocked at its distal end by an exit stop. Bottles are counted as they enter. When a predetermined count number is reached, bottle entry is stopped and the station rotates 90 degrees from its initial position to a second position. The exit stop is then deactuated and the turned bottles discharge. Bottles are counted as they exit. When the predetermined count number is reached, the station rerotates from the second position to the initial position, and the exit stop is reactuated.

Abstract: Device (10) to transfer roving packages with the roving pre-positioned, the packages (11) being taken from discharge means (23) belonging to or, in any event, connected to machines that prepare the roving for spinning, the packages (11) thereafter having to be positioned on conveyor means (26) which are advantageously automatic, to feed the creels of spinning machines, the device (10) comprising the following assemblies working in functional sequence:a self-aligning assembly (37) which cooperates with the discharge means (23) and is suitable to position in a desired and pre-determined manner the packages (11) arriving at the end of the discharge means (23) and to withdraw the end of the roving from such packages (11) and to position that end on the package (11) itself in a desired manner, advantageously by placing the end on a frontal surface of the package,an arm (13) to engage and transfer the packages (11) which is suitable to cooperate with the self-aligning assembly (37) in engaging the packages (11) and

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 package transport mechanism comprises a package carrier for receiving and supporting a package on its upper surface, and a lifting device carrying the package carrier on its upper end for upward and downward movement and for rotation about a vertical axis. The package carrier includes a package supporting device on its upper surface comprising a horizontally-extending endless conveyor and devices for selectively driving the endless conveyor in either direction, a base plate for movably carrying the supporting device, and devices mounting the supporting device on the base plate for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis arranged centric with the longitudinal center plane of and below the endless conveyor. The lifting device comprises a lifting column which defines the vertical axis of rotation.

Abstract: A roller assembly for bending sheets of glass, including a plurality of units each comprising a plurality of rollers mounted on support shafts. The support shafts pivot, which tilts the rollers, so that the surface of each roller is tangent to the bottom of the bent glass sheet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cheese conveyor system for conveying cheeses wound by a winder, wherein hangers each supporting a lower portion in an outer peripheral surface of a cheese from opposite sides thereof are provided on a ceiling conveyor, and forks are provided on loaders and unloaders whereby either parallel cheeses or cone cheeses can be conveyed without changing the apparatus structure, and the loaders and the unloaders are of the same construction whereby either function of the loader and the unloader can be accomplished by changing the operating method to reduce the installation costs.

Abstract: A yarn package transfer apparatus is provided which includes devices for removing hollow yarn package adapter devices from downwardly and generally vertically-extending package holders movably and serially-mounted on an overhead conveying system, for inserting such hollow adapter devices into the hollow tubes of a desired number of yarn packages positioned in a generally horizontal position in a package supply assembly, and for transferring such packages of yarn from the package supply assembly and mounting the hollow adapter devices and yarn packages carried thereby onto the vertically-extending package holders of the overhead conveying system for conveying of the yarn packages. The apparatus preferably includes devices for positioning the loose ends of the yarn from the yarn packages on the adapter device in desired positions during the transferring operation.

Abstract: An automatically operated feeding and reorienting apparatus for vertically oriented stacks of nested preformed containers including a continuously advancing infeed conveyor 10 for advancing individual vertical stacks of nested containers to a transfer means assembly 12, whereat a single stack of containers 84A is separated and transferred to a tilting carriage assembly 14, whereupon the nested stack is reoriented by tilting to a substantially horizontal disposition, upon completion of said reorientation the now horizontally oriented stack of containers is advanced onto a denesting conveyor assembly 16 by a stack advancing assembly 66.

Abstract: A rotary transfer system includes an attitude converting station for automatically changing the attitude of a pallet with a workpiece supported thereon into a predetermined attitude, at least two machining stations for machining the workpiece with machine tools, and a feeder for feeding the pallet along an arcuate feed path from the attitude converting station successively to the machining stations. The annular feed path has a pair of upper and lower arcuate movable rails disposed in each of the attitude converting station and the machining stations, and a pair of upper and lower arcuate fixed rails aligned with the movable rails.

Abstract: Transport and holding device for thread packages, comprising an adapter insertable into the packages and an adapter carrier, characterized in that the carrier for the package adapter is provided with a mandrel insertable into the lower end of the package adapter, and a positioning element, so as to position the adapter in a certain angular position relative to the carrier.

Abstract: A machine for denesting stacked packaging baskets receives a stack of nested packaging baskets via a first conveyer belt. The stack of packaging baskets lies on its side. A gripper is reciprocatingly moved along a trajectory toward and away from the stack. During each reciprocating motion of the gripper, the first basket in the stack is gripped and removed by the gripper from the stack. The denested basket is then rotated into an upright position by engaging against a turning rod located above the trajectory of the gripper. The uprighted basket is then deposited on a second conveyer belt for transport to a location where product is added.