Abstract: Package handling apparatus comprises an enclosure having a downwardly directed opening, a source of air flow arranged to draw air into the enclosure through the opening, and lowers for varying the air flow into the enclosure. A conveyor is arranged in the opening and is movable relative to the opening, the conveyor being positioned to be in the flow of air into the enclosure and to provide a movable support for a package which is urged against the conveyor by the flow of air past the support.

Abstract: Apparatus for holding integrated circuit parts for inspection for cracks, holes, or other defects. The apparatus permits inspection of the top, bottom and both sides without need for the inspector to change position. The parts are slidably retained within the apparatus between upper and lower tracks. The upper and lower tracks pivot relative to one another, and relative to a base member, about a common pivot point.

Abstract: The apparatus conveys a transport platform to a lifting table of a stacking station where panels are stacked on the transport platform after the transport platform has been positioned horizontally on the lifting table. For a simple quick transfer an empty transport platform is positioned adjacent the lifting table in a normal position vertical or inclined to vertical and is put on the lifting table located in the receiving position by tipping into one horizontal position. A displacing device can be provided for moving the transport platform in the one horizontal position to another horizontal position in which the panels are received.

Abstract: A work supplying system for conveying work attached to a pallet to a plurality of machine stations disposed around an imaginary center line iin a circumferential direction, and a work conveying and delivering unit for conveying the work to the work conveyor and delivering the work from the work conveyor, wherein a conveying and delivering station is disposed for conveying and delivering the work attached to the pallet, and a plurality of releasable stations are disposed corresponding to respective machine stations for machining the work, and are located on linear lines connecting the imaginary center line to the respective machining stations, and the conveying and delivering station and the releasable stations are installed around the imaginary center line at circumferentially equal intervals along an imaginary circle which has a center on the imaginary center line, the work conveyor comprising a post stand with an axis thereof aligned with the imaginary center line, slide units each reciprocatively movable b

Abstract: The invention is a loader for loading containers such as large, heavy bottles of bottled-water from a conveyor, into a rack. It comprises a transfer table spaced from the conveyor and generally coplanar therewith. The table includes pairs of upstanding support arms having spacing corresponding to the spacing of the shelves of the rack. Guides are disposed intermediate the conveyor and the table and are adapted to guide the containers in diverging paths from the conveyor into the spaces on the table between the upstanding support arms respectively. Cylinders are provided for moving the containers laterally from the conveyor along the guides and into the spaces. The table is pivotally supported at one end and there is a large cylinder to swing it about the pivot to a vertical position wherein the support arms are horizontal and the containers rest on them. The arms are aligned with the shelves of the rack. Further cylinders are provided to drive the containers from the support arms into the rack.

Abstract: A package transfer system in which packages discharged from a winder in a prostrate posture with the respective longitudinal axis disposed substantially in the horizontal direction are transferred to a next stage and placed with the respective axes in a vertically aligned state. It includes a package aligning device located contiguously to the discharge end of the winder and adapted to align the discharged packages in a stand-by position with the respective axes in the vertical direction and a package transfer device adapted to hang up the packages arbitrarily aligned by the package aligning device for transfer to a next stage in the aligned state.

Abstract: An object, such as a bobbin, is gripped at a location other than its center of gravity and lifted so as to rotate by gravity to a desired orientation. A carriage moves the bobbin toward a conveyor path and tilts the conveyor path into position to receive the bobbin. The bobbin is positioned on the conveyor path in the desired orientation while the conveyor path is in the receiving position.

Abstract: A container supply system supplies a plurality of containers such bottles encased in a box to a container processing machine such as a bottle washing machine. The container supply system includes a box reverser for reversing the box with the bottles encased therein, a container holder disposed for holding the bottles discharged from the reversed box and thereafter releasing the bottles, a container receiver having a plurality of container receiver members for receiving the bottles, respectively, and a container ejector having a plurality of container ejector members for pushing the bottles from the container receiver to the container processing machine. In one embodiment, the container receiver is positioned below the box reverser. In another embodiment, the box reverser and the container receiver are spaced from each other, and a delivery carriage is provided for receiving the containers from the box reverser and delivering the received containers to the container receiver.

Abstract: An automatic coil winding and finishing machine. First and second bobbin conveying devices of the apparatus are capable of reciprocating on linear lines while holding coil bobbins, and of stopping the coil bobbins at predetermined positions. The first conveying devices allow the coil bobbins to be fed from a feeding device to a coil winding device and then to be discharged therefrom after the completion of the coil winding process. The second conveying device receives the coil bobbins from the first conveying device, and then allows them to be subjected to coil finishing processes in cooperation with devices for the coil finishing processes, as the coil bobbins remain held by the second conveying device. The intervals at which the conveying devices hold the coil bobbins may be determined in such a manner that the intervals are reduced when the coil bobbins are transformed from the first conveying device to the second conveying device.

Abstract: Apparatus for moving a container from a first container position to a second container position in which the container is spaced from the first position and in a different orientation, the apparatus including a drive member that is rotatable about a first axis between a first drive member position and a second drive member position, the first axis being spaced from the first container position, and a gripper for gripping the container, the gripper being rotatably mounted on the drive member about a second axis that is transverse to the first axis and rotates with the drive member, the gripper being rotatable between a first gripper position and a second gripper position, a container engaged by the gripper being in the first container position when the drive member and gripper are in their respective first positions and in the second container position when the drive member and gripper are in their respective second positions.

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: An apparatus is disclosed which serves to insert and/or remove printed circuit boards into and out of slotted change pallets which are adapted to hold printed circuit boards in a generally vertical orientation and out of contact with each other. A roller conveyor is provided for conveying each printed circuit board in a horizontal orientation into a pivoted board holder or gripper, which is adapted to grip the printed circuit board preferably at its leading edge and to move the printed circuit board to a position in which the printed circuit board is substantially vertical and disposed over one of the slots formed in a change pallet that has been positioned below the board holder or gripper. The board holder or gripper is adapted to perform an outward pivotal movement from the bottom edge of the generally vertical board as the change pallet is advanced further.

Abstract: In an apparatus whereby spacer frames (1) for insulating glass being transported in an essentially vertical position and resting against a supporting wall (2, 6) to a receiving station, may be transferred on a carrier (20), in the area of the receiving station (5) in the supporting wall (6) a plurality of lifting elements (14) is provided, which may be moved upwards in slots (13) to raise the spacer frames (1). To be able to transfer a spacer frame (1) to the carrier (20) for spacer frames (1) located opposite the receiving station (5), the distance between the free ends (30) of the beams (21) of the carrier (20) facing the supporting wall (6) provided in the receiving station (5) and the supporting wall (6) may be reduced for example by the forward tilting of the supporting wall (6). When the supporting wall (6) is tilted forward, the free ends (30) of the beams (21) of the carrier (20) engage two openings (17) in the supporting wall (6) and one spacer frame (1) is transferred to the carrier 20.

Abstract: To transport and turn compressible paper products, such as toilet paper rolls, kitchen towels and the like, a plurality of such products are received, lying flat, on an L-shaped receiver (4) which pivots to stand them on end and moves in translatory direction towards a removal transport apparatus, the translatory movement being guided by guide rods (8) and the pivoting or tilting movement of the receiver being controlled by an engagement element, such as a pin or pins (14) engaging a guide track or tracks (13) so that the receiver will pivot as it is moved in translatory direction. Preferably, the receiver surfaces (4a, 4b) are formed in comb, fork or tine structure, to interdigit with support structures from which the goods are received and to which they are delivered.

Abstract: Conveyor apparatus includes at least two conveyors, each comprising a pair of longitudinal conveyor members, situated in different horizontal planes on which workpiece carriers are supported for conveyance. Each workpiece carrier has at least one longer outer dimension, e.g. length, greater than the distance between the conveyor members of one of the conveyors and at least one shorter outer dimesnion, e.g. width, less than the distance between the conveyor members of at least one of the conveyors.

Abstract: A harness-receiving apparatus for receiving an electrical harness comprising electrical wires connected at respective ends thereof to electrical connectors and fed from a harness-making machine (HMM) comprises: a first carrier rail positioned with respect to the harness-naking machine (HMM) for receiving one of the connectors for movement therealong while the other of the connectors hangs down during movement of the harness along the first carrier rail; a second carrier rail at an outer end of the first carrier rail and being directed downwardly with respect to the first carrier rail so that the one connector is transferred from the first carrier rail to the second carrier rail while the other connector continues to hang down during the movement of the one connector and the harness along the second carrier rail; and a harness-receiving member positioned below the second carrier rail for receiving the harness from the second carrier rail and arranging the harness in the direction of the second carrier rail.

Abstract: A cooker for continuous grilling of hamburger patties and the like uses a shiftable grid which intermittently lifts the patties off a stationary grid and effects advancement after each lift-off until a U-shaped path is traversed extending initially through and terminating beyond one end of the cooker exteriorly thereof. The patties travel upwardly along a straight line with respect to a first pair of legs of the grids and then upwardly and arcuately with respect to a pair of first grid quadrants, whereupon they invert and drop such as to travel upwardly and arcuately with respect to a pair of second grid quadrants. Finally, the patties travel upwardly along a straight line with respect to a pair of legs of the grids forming the final stretch of the travel.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for overturning cigarette packs or the like, which are advanced in a horizontal row toward an abutment stop member and must be each capsized around an axis which is transverse to the direction of progress of the row of packs. The device according to the invention is characterized by a pack-guiding arcuate channel extending in a substantially vertical plane at about 180.degree., from a substantially horizontal top opening provided before the abutment stop member and having a width which is at least slightly greater than the extension of a pack in the direction of progress of the pack row, as far as an underlying conveyor for the capsized packs.

Abstract: An apparatus for accurate, precise and successive registration, indexing and printing of individual pre-cut backed carpet tiles. The apparatus comprises a central control and transport mechanism; a plurality of tile processing stations adjacent one another and surrounding the central control and transport mechanism; and a plurality of tile carriers movably and sequentially carried by the central control mechanism for sequentially carrying individual carpet tiles to one or more of the processing stations. The processing stations comprise a tile registration station, a printing station and a tile unloading station. The apparatus also includes a steamer for fixing printed colorant on carpet tiles, a vacuum device for removing excess moisture from carpet tiles and a dryer for drying the carpet tiles.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting fully wound packages doffed on and discharged from a spinning frame. The transporting apparatus of the present invention includes a main conveyor, sub conveyor and a lifter, wherein the two conveyors are individually controlled such that a package which is to be transported next by the lifter is always held ready at a predetermined stand-by position. The lifter is able to change the orientation of doffed packages during lifting operation of the package.

Abstract: A soft-handling drop shuttle for use in an integrated circuit device handler. The invention includes a shuttle assembly (10) which pivots from a first position, in registration with an intake chute (36), and a second position, in registration with a discharge chute (50). The shuttle assembly (10) includes a shuttle lower jaw (14) for supporting an integrated circuit device (38) during its transfer, and a shuttle upper jaw (22), which is pivotally attached by an upper jaw pivot shaft (32) to the shuttle assembly (10). Upper jaw (22) retains the integrated circuit device (38) within the shuttle assembly (10) during the movement of the shuttle. The shuttle upper jaw (22) includes a stop portion (54) and an associated leaf spring (28) for retaining and clamping the integrated circuit device (38) within the shuttle assembly (10). Interchangeable shuttle lower jaws (14, 14') enable adaptation of assembly (10) to accommodate integrated circuit devices (38) of varying sizes and types.

Abstract: A conveyor system linking a cigarette making machine and a cigarette packing machine includes a container buffer reservoir (42) having a tray filler (20) and a tray unloader (22), each arranged so that the cigarettes are disposed in the transfer position at 90.degree. to those in the main conveyor (10). Twisted downdrops (16, 32) are provided in the conveyors leading to the tray filler (20) and from the tray unloader (22). Tray transport conveyors (44, 46) extend between the tray filler (20) and tray unloader (22) parallel to the main conveyor (10), and include lateral delivery and receiving slides (68, 70) for full trays. An inclined pivoted guide (62) is provided for transfer of empty trays (64) from the tray unloader (22, 24) to a transport conveyor (44).

Abstract: A system for delivering and inspecting packages including an apparatus for delivering packages and an inspecting device of packages delivered from the apparatus. The apparatus for delivering packages comprises a first delivering device for receiving packages from a path of their transportation and a second delivering device for receiving the package from the first delivering device and delivering them to the inspecting device. Each of the first and second delivering devices include a package receiving member and a mechanism for changing the package receiving position of the package receiving member in accordance with the kind of the packages.

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 machine and a method for precision labeling of containers such as cans for labeling top, bottom or sides, including labeling sides of containers with lids; side labels may have secondary labels, e.g., tax stamps, placed thereon.

Abstract: A horizontal support has an angularly reciprocatable body supported in a horizontal and rotary manner and having an axially reciprocatable rod disposed therein and articulated to gripper designed to take horizontally disposed tubes in individual sequence and to transfer them, disposed vertically, with their bases upwardly open by inserting them from the top into resilient take-up members disposed with a uniform spacing along the processing line of the machine following oscillations of this body supporting the gripper.

Abstract: A yeast cake device for reorienting yeast cakes by a tumbling operation has a single reciprocating part. The reciprocating part is a reciprocating ram having an upper arm and a lower arm. The upper arm serves to push articles to be tumbled across a first shelf. The tumbling occurs from the first half and onto the lower arm of the reciprocating ram. Upon retraction during a backstroke of the reciprocating ram, the article supported by the lower arm brings the article into engagement with the first shelf such that the article remains stationary while the lower arm moves beneath the article. During retraction, the center of gravity of the article lies beyond a free edge of the lower arm such that the article tumbles for a second time through a 90 degree revolution and onto a second shelf. During another stroke, the lower arm again engages the article so as to push the article onto a conveyor belt.

Abstract: Equipment for continuously feeding a supply of packaging blanks to a packaging machine comprises a feed magazine (10) for holding and sequentially feeding a series of stacks (S1-S5) of packaging blanks, a feed hopper (14) to receive at least one stack of blanks at a time from the feed magazine and present the blanks for use in the machine and a transfer mechanism (12) for transferring a stack of blanks from the feed magazine to the feed hopper. A sensor (66) is provided automatically to actuate the transfer mechanism when the supply of blanks held by the feed hopper reaches a predetermined level and a switch (70) is provided automatically to advance the series of stacks in the feed magazine so that the next succeeding stack is positioned for transfer to the feed hopper.

Abstract: An automatic system for feeding integrated circuits (IC's) stored in hollow tubes to the input of a test handler/sorter has an accumulating conveyor table that carries the tubes laterally to a pick-up position. The conveyor table is inclined from the horizontal and a stop surface at its lower edge supports and aligns a closed end of each tube. Sensor assemblies limit the lateral movement of the leading tube, assist in orienting the tube, and detect when it is located at the pick-up position and is properly oriented. The sensor assemblies generate a control signal that activates a gripping assembly organized about a plate that pivots on a rotating support frame. The gripping assembly includes centering cam inserts on one movable gripping member. One motor mounted on the frame rotates the gripping assembly and the gripped tube to the test handler/sorter input. The gripping assembly has a mechanism for controlling the discharge of IC's from the open end of the tube.

Abstract: A pallet (2) is positioned on its edge in the receiver (6) where it is restrained by the dog (9). The action of the jack (12) is such as to fold back the receiver (6) for the guidance of the pallet to the position (2'). The two jacks (14) drive the arms (8), the stops on which (16) restrain the pallet and guide it to the loading position (2"), releasing the receiver (6), which can be raised. The jacks (15) provide the means for putting the rollers (28, 29) into the conveying position.

Abstract: A device for moulding brick blanks comprises a plurality of moulding troughs and a casting device for filling the moulding troughs, wherein the casting device comprises a carrier coupled with a casting mechanism and adapted to pivot by means of the casting mechanism between a receiving position and a delivery position. For mitigating or avoiding the drawbacks of the heavy shocks at the impact of the casting mechanism in the delivery position the casting mechanism is caused to drive and guide the carrier in a manner such that when approaching the delivery position the carrier is subjected to considerable deceleration.

Abstract: A heat welding apparatus for bonding a heat-meltable sheet, such as an asphalt sheet, to a substrate. The apparatus has a chamber having an inlet and an outlet on opposite sides thereof and an exhaust duct in its upper portion for exhausting gases generated during welding, a conveyor mechanism extending through the inlet and outlet of the chamber for intermittently conveying a laminated structure of the substrate and the heat-meltable sheet, and near infrared radiators for heating the laminated structure disposed respectively above and below the laminated structure which has been fed into the chamber, and stopped thereat, by the conveyor mechanism.

Abstract: A component delivery system for an automatic insertion mechanism comprises a chute for sequential delivery of components to a platform with a given orientation. A receiver is positioned at the end of the platform for reception of the component when pushed off the platform by operation of an air valve. The receiver includes mounting means, cooperating with the mounting means of the component, that are substantially identical to the component mounting means on the circuit board. The receiver is pivoted into a horizontal position by another air valve, thus presenting the component with a precise orientation to insertion means.

Abstract: A device for separation, orientation, and positioning of parts essentially flat in their general shape, characterized by the fact that the parts are supplied in flat position upon a storage rail and that the device includes, in combination, a tilter which can be activated by a piston between an initial, raised position and a second, tilted position, with the tilter including a support forming a continuation of the storage rail when the tilter is in raised position so as to receive the first of parts from the reserve, with stops arresting the rest of the parts, and with the support further including retaining members (9) for preventing the part from being dislodged, while stop pads stop the first part remaining on the rail during tilting of the tilter.

Abstract: Completed, shaped and uncured tires are placed on an inclined chute having a gate mechanism for automatically transferring one tire to a tire carrier while the other tires are retained in the chute. The tire carrier raises and rotates the tire to an upper position for movement of a conveyor hook through a central aperture of the tire and into engagement with one side of the tire to move it out of the carrier into a supported position on the conveyor.

Abstract: Book blocks are transferred between vertically displaced levels via a first conveying path which extends upwardly at an angle, the conveying path being intercepted by a movable feed table which engages the book blocks and re-orients the motion thereof into a generally horizontal plane wherein the blocks are engaged by block clamps. The upstream edge of the feed table is caused to move along a closed generally circulatory path which extends above and below the inclined conveying path while the downstream edge of the feed table is constrained to move along an arcuate path which extends from the upper end of the first conveying path to a path which is parallel to that of the block clamps.

Abstract: Stacks of generally dish-shaped, nested plastic articles are gripped and transferred from elevated, horizontally adjacent chutes comprising circumferentially disposed, axially extending supports, which are open at both ends to permit articles to be both fed thereto and removed axially therefrom, to a conveyor disposed at a lower level. A transfer arm, mounting stack gripping receivers, which pivot on the transfer arm, is swung in an arcuate path and the receivers are moved relative to the transfer arm, responsive to swinging movement of the transfer arm, such that the receivers travel from a first position, horizontally axially aligned with said chutes and axially intermeshed with the supports, in a path having a first axially linear increment, then a downward arc to rotate said stacks substantially 90.degree., and finally a vertically linear path to deposit the stacks on the conveyor.

Abstract: A conveyor system for flanged containers includes downwardly inclined, laterally-spaced rails for supporting the flanges of the containers as the containers move by gravity toward a take-away conveyor. Control means are provided for permitting each container to move by gravity on the rails into engagement with a leading edge of an adjacent aperture in the take-away conveyor with flanges of each container still supported by a lower section of the spaced rails. Preferably the lower section is movable, and an actuating system is provided for moving it to positively direct a lower trailing end of each container into its adjacent aperture.

Abstract: A machine for connecting rows of coil springs together into a coil spring assembly. The machine initially picks up a row of coil springs by inserting a pick up finger into the barrel of each coil and moving the springs onto a support platen. While transporting the coils, the pick up fingers change the spacing of the coils. The springs are then compressed against the support platen to a desired height through use of a reciprocable compression bar. Thereafter, rotatable transfer fingers remove the springs from under the compression bar, and move them into clamping dies. Leading rotary transfer fingers on the transfer shaft first pull the row of springs out from under the compression bar, and trailing rotary fingers then push the springs into the downstream one of upper and lower clamping dies. The rows of clamping dies clamp together the upper and lower end loops of the leading and trailing rows of coil springs.

Abstract: In apparatus for transferring a group composed of a selected number of objects from a first conveying device to a second conveying device for supply, in groups, to a packaging machine, there are provided a lowering channel which is pivotal between a first position in which it can receive a group of objects from the first conveying device, and a second position in which it can transfer each such group to the second conveying device, a pivot supporting the lowering channel at one end for pivotal movement relative to a stationary axis at a location such that, when the lowering channel is in its first position the end of the lowering channel opposite to its one end is at a higher elevation than the one end, a lowering element mounted for movement along the lowering channel, and a mechanism connected to the lowering element for displacing the lowering element, during pivoting of the lowering channel from the first position into the second position, upwardly toward the location of the lowering channel end opposite

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a continuous path, divided into a first rising section and a second substantially horizontal section, having a conveyor extending there along and carrying one or more pushers adapted to withdraw individually folded and flattened cartons from a container magazine provided and arranged at the top of the rising section. At the junction location between the two sections, movable supports are provided which receive, when at a first position arranged in continuation of the rising section, individually folded and flattened cartons and transfers the latter, when arranged at a second position in which said supports are arranged parallel to the conveying along the substantially horizontal section, again on the conveyor without said cartons being left by the one or more pushers. This assures a correct arrangement of said cartons on said conveyor downstream of the junction location.

Abstract: For feeding billets into a forging press in either an upstanding or recumbent attitude, a selective loading mechanism is mounted between the exit end of a chute and an infeed mechanism thereunder. The selective loading mechanism comprises a vertical loader assembly including a tubular guide for permitting the passage therethrough of each billet onto the infeed mechanism, and a horizontal loader assembly including a pair of pivotable gripping jaws for loading each billet on the infeed mechanism after turning the billet through an angle of 90 degrees. The vertical and the horizontal loader assemblies are mounted on a carriage for selective movement to and away from their working position. The infeed mechanism comprises a vertical billet carrier for receiving and carrying the successive billets vertically, and a horizontal billet carrier for receiving and carrying the billets horizontally.

Abstract: Transfer apparatus is adapted to receive a mechanical part from a die and transfer it to a subsequent die. The apparatus may be movably aligned in place and includes means for aligning the part received from the first die and position it to permit transfer to the subsequent die.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring batches of biscuits (11) in succession from a magazine (10) to the infeed conveyor (28) of a wrapping machine which includes a transfer unit which includes a platform (15), a support (17) for the batch (12) of biscuits to be transferred, a jaw (21) and side clamps (24). After transfer of a batch of biscuits to the transfer unit at a loading station, the jaw and the clamps are applied to the batch. The transfer unit then moves to a discharge position at which the jaw and the clamps are withdrawn to allow the biscuits to fall onto a deadplate (26).

Abstract: Apparatus for handling blow molded bottles which are to be transferred from a horizontal position at a lower level to a vertical upright position at a higher level, comprising a plurality of bottle carriers (20), transfer means (22) connected to the carriers for movement of the latter between the lower and higher levels, and arcuate slide members (26) which function to retain the bottles in the carriers as the bottles slide on the slide members during transfer from the lower to the higher level, the slide members terminating immediately prior to the carriers arriving at the higher level so that the bottles can be discharged bottom-first in upright positions at the upper level.

Abstract: Metal slabs are cooled on a bed across which they are conveyed in a stepwise manner. The slabs are received on a number of first beams which move along a closed path having components in both a vertical and a horizontal direction. For part of the movement path of the first beams, the slabs are supported on second beams. The beams are themselves supported from below by pressure medium cylinders and have shoulders for supporting the slabs on edge. The stroke of the cylinders, producing the vertical movement of the firstbeam must be greater than the height of the shoulders.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving brick standing on their ends with their length dimension oriented uprightly, accumulating the brick in a cradle oriented in a horizontal plane, reorienting the cradle with its load of brick, ejecting the brick from the cradle as a stack unit to a transfer station, and transferring the reoriented stack of brick on to a pallet or other receiver therefor.

Abstract: In a device for toppling articles of at least approximately rectangular outline while conveying such articles, which device includes a discharge path provided with carrier elements for moving the articles after toppling in a discharge direction lying in the plane of their outlines, at least two input paths are provided above the discharge path for conveying such articles in an input direction transverse to the discharge direction, with the plane of the outline of each article perpendicular to the input direction and the larger outline dimension of each article vertical, and a plurality of lowering and toppling mechanisms are provided, each mechanism being associated with a respective input path and disposed for transferring articles from its associated input path to the discharge path while lowering and toppling the articles, each mechanism including a supporting element movable between a position for supporting articles received from the associated input path and a release position for permitting such articl

Abstract: The encasing apparatus of this invention comprises a feed mechanism, a turnabout mechanism, and a slide mechanism, and may be additionally provided with a partition sheet feeder depending upon the type of articles to be packed. The turnabout mechanism receives articles delivered from the feed mechanism with a tray, allows each prescribed number of such articles to line up successively in a first direction of the tray so that the articles lie in the same direction, and, after turning the tray around a vertical shaft through a fixed angle, inclines the tray to move the articles in a second direction at an angle of 90.degree. to the first direction, thereby delivering the articles to the slide mechanism. Subsequently, the slide mechanism lines up the articles so as to true up the ends of the articles in the second direction, and then introduces them regularly into the packing box.

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.