Abstract: A conveyor using a roller belt with rollers arranged to rotate on oblique axes to urge articles toward a side guide. The conveyor includes an oblique-roller belt supported on a carryway for running in a direction of belt travel. Rollers extend above an outer conveying surface of the belt without contact with the carryway. Each roller rotates on an axis oblique to the direction of belt travel and intersects the side guide downstream of the roller's position. A retractable stop is movable to and from a blocking position along the carryway. In the blocking position, the stop blocks the conveyed articles from advancing in the direction of belt travel. The rollers underlying the blocked articles rotate as the belt runs by contact with the articles. The rotating rollers provide a component of force to the blocked articles directed toward the side guide to push the articles against the side guide or other articles as they accumulate under low pressure upstream of the stop.

Abstract: A conveyor (20) comprising at least one belt (22) defining an outer conveying surface divided into at least two laterally offset regions in which the rollers (50) in one region rotate in a first direction and the rollers (51) in a second region rotate in a second direction as the conveyor belt (22) advances in a conveying direction. The rollers (50, 51) rotate by rolling along roller-engagement surfaces (54) underlying the conveyor belt along a carryway. The rollers rotating in the first direction rotate with a velocity component in the conveying direction (32) different from the velocity component in the conveying direction of the rollers rotating in the second direction. An article positioned simultaneously atop rollers in both regions is rotated by the rotation of the rollers as the conveyor belt advances.

Abstract: In a machine for feeding a partially formed carton in a conveying direction and reorienting the carton for completion, a turn-assist mechanism and related methods help to ensure that proper turning of a skewed carton is achieved in a reliable and highly efficient manner. The mechanism comprises a bed for supporting the carton, which may be skewed from a first orientation in which one of the side flaps could be folded and sealed in an upstream procedure. A conveyor includes at least one lug with a portion generally elongated in a direction transverse to the conveying and vertical directions for engaging a trailing end of the carton. This engagement helps to turn the carton to a second, squared orientation approximately 90° rotated from the first orientation so that the forming operation may be completed, such as by folding and sealing any other side flaps.

Abstract: A case positioner system for orienting a case from an upended position to a corrected position has a frame, a conveyor translatably arranged relative to said frame, a bottom projection positioned below said conveyor, an abutment member interconnected to said frame and positioned above said conveyor, and a translator connected to the bottom projection. The bottom projection is movable between an upward position and a downward position. The abutment member is movable between an upper position and a lower position. The translator moves the bottom projection upstream on said conveyor when said abutment member is in said lower position.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved system, method and apparatus for turning a bedded product to enhance the temperature uniformity of the product. In one aspect, the system is directed towards using a flow wheel to turn over a bed of hot product exiting a dehydrator. The improved system, method, and apparatus lowers the variability of temperature, moisture content, oil content and acrylamide levels in a bedded food product.

Abstract: An non-contact article rotating device is disclosed that rotates articles without impacting or contacting the article other than the bottom of the article. The device is designed to accept a stream of articles with minimum gaps between them, and rotate only those that are programmed to be rotated. The device accepts any combination of rotated and non-rotated articles and can rotate them through angles up to and through 360 degrees. One embodiment of the disclosed device uses only one single-speed drive motor and pneumatic components to operate two conveyor roller sections. While one conveyor roller section maintains a constant speed, the conveyor rollers of the second conveyor roller section are sequentially braked and unbraked to rotate an article that is positioned partially on the first conveyor roller section and partially on the second conveyor roller section. The difference in speeds between the two conveyor sections rotates the article.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for inverting or turning-over articles in a product stream as they are transported by a vibratory conveyor. The articles are transported along a vibratory surface in a vibratory manner to a curved surface that is bounded by a tapered guide wall. The objects are transported along the curved surface in a vibratory manner and partially rolled so that, as they release or transfer from the curved surface to a vibratory surface, they turn-over and become inverted. The invention is shown and discussed in the context of an advantageous seasoning application.

Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus or device for forming a continuous and cadenced flow of groups of rolls of paper or other products, coming from the production line or from pre-packaging lines, and rotated by a carousel (19) with horizontal shaft of rotation (119). The carousel is provided with the blades (235) of L-shaped stalls (35) which pass cyclically and in the right phase between and underneath pairs of supports (9), to raise the” products positioned thereon and set them on a horizontal conveyor (36, 39). The stalls are controlled to rotate with respect to said carousel in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said carousel to avoid interference with the products once said products are placed on said horizontal conveyor.

Abstract: Method and device for pivoting plate elements travelling on a flat conveyor, the conveyor being provided with two parallel left and right paths, respective driven at different speeds. The paths define between them a separating line on which the plate elements are rotated around an axis by application of each of the two path speeds on a left portion of the plate element and on a right portion of the plate element defined by the separating line. The method involves maintaining the barycenter of each plate element sufficiently close to the separating line to extend the effect of the rotation applied to these plate elements.

Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage material having a packing machine and a rotation machine for rotating packed boxes. The rotation machine includes a conveyor belt for conveying packages and a rotating wheel including downwardly extending elongated members which, when the wheel is rotated, are able to rotate packages about 90 degrees in their conveying direction.

Abstract: Rather than simply changing a component or module to be installed, a conveyance speed of a conveyance means for conveying a workpiece is modified in response to the specifications of a product when a product with specifications modified in part from common specifications of mass produced products is added to the mass produced products. Furthermore, a condition wherein the speed of the conveyance means is modified in accordance with specifications is displayed in real time such that a worker can identify the condition.

Abstract: Turning arrangement (2) for concrete products, paving stones/flagstones for paving, curb stones for delimiting and blocks for erecting walls are arranged in a row with uniform orientation (4), the products (4) are advanced to a turning arrangement where the individual concrete product (6) is turned by means of the force of gravity.

Abstract: An alignment conveyor for aligning articles along a side of the conveyor without changing their orientation. The conveyor includes a conveyor belt having article-supporting rollers rotating in a direction oblique to the direction of belt travel as the belt advances. The rollers direct the articles to a side of the belt. A sideguard, formed by a series of plates or an array of rotatable elements, advances with the belt in the direction of belt travel and receives and aligns the articles without causing them to rotate on contact.

Abstract: A case rotating system configured to rotate cases, such as boxes, in a case management system such that the cases are oriented in a consistent manner upon leaving the case rotating system. In at least one embodiment, the case rotating system may be configured to cause a case in a case rotating module to be rotated such that a short side of the case leads the case as the case leaves the case rotating module. The case rotating module may be formed from one or more conical rollers configured to rotate cases into a consistent orientation. The case rotating system may rotate cases that are in an incorrect orientation into a correct orientation. In addition, the case rotating system may operate such that cases entering the case rotating system in a correct orientation may not be rotated but may remain in a correct orientation upon leaving the case rotating system.

Abstract: A conveyor using a roller belt with rollers arranged to rotate on oblique axes to urge articles toward a side guide. The conveyor includes an oblique-roller belt supported on a carryway for running in a direction of belt travel. Rollers extend above an outer conveying surface of the belt without contact with the carryway. Each roller rotates on an axis oblique to the direction of belt travel and intersects the side guide downstream of the roller's position. A retractable stop is movable to and from a blocking position along the carryway. In the blocking position, the stop blocks the conveyed articles from advancing in the direction of belt travel. The rollers underlying the blocked articles rotate as the belt runs by contact with the articles. The rotating rollers provide a component of force to the blocked articles directed toward the side guide to push the articles against the side guide or other articles as they accumulate under low pressure upstream of the stop.

Abstract: A conveyor and a method for rotating and registering an article against a rail. The conveyor includes an angled-roller conveyor belt whose article-supporting rollers are arranged to rotate about axes directing conveyed articles toward a side rail. An obstruction is selectively activated to move into a position just above a top article-conveying surface of the belt. In that position, the obstruction intercepts conveyed articles. The obstruction forms a pivot about which the articles rotate as the belt advances and the angled rollers rotate. An electric eye or other sensor sensitive to oversized or misoriented articles controls the positioning of the obstruction to rotate misoriented articles 90° or to let correctly oriented articles pass without contact and reorientation.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting cylindrical objects, in particular containers, has at least two shafts that rotate in the same direction, axially perpendicular to the transporting direction of the objects. While being transported, the objects come to rest with their cylindrical wall on one shaft and with one face end on an adjacent shaft. By means of the axial spacing and/or the respective diameters of the shafts a predeterminable angular position of the objects to the plane of the axes of the shafts and an intrinsic rotation of the objects can be effected.

Abstract: In a palletizing machine, cases of goods are received from a production line and are arranged into patterned layers. The palletizing machine stacks the patterned layers one on top of another to form a stacked load that can be easily transported by machine. During arrangement of the cases into the patterned layers, some cases may need to be turned to change their orientation relative to their direction of travel. The cases can be turned simultaneously in groups of two, three, or more cases, to minimize the contact of the palletizing machine with the cases during turning. The turning device which bears against the case during turning may also be provided with a component of movement in the direction of case travel so as to effect the speed of the collision when the cases contact the turning device and effect the net speed between the cases and the turning device during turning.

Abstract: A conveyor for orienting and registering articles in a preferred orientation and position for accurate downstream processing. The conveyor includes a conveyor belt running in a conveyance direction next to an orientation belt running parallel in an opposite direction or more slowly in the same direction. The orientation belt has upstanding structure, such as flights, or a high-friction surface. The conveyor belt includes article-supporting rollers on a top side. The rollers are arranged to rotate about axes oblique to the conveyance direction. The rollers also extend below the bottom side of the belt and are rotated by dynamic contact with bearing surfaces supporting the belt as it advances in the conveying direction. The rotating rollers direct conveyed articles toward a side rail.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an article turning-round apparatus improved so that a series of articles can be successively turned round at a high velocity and there is no restriction imposed on the positions at which the articles are loaded and unloaded.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of turning a board while the board is being transferred in a conveyance system includes a conveyance system for transporting a board, a rotary turning device for rotating the board, a bumper stop for restraining the board and a speed-up belt for increasing or decreasing delivery of the board. The rotary turning device rotates at a constant rate relative to the conveyance system speed; the bumper stop stops the flow of the lumber allowing the rotary turning device to pick up the board; the speed-up belt accelerates the board to the front of the lug space and the conveyance system transports the board while it is turned within the lug space.

Abstract: Apparatus for the alignment of a plurality of bottles whose body is in the shape of a parallelepiped, and which are furthermore oriented in such a manner that said bottles are provided with respective axes centered on to the respective mouth, and the respective walls are inclined at either acute or obtuse angles with respect to the plane passing through said axes, in which there is provided a structure comprising two comb-like members (10, 11) and plurality of cylindrical cups (26) inserted in appropriate housings provided between said comb-like members (10, 11), wherein said cups (26) hold respective bottles (3) and are made in such a manner as to ensure that the corners of the bottles (3) are capable of being arranged in contact with the inner surface of said cups; said surface is in the shape of a plurality of plane surfaces spaced from each other by configurations in the shape of an arc of a circle having a radius (R) that is equal to the inner radius of the cups (r).

Abstract: Method of raising sheet-like products (2), in particular printed products, which are taking part in a conveying process and follow sequentially one after the other, the products (2) resting, at least in certain regions, on a conveying means (1) during the conveying process, it being the case that, for at least a period of time of the raising operation, gravitational force being overcome in the process, the products (2) are pivoted actively about an axis (B) which extends essentially parallel to the direction (A) in which the conveying process is oriented immediately prior to the raising operation.

Abstract: The invention described here concerns a unit for automatic container returns systems, with a conveyor device for transporting the containers in the direction of their longitudinal axis, with two rotary-driven rollers arranged along the conveyor path and which can be transferred from a neutral position into an identification position in which they release the container from the conveyor device and rotate said container, and with a sorting means for the selective, lateral removal of the container from the conveyor device according to the identification.

Abstract: A system and method reorients flat articles in a serial stream, by receiving a horizontally moving, serial input stream of substantially vertically oriented flat articles each having a downwardly oriented primary edge, laterally diverting the flat articles in the serial input stream alternately between a pair of separate paths, impeding horizontal movement of each flat article in each separate path, accelerating each flat article with impeded horizontal movement in the direction of its primary edge, and delivering substantially horizontally oriented flat articles from each separate path.

Abstract: On a processing apparatus with step-by-step conveying of the articles to be processed and a turning module for the articles, turning is performed transversely with respect to the conveying direction. This allows much space to be saved in the turning arrangement.

Abstract: In a method for the re-orientation of printed products which are conveyed in an overlapping stream on a product support, the products are rotated relative to the supplied overlapping stream in an acting means in order to allow lateral cutting at two sides.

Abstract: An item handling system that sorts and packs items in a storage or shipping receptacle. The system is specifically designed to handle items such as sub-primal cuts of beef or pork or items of like size and weight. The system is adapted to sort items based on product type or based on system capacity. The packing mechanism is adapted to properly orient the item prior to placing the item in the storage or shipping receptacle. The system is specifically adapted to handle cardboard shipping boxes.

Abstract: A load former assembly (100) for collecting bundles (103) of materials into tiers (121) of selected patterns and stacking the tiers (121), the load former assembly (100) having a power conveyor (104) and a dual pin assembly (106) for horizontal rotation of successive bundles (103) in a first rotational direction or in an opposing second rotational direction, the dual pin assembly (106) extending first or second pins (140) into the path of the bundles (103). The pins (140) can be extended at selected lateral positions on the power conveyor (104). A single pin assembly (112) having a third pin (140) is disposed for rotating the bundles (103) in a set rotational direction. A positioning assembly (116) positions the rotated bundles (103) at selected lateral positions on the power conveyor (104), and the bundles (103) are collected against a tier gate (120) to form the tier (121) in a selected pattern. A sheet dispenser assembly (310) places slip sheets (335) onto the tiers (121).

Abstract: A sod-collecting apparatus, comprising a collecting platform for supporting juxtaposed rows of coiled sods, a feed conveyor for feeding coiled sods, and a conveyor belt downstream of the feed conveyor, the conveyor belt extending along the collecting platform, wherein the feed conveyor and the conveyor belt are arranged for displacing the coiled sods on the conveyor belt along the collecting platform in a direction parallel to an axial body axis of coiled sods located on the conveyor belt, with a positioning structure for stopping each individual sod on the conveyor belt in at least one predetermined position along the collecting platform.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety arrangement in a package turning device. The package turning device is of the type which turns selected packages which are conveyed on a conveyor path through the package turning device. The package turning device essentially comprises a piston and cylinder assembly whose piston rod is disposed to move parallel with the conveyor path, a turning member and a gripping member. The safety arrangement includes an anchorage disposed on the piston rod of the piston and cylinder assembly, and a bracket. The bracket is disposed to support the turning member and the gripping member. The anchorage and the bracket are united in spring-biased fashion and enclose between them a cavity. An incoming air conduit and an outgoing air conduit are connected to the cavity. A pressure guard is disposed on the outgoing air conduit. The cavity is closed in the normal operation of the package turning device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing misalignment of articles, such as lightweight packets of snack food, conveyed on a conveyor. A conveyor conveys articles in a conveying direction along a predetermined conveying path. The conveyed articles have a desired direction of alignment relative to the conveying direction and are conveyed so that a misaligned article tends to project laterally from the conveying path. An aligning device includes at least one projection traveling cyclically adjacent to the conveying path so as to contact a conveyed, misaligned article and thereby rotate the conveyed, misaligned article to reduce misalignment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a high-speed container unscrambler. The invention comprises of an apparatus for alignment, orientation of containers and sets of conveyor belts between which the containers are placed. The alignment mechanism has a photo eye that detects a presence of a container and a servomotor that is activated by the photo eye. The servomotor has a three hook arm mounted to it, which serves to lift the containers by their leading end when they are coming with a neck leading position. When containers are coming in with a base leading position, the hook does not engage the containers and the containers are passing by without engagement. The containers are released between the conveyor belts aligned in the same position and move towards an orientation mechanism, which places the containers in an all-standing position. The orientation mechanism comprises of a photo eye, which detects a presence of a container, and a servomotor, that is activated by the photo eye.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding articles to an accumulation area (4) is provided to have a conveyor path with a curved section (7) interconnecting a first conveyor path section (8) in the feeding direction upstream of the curved section (7) and a second conveyor path section (9) downstream thereof and extending substantially in parallel with each other. The apparatus further provides for transferring (10) the articles from the first section transversely to the feeding direction and over to the second section, by-passing the curved section, and a control arrangement (28) for controlling transfer to optionally transfer articles from the first to the second conveyor path section by-passing the curved section, or allowing the articles to pass through the curved section.

Abstract: A lumber turning device for use with a conveyer having spaced apart lumber moving therealong whereby the lumber may be turned through 180° so that all faces of the lumber may be visually inspected. A first arrangement has a four lobed member whereby a first one of the lobes will extend upwardly above the conveyer with a front surface facing a first lumber piece such that when the locked first lumber piece contacts the front surface of the first one of the lobes, the member will rotate and a rear face of an adjacent lobe will lift the lumber piece to rotate the same through 180°. Other embodiments illustrate members which may turn alternate pieces of lumber.

Abstract: A specimen-conveying conveyor includes a holding roller mechanism including a roller unit having a plurality of holding rollers, which are arranged in a horizontal direction so as to form a valley region in which a test tube is laid down and held, along a conveyance path, a rotation driving mechanism which simultaneously rotates the holding rollers of the roller unit of the holding roller mechanism in a first direction and thus rotates the test tube laid down and held in the valley region in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a slide driving mechanism which slides the test tube laid down and held in the valley region in a direction along an axis of each of the holding rollers.

Abstract: A description is given of a device for separating from each other a plurality of objects (R) which are adjacent to each other and are being fed in a direction of advance (F) along an advance path (21), comprising a member (37) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (37A) and is positioned, with respect to the direction of advance, in such a way that it interferes with the articles (R) fed along said advance path. The peripheral velocity of said rotatable member at the point of contact between said member and said articles has a component substantially matching the direction of advance of the articles along said path.

Abstract: The present invention is [referred] directed to a device for aligning glass sheets on a roller conveyor of a annealing lehr. The device comprises a supporting structure. A cylinder-piston assembly is attached to the supporting structure. A retention member is connected to the cylinder-piston assembly for supporting or for releasing an edge of the glass sheet, the retention member having a forward movement for supporting the edge of the glass sheet and a backward movement for releasing the glass sheet. A cylindrical piece is attached to the supporting structure over and above of the-retention member, in order to facilitate the sliding and centering of the glass sheet toward the retention member.

Abstract: A rotary turret has a plurality of rotatable pedestals thereon, each pedestal being controlled by a separate motor. The location of each motor for each pedestal is fixed so that the motors do not change location as the turret rotatesl. There is a separate ring gear for each pedestal, the ring gear being concentrically mounted relative to one another. Each motor is indirectly connected to a different ring gear. As the turret rotates the pedestals rotate independently of the turret and independently of each other. The motors for each pedestal can be wired in a conventional manner.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying and rotating book packs (11), pamphlet bundles and the like upon deposition onto a conveyor belt (7) for stacking the packs (11) onto a pallet or a stacking plane, comprising a device (A) for grasping and rotating the pack (11) and an articulated device with chain (6) for advancing (B) the device (A).

Abstract: Rotationally symmetrical containers (10) are transported under backup pressure on a conveying surface (12) limited laterally by railings (14). For rotating the containers (10) at a predetermined site along the conveying surface (12), one of two consecutive containers (10) is arranged stable against one railing (14) and the other stable against the other railing (14) in the direction of conveyance after the site at which the containers are to rotate.

Abstract: A conveyor for moving trays in a longitudinal direction and a position correcting device for the trays. The trays have opening in two opposite walls but do not have such openings in two other opposing walls. The conveyor is arranged to convey trays along a longitudinal path. A tray rotating arm is positioned adjacent to the conveyor and has a tray handle engaging finger and is constructed and arranged to only engage a tray handle when the tray is in an incorrect orthogonal position. There is also a bumper downstream of the arm for engaging the side of a tray so rotated for completing the tray rotation initiated by the tray rotating arm. The arm has a cam surface for being moved by a tray away from such tray on the conveyor, and the arm is biased toward contact with a tray as it moves past the arm on the conveyor. The finger projects in the same direction as the cam surface.

Abstract: A surface finishing apparatus for finishing the edge surfaces of fiberboards or like substrates. A pair of axially convergent drive wheels impart rotational and radial motion to a board and pushes the board against a foiling head or other surface finishing hardware. The foiling wheel is pushed by a pneumatic cylinder towards the board. An air clamp holds the board down against the drive wheels during operation. A speed indexer computer controls the rotation of the axially convergent drive wheels in inverse relationship to the rotational speed of the foiling head. In an alternative embodiment, a pair of angled hold-down wheels are used to hold the board against the drive wheels.

Abstract: An apparatus for advancing articles in a selected, approximately horizontal conveying direction, includes a plurality of side-by-side disposed table elements each having an upper, approximately horizontal article-supporting surface. The article-supporting surfaces together form an approximately horizontal conveying table. A first drive oscillates each table element parallel to its article-supporting surface in a motion having two motion components oriented in perpendicular, horizontal directions and a second drive vertically oscillates each table element. A first synchronizing arrangement synchronizes the horizontal oscillations in the direction of the two motion components and a second synchronizing arrangement synchronizes the vertical oscillations with the horizontal oscillations.

Abstract: A mechanism for reorienting an article moving along a conveyor assembly. Articles such as video cassette containers, compact disc containers, or audio cassettes, enter an article reorientation mechanism on their face surface. The face surface of each article is supported by a conveyor belt of a primary conveyor assembly. The primary conveyor assembly moves the article from an upstream location toward a downstream location. A guide assembly forces the article toward a lateral edge of the conveyor belt of the primary conveyor assembly. A transfer conveyor assembly extends upwardly at an angle from the lateral edge of the primary conveyor assembly to receive the article as it is pushed off the primary conveyor assembly by the guide assembly. A twist guide plate is positioned downstream from the transfer conveyor assembly for receiving the article from the transfer conveyor assembly and tipping the article upright onto its side surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting profiles of different size and cross section, such as flats, angles, I sections, U sections, T sections and bulb sections, in longitudinal direction, includes a plurality of support elements for transporting the sections along a transport path, a stop mechanism arranged laterally of the support elements along the transport path, and a clamping device movable in the direction of the transport path, wherein each support element is formed by two rollers, with at least one of the rollers being movable with respect to the other one of the rollers.

Abstract: The device includes selectively operable article re-orienting means, allowing groups of articles to be packed together in a variety of orientations using a single standard packaging machine. An infeed conveyor carries the articles in a predetermined orientation using a single standard packaging machine. An infeed conveyor carries the articles in a predetermined orientation in a plurality of lanes. A group collator comprising a set of lane brakes and a movable backstop aligns a group of articles in one or more rows transverse to conveyor. A paddle transfers the group to the packaging machine. The re-orienting means turn a sub-group of articles making up the group to a specified orientation for such transfer, each article sub-group being turned about a respective axis normal to the plane of the infeed conveyor.

Abstract: A device for introducing items, in particular filled flat bags, into cartons has a bag delivering device, a plurality of feed shunts for transferring one flat bag at a time onto a respective vacuum turntable as well as suction devices each for at least one flat bag. The empty cartons are furnished by means of a delivery belt and a horizontally movable carton positioning belt. According to the invention, it is proposed that a plurality of flat bags be introduced into the cartons simultaneously, with the flat bags each being assigned to certain cartons.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning flat, generally rectangular items includes a first conveyor for advancing the items in a conveying direction; a second conveyor for receiving the items from the first conveyor and for advancing the items in the same conveying direction; an endless conveyor chain having a length portion curved in a horizontal plane and being at a height level above the conveying plane of the second conveyor; a plurality of uniformly spaced carrier elements secured to the conveyor chain for catching items that have been advanced on the second conveyor and for guiding the items in a curvilinear path; and a third conveyor for receiving the items from the conveyor chain.

Abstract: A unit for conveying elongated products, each having a respective longitudinal axis, and wherein a conveyor successively conveys the products with the respective longitudinal axes parallel to a given traveling direction and along a path extending along a conveying plane; and an orienting assembly is located along the path to orient the products by rotating the products 90.degree. about an axis of rotation crosswise to the conveying plane, so that the respective longitudinal axes of the products are crosswise to the traveling direction.