Abstract: A device and process is described for positioning a bundle having a top surface and a bottom surface. The device includes a low friction surface positioned to support the bundle fed along an infeed path to a first position along the bottom surface for free movement in a prescribed plane. A carriage assembly is adjacent the low friction surface and includes a bundle engaging foot configured for selective movement along an axis substantially normal to the low friction surface to engage the top surface of the bundle and press the bundle against the low friction surface. The carriage assembly and bundle engaging foot are configured to selectively rotate and move the bundle at the feed rate along the plane of the low friction surface to a position spaced from the first position for movement along a discharge path. In the process, the bundle is moved at the infeed rate from the infeed path to a discharge path while the bundle is selectively rotated about an axis to a selected orientation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an object sorting and conveying apparatus used in the work for sorting and conveying objects, wherein multiple rotary support elements for mounting objects are disposed at the side of a conveying belt stretched in a conveying route orthogonally in the feed direction, the rotary support elements are rotated at the object inspection position for inverting and rotating the objects, the rotary support elements are designed to turn between a mounting position for mounting on the upper part and a tilting position for discharging objects, about the conveying belt side, and the objects can be inspected accurately by inverting and rotating the objects, and the position control and discharge of objects are also easy.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotating substantially flat articles being transported along a production line is provided. The apparatus is configured so as to rotate the articles, about an axis extending substantially perpendicular to the direction of transport of the articles, through a desired number of degrees of rotation, while permitting the articles to be transported along the production line in a substantially uninterrupted and unimpeded manner.

Abstract: To turn through 90.degree. sheets passing at a rapid rate over a roller conveyor in a horizontal plane, a device is proposed which comprises a pair of rollers entrained in rotation at different speeds and spaced apart from each other and from a longitudinal guide on the conveyor transversely with respect thereto. Each of the rollers has its rotation axis inclined with respect to the normal on this guide, by a specified angle which is greater for the roller which is closest to the guide and the rotation speed of which is the smaller. Each of the rollers has its periphery in contact with a support ball or with the lower face of a sheet during its passage, substantially in said transport plane.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotating an article includes a first housing member mountable on a side of the article conveyor, and a second housing member mountable on the opposite side of the article conveyor. A motor having a shaft is mounted on the first housing member. The motor is arranged to drive a frictional drive roller. The frictional drive roller in turn drives a first end portion of an approaching article. A pin is mounted on the second housing member and arranged to contact a second end portion, i.e., a second end portion opposite the first end portion, of the article while the frictional drive roller drives the first end portion. The pin functions to inhibit motion of the second end portion and thereby establishes a pivot position about which the article rotates approximately ninety degrees.

Abstract: An apparatus and related method for feeding/turning successive cartons along the flow path of a packaging line is provided. An intermediate conveyor section between in-line feed and take away conveyors defines the substantially horizontal flow path. A plurality of elongated O-ring belts feed and turn the cartons. A separate side running chain having a straight operative run carries a plurality of extensible fingers; one selected finger engaging and capturing a leading corner of each successive carton to assist in turning. The O-ring belts are driven at differential speed. The combined feeding and turning action of the carton, assisted by retarding engagement of the carton corner by the finger assures positive and efficient feeding/turning of the cartons. A microprocessor is provided to control the driving of stepper/servo motors for the various components. The O-ring belts are driven by the single servo motor with a plurality of increasing size pulleys on a common shaft to provide the progressive speeds.

Abstract: In a high speed production line system, a conveyor is defined by groupings of transversely movable pallets 14, each grouping further including a central, transversely movable pusher 22 providing an abutment 24. When a pair of packs 16 of products 20 is delivered on to the pallets 14 in a group, the abutment 24 is adjacent one side of the packs 16 at the junction therebetween. As the packs 16 are moved along the conveying path, cam followers retain the pallets 14 in position and move the abutment 24 against the packs 16 to rotate the latter in opposite directions through 90.degree.. Turning can be effected over a distance of less than one meter travel, both positively and accurately at high speeds.

Abstract: A method and machine whereby two rigid packets, traveling in a first direction parallel to the longer longitudinal axes of the packets, are transferred to the inputs of respective conveyors, one of the two packets being rotated 180.degree. about its longitudinal axis, and the other packet being rotated 180.degree. about an axis crosswise to its longitudinal axis; and the two packets are fed along the respective conveyors in a second direction crosswise to the respective longer longitudinal axes and to the crosswise axis into a position wherein the two packets present a common longitudinal axis, are oppositely oriented along the common longitudinal axis, are rotated 180.degree. in relation to each other about the common longitudinal axis, and are connectable to form a twin packet.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic lug loader to place blocks on each lug on a lug conveyor in a finger jointing machine. The lug loader includes a support structure with a control station and a feed table. A powered loading conveyor overlies the support structure with an infeed end disposed over the control station. The loading conveyor extends downstream to an outfeed end which is disposed over the upstream end of the lug conveyor. A powered adjuster is connected to the loading conveyor and shifts the loading conveyor toward and away from the control station to selectively grip a block. The invention also encompasses an automatic cornering apparatus to transfer blocks from a side-to-side relationship on the lug conveyor to an end-to-end arrangement on a transverse conveyor. The cornering apparatus includes a first conveyor with an upstream end and a downstream end.

Abstract: A turning and orienting device can receive an article such as a folded paper, envelope or the like, and can turn the article and/or rotate the article for re-orienting the article. An annular plate is constantly rotating, and a central plate in the same plane is fixed. Spring urged balls can receive the article therebeneath to urge the article against the plates; therefore, the portion on the stationary plate will be held still while the portion on the rotating plate will be moved in a circular path. By adjusting the location of the balls, and varying the point at which the .article is stopped, virtually any combination of turning and rotation of the article can be accomplished.

Abstract: An integrated self service package pick up and drop off system which is particularly suitable for retail dry cleaning operations is described. A fully enclosed cabinet contains a customer drop off chute, and a customer pick up door which are computer controlled in response to customer signals. Inside the cabinet, which can be entered only by an authorized attendant, to remove dropped off orders and load complete orders, there is provided a motorized gantry system which can select and remove an individual customers order from bar coded storage rails and transport the order down the central aisle to the customer pickup point for removal from the cabinet.

Abstract: A recording paper sorting and discharging device designed to improve the construction of copiers, printers, or the like, in sorting, separating and discharging paper in which the ends of one side of a pair of paper discharging roller shafts are shifted in a direction essentially parallel to a recording paper discharging direction while the other ends of the shafts remain stationary. The paper discharging roller shafts each have at least one roller, the rollers being separated from each other for a given period of time and, in response to detect signals, the rollers disposed on the shafts then contact each other. The recording paper can thereby be discharged obliquely onto a paper discharging tray. Alternatively, a pair of paper discharging roller shafts, each shaft having both a drive roller fixed on one side thereof in an axial direction and a driven paper discharging roller rotatably mounted on the other side thereof such that the respective drive and driven rollers on each shaft press against each other.

Abstract: A delivery system for receiving book blocks discharged from a book-sewing machine on a transverse stack conveyor, the book blocks on the transverse stack being supported on their front edges and thus being vertically oriented, and rearranging the book blocks so as to be horizontally oriented. The delivery system subsequently reorients the horizontally arranged book blocks and collects the reoriented book blocks into stable stacks.

Abstract: A glass plate positioning and supplying machine has a glass plate positioning machine disposed above a roller conveyor for adjusting the longitudinal, transverse, and rotational position of the glass plate, and a glass plate supplying machine disposed below the glass plate positioning machine for receiving the positioned glass plate from the glass plate positioning machine and supplying it onto the roller conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus (22) and a method for positioning a heated glass sheet on rolls (26) on a conveyor (24) utilizes an air hearth (28) for supplying upwardly directed pressurized air and an elevator (32) for providing relative movement between the rolls and the air hearth for either the conveyance or floating of the glass sheet over the rolls to allow a positioner (36) to position the heated glass sheet while out of engagement with the rolls. The air hearth (28) has stationary supports (38) and the elevator (32) has cam actuators (42) that move the rolls (26) of the roll conveyor (24) vertically with respect to the stationary air hearth between raised and lowered positions to provide either the roll conveyance or floated glass sheet positioning.

Abstract: Apparatus for orientating loads on a linear conveyor for pivoting loads on a motor roller track to facilitate the storage of loads on pallets of a palletizer. The apparatus includes a transversely mobile controlled stop, and the movement of the stop can correspond either substantially or exactly to the peak of a sine curve. The movement of the stop enables it to maintain a substantially fixed point of contact with the load.

Abstract: A device for conveying piece goods to a transfer station is provided whereby the device has a drivable continuous conveyor belt with at least one endless guide belt that is provided parallel to a longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt. A guiding surface of each one of the respective guide belts is disposed perpendicularly to a conveying surface of the conveyor belt and is synchronously drivable relative to a conveying direction of the conveyor belt. Due to this embodiment, very sensitive piece goods may be conveyed without the piece goods sliding off the conveyor belt and without damaging the piece goods at the guide belts that provide the lateral limitation of the conveying belt. A relative movement between the piece goods and the lateral limitation is prevented.

Abstract: A roller conveyor has an aligning device for glazing panes. The conveyor includes a plurality of aligned rollers forming a roller bed and driven for advancing glass panes in a conveying direction. The aligning device includes a rail disposed above the rollers and mounted such that it extends at a small horizontal angle to the conveying direction. The rail is disposed relative to the rollers such that an edge of a pane being conveyed on the rollers engages the rails so as to align the pane. The aligning device also includes a ring disposed in the roller bed downstream of the rail in the conveying direction. The ring has an external diameter larger than that of the rollers and is positioned relative to the rail such that the ring can engage a lower surface of a pane conveyed on the rollers at a position spaced from the center of gravity of the pane, and so rotate the pane.

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

Abstract: A device and method for positively controlling and rotating an item through a predetermined angle in a plane as said item is moved longitudinally in the plane. Different lateral portions of the item are moved at different speeds in the longitudinal direction to effect the rotation. Preferably a pair of cone shaped segmented rollers are utilized which have a nip formed between high sections of the rollers, coplanar with the plane of rotation. Alternatively a pair of spaced segmented rollers having different linear surface speeds can be used to move the spaced lateral portions of the item at the different linear speeds. Positive control of the item is provided by opposed rotating members such as opposed belt conveyors or opposed sets of rollers and a mechanism is provided to selectively engage or release the opposed rotating members as required by the rotation of the item.

Abstract: An erecting device for bottles transported in recumbent position by a rope conveyor rotates the bottles to an upright position and deposits them on an apron conveyor which is positioned at a lower level at the end of the rope conveyor. The erecting device includes a pulley having two outer flanges, a pair of washers between the flanges and a pair of deformable rubber disks between the washers for holding a bottle during rotation from the recumbent to the vertical position. Each outer flange is connected to the rotating pulley axle by a respective intermediate cotter. The cotters are adjustably translatable along the length of the pulley axle such that the spacing between the rubber disks is adjustable to accommodate different bottle dimensions.

Abstract: A device and method for positively controlling and rotating an item through a predetermined angle in a plane as said item is moved longitudinally in the plane. Different lateral portions of the item are moved at different speeds in the longitudinal direction to effect the rotation. Preferably a pair of cone shaped rollers are utilized which have a nip formed therebetween, coplanar with the plane of rotation. Alternatively a pair of spaced rollers having different linear surface speeds can be used to move the spaced lateral portions of the item at the different linear speeds. Positive control of the item is provided by opposed rotating members such as opposed belt conveyors or opposed sets of rollers and a mechanism is provided to selectively engage or release the opposed rotating members as required by the rotation of the item.

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

Abstract: In a substantially horizontal conveyor or conveying heated glass sheets, a positioning device for aligning the sheets in a direction transverse to the conveying direction. It includes thrust rods advanced by the engagement of cam followers moving with the thrust rod on cams stationary with respect to the conveyor. Draw springs return the thrust rods to their initial position. The thrust rods are mounted on crosswise carriages, which are in turn mounted on carriages movable in the conveying direction and in synchronism with the glass sheets. The thrust rods are pivotally mounted on the crosswise carriages about horizontal axes, and so their distal ends can be displaced out of the plane of the glass sheets during the return movement of the carriage.

Abstract: The device flips substrates or passes them through without flipping, selectively, and the substrate can enter either end and exit either end of the device, as desired depending on how it is assembled. The spacing between channels which restrain opposite edges of the substrate is adjustable so as to accommodate different widths. The channels are separate from, but cooperable with, feed wheels which extend into the channels and engage the board when the channels are not moved out of alignment with the feed plane, e.g., when the flipping action is not taking place. During flipping, one end of each channel is raised above the feed plane, while the other end is moved substantially parallel to the feed plane so as to eliminate interference with an undercarriage or anything else below the feed plane of the device.

Abstract: Magazines are re-oriented by turning each magazine through ninety degrees in a horizontal plane while the magazine is advanced continuously along a generally straight path. The re-orientation is effected by kicking each magazine laterally while switching control of the magazine from a first continuously moving conveyor to a second continuously moving conveyor which runs alongside the first conveyor.

Abstract: The invention comprises an arrangement for transporting articles, in particular rectangular box-like packages into a single or plural paths packaging machine by at least one slider and a guiding flank. The arrangement includes a combined turning and collecting arrangement for the articles, respectively packages. The guiding flanks of this arrangement define the curved guiding paths which includes curved flanks which extend essentially angularly with respect to the transport direction and further include guide grooves which coact with the slider. By this arrangement, the articles, respectively packages are slidingly fed, turned and collected.

Abstract: A bundle turning unit comprises a turnpost which is arranged in a vertical attitude with respect to the direction of feed of a bundle on a conveyor. The turnpost is movable at a controlled rate by a power-operated device between an advanced position in which the turnpost overlies the conveyor by a predetermined maximum distance and a retracted position spaced from the advanced position. The turnpost is moved between the advanced position and the retracted position as the bundle is advanced by the conveyor to cause the bundle to be turned through substantially 90.degree. with respect to the plane of the conveyor.

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

Abstract: A conveyor system which receives products in random order at its infeed end and delivers product in a serial aligned order at its outlet end. The conveyor system comprises first and second endless belt conveyors which are longitudinally aligned and positioned such that the product exiting the first conveyor is received on the second conveyor. The first conveyor is of a greater width than the second and at the location where they meet is a third endless belt conveyor moving in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal flow direction of the other two. The machine that feeds products to the first conveyor is set at a desired product flow rate in terms of products-per-minute and the speed of the first conveyor is set to handle that capacity. The second belt is driven at a speed equal to or greater than the product-per-minute rate times the product length.

Abstract: A turning device including a moving member movable along a linear path, and a turning member which is pivotable through an angle of 90 degrees about an axis perpendicular to the linear path during movement of the turning member along the linear path. A first and a second cam follower are provided on respective first and second surfaces of the turning member. A first cam provided on the second surface of the turning member has a first straight cam surface inclined to the linear path and engageable with the first cam follower, while a second cam spaced apart from the first cam in a direction parallel to the axis of of the turning member has a second straight cam surface engageable with the second cam follower. The second cam surface is inclined to the linear path such that the second cam follower is moved perpendicularly to the linear path in the same direction as the first cam follower as the moving member is moved.

Abstract: A conveyor on which tires are suspended, with sufficient travel to ensure that they dry out following treatment, for conveying them through a distribution chamber for the solution, equipped with devices for discharging jets of the solution; a movable arm is inserted in between two adjacent tires and temporarily lifts off at least one of them in order to rotate it in front of the discharge devices.

Abstract: A vehicle assembly line in which a vehicle body is conveyed by a hanger from station to station is provided between a first working area and a second working area with a vehicle body reversing system for reversing the orientation of the vehicle body with respect to the hanger, in which the vehicle body is conveyed by the hanger, from a first direction to a second direction. The first working area consists of stations in which are performed operations which can be done without interference from the hanger so long as the vehicle body is oriented in the first direction and the second working area consists of stations in which are performed operations which can be done without interference from the hanger so long as the vehicle body is oriented in the second direction.

Abstract: A chemical reaction apparatus is disclosed which comprises endless travelling belt(s) disposed to support in place a multiplicity of juxtaposed reaction containers having the axes thereof falling in a plane inclined from the horizontal plane and adapted to travel in a substantially horizontal direction perpendicular to the axes of the reaction containers; endless retaining belts disposed adjacent and not contiguously to the aforementioned travelling belts and provided with a multiplicity of teeth projecting up as at fixed regularly spaced intervals slightly greater than the diameters of the reaction containers so as to enable the reaction containers accommodated in the intervening spaces between the teeth to be held in fixed positions in an arrayed pattern; a base adapted to support in place the bottoms of the aforementioned reaction containers rotated about the axes thereof in an inclined state by the aforementioned travelling belts and the aforementioned retaining belts; and a drive mechanism for intermitte

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

Abstract: A machine for orienting and stacking receptacles, such as cups having a base end and a mouth end, which machine includes a receiving area wherein the cups are initially received and are then fed to an upright, angularly disposed conveyor, the cups being received between bars presented by the conveyor. As the cups are moved upwardly by the conveyor, they come into engagement with an angularly disposed orienting roller which spans the width of the conveyor and contacts the cups to shift them into a common, oriented relationship with the mouths all facing in one direction and the bases in another. After orientation, the cups pass over the top of the conveyor and are removed therefrom and carried to a delivery location. The removal of the cups from the conveyor is accomplished by a vacuum which is drawn adjacent the top end of the conveyor.

Abstract: Can ends having an off-center aperture, are each orientated by a resiliently mounted peg which engages a surface of the can end and is rotated about a pitch circle for one complete revolution. The peg seeks and enters the aperture and thereafter causes the can end to rotate with it until it stops at a position corresponding to the desired orientation of the can end. The peg is then withdrawn from the aperture and the can end, supported in a carrier plate and is delivered to a moulding machine (not shown) in which a plastics closure is moulded into the aperture.

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

Abstract: Apparatus for orientating circular can ends having an eccentric aperture encompassing the geometric center of the can end comprises a supply stack for delivering can ends to a table and a first conveyor for moving can ends one by one to a first station at which the center of successive can ends is precisely located. Can ends are then engaged by fingers on a second conveyor and drawn along a support track. The dragging action of the fingers in co-operation with a guide causes the can ends to adopt a required orientation in which the center trails behind the finger from that part of the aperture most remote from the center.

Abstract: A self-service apparatus for the delivery of sheet-like articles, such as garments, comprises at least two parallel rails having notches defining a plurality of locations at each of which can be stored an article on a hanger ready to be delivered to a customer. In response to an authorized request by a customer, a carriage is driven along the rails for picking up and conveying an article from any specific location to a reception region at which the article can be received by the customer. The apparatus also includes a control device which is actuated as a selected article is picked-up by the carriage so as to rotate the article from its storage position to a position at which it is held edgewise-on as it is conveyed towards the reception region.

Abstract: An apparatus for turning the posture of flat articles (such as envelopes and post cards) can stably clamp and turn a flat article accurately, with a 90.degree. rotation. The turning apparatus has a cone roller that is disposed along a path for transporting the flat articles. A first plurality of idler pulleys are independently mounted to engage and be driven by the conical surface of the roller. A second plurality of idler pulleys are disposed on the upstream side of the conical surface, with respect to the first idler pulley. At least one running belt is stretched between the first and second idler pulleys. The angle between the conical surface and the running belt is small enough to reliably grip and turn the flat article.

Abstract: A conveyor and work station operable to support and convey elongated bakery products such as hot dog rolls and rotate them from one position upon the conveyor to another position thereon to deliver them more suitably to be received in packages, the rotation being effected by a disc-like pad or plurality of similar pads which are supported for rectilinear movement and, when engaging the products, the pads move longitudinally in the same direction and speed as the conveyor and the rotation of the pads is 90.degree. about the axis of the pads during such longitudinal movement relative to the conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for orienting substantially identical containers. Each container has a base for supporting the container. Each container is asymmetrical in a plane substantially perpendicular to the respective base. The apparatus includes a longitudinal conveyor for moving the containers from one end of a frame to the other. A first turning assembly is mounted on the frame to turn the containers relative to the longitudinal conveyor to arrange the containers in an attitude wherein the asymmetrical plane of each container is parallel to the direction of movement. An attitude detector apparatus is positioned adjacent to the discharge end of the first turning assembly and detects the attitude of containers discharged. A second turning assembly rotates the containers discharged from the first turning assembly 90.degree. either clockwise or counterclockwise in response to a signal from the attitude detector to align all of the containers in the same attitude.

Abstract: A support slidably mounted for reciprocable movement above and generally parallel to a conveyor, a rotator element mounted on and movable with the support and having a generally U-shaped package enveloping device arranged to straddle the package to be rotated together with a rotatable driving device mounted on and movable with the support for imparting rotary movement to the rotator element.

Abstract: Article rotating apparatus includes an endless element having a working reach movable alongside the path of movement of the articles and having a curvilinear reach forming a continuation of the downstream part of the working reach and extending in a direction away from the path of movement of the articles, and an article engaging lug mounted on the endless element and engageable with an article for imparting angular movement thereto while being moved along the curvilinear reach of the endless element.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating the edges of pre-fired brick includes an extruder for extruding a column of clay and a wire cutter assembly for severing the column into individual bricks having their longitudinal axes substantially perpendicular to the direction of extrusion. The bricks are transported to a first conveyor where they are turned and directed to a side conveyor. As the pre-fired bricks move on the side conveyor, they move in a single file arrangement with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to the direction of movement. The upper longitudinal edges of the pre-fired brick are treated by engagement with a pair of canted rollers to give the edges of the brick an irregular appearance. The bricks are then reoriented by a pair of rotating tables which direct the bricks onto a third conveyor with the axes of the brick being substantially perpendicular to their direction of travel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assisting in turning or reorienting cartons during transition between conveyors is disclosed wherein a moving finger engages one side of the carton adjacent the leading edge of the carton. The moving finger initiates the turning action and assists in the final turning action generated by a friction plate and pressure brush. The finger is mounted in a horizontal plane for rotation about a vertical axis and engages the side of the carton within leading 15%-35% along the length of the carton. The finger provides sufficient turning assist action to assure reorientation of a carton through at least 90.degree.. The finger should be flexible in order to provide shock absorbing action.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for rotating elongated workpieces on a support bed to present successive faces for inspection and/or treatment of the workpiece. Safe means are provided for rotating hot or cold billets on a support bed in a manner that uses a minimum of manpower while handling pieces of considerable length and weight.

Abstract: A method of forming cants slabbed on four sides from logs, and a sawmill assembly for effecting formation of the cants. First and second in-line sets of pairs of saws are provided, and a log is fed to the first set of saws in a horizontal direction, the first set of saws slabbing two opposed sides of the log. The log is continuously fed from the first set of saws to the second set of saws in the same horizontal direction, and the log is rotated 90.degree. about an axis along the horizontal direction during feeding from the first set to the second set of saws. The second set of saws slab two opposed sides of the log after 90.degree. rotation thereof, and a cant slabbed on four sides is thus formed. The distance between the pairs of saws of each set is adjustable by automatic detenting from one spacing to another, and the scrap is carried away from saw sets by conveyors outside of the saw sets.

Abstract: Apparatus for changing the orientation of successive stacks of overlapping paper sheets has a first conveyor which delivers stacks seriatim onto the upper side of a support located below a vertically movable and rotatable turntable having at its underside a layer consisting of rubber and formed with openings for escape of air. The support has plenum chambers which discharge streams of compressed air against the underside of a stack between the support and the turntable whereby the stack is lifted off the support and bears against the layer at the underside of the turntable before the latter begins to rotate through 90 degrees to thus change the orientation of the stack. Prior to rotating, the turntable is moved downwardly toward and bears against the stack on the support to thereby expel air from the stack and to cause opening of valves in the upper side of the support by way of the lowermost sheet of the stack.