Abstract: An object is deposited at a strapping station on a high-speed, rapidly accelerating conveyor having a high-friction conveying surface. The object is raised off the high-friction surface by spaced tables having low-friction surfaces. Spaced, vertically downwardly extending bars engage opposite halves of opposite sides of the object and simultaneously move those halves transversely so as to rotate the object ninety degrees on the low-friction tables. A first strap is placed around the object before it is rotated; a second strap is placed around the object after it is rotated ninety degrees; then the conveyor accelerates the cross-strapped object rapidly out of the strapping station.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanism for receiving bales or cartons in small stacks or cubes and delivering single bales or cartons in pre-determined alignment. The bale or carton is placed on an elevator floor and moved up in steps of one tier at a time. A pusher arm sweeps the top tier of bales or cartons in the elevator off of the stack into a tier container. The tier container has drag chains which move the bales or cartons laterally into an orienting chute where each is oriented to the same pre-determined position regardless of its position in the stack. Two such units may be combined with a common chute so that two different stacks of bales or cartons may be alternatively singulated.

Abstract: A transport system for the drying of spaghetti or other long pasta includes swinging or vibrating belts to align the pasta in bunches of parallel lengths, at the same time moving so as to prevent the pasta from sticking together, thereby facilitating the drying of the individual pasta lengths. Principally, conveyor belts or the like are mounted with sufficient slack which, combined with cross bars and side supports, forms a series of transverse depressions into which the pasta is concentrated. The depressions shift linearly as the belt moves, thus preventing the pasta from sticking together. Various arrangements are provided causing vibration of the belts in addition to the forming of the depressions.

Abstract: A tile stacking machine wherein each tile is tilted while being conveyed at high speed and supported by its lower edge. The tiles are then transferred to a set of speed reducing belts to travel on edge. In most instances they are then transferred to at least one further set of speed reducing belts so as to crowd the tiles into a stack. One of the features of tilting the tiles while being conveyed edgeways, is that tilting is achieved by slowing the leading edge as it is lifted, thereby reducing tile speed even before it enters the speed reducing belts.

Abstract: The invention resides in firstly conveying tiles edgeways, while "on flat", in a conveyor which terminates in a discharge station which is vertical or nearly vertical, and transferring the tiles to a further conveyor which conveys them at reduced speed, while they are supported on edge, so that the tiles stack in face to face juxtaposition. The tiles can then be removed as a stack from the further conveyor.

Abstract: A device for centering, straightening up and turning the loads displaced on a motorized conveyor. The device comprises at least one support which is transverse in relation to the direction of displacement of the load on the conveyor and on which are slidingly mounted two vertical arms capable of being displaced in a transverse direction so as to straighten up and then center the said load in relation to a predetermined axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for toppling conveyed articles of rectangular outline (having opposite long sides and opposite short sides) has a travel surface; a discontinuity in the travel surface; first carrier elements traveling at a distance above and along the travel surface for advancing the articles by sliding them, on one of their short sides, on the travel surface up to the discontinuity and for advancing the articles by sliding them on one of their long sides, on the travel surface downstream of the discontinuity; and at least one second carrier element which is driven in a closed path and which engages the conveyed article or article stack as the latter reaches the discontinuity in the travel surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying and rotating articles 90.degree. while being conveyed along a predetermined path with rotation being achieved by contacting a forward corner of the article for pivoting it partially as the extending side will be grasped by a side-facing belt to complete rotation and propel the article forward.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for handling a column of nested, uniformly shaped snack chips. The apparatus comprises a pair of parallel, spaced elongated conveying surfaces which support an imbricated column of chips and a stationary support bar positioned therebetween. A gate engages the chips causing them to rotate backwardly transferring the support of the chips from the conveying surfaces to the bar thereby eliminating frictional drag on the articles. A second gate is provided to segregate the column into two portions.

Abstract: An improved log turner including a charge conveyor for feeding logs across an opening onto a carrying chute aligned with the charge conveyor. A discharge conveyor is located beneath the opening perpendicular to the charge conveyor. One pair of arc-shaped push-off arms is pivotally attached near the opening on opposite sides of the charge conveyor and the carrying chute. One arm of each pair of arms, opposite to one another, is pivoted to push-off and pivot a log resting on the charge conveyor and the carrying chute into the discharge conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for aligning and orienting moving glass sheets immediately prior to their treatment. This invention is especially suitable for use with glass sheets heated while conveyed through a furnace on a roller conveyor where the glass becomes misaligned or misoriented prior to entry into a shaping station. However, the invention is also capable of use with any type of conveyor defining an enclosed conveyor path for said glass sheets where the glass is liable to lose its orientation and/or alignment and must be oriented and/or aligned preparatory to processing and is also suitable to orient and align rigid sheets other than glass.The apparatus includes a pair of truncated conical rollers which engage the edge of the glass sheet and, due to their shape, substantially reduce chipping thereof. These rollers are mounted on a carriage in a manner to permit lateral movement relative to the carriage by cams. The carriage reciprocates along the path in a manner to move with the sheets.

Abstract: In removing articles from a wheel-type blow molding machine continuously revolving in a vertical plane with multiple mold sections opening radially to the wheel axis out of which the articles are ejected sidewise downwardly onto a takeaway pocket conveyor.A process involving positioning the articles in the pockets such that the moils protrude laterally of the conveyor, capturing such moils within a spiral screw channel while still advancing within the pockets, then pivoting such captured articles downwardly to a vertical attitute beyond the conveyor by means of the screw and forward twisting contour of a guide rail.

Abstract: A newspaper streamliner for mounting in a newspaper conveyor system which includes a pair of roller-operated belts disposed in essentially parallel relationship on each side of a newspaper stream, and a flat cover plate disposed between the belts to receive a continuing flow of newspapers. The belts are wider at the upstream, receiving end of the streamliner than at the discharge end in order to effect a straightening of the newspapers as they enter the wide end and are forced into alignment as they exit the narrow end of the moving belt. The streamliner is designed to be compatible with existing newspaper conveyor systems and can be mounted by means of an adjustable frame onto the frame of such a conveyor system, or in the alternative, on the floor or other area in the vicinity of the conveyor system.

Abstract: A turntable comprising a plurality of transfer roller assemblies of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,804,230. The transfer roller assemblies are mounted in planar array, and means are provided for controlling the direction of rotation of the cylindrical rollers and stub rollers in selected subsets of the planar array so as to impart rotary and/or translational motion to an object positioned on the array. Two alternative embodiments are disclosed.