Abstract: It is the pallet conveying mechanism to move a pallet P arrived at an end point 17b of a friction conveyer FC2 to a starting point 7a of a friction conveyer FC1 in just as it is the direction without turning. The pallet conveying mechanism is comprised of rollers 34 having a flange portion 34a to contact with the pallet P by arranging along a main frame 31 provided so as to connect the friction conveyer FC1 and FC2 with each other and a drive mechanism 35 for driving rollers 34.

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 invention relates in the first instance to a method for rotating an article which has an underside and lateral surfaces, more particularly for rotating a folding carton having the shape of a cuboid. The article is conveyed along a first lane (1), then rotated in order to re-align the article, and then conveyed along a second lane (2) which extends in the direction of the first lane. The rotation of the article takes place under the action of an element (30) which is in contact with a lateral surface of the article. To enable the rotation of the article to take place in a very tight space at a high conveying speed, it is proposed that the contact element (30) moves in the direction of the lanes (1, 2), being moved against the rear lateral surface of the article, based on the direction in which the article is being conveyed, and being in rolling contact therewith (roller 39).

Abstract: Process and apparatus for handling (individual) packs (10), namely for packaging the latter in a folding box or the like. The packs (10), which, for production or other reasons, are fed in a specific relative position, to be introduced into the folding box as a pack group (22) in another predetermined relative position. For this purpose, turning stations (27, 49) are installed in the region of the pack conveyor and rotate the packs (10)--depending on requirements--about a horizontal axis and/or about a vertical axis.

Abstract: A conveyor diverting system having an endless conveying surface and diverting shoes transversely movable across the conveying surface for diverting articles having an upstream and a downstream diverting track where the upstream diverting track is oriented parallel to the downstream diverting track for a portion of its length, and converges with the downstream diverting track along its other portion. The conveyor system further includes a controller which utilizes only the downstream diverting track if the article to be diverted is less than a first predetermined length or greater than a second predetermined length. If the article to be diverted is between the first predetermined length and the second predetermined length, then both diverting tracks are utilized.

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 conveyor diverting system having an endless conveying surface and diverting shoes transversely movable across the conveying surface for diverting articles having an upstream and a downstream diverting track where the upstream diverting track is oriented parallel to the downstream diverting track for a portion of its length, and converges with the downstream diverting track along its other portion. The conveyor system further includes a controller which utilizes only the downstream diverting track if the article to be diverted is less than a first predetermined length or greater than a second predetermined length. If the article to be diverted is between the first predetermined length and the second predetermined length, then both diverting tracks are utilized.

Abstract: A compact apparatus for conveying triangular pieces of dough which are upside down group-by-group on a upstream conveyor to a downstream conveyor where each group of pieces of dough is separated from the remaining groups, and the pieces of dough of the group are separated from each other and simultaneously rotated 90 degrees in opposing directions per alternating group.

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: 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: An infeed system that orients a log for a processing unit. A flight conveyor, a log turner and a sharp chain are in an overlapping arraignment. The flight conveyor conveys a log past a scanner which inputs scan data into a computer which determines the profile and orientation on the flight conveyor. The computer determines the desired orientation of the log for the processing unit. The log turner is arranged to rotate and skew the log to the desired orientation. The log is then transferred to the sharp chain conveyor. The overlapping arrangement of the flight conveyor, log turner and sharp chain maintains full control of the log at all times. The sharp chain conveys the log past a second scanner which inputs the scan data to the computer to determine the actual orientation of the log on the sharp chain. The infeed system may also be provided with a shift and lift mechanism for further controlling the log position relative to the processing unit.

Abstract: A method and device for tip-up conveying packets of cigarettes, whereby packets of cigarettes, fed successively to an input of a guide, are transferred to an output of the guide by a screw transferring member rotating about a respective axis; the screw defining at least one substantially helical channel along which the packets slide as the screw rotates, and which winds by an angle of 90.degree. about its own longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly for reorienting items includes a conveyor for advancing items in a conveying direction; and a turning device disposed upstream of the discharge end of the conveyor as viewed in the conveying direction for engaging an underface of the items and for turning the items into a predetermined orientation, while being conveyed by the conveyor, before the items reach the discharge end.

Abstract: A turnover device for turning over products (8), for instance graphic products, comprising a feed conveyor assembly (4) and a discharge conveyor assembly (6) each made up of a number of parallel conveyors arranged side by side with an interspace therebetween, a turnover rack (1) being arranged between the feed and discharge assemblies, which turnover rack comprises outwardly extending product carriers (2) movable through the interspace of the conveyors of the discharge conveyor assembly (6). Provided adjacent the discharge end of the feed conveyor assembly (4) are adjustable decelerating devices (5) for decelerating the products (8) to be turned over and the discharge conveyor assembly (6) comprises a driver (7) for accelerating the turned-over products (8').

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 assembly conveyor including two conveyor bands displaceable in opposite directions and defining oppositely arranged assembly work stations, and a substantially transversely displaceable elevation table provided at a discharge end of one of the two conveyor bands for transferring an assembly object from the one of the two conveyor bands to another of the two conveyor bands, with the elevation table including an element for rotating the assembly object during a linear displacement thereof from the one conveyor band to the other conveyor band.

Abstract: Two cooperating spiral conveyors are provided between a transport device having a transport plane and a transport segment. The conveyors are driven in opposite directions and are provided with opposite thread directions. The axes of the spiral conveyors are disposed at the height of the transport plane. The pitch and the thread clearance of peripheral recesses of the spiral conveyors decrease continuously from the transport device to the transport segment. A support surface for a lid is disposed between the two spiral conveyors. At the end contiguous to the transport device, the support surface has the same height as the transport plane, and at the end contiguous to the transport segment, its height is lower by half of the lid diameter.

Abstract: Printing works products, book blocks having a spine for example, are transferred from a feed conveyor to a receiver with selected products being rotated through an angle of 180.degree. during the transfer. The products to be rotated are frictionally engaged, slowed to a standstill during a first phase of rotation and thereafter accelerated and discharged when rotation is completed. The synchronized first phase of rotation and arresting of product motion is controlled such that the center of gravity of the product will be located approximately in alignment with the axis of rotation when rotation through an angle of approximately 90.degree. is completed.

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: According to the invention there is provided a tipping device comprising a conveyor, a photodetector, a chute including two selectively translatable ramps disposed at the discharge end of the conveyor, air cylinders for translating the ramps, and a tipper bar which is exposed when the ramps are translated. More particularly, when the ramps are closed, the containers simply move from the conveyor down the chute to another conveyor. When a signal generated by the photodetector is received by the air cylinders, the air cylinders retract, thus moving the two ramps to an open position, and exposing the tipper bar. The momentum from the weight and acceleration of the container as it impacts the tipper bar flips the container on its top. After receiving a second signal from the photodetector, the air cylinders extend and the ramps close so that the next container slides down the chute without engaging the tipper bar.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for receiving flat articles having a top edge alignment and horizontal orientation and transporting the articles along a transport path to a vertical orientation and a bottom edge alignment. The apparatus comprises a frame, a deck plate adjustably mounted to the frame, and structure for adjusting the position of the deck plate in a direction transverse to the paper path. A pair of entrance pulleys and exit pulleys are each mounted to the deck plate. The entrance pulleys rotate on a horizontal axis and the exit pulleys rotate on a vertical axis. First and second flexible, endless belts, are each wrapped around one of the entrance pulley and the exit pulleys wherein the belts complete a 90 degree twist from the respective entrance pulley to the respective exit pulley.

Abstract: A transfer unit for transferring objects from a starting position to a final position, preferably between two presses in a plate pressing line, comprises two carriages (4, 5) which are displaceable along supporting rails (2, 3) and are provided with rotatable gripping devices (9-12) to grip and hold the object during the transfer which can be effected with or without turning over at the same time. The turn-over device makes it possible to turn the object during transfer and comprises a turning arm (24), one end of which is mounted in the carriage (4, 5), and the other end of which supports a follower (25) for cooperation with a guide rail (26, 27) with an essentially V-shaped portion (32-34), along which the turning arm (24) is guided as it is pivoted.

Abstract: A system for toppling upright containers forward to form a stick or line of spaced, laid down containers. The containers can be cylindrically sidewalled cans filled with product and sealed closed. The upright containers are fed into a pair of horizontally disposed and spaced screws which are rotating in opposite directions about their respective axes. The rotation axis of one screw is disposed a distance above that of the other. The screws grasp the container sidewalls, and as the containers are conveyed through the screws the container tops are swung laterally down part way to one side and then laterally back down the other way and forward to a container longitudinal lay-down position. The screws rotate downwardly and inwardly so as to not lift the bottoms of the containers off of the conveyor system which conveys the upright containers to the toppling screws, through the screws as they are being toppled and away from screws in a line after having been positively toppled forward and longitudinally down.

Abstract: A device for equally-spaced transportation of randomly arranged incoming products, such as packets of cigarettes, whereby the products traveling successively and in randomly arranged manner along a first path and in a first given direction are brought into engagement with a braking device for forming an orderly line of products, which are removed successively from the first path by a transfer device and in a substantially transverse pickup direction in relation to the first traveling direction, and are fed, rotated 90.degree., on to a second path along which they are fed continuously and in equally-spaced manner in a second direction forming any angle in relation to the first traveling direction.

Abstract: A device for uprighting containers from a position with their axis horizontal to a position with their axis vertical comprises a circular plate (3) fixed to the end of a shaft (5) of horizontal axis by a support structure (4) arranged to undergo stepwise rotations of 180.degree. in synchronism with a container feed line (1); two parallel shafts (14, 15) symmetrically arranged about a diameter of the plate (3) and each carrying, at that end facing away from the plate, a receptacle (18) for seizing the containers, said shafts being connected mechanically such as to undergo equal rotations in the same direction, and carrying the receptacles (18) thereon with their axes mutually perpendicular; and a fixed positive-acting cam (25) within which there engages the end of a rocker arm (23) pivoted on the plate (3), its opposite end rotating one of the shafts (14 or 15) by a mechanism comprising a connecting rod-crank unit (21, 22).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for changing the direction of motion of flat articles being conveyed along a first path to a second path. The apparatus comprises a deck mounted on a frame. The deck has a first side for receiving an article from a first direction and a second side for conveying the article in a second direction which forms an acute angle equal to or less than forty-five degrees (45.degree.) with the first direction. There is a structure for conveying the article over the deck in the second direction. The conveying structure engages a leading edge of the article only after the article has been disengaged by a conveying structure in the first direction. There is a registration wall positioned downstream from the second direction conveying structure adjacent a third side of the deck.

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

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

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the optional removal of packages in the longitudinal or transverse direction onto a conveyor belt of the packing machine, the packages being continuously guided automatically both in their removal in the longitudinal direction and in their removal in the transverse direction by means of a rotary device and an oblique track roller guide system which is provided with an adjustable guide deflector by which guide rollers of a steering gear of the rotary device are automatically guided. By adjusting the guide deflector parallel or obliquely to the direction of travel of the packages, they can be removed in the longitudinal direction or, after being turned through an angle of 90 degrees, in the transverse direction onto a conveyor belt.

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: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for receiving a stack of sheets, with each sheet oriented in a standing position on edge, and rotating a predetermined number of sheets from the stack of sheets to a laid position. The apparatus includes a first conveying surface attached to a second conveying surface having two portions. The first portion of the second conveying surface is inclined for separating and rotating the predetermined number of sheets from the stack of sheets.

Abstract: The device comprises a disc interposed between a first station, supplied with articles by means of a first conveyor, and a second station, positioned downstream of the first station, in the region of the initial part of a second conveyor.To one side of the said disc are articuled a plurality of transfer means angularly equidistant with respect to one another, each of which provided with a square shaped element that is turned towards the outside of the disc and the spatial orientation of which is entrusted to corresponding regulating means.

Abstract: Device for supplying groups of filled and closed containers to a downstream treatment device comprises a supply track, a distribution member for aranging the containers at a distance from each other, a tilting device, a downstream transport track and a finger track extending along at least a section of the transport track for moving a certain number of containers present on the transport track to the treatment device. The tilting device comprises a positively driven FERRIS.sub.R wheel, or a positive-driven tilting wheel device. The transport track, the finger track and the FERRIS.sub.R wheel, or a positive-driven tilting wheel device are each coupled, via their own transmission, to a common drive. The transmission ratio of the transmissions between the common drive and the transport track, the finger track and the FERRIS.sub.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for supplying and extracting assembly parts which are fed to an extraction point in a previously determined aligned position. The assembly parts acts upon by a conveying force are carried into a singling and/or extraction position. After this, the assembly part present before the extraction point is held fast, and the assembly part which is to be extracted is grasped in its aligned and guided position. The assembly part grasped is removed from the following assembly parts in the conveying direction and conveyed to a preparation section and/or to a delivery point.

Abstract: A transporting apparatus having a main transport path and a plurality of incoming paths extending from the main transport path. Cases, each having a cover, are transported in the main path, with their covers facing to the right of the main transport path. A case-outlet section and a case-orienting mechanism are provided on each of the incoming paths. The case-orientating mechanism rotates a case such that the case is oriented, with its cover facing upward, when it is removed from the case-outlet section. Every case-orientating mechanisms rotates an article in the same direction, whether it is provided on an incoming path located on the right of the main transport path, or on an incoming path located on the left of the main transport path.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning and feeding elongated pieces, having a rotary drum which is provided on one side of a passage of the elongated pieces extending in the lengthwise direction thereof and which is rotatable about an axis parallel to the passage. The drum has peripheral receiving grooves spaced from one another at a constant pitch. A pushing cam is located in front of the drum to push the elongated pieces into the receiving grooves of the drum one by one. Below the drum are provided threaded shafts having spiral grooves for receiving the elongated pieces from the drum and conveying them in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotation of the drum. An aligning wall is provided on one side of the threaded shafts to align the elongated pieces during the conveyance thereof.

Abstract: In a stacker turntable used to form compensated bundles, a drive assembly for moving completed bundles off of the turntable comprises first and second drive motors mounted to the underside of the rotatable turntable at equally distant locations from the center line and as close thereto as is practicable to minimize the offcenter mass. The locations of the motors are balanced to balance the rotatable mass. Each motor drives a "picket fence" assembly, each assembly being a movable wall formed of individual vertical slats. Pusher elements are arranged at spaced distances among the slats to cooperatively form end guides for supporting bundles as they are being formed and during the time that they are rotated for pushing a completed bundle off of the turntable.The leadlines of the motors extend through a hollow center support and coaxial with the turntable center of rotation to prevent any whipping of the leads during turntable rotation.

Abstract: A quarter folder machine for accepting half fold signatures and converting them into quarter signatures. The machine receives half signatures in an incoming shingle running at relatively low velocity, strips and accelerates the signatures to travel seriatim in a high speed stream which passes through camming and crimping means to create the quarter fold. A decelerating and re-shingling section then converts the stream back into an output shingle which runs at relatively low linear velocity but at a high rate in terms of signatures per hour--for transport to some subsequent processing device. The machine is characterized by a very high throughput rate. It is flexibly adjustable to match to the velocity of and setback of an incoming shingle from various sources, and yet to determine by choice the setback and velocity of the output shingle.

Abstract: A workpiece transfer assembly which enables a workpiece affixed to a pallet to be rotated at a work station and thereafter returned to its original position for longitudinal indexing along the transfer line. The transfer line includes a pallet locating and supporting unit which carries a first transfer bar segment. The pallet locating and supporting means includes bearing which enable the first transfer bar segment to be longitudinally indexed and rotated about its longitudinal axis. A rotary indexing assembly is provided for rotating the pallet supporting and locating device. A second transfer bar segment is carried by an intermediate transfer section. Both transfer bar segments include end features which interlockingly engage; thus, enabling the rotational and longitudinal movement to be transferred along the bar sections when they are aligned, but permitting the first transfer bar segment to be rotated out of engagement with the remaining transfer bar segments.

Abstract: A pallet repair and inspection system includes pallet destacking apparatus for automatically dispensing pallets from stack of vertical pallets one at a time and discharging the pallets onto an inspection table. The destacking apparatus includes a vertically reciprocating table onto which the stack of pallets is driven and horizontally reciprocating forks which are operated to suspend all but the lowermost pallet as the table is successively lowered and raised between a pallet discharge height and a pallet pick-up height, to discharge the pallets into the inspection table one at a time. The top of the inspection table is foldable to define a cradle for one end of the pallet, orienting the pallet generally vertically, allowing inspection of its top and bottom surfaces.

Abstract: In combination, a document turner having dual interfaces at its receiving end oriented perpendicular to each other, each of the interfaces having a projecting tongue, and a document conveyor having a groove at the exit thereof for engagement with either of the projecting tongues and a pair of document conveying belts aligned on either side of the groove.

Abstract: Apparatus for turning flat articles supported on a substantially flat surface, including a device for receiving a serial stream of the articles, each of which travels along a first linear path, and a device for rotating each article through a preselected angle and for then steering the articles in a preselected direction. The rotating device includes a first and second pair of fixed, positioned rollers whose axes are located at substantially a right angle to each other. The apparatus further includes a guiding device and a conveyor which causes the articles to move along a path which is parallel to the preselected path of travel. The apparatus is utilized in executing a method of receiving, rotating and conveying the articles along the preselected direction.

Abstract: In the packaging industry finished packing containers are frequently transported by means of chain conveyors between different machines or handling points. A reorientation of the packing containers, e.g. from a horizontal to a vertical position, may then be required. To achieve this, an arrangement may be included as an integrated part on a conveyor, making use of the chain and drive elements of the conveyor. The chain is then led with the help of pulleys on a path which is such that several parts of the chain, while successively changing position, travel close to the packing container conveyed so that the latter during its advance through the arrangement is reorientated from a horizontal to vertical position.

Abstract: A device for turning articles such as envelopes 90 degrees as the articles are moved forward from an entrace location to an exit location. Two flexible endless belts, each having a span contiguous to a corresponding span of the other, move the articles as they are turned. A pair of entrance and exit rollers have the flexible belts wrapped around them. The axis of each of the entrance rollers is horizontally disposed and the axis of each of the exit rollers is turned 90 degrees in the direction of the angular displacement of the article such that the axis of each of the exit rollers is disposed vertically. A pair of idler rollers assist in keeping the belts properly positioned on the entrance and exit rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming article groups each consisting of a plurality of edgewise upright oriented, generally flat stacked articles, includes a first conveyor for individually advancing the articles in a lying orientation; a second conveyor for receiving the articles from the first conveyor and for depositing the articles individually on a gathering channel in an edgewise upright orientation; a first article group shifting unit for periodically forming one group of articles of predetermined number from articles accumulating on the gathering channel as deposited by the second conveyor and for individually advancing that group on the gathering channel away from the second conveyor; a second article group shifting unit forming a second group of articles of predetermined number from articles accumulating on the gathering channel as deposited by the second conveyor, and simultaneously advancing the first and second groups on the gathering channel to a discharge end thereof.

Abstract: A bobbin feeding device includes a plurality of trays placed on a running belt under guidance of the side walls of the feeding device. Each tray includes a seat having a larger diameter than that of the bobbin, a bobbin supporting pin erected on the seat, and a boss having a smaller diameter than the bottom diameter of the bobbin. A shovel is pivotally connected to a terminating end of the bobbin feeding device. The shovel includes a groove having a width sufficient to enable the boss of the tray to fit into it. An actuator rotates the shovel so that each bobbin is scooped from its tray and slid down the shovel to a downstream production line.

Abstract: There is provided a device and a method for turning flat articles, more particularly letter envelopes, flat bags or the like. The article is first moved out of its direction of conveyance into a curvilinear path, whereafter--without stopping in its original direction of conveyance--it is moved into a curvilinear path in a new direction until finally advancing onwards in its original direction of conveyance.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for arranging containers (1) e.g. bottles vertically, comprising an entry unit, sets of rod-shaped guides (23,24,25) helically shaped and symmetrical relative to the vertical longitudinal plane of the apparatus, and two belts (16) symmetrical and adjacent to such plane, which engage the initially uppermost side of the container. Operating in unison with and having the same speed as the lower branches of said two belts (16) are, firstly, the upper branch of an auxiliary belt (26), underneath said two belts (16), followed by inwardly facing branches of two subsidiary belts (31), symmetrical in relation to said plane and almost horizontal, so that the side of the container which is originally lowermost is continuously engaged by firstly the upper branch of the auxiliary belt (26) and then by the inwardly facing branch of one or the other of such subsidiary belts (31). This construction gives more reliable operation, especially at high speeds, then previously known apparatus.

Abstract: Oblong pads are fed horizontally on an input conveyor with their long axes pointed in the direction of movement. A support plate on a rotationally driven shaft carries several equiangularly spaced swinging levers having a long arm on one side of the swing axis and a short arm on the other. Followers on the short arms engage a stationary cam whose profile surrounds the shaft. As the levers revolve, the cam positions them so they meet incoming oblong pads squarely and sweep them around so their minor axes are pointed in the direction of movement as they drop onto an output conveyor which moves them in parallelism with the line of the input conveyor.