Abstract: A positioning assembly comprises a base having a pair of taller projections and a pair of shorter projections on its surface. The positioning assembly is placed between a pair of belts which form a conveying assembly, so that the taller projections receive a sheet material which is conveyed along the belts. The positioning assembly is positioned at a middle position in which the taller projections project above the belts, whereby the taller projections receive the material. Receiving the material, the positioning assembly is elevated to a high position where all the projections including the shorter one project above the belts, whereby the material is held on the base. The material is processed with being rotated at the high position. Then the positioning assembly is lowered to a low position where all the projections are below the belts, whereby the material is delivered again onto the belts to be conveyed to the next process.

Abstract: A front feed system that includes powered rollers for feeding sheet metal into the front of a shear. In one embodiment, the system uses ball transfer apparatus for facilitating feeding the sheet metal at various angles to the shear blade as desired by the operator. The transfer apparatus may then be lowered to rest the oriented sheet metal on the rollers for delivery to the shear. In a second embodiment, a turntable is positioned proximate the shear to further facilitate final orientation of the sheet material to be sheared. In a third embodiment, the sheet metal is automatically forced against a squaring arm on the shear to assure cuts perpendicular to the edge of the sheet metal, whether the sheet is positioned on the ball transfer apparatus or on the rollers through inclination of portions of the conveyor and/or the ball transfer apparatus.

Abstract: For packing stacks of tinplate sheets on pallets a packing line is disclosed by which a variety of different packagings of the stacks can be realized. To minimize the manual labor a plurality of endless chain conveyors is provided, forming together a path for the stacks. The first conveyor is liftable and rotatable and acts as collector on a pallet for the sheets. After the forming of a stack on the pallet on the first conveyor the first conveyor is rotated over 90.degree. to align the runners of the pallet transversely to the travel direction of the stacks on the conveyor. At a manual packing station, the packaging is applied. Automatic strapping machines tie strips around each packed stack to complete the packaging. To provide temporary storage for the stacks in different stages, branch conveyors are provided in the form of roller conveyors.

Abstract: A bandsaw mill comprises two vertical bandwheels for receiving and guiding a bandsaw. The bandwheels are mounted on a frame for rotation about horizontally spaced-apart axes. A bridge suspends the frame above the position of a log with the axes of the bandwheels being generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the log. The log is between the bandwheels. The bandsaw mill includes a mechanism for raising and lowering the frame, a mechanism for moving the bridge longitudinally along the position of the log and clamps for securing the log in a generally horizontal position. A method of sawing the log comprises moving the log into a generally horizontal position, securing the log in the position and moving the horizontally oriented bandsaw in a longitudinal direction along the log to make horizontal cuts along the log.

Abstract: Equipment for use in washing articles such as egg trays and the like wherein the articles after being washed are moved by a conveyor to a drying zone for being picked up by a rotatable carriage by which they are lifted into a hood and rotated at high speed to discharge water or other washing liquid therefrom. The movement of the conveyor and the rotation of the carriage are coordinated to start and stop the rotation of the carriage so as to dry one article after another as it is advanced to the drying zone and onto the carriage by the conveyor. The rotatable carriage includes a system for orientation of the trays or the like for discharge to the conveyor and a brake assembly for quickly decreasing the rotational velocity of the carriage.

Abstract: A system for the alignment and orientation of disc-like objects having transport means to move the object gently onto a turntable and against an arcuate resilient stop to a centered position on the turntable; an array of non-contact sensors is advanced toward the rotational axis of the turntable until one of the sensors detects the edge of the object; the turntable is rotated until the sensors detect an indexing flat on the object; the sensor arrays advance and the turntable rotated until the sensors indicate the desired alignment and orientation of the object has been achieved. Logic circuitry controls the sensor and turntable positions automatically in response to signals received from the sensors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning an article to a predetermined position. The article is provided with a temporary orientation tab struck from the article; the tab eventually being cut off in further manufacture of the article. A reciprocating conveyor deposits the article onto a rotating slip-clutch driven mandrel to which the article is pressed by an overhead spring-biased holder. The mandrel rotates with the article until the tab on the article engages a stop on the apparatus whereupon the clutch slips and means on the conveyor clamp the article in oriented position, the conveyor lifting the article off the mandrel and advancing it to the next manufacturing station.

Abstract: Apparatus for converting a dough lump or the like into a flat, substantially circular disk, notably for making various pastry products or pizzas, pies, etc.; underlying a feed hopper is a first train of rolling rollers adapted to elongate the lump in a first direction and to deposit same onto a pivoting transfer tray having a certain inclination, the weight of said lump causing said tray to pivot so as to introduce the lump in a direction at right angles to said first direction into a second train of rolling rollers for imparting the desired, substantially circular shape to said lump and delivering the latter to a discharge chute.