Abstract: Repositionable stacker bar pads composed of a relatively high-strength nonmetallic material have tongue-in-groove adjoining surfaces and glass-contact surfaces which are roughsned or serrated. The high strength material and overlapping tongue-in-groove "footprint" allows rigid and reliable attachment to a metal support structure. The rough finish of the glass-contact surface minimizes thermal checking and other hot-glass article problems.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing and transporting ophthalmic lens mold sections from a mold, and generally comprising first, second, and third assemblies. The first assembly removes the lens mold sections from the mold and transports the lens mold sections to a first location, the second assembly receives the lens mold sections from the first assembly and transports the lens mold sections to a second location, and the third assembly receives the lens mold sections from the second assembly and transports the lens mold sections to a third location. Preferably, the first assembly includes a hand to receive the lens mold sections from the mold and to releasably hold the lens mold sections, and a support subassembly connected to the hand to support the hand and to move the hand between the mold and the first location.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for increasing the speed of removal of eggs from an egg-tray conveyor and unloading of the eggs onto a roller conveyor. The invention includes two or more loader head pairs, which can operate either alternatively or in tandem between the egg-tray conveyor and the roller conveyor. The loader head pairs can also be indexed. The invention allows for an increase in speed of an egg-grading machine without an increase in risk that the eggs to be graded will be damaged during removal and unloading.

Abstract: A reciprocating accumulation conveyor temporarily accumulates pressed tortillas delivered periodically from a press and delivers them onto an oven belt in a substantially continuous supply, thereby providing more uniform baking. The reciprocating accumulation conveyor has an accumulation belt which accelerates to match the speed of the press belt in the press, when the press belt moves periodically between pressing cycles, to accumulate the pressed batch of tortillas. The accumulation belt simultaneously extends partially over the prior batch moving onto the oven belt, and drops down behind the lasts row of the prior batch on the oven belt. The accumulation conveyor belt then advances at a delivery speed to transfer the tortillas onto the oven belt.

Abstract: An article accumulator is designed for use with a robotic hand. The accumulator comprises an open frame having an endless open conveyor for receiving and transporting individual aligned rows of generally flattened articles such as frozen burger patties. A receiving section of the accumulator initially receives the flattened articles in rectilinear rows. The rows of articles are then passed to a pick section of the accumulator. Operably associated with the pick section are a repositioning system and a lifting system. The repositioning system comprises an actuator, a set of plate members with vertically extending fingers, and a stop fence. The plate members are positioned below the open conveyor so that upon programmed activation, the plate members move upwardly a sufficient distance that their fingers encompass a number of articles. The fingers ensure that the articles are properly positioned. The lifting system is also positioned below the endless open conveyor holding the articles.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for transferring containers from a packaging machine to a pair of continuously moving outfeed conveyors which then route the containers to another location in the packaging facility. The packaging machine includes a vacuum cup which carries a row of container. The vacuum cup is movable to position the row of containers in place in front of a pair of pusher plates. The pusher plates are driven transversely across the vacuum cup to transfer the containers to a pair of puller plates positioned on the opposite side of the vacuum cup. As the pusher plates extend, they push the containers against sidewalls on the puller plates, aligning the cartons in rows running parallel to the outfeed conveyors. The puller plates then move transversely to align the rows of cartons with the outfeed conveyor. Once the puller plates are aligned with the conveyors, an unloader mechanism pushes in the containers onto the outfeed conveyors.

Abstract: The problem of unevenness of bottle temperatures at the entry of slow annealing furnace due to the variation of time periods necessary for respective bottles discharged from an IS bottle manufacturing machine to reach the annealing furnace has been solved by an equalization of the time periods. For this purpose, the bottle discharging order from the IS bottle manufacturing machine is controlled and use is made of two conveyors having different running speeds and/or direction of running. As a result, a precise temperature control in the Hot-End-Coating apparatus provided upstream from the annealing furnace can be carried out owing to the equalized temperatures of bottles entering into the annealing furnace.

Abstract: Process and device for conveying objects on transport pallets along a circuit by altering the spacing (e, E) between the objects in order to pass through at least one work station (2, 3). The spacing is altered by longitudinally separating the pallets (4) in order to pass from a first interval, which can be non-existent, to a second interval (X) which can be adjusted. For this purpose, a station (7) is provided which laterally transfers groups of pallets (29, 39, 31, 32) between two sections of parallel tracks (5, 6). The groups are transversally separated stepwise by a ram (17), the pallets of a group (30) are then separated by engaging elements (22, 23) and driven together by a comb mechanism (26). Application in manufacturing, assembly or processing plants using pallet conveying mechanism, especially for the manufacture of containers blow-moulded from preforms.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process and an apparatus for transporting pack rows. When a pack string (12) formed from several superposed rows (13, 14, 15, 16) of cuboid packs (10) is transported, it is required to compensate misalignments of the individual rows (13 . . 16). A correct relative position is to be ensured in order to permit a transverse transfer of pack groups (11) formed from a portion of the pack string (12). A row which lies behind in the transport direction is conveyed further by an associated additional conveyor in the form of conveyor belts (28) until it reaches the correct relative position. The adjustment of the rows (13 . . 16) is carried out at the end of a conveying cycle, when the pack string (12) runs up against a stop (guide 18). A row which lies behind is conveyed further by the conveyor belts (28) until it contacts the stop.

Abstract: Empty bottle cases that are to have filled and capped bottles inserted in them and cases filled with returned bottles are simultaneously fed to the machine on individual conveyor belts. Filled and capped bottles are fed to the machine on another individual conveyor belt and still another conveyor belt conducts the empty returned bottles away. A plurality of bottle handling heads on which there are bottle grippers are driven along a predetermined path for gripping bottles in a sequence that involves removing returned contaminated bottles from cases on one conveyor belt and transferring the bottles to another conveyor belt for discharge from the machine while at the same time, capped bottles come in on a conveyor belt and are picked up by a head and transferred to another conveyor belt where they are inserted into the empty cases that are moving on a conveyor belt.

Abstract: A brick dehacking apparatus is disclosed. The dehacker is operable to vary the number of rows of brick and number of brick in a row of brick courses removed from a kiln car and selectively combine and alternate courses of brick removed from at least two kiln cars in preparation for stacking and straping.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for distributively feeding a plurality of winding bobbins to predetermined locations, wherein the winding bobbins can simultaneously be fitted onto a rotational shaft without the necessity for large-sized equipment. The apparatus includes a distributing section to which a plurality of winding bobbins are fed while arranged in side-by-side relationship as seen in the axial direction. The distributing section includes a plurality of inclined surfaces so as to allow the winding bobbins to be supported from below. After the winding bobbins are placed on the inclined surfaces, they are distributively fed to the predetermined location along the inclined surfaces in the specifically determined direction.

Abstract: The problem of unevenness of bottle temperatures at the entry of slow annealing furnace due to the variation of time periods necessary for respective bottles discharged from an IS bottle manufacturing machine to reach the annealing furnace has been solved by an equalization of said time periods. For this purpose, the bottle discharging order from the IS bottle manufacturing machine is controlled and use is made of two conveyors having different running speeds and/or direction of running. As a result, a precise temperature control in the Hot-End-Coating apparatus provided upstream from the annealing furnace can be carried out owing to the equalized temperatures of bottles entering into the annealing furnace.

Abstract: A packaging machine for round bakery products such as bagels and English muffins. The products are conveyed flatly side by side in successive transverse rows which are delivered by an infeed belt conveyor. The infeed conveyor discharges the products into open top chutes equipped with deflector rods located off center in the chutes. The products are rotationally deflected by the deflector rods to an edge down position. The chutes discharge the bakery products onto a packaging conveyor which receives the products in each group on edge and oriented face to face in a stack which can be conveniently packaged. Each deflector rod can be situated in two different alternative positions offset on opposite sides of the transverse center of the bakery product. This allows the faces of the products in each package to be oriented as desired.

Abstract: A bottle loader and method for loading bottles onto shelves on a rack. The bottle loader has a carrier car rotatably supported on a frame. The bottles are placed in a vertical position and urged onto the carrier car. The bottles are then rotated on the carrier car from the vertical position to a horizontal position while horizontally aligning the bottles with the shelf on the rack. Once the bottles are aligned, they are urged off of the carrier car and onto the rack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring discrete articles at a receiving and packing station from a randomly supplied conveyor having articles with a plurality of characteristics to a take away conveyor having articles with only certain selected characteristics out of the plurality of characteristics. At each receiving and packing station, the articles having the selected characteristics are transferred from the supply conveyor to a collecting device to form therein a completed row of a certain number of articles. An endless transfer conveyor has a plurality of rows of article holders, each of which, at one point in its travel, is positioned to receive a completed row of articles from the collecting device. The collecting device will deliver a complete row of articles only into an empty row of holders in the transfer conveyor. The transfer conveyor then transfers a completed row of articles to containers on a take away conveyor.

Abstract: A hydrostatic cooker discharge apparatus includes a flight conveyor, a first belt conveyor and a second belt conveyor. The flight conveyor sequentially receives horizontally oriented sticks of containers from a cooker. The first belt conveyor in conjunction with the flight conveyor transports the stick containers to a waterfall structure whereat the containers are reoriented to an upright position and are individually placed on the second belt conveyor for removal from the cooker area.

Abstract: A device by which commodities emerging in single file from a supply unit are formed into groups and transferred to a wrapping machine includes feed belts, by which the single commodities are directed from the supply unit to a transfer station, a traversing system by which rows of the commodities are diverted repeatedly from the single file at right angles to the initial feed direction, a conveyor belt moving in a direction parallel to that of the single file and by which the formed groups are transferred toward the wrapping machine, and a plurality of bays provided by the conveyor belt. Each bay is designed to accommodate a plurality of the rows diverted to accommodate a plurality of the rows diverted in succession from the single file of commodities and making up one group.

Abstract: A multi-drop container discharge system receives frangible containers from carriers of an articulating hydrostatic cooker and discharges the containers into carriers of an intermittently driven indexing conveyor. Free fall of the frangible containers is minimized by first delaying free-fall from the hydrostatic cooker carriers and thereafter preventing free-fall to the bottom of the truncated V-shaped carriers of an indexing conveyor.

Abstract: There is set forth a rotating wheel transfer mechanism for transferring items, but in particular bakery items, from one conveyor belt to another conveyor belt. Combined with the conveyor belt mechanism there can be a gate arrangement to assist in aligning the conveyed items. In addition, the wheel transfer mechanism can be heated or cooled in order to respectively heat or cool the items being conveyed. The net result is that the items can be transferred from one conveyor belt to another conveyor belt with less damage to the particular items.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus for regrouping articles from parallel-arranged first columns to form parallel-arranged second columns includes a first conveyor carrying the first columns of articles; two horizontally spaced endless carrier elements circulating in a closed path having an ascending zone extending upwardly from the first conveyor and a horizonal zone; consecutively arranged article support members extending between the two carrier elements transversely thereto and each having opposite ends pivotally supported by the carrier elements to be advanced thereby through the ascending and horizontal zones; an actuating device for pivoting the article support members into a first pivotal position to support articles and for pivoting approximately simultaneously a plurality of the article support members in the horizontal zone into a second pivotal position in which the article support members are inclined such as to cause the articles to slide off therefrom; and a second conveyor extending below the article support

Abstract: An improved transfer mechanism for extracting and transporting plants from a high density incubating tray to a singulated constant velocity conveyed path in which each plant is gripped by planting fingers is disclosed. The planter is moved across a field at relatively constant velocity and has the planting fingers conventionally depositing the plant upright and stationary with respect to the passing ground where they are covered by conventional furrowing and packing apparatus. The conveying planting fingers are serially mounted on an endless conveyor and hence pass the vicinity of the incubating tray from which extraction and transfer of the plants must occur at a relatively constant velocity. A tray extraction mechanism is provided which includes a tray conveyor, plant extractor plugs and a tray extraction reciprocation apparatus. The tray extraction reciprocation apparatus functions to oscillate the tray conveyor and plant extractors parallel to the path of the planting fingers.

Abstract: An improved transfer mechanism for extracting and transporting plants from a high density incubating tray to a singulated constant velocity conveyed path in which each plant is gripped by planting fingers is set forth. The planter is moved across a field at relatively constant velocity and has the planting fingers conventionally depositing the plant upright and stationary with respect to the passing ground where they are covered by conventional furrowing and packing apparatus. The conveying planting fingers are serially mounted on an endless conveyor and hence pass the vicinity of the incubating tray from which extraction and transfer of the plants must occur at a relatively constant velocity. A tray extraction mechanism is provided which includes a tray conveyor, plant extractor plugs and a tray extraction reciprocation apparatus. The tray extraction reciprocation apparatus functions to oscillate the tray conveyor and plant extractors parallel to the path of the planting fingers.

Abstract: A conveyor system for positioning slices of meat or other foodstuffs by converting M input streams of products into N output streams of products where M is an integer greater than one and N is an integer not equal to M comprises an input conveyor (15, 55) for conveying M input streams and an output conveyor (16,58) for conveying N output streams. It also includes a multi-element strip conveyor (17, 18, 56, 57) having its upstream input end arranged to receive products (P) from an input stream and having its downstream end arranged to move laterally to deposit products from the input stream into an output stream shifted laterally with respect to the input stream. The conveying elements (37, 41, 67) of the multi-element strip conveyor (17, 18, 56, 57) are arranged to conform as its downstream and moves laterally.

Abstract: Fragile objects such as items of fruit are transferred from a receptacle conveyor to a transport belt by a rotary brush transverse to the conveyor and having bristles allowing formation of a cavity in the brush to receive the object when it falls from its receptacle, and a fixed brush facing the rotary brush to hold the object in its cavity until the object is deposited, without horizontal velocity, on the transport belt.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for conveying newly formed, hot bottles from the forming machine to an annealing lehr which is conventionally positioned with its lehr mat or belt running in a direction parallel to the movement of the transfer conveyor. The transfer conveyor surface is driven at a first speed as it passes in front of the multiple section glass forming machine. After passing the machine sections, the conveyor, made of a plurality of horizontal links, has the individual, successive links moved closer together to, in effect, shorten the length of the link belt conveyor. This shortening is the result of the drive for the link belt conveyor being discontinued just after the belt is engaged from beneath by a magnetic link belt chain driven at a slower speed. The chain is guided in a first straight line parallel to the machine conveyor direction and then guided through a 90.degree. arc to pass in front of the lehr so the bottles can be transferred from the conveyor surface to the lehr mat with a lehr loader.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rearranging a plurality of baking articles which are transported in successive transverse rows on a first conveyor onto a second conveyor extending at an angle to the first conveyor in which successive transverse rows of the articles are lifted from the first conveyor by suction cups on an endless suction belt and conveyed above the second conveyor where the transverse rows of articles form longitudinal rows above the second conveyor. The suction applied to the articles is interrupted when the articles are positioned above the second conveyor so that the articles are deposited onto the second conveyor and are transported thereby so that the articles previously arranged in the transverse rows on the first conveyor are transported in longitudinal rows on the second conveyor.

Abstract: When it is desired to single consecutive filled wafer slices, which are advanced with abutting trailing and leading faces, respectively, so that the singled wafer slices are ultimately spaced apart, a separation between consecutive wafer slices is to be effected in time even if the wafer slices are filled with cream so that their filling layers will strongly adhere to each other. This can be ensured in that a transfer device is provided between a feeding conveyor for advancing consecutive wafer slices abutting at their trailing and leading faces, respectively, and a delivering conveyor for advancing the rows of wafer slices on a delivery plane, which is vertically spaced from the feeding plane, on which the wafer slices are advanced by the feeding conveyor, and the transfer device pulls each leading wafer slice from the next succeeding wafer slice and moves the pulled-off wafer slice to the delivery plane.

Abstract: A dividing device used in a commodity collecting device which aligns a predetermined number of commodities successively supplied by a conveyance conveyor and continually pushes them out sideways by a sideway pusher to regularly collect commodities on a stock yard, the dividing device including a floor onto which the collected commodity group is discharged by a discharge pusher, the floor being divided into front and rear floors with respect to the moving direction of the discharge pusher, the front floor on which a part of the commodities on the stock yard is discharged being designed to move in the same direction as the moving direction of the discharge pusher so as to separate only a part of the commodities, and rear pusher engagable with the rear end of the commodity group being provided above the stationary rear floor so that the remaining part of the commodities may be pushed out onto the front floor from which the commodities have been discharged.

Abstract: A pick-and-place machine having magnetic elements which hold down the chips at the pick stations, thus preventing shingling, and also hold such chips at the pick stations adjacent a stop element. The magnetic elements create magnetic forces in two directions relative to chip elements having magnetizable terminal portions. The magnetic elements are provided in combination with feed apparatus that is adapted to stop, when the associated groove is full of chips, rather than causing the machine to jam.

Abstract: Two cigarette making machines discharge discrete files of coaxial plain cigarettes which are moved axially in parallel guides, and successive foremost cigarettes in each guide are engaged and accelerated by a discrete rotating cam which propels the cigarettes into the oncoming axially parallel peripheral flutes of a rotating drum-shaped conveyor. Each flute receives a cigarette from each of the two guides and the distance between a pair of neighboring flutes on the conveyor exceeds the distance between the two files of cigarettes.

Abstract: A conveyance system which adjusts the quantitative rate at which items are conveyed independently of the linear velocity at which items are conveyed while the conveyance operation is on-going, is disclosed. The conveyance system includes a roller section that receives the items being conveyed at a first conveyance velocity, a positioning device that moves the items lateral to the direction of conveyance, a control device that controls the rate of operation of the positioning device, and a second roller section that includes a gear box which adjusts the linear conveyance velocity of and the spacing between the items being conveyed.

Abstract: An egg handling system for an egg grader in which eggs carried by a conveyor in spaced-apart, aligned pairs are released at a receiving station into at least one rotating resilient cylinder for transfer to an egg packer. A support member is disposed below the rotating cylinder for guiding eggs delivered to the cylinder downwardly and away from the cylinder to the egg packer.

Abstract: An egg transfer system suitable for advancing eggs in an egg grader from a candling station to a weighing station at which the eggs are each deposited and individually weighed. The grade of each individual egg is recorded after which the eggs are advanced to a lifting apparatus adapted to rotatably lift and transfer the eggs to a conveying conveyor for delivery to predetermined packers disposed downstream thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring articles, such as eggs, from one station to another. The eggs are arranged in a predetermined configuration at the first or transfer station, and deposited at a second station in a different array or configuration. The transfer head, which contains egg engaging and lifting members in the form of vacuum cups, includes a first and second carrier section, each of which retains one-half of the array or egg engaging positions. The carrier sections are interconnected by linkage members which, when rotated, change the array configuration from a first position to a second position without the need for rotating the entire transfer head and the articles being carried.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for turning a conveyor at a relatively sharp angle within a very narrow longitudinal path. The apparatus includes an egg delivery conveyor positioned above an egg receiving conveyor with apertures in the bottom of the delivery conveyor adapted to allow eggs to pass downward therethrough to be received and maintained in rows on the receiving conveyor. Each aperture may include a ramp member therebelow to guide movement of the egg onto the receiving conveyor. The preferred configuration of the delivery conveyor includes a plurality of primary springs arranged usually in groups of six about a rod which extends laterally across the delivery conveyor. The rod is driven and thereby provides the source of drive for the delivery conveyor. Each primary spring includes a secondary spring secured with respect to the rod for pivotal movement with respect thereto. The bracket connecting the primary and secondary springs includes a cam thereon which follows a track in the delivery conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling bottles, especially for handling bottles which are discharged from a treatment machine in which the bottles are discharged in groups from the treatment machine, each group consisting of a row of adjacent bottles discharged from the machine in a direction perpendicular to the length of the row. A conveyor extending at an angle of about 95 degrees to the direction of movement of each row is disclosed adjacent the treatment machine. The rows of bottles are successively discharged from the treatment machine to the conveyor and are deposited on the conveyor in rows which are parallel and spaced and which extend from side to side of the conveyor at an acute angle to the direction of movement of the conveyor. The conveyor is advantageously formed of a plurality of parallel belts having a common drive.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically transferring elongated rows of articles from an oven hearth conveyor moving continuously in a first direction essentially normal to the longitudinal axes of the rows of articles thereon includes an outfeed conveyor continuously moving in a second direction disposed at an obtuse angle to the first direction and having a lateral width substantially less than the length of a row of articles. An endless transfer conveyor extends between the hearth and outfeed conveyors and carries thereon pickup mechanism mounted for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axes of the rows of articles for engaging and lifting a row of articles from the hearth conveyor and carrying it in a level upright condition to the outfeed conveyor without changing the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the row of articles. Cam-actuated unloading means at the outfeed conveyor engage the row of articles for removing them from the pickup means and holding them on the outfeed conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for the packaging of comestibles and other materials in individual cup-shaped containers has a cup-discharge station at the end of a conveyor at which the filled cups are removed from respective receptacles in the conveyor. Individual lifting plates below the conveyor raise the cups into an array of grippers which are relatively displaceable in two mutually perpendicular directions so that, when the array is displaced from alignment with the lifter plates, the inter-cup spacing can be reduced.

Abstract: A counting and grouping apparatus for receiving articles such as fruit, marshalling the articles so as to fill up a number of parallel supply lines for presenting a number of the articles in line abreast in the leading positions in the supply lines, the number in the line abreast being equal to (or a fraction or multiple of) the number of articles to be counted into a group and a moving belt conveyor bearing at intervals along its length lines of fingers in line abreast across the belt, which fingers align with the leading position of the supply lines and shift the line of articles in said leading positions onto the conveyor belt as the fingers pass the exit ends of the supply lines. Gates are described for blocking one or more of the supply lines to control the number.The fingers have an upright operating position for picking off the articles and a non-operating position folded down on to the belt.

Abstract: The sequential formation of load patterns of certain configurations requires the removal from the pattern forming area of odd containers from between the patterns, as the patterns are automatically formed. To accomplish this, a reject conveyor, directed transversely to the direction of movement of the main feed conveyor, is located in the pattern forming area at the interface between the formed pattern and the pattern next to be formed. The containers are conveyed into the pattern forming area by the main conveyor such that the trailing edge of a first set of containers (formed load pattern), the leading edge of a second set of containers (load pattern next to be formed) and a third set of containers, comprising the containers between the load patterns (to be rejected), are situated on the reject conveyor.

Abstract: Small articles, such as miniature ceramics having integrated circuits bonded thereon, are adjacently positioned with an initial row orientation in parallel first rows in guide tracks having a first row spacing. The first articles in each track are lifted from the tracks by a transfer arm, having rotatable vacuum pickups, along a line angular to the tracks such that the articles have a predetermined second row spacing measured along the transfer arm. The lifted articles are transferred to second rows of vacuum supports therefor by pivoting movement of the arm. The supports have pedestals in columns transverse to the second rows which are indexed into position for repeated transfer of articles thereto to form an array (or matrix) of articles having the second spacing between the second rows of the articles on the supports. A link mechanism is provided to rotate the vacuum pickups and re-establish the initial row orientation of the articles with respect to the second rows.

Abstract: An all purpose indexing device primarily for interrupting the motion of baking pans on a continuously moving conveyor, the baking pans having spaced indentations therein, comprising a U-shaped index bar pivotally mounted to fixed portion of the conveyor frame having a central crosspiece disposed across the conveyor, at least two indexing fingers extending downwardly from the crosspiece toward the conveyor and engagable with the indentations of a baking pan. Air cylinders are connected between the U-shaped index bar and the fixed portion of the conveyor frame at points adjacent respective lateral ends of the index bar. A sensing rod is pivotally mounted to the conveyor frame and disposed parallel to the index bar. A sensing finger is connected adjacent the middle of the sensing rod and extends downwardly towards the conveyor.

Abstract: In a dough panning device, the dough piece orienter and intermediate guide sheet are mounted to permit longitudinal sliding movement along guide bars so that when the delivery end of the conveyor belt is moved to tension the belt these apparatus will maintain a proper relationship thereto. Also provided are adjustable side guides for the baking pans which may be individually adjusted laterally by means of parallel mounting links which are maintained in adjusted positions by friction clutches.