Abstract: The installation comprises an endless circulating shelf plant which is divided into a plurality of individual endless bucket belts having run returning stations with horizontal run returning axis in a common plane. A shelf serving apparatus is located in front of this plane and can access every location of the shelves of the individual endless bucket belts which arrive in the mentioned plane. Due to the combination of the endless circulating shelves and the shelf serving apparatus the access time is substantially optimized by the installation which also utilizes the available space to its best.

Abstract: Apparatus for distributing veneer sheets comprises a pair of vertically-movable upper and lower relay conveyors for receiving veneer sheets from a veneer conveyor and supplying the sheets to different treating sections of different heights of a veneer treating system, such as a veneer drying system. When receiving the sheet from the veneer conveyor, each relay conveyor is horizontally aligned with the veneer conveyor. When supplying the sheet to the treating section, each relay conveyor is in a position adjacent to the section. Each relay conveyor may receive a veneer sheet while the other conveyor is supplying the sheet to the treating section.

Abstract: In an apparatus for introducing a belt-shaped material to a cutting machine, stationary conveyors are laid vertically in such a manner as to form different angles with respect to the cutting machine and combined respectively, with lift conveyors which are also laid vertically to convey belt shaped materials to the cutting machine. The lift conveyors are moved vertically by lifting means unit a desired one of the lift conveyors comes to the belt-shaped material introducing position of the cutting machine.

Abstract: A storage station for receiving workpieces from a loading conveyor belt and for sending workpieces to an unloading conveyor belt. The station has a plurality of spaced platforms mounted on a common rotatable shaft, and apparatus for adjusting the vertical position relative to the rotary platforms of the ends of the loading and unloading conveyor belts which are proximal to the station. A first guide is provided for each platform for directing workpieces riding on the outer radial region of the respective platform toward the inner radial region of that platform when the first guide is in a first position.

Abstract: The lifting down apparatus for a multi-stage shelf assembly comprises a base, a pair of arms pivotally secured to the base so as to form a parallel linking mechanism together with the base, and foldable frames having link members which connect with the arms, a plurality of rotary shelves pivotally mounted onto one of the arms of the foldable frames at their basic portions by spacing in the longitudinal direction, supporting members attached to the other arm so that they may support the free end portions of the rotary shelves, whereby when the foldable frames rise from the base, the rotary shelves separate stepwisely, and when the foldable frames fall down, the rotary shelves arrange on the same plane. Accordingly, delivery efficiency can be greatly improved.

Abstract: A lift conveyor in the form of an endless chain is mounted on a vertically extending frame and provides a down-travel side and an up-travel side. Fastened to the chain is a progression of evenly spaced shelves for reception of articles to be loaded on and discharged from the conveyor. Each shelf has opposite relatively flat low friction faces for reception of articles so that on the down-travel side of the chain one of the surfaces receives, carries and discharges articles in one direction whereas on the up-travel side it is the opposite face which receives, carries and discharges articles, and in the opposite direction. Each shelf, moreover, has a laterally tilted mounting on the chain so that articles slide by gravity action onto and off the shelf. Removable chocks are used to keep the articles from sliding off the shelf during travel and until the chock is removed at the time of discharge.

Abstract: Continuously printed forms, e.g. checks, are cut from a sheet, sequenced and fed longitudinally and horizontally so that they are overlapped. Trays are moved vertically downwardly and are laterally open so that the overlapped checks are inserted and thereby stacked in the trays. Defective forms can be removed prior to shingling and slip sheets can be inserted to designate locations at which defective forms have been removed.

Abstract: Record changing apparatus for the successive and/or selective reproduction and/or recording of records having a magazine for storing records and a loading/reproducing mechanism for receiving the records, the loading/reproducing mechanism and the magazine both being mounted for pivoting about distinct parallel axes and being driven and coordinated to provide opposite angular displacements between a plurality of fixed positions in each of which a compartment in the magazine faces the loading/reproducing mechanism for transfer of a record therebetween.

Abstract: A feeding and processing apparatus has a plurality of intermediate conveyor members disposed between upstream and downstream conveyor means, the intermediate conveyor members being vertically spaced. The feeding and processing apparatus also includes a device for vertically moving the intermediate conveyor members and a device disposed in the vicinity of at least a portion of the intermediate conveyor members for processing objects thereon.

Abstract: A cart loader assembles objects advancing along an infeed conveyor line into arrayed rows of parallel columns, and transfers these arrayed rows of columns to individual shelves of a multi-tiered rolling cart. The cart loader has an external frame enclosing a vertically elongated front elevator and a central staging zone fed by the infeed conveyor. A multi-deck elevator has decks spaced apart vertically by a distance corresponding to the vertical distance between shelves on the multi-tiered cart, latched to the frame for loading. A plurality of horizontally deployable and retractable pushers are each aligned respectively with one shelf, and positioned for delivery of objects from the elevator zone to the cart. A preferred deck-loading and cart-shelf loading sequence achieves minimum loading cycle time coupled with maximum time within each cycle for replacing each loaded cart with an empty cart for the next loading operation.

Abstract: A continuous scalloped stream of paper sheets is divided into a succession of discrete sections by an accelerating device in cooperation with one or more belt conveyors which receive the sections. The accelerating device has an elongated rubber pad attached to an endless chain conveyor which can move the pad into the path of movement of the stream of sheets toward the belt conveyor or conveyors. The belt conveyor(s) and the chain conveyor are accelerated from the speed of the advancing stream to a higher second speed as soon as the trailing end of the section which is about to be separated from the stream is engaged by the trailing end of the pad on the chain conveyor. The chain conveyor and the belt conveyor(s) are decelerated back to the speed of the stream as soon as the entire freshly formed section is transferred onto the belt conveyor(s) and before the fresh leader of the stream reaches the discharge end of the conveyor for the stream.

Abstract: A continuous or elongated stream of partially overlapping folded paper sheets is subdivided into shorter streams on the upper reach of a first endless belt or chain conveyor which can deliver the foremost shorter stream onto the upper reach of a second endless belt or chain conveyor or onto the upper reach of a first endless direction reversing conveyor, depending upon the position of a first switch which is pivotably mounted between the first and second belt or chain conveyors. A second direction reversing conveyor is mounted downstream of the second chain or belt conveyor and can receive a shorter stream from the second belt or chain conveyor by way of a second switch which is moved to a different position so as to prevent further transfer of sheets onto the second direction reversing conveyor as soon as the latter receives a complete shorter stream.

Abstract: A case lift apparatus having a case receiving platform and a powered lift cylinder operatively connected to the platform to raise and lower the same, and a pair of endless extensible belts operatively journalled on the platform in spaced parallel relation, with a horizontal course positioned slightly above the upper surface of the platform for support of cases on said platform and a lower course positioned below the platform; and a driving roll means below the platform to engage and drive the belts when the platform is at or approaching its lowered position.

Abstract: Pipe conveying apparatus is disclosed that moves pipe in steps in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe. The apparatus includes a plurality of spaced, parallel, fixed rails that have notches on their upper surface that are transversely aligned in rows. Each pipe joint extends across the fixed rails and engages a row of notches which hold the pipe joint from lateral movement along the rails. A plurality of movable rails are located parallel to the fixed rails. The movable rails also have notches on their upper surface that are transversely aligned in rows for supporting the pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively routing articles from a supply conveyor belt to an upper delivery conveyor and a lower delivery conveyor. The apparatus has first, second and third deflecting rollers about which the supply conveyor belt is successively trained. The first and second deflecting rollers are at about the same height level, while the third deflecting roller is therebelow. The first deflecting roller defines a first discharge end and an upper reach, while the third deflecting roller defines a second discharge end and a lower reach of the supply conveyor belt. The first deflecting roller can assume an advanced position in which articles advanced on the upper reach are transferred from the first discharge end onto the upper delivery conveyor and a withdrawn position in which articles advanced on the upper reach are transferred from the first discharge end onto the lower reach.

Abstract: An indexing conveyor system wherein a feed conveyor section receives items, which are rapidly dispensed from a source thereof, and transports the items, one behind the other, on a plurality of endless belts to a pivotal conveyor section. A counter counts the items moving on the pivotal conveyor section and effects rapid pivotal movement of the pivotal conveyor section when a predetermined number of items have been counted. The distal end of the pivotal conveyor section pivots between positions aligned first with one and then the other of a pair of elongated receiving conveyor sections arranged in tiers and each having a plurality of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced endless belts. A guard conveyor section closely overlies the pivotal conveyor section, is movable in unison therewith, and prevents items from being thrown off of the pivotal conveyor section when the latter pivots between its respective positions.

Abstract: An automated, tiered, egg collecting system and method for tiered confinement cage rows for poultry in which each row of confinement cages has a cage-row conveyor for delivering eggs to an end of the cage row. Under the teaching of the invention, a vertically movable, horizontally extended transport conveyor is oriented transversely of the cage row conveyors and adjacent the egg-delivery ends thereof for movement up and down to a plurality of pre-selected, egg-receiving positions. The vertically movable conveyor carries a hydraulically operated motor and drive shaft which provides driving power to each of the cage row conveyors only during the period of time when the vertically movable conveyor is in an egg-receiving position with respect to a tier of cage row conveyors. The drive motor is coupled with a drive shaft on a cage row conveyor through coacting mechanical means as a function of the position of the vertically movable conveyor relative to the delivery ends of a tier of row conveyors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an unloading rack for a heat press. The unloading rack includes an extracting device for removing product from the heat press onto a conveyer system, and the extracting device and conveyer system are connected to elevator structure for raising and lowering them in correlation to the various levels of the press. The conveyer systems includes an individual conveyer for each level of the heat press, and each individual conveyer has standard and auxiliary storing levels.

Abstract: An automatic packing line consisting of feeder conveyor belts arranged to bring products to be packed to a series of packing machines and of automatic feeder stations located along the said belts to distribute the said products selectively to the packing machines, is equipped with a recovery device installed after the last automatic feeder station to collect the products which have not been taken charge of by the said stations, a storage device for storing temporarily the products collected by the recovery device and an ejection device which evacuates the undistributed products when the storage device becomes saturated with such products.

Abstract: A reservoir for rod-like articles such as filter plugs comprises a lower hopper section for the curing of the filter plugs, an overlying upper buffer section in which the freshly produced filter plugs accumulate up to a predetermined maximum level, and elevator belts for feeding the freshly produced filter plugs into the reservoir in a zone which is located intermediately between the lower curing hopper and the upper buffer section. A substantially horizontal cover plate is movable, at the interior of the buffer section of the reservoir, in response to the variations of the level of the filter plugs in the buffer section. Suitable limit switches are operatively associated with the movable cover plate, and control the operation of the filter making machine and the delivery apparatus which receives the filter plugs from the bottom of the lower hopper section and conveys same to further processing.

Abstract: A conveying system adapted for use with a screen printing machine having an endless printing blanket for supporting and indexing a work piece during a screen printing operation. The system includes transfer apparatus disposed adjacent the discharge end of the indexing printing blanket which includes removing apparatus in the form of belt strips having gripping pins to peelingly remove the work piece from the printing blanket. Elevating apparatus for first lifting the leading edge of the work piece away from the printing blanket so as to suspend the leading edge until the work piece is advanced in a position for engagement by the gripping pins is provided such that the leading edge bridges any spacing between the discharge end of the printing blanket and the removing apparatus.

Abstract: An article dispensing apparatus is disclosed having a horizontally disposed conveyor mounted on a support for vertical movement so that the conveyor may receive articles from each of a plurality of superimposed storage shelves. A picking head for causing articles to be transferred from a shelf to the conveyor is mounted for vertical movement with the conveyor and is also supported for movement along the conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling wound rolls wherein an upper takeaway conveyor receives rolls from a source conveyor and delivers the same selectively to a plurality of diverter conveyors. Each conveyor is equipped with a plurality of spaced apart grippers including three fingers grouped two on one side of each roll and one finger on the other.

Abstract: A flow dividing mechanism for a conveyor system to change the flow of an article, e.g., a plurality of glass sheets includes (1) a first conveyor section positioned between first and second conveyors and pivotally mounted to the first conveyor to provide a first article movement path and (2) a second conveyor section pivotally mounted to an end of a third conveyor with the second conveyor section vertically spaced from the second conveyor. The free end of the first and second conveyor sections are counter balanced on an elevator mechanism for (1) simultaneously pivoting the sections toward each other to interconnect the first and third conveyors to provide a second article movement path and (2) simultaneously pivoting the sections away from each other to interconnect the first and second conveyors to provide the first article movement path.