Abstract: A motor-less leg-powered curved treadmill produced that allows people to walk, jog, run, and sprint without making any adjustments to the treadmill other than shifting the user's center of gravity forward and backwards. A closed loop treadmill belt running between front and rear pulley rollers is formed with a low friction running surface of transverse aluminum, wooden, plastic, rubber or carbon fiber slats attached to each other in a resilient fashion. Since an essential feature of treadmill is the concave shape of the running surface of belt in its respective upper portion, the treadmill configurations insure that this shape is maintained during actual use. These configurations prevent the concave upper running surface portion from being pulled taut into a flat shape between the front and rear pulley rollers.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for performing exercises to strengthen, e.g., the transversus abdominis and related muscles. The systems and methods may involve one or more independent belts, allowing a full range of continuous motion. The systems and methods may further use a resistance-control mechanism that allows a user to adjust the force required to move the one or more belts, thereby controlling the rate of motion in the forward and/or backward directions. The systems and methods may further use a unidirectional resistance mechanism that allows the user to increase the resistance of the one or more belts in one direction, while allowing the one or more belts to move freely in the other direction.

Abstract: A transport system with a transport track with at least one passive track switch, which includes a main track and first and second diverging side tracks of the transport track, and at least one transport element with a response element with at least one permanent magnet and/or non-switching electromagnet. The transport track has fixed first and second guide rails in the area of the passive track switch as well as linear motor strings that are arranged in parallel to the first and second guide rail. The response element of the transport element is engaged within a gap between the first and the second linear motor string.

Abstract: A device for singulating and passing on upright containers preferably comprises a feed device for transporting the containers in a single row and a singulation unit having a first star wheel and a second star wheel, each of which comprises receiving pockets to accept, when in a first and second receiving position, the containers being transported to them and to transport these containers to a first and second discharge position. The star wheels comprise parallel rotational axes but opposite rotational directions. In addition, the device comprises a pusher unit, which comprises at least one plunger, which, in the area of the first and second discharge position, is movable back and forth in a direction parallel to the rotational axes of the star wheels and through the associated receiving pockets to push the containers out of the receiving pockets of the star wheels and into product holders.

Abstract: A specimen transport system with magnetic damping and method for transporting specimens with magnetic damping are disclosed. A conveyance device transports sample carriers configured to carry specimen containers. One or more of the sample carriers include magnets. The system may also include a diverting arm having a magnet. When a first sample carrier is transported toward a second sample carrier, a first sample carrier magnet coupled to the first sample carrier repels a second sample carrier magnet coupled to the second sample carrier. When a sample carrier is transported toward a diverting arm, a diverting arm magnet of the diverting arm repels a sample carrier magnet of the sample carrier.

Abstract: A specimen transport system with magnetic damping and method for transporting specimens with magnetic damping are disclosed. A conveyance device transports sample carriers configured to carry specimen containers. One or more of the sample carriers include magnets. The system may also include a diverting arm having a magnet. When a first sample carrier is transported toward a second sample carrier, a first sample carrier magnet coupled to the first sample carrier repels a second sample carrier magnet coupled to the second sample carrier. When a sample carrier is transported toward a diverting arm, a diverting arm magnet of the diverting arm repels a sample carrier magnet of the sample carrier.

Abstract: An automated feeder transports pastry product dishes and/or moulds and includes a movable headstock arranged transversely above a first conveyor. The headstock includes an upper plate, a main linear actuator attached thereto, a lower mobile plate extendable by the main linear actuator, and a plurality of magnetic elements attached to the lower mobile plate. The magnetic elements hold a plurality of metallic plates in a predetermined arrangement. The headstock also includes at least two secondary vertical linear actuators disposed on the upper plate for actuating a releasing mechanism to dislodge the dishes from the magnetic elements and a transportation mechanism to provide longitudinal movement along a pair of longitudinal rails. The transportation mechanism permits the headstock to move between a first position over the first conveyor to a second position over a second.

Abstract: A reciprocating rod of the ejector is borne in a non-sliding state by permanent magnets on the reciprocating rod and permanent magnets surrounding the reciprocating rod. The reciprocating rod linearly projects out and retracts by the reciprocating components which cause the reciprocating rod to reciprocate by the driving signals from the driver circuit. A slanted surface is provided at the foremost end of the reciprocating rod. When the granular objects to be ejected flow-in continuously, the projecting-out action takes place correspondingly with the leading granular object to be ejected and, after the following granular object(s) to be ejected has been ejected, the retracting action takes place.

Abstract: The deviating device (26, 26′) for feeding transport items (12) occurring on the first rail track (14) to the second or third rail track (16, 18), which is arranged at an angle (&agr;, &agr;′) with respect to the first rail track (14), are arranged lying radially on the inside with respect to the bend of the transitional region between the first rail track (14) and the second or third rail track (16, 18). They have a conveying disk (28), driven continuously in rotation, and a coupling means (56), designed as a lamellar wheel (42). The lamellae (42′) of the lamellar wheel (42) can be transferred in a controlled manner into a clamping position, in order to firmly clamp a transport item (12) between them and the conveying disk (28) and lead it through the deviating region.

Abstract: In order to separate tin can bodies carried by a first conveyor belt at a high speed, a second conveyor belt is taken close to the first conveyor belt and individual bodies are transferred from the first conveyor belt to the second conveyor belt. It is thus possible to separate a sequence of tin bodies into two sequences, thus facilitating further processing. The process can also be reversed to form a single sequence from two sequences.

Abstract: In order to separate tin can bodies carried by a first conveyor belt at a high speed, a second conveyor belt is taken close to the first conveyor belt and individual bodies are transferred from the first conveyor belt to the second conveyor belt. It is thus possible to separate a sequence of tin bodies into two sequences, thus facilitating further processing. The process can also be reversed to form a single sequence from two sequences.

Abstract: In order to separate can bodies carried by a first conveyor belt at a high speed, a second conveyor belt is taken close to the first conveyor belt and individual bodies are transferred from the first conveyor belt to the second conveyor belt. It is thus possible to separate a sequence of tin bodies into two sequences, thus facilitating further processing. The process can also be reversed to form a single sequence of bodies from two sequences.

Abstract: A novel moveable surface conveyor system, especially used as an exercise treadmill is disclosed. The surface is comprised of a plurality of deck members, each pivotally attached to the adjacent deck member, thus creating a continuous loop with an upper run and a lower run. At least the upper run of the loop is supported on a pair of side frames by a support means which is comprised of a series of wheels or bearings. Annular configurations of the support means exist at one or both ends of the treadmill to facilitate the transition of the deck members from the upper run to the lower run and back to the upper run. These configurations include a race that receives the bearings, the bearings being attached to the deck members or the bearings can be mounted on the side frames. Here the bearings receive and thereby support and guide the deck members, thus eliminating the traditional drum pulleys which are prevalent in the art.

Abstract: A cartridge shell plate stacking apparatus has a plurality of arms circulating along an annular cam rail. Each arm has a magnet in its distal end. The cam rail lowers the distal end of the arm in a pick-up station to cause the magnet to attract one of the cartridge shell plates successively conveyed on a bucket conveyer and hold the shell plate in the horizontal state with plush ribbons stuck on the upside surfaces. The cam rail also lowers the distal end of the arm in a piling station wherein a piling box having a cut-out formed in the top edge of a side wall is disposed. Although the distal end passes through the cut-out, the cartridge shell plate cannot pass and strikes against the side wall, thereby to drop into the piling box.

Abstract: A tube transport assembly is provided for individually transporting tubes of the type onto which yarn is wound on a textile machine. The tube transport assembly includes magnetic components for guiding and transporting the tube support members along a transport path by magnetic interaction with ferromagnetic portions of the tube support members. The magnetic components can be configured as electromagnets or as permanent magnets. The transport path includes a junction at which the tube support members can be individually branched onto a branch path and a magnetic component is positioned adjacent the junction for selectively magnetically engaging the tube support members to guide the tube support members along to selected branch paths. A vertical transport component includes magnetically active carrier members mounted on an endless belt and is operable to magnetically engage and carry the tube support members vertically.

Abstract: A lane divider for the conveying of can body cylinders maintains the cylinders in line-ahead formation and in a predetermined orientation, e.g. with their welded side seams uppermost, by maintaining a positive hold on each cylinder at all times during its travel along a feed path and during transfer from the feed path to, and subsequent travel along, a plurality of downstream paths selected by a sequential control unit responsive to the arrival of a cylinder in the feed path. Control of cylinder orientation is obtained by an array of magnets along each path; these include electromagnets in the region of the junction of the paths. Path selection is obtained by selective energisation of the electromagnets.

Abstract: Elongated magnetic diodes 12 are removed from a carrier 20 having a periphery along which the diodes 12 are advanced. A magnetic bin 75 has spaced sidewalls 76 and 77 extending to either side of the periphery of carrier 20. There is established between and transverse to the sidewalls a first magnetic field of sufficient strength to remove the diodes 12 from along a first distance at a first location on carrier 20. There is provided a movable retention mechanism 70 for optionally magnetically retaining the diodes 12 on carrier 20 as such diodes 12 are advanced along and beyond the first location and over a second distance to a second location. Mechanism 70 has a magnetic member 93 fixedly disposed along the second distance and a movable magnetic member 95 of sufficient length to retain the diodes 12 along the first distance. Member 95 is pivotally mounted to member 93 and member 95 is disposed in a normally inactive position within carrier 20.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing liquid from or evenly distributing liquid over magnetically attractible articles by using centrifugal forces. The articles are fed to a non-magnetic rotating drum, a helical series of magnets being arranged inside the drum adjacent the inner surface thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for classifying photographic prints which are severed from the leader of a downwardly moving web of exposed and developed photographic paper has side walls which define a downwardly extending channel whose upper end constitutes an inlet for descending prints and whose lower end has two or more discrete outlets. The channel contains one or more blade-like switching members which are movable between several positions to thereby establish paths for descent of sheets from the inlet into a selected outlet. The switching member or members are movable between such positions by electromagnets which are installed externally of the channel and each of which can attract or release one or more swtiching members. The channel can be mounted on a pivotable carrier which can move at least one outlet between two different positions for admission of prints which descend through such outlet into either of two discrete receptacles.

Abstract: A conveyor with laterally deflectable article transporting pallets is disclosed in which the pallets are mounted on a carriage-like structure having wheels which run in and are guided by heavy duty channels.