Abstract: The retaining element is extended from a carousel disk in the plane of the disk and holds a bottle to be retained by the carousel essentially only at one point (T). The retaining element can be provided with an easily exchangeable finger part thus permitting quick and easy adaptation to different bottle sizes. As the retaining element swings out against the bottle without touching it during the swinging action, there is no risk of damage to the bottle.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying and forming a single row of articles into a plurality of rows of articles includes a starwheel receiving articles from an infeed conveyor and which is rotated by the articles. A diverter is rotated through a connection with the starwheel and receives articles from the starwheel. The diverter moves two out of three of the received articles to intermediate conveyors disposed on opposed sides of the diverter. These diverted rolls form two rows on an outfeed conveyor along with a third row of articles which were not diverted.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus for rod-shaped articles, such as cigarettes, comprising a housing rotatably mounted to a fixed main shaft with a plurality of cooperating crank arms and article holders rotatably mounted to the housing by crank arm shafts and holder shafts. The crank arms and article holders are rotated in response to rotation of the housing by means of a plurality of endless toothed belts cooperating between toothed pulleys on the main shaft and the crank arm shafts and a plurality of endless toothed belts cooperating between toothed pulleys on the main shaft and on the holder shafts.

Abstract: Infeed apparatus for multi-level delivery of convolutely wound logs which includes a plurality of log supporting wheels rigidly mounted on a cross shaft with each of the wheels having a periphery interrupted by a plurality circumferentially spaced inwardly extending pockets, alternate of the pockets being constructed for upper level delivery and the remaining for lower level delivery, each of the pockets having a trailing rear wall extending radially outward and a forwardly extending flat wall, the lower level pockets additionally having a generally radially extending forward, leading wall.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and process for conveying a printed object, such as a printed bottle. The apparatus comprises a vacuum pump for supplying a vacuum and a rotationally driven central shaft operably associated with the vacuum pump. The central shaft has a bore therethrough for carrying a vacuum. A rotary disc is mounted on the central shaft for rotation therewith for conveying the printed object sequentially from a receipt station to a discharge station. The rotary disc has a front face, a back face and an internal vacuum chamber for carrying a vacuum. The internal vacuum chamber is in communication with the central shaft's bore and the vacuum pump. Additionally, the front face has at least one vacuum port. A valve system is preferably associated with the vacuum port for controlling the delivery of the vacuum to the vacuum port so that suction created by the vacuum picks-up the object at the receipt station.

Abstract: A continuous motion cylindrical can decorator is provided with mandrels that receive undecorated cans and a deco chain that carries decorated cans through a curing oven. The mandrels are mounted along the periphery of a continuously rotating carrier. Chain speed is much slower than linear mandrel speed and spacing between pins on the chain is much less than spacing between mandrels. Interposed between the chain and the mandrel carrier is a continuously rotating transfer carrier having a plurality of suction holding devices thereto. As the holding devices move through a transfer region they are in single file and receive cans that are blown from the mandrels. In the transfer region mandrel linear speed is substantially greater than linear speed of the holding devices, and spacing between the latter is much less than spacing between mandrels As the loaded suction holding devices move downstream through a pickup region cans thereon are loaded on two rows of pins carried by the deco chain.

Abstract: A continuous motion cylindrical can decorator is provided with mandrels that receive undecorated cans and a deco chain that carries decorated cans through a curing oven. The mandrels are mounted along the periphery of a continuously rotating carrier. Chain speed is much slower than linear mandrel speed and spacing between pins on the chain is much less than spacing between mandrels. Interposed between the chain and the mandrel carrier is a continuously rotating transfer carrier having a plurality of suction holding devices thereto. As the holding devices move through a transfer region they are in single file and receive cans that are blown from the mandrels. In the transfer region mandrel linear speed is substantially greater than linear speed of the holding devices, and spacing between the latter is much less than spacing between the mandrels.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for transferring containers, such as bottles, comprising an endless conveying on which the containers freely rest to be transferred successively from a feed transporter by a first indexer. A second indexer is provided for transferring the containers from said conveyor to a first processing station, the two indexer being synchronized with the movement of active members of this processing station.

Abstract: A device for conveying articles comprises a carousel structure with entrainment elements which can make the articles follow a generally arcuate path between an angular input position and at least one angular output position. The entrainment elements are raised above the plane of sliding of the articles at the latter position, leaving the articles free to be conveyed towards at least one output conveyor.

Abstract: A rotatably driven star plate having turn-bolt mechanisms arranged on its outer periphery adjacent each container pocket. Each mechanism has a housing that is fastened to the star plate, the housing being provided with a bearing bore directed to the periphery of the star plate, a shaft that can rotate 90.degree. in the bearing bore between two limits, a turn-bolt that is rigidly fixed to the outer shaft end that projects from the housing and the outer periphery of the star plate, and a switching arrangement that contacts the shaft and can be forcibly actuated by means of an actuation device.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for transferring articles fed on a single track onto several discharge tracks. Where packaging machines are concerned, there is often the need for articles, especially (small) packs (10), preferably conveyed in close succession on a feed track (11), to be distributed to several, especially two tracks leading further (discharge tracks 12, 13). For the efficient continuous allocation of the packs (10) to two discharge tracks (12, 13), there is a distributor drum (15), on the circumference of which the continuously conveyed packs (10) are shifted sideways during conveyance and at the same time are aligned with the parallel discharge tracks (12, 13) arranged at a distance from one another. The continuously rotating distributor drum makes it possible to allocate the packs to several discharge tracks without interrupting the feed flow.

Abstract: An item transfer apparatus has a first conveyor for advancing items thereon in a first advancing direction; a second conveyor for advancing items thereon in a second advancing direction; and a rotatable transfer device having a rotary axis and a pushing member arranged for motion across the first conveyor for displacing items from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. The rotary axis lies in a plane oriented parallel to the conveying plane of the first conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically supplying long-continuous blanks comprises a hopper formed with a front wall having a V-shaped cut-off, a rear wall and an open bottom portion; a disk provided at its circumferential portion with at least one notch to receive a single blank, the disk being rotatable with an angular rotation of 90 degrees; and rollers and drum rollers for transferring the single blank to a subsequent machining station. The apparatus may further be provided with a pusher for pushing up and down the blanks in the hopper and a sensor interlinked with the pusher for carrying out efficiently the feeding operation of the blanks.

Abstract: A transfer system for transferring decorated containers, having images of wet ink on the outer peripheries thereof, from a first container carrying apparatus, comprising a continuously rotating mandrel wheel type apparatus carrying decorated containers with their open ends exposed, to second and third container carrying apparatus, each comprising continuously moving vacuum belts for carrying the decorated containers through a curing oven with their open ends exposed, comprising a continuously rotating transfer wheel which carries the decorated containers with their closed ends exposed and which is located between the first and the second and third container carrying apparatus and wherein the transfer wheel receives containers from the first container carrying apparatus for movement in a circular path and moves the containers while they are held thereon so that they are separated into two parallel spaced apart circular paths to be transferred to the second or third container carrying apparatus.

Abstract: For transferring cuboid (cigarette) packs (10, 11) from a (rectilinear) pack track (12) to a drying turret (13) or the like, there is a transfer turret (17) which is designed for the reception, further transport and transfer of two packs (10, 11) at a time simultaneously. For this purpose, pocket units (20, 21, etc.) with two pockets (18, 19; 18a, 19a, etc.) arranged next to one another and fed simultaneously are mounted on the transfer turret (17). Their pocket walls (outer walls 29, 30 and inner walls 31, 32) are actuated for opening and closing via main levers (36, 37) and supporting levers (38, 39), these being supported on a rotatable cam disc (42, 43).

Abstract: An arrangement for transferring poultry carcasses such as the carcasses of birds being chickens, ducks, turkeys and the like, from one position to another may be used to transfer the poultry carcasses from a killing conveyor to an eviscerating conveyor, for example. The arrangement can, however, be used to transfer poultry carcasses from any one conveyor to another conveyor. The arrangement includes a rotatably mounted plate and associated structure for imparting a rotational moment thereto. A plurality of sector members are pivotally mounted on or connected to the plate at a position offset or spaced apart from the rotational mounting of the plate. The rotational moment of the plate can be imparted to the sector members. Members are provided to limit or control the pivotal movement of the sector members relative to each other and to the pivotal attachment point.

Abstract: A conveyor system for conveying veneer sheets with spacings therebetween comprising a sheet supply conveyor for feeding a train of cut veneer sheets of a predetermined length in contact with one another, the cut sheet length measured in the direction of sheet feed; at least first and second conveyors arranged downstream of the supply conveyor to carry the cut sheets; a stick-and-carry conveyor spanning between the downstream end of the supply conveyor and the upstream end of the second conveyor, the circumferential length of the stick-and-carry conveyor being equal to an even number of times the specified length of the cut sheet, the stick-and-carry conveyor having nailing, or sticking, areas and non-nailing areas arranged alternately at the interval of the specified cut sheet length, the nailing area having a large number of nails embedded therein the stick-and-carry conveyor being driven so that the front of the nailing area will meet the front end of the cut sheet at a sticking operation start position; an

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: The device has a rotary drum provided with a plurality of guide recesses, an outer cylindrical plate surrounding the rotary drum and a helical bar disposed between the outer peripheral surface of the drum and the plate. Containers are lowered and lifted along the bar while being moved up and down in the respective guide recesses.

Abstract: A distributing apparatus for transferring bottles between conveyors or processing machines like labelling machines or capping machines and the like includes a rotating carrier supporting at least one transfer member which rotates or oscillates with respect to the carrier. The transfer member is of segmental shape and includes a plurality of circumferential pockets for receiving the bottles. The outer face between the pockets is of convex contour so that the transfer member rolls off the conveyor or processing machine when picking up or delivering the bottles.

Abstract: A conveyor system for conveying veneer sheets with spacings therebetween comprising a sheet supply conveyor for feeding a train of cut veneer sheets of a predetermined length in contact with one another, the cut sheet length measured in the direction of sheet feed; at least first and second conveyors arranged downstream of the supply conveyor to carry the cut sheets; a stick-and-carry conveyor spanning between the downstream end of the supply conveyor and the upstream end of the second conveyor, the circumferential length of the stick-and-carry conveyor being equal to an even number of times the specified length of the cut sheet, the stick-and-carry conveyor having nailing, or sticking, areas and non-nailing areas arranged alternately at the interval of the specified cut sheet length, the nailing area having a large number of nails embedded therein the stick-and-carry conveyor being driven so that the front of the nailing area will meet the front end of the cut sheet at a sticking operation start position; an

Abstract: A system for loading nuclear fuel pellets into a sintering boat from a pellet press which discharges newly-made pellets. The loading system includes apparatus for receiving the pellets from the press and inserting them into an upward vertically positioned channel, a horizontally positioned rotatable drum with at least one longitudinally aligned circumferential channel, previously mentioned, for holding a row of pellets, a drum rotating mechanism, a device for pushing the pellets out of a below-horizontally positioned channel, an incline to receive the pushed out pellets, a sintering boat/incline positioner to allow the pellets to leave the incline adjacent the position in the sintering boat of the next-to-be-stacked pellet row, and a controller to coordinate system component operation.

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: Selected products moving along an input path are diverted to one of a plurality of output paths for stacking. A rotating drum is positioned between the input path and the output paths, and a plurality of vacuum pucks are mounted on the drum for transverse sliding movement parallel to the axis of rotation. As the puck moves in an arcuate plane between the input path and the output paths, a cam moves the pucks transversely from alignment with an input path into alignment with one of a plurality of output paths.

Abstract: A product conveyor lane divider for dividing cartons, tubs, jars, boxes and various products from a single infeed product lane into two product discharge lanes. The product infeed lane feeds products onto a work or separator conveyor in single file and a driven divider wheel having lugs or separating members disposed thereon engages every other product or group of products and moves it laterally on the separator conveyor for discharge onto a product discharge conveyor which discharges the two lanes of products formed by displacement caused by the divider wheel. Apparatus is included that adjusts the divider wheel to selected various heights and an angle drive mechanism is provided for driving the wheel. The speed, angle and spacing of the lugs may be adjusted to satisfy installation requirements.

Abstract: A continuously rotating rotor has pockets in its periphery for transporting bottles. The rotor operates next to two star-wheel conveyors rotating at lower peripheral speed and oppositely of the rotor. With each second pocket of the rotor is correlated a cam controlled slide member which gradually transfers the vessels at a first transfer point into the more slowly travelling pockets of the first star-wheel conveyor. The other pockets of the rotor lying therebetween have cam controlled clamps which bring each second bottle to a second transfer point whereby means of two stationary guide members it is gradually transferred into the more slowly traveling pockets of the second star-wheel conveyor. Between the pitch circles of the rotor pockets and the pitch circles of the star-wheel conveyors there is a space somewhat less than the bottle diameter. By transfer of the vessels from the rotor into the two star-wheel conveyors, a perceptible reduction of the conveyor speeds is possible.

Abstract: Elongate workpieces with enlarged heads to be distributed in groups to different destinations, such as plastic parisons to be delivered to respective mold cavities of a four-cavity blow-molding unit, are fed--partly by gravity--over a pair of sloping, counterrotating spindles to a tilted turntable, the spindles being separated by a gap letting the bodies of the workpieces hang down between them. The workpieces are successively inserted into peripheral recesses of the turntable along a raised edge thereof for rotary entrainment to respective guide channels confronting its opposite, depressed peripheral edge. Four workpieces at a time are dislodged from their recesses, after retraction of a barrier, by air jets driving them into the guide channels assigned to them. Fresh workpieces are deposited upon the upstream end of the spindle track by an elevating conveyor controlled by a monitoring device such as a photosensor which stops the conveyor upon detecting a backup of workpieces along the track.

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: A line of poultry suspended on hangers and moving in alignment in series through a processing plant is divided by engaging and urging alternate one of the engaged hangers laterally with respect to the direction of movement of the hangers along the conveyor line, substantially without deflecting the hangers or the poultry carried thereby from their longitudinal movement with the conveyor line. In one embodiment, paddles carried on a continuous separator conveyor move along a path that diverges laterally beneath the conveyor line and the surfaces of the paddles which engage alternate ones of the hangers are oriented at an angle that does not impart movement to the hangers or the poultry carried thereby along the conveyor line.

Abstract: This relates to a feeder for feeding articles on a continuous basis one behind the other. The feeder includes a plurality of flight bars which are mounted for rotation about an axis with the flight bars being circumferentially spaced and having article engaging elements carried thereby. The flight bars are so mounted wherein the distances of the flight bars from the axis of rotation may be infinitely varied to thereby infinitely vary the circumferential spacing between adjacent flight bars. In this manner, the feeder may be readily adjusted so as to feed articles of all dimensions within a prescribed range.

Abstract: Apparatus for receiving frozen confections supplied in a single row on a supply conveyor and delivering the confections to a discharge conveyor located at a lower level. The supply conveyor overlaps a rotary turret and a movable stop provided above the turret halts every second confection arriving on the supply conveyor following which a carrier on a movable chain pushes the confections along a transverse chute down onto the discharge conveyor. The remaining confections are allowed to travel through 180.degree. on the turret following which they are halted by a stationary stop. Carriers on a second movable chain then push each of the latter confections along a second transverse chute onto the discharge conveyor in a space between two confections delivered via the first chute and with reversed orientation. The discharge conveyor, the carrier chains and the turret move continuously and in synchronism.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming stacks of flat objects, such as chocolate bars, which includes a toothed wheel to which juxtaposed objects are fed while traveling on an at least horizontal input path, and between the teeth of which the objects are accommodated and are then moved to the area of a stacking station through rotation of the wheel, with the toothed wheel being composed of two toothed dics spaced apart along the axis of the wheel and each provided with circumferentially spaced teeth defining object retaining pockets between successive teeth, and the apparatus further being provided with a plunger device operatively associated with the wheel for pushing each object arriving at the end of the input path into a respective pocket when such pocket is situated at the top of the wheel and for braking the next following object on the input path to synchronize the introduction of objects with the rotation of the wheel, the wheel being driven in continuous rotation and objects being supplied continuously thereto during

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving a single line of containers and grouping them so that a plurality of containers can be delivered to an exit line. The apparatus contains a starwheel arrangement wherein the starwheel is comprised of a plurality of sectors each moveable with respect to each other. Each sector transports a plurality of containers at a constant velocity around an arcuate extent. The sectors and their containers accelerate for a portion of their travel, then stop, whereupon the containers are moved in a radially outward direction to a delivery point upon an adjacent conveyor. The method of receiving containers on a starwheel arrangement and simultaneously ejecting a plurality of containers from the starwheel to an adjacent conveyor is set forth in detail. The containers enter the starwheel in usual singular line fashion and are delivered from the starwheel in groups.

Abstract: A tobacco feeding system for feeding tobacco from a source thereof to a plurality of individual cigarette-making machines includes a tobacco distribution system for the distribution of source tobacco sequentially to a plurality of tobacco reservoirs and a tobacco metering system associated with each reservoir for feed of tobacco to the machine feeds. The system avoids the necessity to recycle tobacco to the source and hence minimizes tobacco degradation.

Abstract: Apparatus for inspecting either empty or filled transparent containers for foreign matter in which the containers are moved through spaced apart inspection stations to present different sides thereof to high intensity pulsed light sources which casts the illuminated image beams along paths which intersect at a beam directing member operable to align and direct the respective beams into an electronic scanning device, and in which apparatus the containers at the respective inspection stations are not necessarily the same containers so that the inspection at the stations occurs in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting containers to and from a working station comprises at least one intermittently rotatable transporting disc provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced cutouts, which preferably extend in radial direction from the periphery of the transporting disc into the latter, and having each a length to receive two containers, while providing a clearance space for moving the containers in radial direction away from each other. The apparatus includes further means for feeding the containers into the cutouts, means, spaced in circumferential direction of the transporting disc from the feeding means, to discharge the containers from the cutouts, a working station between the feeding and the discharging means, and guide means for moving the containers in each cutout, during their movement from the feeding means to the working station, to space the containers at a predetermined distance from each other necessary for an operation to be performed thereon at the working station.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing articles supplied in one line amongst a plurality of conveying tracks comprises guides pivotable about a vertical axis and defining a pivotable passage for said articles. A starwheel which is rotatable about a vertical axis is mounted on one of the guides and has its teeth successively projecting into the passage so that the starwheel is advanced by one tooth by the articles passing through said passage. A steering member is pivoted by one end to a crank driven by the starwheel, the other end being pivotable about a vertical axis so that an outlet end of said pivotable passage swings between said conveying tracks upon rotation of said starwheel. The starwheel is operatively connected to said crank by way of gearing.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing a plurality of sequential operations upon each of a series of articles. In the exemplary embodiment, such apparatus is arranged to perform a two stage coating and printing operation on the outer surface of cylindrical tubes. A rotatable turret includes a first and second series of carriers angularly spaced in first and second arrays around the circumference thereof. Means are provided to index the turret to bring the tubes held in the carriers of the first array to a first operational station for coating, and the tubes held in the second array of carriers to a second operational station for printing.

Abstract: A device for orienting filled and seamed two piece cans, in which a single line of randomly oriented cans is divided into two lines, all of the cans in one line being oriented in an upright position and all of the cans in the other line being oriented in an inverted position. The cans in one of the lines are then inverted and the lines combined to provide a single stream of cans oriented in one direction.The device has a rotatable turret body having a plurality of can receiving pockets around its periphery. A lever arm is pivotally mounted above each of the pockets and is adapted to engage the seamed end of the can in the pocket when the outer end of the lever arm is pivoted to a horizontal position. Cam means are provided to pivot the outer end of the lever arm from an elevated position to a horizontal position while the can is carried from a point adjacent a can inlet chute on a short arcuate path to one of a pair of can outlet chutes.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus for handling containers such as glass bottles, at high rates of production, including a single straight line pocket chain conveyor carrying containers in a single line into a line dividing mechanism at a transfer zone over a second, wide conveyor. The second conveyor crosses the path of the pocket chain conveyor at an obtuse angle on the order of 115.degree.. The divider mechanism comprises two rotary cams operated synchronously, their lobes being in mesh with each other and each having alternating shallow and deep lobes thereon for contacting the containers in removing them from the pocket chain into two lines on the second conveyor. The divider mechanism prevents container-to-container contact in the mechanism, and this is especially important for glass containers. The pocket chain and cams are driven synchronously to cooperate in the transfer zone for forming the two lines of containers from the single line that is delivered. Each container is under positive control of the mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for inspecting and sorting buttons and the like. The inspection means includes a main chamber having a first aperture opening with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the buttons to be inspected and a center on the optical axis of said chamber. The inspection means and/or the sorting means of the invention includes means for aligning each button in a rapid succession of buttons at the first aperture opening. A light source is positioned to direct a beam of light through a button stationed at the aperture and along the optical axis of the chamber. Positioned within the main chamber and on the optical axis thereof is a light reflecting means for reflecting the transmitted beam of light. Preferably, four light receiving members, each member having a first and second end and being spaced apart 90.degree. from two other members, are positioned in a plane normal to said optical axis.

Abstract: A dual wheel discharge apparatus accepts or rejects cans taken from a can testing wheel. A transfer wheel removes both acceptable and reject cans from the test wheel. The second cooperating wheel is provided with positive action flippers that remove the rejected cans from the transfer wheel.

Abstract: Signatures arranged in overlapping fashion are typically delivered from a press at high speeds (at the order of 80,000 per hour) to be stacked in bundles of a predetermined precise quantity, bundled and shipped to desired locations. During the delivery of signatures to the counting and bundling facility, typically referred to as the "mailroom," an extraction capability is provided wherein one or two signatures may be removed from the continuous stream without otherwise affecting the delivery of signatures to the stacking and bundling equipment. Alternatively, a number of copies greater than 2 may be extracted or paster copies inserted within the stream may be removed at high speed without interrupting the normal delivery of signatures to the stacking and bundling equipment.