Abstract: A system for forming horizontally stacked groups of containers includes an infeed screw set, an orienting screw set, and a grouping mechanism. Containers are presented to the infeed screw in a vertical orientation, and are progressed from the infeed screw set to the orienting screw set via a transitioning pocket defined by overlapping pockets of the infeed and orienting screw sets. As containers are progressed through the orienting screw the containers are rotated via a series of orienting pockets to a horizontal orientation and progressed via a series of nesting pockets to form a series of horizontally nested containers. The series is discharged to a grouping mechanism which separates a predefined number of containers from the series to form a horizontally stacked group, which is outfed from the stacking system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a conveyor device for conveying along a conveyor plane, in order to transform a wide flow of products into a downstream single-file flow, including an intake conveyor, suitable for conveying the wide flow, an output conveyor suitable for conveying the single-file flow, an acceleration conveyor positioned between the intake conveyor and the outlet conveyor and including a plurality of conveyor units with a speed gradient, and also including a guide for guiding the products transversely from the intake conveyor to the outlet conveyor and positioned downstream from the flow of products so that the products are moved against same under the effect of the consecutive conveyors. Also disclosed is a corresponding method.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles includes a housing and a drive system. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles, a dispensing outlet, and a dispensing path between the hopper chamber and the dispensing outlet. The drive system includes a belt and a belt actuator operable to drive the belt. The dispensing apparatus is configured such that articles disposed in the hopper chamber are directed onto the belt and the belt, when driven by the belt actuator, conveys the articles received from the hopper chamber in a dispensing direction along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed.

Abstract: A device for accumulating articles within a system may include a frame, a mass-flow infeed conveyor supported by the frame for receiving articles from the system, and a mass-flow outfeed conveyor supported by the frame for receiving articles from the infeed conveyor and returning the articles to the system. A single-filing device is supported by the frame and includes a plurality of parallel endless loop conveyors. The endless loop conveyors each have an upstream end located laterally from and between upstream and downstream ends of the infeed conveyor.

Abstract: An article feed system for aligning and singulating incoming articles includes a rotatable upper rim surface and an article delivery device that delivers articles received by the article delivery device to the upper rim surface. A drive system is operatively connected to the outer bowl that rotates the outer bowl. A guide wall extends upwardly above the upper rim surface that guides the articles travelling along the upper rim surface toward an exit opening in the guide wall. A vertically oriented article engaging-type conveyor is at the exit opening in the guide wall. The vertically oriented article engaging-type conveyor includes a moving article engaging surface that is exposed to the exit opening in the guide wall for receiving the articles when they exit the exit opening.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a system for transferring a plurality of non-oriented items. The system includes a feeding area, a conveyor and a rail. The feeding area can accept the plurality of non-oriented items. The conveyor has a first end, a second end, a conveyor length disposed between the first end and the second end, a conveyor first side, a conveyor second side, a conveyor width disposed between the conveyor first side and the conveyor second side, and a conveyor ledge along the second side. The rail is disposed above the conveyor and from the conveyor ledge at a distance equal to one of the item height, the item width and the item length. A first portion of the plurality of non-oriented items will convey along the conveyor path. A second portion of the plurality of non-oriented items will fall off the conveyor ledge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for, in a conveying direction T during conveyance, continuously distributing a flow or products, for instance eggs, comprising: —a distributing assembly with at least two feed channels extending in a conveying direction T for each forming a single row of products, wherein at least edge elements compose the edges of these channels over a well-defined distribution length and wherein these edge elements are provided above and adjacent a conveying surface at the downstream end of a feed conveyor, and —a control for monitoring and controlling the distribution of the products over the channels, wherein, based on monitoring signals and control signals, from the downstream end of the channels, only two products are transferred simultaneously to the conveyor, wherein the control, based on the monitoring signals and control signals, increases or reduces the speed of the conveyor according to a continuous adjustment.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for the transportation and synchronous distribution of packaging units, wherein the packaging units are continuously supplied on a transportation apparatus and distributed to two further transportation apparatuses (16, 16?). The packaging units are centered on the first transportation apparatus by means of two flaps (20a, 20b) wherein, according to the present invention, the movement of the flaps is mechanically coupled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for transporting elongate food products including a plurality of elongate product carriers, coupling means for parallel coupling of the product carriers and drive means for displacing the coupled product carriers over a transport path. The invention also relates to a method for displacing elongate food products over a transport path using elongate transport carriers.

Abstract: A singulating disc, carried by a housing, has a plurality of openings around its periphery. The disc rotates vertically through a pickup chamber of a hopper carried by the housing. A vacuum is pulled through the openings by a pump which is connected to the disc. Items are placed in the hopper and, via gravity, fall to the bottom of the hopper where they contact the periphery of the rotating disc. The vacuum at the openings attaches an item and holds it while the disc rotates. At the top of the discs rotation, a diverter directs the item into a path depending on the results of a fragment detection and/or counting mechanism. Items that are allowed to pass by the diverter are scraped off the disc into another path by a scraper. Negative pressure is used to singulate and count a multitude of sizes and shapes of items with no calibration. Retractable paddles, a vacuum management system, and RFID tags may be incorporated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in which laundry cakes (10), formed when washed laundry articles are for the most part freed in a dewatering press of the treatment liquid bound in them giving rise to a laundry cake (10) consisting of coherent laundry articles, are divided from the end face (15) by a roller-like divider (20) which can be driven in rotation about a horizontal axis of rotation (31), which axis of rotation (21) runs parallel to the end face (15) of the laundry cake (10) to be divided, and an effective division of the laundry cake (10) which takes care of the laundry articles is carried out.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing open-ended objects such as pharmaceutical vials includes: a housing having an internal cavity configured to house open-ended objects, the housing including a guide and a floor; a pick-up unit mounted to the housing, the pick-up unit including an endless member and at least one pick-up member attached to the endless member; and a drive unit. The endless member engages the drive unit and the guide for movement relative thereto. As the drive unit drives the endless member, the at least one pick-up member travels on a pick-up path, at least a portion of which is within the housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for transporting elongate food products, comprising: a plurality of elongate product carriers, coupling means for parallel coupling of the product carriers and drive means for displacing the coupled product carriers over a transport path. The invention also relates to a method for displacing elongate food products over a transport path using elongate transport carriers.

Abstract: A conveyor system to singulate and sort bulk articles. The system comprises a first counter-current conveyor belt with a first machine direction, a second counter-current conveyor belt with a second machine direction and a transverse width, a first guide means, and a second guide means. The first counter-current conveyor belt slopes upward in the first machine direction relative to the second conveyor belt. The second counter-current conveyor belt slopes downward in a transverse direction away from the first conveyor belt. The first guide means urges articles conveyed on the first conveyor belt onto the second conveyor belt.

Abstract: The distribution table (3) is arranged downstream of an introduction table (2) and upstream of single file channels (12) and comprises an entry zone (10) which is provided at the sides with sensors (17) which detect the presence of bottles and connected to control means for controlling and regulating the introduction flow of said bottles at said entry zone (10) and also between said entry zone (10) and the single file channels (12) and distribution channels (11) of transverse alignment the number of which corresponds to half the number of single file channels (12). The distance separating channels (11) from the channels (12) is of the order of one quarter of the diameter of the bottles. The distribution channels (11) are defined by longitudinal walls (21) supported by a mobile structure (15), said structure being moved in a continuous circular sweep of low amplitude in front of said single file channels (12).

Abstract: A singulating disc, carried by a housing, has a plurality of openings around its periphery. The disc rotates vertically through a pickup chamber of a hopper carried by the housing. A vacuum is pulled through the openings by a pump which is connected to the disc. Items are placed in the hopper and, via gravity, fall to the bottom of the hopper where they contact the periphery of the rotating disc. The vacuum at the openings attaches an item and holds it while the disc rotates. At the top of the disc's rotation, a diverter directs the item into a path depending on the results of a fragment detection and/or counting mechanism. Items that are allowed to pass by the diverter are scraped off the disc into another path by a scraper. Negative pressure is used to singulate and count a multitude of sizes and shapes of items with no calibration. Retractable paddles, a vacuum management system, and RFID tags may be incorporated.

Abstract: A conveyor which can be used to route oriented objects, such as caps, covers, lids, etc. from a finishing machine of the type including a belt, a vibrating bowl or other. The conveyor includes a module having a vertical conveyor in the form of a column with an adjustable height and an intermediate conveyor in the form of a casing which is disposed between the finishing machine and the column. In addition, the module includes channel-type devices for guiding the objects and devices for propelling the objects, in the form of jets of air pulsed through eyes. The channel and the eyes form a continuous assembly between the finishing machine and the upper end of the column. The conveyor also includes devices enabling the automatic ejection of objects from grooves provided in the belt of the machine.

Abstract: A merge conveyor comprising a timing conveyor feeding a singulating conveyor characterized by a transverse-roller conveyor belt having rollers with a high-friction peripheral surface. The timing conveyor delivers articles to the singulating conveyor one article at a time at precise intervals. The rollers in the transverse-roller belt rotate freely transverse to the conveying direction. A plow guides the timed articles received on the singulating belt into a single file. The high-friction rollers inhibit the rollers from sliding along the rollers in the conveying direction to maintain the precise timing established by the timing conveyor.

Abstract: An improvement to finishing machines that are used to orient objects. The finishing machine includes a hopper for receiving loose objects, such as lids, and an endless belt for extracting the lids from the hopper. The belt moves vertically upwards with the lids and sorts the lids automatically, such that only correctly-oriented lids are retained.

Abstract: An apparatus for introducing objects into a smoking article comprises a reservoir for providing a plurality of objects to be introduced into the smoking article, a rotatable wheel for delivering the objects to the location where the objects are to be introduced into the smoking article, a transfer chamber for transferring the objects to the rotatable wheel, the transfer chamber being arranged between the reservoir and the rotatable wheel and being designed such that the objects are aligned into a single vertically arranged layer therein, and means for moving the objects from the single layer in the transfer chamber in a direction towards or along the peripheral surface of the rotatable wheel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for transporting elongate food products, comprising: a plurality of elongate product carriers, coupling means for parallel coupling of the product carriers and drive means for displacing the coupled product carriers over a transport path. The invention also relates to a method for displacing elongate food products over a transport path using elongate transport carriers.

Abstract: A member for removably connecting at least one vertical guide and slide wall (1A, 101A) to a support structure (2, 102), in which said at least one lateral guide and slide wall is provided above at least one flat conveyor (3) for conveying products (4), said products coming into contact with a vertical flat slide surface (S) of said at least one guide and slide wall during their movement, said at least one guide and slide wall comprising a holding structure (5, 105) arranged to support said slide surface (S), said holding structure (5, 105) being provided with at least one flat portion (11, 111A, B) parallel to said slide surface (S), in which said member comprises: an elongate body (20, 35) presenting at least a part (21, 31) of reduced thickness (L3) compared with the remaining part of said body, first means (22A, B) for connecting said body (20, 35) and said holding structure (5, 105 together while maintaining said reduced thickness part (21, 31) and said flat portion (11, 111A, B) in mutual contact, and s

Abstract: A packaging machine (10) includes a lane assembly (12) that includes one or more lanes (L) which guide cylindrical articles (B), such as cans or bottles, across a series of substantially parallel conveyors. The lane assembly (12) includes an adjustable guide bar (34) which defines an adjustable portion (V) of the lane (L) that can be adjusted to adapt to the diameter of articles (B). The lane assembly (12) also includes lane extensions (70) that can be adjusted to control the position of rows or articles (B) as the articles (B) exit the lanes (L) onto a conveyor (20).

Abstract: A product transport apparatus is provided that includes a transport section for transporting a product by oscillating; a driving section for applying oscillations to the transport section; a product supply section for storing products therein, the product supply section having an aperture for supplying the stored products to the transport section; and a supply stop section that can stop the supply of the products from the aperture by being brought close to the aperture, wherein, when the products are supplied from the product supply section to the transport section, the supply stop section moves away from the aperture and the supply stop section causes at least some of the products on the supply stop section to move toward the transport section by oscillating.

Abstract: A vibratory feeder has a generally horizontal disk centered on an upright axis and extending angularly from an intake to a downwardly open outlet. A linear guide forms a plurality of straight tracks extending substantially parallel to one another upstream in the direction from the outlet. A multiplicity of small objects are deposited onto the disk at the intake, and the disk is angularly oscillated to transport the objects in a travel direction from the intake to the linear guide and thence in straight lines along the tracks into the outlet.

Abstract: A sawtooth merging conveyor system that more accurately controls the position of merging cartons or other objects of varying size, shape, weight or condition. Rollers define entry portions configured to abut supply conveyors and a conveyor belt covers a main portion of the conveyor system. The rollers of the entry portions convey the cartons from the supply conveyors onto the conveyor belt. Slip of the cartons is reduced by the friction of the conveyor belt surface. The rollers of the entry portions may have a coating that improves roller grip of the cartons and matches the thickness of the belt to reduce slip and improve transitioning of the cartons onto the belt. A guide rail defines an outer edge of the entry portions and can includes a plurality of guide rollers connected to the main conveyor drive to urge packages onto the conveyor belt of the main portion.

Abstract: A packaging machine (10) includes a lane assembly (12) that includes one or more lanes (L) which guide cylindrical articles (B), such as cans or bottles, across a series of substantially parallel conveyors. The lane assembly (12) includes an adjustable guide bar (34) which defines an adjustable portion (V) of the lane (L) that can be adjusted to adapt to the diameter of articles (B). The lane assembly (12) also includes lane extensions (70) that can be adjusted to control the position of rows of articles (B) as the articles (B) exit the lanes (L) onto a conveyor (20).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for extricating and transferring wires cut into lengths from a loose, random wire bundle (B) into a single layer (L) of parallel wires, in which first the loose, random wire bundle is fanned out into a plurality of random wire layers, and from the fanned-out, random wire layers, a partial bundle (T, T?) is extracted and put into the operative range of a portioning device (4, 4?), whereupon a plurality of wires (D) are extracted simultaneously as an intermediate bundle (Z) from the partial bundle and, for forming a bundle to be combed out (K), are put into the operative range of a plurality of combing-out devices (33); then for ordering the wires (D) of the bundle to be combed out, one wire (D2) at a time is engaged in succession by a combing-out device (33?; 33?) and combed out, and the combed-out wire then slides and/or rolls by gravity on inclined faces (20, 20?; 24) into the single layer.

Abstract: A unit for feeding cigarettes to a packer machine is equipped with a hopper containing a mass of cigarettes and a device serving to compensate the depletion of the mass as groups of cigarettes are removed from the hopper and directed into a plurality of boxes carried and transported by a conveyor. The compensating device is located internally of the hopper and comprises an articulated mechanism designed to create a movable wall, also a pair of lateral conveyors converging toward the articulated mechanism, its operation being coordinated with that of a further device by which the groups of cigarettes are removed from the hopper, in such a way as to vary the capacity of the hopper according to the volume of cigarettes removed.

Abstract: A preform feeder system, particularly for feeding blow machines with receptacles such as bottles, of the type including, from upstream to downstream in the longitudinal direction of travel of the preforms, at least one sorting and alignment device whose top end is provided with preforms in a jumble and whose bottom end includes at least two alignment rollers, substantially parallel and rotated about their respective axis, that are designed to position the preforms in feeding rails, inclined relative to the horizontal, to convey them to a machine, and of the type including at least one ejection wheel that is arranged above the preforms and rotated about an axis which extends generally transversely, characterized in that the ejection wheel is arranged downstream of the alignment rollers so as to eject the incorrectly positioned preforms from the feeding rails.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for singulating substantially round products. The apparatus includes an endless feed conveyor belt on which the products are supplied in a conveying direction T, and a singulator conveyor comprising two sections V1, V2, forming a V-channel. The sections are located in substantially two planes which, each section is at an angle to a horizontal plane, which intersect along an intersecting line parallel to the conveying direction T. At least one additional endless belt B1, B2, . . . , B(n?1) is provided on one side of the two sections V1, V2. Each additional belt is to a side of the intersecting line and parallel to the one section, and is in substantially the same plane as the one section. The speed of the additional belt is greater than the speed of the one section V1, V2 belt. Advantageously, the speed of belts situated further outwards is less, and the V-channels preferably have an angle curvature of 0° at the upstream end to, minimally, 5° at the downstream end.

Abstract: In connection with making cast paving bricks of concrete with rectangular basic shape, sometimes there is performed a finishing treatment of the bricks by “rumbling” where the bricks otherwise organized on pallets or a casting board are transferred to a cylindric drum where these are tumbled with the purpose of achieving a surface with particular appearance. It has appeared that rumbled bricks, for price reasons, are preferred to be delivered in bulk, as a subsequent manually performed pelletizing is a relatively expensive element. Thus there is indicated a sorting unit including a conveyor with a conveyor belt over the surface of which, between a receiving area for the bricks and a delivery area, there are mutually spaced guide bars disposed obliquely in relation to the direction of movement (F) of the conveyor, by which the bricks are guided in a row with the same orientation for subsequent pelletizing by machine.

Abstract: The apparatus serves to distribute a random stream of items into several lanes in which the items are transported individually one after the other. The apparatus has a transport device for the items, wherein the transport device has one or more driven conveyor belts and side rails as well as a lane divider. The lane divider has at least one movable divider which divides the stream of transported items. A middle divider can project against the direction of transport and side dividers can be set back staggered. In an embodiment, the lane divider has a frame to which the dividers are attached. The apparatus also has a device for driving the lane divider, so that the at least one divider carries out a back-and-forth movement in the direction of transport and/or transversely to it.

Abstract: A conveyor system transports a multiplicity of product items from an input portion to an output portion and is provided with a first conveyor that transports the product items from the input portion to a distal turnaround region. A second conveyor transports the product items from the distal turnaround region to a redistribution region. A first product transfer arrangement urges the product items from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. A plurality of exit conveyors are arranged to be parallel to each other for transporting the product items from the redistribution region to a product exit region located at the output portion, and are arranged to transport the product items at a respectively associated rates of transport. A product redistribution arrangement directs the product items to respective input ends of the plurality of exit conveyors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transporting containers to be processed in a manufacturing operation includes a transfer assembly that transfers containers from a load area on an upstream conveyor assembly to a discharge on downstream conveyor assembly for further processing. The upstream conveyor assembly may include longitudinally extending first and second conveyors oriented at an angle to one another. The transfer assembly may include a rotating wheel that picks containers from a chute and moves them, one at a time, to the downstream conveyor assembly. The downstream conveyor assembly may be in the form of an elevator that has bays that are sized to receive individual containers. The bays are formed by vanes on a moving belt. The method includes steps inherent in the structure, including receiving a bulk supply of containers, moving them horizontally, columnizing them into a single file, elevating them and thereafter discharging them.

Abstract: A supply unit and a user unit employed in the manufacture of tobacco products, typically cigarettes and the like, are linked by a duct along which a mass of the cigarettes is advanced from the outfeed of the supply unit toward the infeed of the user unit. The advancing mass of cigarettes is parted at an intermediate zone of the duct either by rods or by a pair of frames, in such a way as to create a void that will accommodate a trolley directed into the duct from a housing by an elevator; once inside the duct, the trolley proceeds to push the mass of cigarettes from the intermediate zone toward the inlet of a hopper in such a way as to empty the duct completely, for example when changing over from one brand of cigarette to another. To advantage, the trolley is composed of two articulated structures so that its geometry and dimensions can be varied to match the variations in geometry and depth of the duct.

Abstract: Readily bendable and twistable rolling conveyor guides are provided. The guides include axle-positioning members that slidably engage channels of a structural support member. A plurality of axles carrying rotatable elements and spacers are disposed between the axle-positioning members. Certain embodiments include notches in the axle-positioning members. Certain other embodiments include unique cross-sections at the exterior of the channels. Advantageously, the assembled guides may be bent without causing distortion of the channels or interference between the axle-positioning members and the channels. In certain other embodiments, the support structures of the guides are constructed of flexible materials. The guides are thus readily twistable about longitudinal axes thereof.

Abstract: A bun laner sorts buns into a predetermined number of lanes, for providing buns to a packaging unit. The bun laner detects when some lanes are filling faster than other and closes those lanes while the other lanes fill. A vacuum may be used to hold buns in a filled lane in order to close the lane. An optical detection unit may be used to determine when a bun has been stationary at a certain position in the lane for a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: A device for transporting and arranging cylindrical elements in a row has a first conveying belt, operated by first motor means to pull a plurality of cylindrical elements in a feeding direction. A second conveying belt is situated in cascade with respect to the first conveying belt and is operated continuously for receiving and transporting the plurality of cylindrical elements in a direction concordant with the feeding direction. Canalization means are fastened to an upper run of the second conveying belt for intercepting and for guiding the cylindrical elements, being transported on the second conveying belt, in a discharge direction up to an outlet channel, situated on one side thereof. Sensor means are connected with the first motor means and detect the presence of at least one cylindrical element in a selected section of the second conveying belt.

Abstract: Holes are removed from nested product patterns by conveying products on a conveyance mechanism (12) through an infeed section (14) in nested pattern streams (a1, a2, b1, b2), into a narrowing section (24) of a width less than one and one half the product diameter. After the narrowing section (24), the product streams (a11, a21, b11, b21) enter into an expansion section (44) where products move into a side-by-side product stream (a12, a22, b12, b22). Thereafter, nested product streams (a13, a23, b13, b23) are formed, which can be combined to form nested product streams (A, B) which can be further processed as desired.

Abstract: Readily bendable rolling conveyor guides are provided. The guides include axle-positioning members having notches. The axle-positioning members slidably engage channels of a structural support member. A plurality of axles carrying rotatable elements and spacers are disposed between the axle-positioning members. Due to the notches in the axle-positioning members and the unique cross-section of the exterior of the channels, the assembled guides may be bent at small radii without causing distortion of the channels or interference between the axle-positioning members and the channels.

Abstract: An egg transfer apparatus is configured to distribute eggs substantially evenly with reduced breakage on a moving conveyor. The egg transfer apparatus includes a conveyor having opposite first and second ends, a pair of elongated members that extend along the direction of travel of the conveyor between the conveyor first and second ends, and a plurality of spaced-apart, diverging guides positioned downstream from the elongated members. Each elongated member includes opposite first and second end portions. The first end portions of the elongated members are in generally parallel, spaced-apart relationship, and the second end portions have an arcuate configuration and converge to define an opening therebetween through which eggs on the conveyor are conveyed. The diverging guides are positioned downstream from the opening and cause the eggs passing through the opening to be generally evenly distributed at the conveyor second end.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for singulating articles received in a slug and/or manipulating such articles to create a controlled gap between a trailing edge of a leading article and a leading edge of a successive article, while targeting a desired throughput. For singulation, a plurality of belts are mounted adjacent to each other with a slide chute between each pair of adjacent belts, articles moving from an infeed belt and passing from one belt to another through the chute therebetween. A plurality of sensors are positioned such that there is a single control sensor for at least selected ones of the belts, each control sensor sensing article position on a corresponding belt. Controls are provided for operating each belt in response to a corresponding control sensor, an operative state of a downstream belt and/or a difference between the desired throughput and detected throughput.

Abstract: An automated machine for loading nuclear reactor fuel, BP, or APSR pellets from small trays having rows of pellets into reactor rods of long length wherein the pellets are individually counted and loaded into rows of a loading tray according to the desired number of pellets per row and total number of pellets per tray with the loading tray controls being moved to a que tray where they may be weighted and there from to an unloading tray for sequential row loading into the reactor rod.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for singulating products, such as apples, which, floating along in water in a channel in the transport direction, are supplied and, after singulation in the water, are thereupon fed out of the water to a transport device, for instance a roller conveyor, and is characterized in that the apparatus comprises, in succession

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modular wall system for accumulation stations for conveying lines for products having a plurality of first and second components so that each of the first components have a face defined by a plurality of rollers, each one of the first components being structured and arranged so that it is attachable to another first component in end to end abutment and also attachable to another first component in face to face abutment. Each of the second components is selectively attachable to a first component.

Abstract: An improved apparatus useful in feeding articles from a bulk supply through lanes confining articles into single file for metering and segregation from upstream articles. The apparatus includes a lane guide insert removably mounted on one of two opposed preferably fixed lane guides. The insert narrows or constricts the effective lane width through a selected length, and as a function of the diameter of the articles handled. The maximum width between the fixed lane guides of a lane is that which will permit passage of the smallest pre-determined diameter of articles to be handled without forming an “A” pattern orientation in the lane.

Abstract: A component transfer mechanism transfers chip components along a liner passage by applying an inhaling pressure or a discharging pressure of an air bag or an air cylinder directly to the chip components in the liner passage, or by operating a component transfer member through an air actuator by the inhaling pressure or the discharging pressure. A component take-in mechanism stirs chip components in a storage chamber and takes them into a feeding passage by applying the inhaling pressure or the discharging pressure of the air bag or the air cylinder directly to the chip components in the storage chamber, or by operating a component stirring member through the air actuator by the inhaling pressure or the discharging pressure.

Abstract: A chip component take-in apparatus takes in and guides downward prismatic chip components stored in a bulk state in a storage chamber one by one in a predetermined direction. When a first take-in member and a second take-in member are relatively moved up and down in each flat face contact state, the chip components in face contact with the flat faces of the take-in members are gradually guided to a center along guide ways. The guided chip components in the longitudinal direction thereof are taken into a passage constituted by grooves and are moved downward along the passage by self-weight.

Abstract: An electronic component feeding apparatus conveys chip components intermittently by moving a belt. This apparatus has a motion changing mechanism for changing an input motion for moving the belt to an unequal speed motion having a low initial speed and for transmitting the changed unequal speed motion to a belt moving mechanism. This motion changing mechanism has a cam member having a cam face of a predetermined shape and a cam contact member in contact with the cam face, and performs the motion change by a relative movement between the cam member and the cam contact member. An unequal speed motion (accelerated motion) after being changed by the motion changing mechanism is transmitted to the belt moving mechanism, whereby an initial speed when the belt is moved is decreased.