Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for combining randomly oriented containers on a conveyor into single file. The apparatus includes a pressureless combining conveyor having at least two or more conveyor sections adjacent to one another, and angled about the axis of a guide rail. The substantially linear guide rail extends at an angle across the combining conveyor. The guide rail is constructed such that the lower part of a container which starts to fall toward the guide rail contacts the guide rail first, then tilts toward the guide rail, touching the guide rail at a height of the container near the center of gravity of the container, and then returning to its stable position. The container's center of gravity always remains within its stability region. The apparatus includes an input conveyor to supply a plurality of containers having no specific orientation, and an input guide rail section to guide moving containers to one side of the input conveyor.

Abstract: A machine for conveying and moving into position tubes (124), the machine including a chute (42) with a vertical feed station for said tubes, conveyor belts (12) and a motor (31) for moving said conveyor belts, characterized in that said conveyor belts have two areas, namely an area (121) for loading said tubes and an area (122) for positioning said tubes, and a longitudinal recess co-operating with pressing means (44) for inserting said tubes into said positioning area during longitudinal movement of said belts under said chute (42).

Abstract: A low pressure accumulation table for accumulating products is described herein. The accumulation table includes an inlet, an outlet, at least one feed conveyor and at least two accumulation conveyors. The feed and accumulation conveyors define an accumulation surface. The feed conveyor and the two accumulation conveyors are so mounted side by side that the feed conveyor alternate with the two accumulation conveyors. The two accumulation conveyors, when energized, convey the products from the accumulation surface towards the outlet at a rate which is a function of the conveying speed of the two accumulation conveyors.

Abstract: A medicament dispensing cell for use in an automatic dispensing machine includes a housing defining a medicament storage section, a discharge section leading to an outlet, a passage between the sections, a rotatable platen and a dispensing assembly for dispensing medicament in single file from the storage section to the discharge section. A pair of resilient, spacing fingers extend from the outboard wall of the discharge section and are positioned to guide medicament units around the distal end thereof in order to space medicament units during rotation of the platen.

Abstract: A laner is disclosed for a case packing machine which divides scrambled articles into single files with reduced jamming, malfunctioning, and breakage. The laner includes lane dividers which are spaced to provide a plurality of lanes having parallel sections with entry openings wide enough to receive at least 3 articles in a side-by-side arrangement. The lanes terminate in single file lanes having a spacing generally equal to the width of one article. A tapered transition section extends between the parallel sections and the single file sections for feeding the articles into the single file lanes. A racking device is included in each lane upstream from the single file sections which projects laterally into the lane to impart a wedging and racking force and action to the articles that assist in their single file arrangement in the single file sections of the lanes.

Abstract: In a process for separating wires of a wire bundle the latter is delivered onto feed plane (3) which is sloped in feed direction (3) so that it or the wires move under the action of gravity onto guide element (6) with a control gap. The control gap has a gap width corresponding to the wire diameter and is made to hold the separated wires in the form of a single wire layer. Before the wire bundle can reach the control gap, it is handled using several handling elements (8.1, 8.2, 9.1, 9.2, 10.1, 10.2) located next to one another. They have a strike edge parallel to the feed plane and a scraping edge pointed against the wire bundle, and they execute a striking motion which is such that in the first cycle segment the strike edge, proceeding from the starting point, is guided opposite feed direction (5) over the single wire layer just formed and in a second cycle segment the strike edge is raised from the wire layer in order to be returned to the starting point. Handling elements (10.1, 10.

Abstract: Manufactured products, for example those produced by a die press, may be cleaned, separated, randomized and stacked with the apparatus of the present invention. A first conveyor system removes contaminants from the products. A second conveyor system separates and randomizes the products, for example, by allowing the products to cascade down an inclined conveyor belt. The conveyor is segmented to capture a portion of the products as they are pulled downward by gravitational forces. The products are aligned on a shaker table with any of several operator stations. In one embodiment the products pass through a funneling array, a slot and into a stacking tube from which operators may remove stacks of the product in preparation for shipping.

Abstract: Device for separating bodies with: a conveying device comprising at least one rim proceeding in the conveying direction; at least one guiding device which is permanently mounted at a distance which is significantly smaller than the dimensions perpendicular to the conveying device of the bodies to be separated, which guiding device comprises a deflector which forms an angle with the direction of movement of the conveying device; and a feeding position for the bodies. In order to allow a reliable separation of the bodies, it is provided that the deflector of the guiding device with its--viewed in the conveying direction--trailing edge ends at a distance before the nearest rim of the conveying device, so that an unobstructed conveying path for the bodies to be separated remains between the trailing edge of the deflector and the nearest rim of the conveying device.

Abstract: A vacuum combiner is provided comprising a vacuum chamber with a wear surface forming one side thereof, a plurality of air pervious conveying surfaces, a guide rail extending across the conveying surfaces toward a single file lane, and a vacuum suction region in the wear surface on an upstream side of the guide rail. The vacuum suction region extends approximately an article width upstream of the guide to prevent article tipping without impeding article movement between the conveying surfaces toward the single file lane.

Abstract: The invention provides both a vacuum combiner and vacuum conveyor for combining a plurality of lightweight containers arranged in a random order and width into a single row of containers, and moving the containers on a conveyor line to downstream workstations at high speed rates. The vacuum combiner includes one or more conveyor belt-type surfaces, while the vacuum conveyor has a single belt-type surface, all of which have openings defined therein. Both devices also have at least two guide rail assemblies, and a vacuum source that adds a "drag" or "weighing" force on the light-weight containers moved thereon. The conveyor belt-type surfaces of the combiner and the conveyor may or may not be moving at the same velocity. The guide rail assemblies are each comprised of a plurality of rods and rollers, wherein the rollers are aligned in a unique anti-jamming staggered or diamond pattern.

Abstract: A conveyor is provided for combining articles from a mass to a single file lane. The conveyor comprises a moving guide belt disposed over multiple, parallel conveying surfaces traveling at progressively increasing speeds toward the single file lane. The angle, speed, or both of the guide is selected to minimize article rotation.

Abstract: A rubber tire individual separation transport apparatus including a rubber tire individual conveyor surface section and a rubber tire sliding surface section separately formed on a slat conveyor surface, with the conveyor having a horizontal charge zone, a sharply inclined individual transport zone, and a horizontal discharge zone. Also included is an upright plate erected for contact with the peripheral surface of a rubber tire at one end of each slat in the individual conveyor surface section. A support plate of such a size as to support only one rubber tire laid flat on said individual conveyor surface is mounted at a larger pitch in the direction of transport than the maximum diameter of the rubber tire being conveyed. A stationary side wall is erected along the side edge of the other end of the slat of the sliding surface section. Cooperative action between the selected tire and the side wall causes frictional force on unwanted tires to cause them to fall back to the supply of tires.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for singulating inhomogeneous materials. The pieces of materials are first deposited onto a cleat conveyor which is set at an incline so that the pieces of material not residing on a cleat will fall backwards. The cleat conveyor deposits the materials onto a cross conveyor which has a cross conveyor path perpendicular to the cleat conveyor path. There is a slight drop and slide between the cleat conveyor and cross conveyor. The cross conveyor then deposits materials onto a diverter system having a diverter conveyor moving material along a path. The path is interrupted by diverters extending at obtuse angles across the path of the materials. The diverter system works the materials into a single file order and performs some spacing. The diverter conveyor then deposits the materials onto an acceleration conveyor having a velocity greater then the diverter conveyor.

Abstract: The sharply inclined transport surface of a slat conveyor is divided into an individual conveyance surface section and a sliding surface section; and a support plate in said individual conveyance surface section supporting only one rubber tire laid flat on said individual conveyance surface section is mounted at a larger pitch in the direction of transport than the maximum diameter of the rubber tire being conveyed. A mixed-suspended state collapsing member is mounted on a frame of said slat conveyor so as to project toward said rubber tire sliding surface section. Not only is a single rubber tire separated and carried out by a support plate but also a plurality of tires not supported by the support plate but being carried upward together in the sharply inclined individual transport zone of the slat conveyor may be raised by the mixed-suspended state collapsing member which is fixedly mounted protrusively on the sliding surface section, and securely returned to the horizontal take-in zone.

Abstract: A plurality of parallel infeed conveyor belts increase in length from the shortest to the longest in length increments corresponding to the length of groups of equal numbers of containers in rows on the belts. The groups are in multiple file arrangement initially and are translated respectively to the end of each belt to effect disposing the groups in series and offset but parallel relationship. The groups are then advanced together to aligned belts of an intermediate conveyor to arrive at a conversion region wherein all groups that are offset relative to a group on one intermediate conveyor belt are shifted laterally to alignment with the one group so the formerly parallel groups become arranged in single file in condition for being conveyed further.

Abstract: A vibratory feed device is described for producing a high-speed single-file stream of aligned food articles. The feed device comprises a vibratory guide trough extending longitudinally from a receiving end to a discharge end. The guide trough has inclined and transversely-opposed sidewalls. An endless feed belt travels longitudinally through the guide trough from the receiving end to the discharge end. The feed belt has outer portions which incline upwardly to form a concave conveyor surface for conveying food articles through the guide trough. The guide trough oscillates to singulate and align food articles within the concave conveyor surface. The feed device also includes a redirection sheave at the discharge end of the guide trough. The redirection sheave supports the feed belt along a redirection arc which extends at least partially about the redirection sheave. An endless hold-down belt faces the feed belt along the redirection arc to hold food articles against the feed belt.

Abstract: The invention provides a transport apparatus, or combiner, for transporting light-weight containers at high speed rates. The combiner includes one or more conveyor belt-type surfaces that have openings thereupon, a guide rail assembly, and a vacuum source that adds a "drag" or "weighting" force on the light-weight containers. The conveyor belt-type surfaces may or may not be moving at the same velocity. The guide rail assembly is comprised of rods and rollers, wherein the rollers are aligned in a unique anti-jamming staggered or diamond pattern. The guide rail assembly can be positioned such that it is substantially upright, or the guide rail assembly can be positioned such that it is sloped over the conveyor surfaces. The rods within the guide rail assembly may be substantially vertical, or they may be pitched forward. One vacuum source may be used for the plurality of conveyor surfaces, or one vacuum source may be used for each individual conveyor.

Abstract: A rubber tire individual separation transport apparatus including a rubber tire individual conveyor surface section and a rubber tire sliding surface section separately formed on a slat conveyor surface, with the conveyor having a horizontal charge zone, a sharply inclined individual transport zone, and a horizontal discharge zone. Also included is an upright plate erected for contact with the peripheral surface of a rubber tire at one end of each slat in the individual conveyor surface section. A support plate of such a size as to support only one rubber tire laid flat on said individual conveyor surface is mounted at a larger pitch in the direction of transport than the maximum diameter of the rubber tire being conveyed. A stationary side wall is erected along the side edge of the other end of the slat of the sliding surface section. Cooperative action between the selected tire and the side wall causes frictional force on unwanted tires to cause them to fall back to the supply of tires.

Abstract: An arrangement for converting a multi-track container stream supplied by a feed mechanism into a plurality of parallel container rows in a withdrawal mechanism. The container rows are separated from one another by a lane separation or separating elements. A transition zone is provided between the feed mechanism and the withdrawal mechanism. To increase the output and/or to provide a protective processing of the containers, a lane separation formed by lanes is already provided at the transition zone. In particular, the width of each lane in the transition zone has a conveying width that corresponds to a multi-track container stream yet is several times less than the conveying width of the feed mechanism. Furthermore, the lanes of the transition zone narrow in a direction toward the withdrawal mechanism.

Abstract: Preforms 1 for the manufacture of synthetic bottles are transported along a conveyor track 10 formed by two parallel slide-rails 11 arranged such that a perpendicular common to the two slide-rails is substantially horizontal. The preforms have heads 2 larger than their bodies 5, and are vertically supported between the two slide-rails by their heads. The conveyor track embodies unbalancing mechanism 14 in the form of a raised and arcuate rail section 15 for tilting interlocked preforms 6.sub.1, 6.sub.2 such that their center of gravity G is shifted outside of one of the slide-rails 11, whereby they become unbalanced and fall off the slide-rails. An extractor 17 formed by a pair of counter-rotating, bladed wheels 18 may also be provided, for grasping and lifting off vertically oriented interlocked preforms.

Abstract: A cover for an article conveyor or accumulator having a table-like support surface includes a substantially planar and transparent member mounted above the support surface. The distance between the cover and the support surface is adjusted to be slightly greater than the height of the articles being carried on the conveyor or accumulator. The cover maintains the articles in their upright position by preventing them from tipping over.

Abstract: A conveyor structure for a sidewall of a bottle combiner. The sidewall having a top plate, bottom plate, and end plate to which are mounted two sets of roller bars at 45 degree angles to the top, bottom and end plates and at 90 degree angles to each other. The first set of roller bars having a diameter greater than the second set of roller bars and having slots of a depth slightly greater than the diameter of the second set of roller bars. The surfaces of the first and second set of roller bars being in alignment where they contact the bottles moving down the bottle combiner so that a uniform surface is presented and there are no gaps between roller bars.

Abstract: A guide wall for ordering apparatus for ordering a flow of randomly arranged cylindrical articles into a single file having a guide wall module composed of a plurality of rotators arranged for rotation on axles having ends extending beyond the rotator array and disposed in substantially vertical stands of superimposed rotators the module featuring a frame formed in a U-configuration having a base and facing sides extending outwardly from the base, the facing sides supporting the array therebetween at a point sufficiently far from the base to allow free rotation of the rotators; the facing sides having opposed facing longitudinal channels slidably receiving and retaining bearing mounts for supporting the axle ends of the array.

Abstract: A conveyor is provided for producing a single file from a mass of articles comprising a conveyor surface, an article engager for engaging articles in the mass and transporting a single file of them off of the conveyor surface, and a guide rail mounted along the conveyor surface, the guide rail including a shifting portion for creating an accumulation of articles, a gap filling portion for filling gaps in the single file of articles, and a pressure relieving portion for relieving some of a back pressure on articles. The conveyor preferably also includes a fourth guide rail portion for spacing the first portion upstream from the third portion, or an oscillator for jostling articles, or a roller for rotating articles.

Abstract: An ice dispensing and crushing apparatus is disclosed for dispensing and selectively crushing pieces of ice. The apparatus includes a supply bin for containing and supplying pieces of ice, a conveying trough formed at least partially within a lower portion of the supply bin and extending in an inclined manner toward a dispensing housing through which ice pieces can be dispensed. A helical conveyor is mounted for rotation in the conveying trough and is operable to convey individual pieces of ice one-by-one toward a dispensing opening formed in a lateral side of the dispensing housing. An ejection device, such as an ejection bar, is mounted adjacent the helical conveyor and acts to eject extra pieces of ice so as to assure the individual successive conveyance of the ice pieces.

Abstract: A method and device for successively feeding flat products, i.e. flat slab-shaped products such as sweets or biscuits, from an input container to a user machine, whereby the products are fed in bulk, and in excess of the capacity of the user machine, to an aligning conveyor by which they are fed successively, arranged flat and aligned with one another, to the input of a metering device, which feeds them successively to the input of the user machine in an amount equal to the capacity of the same; any excess products fed to the input of the metering device being detoured onto a recirculating conveyor.

Abstract: Bar loader for a multi-chuck machine including a star-shaped structure for supporting a plurality of bar guides, equal in number to the chucks of the machine and openable to receive a bar at a loading position arranged laterally to the structure. One the side of the structure opposite to the one for loading the guides there is a bundle-like magazine which is capable of delivering a group of bars which, by an elevator, are deposited on a sorter which extends transversely below the structure. At the exit from the sorter, a second elevator lifts each individual bar to the loading position where a pusher transfers it to a respective guide.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for ordering a flow of randomly arranged cylindrical articles into a single file, featuring an article conveyor having guide walls composed of a plurality of polygonal rotators arranged in substantially vertical stands in superimposed rotating relationship, the rotators having substantially straight side walls joined together at corners with angles betweeen 60.degree. and 150.degree., and preferably oriented to each other in the stand in nonaligned relation with corners projecting outwardly beyond side walls of other rotators in the stand, thereby imparting a rotational and vibrational movement to articles in contact with the rotators.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for regularly and continuously supplying articles to an evacuation conveyor from at least one feed conveyor. The articles are arranged in successive rows on each feed conveyor and are deposited onto the evacuation conveyor which moves the articles in a single longitudinally extending row. The evacuation conveyor is positioned at an acute angle relative to each of said feed conveyors and each of the article is aligned and moved through an angle on the evacuation conveyor which is substantially complementary to the acute angle. The speeds of the feed and evacuation conveyors are adjusted so that the spacing between the last article in a given row deposited from a feed conveyor onto the evacuation conveyor and the first article in a successively deposited row is substantially the same as the spacing between adjacent articles within any row.

Abstract: Pressureless apparatus for aligning miscellaneous objects, notably bottles, including a feed conveyor having a plurality of tracks, an intermediate conveyor consisting of a plurality of juxtaposed elementary paddled chains, a curvilinear guide plate overlying the paddle-chains, and a single-track output conveyor. To prevent the bottles from forming a double row at the ingress of the output conveyor and to reduce the overall dimensions of the pressureless aligner, the intermediate conveyor leads to a transitional conveyor that includes a mechanism for aligning the bottles which tend to form a second row in the single-track output conveyor.

Abstract: A combiner rail having a plurality of horizontal rows of rollers. Each horizontal row is staggered from the adjacent horizontal row to prevent containers from jamming in gaps between adjacent rollers.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding a preselected number of unsymmetrical objects into a package has a vibratory transporter for feeding a predetermined number of objects to be packaged into a collector and a photoelectric device for releasing the objects from the collector into a package when the predetermined number of objects are in the collector. The transporter includes a discharge trough which is slopped to one side and has a fixed siderail and a resiliently yieldable siderail which prevent jamming of unsymmetrical objects within the trough. Tracks which feed objects from an object storage unit to the trough are arranged one above the other so that the unsymmetrical objects cannot enter the trough on edge or in stacked relation to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting a multi-row stream of upright articles into a single row comprises a rectilinear supply conveyor provided with guide surfaces, an intermediate conveyor consisting of a rotating surface, a removal conveyor, and a frame-fixed guide surface which, in the direction of rotation of the rotating surface, extends spirally outwardly and intercepts the articles. The rotating surface of the intermediate conveyor is a planar disc. Between the supply conveyor and the intermediate conveyor, two parallel guide surfaces are provided. One of the guide surfaces extends in an arc opposite to the spiral arc of the frame-fixed guide surface in a direction towards the center of the disc, and thereafter merges into the spiral arc of the fixed frame guide surface.

Abstract: An installation for processing of photograph envelopes intended to equip a large photography processing laboratory. The installation includes a picking station, a bar code reading station, a thickness detection station, a station for recognition of shapes and characters, a manual input and introduction station, a marking station, and finally a station for feeding a traditional sorting 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: A device is used to handle small-sized semiconductor chips, such as ultra-high frequency chips delivered loose. In order to lift up these chips one by one at a precise point by means of a pipette, the device uses the charges of static electricity which make the chips adhere to an endless tape made of plastic. In a first, vertical part, the tape is loaded with chips in passing through a feeder bin. A stop retains all the chips on one side of the tape, and another stop lets through only those chips that are flat on the other side of the tape. In a second, horizontal part the tape passes through a tunnel in which the chips are oriented and then stored and taken up by a suction pipette. The invention can be applied to the assembly of semi-conductor chips in packages or on substrates.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading friable nuclear fuel pellets into a sintering boat from a pellet press which ejects newly made pellets. An inclined pellet chute (preferably a tube) receives the ejected pellets and discharges them against a first resilient brush which reflects the pellets downwardly to a second resilient brush. The brush tips are spaced apart such that a pellet moving downward along the second brush contacts the flexible brush tip of the first brush before dropping off the second brush (preferably with near-zero velocity) into the sintering boat.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding cylindrical containers (cans) to a rotary filling machine having a turntable with a plurality of work stations (can stations) spaced around its border. Signal producing devices, such as cone-jet sensors, are provided to produce gate operating signals each time an inactive (malfunctioning) work station passes the signal producing device. The container feed apparatus includes a conveyor which receives containers into an elongated section wherein the containers form two parallel rows confined between parallel sides from which they pass into a funnel section wherein the containers form a single file and discharge sequentially to the infeed of a worm which delivers the containers sequentially to a transfer mechanism (star wheel) which transfers the containers to the work stations. A gate incorporated at the discharge end of the funnel section closes and opens to prevent containers from being fed to the inactive work station.

Abstract: A deadplate construction is provided for maintaining an equilateral contiguous triangular configuration of flexible walled containers as they move across the deadplate. The containers are held in this alignment by side rails which engage the containers at their rigid bottom-most portion and has a downstream edge whose most downstream portion is truncated so that the downstream container is subjected to the vacuum of the transfer belt before the other containers in the diagonal row. In addition, adjacent the downstream edge of the deadplate are slots which correspond in width and positioning to the openings in the transfer belt for the outside container and a narrower slot is provided over one of the rows of openings in the transfer belt for the center container.

Abstract: A continuous process for bending long metal rods comprises separating and feeding a bundle of rods and advancing the rods one by one to a rod cutting station downstream, cutting the rods and feeding them to a rod bending station downstream of the cutting station, and subsequently bending the rods and removing them from the machine.

Abstract: A continuous processing machine for bending long metal rods includes a rod bundle handling machine for separating a bundle of rods and advancing the rods one after the other, a rod cutting station and a rod bending station provided downstream of the handling machine for cutting and subsequently bending the rods. Transfer means are provided for transferring the rods from station to station.

Abstract: A hopper assembly for use in a product transporting apparatus having a rotary drum having at least one circumferential row of equally spaced, radially inwardly recessed pockets for receiving therein products to be transported while they are sucked therein by the effect of negative pressure developed in the respective pockets as the rotary drum rotates in one direction. The hopper assembly has a container having a bottom plate inclined at a particular angle downwardly towards the periphery of the drum and terminating at a particular position, and a nozzle assembly for supplying jets of compressed air into the container for permitting the products to be upwardly moved thereby to facilitate the supply of the products successively into the respective pockets.

Abstract: This invention relates to a workpiece loader which loads workpieces onto a continuously moving conveyor of a type frequently used in manufacturing factory environments. The workpiece loader is comprised of a short length endless belt which is intermittently moved to stack workpieces against a movable fence. Movement of the movable fence is coordinated with motion of the loader belt to enable groups of workpieces to be placed on the conveyor as desired. A first embodiment discloses the workpiece loader belt travelling in a direction perpendicular to the continuously moving conveyor, whereas the second embodiment discloses such belts moving in parallel directions.

Abstract: This invention concerns a device (10) to count bars which is suitable for performing the counting with counter (16) to count bars (11) arranged even in heaps on a conveyor (12). The device (10) includes in cooperation a guide funnel (14) which ables to arrange at least one end of such bars (11) in an ordered manner, and withdrawal device (15) which withdraws at least such ordered ends of such bars (11) one by one from the guide funnel (14).

Abstract: An arrangement for converting a multi-track stream of bottles to a single-track stream of bottles. An intermediate conveyer is disposed between a feeding mechanism, which is provided with guide rails, and a withdrawal mechanism, which is provided with guide rails. The upper sides of the conveyer belts of the intermediate conveyer form a conversion region in which the conveyer belts are disposed flushly adjacent one another in the shape of an inclined plane which is inclined transverse to the direction in which bottles are conveyed from the upper side of the feeding mechanism to the upper side of the withdrawal mechanism. The conversion region is formed by the upper sides of the conveyer belts of the intermediate conveyer and of the withdrawal mechanism. The track width of the conversion region corresponds to the track width of the heating mechanism, with the conversion region being disposed downstream of the feeding mechanism and essentially coinciding in level and track with the latter.

Abstract: A counting and batching device for items such as tablets, capsules or caplets is faster than the electronic radial feeder counters, and is more easily adjustable for different quantities, sizes and shapes of items than slat counters or disk counters. The device has a hopper with an adjustable feed gate and a first vibrator to cause items to flow from the feed gate. A V-guide sorting trough is positioned beneath the feed gate having a slot at its base to hold a single row of items, and a second vibrator funnels items into a single row moving along the slot. A moving belt receives items from the trough and transports them in a single row between stationary guides past an electronic counter to a diverter where a predetermined number of items are diverted into at least two diverter streams. Loading positions are provided under each diverter stream with provision for positioning and removing containers independently into each loading position.

Abstract: A vacuum single filer is provided for brining multiple rows of containers into single file at high speeds and over a relatively short distance. This is accomplished by discharging the containers in diagonal rows of three from a slotted dead plate onto a perforated conveyor belt extending over vacuum plenum chambers having slots therein for drawing a vacuum. The slot or slots aligned with the outermost container in each diagonal row draws sufficient vacuum to hold the outer container in fixed position and a deflector is used to direct the other containers into alignment behind the outer container and to slide them laterally across the belt as the belt moves them downstream until they are finally brought into single file alignment. An infeed vacuum conveyor cooperates with the slotted dead plate to arrange the containers in diagonal rows having a precise alignment prior to being picked up by the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Device and a method are taught for specifically orienting and conveying products in a common direction of travel. The products are individually mounted on a plurality of identical, circular, product-carrying pucks. Each circular puck has a flat conveyor-contacting bottom surface and at least one circular peripheral surface contactable by corresponding circular peripheral surfaces of other pucks when located in a random surge thereof. Each puck is surmounted by a product support. Between its bottom surface and its product support, each puck has a peripheral slide surface parallel to the desired direction of travel of the oriented puck and at least one peripheral rotation-producing surface, the slide and rotation-producing surfaces being inset from the circular peripheral surface.

Abstract: A transport unit for tablets transports the tablets fed from a filling unit through the use of a rake with at least one V-like fork on a horizontal guiding track to tablet testing stations, packaging units etc. The guiding track comprises on either side of the area swept by the point of the V-shaped fork openings through which may fall the tablets which are not at the point of the fork during the transport. The openings of the guiding track are connected by an inclined plane to a collector container.

Abstract: An orienting and combining device for use with conveyor systems where it is desirable to reduce a random orientation of a plurality of articles into a single file row for further conveying in that form. The device can be attached to existing conveying systems and is comprised of an outer frame structure which positions a plurality of triangular shaped blocks on each side of a conveyor belt. The blocks are offset from one another on opposite sides of the conveyor belt and together define a particular zig-zag course through which the article must pass. The dimensions of the blocks are dependent upon the diameter of the articles being conveyed and will orient the article efficiently and quickly virtually without jamming into a configuration that will easily permit the formation of the single file row.