Abstract: A method and device in which a respective laundry piece initially is automatically gripped at a location and pulled apart. The automatic gripping of laundry pieces for feeding to an infeed machine requires a plurality of handling procedures which for reliable automation have to be coordinated. The laundry piece is subsequently reoriented such that said laundry piece can be acquired in a manner which is favorable in terms of the subsequent steps, which can take place in front of a wall that stabilizes the laundry piece. Once the laundry piece has been gripped in the region of a periphery, the laundry piece, as a function of which periphery has been gripped and by way of which alignment the laundry piece is to be fed to the infeed machine, is pulled longitudinally or transversely onto a conveyor that transports said laundry piece to the infeed machine.

Abstract: The invention relates to devices and to methods for transporting preforms in the region of a blow-molding machine, in particular a sorting device (10) for transporting preforms (20) composed of a thermoplastic material in the region of a blow-molding machine for the blow-molding of containers, comprising a transportation wheel (12), which has a plurality of accommodating recesses (18) for accommodating and conveying the preforms (20), which accommodating recesses are arranged on the circumference of the transportation wheel in such a way that the accommodating recesses are distributed in the circumferential direction, a guide collar (16), which extends circumferentially around the transportation wheel (12) in some regions in such a way that the guide collar is radially spaced apart from the transportation wheel, wherein the preforms (20) are transported in suspension between the transportation wheel (12) and the guide collar (16) in the region of the sorting device (10), and a selection unit for selectively r

Abstract: A singulation apparatus for preforms, including a device for eliminating mispositioned preforms. The singulation apparatus is designed as a roll-type sorting apparatus that has two conveyor rolls which rotate about parallel axes of rotation, define a common conveying plane, and convey the preforms between the conveying rolls in a direction of travel. The device for eliminating mispositioned preforms is a kick wheel that rotates about an axis of rotation, has a lateral direction of ejection, and meshes with an elimination region above correctly positioned preforms.

Abstract: A conveyor machine is provided. In another aspect, a singulator conveyor employs three-dimensionally obliquely skewed driven rollers angularly offset from a primary feeding and downstream direction, outboard of an adjacent driven conveyor having a top surface moving in the primary feeding and downstream direction. A further aspect provides a downstream moving conveyor belt or rollers which are vertically higher than the adjacent outboard skewed and converging driven rollers.

Abstract: A belt monitoring system which can accurately monitor the condition of a conveyor belt by correcting it for the effect of belt deviation. Wear detecting magnets (11), which are rubber magnets spanning the entire belt width, are embedded at intervals along the circumferential direction of the conveyor belt (2). Also, position determining magnets (12, 12z) are embedded in positions a predetermined distance apart from the wear detecting magnets (11). In addition, a plurality of magnetic field detecting means (13: 13A-13G) for detecting the magnetic fields from the magnets (11, 12, 12z), which are arranged at predetermined intervals in the width direction of the conveyor belt (2), are disposed in a position spaced apart from the surface of the conveyor belt (2).

Abstract: In one embodiment, an object repositioning system configured for use in association with a conveyor includes opposed gates positioned over the conveyor and oriented in an initial partially-closed position in which the gates define an opening through which objects conveyed by the conveyor can pass that is narrower than a width of the conveyor, a locking mechanism configured to lock the gates in the initial partially-closed position, and an actuation mechanism configured to release the locking mechanism to enable the gates to pivot when an object conveyed by the conveyor contacts both of the gates at the same time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for aligning food products in a plurality of rows for feeding a subsequent processing operation in a production process. The apparatus includes first and second continuous belt conveyors adjacent to each other, a dispensing plate operable to delay movement of the plurality of food products and cluster the food products together. The food products are then periodically distributed onto the second continuous belt conveyor, improving dispersion of the food products thereon. Guide fingers that extend and retract over the second continuous belt conveyor contact and displace the food products into rows within channels formed by longitudinal members extending over at least a portion of the second continuous belt conveyor. The rows of food products are then conveyed to the next processing operation.

Abstract: A device for orienting tubular preforms which are fed in bulk by a supply device, including two continuous endless conveyors which are disposed side by side and which are equipped respectively with two parallel lines which are separated horizontally from one another by a distance that is greater than the largest cross-sectional dimension of the preforms. According to the invention, the preform-supply device is disposed above one end of the two conveyors. The two conveyors are moved by drive device in opposing directions in order to pivot any preforms that arrive positioned sideways across the conveyors and to drop the longitudinally-oriented preforms into the space between the two conveyors. The orienting device also includes an endless belt for collecting preforms, which extends beneath the two conveyors parallel thereto and which is used to collect and move the horizontally-laid longitudinally-aligned preforms one after the other.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and methods for separating an article of laundry from a bundle of articles. The bundle is located in a truck which is clamped into a carriage by means of clamping arm or attached to guide rails. The truck is moved by suitable drive means in a controlled manner beneath a grip device which is movable into and out of the truck. The grip device is mounted on a carriage which is movable upwards relative to a frame by means of a winch and downwards by gravity. The grip device picks the article from the bundle using a dual clamp structure and lifts the article up past an adjacent conveyor which is mounted so as to oscillate about a roller. An air jet means is also provided to blow the article into a nip defined between the conveyor belt and a spring loaded nip roller. Sensors are provided for sensing overload conditions for the conveyor and the grip device.

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: A baggage positioner having a horizontal conveyor, a position sensor, a pair of positioning arms with bi-directional vertical belts and a positioning arm controller. Other sensors can be added to provide additional data for enhanced effectiveness. The vertical belts can also be equipped with variable speed drives for enhanced effectiveness.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and methods for separating an article of laundry from a bundle of articles. The bundle is located in a truck which is clamped into a carriage by means of clamping arm or attached to guide rails. The truck is moved by suitable drive means in a controlled manner beneath a grip device which is movable into and out of the truck. The grip device is mounted on a carriage which is movable upwards relative to a frame by means of a winch and downwards by gravity. The grip device picks the article from the bundle using a dual clamp structure and lifts the article up past an adjacent conveyor which is mounted so as to oscillate about a roller. An air jet means is also provided to blow the article into a nip defined between the conveyor belt and a spring loaded nip roller. Sensors are provided for sensing overload conditions for the conveyor and the grip device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for reading and decoding information extracted from a form. In the system of the present invention, packages are randomly placed on a conveyor belt, with their labels facing a two-camera subassembly. As the conveyor belt moves, the two-camera subassembly continuously takes images of the belt underneath the overhead camera. The design of the camera permits it to take a high resolution image of a non-singulated, unjustified package flow. A digital image of the packages within the field of view of the camera is then transferred to the processing system for analysis. The processing system identifies individual packages in the image, extracts them and then analyzes the information written on the package labels. The analysis process utilizes conventional Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR) techniques to evaluate the information written on the package label.

Abstract: The invention provides an elevator for separating and distributing a plurality of whole freshly harvested tobacco leaves including clumps of agglomerated tobacco leaves. The elevator has an inclined frame longitudinally extending between a lower end and an upper end, an endless conveyor, and a declumper. The frame carries deck portions extending substantially between the lower end and the upper end. The conveyor is adapted to travel over the deck portions in an upward direction and under the deck portions in a downward direction. The conveyor is also adapted to carry the tobacco leaves to the upper end and discharge the tobacco leaves from the upper end. Also, the elevator includes a declumper adapted to buffet the clumps of tobacco leaves to separate the whole tobacco leaves in the clumps from each other.

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: It is the intention to improve a conveyor system for supplying small parts to a chain assembling unit, the system comprising a track system transporting the small parts, and a feed device loading the track system with the small parts. To this end the track system comprises at least two loading tracks which are loadable by the feed device with small parts, and at least one feed track which passes the small parts onwards to the chain assembling unit and communicates with at least one corresponding loading track, the number of the feed tracks being smaller than the number of the loading tracks, and the at least one feed track being selectively connectable to at least one other corresponding loading track for conveying the small parts.

Abstract: An apparatus transfers performs traveling along an inclined path from an upper loading station to a lower unloading station. The apparatus includes a device that includes plural rotary forks which rotate so as to engage and remove from the inclined path performs that are joined together.

Abstract: A subject part-aligning apparatus has a simple structure and causes less damage to chip parts, and operates well even if a chip discharge passage thereof is clogged or overflows with the chip parts. The apparatus has a part-holding chamber for accommodating a number of chip parts. An arc-shaped chute groove is formed in the inner surface of the bottom of the part-holding chamber to orient the chip parts in a given direction and to slidably guide the chips. A gate port is formed at the lower end of the chute groove to permit the chip parts sliding downward in a given orientation along the chute groove to pass in series (e.g., one by one). The discharge passage is formed to be tangential to the chute groove to align the passed chip parts in a line and to discharge the chip parts. A rotary impeller having blades is mounted in the part-holding chamber. The blades urge any chip part halted in an abnormal orientation in the gate port toward a direction opposite to the direction in which the chips are discharged.

Abstract: According to the invention, the items of laundry (11) are grasped successively by a gripper (23), are lifted up and taken over by a transfer means (24) which transports the respective item of laundry (11) through a gap (29). The gap (29) of the transfer means (24) ensures that only individual items of laundry (11) can be transported on further by the transfer means (24) and a force which is required for completely pulling out the respective item of laundry (11) from the pile of laundry (10) can be exerted on the item of laundry (11). As a result, reliable separating of items of laundry (11) from a pile of laundry (10) is ensured.

Abstract: Items of laundry (11) released from a washing machine as a pile of laundry (10) have to be separated before they can be processed further. The aim is to automate this separating procedure. Known methods for automating the separating of items of laundry (11) are still inadequate. According to the invention, the items of laundry (11) are grasped successively by a gripper (23), are lifted up and taken over by a transfer means (24) which transports the respective item of laundry (11) through a gap (29). The gap (29) of the transfer means (24) ensures that only individual items of laundry (11) can be transported on further by the transfer means (24) and a force which is required for completely pulling out the respective item of laundry (11) from the pile of laundry (10) can be exerted on the item of laundry (11). As a result, reliable separating of items of laundry (11) from a pile of laundry (10) is ensured.

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: A product aligning system specially adapted for receiving and aligning product items in bulk quantity, includes a hopper for receiving masses of product items in bulk and including a hopper conveyor extending across the bottom of the hopper, a hopper nose conveyor for receiving product items conveyed by the hopper conveyor and extending outwardly from the hopper, and a scale conveyor for receiving items from the hopper nose conveyor. The hopper nose conveyor and scale conveyor each include powered rakes positioned above the item supporting surfaces of those conveyors such that substantially only a single layer of items passes therebeneath. The hopper nose and scale conveyors each include load sensing apparatus which detects an accumulation of product items on those conveyors and signals a computer control which slows the speeds of the hopper and hopper nose conveyors sufficiently to allow the accumulation of products to reduce.

Abstract: A singulator conveyor receives randomly oriented articles and positions those articles in single file. The conveyor includes skewed rollers for driving articles longitudinally and laterally against a side wall. The width of the singulator conveyor becomes gradually stepped-down, and a return conveyor system is provided which includes secondary return conveyors or chutes disposed at respective ones of the steps for receiving excessive articles from the singulator conveyor and delivering them to a main return conveyor which returns the articles to an upstream end of the singulator conveyor.

Abstract: By providing a package processing system with pulsed or intermittently applied package retardation or separation forces, a highly effective package handling system is attained which is able to process all packages without tearing, ripping, or damaging any surfaces or surface coverings. In its preferred construction, the packages are advanced in one direction and contact one or more rollers rotationally driven to the opposed direction in order to retard and separate stacked packages into a single level array. In addition, each roller is continuously raised and lowered out of and into engagement with the packages passing therebelow. By providing this pulsed or intermittent force, the packages are separated as desired, while also preventing damage to any package surface.

Abstract: Singulation apparatus (10) for transforming a plurality of randomly oriented tires (T) in an inlet hopper to a linear alignment of tires reposing on their sidewalls including, a singulator assembly (20) having a plurality of stepped conveyor stages (21-24) with tire sidewall engaging surfaces (25-29) which are angularly upwardly inclined, mechanisms (35, 35', 36, 37, 38, 39) for driving the sidewall engaging surfaces of each of the conveyor surfaces at differing linear velocities for unscrambling and spacing tires passing through the singulator assembly, an unloading chute (70) for accumulating tires received from the singulator assembly in laterally aligned relation, a download conveyor (85) for intermittently receiving tires from the unloading chute and depositing the tires in linear alignment on a discharge conveyor (100).

Abstract: An entrance opening, i.e., the upper end of an orientation passage, is open in the bottom of a hopper, and the upper portion of the orientation passage is tapered. A pair of entrance agitator rollers are located on the opposite sides of the entrance opening of the orientation passage, and a central agitator roller is located above the entrance agitator rollers. A rotating mechanism rotates the agitator rollers such that the entrance agitator rollers are rotated in the same direction and the central agitator roller is rotated in the direction opposite to the rotating direction of the entrance agitator rollers. The rod-like objects in the hopper are set in the floated condition by the agitator rollers, and are fed into the orientation passage reliably and smoothly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transforming a stream of non-singularized objects (e.g., packages) into a stream of singularized objects. A rotating conveyor receives non-singularized objects from an input conveyor and transmits singularized objects to an output conveyor. The rotating conveyor has one or more reversible sectors that independently and selectively drive the objects toward and away from the axis of rotation as the objects are rotated upon the rotating conveyor. The objects may be driven into contact with and urged downstream by a vertical conveyor adjacent to the rotating conveyor and the output conveyor. A return conveyor may remove non-singularized objects from the output conveyor and return those objects to the rotating conveyor. A reinjection conveyor may reinject those objects into the non-singularized stream of the input conveyor to ensure singularization and handle temporary increases in the volume of object flow.

Abstract: A sorting conveyor is shown and described for moving composite material through the output gate of a bin and then past a sorting station to remove unwanted elements of the composite material. At the interior side of the output gate rests a powered leveling roll rotatable about an axis transverse to the material flow for maintaining a selected volume of composite material exiting the bin. An upward and forward facing portion of the powered leveling roll is shielded against contact with the composite material in the bin. A downward and rearward facing portion of the powered leveling roll, including the portion opposing the conveyor, moves opposite the direction of material flow. The powered leveling roll includes formations for engaging the composite material and repelling excess material.

Abstract: A coin supply device includes a conveyor belt and a separating roller disposed above the conveyor belt. Upper coins of two or more overlapping coins are pushed back and separated by the separating roller rotating in a direction opposite to that of the conveyor belt. The lowermost coin is allowed to pass beneath the separating roller, and is fed to a pay-out hopper apparatus after passing under a coin sensor.

Abstract: A transport system for mutually independent caddies carrying bobbins or bobbin tubes and having base plates, includes one transport path and another transport path entering the one transport path at a converging point. Moving surfaces, in particular surfaces of conveyor belts, carry the caddies along the transport paths by frictional engagement, with the caddies standing on the base plates. At least one additional contact surface is disposed at the converging point for touching a caddy passing through the converging point and imposing an additional motion component upon the caddy.

Abstract: A paper metering device is disclosed which is adapted for handling a flow of bulky and unmanageable paper such as newspapers or computer printouts and metering the paper into a manageable flow for delivery to further processing. The flow of paper is carried upward on a feed conveyor. A converging conveyor is disposed along a substantial portion of the feed conveyor at the discharge end. The upper layers of the paper contact the underside of the converging conveyor which advances the paper out the discharge end. The converging conveyor is disclosed as a plurality of disks on rotating shafts or as an endless belt. Means for sensing the height of the flow of paper under the converging conveyor is provided, such that the feed conveyor is stopped until the height of the flow is reduced. Also provided is means for jogging the feed conveyor if the feed conveyor is not restarted after a predetermined period of time.

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 unscrambler for unscrambling and orientating containers such as plastic bottles includes a hopper (1), having straight or slightly curved walls, a plurality of travelling carriages (20) having holding elements (5) with openings (6) for receiving individual containers and passageways (22) for receiving and positioning the containers, the travelling carriages (20) moving along an enclosed path and being interconnected and drawn by a flexible or hinged drive belt (33), and adjustable shelf (8) disposed between holders (5) and passageways (22) for supporting the containers (2) until they reach a discharge station where they drop through an opening in the shelf.

Abstract: An overflow or accumulator table for use with items to be processed to receive on its operating surface, and discharge therefrom, a plurality of containers or other items. The accumulator table is suitable for use with items being moved along a conveyor line. The accumulator table has a turntable surface and is capable of maximizing the number of containers or other items which may be supported on the turntable. A pair of spaced, spring-loaded, arcuate guiding members is supported above the turntable surface in a manner so as to occupy a negligible amount of space while providing a sufficiently strong, radially outwardly directed force to urge the containers or other items to the periphery of the turntable surface to assure that all items will be discharged therefrom.

Abstract: A feeding device for withdrawing from a feeding hopper (1) rod-like articles, particularly filter plugs in the manufacture of filter-tipped cigarettes, and for singling these articles. The device comprises a rotary fluted drum (2) forming at least part of the bottom of hopper (1), and a repelling roller (13) that is arranged between the wall (9) of the hopper (1) and the drum (2), in the vicinity of the end from which the drum comes out of the hopper, and that is rotated in a controlled manner in the same direction as the drum. The repelling roller (13) is so mounted that its axis is movable substantially parallel to the peripheral surface of drum (2) and, more particularly, it is carried by a lever (10) that is swingable about a shaft (4) which is concentric or close to the shaft (6) for the rotation of the drum.

Abstract: Apparatus for orienting and stacking hollow, frusto-conical containers or other articles has a downwardly inclined ramp for receiving the articles in random orientations. A deflector wall spaced by a gap from the bottom end of the ramp serves to deflect the articles to the gap, which is greater than the width of the widest end of the articles and less than the length of the articles, so that the articles can drop into the gap only with the widest end uppermost. Endless conveyor belts are provided below the gap for receiving the articles therebetween and conveying the articles. The ramp is formed by the upperwardly driven upper run of an endless belt arrangement, or has an upwardly rotating roller at the bottom thereof, for displacing upwardly of the ramp an adjacent portion of any of the articles which bridges the gap so that the containers are caused to fall properly into the gap.

Abstract: A metering device for particulate material in which backups and caking of material is inhibited by the provision of a "live" metering gate consisting of an upper blocking section and a lower material contacting surface. The lower surface is continually moved in the direction of material flow at a speed approximately equal to or slightly greater than the material flow speed. An elongate rotatable rod carried at the lower end of a blocking plate preferably provides the material contacting surface.The gate is vertically adjustable so that the volumetric flow rate of material can be controlled. In a preferred embodiment the gate is located above the end of the material bearing surface and is adjustable along an axis which diverges from vertical by an appreciable angle, preferably about 45.degree..The transverse dimension of metered material is also controlled by means of two blocking members which extend inwardly toward each other from behind the gate.

Abstract: The feeding device comprises a horizontal circular singling disc, which rotates continuously or intermittently and has a peripheral crown of recesses acting as article receiving pockets. The surface of the singling disc is subdivided into a first, larger article-receiving portion acting as feed reservoir for the articles which are fed at random thereinto, delimited by a fixed circumferential side wall extending over a circumferential arc around the periphery of the singling disc, and by a fixed partition wall extending across the surface of the singling disc, and into a second smaller article-delivery portion lying outside of the feed reservoir. At the interior of the feed reservoir there is mounted a distributor dish having the shape of an asymmetrical flat or truncated cone. The distributor dish is cased to perform rotary oscillations parallel to the surface of the singling disc, about an axis which coincides with the axis of rotation of the singling disc.

Abstract: An automatic feeding hopper employs a reservoir for storing disk-like objects in a plurality of substantially horizontal rows in a substantially vertical plane. A conveyor adjoins the reservoir for engagement with a substantial portion of the lowermost row of disk-like objects in the reservoir to remove the disk-like objects from the reservoir, an exit chute is positioned adjacent the conveyor to receive the disk-like objects in a single row, and a deflecting member is positioned near the entrance to the exit chute to guide and maintain the flow of disk-like objects in a single row from the conveyor into the exit chute. The deflecting member has an upper concavely curved surface intersected by a lower curved surface which leads into a side of the exit chute, the curved surfaces meeting at an edge located a distance above the surface of the conveyor slightly more than the diameter of a disk-like object.

Abstract: Ampuls are processed through a plurality of workstations successively arranged along a path in an ampul processing machine. At one station, an anti-jammer device is operative for preventing ampuls being guided through a continuously converging infeed chute from jamming and blocking the path. An intermittently-driven chain conveyor advances ampuls along the path during advancement time periods in which the ampuls are conveyed from one station to the next, and maintains the conveyed ampuls within their respective stations for processing, i.e., filling or sealing, the ampuls during dwell time periods which alternate with the advancement time periods. At another station, a movable infeed shuttle is operative for feeding ampuls to the chain conveyor during each dwell time period. At still another station, a movable outfeed shuttle is operative for discharging ampuls from the chain conveyor during each dwell time period.

Abstract: A conveyor carries cans or other refuse from a source of cans to a jaw crusher. The conveyor is adapted to drop cans generally one at a time into a bin, and the bin has an opening to release each can when the jaws open to receive it. In the open position, the jaws are spread far enough apart so that the can drops to the bottom thereof. A flap is provided at the bottom to hold the can between the jaws. The end of the flap extends to a position above the bottom of the stationary jaw. As the jaws come together in crushing, the moving jaw cams the flap downward along the stationary jaw. However, the flap is not cammed entirely out of the area beneath the jaw until the jaws have come together to hold the can. The flap ensures that no lip is formed on the can. After the jaws close, the flap is moved out from beneath the jaws so that when the jaws open, the crushed object can fall out of the jaws for carrying away.

Abstract: An apparatus for the high speed transportation of cigarette filter rods from a magazine containing the rods to a transfer drum. The apparatus has a magazine, a downwardly extended chute connected to the magazine adapted to receive filter rods singularly, a rod separation means at the junction of the magazine and chute, and a vacuum means adjacent to the chute exit. The vacuum means creates a negative pressure within the chute to hold the lowermost rod in the chute in a fixed position for accurate transfer to the transfer drum.

Abstract: A luggage merging device comprising a luggage carrying conveyor belt, two luggage guiding conveyor belts disposed generally perpendicularly to the luggage carrying conveyor belt and defining a converging path for the luggage, and a buck roller. One of the luggage guiding conveyor belts is powered at least generally in the direction of the luggage carrying conveyor belt, the other is powered at least generally in the opposite direction, and the buck roller is located at the upstream end of the latter.

Abstract: In a spike orienting and positioning system, kegs of spikes are discharged onto a spike receiving surface. The spikes on the spike receiving surface are engaged by fingers which are first extended from and then retracted into a rotating drum whereby individual spikes are lifted from the spike receiving surface and then dropped. This causes the spikes to enter slots formed in the spike receiving surface in a shank down orientation. The spikes are normally prevented from passing through the slots by tires which engage the lowermost spikes in the slots and which are selectively rotated to discharge individual spikes. The discharged spikes are guided into helical funnels which function to rotate the spikes into predetermined orientations. The oriented spikes then enter chutes wherein they are temporarily retained by escapement mechanisms. Upon release by the escapement mechanisms, the spikes travel through the chutes into position for insertion.