Abstract: A conveyor system is provided for controlling the flow of a plurality of containers therealong. The conveyor system includes a conveyor having first and second opposite ends and an upwardly facing surface for slidably receiving the plurality of containers thereon. A flip-flop assembly has first and second opposite ends and is pivotably mounted to the conveyor. The flip-flop assembly is movable between a first stopping position wherein the first end of the flip-flop assembly extends from the upwardly facing surface of the conveyor so as to prevent flow of the plurality of containers therepast and a second position allowing the flow of the plurality of containers therepast.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing a group of stacked, edge-wise standing flat items into a container includes a support for engaging opposite ends of the group; an arrangement for adjusting the support to the group length; a first holding unit; a second holding unit; and a drive for moving the first and second holding units in a first path along which one of the first and second holding units holds and lowers the group and for moving the first and second holding units in a second path along which one of the first and second holding units releases the group for allowing the group to fall and the other of the first and second holding units guides and pushes the group at an upper portion thereof downwardly into the container. The second path adjoins the first path and is situated thereunder.

Abstract: A method for conveying and a conveyor system having a plurality of conveyor sections arranged in series transports articles. The articles can be accelerated on the conveyor system but adjacent conveyor sections have substantially the same speed when the articles are passed between them so as to reduce wear or damage to the articles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lumber unloading and feeding method and apparatus that can reliably separate individual boards from a stacked unit and feed the individual boards into other automatic machinery. One embodiment comprises a first load supporting surface and a second load supporting surface that cooperate to support a first end and a second end of at least one tier; a tier receiver located below the first and second load supporting surfaces; a first pusher that biases the first end of the tier off the first load supporting surface; and a second pusher that biases the second end of the tier off the second load supporting surface, thereby allowing the tier to drop onto the tier receiver.

Abstract: A part transporting apparatus comprises: a guiding groove for lining up parts in one row and guiding the parts; a transporting member which is provided at the base of the guiding groove and transports the parts in a forward direction by itself moving forwards and backwards along the groove; and a driving means for reciprocally driving the transporting member in the forward and backward directions; wherein the transporting member is advanced slowly and retracted rapidly, so as to transport the parts forwards.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for stacking and loading disc-like objects into receptacles is provided. The apparatus includes a lane combining conveyor which receives multiple lanes of product and combines one or more of the outer lanes into the remaining lanes. A stack former is provided for forming individual stacks of patties which are side supported onto rails. The rails can be pivoted down to divert patties for clearing jams. After the product is formed on the stack formers, a stack transfer mechanism transfers the stacks of products formed on the stack forming rails to the matrix former. Matrix former receives individual rows of multiple stacks from the stack transfer mechanism. A stripper mechanism is used to ensure that the stacks are not scrambled during this transfer. Once the matrix former is filled with product, a case rollover mechanism is rotated to the matrix former.

Abstract: A component conveying device can reliably separate a head component and a second component and can easily take out the head component. A guide groove for aligning and guiding a component P, a conveying member M which is arranged on a bottom surface of the guide groove and is movable forward and backward in the direction of the groove, and a driving means to provide backward and forward movement of the conveying member M are provided. The component P is conveyed forward by moving the conveying member forward in a low speed and moving the conveying member backward in a high speed. A first stopper S1 holds a second component P2 from the head component P1 conveyed on the conveying member M.

Abstract: An ampule transfer device for receiving ampules from a first conveyor and transferring them to a second conveyor. The device includes a stocker that is vertically movably mounted and a guide that is pivotally mounted. The stocker has a base member, an end member and a lid plate for closing the opening between the base member and the end member. The lid plate is biassed to its closed position. When the lid plate is disengaged from the base member due to movement of the member, the lid plate is fully opened under the weight of ampules. As the end member is moved in an opening direction, the ampules are gradually discharged toward the second conveyor.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for distributing a food product, such as potato chips, which reduces the problem of staling. A plurality of stopper gates are placed adjacent to a plurality of slide doors on the downstream end of a distribution conveyor such that when the gate is closed the product is held over the slide door.

Abstract: A tire conveyor and lift apparatus for conveying, lifting and orienting fuel tires for injection into a rotating cement kiln by force or by gravity. The apparatus brings tires from a tire source by a variable speed conveyor belt to a gate or alternatively vertical guiding rollers that regulate the flow of tires to the lift. Hooked lift arms engage the tire through the central hole and move vertically along a guide. The linear lift arms are mounted to an endless chain which is supported by upper and lower sprockets which are driven by a motor. The top of the guide is curved and has the curvature that approximates the circumference of the top sprocket. The tire is brought along the guide and released to output rollers connected to a feed chute which is aligned with a rotating kiln.

Abstract: A semiconductor composition material conveyer module, which includes at least one horizontal conveyer unit and at least one vertical conveyer unit arranged with the at least one horizontal conveyer unit to form an automatic production line for conveying semiconductor composition material for processing. A displacement sensor is triggered when semiconductor composition material is delivered from the horizontal conveyer unit at one production line to the matched vertical conveyer unit, thereby causing the matched vertical conveyer unit to carry semiconductor composition material to a horizontal conveyer unit at a second production line for further processing.