Abstract: A gantry conveyor apparatus for transporting components between work stations in an assembly line. The apparatus includes an elevated gantry beam and two gantry carts movably mounted to roll along the beam. The gantry conveyor apparatus also includes a conveyor coupled to each gantry cart. The conveyor moves the carts along the gantry beam between stations in an assembly line. A lift tube is supported on each gantry cart and engages a part at one station, raises the part to an elevated transport position, and lowers and releases the part at a subsequent station. The apparatus also includes a harmonic lift drive coupled to the lift tubes and drives the lift tubes using a single motor rather than a separate motor at each lift.

Abstract: A food processing system for an elongated strand of food product, such as hot dogs or sausage links, provides aligned orientation of conveyor hooks and identical arrival time spacing between adjacent hooks at a reference loading point at a strand producing machine discharge station.

Abstract: In a system and method for automatically transporting and precisely positioning a work piece at a station for processing, a relatively low precision transport mechanism is utilized to transfer a chuck that holds the work piece to and from the processing station. Notwithstanding the use of the low precision transport mechanism, the chuck can be precisely positioned at the processing station by using a quasi-kinematic coupling. More specifically, the chuck is precisely located at the coupling by engaging pre-defined indexing notches at the coupling. The chuck is securely held against the coupling at the processing station by suction. The coupling may be supported on a precision stage, which is configured to further position the chuck with the work piece thereon with high precision for processing at the processing station. In another aspect of the invention, the chuck is configured to securely hold a smooth surface of the work piece by suction.

Abstract: An integrated intra-bay transfer, storage and delivery system is provided for moving an article between a conveyor and a station such as a work station. The system includes a transfer assembly which includes a lift mechanism and a displacement mechanism. The transfer assembly transfers the article between the conveyor system and a buffer or storage station for storage of the article. A delivery robot transfers the article between the buffer or storage station and a work station for delivery to the station. The robot includes a vertical movement mechanism and a horizontal movement mechanism. The robot also includes an arm that is adapted to grip the article, particularly an article of a standard configuration having a mushroom-shaped handle on top. The arm engages the handle and lifts the article or transport pod from the storage station to a load port of the work station. In one embodiment, the arm includes a C-shaped adaptation that passively engages the handle from a side thereof.

Abstract: The invention proposes an apparatus which is intended for transporting workpiece parts, in particular, following the forming stages of a large-part multiple die press and in the case of which a conveying apparatus (10) is equipped with parts racks (14, 15) which serve for the defined positioning of, and for transporting, the workpieces during transportation and removal.

Abstract: A sausage transfer station is disclosed for transferring sausages from a rack where they are hung by respective string loops in a plurality of rows to a main conveyor. The transfer station includes an unload conveyor for advancing the rack forward, a selectively pivotable unloader shaft oriented transversely to the unload conveyor, and a transfer conveyor having a leg parallel to the unloader shaft and an apex proximate the main conveyor. The unloader shaft has a plurality of unloader fingers extending transversely outward therefrom. The unloader fingers engage the string loops of a row of sausages to push them off of the rack and then drop them onto respective fingers of the transfer conveyor. The sausages are carried by the transfer conveyor to the apex proximate the main conveyor where they are transferred to hooks on the main conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying conveyable material. The apparatus includes a plurality of cars joined together by a plurality of spacers. The spacers couple the cars a fixed distance apart to form a shuttle. The shuttle is guided along a track between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the shuttle is aligned with a first group of supports. The shuttle in the first position receives conveyable material from the supports. The shuttle in the second position is aligned with a second group of supports. The shuttle disposes the conveyable material from each of the cars carrying the conveyable material to the second group of supports. A drive means repeatedly drives the shuttle between the first position and the second position. The cars remain the fixed distance apart during the driving between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a picker for electronic components (24, 25, 26), more particularly for picking and subsequently testing the components (24, 25, 26). The picker has a fixed feed rail (11) for accommodating a plurality of components (24, 25, 26) arranged juxtaposed in a row as well as a conveyor unit (17) arranged at an exit opening (43) of the feed rail (11) and perpendicularly shiftable thereto. The conveyor unit has a window (27) suitable for receiving a single component (24, 25, 26). An impact-controllable stop (14) is provided in the feed rail (11) upstream of the conveyor unit (17) for arresting components (24, 25, 26) accommodated in the feed rail (11). The spacing between the stop (14) and an end of the feed rail (11) facing the conveyor unit (17) is substantially twice the overall length of a component (24, 25, 26). Pressure acting on a single component (24; 25; 26) arranged in the conveyor window (27) is reduced.

Abstract: A plane-template conveyor for a thermoforming plant for obtaining a plurality or moulding of thermoformed hollow objects including at least one thermoforming press having at least one male die or mould, at least one female die and at least one picking up and transferring group for sequentially picking up and transferring mouldings of thermoformed objects from a die to a template conveyor, the said conveyor comprising a support frame which delimits an endless path, a plurality of templates movably mounted on the said endless path and each having a number of receiving seats equal to that of the objects of one mould, a plurality of driving means spaced along the said endless path to cause a sequential and discontinuous movement of the said templates at a predetermined speed between one template and the other.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting and carrying articles having a support frame and carriage for transferring an article. The apparatus includes at least one first drive for converting rotational movement of a crank member into harmonic linear motion for lifting and lowering the carriage between a first position and a second position along a first path of travel. A second drive moves the carriage between a first position and a second position along a second path of travel.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus for an article or group of articles includes a carriage assembly (6) for moving an article substantially horizontally from a first location to a second location. The carriage assembly (6) includes an elongate transfer member (19) and a conveyor (20) which is movable relative to the elongate transfer member (19). A support (1) engages and supports the carriage assembly (6) so that the elongate transfer member (19) is movable substantially vertically on the support (1).

Abstract: A mounting plate (16) for attaching a finger (14) to extend in a cantilevered fashion from a transfer bar (12) in a work piece transfer assembly for a press including a reciprocating member and a series of longitudinally spaced in-line stations wherein each station is a further progression of a work piece forming process. The finger (14) includes a shank (18) and a pair of shank fasteners (16) extend downwardly through the transfer bar (12) to threadedly engage the shank (18) and force the shank (18) against the bottom (28) of the transfer bar (12). A pair of columns (22) extend upwardly above the transfer bar (12) to engage the heads (20) of the shank fasteners (16). Each of the columns (22) include a relief portion (32) defining a shoulder engaging the bottom (28) of the transfer bar (12) as the relief portion (32) extends into the bottom (28) of the transfer bar (12).

Abstract: The invention relates to a picker for electronic components (24, 25, 26), more particularly for picking and subsequently testing the components (24, 25, 26). The picker comprises a fixed feed rail (11) for accommodating a plurality of components (24, 25, 26) arranged juxtaposed in a row as well as a conveyor unit (17) arranged at an exit opening (43) of the feed rail (11) and perpendicularly shiftable thereto. The conveyor unit comprises a window (27) suitable for receiving a single component (24, 25, 26).

Abstract: A workpiece positioner is provided which is adapted to move a workpiece from a load/unload zone to a work zone spaced from the load/unload zone. The workpiece positioner comprises a first stationary frame, a second frame coupled to the first frame so as to be rotatable relative to the first frame about a first axis, a first drive device for effecting rotation of the second frame about the first axis, and a first workpiece holder adapted to releasably receive a workpiece. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, the first holder is rotatably mounted to the second frame so that the workpiece holder and the workpiece are maintained in a substantially constant orientation relative to the first frame as the second frame is rotated about the first axis. In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, the workpiece positioner further includes a second drive device coupled to the second frame so as to move with the second frame.

Abstract: A circuit-like system which includes a lower conveyor line, an upper conveyor line and a pair of lift or transfer mechanisms at the end of each line constructed for moving a work piece. A travel and hoist mechanism and a beam assembly are provided for discontinuously moving work pieces along the lower line and raising and lowering them for treatment. A hook assembly is provided for restraining the downward movement of a work piece at a selected location when the hook assembly is in an operative position. The lift or transfer mechanism is provided which includes telescoping arms for grasping a work piece, which arms are carried by a vertically moveable carrier that is mounted in a stationary frame.

Abstract: A substrate transfer apparatus, for minimizing flexion or bending when transferring a large-sized angular substrate or plate, wherein transfer arms are constructed with holding portions extending in a direction perpendicular to a transfer direction and further holding portions extending in a direction parallel to the transfer direction, respectively. As a result of this, it is possible to suspend the glass substrate W at the four peripheral side portions from below by means of the holding portions of the transfer arms and to move or transfer it suspended in this way.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying conveyable material. The apparatus includes a plurality of cars joined together by a plurality of spacers. The spacers couple the cars a fixed distance apart to form a shuttle. The shuttle is guided along a track between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the shuttle is aligned with a first group of supports. The shuttle in the first position receives conveyable material from the supports. The shuttle in the second position is aligned with a second group of supports. The shuttle disposes the conveyable material from each of the cars carrying the conveyable material to the second group of supports. A drive means repeatedly drives the shuttle between the first position and the second position. The cars remain the fixed distance apart during the driving between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A workpiece transfer apparatus includes a support member and first and second control shafts. The control shafts are rotatably supported by the support member in a spaced-apart configuration. A workpiece support is operably connected to the first and second control shafts. The workpiece support is shaped to support a workpiece during transfer. Rotation of the first control shaft shifts the workpiece support in a first direction, and rotation of the second control shaft shifts the workpiece support in a second direction. A lead screw is disposed parallel to the control shaft, and shifts the workpiece support along the lead screw upon rotation of the same.

Abstract: A transporting apparatus includes a conveyor for advancing items and a transfer apparatus for lifting the items off the conveyor and for depositing the items at a location externally of the conveyor. The transfer apparatus has hoisting devices spaced from one another in the conveying direction. Each hoisting device has first and second lifters spaced from one another in a direction transverse to the conveying direction and being situated bilaterally of the conveyor. A first drive moves the first and second lifters into raised and lowered positions; and a second drive moves the first and second lifters toward and away from one another to cause them to assume a normal position and a spread-out position. First and second tray parts of a tray forming part of each hoisting device are mounted on the first and second lifter, respectively. In the raised and lowered positions the trays are clear of a travel path of the items on the conveyor.

Abstract: An arrangement for conveying plates (4) in particular mother plates with or without a deposited metal layer, in an electrolytic metal refining plant, wherein the plates are intended to be conveyed in the conveyor arrangement (25, 50) along at least one horizontal conveyor path with the plates orientated generally vertical and equidistant from one another therealong, characterized in that the conveyor arrangement is of the walking beam kind and includes fixed supports (28, 54) and at least one walking beam (30, 62) having movable supports (31, 67), wherein the walking beam is arranged to move in a cyclic pattern, including a lifting movement in which all the plates conveyed along the path are lifted by the movable supports from their fixed supports in a first position, a forward movement in which all plates are advanced simultaneously one step while resting on their movable supports, a lowering movement in which the plates are placed on fixed supports in a new, second position, and a return movement, wherein t

Abstract: A flexible drive tape conveyor system for conveying items between at least two spaced apart stations includes a carrier member and at least one tape guide track having a tape guide. The drive tape is substantially inflexible in a direction transverse to its width, and is at least partially housed in the tape guide. At least a portion of a tape guide track and tape guide are twisted about their longitudinal axis so that the drive tape and its affected carrier member can be turned in a direction transverse to the width of the drive tape. A drive mechanism is used to selectively reciprocate the drive tape and the carrier member between the spaced apart stations.

Abstract: A carrying system for carrying a lead frame of a semiconductor device includes first and second carriers located on the same side of a carrier line, one carrier located above the other carrier. The first and second carriers are movable from along the carrier line, from a start point to a processing area and to an end point. The first and second carriers each include a holder for holding the lead frame on a specific end of the lead frame. By holding the lead frame on the same side of the carrier line and at a specific end of the lead frame, holding position deviation is minimized.