Abstract: An apparatus for transporting springs comprises a transport device configured to receive a spring and a retaining mechanism configured to retain the spring received by the transport device. The retaining mechanism has at least one retaining member which comprises a magnetic material and which is mounted to be displaceable relative to the transport device. The apparatus comprises a release mechanism configured to release the spring received by the transport device. The release mechanism is configured to cause a relative displacement between the transport device and the at least one retaining member. The invention also relates to a method of transporting springs.

Abstract: A retaining bracket used in bottle processing includes a clamp having clamp arms that pivot in a horizontal plane for grasping bottle necks, a sliding sleeve for receiving a hinge pin entering therein from an upward direction, the hinge pin having a magnetizable or magnetically free end, a first permanent magnet disposed in a lower region of the sleeve for interacting with the free end of the hinge pin, a pivotable sleeve for receiving a second pin parallel to the hinge pin, the second pin having, at a free end thereof, a permanent magnet or magnetically influenced region that exerts an attractive force tending to center and restore the clamp, and a brace-like projection that engages below the clamp when the clamp is in a locked position.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a bottle clamp having first and second clamp arms extending beyond respective first and second pivot axes. The clamp arms are held in a closed position. A rotatable locking element part is provided on an extension region of the first clamp arm, and a fixed locking element part is provided on an extension region of the second clamp arm.

Abstract: An apparatus for gripping a PET bottle in a bottling plant includes gripper arms and a holding element for holding the gripper arms. The holding element is mounted to deflect by rotating around a vertical axis. The apparatus also includes a centering device that forces the gripper arms back into a centered position after a deflection thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are used to transfer workpieces, in particular preforms or bottles. The workpiece is subjected to pressure by a gripper-like holding device, which has at least one gripper arm arranged pivotably relative to a gripper carrier. The gripper arm is pivoted in order to perform gripping and releasing movements. The pivoting motion of the gripper arm is controlled by at least one magnet, particularly a permanent magnet.

Abstract: The invention relates to the conveyance and preferably also to the electrical contacting of an item to be treated (1), for example in the form of a printed circuit board or a conductor foil, in an electrolysis system. A device according to the invention comprises a large number of clamps (10) able to move along a conveyance path (4) and driven by a continuously revolving drive means (20). The device is configured in such a way that the clamps (10) at the start (4a) of the conveyance path (4) are brought from an open state into a closed state in order to grip and preferably also electrically to contact the item to be treated, and that the clamps (10) respectively at the end (4b) of the conveyance path (4) are brought from the closed into the open state in order to re-release the item to be treated (1).

Abstract: An apparatus for capturing bottle necks in bottle filling installations includes a clip having clip arms. The clip arms are pivotable in a horizontal plane and mounted so as to be jointly pivotable in a horizontal plane about a pivot axis. The apparatus also includes an attachment for a magnet, and another magnet provided with the attachment and disposed on a side of the attachment such that the pivot axis is between the magnet and the clip arms, and a clip holding block configured to be secured onto a star and facing the clip and having a magnet. The magnet on the attachment and the magnet on the clip holding block are essentially opposite and spaced apart from each other by a distance that ensures horizontal pivoting movements of the clip.

Abstract: Object transfer device comprising a frame (3,20,63,58), at least one gripper (6,22,22a,62,57a,57b) having a gripper body (7,25,45) and means of guiding the gripper body with respect to the frame; the gripper being equipped with one or more jaws (8,28a,28b,46) mobile with respect to the gripper body (7,25,45). The gripper comprises a magnetic element (12,32,44,52,56) capable, when it is subjected to a magnetic field greater than an efficiency threshold, of exerting a force on at least one mobile jaw. The frame comprises a control device (24,49,50) of the gripper capable of creating a magnetic field greater than the efficiency threshold in at least one zone (14,15) of the frame dedicated to the operation of the gripper. Said gripper body guide means is designed so that the magnetic element of the gripper is driven in translation along a movement path (13,33) passing through the operation zone (14,15) of the gripper defined by the control device (24,49,50).

Abstract: A device which is suitable for processing agricultural products such as bulbous plants, is provided at least with at least a magnetic track comprising a number of magnet segments of alternating polarity. The device is further provided with at least one magnet which is movable with respect to the magnetic track. A function element connected to the magnet is movable in dependence on the position of the magnet relative to the magnet segments of the magnetic track.

Abstract: A solar cell module conveyer comprising an assembly line for intermittently feeding solar cells that constitute a solar cell module, and having machinery arranged for successively executing the working/treating steps; belt conveyers working as an inspection line which is synchronized with the assembly line to inspect the solar cell module fabricated on the assembly line through various working/treatment steps; and a transfer mechanism for transferring the solar cell module from the assembly line onto the belt conveyers.

Abstract: A gripper for containers, in particular for bottles, with at least first and second gripper arms (1, 2) which are mounted such that they can pivot and are acted on in the gripping pivoting direction by magnetically interacting permanent magnets such as, permanent magnets which simultaneously repel one another and attract one another are arranged in such a way that the sum of the repelling and attracting forces which act in the gripping pivoting direction on the gripper arms is substantially constant within a predetermined gripping range (d1 to d2) of the gripper which covers different container gripping sizes.

Abstract: A magnet assembly for a conveyor system transporting a ferromagnetic container includes a housing having a unitary configuration. The housing defines a pocket, and a magnetic circuit is disposed in the pocket. The magnetic circuit produces a magnetic field having a magnetic flux. The magnetic circuit attracts the ferromagnetic container being transported by the conveyor system. In addition, a method of forming the magnet assembly to radiate the magnetic field includes providing the unitary housing having an opening and inserting the magnetic circuit into the unitary housing. The method further includes encapsulating the magnetic circuit in the unitary housing to form the magnet assembly.

Abstract: An automated feeder transports pastry product dishes and/or moulds and includes a movable headstock arranged transversely above a first conveyor. The headstock includes an upper plate, a main linear actuator attached thereto, a lower mobile plate extendable by the main linear actuator, and a plurality of magnetic elements attached to the lower mobile plate. The magnetic elements hold a plurality of metallic plates in a predetermined arrangement. The headstock also includes at least two secondary vertical linear actuators disposed on the upper plate for actuating a releasing mechanism to dislodge the dishes from the magnetic elements and a transportation mechanism to provide longitudinal movement along a pair of longitudinal rails. The transportation mechanism permits the headstock to move between a first position over the first conveyor to a second position over a second.

Abstract: A machine for inspecting a container having a vertical axis has an inspection station including an inspection device for carrying out an inspection on a transparent container relative to a vertical inspection axis. The bottle is delivered to the inspection station by a conveyor, which includes structure for engaging the sidewall of the bottle. The invention is an object to be inspected by such an inspection machine, which includes a container like adaptor having a vertical axis, and configured for handling by the conveyor structure so that when the container like adaptor engages the structure, the conveyor will deliver the container like adaptor to the inspection station. The container like adaptor has a horizontal top surface and a vertical axis, and a magnet is mounted in the top surface having a centering axis coincident with the vertical axis of the container like adaptor.

Abstract: A conveyor system has an elongated guide defining a closed transport path extending through a plurality of treatment stations and a plurality of carriers movable on the guide along the path and each capable of holding a respective workpiece. At least one magnet is provided on each carrier, and an annular row of individually energizeable electromagnets extends along the path and is capable of exerting force on the magnets of the carriers so as to displace the respective carriers along the path. A plurality of sensors spaced along the path detect the carriers and generate outputs indicating positions and movement of the carriers along the path. At least some of the electromagnets at least intermittently form some of the sensors.

Abstract: A conveyor system has a monitor for entering information about sheets, an input/output control console for setting operating conditions of a first conveyor and a second conveyor based on the information about the sheets, and a power control console for operating the first conveyor and the second conveyor based on the operating conditions. The information about the sheets includes information as to the length of each of the sheets and data as to the position where the sheets are loaded from a press. A conveyor feed length representative of a feed cycle of a sheet on the first conveyor and the second conveyor, and the number of sheets on the second conveyor are automatically determined based on the length of the sheets and the data.

Abstract: A work fixing device in which the load of the conveyor is not increased even when using a fixed magnet. The work fixing device comprises: plurality of plates, on each plate of the plurality of plates a work with a ferromagnetic portion being mounted; a transporter for endlessly connecting and circulating the plurality of plates; at least one machining head provided above the transporter, a magnet fixed to the transporter, the magnet fixing the work, which is transported by the transporter, through magnetic force on each plate of the plurality of plates within a working range of the machining head; and a nonmagnetic clearance holder for separating the magnet and the work from each other at a predetermined interval.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for receiving parts traveling at a first speed through a receiving zone and applying the parts onto a carrier traveling at a second speed through an application zone. Transferring devices transport the parts between the zones. The transferring devices are coupled to programmable servo motors capable of varying the speed of the transferring devices to accommodate the receiving and application processes. The receiving and application operations may be performed at matched or mismatched surface speeds. The parts to be received and applied may be formed by a rotating knife, which may vary in speed. Adhesive may be used to hold the parts on the carrier web. In some embodiments, the transferring devices transfer the parts to a bonding anvil roll and the parts and a carrier web are compressed between the bonding anvil roll and a bonding pattern roll to bond the parts to the carrier web.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for receiving a material web traveling at a first speed in a receiving zone, forming discrete parts from the material web, and applying the discrete parts onto a carrier traveling at a second speed through an application zone. The apparatus has a cutting device for severing the material web to form the discrete parts. At least two shells for receiving the discrete parts in the receiving zone and applying the discrete parts in the application zone are used. The shells may be coupled to programmable motors for moving said shell in an orbital path. A roll may be positioned interior to said shells. The cutting device may be used to sever the material web between said shells and against said roll. The roll may be a vacuum roll that provides vacuum in order to hold the discrete parts against said shells.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for receiving a material web traveling at a first speed in a receiving zone, forming discrete parts from the material web, and applying the discrete parts onto a carrier traveling at a second speed through an application zone. The apparatus has a cutting device for severing the material web to form the discrete parts. At least two shells for receiving the discrete parts in the receiving zone and applying the discrete parts in the application zone are used. The shells may be coupled to programmable motors for moving said shell in an orbital path. A roll may be positioned interior to said shells. The cutting device may be used to sever the material web between said shells and against said roll. The roll may be a vacuum roll that provides vacuum in order to hold the discrete parts against said shells.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving parts traveling at a first speed through a receiving zone and applying the parts to a carrier traveling at a second speed through an application zone. The method and apparatus utilizes transferring devices for transporting the parts between the zones. The transferring devices are coupled to programmable servo motors capable of varying the speed of the transferring devices to accommodate the receiving and application processes.

Abstract: An apparatus whereby cylindrical cans formed of a ferromagnetic material and transported at high speed along a carrying conveyor in such a contiguous way as having no gaps between adjoining cylindrical cans are separated so as to provide a spacing therebetween to eliminate interference between the adjoining cylindrical cans, thereby supplying a plurality of cylindrical cans with reliability to a main index wheel of an automatic machine for producing cylindrical cans. The apparatus includes a carrying conveyor, star index wheel, supply index wheel and main index wheel. The supply index wheel has permanent magnets, each holding an individual cylindrical can by suction. The transport speed of a plurality of cylindrical cans transported along a conveyor at high speed is reduced for a moment by the star index wheel.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for receiving parts traveling at a first speed through a receiving zone and applying the parts onto a carrier traveling at a second speed through an application zone. Transferring devices transport the parts between the zones. The transferring devices are coupled to programmable servo motors capable of varying the speed of the transferring devices to accommodate the receiving and application processes. The receiving and application operations may be performed at matched or mismatched surface speeds. The parts to be received and applied may be formed by a rotating knife, which may vary in speed. Adhesive may be used to hold the parts on the carrier web. In some embodiments, the transferring devices transfer the parts to a bonding anvil roll and the parts and a carrier web are compressed between the bonding anvil roll and a bonding pattern roll to bond the parts to the carrier web.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving parts traveling at a first speed through a receiving zone and applying the parts to a carrier traveling at a second speed through an application zone. The method and apparatus utilizes transferring devices for transporting the parts between the zones. The transferring devices are coupled to programmable servo motors capable of varying the speed of the transferring devices to accommodate the receiving and application processes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus comprising a conveyance belt, on which stripe shaped electrodes each fed to a voltage different from that fed to one another are alternatively arranged, for conveying a sheet in attracting the sheet with electrostatic force and power supplying means disposed on an inner side of the conveyance belt for supplying voltage to the electrodes.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus and an image recording apparatus in which an electrode at a particular position on a conveying belt is formed in a particular aspect, whereby the position can be recognized without a marker or the like being discretely required. The sheet conveying apparatus and the image recording apparatus have a conveying belt for conveying a sheet, and comb-teeth electrodes having a plurality of electrodes installed in the conveying direction of the conveying belt, and the electrode at a particular position among the comb-teeth electrodes is formed in a particular aspect, and a probe for detecting the aspect of the electrode is provided, and the operation is controlled on the basis of the information by the probe.