Abstract: A vending machine is equipped with a dispensing device that includes a plate, a track, carriers, a work station, a driving unit and a sensor. The plate is horizontally placed in a vending machine. The track is connected to the plate. The carriers are movably connected to the track for carrying products. The work station causes a selected one of the carriers to release the corresponding one of the products. The driving unit drives the carriers along the track. The sensor senses the selected one of the carriers and accordingly stops the driving unit so that the selected one of the carriers is placed at the work station.

Abstract: In a transport system, a plurality of carriers are attached to an endless belt configured to rotate in a circulating manner. At a station, a hand, a driver configured to move the hand in a rotation direction and a vertical direction, a first carrier sensor configured to detect the carriers at a predetermined position upstream of the hand along the rotation direction of the endless driving medium, and a second carrier sensor configured to detect the carriers at a position downstream of the first carrier sensor are provided. When the carriers pass through the second carrier sensor, it is checked whether the moving distance of the belt matches the distance between the two carrier sensors. In this manner, before starting loading or unloading, for example, whether the encoder is operated normally or not can be confirmed.

Abstract: A transfer system for providing faster and increased volume processing of eggs having an overhead positioned egg conveyor. A rotating brush wheel positioned underneath the conveyor receives eggs and includes a first and second pluralities of bristles having, respectively, lesser and greater stiffness. An egg receiving reservoir exhibits a receiving lane positioned underneath and in alignment with the brush wheel for receiving and redirecting the eggs in a lane dedicated fashion to a subsequent egg handling operation. A plurality of spool bars are arranged in parallel extending and spaced apart fashion and defining a number of individual egg conveying lanes and each further include first and second spool bar portions secured in end-to-end fashion to establish an overall dimension.

Abstract: A method of transporting containers, each comprising a body having a bottom and, at its opposite end, a mouth, the method comprising the steps of: supporting each container over a portion only of its bottom by means of a support that is movable with the container, and centering the mouth of the container on a container travel path, the centering being provided by clamping a portion of the container in the neighborhood of its mouth; and moving the containers as supported in this way.

Abstract: A transfer system for providing faster and increased volume processing of eggs having an overhead positioned egg conveyor. A rotating brush wheel positioned underneath the conveyor receives eggs and includes a first and second pluralities of bristles having, respectively, lesser and greater stiffness. An egg receiving reservoir exhibits a receiving lane positioned underneath and in alignment with the brush wheel for receiving and redirecting the eggs in a lane dedicated fashion to a subsequent egg handling operation. A plurality of spool bars are arranged in parallel extending and spaced apart fashion and defining a number of individual egg conveying lanes and each further include first and second spool bar portions secured in end-to-end fashion to establish an overall dimension.

Abstract: An improved conveyor assembly includes a conveyor belt for conveying a product to one or more product operations is disclosed. Such conveyor assembly includes a pair of spaced apart side frames that support the conveyor belt and between which the conveyor belt rotates. The side frames are formed from an upstanding member and a inwardly extending horizontal member. Both the frame upstanding member and the frame horizontal member carry a series of elongated slots. One or more L-shaped brackets are formed from a generally upstanding member and an inwardly extending member. Both the bracket upstanding member and the bracket horizontal member carry a series of elongated slots. The bracket horizontal member slots are configured to overlay the frame elongate horizontal member slots, and the bracket upstanding member slots are configured to overlay the frame upstanding member slots for attaching components to the frames.

Abstract: A shopping cart conveyor system that moves a shopping cart from one location to another along a path. The system includes a frame, a track coupled to the frame, and a conveyor coupled to the frame and having an engagement member (e.g., multiple engagement members) adapted to engage a shopping cart. The engagement member is movable (e.g., pivotable) relative to the track from a first position, where the engagement member will engage and move the shopping cart along the path, and a second position, where the engagement member is capable of releasing engagement of the shopping cart. Preferably, the engagement member is biased toward the first position (e.g., by a resilient member). In one embodiment, the engagement member includes an engagement surface adapted to engage the shopping cart and defining an engagement angle between the engagement surface and a reference axis parallel to the path.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus for transferring a body side of an automotive vehicle which is supported so that a front-to-rear direction of the body side coincides with a transfer direction, includes a hanger having a plurality of support members for supporting a side sill lower portion, a rear pillar or its adjacent portion and an arch portion front side of a rear wheel house of the body side, respectively. The hanger is configured to support the body side in a posture inclining inboard of the automotive vehicle and declining toward a rear end of the body side hanger is further configured so that the body side is urged only by its own weight against the support members so as to be positioned and supported thereby. A transfer method for the body side is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a linear conveyer assembly for cathode plates comprising a continuous timing belt provided with cathode plate conveying assemblies attached thereto and having cam rollers running in a pair of channels running along either side of and parallel to a forward path of the belt. The conveying assemblies insure that the cathode plate conveying assemblies are aligned in an overhead position in such a way that the cathode plates move in a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface thereof. The timing belt is fabricated from a corrosive resistant material and allows an accurate positioning of the cathode plates due to a non-permanent stretch character thereof.

Abstract: A spout-equipped bag feed apparatus allows an increased number of spout-equipped bags to be stored. A plurality of conveyor rails are attached to a conveying device at a predetermined space and carried along an endless track. Each conveyor rail is capable of being loaded with and unloaded of a plurality of spout-equipped bags from one end thereof and capable of supporting the spout portions of the bags in such a manner that the bags are movable in the axial direction. Loading of bags into the conveyor rail is effected with a bag loading tool capable of being loaded with and unloaded of bags from one end thereof and capable of supporting the spout portions of the bags in such a manner that the bags are movable in the axial direction. The one end of the bag loading tool is butted against the one end of the conveyor rail, and the bags are pushed into the conveyor rail.

Abstract: A produce sizing transport mechanism includes an endless conveyor carrying a plurality of downwardly depending produce retaining members which define an elongated produce retaining zone below at least one portion of the endless conveyor. At least part of the produce retaining members may be movable between a first closed position in which produce is retained within the elongated produce retaining zone and a plurality of further open positions enabling produce of predetermined sizes or size ranges to be released from the produce retaining zone. The retaining members may include a produce support region located generally beneath the produce retaining zone when the produce retaining members are located in the first closed position.

Abstract: A overhead conveyor in which a pair of front hanger arms 2a, 2a for loading the bottom part of front part of a vehicle body and a pair of rear hanger arms 2d, 2d for loading the bottom part of rear part of a vehicle body are arranged at a hanger body 2d which moves along with the running rail established in the ceiling side, characterized in that one of said pair of front hanger arms 2a, 2a and said pair of rear hanger arms 2b, 2b is movably attached to said hanger body 2d, said hanger body 2d having an engaging groove 13 for engaging said movably attached pair of hanger arm at each engaging position of vehicle body through each engaging lever 14, having an actuator 16 to control the engaging-and-disengaging movement of said engaging lever.

Abstract: Anti-jam J-bar structure for handling workpieces, such as lumber, in a workpiece transport system, such as a lumber sorter. Workpieces travel in a single, common flow direction in the system, and are handed-off through a transfer zone between upstream and downstream conveyors, the latter one of which is equipped with the proposed J-bar structure. The J-bars in this structure include spring-biased, pivoted articulation between inner and outer components, and this articulation allows anti-jam yielding and accommodation to occur should a J-bar inadvertently and incorrectly engage a workpiece.