Abstract: A product conveying and accumulation system is provided for use with products of various sizes, shapes, and stability characteristics. The system comprises multiple moving conveyors, including a first conveyor which transports product from an upstream location to the inner path of an accumulator conveyor. The accumulator conveyor, traveling at a substantially similar speed or a designated variable speed as the first conveyor or conveyors, is aligned in the same plane as, is adjacent to, and may mate with the first conveyor at a predetermined location at the inner path of the accumulator conveyor for contiguous movement in the same direction as the first conveyor at this predetermined location.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanism for returning processed work pieces (7) from the output side to the loading side of a processing unit, which mechanism has a transfer mechanism (1) to transfer the work pieces (7) at the output side of the processing unit, a return mechanism (2) for transporting work pieces (7) delivered by the transfer mechanism (1) back to the loading side of the processing unit or to a further processing unit, and a lifting mechanism to lift the work pieces (7) to a return position located above the output position, whereby the lifting mechanism is located between the transfer mechanism (1) and the return mechanism (2) and has a lifting platform (3), with the lifting mechanism having a crank drive (4), by means of which the lifting platform (3) can be raised and lowered.

Abstract: In a device for recovering exceeding articles from a blister band on a blistering machine, the blister band is moved in a forward movement direction through a station for feeding the articles to the blisters. A displacing device is situated very close to the blister band for removing exceeding articles while a conveying device recovers the exceeding articles removed from the blister band by the use of a rotating drum. The rotating drum is hollow and has a plurality of radial separating plates defining a number of niches. The niches receive the exceeding articles removed from the blister band and a transport conveyor receives the exceeding articles present in the niches and brings the articles to the feeding station.

Abstract: A parts feeder for a robot has a selection zone accessible to the robot, a device for changing the orientation and/or the position of the parts stochastically, and a device with a parts recirculation element for recirculating the parts. The device for changing the orientation and/or the position of the parts stochastically is a vibrating platform constructed at the same time as a selection zone vibrating platform can be brought relative to each other into two different positions in such a way that in the first position the vibrating platform can be brought relative to each other into two different positions in such a way that in the first position the vibrating platform can be loaded with parts from the parts recirculation element and in the second position the parts which fall down from the vibrating platform can be collected by the parts recirculation element.

Abstract: A product conveying and accumulation system is provided for use with products of various sizes, shapes, and stability characteristics. The system comprises multiple moving conveyors, including a first conveyor which transports product from an upstream location. This same conveyor or another conveyor delivers product to a downstream location. An accumulator conveyor, traveling at a substantially similar speed or a designated variable speed as the first conveyor or conveyors, is aligned in the same plane as, is adjacent to, and may mate with the first conveyor at a predetermined location for contiguous movement in the same direction as the first conveyor at this predetermined location. A product guide is provided which allows for the movement of product from the upstream to downstream locations during normal operation and directs product to the accumulator section of the second conveyor when there is a disruption or malfunction downstream.

Abstract: An interlocking transfer system includes a workstation having four or more sides, each of which is positioned at 90° angles from the next adjacent side. A cam lift assembly is provided on each of the sides and a means for moving the pallets horizontally. The cam lift assembly is actuated by a reciprocating cylinder which operates to lift and lower the pallets. While pallets are lifted, they are also advanced horizontally using either an external reciprocating cylinder, a motor or by hand. The interlocking transfer system of the present invention provides high efficiency and low transfer rate. It also eliminates the need for lift and locate devices, transfer space due to traffic control, and end-to-end cross transfers. The interlocking transfer system of the present invention also provides for interchangeable fixtures.

Abstract: A mattress storage and sorting conveyor, which discharges to one or more extendable conveyors, has a feed section that collects the mattress from one or more wrappers and inserts the mattress onto a circulating system which stores the mattresses until ready to be transferred. A short length of the circulating system may be repositioned to discharge a particular mattress to one or more conveyors that transport the mattress to a respective extendable conveyor. An operator at a control station selects which mattress to discharge from the circulating system. The conveyor system is controlled by a series of sensors, relays, and motor controllers to prevent or minimize the collisions between mattresses on the circulating system of the conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for singulating and delivering wire leads as part of an electrode welding process in lamp production. Leads in bulk form are transported by a feeder. The leads are dropped from the feeder and passively caught in a desired orientation within a rotational turret. The turret delivers the leads to an exit point. The leads are processed at the exit point by pick-and-place equipment.

Abstract: An apparatus for uniformly distributing parts on a conveyor surface which includes a storage bin for holding randomly oriented parts in bulk, a conveyor adjacent the storage bin for acquiring a fragment of the randomly oriented parts in the storage bin and delivering that fragment of randomly oriented parts to a chute, a vibratory conveyor receiving the fragment of randomly oriented parts from said chute, and a belt conveyor for receiving the randomly oriented parts from said vibratory conveyor. The vibratory conveyor includes at least one rib projecting upward therefrom and extending across at least a section of the vibratory conveyor perpendicular to the direction of conveyance, the at least one rib acting as a flow obstruction to cause the randomly oriented parts traveling on the vibratory conveyor to gather and spread across a width of said vibratory conveyor to thereby spread more uniformly on the vibratory conveyor after passing over the at least one rib.

Abstract: A slippable roller conveyor for a class one cleanroom. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a slippable roller conveyor with a surface path for conveying objects that is largely open so as to facilitate the downward flow of air from a clean air source above the conveyor to an evacuator below the conveyor. The slippable rollers include guiding flanges to resist lateral movement of the object being conveyed. The conveyor includes skirts with substantially smooth surfaces and minimal horizontal surfaces that assist in discouraging lateral flow of the clean air. Also, one embodiment of the invention includes a powered transfer mechanism for transferring objects from one conveyor path to another conveyor path. The transfer mechanism is enclosed and evacuated so as to prevent the escape of particulate matter into the cleanroom. The driving mechanism, motor, and electrical components are also contained in evacuated enclosures.

Abstract: A litter screening and separating machine including a storage compartment, a loader at one end of the storage compartment for picking up encrusted litter material from the floor of a chicken house, a conveyor including a pair of chains for moving the encrusted litter from the loader to the storage compartment. A baffle plate adjacent to and beneath the conveyor chain prevents contamination of the conveyor chain. Vibrator rollers adjacent the pair of chains for engagement with tabs on spaced links of each chain for vibrating the loading flights. Trap doors beneath the upper run of the conveyor may be opened to permit some of the material collected to fall back to the floor of the poultry house. One can regulate the amount of material thus recycled by independently opening and closing the trap doors.

Abstract: Wheeled carts are pushed onto an inlet end of a conveyor and are automatically advanced, one at a time, to a cross conveyor for delivery to a cart loader conveyor. A cart loader is provided near the outlet end of the cart loader conveyor for automatically loading bundles into a wheeled cart. The input conveyor advances wheeled carts one cart position at a time. Cart positions along the input conveyor are monitored by sensors to automatically control advancement of wheeled carts therealong. A cart delivered from the outlet end of the input conveyor to the cross conveyor activates a cross conveyor limit switch advancing the cart delivered thereto to a position for feeding a wheeled cart onto the cart loader conveyor. A limit switch is actuated when the wheeled cart reaches this position where upon a push bar pushes the cart activating the limit switch onto the cart loader conveyor. The conveyor system in cart handling are preferably operated by hydraulic devices due to their compactness.

Abstract: A compact article singulation conveyor includes a receiving portion which receives articles in random order including clusters of side-by-side articles and a discharge portion from which articles are discharged in a single file singulated stream. A first conveying surface transports articles longitudinally from the receiving portion to the discharge portion. A recirculating bed removes side-by-side articles from a downstream portion of the first conveying surface to an upstream portion of the first conveying surface. The recirculating bed may be made up of at least one peel-away conveyor having a second conveying surface adapted to move side-by-side articles laterally off the first conveying surface, at least one coupling conveyor having a third conveying surface adapted to move articles from the second conveying surface upstream and at least one return conveyor having a fourth conveying surface adapted to move articles from the third conveying surface to the first conveying surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of removing and transporting empty, recyclable, aluminum and plastic beverage containers returned to redemption centers without requiring the redemption centers to sort the containers by distributor and then separate the containers into like materials for removal. The present invention also illuminates the burden imposed on the distributors from having to pick up the containers from the redemption centers, then shred or bale the materials, and then sell the materials to recyclers. The invention comprises the steps of collecting and depositing the aluminum and plastic containers into a single holding bin at the redemption center's facilities. Using a blower such as a centrifugal fan and chute to blow the contents of the holding bin into a transporter such as a semi-trailer or compactor. Transporting the transporter to a separating facility which automatically separates the aluminum and plastic containers into like materials.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing a sequence of machine operations on connecting rod blanks to convert the blanks from an original casting to a finished product includes loading parts at a beginning of a process stream for performing various machining operations on the parts as the parts travel along the process stream. The process stream is defined at least in part by a first path portion extending between opposing work stations for partially machining the parts, and recirculating the partially machined parts along the process stream into a second path portion. The second path portion extends parallel with the first path portion of the process stream in order to provide generally symmetrically opposing machining operations at the opposing work stations along a portion of the process stream. Lift and carry devices engage and move the raw parts and recirculating parts simultaneously between adjacent opposing work stations in step fashion.

Abstract: A tote conveyor system for transporting totes from an end-of-use point to the point-of-use. The conveyor system comprising a combination of conveyors including a vertical conveyor and a substantial horizontal conveyor with a means to transferring totes between the two different systems.

Abstract: A compact article singulation conveyor includes a receiving portion which receives articles in random order including clusters of side-by-side articles and a discharge portion from which articles are discharged in a single file singulated stream. A first conveying surface transports articles longitudinally from the receiving portion to the discharge portion. A recirculating bed removes side-by-side articles from a downstream portion of the first conveying surface to an upstream portion of the first conveying surface. The recirculating bed is made up of at least one peel-away conveyor having a second conveying surface adapted to move side-by-side articles laterally off the first conveying surface, at least one coupling conveyor having a third conveying surface adapted to move articles from the second conveying surface upstream and at least one return conveyor having a fourth conveying surface adapted to move articles from the third conveying surface to the first conveying surface.

Abstract: A magazine arrangement (1) comprises a number of lengthy, open cassettes (2), serving to accomodate stacks of e.g. can lids (5). The arrangement comprises furthermore an apparatus (3) with an inclined stand (4). The cassettes (2) are transported through the apparatus along a first, a second and a third path (7; 13 and 14). In the first path (7) there is a device (6) for charging or discharging a cassette. The second and third path (13, 14) extends horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the first path (7) and serves for carrying empty or charged cassettes to or from this path (7) and at the same time being able to accumulate a supply of such cassettes. During the passage of the apparatus the cassettes (2) are standing upright with forwards turning opening. The inclination of the stand (4) and thereby the inclination of the cassettes has the consequence that the apparatus (3) can function without guides to prevent the cassettes (2) from tilting.

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: A method and apparatus for distributing dry ice from a central source, through a distribution network of feed conveyors, to one or more remote dispensing stations where the dry ice is dispensed into packaging containers. The feed conveyors are provided with low-friction material ice-contacting surfaces to prevent clumping and sticking of the ice. A programmable electronic controller enables automatic dispensing of batches of predetermined quantities of dry ice to the packaging containers.

Abstract: Particulate material falling from an end of a belt positioned within a rotatable hollowed drum is distributed over an axial width of the interior wall of the drum by a guiding device.

Abstract: An apparatus for advancing sliver-filled coiler cans into a position at a sliver-intake side of a drawing frame and for removing empty coiler cans from that position, includes an endless track having a first track portion including the position; a second track portion; two arcuate deflecting track portions interconnecting the first and second track portions at opposite ends thereof; an endless circulating transporting chain extending along the endless track; and a plurality of spaced can pusher arms mounted on the chain and extending therefrom to individually engage a coiler can and advancing each can on the endless track as the chain circulates, whereby the pusher arms advance the coiler cans on the first track portion in a first direction and on the second track portion in a second direction. There is further provided a can retaining device for preventing the cans from leaving the deflecting track portions during travel thereon.

Abstract: A movable member supported for movement on a track has a pressure receptor portion which faces laterally outward. An accelerating device in a horizontally held particular track portion of the track, at the upstream side thereof, acts upon the pressure receptor portion to apply high speed transport force to the movable member. A decelerating device at the downstream side of the particular track portion acts upon the pressure receptor portion to decelerate the movable member. The accelerating device acts upon the pressure receptor portion at the downstream side of the particular track portion, whereby high speed transport force is applied to the movable member so that the movable member may be transported at high speed on the horizontally held particular track portion. The decelerating device acts upon the pressure receptor portion of the movable member being transported at high speed, whereupon the movable member is decelerated.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting and exchanging containers of textile strand material at a textile strand processing machine having a plurality of processing stations is disclosed. The device includes a guide device for guiding containers around the machine. An endless drive connection reciprocally movable in the transport path and having flexible portions reciprocally movable through the corner sections of the transport path is included as well as a drive means for reciprocally driving the drive connection. Container engaging elements are also provided for drivingly engaging containers during movement of the drive connection. The drive connection may include rods disposed in the straight portions of the transport path which are connected to the flexible portions. The container engaging elements may comprise pawls mounted on transverse shafts which may be spring biased into the container engaging dispositions.

Abstract: An interstage wafer block accumulator for a plant for the production and further processing of wafer blocks. In an interstage wafer block accumulator comprising at least one conveyor and a plurality of accumulator units, each of which accommodates one or more wafer blocks and is disposed between a feed station and a delivery station, it is proposed that said accumulator units for the wafer blocks accommodated in each accumulator unit should be consecutively arranged in the direction of travel of the wafer blocks. Each of said accumulator units comprises a separate horizontal conveyor for accommodating and forwarding wafer block stacks, each of which comprises one wafer block or a plurality of superimposed wafer block stacks. The interstage wafer block accumulator may have a plurality of superimposed storage levels. The accumulator units may be consecutively arranged on said plurality of storage levels in the direction of travel of the wafer blocks.

Abstract: A method and device for successively feeding flat products, i.e. flat slab-shaped products such as sweets or biscuits, from an input container to a user machine, whereby the products are fed in bulk, and in excess of the capacity of the user machine, to an aligning conveyor by which they are fed successively, arranged flat and aligned with one another, to the input of a metering device, which feeds them successively to the input of the user machine in an amount equal to the capacity of the same; any excess products fed to the input of the metering device being detoured onto a recirculating conveyor.

Abstract: A conveyor composed of connected carriages comprises a conveying path, a plurality of carriages connected together at the front and rear ends of each carriage, and a recprocating driver movable through a predetermined distance, the driver being engageable with at least one of said carriages. A disconnecting device and traverser are provided for disconnecting carriages as they arrive at the end of the conveying path and for transferring them to a return path. A connecting device and traverser are also provided adjacent to the beginning of the conveyor path. The traversers include elevators so that the return path can be located at a level lower than that of the conveying path.

Abstract: One kind of combination weigher, used for selecting a predetermined number of articles having substantially same weights from a group of articles having substantial variance or inequality in their weights, which is provided with a plurality of independent weigh units and adapted to weigh an article by each unit at the same time, process the resultant weight signals by a computer to select a combination of a predetermined number of weight signals whose variance or inequality satisfies a predetermined condition from various combinations of the weight signals, and indicate those weight units attributable to the selected combination by pilot lamps, for example.

Abstract: An assembly device forming a basic machine for an assembly line which includes a plurality of conveyors; the plurality of conveyors including a first main conveyor (12), a secondary conveyor (13) extending in parallel relationship to the main conveyor (12) and two relatively spaced parallel lateral conveyors (14, 15) connecting ends of the secondary conveyor (13) to the main conveyor (12), the plurality of conveyors being disposed in a working plane, a second main conveyor (18) arranged in a return travel plane substantially coincident with the first main conveyor (12), two relatively spaced parallel lateral conveyors (19a, 19b) disposed in the return travel plane which are substantially coincident with the first-mentioned two lateral conveyors (14, 15) of the working plane, and transfer stations (20-27) at the points at which the plurality of conveyors meet at right angles.

Abstract: A cigarette conveying system for connecting several makers, packers and reservoirs is arranged with cross linking conveyors (22) which allow sub-division of the system into sub-systems which can be operated independently and can therefore handle different brands. Sub-systems may be defined by activating or de-activating selected conveyors and/or closing and opening gates provided at junctions between conveyors. In a preferred arrangement the system comprises a main loop and the cross linking conveyors sub-divide the main loop into sub-loops.

Abstract: A live storage carousel for garment hangers, or the like comprises two scroll conveyors arranged in spaced, vertical and parallel planes. The scroll conveyors are oppositely and equally angled and gravity guides connect adjacent upper and lower ends of the respective scroll conveyors to form an endless path. The scroll conveyors are driven by a flexible drive cable so that the hangers are elevated by the conveyors and then slide down the guides to the lower ends of the conveyors. One of the guides can be broken at will to divert one or more hangers from the carousel onto, for example, an output conveyor.

Abstract: Device for storing small articles and conveying them in an orientated manner, includes a storage container (10), a slope conveyor (12), and an orientation conveyor (20) which is arranged parallel to the slope conveyor and is provided with a defined segment (68) for returning excessive small articles or those which are not orientated to the feed area (32) of the slope conveyor (12). The slope conveyor is provided with the actual conveying segment (50), a deflecting segment (52) for receiving small articles which are forced out of the conveying segment (50) laterally, the small articles arriving back in the feed area (32) of the slope conveyor (12) on the deflecting segment (52). A pile-up of small articles arrives in the output area (40) of the slope conveyor (12) and a localized circulation is formed in this location which prevents the small articles from entering the orientation segment (64).

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a constant supply of circulating textile bobbin tubes from a delivery conveyor of a textile winding machine to a return conveyor of a textile spinning machine. A reserve magazine containing textile bobbin tubes is combined with an accumulating magazine through which tubes are received from a winder and discharged for feeding to a spinning machine, with the reserve magazine discharging tubes to a transfer conveyor whenever there is an absence of supply of tubes from the accumulating magazine. An overflow collector collects tubes received from the winder in excess of the number necessary to maintain the accumulating magazine full, with the overflow of tubes being transferred manually or automatically to the reserve magazine.

Abstract: An automatic finishing system for a wound coil in a coil winding machine has a conveyor device for moving coil bobbins intermittently along a circulating endless path. Several finishing machines for carrying out different finishing steps are disposed within a limited space around the endless path. The conveyor device and the finishing machines are synchronously controlled by an electronic controller means. Each of the coil bobbins is held by a jig which is mounted on a movable jig-holder. A plurality of movable jig-holders are moved along one of two parallel guide rails and transferred to the other guide rail at each end of the guide rails to move along a substantially rectangular endless path.

Abstract: A high-frequency welding installation for welding particularly plastic material parts includes at least two work stations and one feed station arranged in linear succession and trays on which work pieces are conducted through the stations by means of a transport system in a single direction and are returned into the initial station in the opposite direction outside of the stations in an essentially vertically offset plane, wherein the trays are arranged during the transport in both directions always with the working side facing upwardly. Four essentially straight-line transport units are provided. The first unit is a feed unit, the third unit is a return unit, and the second and fourth units are each vertical elevators. The return unit is arranged essentially parallel to the work unit and at least the return unit operates at a higher transport speed than the feed unit.

Abstract: A cleaning device for a drum being partially looped around by a conveyor belt having an upper and a lower stringer, the cleaning device being arranged in between the upper and lower stringers and comprises a plurality of strippers disposed for abutting the drum; a hydraulic cylinder mounts said strippers and a piston rod mounts carrying a piston, mounts the hydraulic cylinder which reciprocates on the piston; a plurality of downwardly extending soil shifting plates are mounted on the cylinder and move therewith; a dirt catching trough is pivotally mounted underneath the cylinder and stripping bars extend across an open surface of the trough and being in engagement with the soil pushing plates for cleaning these plates upon pivoting of the trough.

Abstract: A bobbin conveying system comprising a spinning frame, a winder and a bobbin conveyance line which interconnects the spinning frame and the winder and is laid above bases of the machines.A bobbin is independently erected on a tray and carried on the conveyance line and a transfer device for lifting or lowering the bobbin is disposed in a bobbin transfer position between the spinning frame and the conveying line and also in a bobbin transfer position between the winder and the conveying line.

Abstract: The weighing machine comprises a number of aligned weighing receptacles which receive the irregular elongate articles in spaced-apart relationship from a supply apron supplied by a vibrating device from a receiving hopper, and a return device to the receiving hopper for recycling the irregular elongate articles not supplied to the weighing receptacles. The weighings of the weighing receptacles are computerized and the optimal weighing combination is selected within a predetermined margin among the weighings of an arbitrary number of a group of weighing receptacles associated with one weighing machine or with two weighing machines disposed one opposite another, as the case may be.

Abstract: A rotary puck conveying, accumulating and qualifying mechanism for accommodating articles of various sizes. A puck is provided having a predetermined outer peripheral surface and including an article retaining aperture disposed therein. The article retaining aperture being of a predetermined shape for accommodating an outer peripheral surface of an article being handled. A centrifugal feeder is provided for supplying a plurality of articles to an outer peripheral rim. A rotating table accumulates the pucks in both a full and an empty condition. The rotating table is operatively disposed beneath the centrifugal feeder wherein outer peripheral surfaces of the centrifugal feeder and the rotating table overlap. A plurality of pockets are rotatably disposed below the centrifugal feeder for engaging pucks positioned on the rotating table for retaining the pucks in a predetermined location relative to the centrifugal feeder for supplying articles into the aperture in the puck over an extended length of transfer.

Abstract: A conveyor system for the mass transport and handling of articles or containers through any packaging and/or processing cycle (for example, uncasing, filling, cooling, sorting, recasing) wherein the individual articles or containers are, at some point in the handling cycle, surrounded or encased by a removable cylindrical ring, enabling the containers for items to be efficiently moved and treated in the packaging and/or processing cycle; the system also includes a mechanism for removal and recycling of the removed rings.

Abstract: Belt conveyor comprises first and second endless belts in side-by-side relationship which move in opposite directions. Articles such as connector housings are loaded onto the first belt at its first end and carried towards the second end of the first belt. The articles may be in either of two stable attitudes. A sorting guide extends transversely across the first belt and separates the articles in the second stable attitude from those in the first attitude, the articles in the second attitude being pushed onto the second belt. The articles pushed onto the second belt are carried to the first end of the second belt and transferred laterally to the first end of the first belt. The attitudes of the articles transferred are changed during transfer so that they are then in the first stable attitude.

Abstract: A universal vibratory feeder has a removable tray provided with a continuous serpentine path. A plurality of carriers are received in the path, and articles of manufacture are carried by the carriers around the path in the tray. A vibrating platen beneath the tray has a plurality of bristles engaging the bottom of the respective carriers. The bristles are oriented in the direction of travel of the carriers around the path. The path in the tray is formed by a continuous through opening which separates the tray into two portions. The carriers straddle the thickness of the tray and are in substantial abutting relationship to one another throughout the path, thereby precluding the tray portions from separating.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for conveying articles from at least one magazine to several depositing areas includes a continuous, endless conveyor by which the articles are transported from the magazine to predetermined positions which extends on the conveyor below the depositing areas at equal distance b to each other. The number of positions corresponds to the number of depositing areas. Moreover lifting units are provided of a number corresponding to the number of predetermined positions for transporting the articles from the positions to the depositing areas. The conveyor is moved step-by-step at a step length s=b/(n-1) wherein b is the distance between two adjacent positions and n is the number of positions or the number of steps. The magazine has a distance a=s.multidot.x from the one position closest in conveying direction wherein x is an integer.

Abstract: An endless belt conveyor having a pulley at the tail end with slats forming slots therebetween leading to an interior space, the latter leading axially outwardly, and the pulley having end plates with radial vanes leading radially beyond the slats. The conveyor has a casing with telescoping sections that are relatively adjustable to accommodate variations in belt lengths. It also has trougher rolls mounted on the side walls of the casing, leaving the bottom portion of the interior space clear. It also includes an intermediate discharge unit which includes a pair of relatively displaced rolls, on which the upper belt run travels, which throws the grain in a suspended path, and deflector blades interposed in the suspended path which deflect the grain laterally into a discharge chute.

Abstract: A midstream apparatus for the receipt, sampling, cooling, and blending of coal provides a continuous transfer capability from one or more barges containing coals of various grades to an ocean vessel requiring blended coal meeting given specifications. The apparatus is a barge mounted combination, having a number of receiving hoppers into which coal may be loaded by transfer from a series of supply barges, usually by a barge mounted clam shell bucket. A number of hoppers are provided so that coal from each barge, having a given specification, may be loaded into a single hopper. Each hopper has individually controlled transfer capabilities permitting the blending of coal of different qualities into a continuous stream.

Abstract: A mechanism for automatically loading and unloading a printed circuit board from a machine for assembling electronic components to a board. This mechanism receives the board from a board storage magazine and places the board on an X-Y component placement station of the assembly machine. After the components have been placed onto the board, the board is dropped down through the table and transferred back to the storage magazine.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the invention are for collecting particulate material which falls off the underside of the lower return run of a belt conveyor, and returning that material to the carrying run of the conveyor. An elevator is mounted around the conveyor at the position of a support roller for the lower run, where there is vibration and material is dislodged. The dislodged material is conveyed to a chute over the upper rim of the conveyor without any scraping contact with the underside of the lower run.

Abstract: The material-receiving end, or tail piece assembly of an endless belt conveyor in a mining installation is constructed so as to be self-cleaning in the sense that the normal spillage of the mined material such as coal on to the mine floor adjacent the tail piece is reduced or avoided, thereby eliminating the need to remove spilled material and eliminating the safety hazard inherent in such removal. This object is accomplished by automatically collecting, within the tail piece assembly, the material which normally spills off the upper belt run and conveying the collected material back to the upper run. In the preferred construction the tail piece assembly includes an enclosure surrounding the tail roller of the conveyor, water sprays for forming a slurry of the spilled material and a slurry pump for pumping the slurry to the upper belt run.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving a plurality of objects or containers for selecting, positioning, or retrieving one of the objects or containers organizes the objects or containers into two similar and parallel packets or stacks. The selection of an individual object is carried out by displacing each of the packets through a distance corresponding to the distance between adjacently stacked objects, and transferring the most upwardly or downwardly extreme object or container from one packet or stack to the other. The hoisting and lowering of the packets of objects is actuated by means of a plurality of screws engaging the edges of the objects, the displacement of an object or container from one packet or stack to the other is actuated by means of one of a pair of carriages moving transversely to the screws. The sequence of motion of the screws and carriages is controlled by two maltese cross-type gears.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus for measuring various kinds of products irregular in weight such as vegetables and fruits, confectionery, secondary processed goods, perishable foods and the like with constant qualities. According to the invention, the apparatus comprises a distributing table supplied with the products to be measured, feeding troughs arranged about the distributing table to form a plurality of branched passages for the product, pool hoppers and measuring hoppers continuously connected to the respective troughs so as to permit the product on the distributing table to be introduced through the feeding troughs and the pool hoppers into the measuring hoppers, and computer means for selecting a combination of the measuring hoppers whose weight of product accommodated therein is equal or near to a set weight and opening the selected measuring hoppers to exhaust the measured product.