Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a goods to operator workstation for presenting a container of articles to an operator for picking. The goods to operator workstation includes a container presenting mechanism having laterally movable arms positioned at a first predetermined distance from each other to create a first space to receive and present the container to the operator for picking. A lifting unit moves vertically upwards into the first space to receive the picked container, the laterally movable arms move outwardly away from each other to be positioned at a second predetermined distance from each other, and the lifting unit moves vertically downwards through the at least two laterally movable arms to transfer the picked container onto the discharge conveyor.

Abstract: A dual conveyor assembly for a windrower includes upper and lower conveyors. Each conveyor includes an endless conveyor element and rotatable supports spaced along a longitudinal conveyor path and entrained by the endless conveyor element. The endless conveyor elements define vertically spaced opposed runs that define the longitudinal conveyor path therebetween. The opposed runs are operable to be driven together to move a flow of severed plant material along the path. At least one of the opposed runs is shiftable relative to the other opposed run in an upright direction, while the runs are driven together, such that the opposed runs remain in moving engagement with the flow of severed plant material as the amount of severed plant material passing between the opposed runs varies.

Abstract: According to a first aspect, a grain cart is provided. The grain cart includes a rolling frame; and a bin mounted to the frame and having one or more walls defining a space for storing an agricultural product. The grain cart also includes a folding auger assembly having an upper auger portion with a first longitudinal axis and a lower auger portion with a second longitudinal axis. The upper auger portion further has an upper auger, an upper auger housing, and a discharge spout coupled to a top end of the upper auger housing. The lower auger portion further has a lower auger and lower auger housing. A bottom end of the lower auger housing is coupled to the bin and a top end of the lower auger housing is coupled to a bottom end of the upper auger housing, such that the lower auger and upper auger are operable to convey the agricultural product from the bin to the discharge spout.

Abstract: A sheet stacking system for transporting sheets and depositing them in a stack includes a layboy, a transport conveyor downstream of the layboy, and a main conveyor downstream of the transport conveyor, the main conveyor having a frame and being supported by a conveyor support, a discharge end of the main conveyor being movable between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the conveyor support. The main conveyor intake end is configured to move from a first position when the main conveyor discharge end is in the lowered position to a second position when the main conveyor discharge end is in the raised position, and also a variable length conveyor between the transport conveyor and the main conveyor, the variable length conveyor having a discharge end connected to and movable with the main conveyor intake end and movable relative to the transport conveyor discharge end.

Abstract: A conveyor for transferring articles off the end of a conveyor belt onto a discharge conveyor. The conveyor comprises a conveyor belt overlain by belt strands along a carryway. The belt strands are received in recesses below the conveying surface of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt travels an inner circuit inside an outer circuit encircled by the belt strands. The outer circuit diverges from the inner circuit at an end of the carryway. The belt strands extend the carryway and strip articles from the conveyor belt to transfer them to a downstream discharge conveyor or receive articles from an upstream infeed conveyor.

Abstract: An automated high speed multi-bin card collation and buffering system that takes die cut greeting cards at high speeds and diverts them on a customer by customer basis into multiple bins. A series of diverters are included that actuate between customer jobs to divert and collate the jobs independently into the bins. The jobs are moved from the bins and buffered in a buffering zone for a predetermined period of time before being deposited onto a conveyor for conveying downstream for further processing. The buffering of the jobs allows for small jobs to be offset by larger jobs to increase average processing times for downstream systems, such as, banders to operate efficiently.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting and for transferring shaped bodies such as, for example, substantially non-rigid shaped bodies, for example of cookie dough, onto a transport surface. The apparatus for transporting the shaped bodies includes a revolving driven conveyor belt which is guided around at least one deflecting roller, a guide roller and in the region of the transport surface around a transfer body mounted laterally on a machine frame. An adjusting device is provided for variation and adaptation of the bending line of the transfer body.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly for transporting tubular onto a drilling rig includes a plurality of conveyor sections coupled together end to end. The conveyor sections are configured to receive and transport the tubular. Each of the plurality of conveyor sections includes a conveyor belt having treads for transporting the tubular along the conveyor section. The conveyor assembly also includes an actuation assembly configured to transition the plurality of conveyor sections between a first orientation and a second orientation. The conveyor sections are not aligned in the first orientation, and the conveyor sections are substantially aligned in the second orientation.

Abstract: An elevating conveyor is mounted to a pivoting bridge so that the elevating conveyor can be shifted by a 22 degree rotation between a lowered position in engagement with a loading floor and an elevated storage position where the conveyor is out of the way of the loading floor. A counterweight arrangement is mounted to the bridge to bias the conveyor toward the loading floor when it is in a lowered position, and to bias it toward the elevated storage position when it is in the up position. The conveyor may be readily moved between the positions with a moderate application of force. The force may be applied by an operator standing on the loading floor or by a liner actuator mounted between the bridge and a fixed structure.

Abstract: An elevator conveyor belt (10) with adjustable slope, suitable for moving semi-finished or finished products on different levels along production lines, includes a supporting and stiffening frame (12) divided in at least two adjacent sections defined by a horizontal section (14) or load section arranged according to a horizontal plane and by an elevator section (16) arranged according to a sloped plane and a belt (28) tensioned between an opposed head end of the horizontal section (14) and a tail end of the elevator section (16) and slidably actuated by an electrical motor (25), the horizontal or load section (14) and the elevator section (16) being reciprocally hinged by a hinged connection (13) including mobile elements suitable for ensuring a constant tensioning of the belt (28) with the change of the reciprocal slope between the sections.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor belt mounting for a charger that is used in road building, in order to supply a road-finishing machine with paving material. Using the slewing belt mounting, it is possible to achieve different discharge heights for the paving material. The slewing belt mounting comprises a cantilever arm, which is movably mounted on the frame of the charger, a pivot arm, which is pivotally connected to the cantilever arm, and a conveyor belt, which is connected to the pivot arm. The slewing belt mounting is characterized in that it comprises at least one lifting element, such as a hydraulic cylinder, cable winch, toothed rack, gear mechanism or the like, which is fastened by a first end to the frame and by a second end to the cantilever arm, wherein the cantilever arm is vertically adjustable by means of the lifting element.

Abstract: A device for harvesting vegetables comprises a bucket loader and a conveyor system. The bucket loader may include a pad, which may cushion the impact of vegetables, when transferring vegetables from a bucket to a conveyor. The conveyor may comprise transverse and longitudinal conveyor belts and/or rollers for delivering the vegetables to bins on a truck or flat bed trailer. The bucket loaders may be operatively coupled to a mechanism for raising and lowering the bucket loaders, intermittently or continuously. For example, a registration and tracking system keeps track of the number of buckets and/or amount of produce picked by a picker.

Abstract: An elevating conveyor is mounted to a pivoting bridge so that the elevating conveyor can be shifted by a 22 degree rotation between a lowered position in engagement with a loading floor and an elevated storage position where the conveyor is out of the way of the loading floor. A counterweight arrangement is mounted to the bridge to bias the conveyor toward the loading floor when it is in a lowered position, and to bias it toward the elevated storage position when it is in the up position. The conveyor may be readily moved between the positions with a moderate application of force. The force may be applied by an operator standing on the loading floor or by a liner actuator mounted between the bridge and a fixed structure.

Abstract: Structural profile rotator that can be used with a structural profile conveyor device. The rotator (150) comprises two blades (10,40) attached to a spindle (5) and which define between them a variable angle, comprised for example between 90° and 180°, a pushing member (35) disposed below the first blade (10) and arranged to push the second blade (40) so that it rotates about the spindle (5); and rotation members (80a, 80b), which may be parallel to the second blade (40) arranged to rotate said spindle (5).

Abstract: A vertical switcher includes a first conveyor belt mobile in rotation about a first tilting axis and a second conveyor belt mobile in rotation about a second tilting axis. A movement device moves the first and the second conveyor belt between an aligned condition in which the mobile ends thereof (opposite the inlet end and the outlet end) are substantially flanked and a switching condition in which the mobile ends are distanced from one another in order to enable passage of one or more objects crossing between them. The movement device exhibits a main oscillating arm that is mobile about a rotation axis coupled slidably to respective surfaces of the first and the second conveyor element such as to define a resting relation with the respective conveyor element.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading and unloading a plurality of shipping containers into a carrier. The containers are arranged according to a predetermined pattern on a fixed staging unit of the apparatus. A first conveyor of the apparatus receives and transports the arranged containers from the fixed staging unit. The first conveyor is movable horizontally. A second conveyor of the apparatus receives the containers from the first conveyor and transports the containers into the carrier. The second conveyor is movable horizontally and vertically. A control unit of the apparatus controls transportation of the containers from the second conveyor into the carrier when the second conveyor is vertically moved to a predetermined position.

Abstract: A transfer conveyor transports standardized unit loads, such as freight containers, pallets or the like, from a first height level to a second height level, in particular from a higher storage location to a lower transport device. The transfer conveyor is part of a rocker having an adjustable inclination around a pivot axis from one position in which one end of the rocker is aligned with one height level to another position in which the other end of the rocker is aligned with the other height level. Effectiveness and cost-efficiency of the transfer conveyor are created due to the ability of the rocker to be swiveled by the weight of the unit load itself while being transported on the transport conveyor.

Abstract: A shuttle machine for transporting work pieces for a sealing press or other machine tool is disclosed. It has two conveyers for transporting work pieces. The two conveyers are supported by a frame to move back and forth in opposite directions. When the two conveyers are in a first position, a second section of the first conveyer and a first section of the second conveyer are located near the tool, while the first second of the first conveyer and the second section of the section conveyer are accessible to first and second operators, respectively. Both operators can unload and reload work pieces simultaneously while the tool operates on the already loaded work pieces. When the conveyers are moved to a second position, the sections previously operated on are accessible for unloading and reloading, and the sections just loaded are operated on. A related operating method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Example conveyor systems are disclosed herein. An example conveyor system includes a main conveyor with a frame supporting at least one conveyor extension. Some conveyor extension examples include a powered conveyor belt supported by one or more conveyor sections that are articulated for assisting one or more workers in transferring items (e.g., boxes, parcels, luggage, parts, etc.) to and from the main conveyor. A single main conveyor supports two conveyor extensions mounted alongside each other with someone working at each extension to allow two workers to service a single main conveyor with minimal or no interference, thereby increasing the conveyor system's overall transfer rate. Example conveyor system disclosed herein includes various elements of positional adjustment (e.g., lateral, longitudinal, vertical, angular) to make the conveyor system particularly suited for transferring parcels between a loading dock and the interior of a truck, trailer, aircraft or container.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus includes a tail portion connected to a head portion such that the head portion is moveable relative to the tail portion from a first position to a second position located lower than the first position. It should be appreciated that such movement of the head portion can permit the drop height of the conveyor apparatus to be adjusted. At least one frame portion is moveably positioned between the tail portion and the head portion. A stacker is also provided that includes the conveyor apparatus.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus includes a base, a main conveyor pivotably supported on the base that is pivotable between a first, lowered, position and a second, raised, position, an accumulator section downstream of a discharge end of the main conveyor for receiving articles from the main conveyor, where the accumulator section includes a support for supporting a stack of items fed to the accumulator section by the main conveyor. Also, at least one optical sensor detecting the presence of an object in the main conveyor travel path and at least one controller operatively connected to the main conveyor and the optical sensor, the at least one controller receiving signals from the optical sensor and controlling the main conveyor based on the signals and on the direction of movement of the main conveyor.

Abstract: A shuttle machine for transporting work pieces for a sealing press or other machine tool is disclosed. It has two conveyers for transporting work pieces. The two conveyers are supported by a frame to move back and forth in opposite directions. When the two conveyers are in a first position, a second section of the first conveyer and a first section of the second conveyer are located near the tool, while the first second of the first conveyer and the second section of the section conveyer are accessible to first and second operators, respectively. Both operators can unload and reload work pieces simultaneously while the tool operates on the already loaded work pieces. When the conveyers are moved to a second position, the sections previously operated on are accessible for unloading and reloading, and the sections just loaded are operated on. A related operating method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A conveying device (1) is provided for conveying preferably heavy goods on pallets or the like on an essentially horizontal conveying line or track (5, 6) on the floor (4) of a room or outdoors. The conveying line is, in the longitudinal direction, divided into a first conveying track (5) and into a second conveying track (6). A dividing area is formed by at least one moving partial piece of the same kind that can be folded upward in the form of a folding piece (3) similar to a drawbridge in order to provide an unobstructed transversal passage (D), for example, for a fork-lift truck.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor unit constituting a separating and feed mechanism (33), in particular for sheet-shaped workpieces, in particular sheets (3) to be printed, with a lifting mechanism (2) for transporting the sheet (3) vertically and a conveyor track with conveyor means (51, 52) for transporting the sheet (3) horizontally. This being the case, the conveying means (51, 52) are displaceable in a guide system between an operating position for feeding the sheet (3) to a production unit (36), in particular a printing machine (37), and a non-operating position to enable the sheet (3) to be lifted unhindered from a sheet stack (39).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus by which finished products or semifinished products, after being processed in a production facility (11), are dischargeable from a processing station of the relevant production facility for removal or other kind of transfer. The discharge apparatus is essentially composed of a work platform (1) and a run-off surface (2) formed on this platform, wherein the work platform (1) is held in an elevated frame (4) of the discharge apparatus, or outer frame enclosing at least parts of a pit. Discharge of the finished products or semifinished products is effected by their movement over the run-off surface (2), the movement being assisted by conveying means (5) disposed on the work platform (1). According to the invention, the work platform (1) is rotatable without changing its position within the outer frame (4) relative to a horizontal axis (1) by 180° between two operating positions, and is lockable in these positions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a loading and unloading apparatus comprising in mutual cooperation a conveyor device (3) adjacent a roller table (2), where said conveyor device and roller table are pivotably mounted on a carrying structure (5), which structure, in use is vertically extendable and retractable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for the controlled transfer of unit loads from a first conveyor onto a second conveyor which is partially projected over by the first conveyor, the transport directions of which conveyors run at an angle with respect to each other. In order to permit controlled transfer of the unit loads in a defined position from the first conveyor onto the second conveyor, it is proposed that a negative pressure which acts on the upper side of the conveyor belt of the second conveyor can be generated below the first conveyor in the transfer region onto the second conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for moving loaded pallets from one location to another, such as from a region of an assembly line to a vertically lower region of the same assembly line. A first conveyor track is angled downwardly from a source of loaded pallets toward a diverter, which is driven to pivot about one end. The diverter receives the pallet when the diverter is parallel to the first conveyor track and then pivots to a horizontal orientation at which it is unloaded. Upon the last object on the pallet being removed, the diverter pivots downwardly to become parallel to a second conveyor track that is angled downwardly from the diverter, and is released to slide down the second conveyor track. The pallet is preferably precisely located and clamped in the diverter.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for filling food product drafts into packages. A supply of open top containers are arranged in rows and carried by an elongated web of film and are movable by the web into a fill station. A shuttle conveyor has a retractable and extendable conveying surface, the conveying surface arranged above the fill station and having an end region extendable to a position arranged to deposit food product drafts into the containers of the first row by circulation of the conveying surface. The conveying surface is retractable, or extendable, to reposition the end to a position arranged to deposit food product drafts carried on the conveying surface into the containers of the second row and each subsequent row. A tamping apparatus is carried by the conveyor to retract or extend with the conveying surface end.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly including a first conveyor frame configured to move along a path relative to a mounting frame and including a conveyor belt. The conveyor assembly further includes a second conveyor frame, connected to the first conveyor frame via a pivot, and configured to automatically rotate to change an angle between the first conveyor frame and the second conveyor frame in response to movement of the first conveyor frame relative to the mounting frame.

Abstract: A shuttle machine for transporting work pieces for a sealing press or other machine tool is disclosed. It has two conveyers for transporting work pieces. The two conveyers are supported by a frame to move back and forth in opposite directions. When the two conveyers are in a first position, a second section of the first conveyer and a first section of the second conveyer are located near the tool, while the first second of the first conveyer and the second section of the section conveyer are accessible to first and second operators, respectively. Both operators can unload and reload work pieces simultaneously while the tool operates on the already loaded work pieces. When the conveyers are moved to a second position, the sections previously operated on are accessible for unloading and reloading, and the sections just loaded are operated on. A related operating method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for conveying a string of packaging cushions includes a machine capable of manufacturing the string and a conveyor adapted to transport the string. The conveyor has an inlet end to receive the string and an outlet end to deliver the string of packaging cushions. The inlet end of the conveyor is higher than the cushion outlet elevation of the machine. At least one pair of rolls are adapted to lift the string of packaging cushions from the machine through the nip of the rolls to the conveyor inlet elevation.

Abstract: A loading device for a tunnel washer having a primary conveyor for conveying articles to be washed through the tunnel washer. The loading device includes a frame having a pair of spaced apart legs attached thereto and a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt has an upper surface that is movable and defines a path from a first end to a second end. The loading device also includes an adjusting device for changing a height of the first end relative to the second end. The adjusting device is mounted to the pair legs at one end and is attached to the frame at another end. The second end of the upper surface is disposed adjacent to the tunnel washer and the legs are dimensioned such that the article can be discharged from the second end of the upper surface onto the primary conveyor of the tunnel washer.

Abstract: A load change safety system in which a sheet stacker having a stacking deck formed with a discharge end discharges sheet material onto and builds a sheet stack on a conveying sheet stack removal system formed with a receiving means. A variable pinch point gap is formed by relative motion between the discharge end of the stacking deck and the receiving means of the conveying sheet material removal system. The safety system includes redundant means selectively preventing a decrease in the variable pinch point gap. The redundant means of the safety system preferably includes an electro-optical light guard means operably connected to the redundant means with one or more redirections of light beams to create a light guard perimeter guarding portions of the stacker and sheet removal system to guard against access to the pinch point.

Abstract: A load change safety system in which a sheet stacker having a stacking deck formed with a discharge end discharges sheet material onto and builds a sheet stack on a conveying sheet stack removal system formed with a receiving means. A variable pinch point gap is formed by relative motion between the discharge end of the stacking deck and the receiving means of the conveying sheet material removal system. The safety system includes redundant means selectively preventing a decrease in the variable pinch point gap. The redundant means of the safety system preferably includes an electro-optical light guard means operably connected to the redundant means with one or more redirections of light beams to create a light guard perimeter guarding portions of the stacker and sheet removal system to guard against access to the pinch point.

Abstract: A strapping machine configured to feed a strapping material around a load, position, tension and seal the strapping material around the load, includes hinged, readily removable in-feed and out-feed work surfaces with integral conveyors. The strapping machine includes a machine frame, the in-feed and out-feed work surfaces mounted to the frame and a strap chute mounted to the frame for carrying the strap around the load and for releasing the strap material from the strap chute. A feed assembly and a weld head are disposed below the work surfaces. The in-feed and out-feed surfaces are on opposite sides of the strap chute and are separated from one another by a lower portion of the chute. Integral conveyors for in-feeding the load into the strapping machine and for out-feeding the load from the strapping machine are formed in the work surfaces. The work surfaces are hingedly mounted for pivoting upwardly and outwardly for maintenance of the machine and for removing the surfaces and conveyors from the machine.

Abstract: A container transport system includes a first conveyor assembly at one transport plane, and a second conveyor assembly at another transport plane, and a transfer device for moving the containers between the conveyor assemblies. Each of the conveyor assemblies has a split conveyor to define a gap, and a further conveyor movable between a first position bridging the gap and a second position in which the further conveyor is moved outwardly transversely to the transport direction. The transfer device includes a convex portion disposed in proximity of one transport plane and a concave portion which can swing into the other transport plane. The container has a bottom underside formed in transport direction with at least one grooved recess which defines a leading edge and a trailing edge, as viewed in transport direction, with the convex and concave portions engaging only the leading and trailing edges of the container, as the container is moved between the transport planes.

Abstract: A roller conveyor extension includes a base frame having elongated parallel first and second tracks, each of the tracks having rearward and forward ends. First and second carriages reciprocate rearwardly and forwardly between the rearward and forward ends of, respectively, the first and second tracks. A roller support structure having back and front ends, and extending along an axis, supports a plurality of rollers, each of which rollers is adapted for rotational motion about a roller axis extending along an axis perpendicular to the roller support structure axis. The roller support structure is pivotably attached to each of the first and second carriages such that the roller support structure is capable of both rotational motion about a pivot axis and rearward and forward reciprocating motion with respect to the base frame.

Abstract: A mobile unloading apparatus for unloading items from a variety of heights is disclosed wherein the apparatus has a frame supporting a ramp for movement between a first position spaced above a conveyor for permitting items to be placed directly on the conveyor and a second, downwardly sloping ramp position for moving items down the ramp to the conveyor. The apparatus includes a first walkway section supported by the frame on a first conveyor side above a supporting surface, a second walkway section supported by the frame on a second conveyor side above the supporting surface and a third walkway section. The third walkway section can be moved from a first, use position bridging the first and second walkway sections to a second, storage position.

Abstract: A diverter for a conveying system which includes a belt conveyor moving along a longitudinal conveying path for transporting flat articles, including a longitudinal conveying path which includes a series of moving belts for moving flat articles therealong. There is a bin for collecting diverted flat articles. A hinged diverter gate is provided above or just forward of the bin for providing a diverting surface of moving belts which, in a first position, allows flat articles to move therealong, and, in a second position, allows the flat articles to move into the bin into which the flat articles are diverted. The bin is located beneath the conveying path and the articles are moved into the bin by the moving belts when the diverter is in its second position. The gate is hinged at a point which is different than the axis of the drive rollers so that the movement of the belts assists the upward movement of the gate when a flat article is to be diverted into the bin below.

Abstract: An extendable gravity loader includes an extendable gravity propelled conveying surface and a user interface section having a driven conveying surface. The sidewalls of the gravity loader define an upper edge which is above a conveying surface of the loader to prevent packages from being laterally dislodged therefrom. The sidewalls allow for a minimal height of the extendable units, while still providing a structurally robust loader with a minimal drop off between the conveying surfaces of the respective units. The user interface section provided at an outer end of the loader may have at least a portion that is vertically adjustable via an actuator at the extendable unit of the loader.

Abstract: A material handling lift gate for allowing ingress and egress from a conveyor system. The material handling lift gate provides a mechanism for clearing packages from the lift gate prior to the opening thereof, as well as preventing packages from entering the lift gate when the lift gate is in an open position. The material handling lift gate includes a plurality of adjustable, telescoping vertical legs and opposing horizontal side rails hingedly mounted to an upper end of a pair of the plurality of adjustable, telescoping vertical legs or proximate thereto. The opposing horizontal side rails are positionable between a first closed position and a second open position. In further embodiments, the material handling lift gate includes a lift gate clear controller for controlling package movement into and out of the material handling lift gate.

Abstract: A freestanding conveyor personnel gate includes a support or base portion and a conveyor portion, which is pivotable and movable relative to the support between a closed position and an open position. The gate includes a latch mechanism which is operable to latch the gate in both the open and close positions. The latch mechanism is operable via a handle which is movable in either direction to disengage the latch mechanism and to raise or lower the conveyor portion toward its open or closed position. The conveyor portion is balanced and supported via a strut member which is pivotally mounted at the conveyor portion and the support portion. A biasing member is provided to bias the conveyor portion toward its closed position when the conveyor portion is moved past a neutral point between the open and close position. The biasing member is further operable to bias the conveyor portion toward its opened position when the conveyor portion is moved past the neutral position toward the open position of the gate.

Abstract: An extendable gravity loader includes an extendable gravity propelled conveying surface and a user interface section having a driven conveying surface. The sidewalls of the conveyor define an upper edge which is above a conveying surface of the loader to prevent packages from being laterally dislodged therefrom. The sidewalls allow for a minimal height of the extendable units, while still providing a structurally robust loader with a minimal drop off between conveying surfaces of the respective units. The user interface section provided at an outer end of the loader may have at least a portion that is vertically adjustable via an actuator at the extendable unit of the loader. The actuator may be mounted to the gravity loader at a pair of compression springs, which function to absorb shock to the actuator when packages or the like are dropped or otherwise impact the user interface section.

Abstract: A log processing apparatus is disclosed for processing a log with tapered sides, the log processing apparatus including a frame assembly, and infeed guide assembly including upstream and downstream pairs of guides configured to grip and center the tapered log along a travel path. The log processing apparatus may also include a saw assembly positioned adjacent the guides and configured to cut the tapered log in a cutting plane perpendicular to the travel path.

Abstract: A conveyor system 10, 60 for transporting goods from upstream equipment to downstream equipment and for temporarily storing goods when the operation of the downstream equipment is temporarily interrupted includes a conveyor tray 12, 62 and a drive mechanism 24 cyclically acting on the conveyor tray to move goods along the tray floor 14. An accumulator ramp 40, 65 includes an inclined ramp floor 46, 66 having a lower end mating with the tray floor and secured thereto to cyclically move with the conveyor tray in response to the drive mechanism. According to the method of the invention, goods are moved along the conveyor tray and are pushed up the accumulator ramp when the operation of the downstream equipment is interrupted.

Abstract: A roll separation assembly for separating adjacent rolls on conveyors carrying roll workpieces is disclosed. The roll separation assembly includes first and second conveyors for receiving a plurality of roll workpieces positioned adjacent to one another. An elevator angularly positions one of the conveyors relative to the other conveyor, thereby providing a separation space between adjacent rolls.

Abstract: A conveyor for transporting objects. The vertically adjustable end of the first conveyor is positioned near the vertically adjustable ends of at least two further conveyors positioned one above the other. In a first position, the end of the first conveyor joins the end of one of the further conveyors. In a second position, the end of the first conveyor joins the end of the other of the further conveyors. The vertically adjustable ends of the conveyors are interconnected by means of a flexible connecting element including two parts extending from a guide mechanism in the direction of the ends of the conveyors. One part is connected to the first conveyor and the other part is connected to the further conveyors.

Abstract: A counter-ejector and feeder for receiving flexible boxes delivered at a prescribed infeed rate in end-to-end relation along a plane, and a counter-ejector machine, for stacking the boxes in discrete bundles for discharge. The machine includes a general framework mounting a shingling conveyor that provides a working flight leading from an infeed end to a discharge end. The shingling conveyor is positioned with an infeed end below the delivery plane and leads angularly upwardly to a counter-ejector discharge. A driver operates the shingling conveyor to move the working flight at a selected speed less than the delivery rate of boxes to the shingling conveyor. The working flight of the shingling conveyor is inclined upwardly to a counter-ejector discharge end where shingled boxes are fed to a counter-ejector. Successive stacks of boxes are formed by the counter-ejector which includes structure for stacking and maintaining the boxes in a compressed condition.

Abstract: An automatic system for depalletizing or destacking items, containers or crates. The automatic depalletizing system includes an electronically controlled, automated, lift conveyor having a specialized pick mechanism at its free end, and having a self-contained hydraulic power supply system. The conveyor sequentially lifts pre-stacked crates, containers or items and places them in a single-file on a rotating conveyor automatically (hands free operation or individually controlled).