Abstract: An endless belt conveyor including an independently supported first support pulley vertically and laterally displaced from a second support pulley. An endless belt including bulk material carrying compartments entrained around the first and second support pulleys and which is engaged by the full width of said support pulleys. The endless belt includes a radius of curvature near the top of the vertical run of a predetermined size such that the bulk material carried in the endless belt is not expel due to centrifugal force. A portion of the endless belt entrained over the first support pulley has a radius of curvature of a predetermined size such that the material carried in the endless belt is expelled due to centrifugal force.

Abstract: A drive and transfer station for an underground mining installation employs a frame with spaced apart walls over which material is transferred between scraper-chain conveyors one arranged along a long wall mineral face working and the other arranged along an access roadway. The scraper-chain assembly of the face conveyor is driven by drive assemblies on opposite sides of the frame which drive a rotatable chain drum.At least one of the drive assemblies has a coupling in a gear box with a shaft which can be displaced axially with an adjusting device to drivably connect with the drum or to be released from the drum.

Abstract: A system for rapidly receiving and storing a quantity of loose copy, for example newspapers, from a high speed printing press and dispensing them to the point-of-use without having to undergo the traditional operation of bundling the newspapers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a newspaper delivery system comprising a conveyor system for receiving a continuous stream of loose, unbound, newspapers directly from a high speed printing operation, an over-the-road vehicle having a cargo area equipped with a loose copy storage unit for receiving the loose newspapers supplied by the conveyor system and storing the newspapers during transport; and means for dispensing a selected quantity of newspapers once the truck arrives at a delivery destination.

Abstract: A device for transporting flat articles with a cover belt system consisting of a lower and an upper belt, between which the articles are transported, and a deflection mechanism for deflecting the cover belt run. The deflection mechanism has one or more main cylinder rollers and one or more secondary rollers and the upper belt is guided around the main cylinder roller and the lower belt over the secondary cylinder roller, such that the lower belt is guided past the main cylinder roller in such a way that the articles are transported in the deflection mechanism between the upper belt and the main cylinder roller. A short guide belt may be provided around the main cylinder roller and an additional secondary cylinder roller disposed between the main cylinder roller and the secondary cylinder roller guiding the lower belt at the output of the deflection mechanism.

Abstract: A feed device which can feed a friction material mixture into a mold so that its thickness will be uniform in the mold to improve the quality and stability of the friction member obtained by heating and pressure-molding the material mixture in the mold. The feed device has a feeder for feeding a friction material mixture supplied from a constant-feed device at a constant rate to a designated area. The feeder comprises a main conveyor and sub-conveyors provided right under the delivery end of the main conveyor and inclined with respect to the main conveyor. The material mixture is partially dropped from the delivery end of the main conveyor onto the sub-conveyors, and fed to the delivery ends of the sub-conveyors and dropped into a mold having a hood. The shape of the delivery end of the feeder can be adjusted substantially to the arcuate shape of the mold cavity.

Abstract: An inclined hopper system for the conveyance of irregular shaped geometric blank material upwardly along an inclined specially configured conveyor for presentation to a specially configured gravity hopper having a plurality of adjustment mechanisms for accommodation of irregularly geometrically shaped blanks such as paper cup sidewall members.

Abstract: A method of transporting an article through a processing housing while minimizing the loss of a controlled atmosphere from the process housing. This method includes the steps of placing an article on a first carriage member, then vertically displacing the article from the entry level through an entry opening of entry housing to a processing level. The article is then transferred from the first carriage member to an endless conveyor for transporting, horizontally, through the process housing. The article is then transferred to a second carriage member which moves the article vertically through a exit housing to and through an exit opening near an exit level. The processed article is then removed at the exit level. The vertical distance between the process level and the entry opening and the exit opening separates the controlled atmosphere from the ambient atmosphere exterior of the housings.

Abstract: Masa handling methods for the continuous processing of masa type dough in conjunction with commonly available feed processing equipment, such as a masa extruder, an oven, or cooling apparatus. One masa handling method includes a masa separator having a pair of opposed, endless belt conveyors having facing surfaces spaced apart to receive a generally continuous masa stream output from a nozzle on the masa extruder. When the masa stream moves between the conveyors, it is gripped by their facing surfaces and moved away from the nozzle, causing the masa to be separated into individual pieces, or logs. The masa handling method can also include feeding the masa to masa hoppers fed by at least two endless belt conveyors arranged in upstream and downstream positions relative to each other.

Abstract: A pivoting transfer means for a jet of bulk material between a first cover belt conveyor and a second cover belt conveyor. The bulk material leaves the cover belt conveyor in the area of the tail pulleys and enters the receiving mouth of a second cover belt conveyor as a free jet of bulk material. Both cover belt conveyors are arranged pivotably in relation to one another around a pivot axis. The receiving mouth of the cover belt conveyor is limited by the bottom belt, the cover belt and the side walls. The jet of bulk material is deflected from the vertical into the horizontal direction of delivery within the receiving mouth. The first belt conveyor may be arranged at a higher level with the second cover belt conveyor arranged thereunder. However, the second cover belt conveyor may also be arranged at a higher level with the first cover belt conveyor arranged thereunder wherein the transfer is still from the first cover belt conveyor to the second cover belt conveyor.

Abstract: A method of installing a multiple lift, vertical conveyor system in a conveyor shaft includes steps of: erecting a framework for the vertical conveyor system, installing a first belt for operation on the framework; feeding a second belt into position for installation on the framework by advancing the second belt on the first belt and installing the second belt for operation on the framework.

Abstract: A device for vertically conveying coins including a lower horizontal guide path, a vertical guide path, an approximately arc-shaped deflecting path connecting the lower horizontal guide path and the vertical guide path. Each of the path conveys the coins in a lying fiat position. At least one conveyor belt is provided. Rollers are provided whereby the conveyor belt is led around the rollers. Deflecting rollers are arranged at space locations from the guide paths and the from the arc-shaped deflecting path. With this structure, an essentially constant conveying gap is formed by the thickness of the coins being conveyed between the guide paths and the deflecting paths and the conveyor belt. Structure for feeding the coins, conveyed lying flat one by one, is arranged at the beginning of the lower horizontal guide path. Structure for transferring the coins being conveyed is arranged at the top end of the vertical guide path.

Abstract: A transporting device for mass articles, in particular package covers for use in drying surfaces for drying and/or jelling of varnished or coated surface, the transporting device comprises two endless rotating transporting elements extending parallel and opposite to one another so that mass articles can be guided between the transporting elements from a supply station to a withdrawal station, the transporting elements being formed as corrugated hoses with parallel corrugations having substantially straight flanks for forming receiving grooves, and tubular and laterally open guides guide the corrugated hoses.

Abstract: A recycling assembly includes a first endless conveyor belt, a second endless conveyor belt, a plate disposed between the first belt and the second belt and a third endless conveyor belt. An upper conveying surface of the first belt is inclined at an angle with respect to a horizontal reference plane. An upper conveying surface of the second conveyor belt is disposed at an inclined angle which is greater than the inclined angle of the upper surface of the first conveyor belt. The plate has an upper surface which is inclined with respect to the horizontal reference plane at an angle greater than the inclined angle of the upper surface of the second conveyor belt. The upper surface of the third conveyor belt is disposed at an angle which is parallel to the horizontal reference plane.

Abstract: In the region of a packaging installation for cigarettes or the like, partially finished cigarette packs (10) have to be transported over relatively long paths and, at the same time, brought into a specific relative position. A horizontal feed conveyor (18), a vertical conveyor (20) and a horizontal discharge conveyor (27) are arranged in such a manner that, not only is the transportation problem solved, but also the desired relative position of the packs (10) is produced. A transfer conveyor (29) deflects the packs (10), takes over the packs (10) from the vertical conveyor (20), moves them along a path in the form of a part circle in translational motion into the plane of the discharge conveyor (27), and transfers them to the latter.

Abstract: An abutment area is formed in which two belts 5, 6 are in contact with and confront each other. Link chains 23 carrying carrier rollers 24 are arranged in such a manner that carrier rollers 24 are disposed alternately on the back face of belt 5 and the back face of belt 6, in zigzags. The upper end is connected to winch 25, while the lower end is connected to weight 29. Link chains 23 are wound by winch 25, and link chains 23 are connected to the upper frame 17. When link chains 23 are stretched by weight 29, a force is given to respective belts 5, 6 through carrier rollers 24. Link chains 23 are released from upper frame 17, then link chains 23 are lowered and folded so that carrier rollers are positioned to be convenient for maintenance. Corridor for maintenance is unnecessary, and so cost is reduced.

Abstract: A continuous drier for flat piece material, especially for liquid-coated printed circuit boards, and the like, comprises a heatable drier housing and a transport path that ascends in the housing and, after passing an upper turning point descends again. Secured to an endless chain that extends substantially vertically are carriers for the piece material to be transported, which carriers project outwards from the endless chain. The drier also comprises a supply duct for drying air for the piece material to be dried. The supply duct is so arranged that an airstream supplied by it flows over the piece material transversely to the direction in which the carriers project from the chain links.

Abstract: A transfer station between a scraper-chain face conveyor and a scraper-chain roadway conveyor in a mine working has a frame for guiding the scraper-chain assemblies of the conveyor so that material discharges from the face conveyor to the roadway conveyor. The frame has a pair of spaced-apart side walls with identical connecting blocks fitted to their exteriors. The connecting blocks have pockets for receiving couplers and depressions which form bearing half-shells for a support for a drum around which the scraper-chain assembly of the roadway conveyor passes. The connecting blocks on each side wall can connect with connecting blocks of the drum support or with connecting blocks on an endmost ramp pan of the roadway conveyor so that the pan and the drum support can be interchanged in position.

Abstract: In a longwall mining operation wherein a takeoff shaft provided with a takeoff conveyor and an access shaft extend crosswise from a longitudinally extending face, a material recovering and conveying system has a chain itself having a longitudinally extending rear stretch extending along the face from a turnaround in the access shaft to a turnaround in the takeoff shaft and a longitudinally extending front stretch extending along the face between the rear stretch and the face. An undriven idler wheel is provided in the takeoff-shaft turnaround over which the chain is engaged between its stretches and a conveyor trough extends between the turnarounds and has a floor formed in the takeoff shaft with a throughgoing outlet hole above the takeoff conveyor. Conveyor/cutting elements on the chain move in the front stretch along the face and in the rear stretch along the trough.

Abstract: A garment stacker, having a plurality of conveyor belt assemblies, is attached to a worktable. Each assembly has two conveyor belts with one end of each sharing a common axis. All of the conveyor belts are provided with a plurality of flexible cleats for engaging the garment. One of the belts in each assembly is movable between a position away from the worktable, and a position near the worktable, where the cleats will engage a garment deposited on the worktable and pull it toward the other belt. The other belt in each assembly is nearly vertical and is positioned adjacent to a parallel slide. The garment is fed by the first belt into the space between the slide and the cleats on the vertical belt, which engage the garment and move it up the slide. The garment is then discharged over the top of the slide and onto a door. When the door is opened, the garment is dropped onto other garments, while maintaining its orientation so as to form a stack of oriented garments.

Abstract: Supplying material to high-performance packaging machines is difficult, above all during the processing of blanks (20) consisting of thin cardboard for hinge-lid packs. The arrangement of the blanks (20) within a continuous material web (23), the blanks (20) being connected to one another by means of easily severable material webs (33), allows a continuous conveyance in the region of the packaging machine. For the continuous transport of the blanks (20), the material web (23) is folded in a zigzag-shaped manner to form a blank strand (24) consisting of blanks (20) lying against one another. The blank strand can be conveyed in space by being deflected in all directions. For transporting the blank strand (24) and for fixing the zigzag folding there are conveyor bands (39, 40, 41, etc) which bear against the blanks (20) in the region of longitudinal edges (21, 22) and/or transverse edges (25, 26).

Abstract: An apparatus for vertically carrying semiconductor wafers includes a pair of flexible endless belts, each having projections for forming horizontal, parallel shelves. The endless belts are supported by a support unit and are movable along endless loops. The endless belts are disposed with their shelves facing each other to define a vertical transfer path having an entrance and an exit. A drive unit drives the endless belts along the endless loops at equal speeds in the same direction within the vertical transfer path. The wafer carrying apparatus also comprises an entrance conveying unit disposed close to the entrance of the vertical transfer path for conveying a semiconductor wafer to the entrance and an exit conveying unit disposed close to the exit of the vertical transfer path for conveying a semiconductor wafer from the exit. The entrance and exit of the apparatus can be altered as desired by changing the operational modes of the endless belts and the conveying units.

Abstract: A conveyor system for pivotally suspended carrier containers travelling through a closed path composed of interconnected straight portions each lying at a right angle to the previous and to the next portion. The subsequent portions of the path through which travel the carrier containers are each composed of a sub-conveyor comprising two parallel straight flights interconnected by 180.degree. bends. The suspension system of the containers together with a guiding rail render it possible for each container to pass from one sub-conveyor to the next one at a right angle crossing point.

Abstract: A conveyor including a chain flight conveyor superimposed over an elastic belt conveyor. The juxtaposition of the two conveyors results in longer wear and less erosive friction when compared to sole chain flight systems.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for separating and feeding a preformed container fron a nested stack, said apparatus adapted for accepting a nested stack of containers in a vertical array, tilting the nested stack to a horizontal array by means of a tilting carriage assembly (34), advancing the horizontal stack (170) on an advancing portion (36), stopping the nested stack at a preferred position and immediately lifing the nested stack from the advancing portion (36) by means of an elongated rail assembly 96. A separating assembly (38) separates a first container from the nested stack, said first container advances to a pivoting hook assembly (40) where the first container is oriented from a substantially horizontal array to a substantially vertical array, and a stabilizer assembly (42) steadies the horizontal container for transfer to subsequent machinery.

Abstract: Apparatus and method in which stacks of tin ends are formed and fed longitudinally to a three-endless belt conveyor in spaced relation of stacks with turns in the feed paths after the first conveyor being defined by overlapping separate three-endless belt conveyor assemblies. The stacks of tin ends may be unwrapped or they may be wrapped, in which latter case, an unwrapping station is provided at which the wrapping is both cut and the wrapping peeled away in response to rotation of the stack. The unwrapped stacks in any case are fed into a continuous stream to a closing station where the individual tin ends are applied to can bodies. In one unwrapping embodiment, the stacks are fed to a first conveyor through the intermediary of a pestle and gripper which are fed in unison to travel a stack to the first conveyor and provision is also made to relax the grip of the pestle and gripper while the wrapper is peeled away.

Abstract: A mailing machine in which the mail is directed to a weighing station and laterally deflected at the weighing station, to enable overlap in the feeding of mailpieces to the weighing station. The weighing station includes means for stopping the mailpieces from movement in the direction in which they had been transported thereto. The transport path of the mail in the machine may be vertically V-shaped, or horizontally in parallel paths that are preferably in opposite directions. The input feeder may include two serially coupled horizontal conveyors for conveying horizontal stacks or vertical oriented envelopes, with the first of the conveyors running a slower speed than the last conveyor. A vertical conveyor advantageous transports the envelopes from the last horizontal conveyor.

Abstract: An airlock for the continuously feeding through of a material while obstructing the free flow of a gas is provided. The airlock comprises a first continuous belt having a plurality of nonporous flaps projecting out from it. Each flap has a free edge located outwardly from the belt. A second belt runs parallel to the first and has elements to seal against the free edges of the flaps of the first belt. A motor moves the belts so that their transport sides move together. Particulates are transported in the chambers formed by belts and flaps while the flow of air between and past the belts is inhibited.

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: The invention relates of a conveying and treatment apparatus for double moulds for making hollow bodies of a castable, solidifying substance, such as chocolate mass. The double moulds consist of two plate-shaped mould halves which have corresponding mould cavities and are laid one above the other to close the cavities. The apparatus comprises a conveying path via which the double moulds filled with the mass can be fed to a transfer device which takes over the double moulds after the fashion of continuous lift and supplies the moulds to an endless conveyor. During conveying in the transfer device (7), the double moulds are conveyed in parallel and synchronously with supporting and retaining elements of the endless conveyor, being transferred in synchronism by means of a pushing device from the transfer device to the chain conveyor.

Abstract: A variable capacity reservoir (88) for rod-like articles in stack formation comprises a variable length elevator (26) having an upper outlet (66) which rises and falls with the level of articles in the reservoir. The elevator (26) includes an endless band (24) which may be projected upwards from the floor of the reservoir (88), an extending membrane (44) shielding articles in the reservoir from engagement with a return run of the band. The reservoir (88) may receive filter rods and be located at or closely adjacent to a filter cigarette assembling machine.

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: A support and enclosure system for a hinged belt conveyor includes a frame truss enclosing loaded and unloaded belt flights. The frame truss includes a plurality of vertical risers. The loaded flight rides between a plurality of troughing roll sets and top idler roll sets. The unloaded flight is supported and guided by return idler roll sets. Each of the roll sets is connected distally by a clevis to mounting shafts. The mounting shafts are accepted into mounting brackets. The mounting brackets for the troughing rolls and return idler rolls include a locking bolt for fixing the position of the shafts in the bracket. The bracket for the top idler rolls includes a spring for biasing the top idler mounting shafts outward so as to bias the top idler rolls downward onto the loaded flight. Each mounting bracket incorporates a recess for accepting a first portion of a riser and a pivoting leg for engaging an opposed section of the riser.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved extractor (10) for removing a liquid from a solid carrier medium in which the liquid is entrained. The extraction process is accomplished by utilizing both percolation and immersion removal methods. The extractor (10) includes a plurality of pools (12, 12') through which the solid entraining the liquid therein is moved in a direction counter-flow to that in which a solvent passes through the extractor (10). Percolation removal is effected at the overflow (48, 48') of each pool (12, 12') as solvent washes through the solids being processed. Immersion is effected at the lower end of a sloped floor (22, 22') of each pool (12, 12') where the solids are soaked in the solvent. A final percolation bath (14) can be provided as a last stage of the extractor (10).

Abstract: An elevating conveyor having a first endless belt entrained around a plurality of spaced support or guide drums for elevating material through an elevating section to a discharge station and a second endless loading belt also entrained around guide drums to cooperate with the first belt at least where a loading station and the elevating section merge so that in this vicinity the belts are in overlying relationship with each other so that material on the upper surface of one belt is held on the surface by the other belt. The two belts are moved at similar speeds in the same direction and a fixed plate cooperates with the first belt in the elevating section so that material located between the belt and plate is elevated to the discharge station by upward movement of the first belt through the elevating section. The conveyor may be of C, L or Z shape and the first belt preferably has upstanding side walls, the top faces of which bear against low friction material supported on the plate.

Abstract: A lift apparatus for lifting cigarette filter plugs which receives cigarette filter plugs fresh from a plug making machine and delivered by a lower horizontal conveyer and upwardly conveys the plugs while piled in multiple layers to an upper horizontal conveyer. The lift apparatus has a pair of vertical conveyers formed of flat belts and diverging as they extend upwardly. A pressurizing conveyer is provided outwardly of a bend in the conveying passage extending from the lower horizontal conveyer to the vertical conveyers. This pressurizing conveyer is rotatable at a greater speed than the vertical conveyers.

Abstract: A system for conveying a transfer box between a first station and a remote second station wherein a pair of vertical modules are interconnected at their upper ends by a horizontal module. The modules each comprising a tubular housing, such as a cylindrical tube. The vertical modules each contain a conveyor composed of an opposing pair of conveyor belts arranged to convey a deposit box therebetween in a sinuous path of travel. The horizontal module contains a slide plate along which a horizontal conveyor belt is adapted to travel. The vertical modules have transfer belts at their uppermost ends to transfer a deposit box between the vertical and horizontal modules. The conveyor belts in the vertical and horizontal modules are interconnected for joint movement and driven by a single power source.

Abstract: A sorting machine for sorting generally flat items, for example letters, comprises a plurality of sorting destinations arranged in levels, and a conveying system for conveying the items each to an assigned destination. The conveying system includes a plurality of endless flexible tensile elements (8) extending along the machine, the elements each being arranged to cooperate with an adjacent element such as to be capable of transferring the items from one element to another thereby to convey the items from one level to another.There is conveniently provided a climb section at one end of the machine where an element passes over an inclined pulley (9) to take the element to the next higher level.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for loading and unloading large area transporters, such as ships or the like, using a vertically spirally curved conveyor connected to the goods loading and unloading apparatus. The goods to be conveyed are discharged from or placed on a pivotable and optionally telescopable horizontal conveyor arranged on its lower end portion. During loading and unloading, the goods transfer spiral which is in fixed operative connection with the horizontal conveyor is moved over the complete pivoting area in congruent manner to the lower spiral conveyor segment of the vertical conveyor. The goods transfer spiral is moved beneath the lower spiral conveyor segment for loading purposes and above the lower spiral conveyor segment for unloading purposes in such a way that an overlapping zone is always formed between the lower spiral conveyor segment and the goods transfer spiral.

Abstract: A transfer station from a longwall chain conveyor to a drift chain conveyor have upper and lower reaches which cross alternately. The upper belt section of the longwall conveyor comprises a scraper over the upper belt section of the drift conveyor. The working face side of the longwall conveyor has a plane guide for a coal plane and a plane chain which at least at the drift-side end of the longwall conveyor is guided via guide wheels to a gob-side drive unit. These two drift-side guide wheels are arranged with a vertical spacing from each other in the lower belt section of the longwall conveyor such that they form between them a passage for the chain belt and for the tappets of the longwall conveyor attached thereto. The drift-side guide wheels are arranged so close to the drift conveyor that in its drift-side and position the coal plane can transfer the won coal directly into the drift conveyor. In all, an especially compact plane chain deflection integrated into the longwall conveyor is realized.

Abstract: A self-tracking roller comprised of a plurality of individual elements is presented. These elements alternate between evenly distributed idler rings and spacer rings arranged in two groups having a central space therebetween. This central space permits two superimposed dual belts to form a sandwich for conveying solid material therein. Each idler or tracking ring has a conical shaped configuration which acts to urge a conveyor belt thereon toward the center of the roller. The relative dimensions and number of rings may be flexibly varied depending on the application. The result is a self-tracking roller aptly suited for use in conjunction with dual or sandwich conveyor belt systems.

Abstract: A conveyor for moving articles, typically cartons from one elevation to another in a continuous path by means of tensioned squeeze belts. The conveyor may lift or lower articles and cooperates with infeed and outtake conveyors as part of a conveying system.

Abstract: A conveyor mechanism for transferring cylindrical articles, such as, cigarettes embodies a single belt conveyor which does the conveying from a lower level to a higher level. The surface used for conveyance has a curved portion unlike belt conveyors in general use and a plurality of pins project from at least one side of the belt in parallel relation to each other. At the curved section, these pins are held by a suitable means such that the belt maintains the curvature. Cigarettes or other cylindrical objects are fed by the internal surface of the curving belt and an auxiliary belt conveyor.

Abstract: Conveyor control circuit for use at a junction of conveyors at which articles move from one conveyor to another or between a number of conveyors. Speed signals from conveyors whose speeds are dictated by conditions elsewhere in the system are summed to produce a "net flow signal" which is preferably corrected by the addition of a signal from a sensor at the junction, whose sensitivity may be adjusted in accordance with the net flow signal so that the correction is greater when the net flow towards or away from the junction is greater. The controlled conveyor may be used to move articles to or from a reservoir device. Additional speed correction may be applied if the sensor signal is outside a range which varies in size with the net flow signal.

Abstract: A cigarette elevator for conveying upwards a stack-like stream of cigarettes comprises substantially parallel upwardly-extending conveyors of which at least one has transversely extending ribs on its operative face for engaging the cigarettes, a first pulley around which the ribbed conveyor passes at the upper end of the elevator, and a second pulley which is adjacent to the first pulley and has an axis of rotation which is parallel to (but slightly offset from) the axis of rotation of the first pulley, and including a substantially horizontal conveyor which passes around the second pulley, the arrangement being such that the ribs on the ribbed conveyor disappear progressively below the upper surface of the horizontal conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for receiving a length or section of a tire tread or the like and transferring it to a storage truck. The apparatus has a cylindrical member which receives the section from an extruder or other source, inverts the section and deposits it on a first endless conveyor. A second conveyor is looped about the downstream roller of the first endless belt and receives the section from the first belt. A vertically movable carriage has an endless belt which carries the section from the second belt to a storage truck. A slide member movable in the same direction as the endless belts is provided for transferring a section from the carriage to a storage surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for receiving a length or section of a tire tread or the like and transferring it to a storage truck. The apparatus has a cylindrical member which receives the section from an extruder or other source, inverts the section and deposits it on a first endless conveyor. A second conveyor is looped about the downstream roller of the first endless belt and receives the section from the first belt. A vertically movable carriage has an endless belt which carries the section from the second belt to a storage truck. A slide member movable in the same direction as the endless belts is provided for transferring a section from the carriage to a storage surface.

Abstract: Modular conveyor units are described as including a movable, continuous, spiral conveyor surface mounted on a frame. Spiral conveyors are constructed by stacking one or more of the modular units one atop the other depending upon the height of the spiral conveyor to be constructed, the conveyor surface of each modular unit forming a segment of the thus assembled spiral conveyor. The conveyor surfaces of all modular conveyor units are driven in the same direction to pass articles carried thereon from one unit to the next in the direction in which driven.

Abstract: A container conveying and elevating apparatus conveys relatively shallow containers having a relatively large diameter, such as aluminum can cup bodies, in banks, or en masse, that is, in multiple rows, along a generally horizontal feed-in conveyor to the front or imput side of a vertically extending elevator housing and onto the bottom run of a generally vertically extending elevator conveyor which is arranged in the housing. The elevator conveyor embodies multiple rows of generally horizontally or longitudinally and transversely extending spaced flexible container-conveying and supporting finger members which are adapted to project into the interiors of, or otherwise engage, the containers as they are fed by the feed-in conveyor to the bottom horizontal run of the elevator conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding a plurality of juxtapositioned fence slat material on an orientation conveyor to an infeed elevator conveyor for aligning, holding in place and feeding against the resistance of a cutting means a similar end of each slat, the cutting means comprising a pair of spaced cooperating cylindrical saw blades for forming one end of each slat in a like manner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for straightening elongated articles such as sausage links. The apparatus includes a pair of horizontal endless belt conveyors that operate at slightly different speeds. The lower belt conveyor has a greater length than the upper belt conveyor so that the end of the lower conveyor projects beyond the corresponding end of the upper conveyor. Chilled sausage links are conveyed upwardly by an elevator and deposited on the projecting end of the lower conveyor and passed between the belts. As the sausage links pass between the belts, they are rotated to thereby straighten the links.