Wherein The Velocities Of At Least Two Of The Members Are Not Equal Patents (Class 198/623)
  • Patent number: 11819047
    Abstract: A cam roller type horizontal extrusion cracking system for walnuts, including feeding, cracking and falling devices fixed accordingly on a stand. The feeding device includes a feeding box; an intermittent feeding roller is arranged therein; one side of the roller includes a feeding baffle plate, the other side includes an adjustable feeding scraper blade mechanism; and opposing feeding slots are formed in the roller. The cracking device includes an extrusion box body; movable and fixed tooth-shaped extrusion plates are oppositely mounted therein; one side of the movable plate opposite the fixed includes an extrusion cam; the plates have a plurality of tooth gaps; a walnut passes through the feeding device, falls into a gap between the plates; the cam drives the movable plate to do a periodic reciprocating motion, to synchronously cooperate with the fixed plate to perform extrusion cracking on the walnut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: QINGDAO UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, XINJIANG JIANG NING LIGHT INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Changhe Li, Mingzheng Liu, Yucheng Wang, Yanbin Zhang, Ji Che, Yali Hou, Xiaoming Wang, Yitian Feng, Rong Wang, Yiping Feng, Huaiyu Wang, Zhenming Jia, Lei Zhao, Guangzhen Miao, Runze Li, Teng Gao
  • Patent number: 11535554
    Abstract: In embodiments, a conveyor apparatus can include a conveyor ribbon having a length, a width, a thickness less than the width, and a plurality of receiving apertures located along the length and extending through the thickness of the conveyor ribbon. The plurality of receiving apertures are dimensioned to receive and hold a plurality of glass articles. A conveyor drive and guidance system directs the conveyor ribbon along a predefined conveyor path. The predefined conveyor path can include an immersion section and a drain section. The immersion section can be oriented to direct the conveyor ribbon into and out of an immersion station and the conveyor ribbon is rotated about a horizontal axis in the drain section after being directed out of the immersion station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Thierry Luc Alain Dannoux
  • Patent number: 10624505
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of soap dispenser, particularly to a foam soap dispenser including a housing, a raw material chamber, and a liquid soap outlet, and further includes a water chamber, a drive device, and a foaming device; the liquid soap outlet is arranged on the housing; the raw material chamber, the water chamber, the drive device, and the foaming device are arranged inside the housing; a raw material chamber outlet and a water chamber outlet are connected to a foaming device inlet; a foaming device outlet is connected to the soap liquid outlet. The present invention can produce plentiful foam, and the piston assembly thereof is not easy to be stuck, and is provided with a longer service life. Moreover, the produced foam has a uniform size while the discharge speed of foam is faster and more stable than ever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Inventor: Jianzhi Yan
  • Patent number: 9022203
    Abstract: Embodiments provide methods, systems, and apparatuses for loading workpieces in a flow direction into the spaced apart lugs on a lugged conveyor with the workpieces oriented transverse to the flow direction. The lug loader includes an array of pairs of endless conveyors configured to convey workpieces toward a lugged conveyor. The first and second endless conveyors of each pair are spaced laterally apart across the flow direction and aligned substantially in the flow direction. The array can form a continuous or discontinuous transport surface. Some pairs of endless conveyors in the array may overlap one or more other pairs of endless conveyors in the array. At least one pair of endless conveyors in the array may include two or more endless conveyors that are independently driven at different speeds and/or in different directions to de-skew a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventors: Andre LaPierre, Damon Clinch
  • Patent number: 8985306
    Abstract: Embodiments provide methods, systems, and apparatuses for loading workpieces in a flow direction into the spaced apart lugs on a lugged conveyor with the workpieces oriented transverse to the flow direction. The lug loader includes an array of pairs of endless conveyors configured to convey workpieces toward a lugged conveyor. The first and second endless conveyors of each pair are spaced laterally apart across the flow direction and aligned substantially in the flow direction. The array can form a continuous or discontinuous transport surface. Some pairs of endless conveyors in the array may overlap one or more other pairs of endless conveyors in the array. At least one pair of endless conveyors in the array may include two or more endless conveyors that are independently driven at different speeds and/or in different directions to de-skew a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventors: Andre LaPierre, Damon Clinch
  • Patent number: 8776986
    Abstract: A singulator for use with fruit handling equipment including spaced fruit supports driven at a particular speed, the singulator causing the fruit to assume single file for transfer to the fruit supports, the singulator including a first pair of belts arranged in a V formation travelling at different speeds, wherein the first pair of belts merges into a second pair of belts arranged in a V formation and both travelling at about the speed of the fruit supports, and wherein the second pair of belts is adapted to be operated so as to transfer the fruits substantially at the same speed as the fruit supports, whereby fruit are transferred to the fruit supports in single file whilst moving at the same speed as the fruit supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: MAF Agrobotic
    Inventor: Bruce Thomas Morley
  • Patent number: 8622200
    Abstract: Feeding device, for feeding bands having different lengths and bound in a direction transverse to the feeding direction, includes a driving roller and a rubber-covered pressure roller, both being activated by respective brushless motors. The feeding device is controlled by an electronic drive that allows the pressure roller to rotate at a greater speed than the driving roller, allowing the sliding of the overlapping band above the base band during feed motion, maintaining constant the required tension and eliminating the rolling up of the overlaying band in correspondence of the transversal bind with the base band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Prati S.R.L.
    Inventor: Pietro Prati
  • Patent number: 8360231
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for transferring articles from a first carrier moving at a first speed to a carrier moving at a second speed. The apparatus may include a first transfer surface driven by a first motor and second transfer surface driven by a second motor. The first and second transfer surfaces receive and transfer different portions of an article at different speeds such that a desired amount of spacing can be provided between discrete articles in a process independent of the size of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Yoichiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8276745
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for transferring articles from a first carrier moving at a first speed to a carrier moving at a second speed. The apparatus may include a first transfer surface driven by a first motor and second transfer surface driven by a second motor. The first and second transfer surfaces receive and transfer different portions of an article at different speeds such that a desired amount of spacing can be provided between discrete articles in a process independent of the size of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Yoichiro Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20120228091
    Abstract: Feeding device with motorized rollers for overlying bands (1 and 2) of paper or other material, having different lengths and bound in a transversal direction between them, constituted of a driving roller (R1) and of a rubber-covered pressure roller (R2) where the driving roller (R1) is activated by a first brushless motor (M1) and that the pressure roller (R2) is activated by a second brushless motor (M2) and where said feeding device is controlled by an electronic driving means that allows the pressure roller (R2) to rotate to a greater speed than the driving roller (R1) on the base of what is allowed by the bands of overlying material (1 and 2), allowing the sliding of the overlapping band (2) above the base band (1) during feed motion, maintaining constant the requested tension and eliminating the rolling up of the overlaying band/s in correspondence of the transversal bind with the base band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: PRATI S.R.L.
    Inventor: Pietro Prati
  • Publication number: 20110247918
    Abstract: A delivery device for delivering a substrate of a solar cell includes a plurality pairs of conveyer rollers arranged along a delivering path. Each pair of the conveyer rollers includes a first and second conveyer rollers respectively having first and second axes extending perpendicularly to the delivering path, and first and second aligners disposed circumferentially and respectively on the first and second conveyer rollers. The first and second conveyer rollers are made from polytethrafluoroethylene. The first and second aligners cooperatively define a carrier region for carrying the substrate thereon for delivery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: AURIA SOLAR
    Inventors: Liang-Chung Hsu, Wu-Fu Ruan, Po-En Chien, Chung-Yueh Wu
  • Patent number: 7810631
    Abstract: A bean sprouts-like articles loosening supply device can exhibit a sufficient dispersing function even for fine and light weight bean sprouts-like articles liable to be entangled with each other, such as alfalfa sprouts. The loosening supply device includes two conveyors having both of their end portions constructed to turn so as to run endlessly, having their outer surfaces provided with needle members, and running at velocities different from each other. The conveyors are arranged to have their running paths opposed to each other so that their running directions are both downward and so that at least one portion of the needle members of the two conveyors mesh into each other. Alfalfa sprouts are supplied into the running paths from above and encounter the needle members of the two conveyors running at velocities different from each other and intersecting with each other. Each time the needle members intersect with each other, the alfalfa sprouts are separated upward and downward and dispersed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Daisey Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sanji Kawakami
  • Patent number: 7798308
    Abstract: An assembly for rotating a selected article in a stream of like articles without rotating an adjacent article, each of the articles moving along a conveying surface of a conveyor belt with a speed of forward travel and comprising an axis which is normal to the conveying surface. The assembly comprises a mechanism for revolving the selected article around the axis without changing between the axis of the revolving selected article and the axis of the non-revolving adjacent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sidel (Canada) Inc.
    Inventor: Michel Ranger
  • Publication number: 20090308024
    Abstract: A transport apparatus for transporting an article, which is a bag formed from a flexible packaging material, includes a first transport part and a second transport part. The first transport part is configured and arranged to transport the article in a predetermined transport direction with the article being supported from below by a transport surface of the first transport part. The second transport part is configured and arranged to transport the article in the predetermined transport direction while exerting a downward force on a portion of an upper surface of the article being transported by the first transport part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: ISHIDA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Yokota, Takashi Kimura, Seisaku Iwasa
  • Patent number: 7441648
    Abstract: A transport system including a curved conveyance section configured for moving articles along a curved conveyance path. At least one turnstile wheel is configured to guide the articles along the curved conveyance path. In some embodiments, the turnstile wheel comprises a first surface configured to guide an exterior vertical belt along a continuous curve on an exterior edge of the curved conveyance path and a second surface configured to guide an interior vertical belt along a continuous curve on an interior edge of the curved conveyance path. The first surface and the second surface are configured to have a common axis of rotation outside the curved conveyance path and to rotate at a same angular velocity. The interior vertical belt and the exterior vertical belt are configured to support the articles as the articles are conveyed along the curved conveyance path. The articles are conveyed along the curved conveyance path without stopping or significantly slowing down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Aquest Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Barry Kitazumi, Benjamin T. Davidson
  • Patent number: 7434678
    Abstract: A transport system includes a curved conveyance section configured to move an article along a curved path without significantly slowing or stopping. Exemplary articles for conveyance include semiconductor wafers and substrates for display devices and photovoltaic devices. In some embodiments, the conveyance section includes a turnstile wheel including an interior surface and an exterior surface. The external surface is configured to guide an exterior belt that in turn supports one side of the article around the conveyance path. The internal surface is configured to either support an opposing side of the article, or guide an interior belt that in turn supports the article around the conveyance path. Instead of employing a turnstile wheel, other embodiments employ interior and exterior supports for supporting opposite ends of the article, such as interior and exterior belts, that move at essentially the same angular rate along the inside and outside of the conveyance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Aquest Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Barry Kitazumi, Benjamin T. Davidson
  • Patent number: 7322459
    Abstract: A product conveying and accumulation system and method employs a primary product transporting conveyor with accumulation and re-circulating sections. The conveyor is configured to receive products from an upstream destination and discharge products to a downstream destination. A second conveyor, operable at a considerable slower speed than the first conveyor, is located in the same transverse plane as and is aligned adjacent to the first conveyor. Both conveyors travel in the same direction at the adjacent alignment. As products are discharged from the system, a wall of product is formed on the slower moving conveyor. As a result, products on the inner lane of the faster moving conveyor which would otherwise tend to move inward towards the discharge point, causing product turbulence and disruption, are urged back onto the inner lane by the product wall and then smoothly discharged from the system to the downstream destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Garvey Corporation
    Inventor: Mark C. Garvey
  • Patent number: 7097029
    Abstract: A device for aligning parcel goods, in particular bottle crates, boxes, trays or the like during conveyance, and having a conveyor device with a roller conveyor belt having two-part freely rotatable rollers, whereby the conveyance takes place in a plane of conveyance and the alignment takes place in an alignment area situated at least partially in the plane of transport, with a plurality of manipulation units that can be operated in a controlled manner and are situated above and/or below the roller chains in the alignment area. The manipulation units are able to alter the speed and/or the direction of rotation of the rollers for rotation of a parcel about an axis perpendicular to the plane of transport, with at least one preferably optical recognition device which detects the aligned position of the parcel and a control device which controls the process of alignment of the parcel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Krones AG.
    Inventor: Gerd Halang
  • Patent number: 6913136
    Abstract: A device for positioning separately supplied elongate meat products, comprises two driven endless aligning conveyors running with the transport paths substantially parallel to each other, which transport paths together form a support for the meat products for transporting such that, at the position where the transport paths are mutually adjacent, they are in a lower position than when at a greater mutual distance. This structure also relates to a method for positioning separately supplied elongate meat products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Townend Engineering Company
    Inventors: Wilhelmus Johannes Everardus Maria van den Dungen, Johannes Theodorus Antonius Andreas van Donzel, Wilhelmus Josephus Maria Manders
  • Publication number: 20040178047
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a curve element (1) for a transfer system for transporting products, having a curve-going outer track (2) and an inner track. An outer guide (5) is disposed on the outside of the outer track (2). The outer track (2) is embodied in continuous form in the curved region, and the inner track is formed in two parts of a first inner track (3) and a second inner track (4). At least one of the first or second inner tracks (3, 4) protrudes rectilinearly into the curved region of the curve element (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventor: Ernst Leisner
  • Patent number: 6688456
    Abstract: Apparatus for reorienting containers such as bottles moving along and guided in single file along a plurality of side-by-side lanes in which the reorienting unit has a plurality of modular units each with an endless belt and operating in pairs to turn the containers a predetermined amount about a vertical axis in each of the respective lanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Ashland Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Jones, Barry Grainger
  • Patent number: 5138972
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying a coating of solid particulate powder to the interior surface of tubular, cylindrical articles includes a conveyor for transporting the articles to and from a powder spray station whereat powder is sprayed into one open end of the articles. The conveyor includes an endless belt conveyor movable in a direction perpendicular to the spray from the nozzle and the axes of articles supported on the conveyor. The articles are supported on the conveyor by lugs in the form of rollers which support the articles in grooves defined between adjacent pairs of lugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Prazisions-Werkzeuge AG
    Inventor: Kurt Glanzmann
  • Patent number: 5096043
    Abstract: A device for feeding products, e.g. soaps, from a manufacturing machine to a wrapping machine, and comprising a first and second conveyor belt cooperating with each other and powered at different speeds. The first conveyor belt presents a number of equally spaced supporting elements for respective soaps, having respective reaction elements designed to flank a first side of a respective soap. The second conveyor belt presents a number of equally spaced positioning elements, each designed to flank a second side of a respective soap opposite the first side. Each reaction element faces a respective positioning element and defines, with the same, a compartment for receiving a respective soap and the size of which, measured in the traveling direction of the first and second conveyor belt, is greater than that of the soaps at the point wherein the soaps are transferred into the compartments, and is gradually reduced until it substantially equals the size of the soaps at a point downstream from the transfer point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giordano Gorrieri, Luciano Nannini, Alberto Mondani
  • Patent number: 5074400
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for changing the relative position of packs, especially of cuboidal cigarette packs of the hinge-lid type. Prior art processes and apparatuses work with forces having shock-like impacts on the packs, so that there is a risk of the packs getting damaged. The invention guarantees gentle changes of the relative position. Each pack is turned by way of being pulled by two conveyor belts running at different velocities and being arranged at two opposite regions of the pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Henry Buse
  • Patent number: 5054604
    Abstract: Rod-like articles, particularly cigarettes or cigarette filter rods, are conveyed in a stream in a direction transverse to their lengths at a speed which is progressively reduced, so that the height of the conveyed stream is increased. Prior to the reduction in conveyance speed the speed of individual articles is increased briefly to avoid damage from following articles. The speed reduction takes place in a path having divergent boundary walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Molins, PLC
    Inventors: John K. Horsley, John E. Nixon
  • Patent number: 4938340
    Abstract: Rod-like articles, particularly cigarettes or cigarette filter rods, are conveyed in a stream in a direction transverse to their lengths at a speed which is progressively reduced, so that the height of the conveyed stream is increased. Prior to the reduction in conveyance speed the speed of individual articles is increased briefly to avoid damage from following articles. The speed reduction takes place in a path having divergent boundary walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: Molins PLC
    Inventors: John K. Horsley, John E. Nixon
  • Patent number: 4913415
    Abstract: A sheet stack delivering apparatus has first and second pairs of opposing tape conveyors, the first pair moving at a faster rate of travel compared to that of the second pair, and the tapes of each pair being selectively pressed against one another for effecting delivery of sheet stacks at the faster or slower rates of travel of the first and second pairs of tapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Goebel GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich Weber
  • Patent number: 4901842
    Abstract: Apparatus for changing the orientation of stacks of paper sheets has two parallel transporting units each having at least one belt conveyor with outwardly extending bristles which engage the stacks and reduce the likelihood of unpredictable slippage of the lowermost sheets of the stacks relative to the adjacent reaches of the belt conveyors while the stacks are advanced from a stack supplying conveyor to a stack receiving conveyor. At the same time, the stacks are caused to change their orientation by turning about axes extending at right angles to the adjacent reaches of the belt conveyors as a result of travel of the conveyor or conveyors forming part of one of the transporting units at a speed which is greater than the speed of the conveyor or conveyors of the other transporting unit. Each belt conveyor can have an outer layer of velour with a pile of outwardly extending bristles, an inner layer of textile fabric, and a synthetic plastic intermediate layer which is bonded to the inner and outer layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: E.C.H. Will GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Lemboke, Wolfram Wolf
  • Patent number: 4861166
    Abstract: A method for removing bubbles from a container made of synthetic resin filled with solution comprises adding movement of inclination or reverse to the container made of synthetic resin filled with solution gradually so as to contact the surface of solution with whole round of the inner-wall of the container without any shock from outside, and changing the condition of the container so as to discharge bubbles attaching to the inner-wall of the container to outside of the solution and to remove bubbles in the container completely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Eisai Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chihiro Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 4679685
    Abstract: This invention is a commodity conveyor for use with an accumulating device wherein a pusher pushes box-shaped commodities off the conveyor in a perpendicular direction onto a second conveyor. The present invention provides a constant commodity flow rate, with individual commodities travelling at a fixed distance from each other, so that accumulation of the commodities can be made automatically. In one embodiment, the second conveyor includes a pair of endless chains connected by parallel cylindrical rollers. The speed of the pusher and the second conveyor are kept equal. In a second embodiment, sets of pairs of endless vertical belts are provided on either side of the commodity conveyor, gripping the individual commodities. With one set of belts travelling below conveyor speed, and another set travelling exactly at the same speed as the conveyor speed, it is possible to obtain the desired constant commodity flow rate and constant separation distance between commodities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: AB Tetra Pak
    Inventor: Kenji Inoko
  • Patent number: 4676711
    Abstract: A moving gate discharge system designed to prevent product-breakage while discharging particulate products, particularly non-free flowing and inter-engaging particulate products, in a more uniform flow from a receptacle having a moving bottom, is disclosed. The system includes an endless circulating feeder mounted across the discharge of the receptacle with its lower end portion oscillating upwardly and downwardly and traveling at a horizontal speed more rapid than that of the product on the moving bottom of the receptacle. Product-progressing finger assemblies are mounted in transverse rows on the feeder, spaced distances equal to the longitudinal distance the feeder moves during one period of vertical movement of the lower end portion thereof, and located such that each will be disposed directly below the lower end portion of the feeder when the latter reaches the lower portion of its downward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Food Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph D. Burgess, Jr., Stanley L. Davis
  • Patent number: 4571150
    Abstract: Generally horizontally disposed bracing trusses (44, 46) are interconnected between the bottoms of the longitudinal drive beams (70, 72, 74) and the bottoms of the associated transverse drive beams (100, 102, 104), within a reciprocating floor conveyor. This and other reinforcement particularly adapts the system for use in a stationary installation having a relatively wide floor. Trucks (RV) equipped with reciprocating floor conveyors are backed into a receiving house (H) and the conveyors are used for unloading bulk material (B) from the trucks (RV) into the receiving house (H). The bulk material (B) is conveyed from the receiving house (H) up to an elevated inlet (16) at one end of an elongated enclosure (E). The enclosure (E) includes a reciprocating floor conveyor (24) at its bottom and an elevated screw conveyor (36) at its top. The reciprocating conveyor (24) is operated to move bulk material out from the enclosure (E) at a controlled rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Inventor: Raymond K. Foster
  • Patent number: 4550822
    Abstract: Printed products arriving in an imbricated product formation are fed to spaced gripper units of a transport device by a belt conveyor. The conveying direction of the belt conveyor forms an acute angle with the transport direction of the transport device. The transporting rate or velocity of the belt conveyor is greater than the transporting rate or velocity by the transport device. Each gripper unit comprises a stationary clamping jaw, a pivotable clamping jaw, and a plate-shaped stop. The pivotable clamping jaw is pivoted against the action of a closing spring by a cam structure or the like. The printed products are first accelerated and then pushed into the open gripper mouth until abutting the stop in order to thereby align the printed products at the region of their leading edges. At the region of their trailing edges, the printed products remain under the conveying action of the belt conveyor at least until the gripper units are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Jacques Meier
  • Patent number: 4304326
    Abstract: There are disclosed apparatus and method for transforming a moving, multiple layered bed of relatively thin pieces of solid material into a moving stream of the pieces having a considerably lesser number of layers of such pieces, preferably an essentially single layer. The multiple layered bed of pieces is moved on a first conveyor at a relatively slow speed toward the discharge end of the conveyor. At the discharge end of the conveyor the leading edge of the bed of pieces encounters a second conveyor which moves in the same general direction as the conveyor supporting the multiple layered bed of pieces but at least about 10 times greater speed. The second conveyor is disposed at an acute angle with respect to and above the first conveyor in a manner such that the lower or leading end of the second conveyor is positioned near the discharge end of the first conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1981
    Assignee: Frito-Lay, Inc.
    Inventor: David P. Fowler
  • Patent number: 4192639
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1980
    Assignee: Jones Dairy Farm
    Inventor: Edward C. Jones, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4082177
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus employing a cleated endless conveyor belt to receive and convey plastic containers on to an orientation apparatus provided with like cleated endless conveyor belt, moving in synchronism with the conveying apparatus. A pair of rotatable brushes positioned along and above the conveying apparatus causes containers to individually and separately lodge within the spaces between the cleats as they advance in a forward direction along the endless conveyor belt. A cross belt disposed along the downward travel of the conveyor belt engages the containers and moves them in a lateral direction within the spaces between the cleats until container engagement with an abutment at the edge of the conveyor belt. After traveling through a prescribed course on the conveyor apparatus belt, the respective containers are individually discharged through a passage in the conveyor apparatus on to respective spaces on the advancing orientation apparatus belt cleats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1978
    Inventors: Samuel S. Aidlin, Stephen H. Aidlin
  • Patent number: 4060167
    Abstract: Method for providing surge capacity and for smoothing out the flow rate of refuse in a system, wherein refuse is loaded onto a moving conveyor at variable or intermittent rates, by (1) preventing excess refuse from passing beyond a given point on the conveyor by a rotating leveler, spaced a predetermined distance from the conveyor to permit only the desired level of refuse to remain on the conveyor beyond the leveler, and (2) rotating the leveler at a speed greater than the speed of the conveyor, the direction of rotation of the leveler being opposite to the direction of travel of the refuse on the conveyor. Refuse in excess of the amount desired to be transported by the conveyor is retained behind the leveler as a rolling inventory of refuse, causing the refuse to be discharged from the conveyor at a constant and uniform rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1977
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventor: George Edwin Smith