Abstract: A material handling system for distributing granular solids from a single source to a plurality of distribution points in which a plurality of selectively adjustable leveling bars control the thickness of a layer of material on a conveyor, and a plurality of arcuate-shaped guide chutes divert the material from the conveyor to the plurality of distribution points. The guide chutes are positioned longitudinally along the sides of the conveyor and their lateral positions are selectively adjustable relative thereto. The cooperative relationship among the height of the leveling bars, the lateral position of the guide chutes, and the speed of the conveyor determines the amount of material diverted from the conveyor to the individual distribution points. According to an alternate arrangement a constant thickness of the material layer is maintained and the selective position of the guide chutes is used to control the amount of material diverted.

Abstract: Conveyor apparatus comprises a series of spaced rollers defining thereover a travel path for articles and an article stop located adjacent and downstream with respect to one of the rollers and movable between an extended position and a retracted position. In its extended position, the article stop extends into the travel path to obstruct passage of articles from the roller, and in its retracted position the article stop is spaced from the travel path to permit passage of articles from the roller. A roller stop is secured to the article stop and movable therewith, the roller stop being operatively disengaged from the roller when the article stop is in the retracted position and operatively engaged with the roller when the article stop is in the extended position. Operative engagement of the roller stop with the roller inhibits rotation of the roller and thus reduces the momentum with which an article engages the article stop.

Abstract: Article orienting apparatus including a first, or infeed, conveyor, a second, or outfeed, conveyor and an arcuate guide member swingable between a first article engaging position and a second non-article engaging position for selectively orienting predetermined sides of an article to face in the downstream direction of travel of the second conveyor after the article has been transferred thereto from said first conveyor. An extendible-retractable ram selectively actuates an alignment roller for contacting an incompletely turned article for substantially completing a turning sequence when said arcuate guide member is disposed in said first article engaging position.

Abstract: In removing articles from a wheel-type blow molding machine continuously revolving in a vertical plane with multiple mold sections opening radially to the wheel axis out of which the articles are ejected sidewise downwardly onto a takeaway pocket conveyor.A process involving positioning the articles in the pockets such that the moils protrude laterally of the conveyor, capturing such moils within a spiral screw channel while still advancing within the pockets, then pivoting such captured articles downwardly to a vertical attitute beyond the conveyor by means of the screw and forward twisting contour of a guide rail.

Abstract: Fruit feeding apparatus which is designed to accommodate loose bulk fruit moving upon an endless conveyor belt and to feed such fruit at right angles from said belt in a plurality of spaced single-file lanes. The apparatus includes a side guide wall adjacent one edge of the conveyor belt which wall has an opening therein to permit fruit to flow laterally from the belt only at a particular location. A hopper is positioned within the opening and includes a plurality of fruit lanes separated by upright lane walls. The lane walls terminate at a position spaced from the conveyor belt, and a shallow fruit supporting shelf extends between the lane walls and the belt. The shelf is of a width less than the diameter of a fruit such that a fruit which is received upon the shelf will be bumped by fruit on the conveyor belt until finding its way into one of the fruit lanes.

Abstract: A live roll conveyor receives randomly supplied upstanding containers, such as cans, and arrests the leading cans with a pattern stop bar having pockets that arrange a transverse row of cans to receive a next assembled row of cans in nesting relation. When a backlog of alternately offset rows of cans extends upstream of an overhead clamp spaced from the pattern bar, the clamp locks two rows of containers to hold back the further upstream containers, and the pattern stop moves downstream so that one assembled charge of nested containers is moved unitarily downstream by the live rolls. A separator or retaining plate with downturned edge flanges is placed on the charge of cans, the pattern stop is further retracted to expose an underlying guide bar and allow the charge to seat against the guide bar, a gate is lowered to allow lateral discharge of the charge of cans, and a sweep arm pushes the charge to a laterally adjacent container basket of a containerized cooker.