Abstract: A sorter comprising: a rack; a track assembly comprising two ring-shaped tracks both installed on the rack, the tracks being respectively arranged in two mutually parallel vertical planes and being aligned with each other; a drive assembly comprising at least one sprocket sets that comprise a driving sprocket and a plurality of driven sprockets installed on the rack; at least one chain hooping on the driving sprocket and the driven sprockets and having the same shape as the tracks; an electric machine configured to drive the driving sprocket to rotate; a sorting cart comprising a carriage that is arranged between and slidably connected to the two ring-shaped tracks and is further hinged with the chain; a conveying assembly disposed above the carriage and carry and convey items, wherein a conveying direction of the conveying assembly is different from a moving direction of the sorting cart.

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.

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.

Abstract: A transport and alignment system is provided for handling stacked sheet material on a support deck including first and second belts each having a portion thereof disposed parallel to the support deck. Each of the belts includes a plurality of spaced-apart fingers which engage the edges of the stacked sheet material and define a pocket therebetween. The transport and alignment system further includes a drive mechanism for independently driving the first and second belts to effect concurrent and relative motion of the fingers. Concurrent motion of the fingers transports the stacked sheet material along the support deck while relative motion of the fingers opposed edges of the stacked sheets of material. The transport and alignment system is described in the context of a stitcher and chassis module of a mailpiece inserter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a supporting device of the transport device of a soldering apparatus for the conveying of printed-circuit boards with at least two revolving, endless transport chains, said transport chains running in guide rails in the transport zone and each passing through two guide elements at the ends of the transport zone, wherein, for adaptation to the width of the respective printed-circuit boards, the guide elements are mounted on a carrier such as to be displaccable transverse to the conveying direction. The guide elements, each associated with a respective conveying chain, are interconnected by flexible tension elements, said tension elements being adjustable with regard to their tensile stress and running parallel to the respective conveying chain in the transport zone, the value of the tensile stress being so highly adjusted that the tension elements prevent the guide rails from deviating from a straight line.

Abstract: A device for continuously delivering bags includes at least one bag transferring device and at least one linear conveyor. The bag transferring device transfers the bags to the at least one linear conveyor. An objective of the invention is to provide a device for delivering bags, which ensures a continuous subsequent processing of the bags at a high rate and with a high degree of reliability. To this end, the device includes a continuously operating linear conveyor with bag holding fixtures. The width of the bag holding fixtures, in the direction of conveyance, is greater than the width of the bags to be held. This enables the linear conveyor to avoid having to be stopped during the delivery of the bags by the bag transferring device, and a continuous delivery of the bags to a next bag handling device can be ensured.

Abstract: A stacking conveyor conveys packets so that the conveyed packets become stacked together in a standing up configuration as an array of packets. First and second gripping members are automatically controlled so that the first and second gripping members mechanically move independently of each other to grip the array between the first and second gripping members and move the gripped array to a different location such as, for example, to a packaging station for packaging the array.

Abstract: A casted concrete block surface-roughing machine having an in-line conveyor displaceable over a stationary horizontal support surface for slidingly supporting a lower surface of concrete blocks displaced thereon by the conveyor. At least two pairs of spaced-apart vertically supported conveyor belts are disposed to engage opposed side faces of the concrete blocks to displace them along the stationary horizontal support surface. One of the pairs of the conveyor belts engages the opposed side faces in a lower surface section thereof to expose an upper surface section thereof to be abraded by respective surface abrading devices. The other of the pairs of conveyor belts engage the opposed side faces in the upper surface section of the concrete block to expose the lower surface section thereof to be abraded by further respective surfaces abrading devices.

Abstract: A bundling assembly for use with a strapping machine that is configured to position a strap material around a load and tension the strap material around the load includes first and second moving belts positioned at the strapping machine entrance in opposing relation to one another. The belts each have a paddle mounted thereto and define a pathway through the bundling assembly. A movable stop is positioned at the exit of the strapping machine and is movable between a stop position and a convey position. The moving belts rotate to contact the paddles with the load, urging the load into the entrance of the strapping machine and into an area under the chute. The belts stop rotation, thus stopping movement of the load upon contact of the load with the stop. The movable stop then moves to the convey position and the moving belts rotate such that the paddles move the load out of the exit of the strapping machine. A stabilizing assembly applies a slight pressure on the load during the strapping cycle.

Abstract: A wood-edger for cutting away irregularities left on the edges of wood products, such as planks or boards, comprises a succession of different transferring mechanisms cooperating to regulate the flow of wood products to be processed and to properly position the same for the ultimate edging operation.

Abstract: The apparatus has two pairs (16, 17) of conveying elements which are arranged laterally spaced from each other. Each pair (16, 17) has two parallel conveying elements (18, 19, 20, 21) arranged one above the other. All of the conveying elements (18 to 21) are guided via a respective driving wheel (22 to 25) and a deflecting wheel (26 to 29). They are, for example, toothed belts from which drivers (34, 35) protrude at a regular, adjustable spacing just over part of their length. A first driving unit (30, 31) drives one of the driving wheels (22, 23) of each pair (16, 17) of conveying elements in synchronism. A second driving unit (32, 33) drives the two other driving wheels (24, 25) in each case in synchronism. A control device is connected to the driving units. The apparatus enables containers to be transported from an input station (4) in groups to a loading station (8), in which they are made ready in a precise position and are filled.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for conveying at least one supply roll, comprising a roll support surface on which the supply roll can be placed with its longitudinal axis extending essentially horizontally. The supply roll can be rolled out in at least one conveying direction with its lateral surface on said roll support surface. The device has at least one transport element with at least one rotating drive device. The carrying run of said drive device can be brought into contact with the lateral surface of the supply roll from below, directly or indirectly, and can be driven in at least one conveying direction.

Abstract: A wood-edger for cutting away irregularities left on the edges of wood products, such as planks or boards, comprises a succession of different transferring mechanisms cooperating to regulate the flow of wood products to be processed and to properly position the same for the ultimate edging operation.

Abstract: The apparatus has two pairs (16, 17) of conveying elements which are arranged laterally spaced from each other. Each pair (16, 17) has two parallel conveying elements (18, 19, 20, 21) arranged one above the other. All of the conveying elements (18 to 21) are guided via a respective driving wheel (22 to 25) and a deflecting wheel (26 to 29). They are, for example, toothed belts from which drivers (34, 35) protrude at a regular, adjustable spacing just over part of their length. A first driving unit (30, 31) drives one of the driving wheels (22, 23) of each pair (16, 17) of conveying elements in synchronism. A second driving unit (32, 33) drives the two other driving wheels (24, 25) in each case in synchronism. A control device is connected to the driving units. The apparatus enables containers to be transported from an input station (4) in groups to a loading station (8), in which they are made ready in a precise position and are filled.

Abstract: A mechanism for continuously transporting a variety of receptacles with predetermined adjacent spacing. The mechanism uses a first and a second chain driven by a common shaft around identical closed circuits, but vertically offset from one other. These closed circuits have opposed linear sides joined by identical opposed semicircular shaped ends, directed by grooves on opposite sides of a guide block. A vertical support, attached between the first and second chains, traverses the outside of the block. A third chain traverses a second circuit, which is centered and directly below the second chain, directed by a groove in the uppermost side of a horizontal frame positioned under the guide block. This second circuit is identical to the others in shape however it has a greater distance between the semicircular ends. Levers, each equal in length to one half of the third chain circuit elongation, are pivotably attached to the vertical support and to a plate.

Abstract: A cart conveyor system for the transport of load-carrying carts, as frequently used in airports, supermarkets, etc. up and down inclined pathways. The cart is provided with front and back wheels with different spacing, and the conveyor has separate tracks for the front and back wheels, arranged to support the wheels in a manner that maintains the cart in a generally horizontal orientation as it moves up or down the conveyor path. The cart is engaged adjacent one end by laterally opposed conveyor elements, which advance the cart along the incline. At the other end of the cart, a retaining element extends downward and is engaged by a retaining track to prevent tipping of the cart as it is moved along the conveyor path.

Abstract: A propulsion system for a conveyor for the transportation in single file of uniform items such as fillable containers which have a neck portion. In one embodiment, the containers are supported by suitable neck-support means such as an integral ring on static rails. The propulsion system comprises means for generating momentum and suitable transfer means for transferring the momentum thus generated to the containers. The transfer means comprises means for applying mechanical force to the said containers.

Abstract: This innovation describes a slice stacker, designed in particular for cheese slices and other slice-shaped objects, consisting of a brush belt with resting overhead or lower shot belts, which register slices from the top or from the bottom.

Abstract: A device for stacking papers having a disk with a top and bottom surface, a means for rotating the disk, a pair of symmetrically opposing movable walls having opposing longitudinal flat wall sections that are kept in a parallel space apart relationship. The opposing fiat wall sections and the top surface of the disk defining a first space adapted to receive the papers, and the interior of said symmetrically opposing movable walls and the top surface of the disk defining a second space adapted to contain the assembly for turning the opposing movable walls. The movement of the opposing movable walls discharging the papers that have been deposited in the first space of the device. The device also includes tensioners that keep the symmetrically opposing movable walls taut and are positioned so that the tensioners do not alter the parallel spaced apart relationship of the opposing longitudinal fiat wall sections.

Abstract: The parcel (2) during the conveying with a conveyor (30) is drawn in on the back (7) by angular profiles (16,17) guided in sloping movement paths and which accelerate the parcel (2) accompanied by the alignment of the rotated position and/or its transverse position, transfer same to a stationary surface area (11) and engage same with a stop (12). The angular profiles (16,17) and the stop (12) then form a sliding shaft from which the aligned parcel (2) with a lifting table (32) can be ejected e.g. into a packing station.

Abstract: A package transport mechanism having a plurality of phase adjustable lug-type flights. The mechanism is incorporated in a continuous motion packaging assembly for loading article groups into cartons or other carriers which comprises an article infeed mechanism supplying at least one stream of articles; an article group selection and transport mechanism intersecting the article infeed mechanism to form and transport a longitudinal stream of article groups of a predetermined pattern; a package supply mechanism synchronized and moving parallel with the article group selecting mechanism to provide packages with open ends facing the moving article groups; and an article group transfer mechanism which is constructed and arranged to move the article groups into the open ends of the packages.

Abstract: Rows of bottles are conveyed on parallel running belts. Closed loop flexible members such as roller chains, run in vertical planes along the longitudinal edges of the belts in the same direction as the belts. The closed loop chains have stabilizing devices mounted to them for stabilizing the bottles in each row as they move along on the belts beyond a bottle infeed region. The stabilizing devices each constitute a pair of fingers that are pivotally mounted to pins that stand up from the closed loop chains and are spring biased so that they diverge at a predetermined angle from each other when they are not restrained from doing so. As the sets of fingers are carried around on the chain, they reach a region where the bottles are deposited on the belts. At least in this region, the fingers of the stabilizing devices arrive between parallel plates which cause the fingers to pivot towards each other in an overlapping relationship so that they are clear from the pathway defined by the belts.

Abstract: A conveyor chain guide rail system for a conveyor chain having compartments formed therein for carrying square or rectangular cross-section cartons to be filled with still liquid products. The chain guide rail system includes a polymer Z-shaped elongated segment wherein one leg thereof serves as a wear surface supporting the chain and the associated lugs forming the compartments, and the other leg thereof is slidably confined between stainless steel strips, one of which is supported by support posts on the machine base. The resultant arrangement precludes longitudinal deformation or buckling of the polymer segments.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for aligning, i.e., de-skewing, sheet material having squared upstream and downstream edges which is being advanced along a path. The advancing apparatus includes a pair of endless belts having pushers projecting therefrom which engage the upstream edge of the sheet material to advance the sheet material with rotation of the belts. The disclosed apparatus adjusts the relative positions of the pushers so that the squared upstream and downstream edges of the sheet material are normal to the path of travel of the sheet material. The invention has particular application to mailing machines in which paper sheets to be inserted in envelopes are advanced towards a folding station and/or an envelope insertion station. The invention has particular application to use with apparatus that cross folds paper.

Abstract: Stacking mechanism includes an accelerating conveyor for launching flat articles edgewise toward a stacking station, a continuously moving conveyor for moving stacks of articles away from the stacking station, two intermittently rotatable rotors and a stationary plate therebetween forming the stacking station, the rotors each having for pegs upstanding from their margins in orthogonal relationship so that a peg of each rotor will engage a stack of articles at the stacking station simultaneously and push the stack from the stacking station onto the discharge conveyor.

Abstract: A conveyor comprising at least one endless conveyor element, and a plurality of pushers (7, 8, 9) which are carried by the conveyor element and which are adapted to push objects on the conveyor. The pushers (7, 8, 9) have at least two different cross sectional shapes that vary from pusher to pusher lengthwise of the conveyor, for pushing different types of solid objects along the conveyor. These different shapes of pushers (7, 8, 9) are arranged in predetermined fixed positions and in sequential order along the conveyor element (2, 3, 4), and the distance along the conveyor element (2, 3, 4) between a pusher (7, 8, 9) and the next pusher of the same cross sectional shape is the same for all types of pushers (7, 8, 9).

Abstract: An extraction and transfer mechanism for modular containers in an automated storage and retrieval system of the type having a storage matrix of modular containers and a stacker crane with a vertically movable platform. The extraction and transfer mechanism is carried on the platform and when positioned adjacent a selected modular container, is arranged to extract the container from a first selected storage location laterally onto the platform, and to transfer the container in either lateral direction into a second selected empty storage location. The preferred embodiment uses a pair of continuous loop friction belt and collapsible hook assemblies, which both grasp and hook the sides of handleless modular containers for extraction and transfer.

Abstract: A stacker having platforms movable along a path by chains. Cam followers on the platforms engage a cam surface which controls the platform path. The chains are driven by a motor in a closed-loop system which monitors the platforms and controls their speed. The closed-loop system first decelerates the platforms and thereafter stops one platform in the intercept-ready position. The platform cam follower enters a claw which moves the end of the platform through the stream to collect signatures when the downstream platform reaches a predetermined count and deposits the stack on a turntable. A piston assembly rotates the turntable one-half turn after each deposit. Different pressure values are selectively applied to the piston assembly to slow the turntable before it is halted.

Abstract: In a stacker turntable used to form compensated bundles, a drive assembly for moving completed bundles off of the turntable comprises first and second drive motors mounted to the underside of the rotatable turntable at equally distant locations from the center line and as close thereto as is practicable to minimize the offcenter mass. The locations of the motors are balanced to balance the rotatable mass. Each motor drives a "picket fence" assembly, each assembly being a movable wall formed of individual vertical slats. Pusher elements are arranged at spaced distances among the slats to cooperatively form end guides for supporting bundles as they are being formed and during the time that they are rotated for pushing a completed bundle off of the turntable.The leadlines of the motors extend through a hollow center support and coaxial with the turntable center of rotation to prevent any whipping of the leads during turntable rotation.

Abstract: A self-cleaning trash rack for removing debris from a stream of water has an upright frame positioned in the path of trash carried by the stream and a plurality of endless, flexible chains carrying trash supports which engage and carry debris on the upstream side of the frame upwardly for disposal. Each chain has sufficient slack to enable any trash support on the upstream side of the frame to rock in such direction as to release debris that is too heavy to be carried upwardly by such trash support.

Abstract: A process and device are provided for supplying an operation station with a uccession of articles guided along a given path from a feeding station, whereby an acceleration is imparted to each article by a pushing lug for example, and then the article is braked by a retainer lug for example.

Abstract: Two independent modules, disposed on a mobile handling platform, each comprise an endless chain with a pulling finger and a pushing finger. The operations of the chains are symmetrical with respect to the load drive axis. In operation, the pulling fingers engage a handle on the front of a load container and drive it until the pulling fingers reach a portion where their movement is lateral to the drive axis, temporarily stopping the container movement until the pushing fingers engage a handle on the back of the load container, serving to clamp the container during movement of the platform. Releasing the container can take place on the same side as that of loading by reverse rotation of the chains or from the opposite side by continuing the movement of the chains in the same direction, in accordance with an equivalent procedure.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for aligning flat articles such as envelop flat bags or the blanks therefor or the like. According to the main feature of the apparatus, an article-supporting slideway is provided and lateral toothed belts run around reversing sprockets and are provided with article-engaging entraining members, the rotational axes of the reversing sprockets being perpendicular to the plane of the slideway.

Abstract: A load conveyor for a cutting machine comprises two outer, endless chains, and an endless further chain positioned between the two outer chains. Each of the chains carries scrapers. All of the chains are driven, via a common drive drum, by a drive station. The scrapers of adjacent chains interdigitate in the manner of the teeth of a zip fastener, at least in the zone of the drive station.

Abstract: In a cartoner for filling and sealing tubular cartons wherein the cartons are carried between leading and trailing transport lugs, a mechanism for squaring the cartons consisting of inclining a leading lug in a rearward direction to engage a corner of a carton to hold the carton in an erect, squared attitude.

Abstract: A machine for connecting successive rows of coil springs together into a coil spring assembly. The machine, in preferred form, initially picks up a row of coil springs by inserting a pick up finger into the barrel of each coil and moving the springs onto a support platen. In the course of transporting the coils between pick up and the support platen, the pick up fingers change the spacing of the coils. The springs are then compressed against the support platen to a desired height through use of a reciprocable compression bar. Thereafter, and through use of rotatable transfer fingers on a transfer shaft, the springs are removed from under the compression bar, and are moved into clamping dies. Leading rotary transfer fingers on the transfer shaft first pull the row of springs out from under the compression bar, and trailing rotary fingers then push the springs into the downstream one of upper and lower clamping dies.

Abstract: A carton sealing machine for sealing cartons in which a clutch is provided to connect a pair of oppositely disposed conveyor belts for movement thereof from a driving motor.

Abstract: Latch and guide system for gripping steel plate and the like while it is edge-formed. A pulley system is driven to apply tension to cables which actuate gripping clamps. The clamps travel within channel guides along the length of the system and restrain the plate from lateral movement.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing the foldable flaps of cartons. The apparatus includes an improved modular frame structure to support the sealing heads and the carton handling assemblies. The apparatus further includes an improved lift assembly to raise and lower the top sealing head assembly.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the gating of piles of magazines from an input conveyor to a trimmer infeed conveyor. A pile is fed to a gating conveyor and blocked at the entrance thereto by a pair of gating pins. The gating pins and the gating conveyor are then driven together with the pins moving at a higher speed than the conveyor. This releases the pile and moves it toward the trimmer infeed conveyor. A second pair of gating pins behind the first pair and moving at the same speed overtakes the magazine pile from the rear and pushes it from the end of the gating conveyor onto the trimmer infeed conveyor.

Abstract: In sheet feeding apparatus of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,690,647, at least one conveyor chain extending in a closed loop is moved on supporting structure in a path having two reversing portions arcuate about respective axes of curvature, a feeding portion substantially straight and parallel to the plane of intended sheet movement, and a return portion, the feeding and return portions connecting the reversing portions. The axes of curvature of the reversing portions are obliquely or perpendicularly transverse to the plane of sheet movement. The conveyor chain has at least one sheet engaging dog fastened to a corresponding link of the chain in such a manner that the dog moves in the plane of sheet movement while the associated chain link moves in the feeding portion of its path, and the dog moves about the axes of curvature in respective arcs of smaller radii of curvature than those of the reversing path portions when the associated chain link moves in the latter.

Abstract: An article translation apparatus is described for moving a series of substantially identical articles contiguously supplied to it, each of the articles having a rearwardly directed abutment face. The apparatus comprises at least one endless conveyor loop having a series of article driving dogs equally spaced therearound, each dog having a downwardly extending driving spur adapted drivingly to engage the abutment face of an article and further including a slot at its leading end, each dog being rotatably mounted at its trailing end to the conveyor loop, the loop having equally spaced stop means extending into each slot to set upper and lower limits to the permitted rotation of each dog.

Abstract: A device for handling flaskless moulds relates to foundry equipment and can prove to be most advantageous for use in automatic lines for flaskless horizontal-stack moulding. The device of this invention comprises a stationary bed adapted for arranging moulds, and a mechanism or gear for moving the moulds assembled into a stack. The gear is made as two sprocket endless chains running from both sides of the stationary bed concordantly thereto and carrying grips for retaining a stack of flaskless moulds during its travel along the stationary bed. The top horizontal portions of the chains are provided with guides adapted to draw these portions together above the bed. As a result, smooth bringing of the grips to and from the stack is performed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a machine for sealing parallelepiped boxes, which comprises a support surface for the boxes and a pair of closed-loop conveyor belts located around respective successions of rollers spaced apart along the feed direction of the boxes. According to the invention, the most downstream roller of each succession has a drive shaft rotatably supported by a slide, which can be adjustably spaced along a guide transverse to the feed direction of the boxes, on said shaft there being mounted a sprocket which cooperates with the analogous sprocket associated with the other conveyor belt, with a drive sprocket disposed in proximity to one side of said support surface and rotated by a motor, and with a chain tightening sprocket disposed in proximity to the other side of said support surface, by way of a chain which engages at its opposite ends with said sprockets associated with the conveyor belts.

Abstract: A carton conveyor means for receiving cartons directly from a carton erecting and forming machine, and conveying the cartons along a linear path through a series of work stations for filling and sealing the cartons. The conveyor includes a pair of roller chains. Each of the roller chains has attached thereto a plurality of spaced apart metal lug carrier clips which are detachably mounted on the chain. A non-metallic conveyor lug is assembled to each of the lug carrier clips in a snap-in-fashion. The conveyor lugs function to transport the cartons along a pair of carton support rails. The conveyor lugs also function as guide means and bearing means for supporting the conveyor chains.

Abstract: Articles to be packaged are fed through a packaging machine on conveyor means and are arranged in groups which are controlled by suitable spacer elements movably mounted on an endless feed element and each including an article engaging pusher projection for imparting movement to a group of preceding articles together with an article engaging restraining projection movable into the path of movement of the articles so as to restrain the movement of the immediately succeeding group thereby to control and precisely to determine the position of the group of articles in order to insure cooperative and synchronous cooperation with other machine operations.