Abstract: A conveyor system that transports a plurality of pallets includes: at least two driving devices that each have an engaging portion to be engaged with the pallet located at an upstream-side end portion in a pallet transport direction and that moves the engaging portion in a state where the engaging portion is engaged with the pallet to thereby simultaneously push the plurality of pallets; and a transport portion on which the plurality of pallets are mounted and that is able to transport the plurality of pallets pushed by the driving devices. The conveyor system is configured to transport the plurality of pallets at a constant speed by engaging the engaging portion of one of the driving devices with the pallet and causing the one of the driving devices to start pushing the plurality of pallets by the time when another one of the driving devices completes pushing the plurality of pallets.

Abstract: A scalable shipping buffer (22; 50; 88) with an integrated sorting function for preparing a consignment comprising a number of different products (42), wherein the products (42) can be loaded into a transporting vehicle (24) in an ordered sequence and wherein the products (42) are delivered to the shipping buffer (22; 50; 88) in a disordered sequence, comprising: a drawing-off path (30), in particular a central drawing-off path, for conveying the products (42) in a downstream direction to a transfer point (41), at which the products (42) are transferred in the direction of the transporting vehicle (24) according to the ordered sequence, wherein the drawing-off path (30) extends essentially in a longitudinal direction (31); a first buffer path (32; 34), which extends essentially parallel and adjacent to the drawing-off path (30) and has a first number of buffer locations (39); a multiplicity of transfer devices (38), wherein the transfer devices are arranged in such a way that each buffer location (39) of the

Abstract: In the case of a mail-processing machine having a conveying path (1) which contains a circulating conveying chain and conveys onto a handling station (5), easy changeover to a variety of processing tasks and good adaptability to constricted space conditions are achieved in that, by a switchable actuating arrangement, manipulator fingers (19) articulated on a manipulator hand (13), in the handling station (5), can be switched both into the operating position both for the forward stroke of the manipulator hand and for the return stroke of the manipulator hand and into the return position both for the return stroke of the manipulator hand and for the forward stroke of the manipulator hand.

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: A reciprocating forward-feed device for the clocked linear forward-feed of stacks of goods over a transport path has a double-arm rotatable forward-feed lever with two pushers which operate in a clocked manner. Forward-feed lever and pusher are driven in a controlled manner by means of a four-arbor arrangement with a linear arbor, rotational arbor and pivot arbor for the pushers linked via guide rods and a return swivel arbor.

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 method and apparatus for sorting objects includes providing a sorter having a conveying surface, a plurality of pusher shoes capable of traveling laterally of the conveying surface, a plurality of diverting rails extending diagonally under the conveying surface, and a plurality of diverters associated with the diverting rails. The pusher shoes including an article-contacting member extending at least partially above the conveying surface to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface and a transfer assembly having a magnetic member below the conveying surface. The transfer assembly engages ones of the diverting rails to laterally displace the corresponding one of the pusher shoes. Actuators are provided at the diverters. The actuators are selectively energized to attract at least one of the magnetic members towards the associated one of the diverting rails. Residual magnetic attraction between the actuators and the magnetic members is reduced when the actuators are not being energized.

Abstract: A continuous treatment apparatus is provided that resists thermal shock and treatment gases and correctly transfers treated objects. An urging mechanism 9 that urges a treated object w is adapted to transfer a treated object w by reciprocating rack member 91 using a pinion 92 in separating compartments 6 between treatment chambers 1, 2, 3, and 4. This arrangement eliminates the need to install rack members 91 and pinion 92 in a severe atomsphere.

Abstract: The high cycle rate transfer device invention disclosed herein enables a continuous conveyance of material in a limited space envelope. Particularly, a roller chain is driven by a center sprocket with outboard rollers on the chain running in a track so that material can be moved in both directions. Pawls on each end of the chain are used to urge the material. Each time the chain is moved, a pawl folding and unfolding mechanism maintains the pawls in a proper position and timed relation to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the transport of products in the course of a packaging process, where at least two pushers, pivotably mounted along a guide rod, are driven by a traction mechanism alternately back and forth in opposite directions along a product track. The pivotable mountings allow their respective pushers to swing between active and passive positions so that in the active position the pusher moves a product in one direction along the track, while a pusher in the passive position is pivoted away from the track while being driven in the opposite direction to return to a starting point. Upon reaching the starting point, the pusher in the passive position is pivoted back to the active position for moving the next product. The traction mechanism is preferably a toothed belt which is driven by a servomotor with a programmable speed profile, and the pushers are preferably connected to the traction mechanism by overload couplings.

Abstract: A bi-directional ratchet conveyor is shown including a carrier bar slideably mounted centrally of a frame and operated by a power cylinder. The carrier bar has a first plurality of gravity dogs pivotally secured along a first side thereof, and a second plurality of gravity dogs secured along a second side thereof oriented in an opposite direction from the first plurality of gravity dogs. Dog operating rods are slideably secured to each side of the carrier bar for independently operating the first and second plurality of dogs between active and neutral positions. Each dog operating rod is operated by a separate pneumatic cylinder. When the first plurality of dogs are maintained in an active position, the second plurality of dogs are maintained in a neutral position, thereby providing for movement of goods in one direction along the conveyor through repeated extension and retraction of the power cylinder.

Abstract: A bi-directional ratchet conveyor is shown including a carrier bar slideably mounted centrally of a frame and operated by a power cylinder. The carrier bar has a first plurality of gravity dogs pivotally secured along a first side thereof, and a second plurality of gravity dogs secured along a second side thereof oriented in an opposite direction from the first plurality of gravity dogs. Dog operating rods are slideably secured to each side of the carrier bar for independently operating the first and second plurality of dogs between active and neutral positions. Each dog operating rod is operated by a separate pneumatic cylinder. When the first plurality of dogs are maintained in an active position, the second plurality of dogs are maintained in a neutral position, thereby providing for movement of goods in one direction along the conveyor through repeated extension and retraction of the power cylinder.

Abstract: A package-conveying apparatus, which is useful with a wrapping-machine of a type capable of wrapping a package with stretch film from a roll moving in an annular path, comprises an elongate table with two front ledges, a pair of endless belts for conveying a package toward the ledges, and a pair of package pushers. Each pusher includes a leg with a pivotable foot, a double-acting piston-cylinder mechanism for driving the leg frontwardly and backwardly, and a double-acting piston-cylinder mechanism for pivoting the foot upwardly into an operative position and downwardly into an inoperative position. In the operative position, the foot can engage a package to enable the leg when driven frontwardly to push the package from the endless belts onto and from the ledges. In the inoperative position, the foot clears a package on the endless belts when the leg is driven backwardly.

Abstract: A rake classifier provides reciprocating movement using crank-mounted drive shafts to establish translatory forward movement as well as lifting and rearward movement of the rake structure.

Abstract: A reciprocating conveyor is formed of at least one group of at least three elongated slats of inverted U-shape spaced apart laterally for longitudinal reciprocation in such manner that all or a majority of slats move simultaneously in a load conveying direction and sequentially in the opposite, retracting direction. A seal member is secured to one side section of each slat and extends laterally therefrom to a position closely adjacent the facing side section of the adjacent slat. The fines of particulate material being conveyed as a load gravitate downward past the free side of the seal member and are deposited in a trough that underlies each pair of facing side sections of adjacent slats. As the adjacent slats move simultaneously in the load conveying direction, the corresponding pair of facing side sections move the fines in the trough in the same direction. This movement is enhanced by providing fines pusher members on the lower ends of the side sections of the slats.

Abstract: A feed storage for drill rods for a long-hole drilling apparatus, said feed storage comprising a magazine provided with fixed guides (11) for storing drill rods (13) in parallel with each other, a delivery opening (14) defined by the guides for transferring drill rods one at a time into and out of the guides, and a feed device provided with gripping means (27) extending between the drill rods positioned in the guides for feeding the drill rods towards and away from the delivery opening in the guides, and a transfer device (9) comprising at least one transfer arm (29) provided with gripping jaws (31) and pivotably mounted on a pivot shaft (30) which is fixed with respect to the magazine so that the gripping jaws are displaced transversally with respect to the axial direction of the drill rods between the delivery opening of the guides and the drilling axis (A) of a drilling machine. The guides of the magazine guide the drill rods with their axes in the same plane.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for advancing workpieces through a plurality of spaced-apart work stations which are arranged so that the distances between certain adjacent work stations are greater than the distances between other adjacent work stations. During an advancing stroke, the drive mechanism moves each workpiece from one work station the entire distance to the next work station so that no workpiece occupies any space between adjacent work stations after the completion of the advancing stroke. The drive mechanism includes a rotary drive crank to which a plurality of drive links are pivotally mounted. Each drive link is connected to a transfer bar which is guidably supported for straight line reciprocal movement to engage and advance the workpieces. A predetermined half-cycle movement of the drive crank imparts contemporaneous movement to the transfer bars which are moved through different distances during the half cycle movement of the drive crank to advance all workpieces to the next work stations.

Abstract: Crank-operated rods are mounted on two vertically spaced apart crankshafts, which are driven to rotate in the same sense. Working tools are carried by said rods on the side thereof which faces the body of silage and penetrate said body as they move downwardly. Each crank-operated rod is provided at its lower end with at least one depending conveying tine, which at least during part of the movement of the respective crank-operated rod away from the body of silage moves over a bottom plate, which extends under all juxtaposed crank-operated rods and is trough-shaped on the side that faces away from the working tools.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for clearing stored material, such as silage, from a stack of such material, comprising a cantilevered frame; at least one crank rod carried by the frame and having milling tools mounted thereon which engage and clear the stored material; a cranking mechanism mounted on the frame and having the crank rods eccentrically mounted thereon in such a manner that the crank rods are driven with a reciprocating movement such that the milling tools have a lower, silage-engaging path of travel in one direction, and a higher return path of travel in an opposite directional and means for driving the cranking mechanism. In one preferred embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a conveyor means, such as a suction fan, and is particularly suitable for use in discharging silos.

Abstract: A discharger mechanism is disclosed for discharging solids from the bottom of a pile. The discharger has a single reciprocating stoker rod and thus avoids misalignment and distortion so common in two reciprocating stoker rod discharger mechanisms. The discharger has a single stoker rod extending beneath a pile, one end of the rod being a discharge end, a reciprocating means reciprocates the stoker rod longitudinally. A plurality of stoker cross bars, substantially perpendicular to the stoker rod, are equispaced apart and rigidly attached at their centers thereof to the stoker rod, each of the cross bars has a wedge shaped cross section with a vertical surface facing towards the discharge end and an upward sloped surface facing away from the discharge end at an angle less than 45.degree..

Abstract: A dump truck having a telescoping container body which is initially telescoped to a reduced length to discharge a portion of the load therefrom in response to the telescoping action and thereafter elevated to discharge the remainder of the load in the manner of a conventional dump truck. The fully extended length of the container body, which determines the load carrying capacity of the container body, is greater than that which would normally be elevated to directly discharge the load therefrom in the manner of a conventional dump truck. The retracted length of the container body is no greater than the acceptable length of a container body for elevating to dump a load in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A barn cleaner for scraping manure from an alley between two rows of open stalls for cows, which cleaner includes a scraper element which extends transversely of the alley and is of generally triangular cross-section with the base of the triangle against the surface to be scraped to present rearwardly inclining scraping surfaces in both directions. The triangular scraper element includes weight means within the triangular area to insure intimate scraping contact. In a modification a pair of longitudinally spaced transversely extending scrapers are connected at their opposite ends by guide plates which extend longitudinally of the alley and form a rigid rectangular scraping frame with the guide plates in sliding engagement with curb formations at the juncture of the open stall spaces with the alley therebetween.

Abstract: An improved closed chamber baler includes a hopper into which is fed waste paper or other compressible materials to be baled. The material to be baled is forced into a bale chamber by means of a piston operated ram. Means are provided for sequentially guiding a strapping wire about the outside periphery of the compressed material at a plurality of vertically spaced intervals along the compressed material. The strapping wire is tensioned and then twisted or knotted together to form a continuous strap about the compressed material, thereby forming a bale. When the bale has been completely strapped, the compression ram is retracted and an output gate is opened. The bale is then ejected from the bale chamber by an automatic bale ejector. While the invention is disclosed in connection with baling waste paper, the closed chamber baler is capable of other uses, e.g.