Abstract: A pallet picking adapter (100) is adapted for use with a forklift truck (102). The pallet picking adapter (100) includes a bulkhead (130) attached to a frame of the forklift truck (102). The adapter (100) further comprises a deck system (178) having a pair of deck assemblies (180). The deck assemblies (180) can be stored with the bulkhead (130) in the vertical, upright position. For use, the deck assemblies (180) can be individually lowered so as to rest upon forks (120, 122) of the truck (102). In these operable positions, the deck assemblies (180) can be utilized to transport CooLift pallets (320, 322). When the deck assemblies (180) are in the stored, upright position, the adapter 100 can be utilized to transport conventional pallets of standards sizes.

Abstract: Machine for processing substances comprising an apparatus for moving containers along a plane, and guide means cooperating with slider means.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a plurality of containers through a plurality of work stations including at least two conveyor assemblies, each conveyor assembly being adapted to sequentially convey at least one group of containers therealong in a row from one work station to another. The apparatus further includes a plurality of holder assemblies for holding the containers, some of the holder assemblies being associated with one of the conveyor assemblies and some of the holder assemblies being associated with the other conveyor assembly. The holder assemblies are located on the respective conveyor assemblies such that the plurality of containers are positioned adjacent to each other as they move through the plurality of work stations. A computer control system is programmable to control the coordinated operation of the conveyor assemblies so as to move such conveyor assemblies at different cycles of movement as the containers move through the work stations.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a plurality of containers through a plurality of work stations including at least two conveyor assemblies, each conveyor assembly being adapted to sequentially convey at least one group of containers therealong in a row from one work station to another. The apparatus further includes a plurality of holder assemblies for holding the containers, some of the holder assemblies being associated with one of the conveyor assemblies and some of the holder assemblies being associated with the other conveyor assembly. The holder assemblies are located on the respective conveyor assemblies such that the plurality of containers are positioned adjacent to each other as they move through the plurality of work stations. A computer control system is programmable to control the coordinated operation of the conveyor assemblies so as to move such conveyor assemblies at different cycles of movement as the containers move through the work stations.

Abstract: A work transfer apparatus configured to move a work to an operating position while transferring the work by a conveyor, perform predetermined processing at the operating position, and discharge a processed work, the work transfer apparatus comprising an ejector moving the work independently from the conveyor; and a stopper stopping the work at the operating position, wherein the work processed by the predetermined processing is discharged by the ejector, and a work to be moved to the operating position next by the conveyor is stopped at the operating position by the stopper.

Abstract: A product transferring device transfers a product onto a conveyor from the side of the conveyor. During transfer, a first device moves the product along the direction of conveyance of the conveyor at about the same speed as the speed of conveyance of conveyor. A second device, operating simultaneously with said first device, moves the product in a direction roughly perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of the conveyor. The product moves in a diagonal path onto the conveyor. The speed match between the first device and the conveyor permits smooth transfer of the product onto the conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention, in certain embodiments, is an apparatus for the movement of objects on rollers. The apparatus comprises a frame element, a series of rollers, a rotating pipe element suspended over the series of rollers, at least one push-arm assembly connected to the rotating pipe element, and a drive apparatus to actuate the rotating pipe element. The series of rollers are mounted in the frame element such that each roller in the series of rollers rotates within the frame element so that the objects resting on the series of rollers may travel from a first end of the series of rollers to a second terminal end of the series of rollers. The rotating pipe element is suspended over the series of rollers, and the rotating pipe element pivots along a longitudinal axis and is driven at one end. The drive apparatus actuates the rotating pipe element, thereby moving the at least one push-arm assembly to a position in contact with at least one of the objects to move along the series of rollers.

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: The selective interconnection of tracks or slots coming together at a junction in a conveying system with push and pull operable conveying chains without return strands running in chain channels is accomplished by a switch constructed as a straight prism (21) mounted in a rotary manner. The prism has differently shaped chain channel portions (23', 23") on different ones of its sides. By rotating the prism (21) about its median longitudinal axis (22), that chain channel portion is positioned in the junction, which has the channel portions shaped to obtain the desired connection between the chain channel of selected entering and exiting tracks.

Abstract: A driverless tugger vehicle is adapted to shuttle back and forth and push or pull another driverless vehicle each time it moves in a forward direction. The tugger vehicle is propelled by frictional contact between a drive wheel and a drive shaft with the drive wheel being mounted for pivotable movement through an arc of approximately 90 degrees so that the vehicle may reciprocate in opposite directions without changing the direction of rotation of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A feeding device for feeding goods or materials of the kind having several layers and/or having a tendency to separate into layers into a processing machine in a direction generally parallel with those layers, for example, for feeding pulp bales into a disintegrating machine comprising a roller conveyor for displaceably supporting the goods and a driving device to engage the goods and displace those goods along the roller conveyor in order to force the goods into the processing machine wherein the driving device includes a pusher drivable along the roller conveyor which pusher is adapted to engage with substantially the entire rear or trailing surface of the goods for forcing the goods into the processing machine while substantially uniformly acting on all of the layers of the goods. The pusher is mounted on a carriage which is connected to a drive chain by means of a pin.

Abstract: Propelling mechanism for forwarding a carrier of a power and free conveyor from the delivery end of a first carrier supporting track onto a track section of an elevator and thence onto the receiving end of a second carrier supporting track. The elevator includes a carriage to which the track section is attached and which is movable longitudinally to permit the track section to be extended from the elevator into registry with either the first or second carrier supporting track. A propelling member, consisting of a pair of roller chains connected in spaced side-by-side relation, is equipped at one end with a carrier pusher, is connected at the other end to an endless output chain of a reversible drive mounted on the carriage, and is supported and guided by tracks which extend parallel to the track section from the entrance end thereof and into a storage path parallel to the path of the endless output chain.

Abstract: A carriage movable back and forth along a tank of water has an agitator which washes floatable material and moves it to a floating material conveyor at one end of the tank. Denser, sinkable material washed from the floatable material drops onto a sunk material conveyor coursing along the bottom of the tank. The drive of the carriage is reversible and, when excess resistance is met when the carriage is traveling toward the floating material conveyor, the resistance actuates a control to reverse the drive of the carriage.

Abstract: A commercial dishwasher comprising two or more modulars connected together through which dish-carrying baskets are moved for washing and rinsing the dishes, one or more of the modulars being arcuate-shaped so as to alter a straight line movement of the baskets into one where they are swung through a 90.degree. angle. By connecting two of the arcuate-shaped modulars together, it is possible to swing the dish-carrying baskets through an arc of 180.degree.. Therefore the dishwasher can be positioned in the corner of a room and thus make use of space that would otherwise not be used.

Abstract: Lift mechanism adapted to receive a pallet containing a plurality of tiers of containers thereon and move said pallet vertically approximately the height of a tier of containers to be depalletized whereby a sweep arm engages the tier of containers between parallel, spaced apart guide rails and a removable restraining arm engages the tier of containers on the opposite side to substantially encircle the tier and urge it on to a conveyor belt. As the tier of containers is urged on to the conveyor belt the restraining arm is removed just prior to the mingling of the tier of containers with containers already present on the conveyor belt.