Abstract: An apparatus for pushing hollow glass articles from a depositing plate of an IS glass molding machine onto a belt conveyor comprises a transfer pusher (11), one end of which is rigidly connected to a vertical shaft (10) and the other end of which carries an arrangement of pushing fingers for the glass articles. The shaft (10) is supported in a rotary table (6) and functionally connected to a first rotary drive (13) carried by the rotary table while the rotary plate (6) is mounted on a bell-shaped bearing (24) supported on a console (1) by means of a hollow shaft (22), namely such that it is functionally connected to a second rotary drive (15?). An approximately exponential transfer curve of the pushing fingers that begins at the depositing plate and ends on the belt conveyor and subjects the hollow glass articles to the least possible stress can be realized.

Abstract: The rotary disc conveyor system is formed of a series of units or pans linked together to form a continuous conveyor run. Each of the pans preferably includes a pair of rotary discs thereon, with all of the discs of the system rotating simultaneously and unidirectionally to convey material along the conveyor run. Each disc includes a series of generally radially disposed vanes thereon, to assist in sweeping the material along the conveyor. Guides may be installed along either side of the system, between each disc, to facilitate material flow and restrict return flow. Mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical power may be used to provide rotation of the discs. The rotary disc conveyor is particularly well suited for use in longwall coal mining for removing loose coal from the mining head and conveying it along the face of the wall to another transport system for removal from the mine.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for marshalling out individual objects (1) from a row of such objects (1). The apparatus includes two pusher arms (8) placed one on each side of the row of objects (1). The apparatus also includes two arrest pins (20, 21) on either side of the row, one front (20) and one rear (21). The apparatus further includes a linkage (13) on each side of the row, axially connected to a pusher arm (8) and interconnected with each other via a spring (14), respectively. The pusher arms (8) are moved, in a closed position, forwards with the aid of a piston and cylinder assembly (19) and, in this movement, marshal out the first object (1) in the row. Thereafter, the pusher arms (8) open in that they enter into abutment against the front arrest pin (20). The linkage (13) ensures that the pusher arms (8) assume an open position. The pusher arms (8) thereafter move backwards in the open position with the aid of the piston and cylinder assembly (19).

Abstract: A scraper for removing debris from the floor of an animal stall is provided with a first motorized drum, a second motorized drum, a cable extending between the first and second drums, a scraper and a switch tripper carried by the cable. The switch tripper actuates a switch in communication with the first motorized drum to stop and reverse direction of the scraper and cable.

Abstract: Self clearing transfer arms for pushing a container in an assembly process to a stage assembly wherein the pushing arms are retractable to a position out of obstruction relationship to the stage assembly. The pushing arms each have a transfer arm, a gate and a hinge. The hinge rotatably attaches the transfer arm to the gate in an orientation providing for rotation of the gate out of an obstruction relation to the stage assembly if unintended contact with the stage assembly or the container occurs.

Abstract: A conveyor system for an automatic coning machine having coning units for unwinding thread from spools carried by disks, wherein the system has a conveyor for feeding the spool carrying disks to the machine. A plurality of paths are connected to the feeding conveyor, wherein a path traverses an adjacent coning unit and includes a standby position adjacent the feeding conveyor for receiving spool carrying disks and an unwinding station at the coning unit for receiving spool carrying disks from the standby position.

Abstract: A loading apparatus comprises a ramp defining a loading surface and a pair of loading blades each having a triangular cross-section with a nearly perpendicular front face and a shallow inclined rear face relative to a desired delivery direction for material collecting on the loading surface. The blades are oscillated back and forth about upstanding pivot axes relative to the loading surface. Between the blades is a component or some other means defining a step with a similar configuration to the blades with a steep front face relative to the delivery direction and a shallow inclined rear face. The step defining means assists the blades in the loading work.

Abstract: A rake conveyor (A) for incrementally advancing containers on an article loading machine is disclosed which includes a linkage assembly (34) having a pair of generally parallel linkage bars (36,38) between which a plurality of pivotal dogs (C, 44, 44a) are carried. An air cylinder (58) actuates the rake linkage assembly (36, 38) by a connector (66) connecting the piston rod (60) of the air cylinder to the linkage bars (36, 38). The linkage bar (38) moves relative to the bar (36) at the onset of the forward stroke of the rake to cause the dogs (44) to pivot outward to a container engaging position prior to their forward movement. Motion limiting elements (80, 82) limit the pivoting movement of dogs (44) on the return stroke to a linear movement. Positioning elements (E) are provided in the form of positioning blocks (90, 92, 94, 98) which stop the containers at selected positions along the conveyor as is necessary for processing and loading the containers.

Abstract: An inverted press for producing multiple drawn metal containers combines in one press the functions of cupping and drawing presses. The press includes a blanking and cupping station and several drawing and redrawing stations, disposed one adjacent the other and rendered serially operative by a vertically reciprocable slide assembly. At each stage of operation the material, semifinished article or finished article is under complete control. A method for producing a drawn container by multiple forming and reforming of a drawn article, is also provided.

Abstract: An inverted press for producing multiple drawn metal containers combines in one press the functions of cupping and drawing presses. The press includes a blanking and cupping station and several drawing and redrawing stations, disposed one adjacent the other and rendered serially operative by a vertically reciprocable slide assembly. At each stage of operation the material, semifinished article or finished article is under complete control. A method for producing a drawn container by multiple forming and reforming of a drawn article, is also provided.

Abstract: A conveyor is composed of a series of L-shaped sections arranged end-to-end to define a conveying floor surface with a side wall at one side opposite the mineral face so as to allow material to fall onto the floor surface. The side wall has a slot or gap therein through which extends entrainment devices capable of extending across the floor surface or being stowed inwards towards the side wall. Where the conveyor is constructed as a shuttle conveyor the entrainment devices are allowed to pivot automatically between these alternate positions as they are driven back and forth along the floor surface by a reciprocating traction means. The traction means runs outside the side wall and the devices are pivotably mounted to the traction means which preferably also performs a guide function.

Abstract: A sample transport mechanism is disclosed for conveying test tube samples in an endless path to and then away from a test station. The samples are removably inserted into elongated test tube supports arrayed upon a table in two rows and moveable in a rectangular path. Underlying the table is a plate generally coextensive therewith and having brackets mounting pins projecting above the margin of the table above and below the rows. The sample supports have parallel grooves in their bottom surfaces transverse to the longitudinal axis of the supports, and into which the pins may engage. The plate also has two openings, one square and the other rectangular, and into which are engaged cams. The cams when rotated move the plate in a rectangular path with respect to the table. The spacing of the pin and slots is such that the pins normally engage two diagonally opposite corner trays and move them longitudinally toward the next row by the incremental distance separating two adjacent samples.

Abstract: An article transfer mechanism is disclosed comprising a pair of longitudinally and laterally reciprocable feed bars having opposed cooperable article engaging feed fingers therebetween. The feed bars are supported at opposite ends for longitudinal sliding movement relative to feed bar support members which in turn are supported for linear lateral movement toward and away from one another. An oscillatory drive arrangement is provided at one end of the feed bars for reciprocating the bars longitudinally, and rotatable drum-type cam drive units are provided at each end of the feed bars for reciprocating the support members and thus the feed bars laterally toward and away from one another.

Abstract: This invention is conerned with conveyors using reciprocating flights to convey material along the length of the conveyor. The conveyor consists essentially of a bed of articulated plates, a track constraining a chain adjacent a first longitudinal edge of the bed, spaced flights attached to the chain and located to extend across the bed and means for reciprocating the chain along the track. The chain is preferably made of rigid members of substantially uniform cross-section and the flights are shaped bars having one end adapted to be pivotally attached to the chain and are reduced in their height towards their free ends with the trailing edges of each flight tapered downwardly towards their bottom surfaces and inclined towards the leading edges at their free ends which ends are chamfered.

Abstract: A reciprocating drive unit is operable through a clutch assembly to move a manure scraper step-wise first in one direction and then in the opposite direction along a manure track. The clutch assembly includes means responsive to an overload on the scraper for causing the clutch assembly to self-activate the reversal of travel of the scraper, and means for adjusting said responsive means to vary the amount of overload required to effect said reversal.