Abstract: In order to increase the efficiency of an arrangement for distributing articles for dispatch with a distributing conveyor, a transfer device is proposed. The distributing conveyor is used to deliver the articles for dispatch to collecting containers that are arranged at delivery locations along a conveying route of the distributing conveyor. The transfer device responds to transfer signals emitted by a control device that respectively designate a delivery location of a collecting container, and is used for transferring the collecting containers between the delivery locations and a predetermined transporting route for the collecting containers.

Abstract: Apparatus for spacing a plurality of substantially plate-like ferromagnetic workpieces such as can lids, in face-to-face relationship along a row, comprises a plurality of magnetic elements, each extending longitudinally along the row and different ones of the elements being disposed at different angular positions around the row, each of the magnetic elements being disposed and oriented to prevent the workpieces from pivoting about a distal edge of the workpiece due to the combined magnetic attraction of the workpiece by all others of the magnetic elements.

Abstract: In a card sorting machine, cards having coded tooth trains at the lower edges and magnetic pieces at the front edges are placed on a group of select bars. By selectively raising the select bars, the magnetic piece of the selected cards are attracted to a selecting magnet for having the cards moved at first for one pitch in the horizontal direction and then in an oblique upward direction. A card holding magnet is further provided which holds the selected cards at the oblique upward position upon transfer from the selecting magnet.

Abstract: Apparatus for (a) selecting plural desired edge-notched coded documents from different decks of similarly coded documents successively delivered to a document selector from a remote mass document store, in which selection process the selected documents extend only partially out of their respective decks in a direction parallel to their code-notched edge, and (b) successively fully removing the partially extending documents selected from the various successively retrieved decks and temporarily storing them in a temporary storage zone prior to ejecting them into a stationary container in which they are accumulated for manual removal at the convenience of an operator. Also included is a movable selected document removal and temporary storage assembly which traverses along a path adjacent the document selector proximate the leading edges of documents selected from the deck thereat.

Abstract: Fragments of ferromagnetic material, such as tin can pieces, are sorted by size on apparatus including an inverted conveyor that carries fragments that have been previously oriented with their longest axes placed in parallel directions past a line of magnets spaced progressively further apart in the direction of orientation of the fragments. The magnets attract the fragments strongly to the conveyor directly under the magnets, but progressively more weakly in those spaces between the magnets so that the shorter pieces separate gravitationally from the conveyor sooner than the longer pieces.

Abstract: Sidewalls of cans from one filling and closing line are magnetized to provide each with a north pole oriented toward the can top. Sidewalls of cans from another filling and closing line are magnetized to provide each with a south pole oriented toward the can top. These tagged cans are randomly merged into one line for further processing without mixing up can top orientations, for instance, for cooking in a conveyor-fed continuous cooker in order to keep the cooker operating nearer full capacity. Then, each can passes a magnetic sensing station where one (top) end of each can is investigated by a probe which senses whether that end is a north pole or a south pole. The sensing station commands a diverter downstream which shunts the cans sensed as having north pole ends into a different line from the cans sensed as having south pole ends.