Abstract: A device for sealing the seed meter from the seed hopper of the agricultural planting unit when the unit is pivoted form its vertical planting configuration to its horizontal transport configuration. The device comprises a resilient and elastic sealing diaphragm that is located in the seed meter across from the seed meter disc. A pivotable frame is located in the other side of the diaphragm away from the seed meter disc and is used to expand the diaphragm so that it contacts the seed meter disc and seals the seed meter form the seed hopper. A counterweight is mounted to the pivotable frame for automatically pivoting the frame and sealing the seed meter when the planting unit is moved from its vertical planting configuration to its horizontal transport configuration.

Abstract: A vacuum beam product dispenser and singulator to dispense and singulate "soft" products in an automated order dispensing system (AOS) includes a product cartridge and an inclined conveyor belt. The conveyor belt picks the products from the bottom of the cartridge using a vacuum control element and carries it up the conveyor until it reaches a pinch roller that holds the product ready to be dispensed to a central conveyor of the AOS. Products are picked from the product cartridge by the inclined conveyor in a position such that a product will fall off the conveyor unless held by a vacuum generated by the vacuum control element. Thus, random multiples removed from the cartridge with the picked product fall off the conveyor. The product stream from the hopper is thereby singulated.

Abstract: A precision-type single-seed planter has seed distributor in the form of a disk provided with elongate perforations of a narrow width, which cooperate with a seed container and an air suction device. Because the perforations in the disk have an elongate shape and a small cross section even large seeds can be held on the disk by suction at each of the perforations whereas smaller seeds will also be held without being able to pass through the perforations. A selector element cooperates with the disk by throttling the suction effected on the seeds through the perforations so that only individual ones of the seeds, particularly the smaller seeds, are adhered at each perforation. An optimum seed separation and single-seed distribution effect is thus achieved, regardless of the size and shape of the seeds.

Abstract: A light emitting diode has both end faces metallized and is mounted on a substrate with the light emitting junction perpendicular to the substrate. The electrically conductive ends are electrically bonded to conductive areas on the substrate by solder or conductive adhesive LED dice can be placed on the substrate by temporarily attaching the dice to a tape which has been wrapped around a knife edge. The dice tilt as the tape wraps around the edge and are picked off one at a time by a vacuum collet while temporarily supported by a movable finger, and then transferred by the vacuum collet to a substrate. A similar method may be used for placing semiconductor dice on a substrate without the tilting of dice around the edge. In another embodiment, an array of LEDs can be assembled in windows through a metallized plastic tape which is bonded to a foundation with additional metallized leads.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a spacer for spacing two adjacent glass plates which are stood parallel to each other on a pallet. The spacer has a spacing plate part to be inserted between the two glass plates and a head part which rests on the upper edges of the two glass plates. According to the invention the spacer has a magnetic part which is formed of an easily magnetizable magnetic material and fixed to the spacing plate part. In taking away a plurality of glass plates stood in a parallel arrangement on a pallet one after another, the glass plate in the forefront is held by a plurality of suction pads mounted on a frame which is attached to a robot arm, and each of the spacers on that glass plate is removed by attracting it by an electromagnetic holder movably mounted on the frame and swinging the electromagnetic holder to separate the spacer from the glass plate held by the suction pads and then disabling the electromagnetic holder to allow the spacer to fall.

Abstract: A seeder apparatus comprises a seeder plate (18), which is hingedly attached at a hinge edge (70) thereof to a frame (16), with the frame being mounted on a plug-tray conveyor (12). The seeder plate includes a substantially-flat seeder sheet (36) having seed holes (38) therein and a pressure-plenum (48) on a backside (41) of the seeder plate for producing negative and positive pressures at the seed holes. Hinges (20) are double-acting, spring-loaded barroom type door hinges which bias the seeder plate toward an upright intermediate position which is approximately halfway through 180.degree. movement of the seeder plate between an approximately horizontal loading position and an approximately horizontal planting position. The seeder plate includes a vibrator (54) for automatically vibrating it and an angular-activation adjustment element (60) for adjusting the angular positions in which this vibration takes place.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vending apparatus for selectively dispensing one of a plurality of packages. The vending apparatus comprises:a) an outer cabinet;b) an isolated freezer compartment within the outer cabinet for storing the plurality of packages disposed within the outer cabinet, the freezer compartment having a thermal barrier for maintaining a frozen environment within the freezer compartment in isolation of the ambient temperature air filling the remaining interior space of the outer cabinet;c) a mechanism for opening the thermal barrier;d) a picker for selectively removing the selected package from the freezer compartment, the picker being located outside the freezer compartment in between operating cycles and entering the freezer compartment for removing one of the packages only during the removal operation; ande) a controller for automatically controlling the picker and opening mechanism in response to a customer's selection.

Abstract: An attachment for pneumatic seed planters in which a multiple of rows are planted simultaneously during a single pass of the planter. The attachment enables selected rows to be shut off by preventing seeds from being discharged in a particular row or rows such as when planting in overlapping rows which occurs when making a final pass when planting at the edge of a field. The attachment in one embodiment includes a plurality of manually positioned release wheels and in another embodiment includes a plurality of solenoid positioned release wheels which release the pneumatic pressure associated with a pressurized drum having holes aligned with the number of rows the planter will plant to selectively prevent seed from being discharged into selected tubes which lead to the planting shoes.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing corner protectors having elongate panels meeting at right angles onto vertical corners of pallet loads having vertical sides defining vertical corner comprises a magazine to hold a supply of the corner protectors and mechanisms for removing one corner protector from the magazine, transferring the corner protector to a position where one of its panels is disposed in close proximity to a vertical side of such a load, and displacing the corner protector until its other panel engages another side at the same corner of the load. In the magazine, the corner protectors extend vertically and are nested within one another. Also, the corner protectors are guided forwardly along a supporting chute. A wheeled carriage having an upright member is mounted operatively in the chute and prevents the corner protectors from tipping backwards.

Abstract: An air seed meter which dispenses individual seeds supplied by a seed hopper into a furrow at a controlled rate as the meter and others like it are advanced over the ground has a generally cylindrical housing containing a rotatable seed disk. As the seed disk is rotated past a mass of seeds on one side thereof, a plurality of seed cells formed by recesses in the surface of the seed disk at one or more circumferential rows of holes adjacent the outer periphery of the seed disk mechanically accelerate and eventually capture therein individual seeds from the seed mass. The individual seeds are held within the cells by a pressure differential created by a vacuum source coupled to the inside of the housing on the opposite side of the seed disk until the cells reach a discharge area. At the discharge area, the effects of the vacuum are cut off so as to release the individual seeds from the cells for discharge through a chute at the bottom of the housing to a seed furrow below.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating seeds includes a seed supply portion having a rotating drum with a small aperture for attracting a seed by vacuum created inside the drum and which is broken at a predetermined rotational position, and a gel-coating portion having a cylindrical cutting plunger disposed inside of a nozzle body for opening and closing a gel flow channel and forming a gel-coating layer. A curing vessel having a curing agent flow channel and a spray nozzle for washing the coated seeds are also provided.

Abstract: A feeding device singulates, orients, and delivers seeds and other comparatively smooth-surfaced particulate material to a desired destination. The device comprises a horizontal rotating drum having an inner surface cut with a spiral groove for orienting ellipsoid-shaped particles and advancing them to the location of pickup orifices within the drum. A vacuum valve alternately subjects the orifices to vacuum and ambient pressure for picking up the individual particles and releasing them to the desired point of delivery.

Abstract: The distributor comprises a generally cylindrical case which is formed by a housing (1) and a cover (4) between which is rotatively mounted a distributor disk (18) provided with circumferentially spaced-apart orifices (48, 50). Inside the housing, a partition (24) defines a depression passageway (26) in communication with a suction duct (2). The passageway (26) includes a wide upper part (27) in the shape of a crescent which is extended at both ends by a narrow branch (28, 30). Formed in the upper part of the descending branch (30), relative to the direction of rotation of the disk (18), is a cavity (32, 33) for receiving a removable element (34) for isolating this branch from the source of depression. The inner wall of the passageway is provided with an air intake (39) whose opening is adjustable.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for picking up, transferring and depositing lightweight articles. The apparatus includes a driven rotary member having a pluality of tubular arms extending from circumferentially spaced portions of the member. The ends of these arms pass through a portion of a receptacle in which the articles are stored and suction is set up on these arms at their ends as moved through the receptacle to attract articles thereto. An extracting mechansim is positioned in close proximity to the arc created by the ends of the tubular arms and applies a vacuum, greater than the vacuum applied by said tubular arms, to extract the articles from the tubular arms and transfer the articles to a point of deposit.

Abstract: In production of a decorative board with overlaid wood pieces used for surface covering of various furniture, building materials and car interior decoration, wood pieces supplied from an overhead hopper by gravity are dispersed on a flat feeder by application of vibration and are transferred in a dispersed state onto base boards successively supplied by a transfer conveyor in a horizontal direction. Almost no need for manual operation raises production efficiency and dispersion by mechanical vibration assures high degree of uniformity of patterns on the products. Fully automatic processing enables reproduction of patterns with commerically acceptable fidelity.

Abstract: A seeding machine has a drum and roller urged together to define a seed trough. Bristles close one end of the trough and a hopper adjacent that end feeds a continuous supply of seeds to the trough. The seeds flow along the length of the trough and are discharged at the opposite end of the trough which is open. A funnel collects the discharged seeds and returns them to the hopper. The drum is provided with a series of axially extending rows of holes which are coupled to a vacuum source as each row passes through the tumbling seeds in the trough. A single seed is attracted to each hole and is carried by the drum to a discharge location where the hole in question is disconnected from the vacuum source and instead connected to a source of pressure which then acts to eject the seed from the drum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for simultaneously positioning electronic components, such as surface-mounted chips on a circuit board. A removable load plate carries a plurality of chip placement assemblies, each having a support disposing a plurality of such components in a stack adjacent the board. The assemblies are disposed about the load plate in a geometric pattern corresponding to that of chips to be placed. A stripping component of each assembly in slidable engagement with the support sequentially urges each chip in the stack transversely from the stack to a second position opposing a corresponding desired site on the board where the chip is to be placed. Each support includes a mounting block having a connector for releasable interconnection of each positioning apparatus to the load plate. A chamber maintains the chip at the second position in response to fluid pressure differential.

Abstract: Packaging apparatus and a method therefor, comprise a bag dispenser in which a stack of bags is supported on extensible wicket pegs and the leading bag is advanced from the stack to bag-receiving wicket pegs of bag-receiving retainer means while the extensible parts of the wicket pegs of the stack holder means are extended into engagement with the wicket pegs of the bag-receiving retainer means. In that configuration a suction pad can draw the nearest bag from the rest of the stack to a separated position from which it may be further advanced by mechanical means and/or an air jet to pass that bag from the extensible wicket pegs of the stack holder means on to the wicket pegs of the bag retainer means. The bag dispensing apparatus may comprise part of a packaging apparatus.

Abstract: An in-mold labeling method and apparatus for a blow molding machine having a primary circular multiple mold path. A continuous drive closed circuit is provided by a guide track means and forms a secondary path in which a carriage or trolley carrying an air actuated means for picking and holding a label for transport to a matched segmental transfer station at which the mold parts and the carriage move in unison at zero relative velocity during which the label is automatically deposited in a mold for application to the plastic part being formed by the mold. Thereafter, the carriage or trolley is conditioned to pick up another label. The continuous driving of both the blow molding machine and the in-mold label dispenser is synchronized for unison uninterrupted operation.

Abstract: A feeder mechanism for a pick-and-place machine with an adjustable shutter mechanism is disclosed. The components are contained within pockets formed in a reeled tape. The shutter mechanism includes a pair of spring blades that cover the pocket, but are spread apart by the vacuum tip when the spindle is lowered. In this way, the shutter can maintain the component in the proper position for pick-up while allowing the vacuum spindle to access the component, which, in turn, maintains proper attitude of component while the blades are retracted.

Abstract: An automated grain characterization system includes grain crushing apparatus; a means for singulating kernels of grain and feeding them into the crushing apparatus; a means for measuring kernel size; a circuit for measuring kernel conductance; and a data acquisition and analysis subsystem for correlating crushing force, size, and conductivity to grain hardness. The output is a profile of the grain characteristics which can be compared to reference samples. This system is especially useful for grading and classifying wheat and predicting its end-use functional properties.

Abstract: A label injector for placing labels in the hems of towels, or the like, is disclosed. The labels are extracted from a vertical magazine onto the surface of a wheel by a combination of suction into openings on the surface of the wheel and upward movement of the magazine. The wheel is then rotated until the extracted label passes through a slot in the adjacent hemming track into the hem being folded. Suction is terminated, releasing the label, and the wheel is returned to its original orientation to receive another label. Other embodiments disclose a magazine for double thickness labels, and an applicator carrying a belt in a peripheral groove to assist in moving the labels.

Abstract: A chip separation and alignment apparatus capable of accurately and readily accomplishing separation and alignment of chips with a simple construction. The apparatus includes a chip separation and alignment section and a chip separation section. The chip separation and alignment section includes a chip cassette formed into a flat rectangular box-like shape, in which are formed a chip storage chamber, a chip alignment hole provided with an upper end opening through which the chip alignment hole is communicated with a lower portion of the chip storage chamber and a lower end opening, and at least one air ejection port arranged near the upper end opening to intermittently eject air therethrough. The chip separation section is arranged at the lower end opening of the chip alignment hole to separate chips one by one and to successively supply the separated chips to a subsequent step.

Abstract: A feeder has a rotary bowl with a highly resilient foam plastic insert providing a V-shaped annular trough to which objects are fed, a rotary feeder head whose axis is inclined to the axis of the bowl, and a nozzle wheel carried by the feeder head with a number of suction nozzles arranged so that the nozzles pick up successive objects from the bowl. As the nozzle wheel rotates, ports on the nozzle wheel register with stationary ports to which compressed air is supplied, and cause the suction to be released and a blast of compressed air to be blown through an annular array of discharge openings.

Abstract: The distributor comprises a generally cylindrical case which is formed by a housing (1) and a cover (4) between which is rotatively mounted a distributor disk (18) provided with circumferentially spaced-apart orifices (48, 50). Inside the housing, a partition (24) defines a depression passageway (26) in communication with an suction duct (2). The passageway (26) includes a wide upper part (27) in the shape of a crescent which is extended at both ends by a narrow branch (28, 30). Formed in the upper part of the descending branch (30), relative to the direction of rotation of the disk (18), is a cavity (32, 33) for receiving a removable element (34) for isolating this branch from the source of depression. The inner wall of the passageway is provided with an air intake (39) whose opening is adjustable.

Abstract: In an apparatus for mounting and/or soldering or cementing electronic components, in particular SMD components, on printed circuit boards, haing a first carrier for at least one circuit board and a second carrier for the component, the first and second carriers being displaceable relative to one another parallel to the plane of the circuit board and transverse thereto, and having a magazine for the components which has chambers to receive the components, mixing up of the components can be largely avoided while ensuring that it is simple to remove the components from the magazine by providing the chambers with a lid that can be opened and closed by means of a fastening mechanism and having the fastening mechanism opened by the second carrier.

Abstract: The invention provides a pneumatic seeder wherein the various functions are controlled by electronic means. The seed distributors are operated by as many direct current motors, controlled by an electronic device as a function of the forward speed of the seeder, which speed is detected by an encoder. Electronic devices are also used for controlling both the sowing depth and the devices that adjust the seed fall.

Abstract: A parts feed apparatus comprising a tape feeder which intermittently feeds a tape to a predetermined parts pickup position. A cover tape seals electronic parts at substantially equal intervals along a base tape. The apparatus includes a tape separator which separates the cover tape from the base tape and a parts pickup element which is positioned to block the parts from leaving the parts pickup position as the cover tape is being separated from the base tape. Thus, even when the electronic parts stick to the cover tape during removal, the parts pickup element blocks them from leaving the parts pickup position. The parts pickup element is then used to pick up the electronic parts from the parts pickup position. The tape feeder preferably provides slack to the cover tape before the cover tape is separated.

Abstract: A hydro-pneumatic method and apparatus for singulation and delivery of uncoated capsules that consist of gel-encapsulated propagules. The capsules are flowed in water to a metering zone, where a metering disc picks up capsules one at a time successively by vacuum from the metering zone while spacing the capsules at regular intervals. The disc carries the capsules from the water, and then positively blows them from the vacuum at the regularly spaced intervals.

Abstract: A seed meter for metering individual seeds at a controlled rate into a furrow in the ground over which the seed meter is traveling releases the individual seeds into a hollow, elongated seed tube. The seed tube is curved along the length thereof in a direction opposite the direction of travel of the seed meter over the ground to release the seeds with a horizontal velocity generally equal and compensate for the motion of the seed opposite that of the seed meter. This enables each seed to reach the ground with little or no velocity component in the horizontal direction, thereby minimizing lateral seed bounce on the ground. Seed bounce within the seed tube is controlled and minimized by the tube curvature which gradually increases in a downward direction along the length of the seed tube. The inner front wall of the tube has logarithmic curvature from a generally vertical upper end thereof along an upper portion of the tube and exponential curvature along a lower portion of the tube.

Abstract: This is a coin sorting and counting apparatus for providing very accurate high throughput processing of heterogeneous coin mixtures. A rotating drum having parallel annular channels, each of which has equally spaced counterbores located around it is rotated within a vacuum plenum. A novel sensor coil contructed as a balanced transformer of four coils having rectangular geometries is used, in conjuction with a dual frequency excitation signal, to detect at least three electronic signatures for each coin, the signatures are detected by separating the frequency components in the output of the sensor coil and obtaining a peak value for the excursion of the high frequency response caused by passage of the coin, and width values corresponding to the time the excursion of the signal was above a predetermined threshold for both the high and low frequency responsive channels.

Abstract: A seed singulator for an agricultural planter uses a housing with a seed cavity to which seed and compressed air is delivered and a disc with seed pockets which, in rotating, pick up seed kernels from the seed cavity and drop them at equally spaced intervals. A wear ring prevents the rotating disc from wearing the singulator housing and a resilient air cutoff pad has radial extensions which extend between sealing surfaces on the housing and the wear ring whereby seeds are prevented from wedging between the air cutoff pad and the side walls of the groove in which the pad is installed. The trailing edge of the air cutoff pad has coplanar segments in angular relation to one another which serve to accurately space the seed when using a seed disc with multiple annular rows of seed pockets.

Abstract: A device for sowing individual seed grains spaced from each other comprises a discharge disc which constitutes the rear wall of a seed box and has suction openings for sucking the seed grains and discharges the grains seed through a discharge passage of the box. To ensure that only a single grain will be discharged at a time, the discharge disc consists of two parts, namely, a disc body which communicates with the suction fan, and a disc blade which contacts the disc body on the side facing the supply of seeds in the seed box. One part is stationary and has a guide slot, which defines the discharge path. The other part is rotatably mounted and has peripherally spaced apart entraining slots, each of which extends throughout the radial extent of the guide slot.

Abstract: In an apparatus for mounting electronic parts onto a printed board, each of suction heads mounted on a peripheral portion of an intermittently rotatable index table attracts by suction a corresponding one of the electronic parts at a part attracting position. With rotation of the index table, the suction head holding the attracted electronic part is transferred to a part mounting position, where the electronic part is mounted onto the printed board. At least two positioners are arranged along the path of the transferred suction head for adjusting the part attracted on the suction head to its correct position and direction. The positioners are arranged respectively on both sides divided by a line extending from the attracting position to the mounting position. The positioners adjust respective kinds of electronic parts which are different from each other in configuration and size.

Abstract: An automatic fastener selection apparatus for segregating a single fastener from a particular contained pile of fasteners and for depositing the segregated fastener into the intake device of a fastening machine is disclosed. The apparatus is capable of segregating headed or nonheaded fasteners within a wide range of sizes. The apparatus includes a scoop (20) that is connected to the forward end of a shaft (22). The scoop is mounted for movement into and out of a bin (24). The bin contains a pile of randomly oriented fasteners (26). When moved into the bin (24) the blade (28) of the scoop is thrust beneath at least some of the fasteners. The scoop is then tipped upwardly so that a number of fasteners remain on the upper surface of the scoop and slide inwardly to the corner (30) of the scoop. The scoop includes a vacuum port (34) and associated mechanisms for capturing a single fastener as the scoop is rotated into an inverted position within the bin, after the shaft is tilted to remove the scoop from the pile.

Abstract: A component supply tape is stepped to present each pocket at a component pick-up area, and a top cover of the tape is peeled back so that each pocket is opened in turn. A shutter is positioned over the pick-up area prior to tape movement so that the pocket is covered by the shutter as the top cover is peeled from the substrate. After each indexing step, the shutter is actuated to uncover the opened pocket which is situated at the pick-up area for retrieval by the vacuum nozzle of a pick-and-place head. By the improved method and apparatus of the instant invention, the pick and place head is provided with a finger for opening the shutter of the feeder while the vacuum nozzle is advanced along a normal to the pick-up surface of the component, so as to minimize the period of time that the component is uncovered.

Abstract: In a seed meter in which a vacuum source is coupled to the interior of a generally cylindrical housing in which a seed disk is rotatably mounted, a seal in the form of an endless loop is mounted within the housing so as to extend between an inner wall of the housing and a side surface of the seed disk so as to confine the vacuum from the vacuum source to a selected portion of the seed disk. The seal has a first portion of the length thereof extending around a major portion of a circle on the opposite side of a circumferential array of apertures in the seed disk from the axis of rotation of the seed disk and a second portion of the length thereof extending across the circumferential array of apertures and into a region adjacent the axis of rotation to isolate a seed discharge chamber on the other side of the seed disk from the vacuum source.

Abstract: In a seed meter in which individual seeds from a seed mass within a first chamber on a first side of a seed disk rotatably mounted within a housing are transported by at least one circumferential row of apertures within the seed disk to a separate seed discharge area within the first chamber by the reduced pressure of a vacuum source coupled to a second chamber within the housing and on the opposite side of the seed disk from the first chamber, a brush and wiper arrangement mounted within a third chamber within and sealed from the second chamber and located opposite the seed discharge area bears against the second side of the seed disk to aid in dislodging and expelling debris from the apertures in the seed disk. The brush and wiper arrangement includes at least one circular brush rotatably mounted within the third chamber and a spring arrangement for biasing the circular brush and an adjacent circular band against the second surface of the seed disk at the at least one row of apertures.

Abstract: A dispenser for flat products consists of a cabinet containing magazines for storing a plurality of products stacked according to predefined categories, with an outlet slot for a product selected from one of the magazines. A mechanism for extracting and dispensing the products in front of the magazines extracts the top product from a selected stack and transfers it to the outlet slot. This mechanism comprises a product holding device, individually controlled and motorized vertical and horizontal carriages carrying this device and a support for the device articulated to one of the carriages. The support assumes a holding position in which the device is placed against the top product in a selected stack and then moves to a position retracted against the carriages, holding the product. The magazines are inclined to the horizontal so that the stacks are offered up slantwise to the mechanism and the outlet slot is in a side of the cabinet, between the magazines and the mechanism.

Abstract: A ring-shaped member supplying apparatus including a storage section for storing a large number of flexible ring-shaped members stacked in layers and supporting the ring-shaped members so that the lowermost one of the stacked ring-shaped members is held by plural engaging members. A takeout device is provided for drawing out the lowermost one of the stacked ring-shaped members in the storage section, by suction, so as to separate the ring-shaped member from the remaining members and transferring the ring-shaped member to a conveying passage. A detecting device is provided for detecting an amount of the stacked ring-shaped members in the storage section. A supplementing supply is provided for replenishing an amount of the ring-shaped members in response to a decrease in an amount of the ring-shaped members in the storage section so that the amount of the ring-shaped members in the storage section is controlled to be in a predetermined range.

Abstract: The invention specifies a method and a device for supplying assembly parts which adhere to or entangle with each other. Individual assembly parts are extracted from an unsorted quantity of assembly parts in a separating or singling operation. These are aligned in a predetermined position and delivered to a delivery point. A partial quantity of separated or singled assembly parts aligned in a predetermined position is formed during a scooping operation. The assembly parts of this partial quantity are extracted singly and in aligned form.

Abstract: A peanut applicator has a rotating cylindrical member with air passages therein. A vacuum pump draws air from an interior portion of the cylindrical member, air being drawn in through a plurality of air passages located between an inner surface of the cylindrical member and an outer surface having a groove therein.The groove has a generally semi-circular cross sectional shape.An extrudate rope passing beneath the cylindrical member in proximity to the groove will cause adhesion to articles which were retained by the vacuum of the air passageways in the groove.Upstanding walls are disposed in a fixed plate, the plate having an aperture therethrough communicating with the interior of the cylindrical member, the cylindrical member being generally cup-shaped.

Abstract: The plate feed apparatus of the present invention is comprised of a cylindrical carrier having air inlet holes located in its periphery which are connected to a vacuum source. A stack of plates is fed toward the carrier on a conveyor belt and each time one of the air inlet openings becomes aligned with the plates the front plate in the stack becomes affixed to the carrier and is rotated with it away from the stack. The plates then are released from the carrier for further handling. In order to prevent the plate being carried from striking the remaining plates a gap must be provided between them. In one embodiment this is accomplished by locating rollers, whose axes are parallel with the axis of the carrier, at the periphery of the carrier in positions which are rotationally ahead of the air inlet openings. In a second embodiment a pair of levers are mounted rotatably outwardly of the carrier sides.

Abstract: A hopper assembly for use in a product transporting apparatus having a rotary drum having at least one circumferential row of equally spaced, radially inwardly recessed pockets for receiving therein products to be transported while they are sucked therein by the effect of negative pressure developed in the respective pockets as the rotary drum rotates in one direction. The hopper assembly has a container having a bottom plate inclined at a particular angle downwardly towards the periphery of the drum and terminating at a particular position, and a nozzle assembly for supplying jets of compressed air into the container for permitting the products to be upwardly moved thereby to facilitate the supply of the products successively into the respective pockets.

Abstract: A vacuum type seeding machine including a rotatably mounted cylindrical seeding drum, a vacuum manifold member and a supporting member for the cylindrical seeding drum rotatable relative to the manifold member for applying vacuum to the cylindrial seeding drum. The cylindrical drum includes ducts extending therealong from an end face communicating with said vacuum manifold member, the ducts communicating with a series of ports on the surface of the cylindrical seeding member to hold seeds thereagainst in a predetermined seeding pattern when vacuum is applied to the ducts.

Abstract: In a sowing assembly for single-seed sowing machines, the housing forms a vacuum chamber (1). In the housing is mounted a drive shaft (4) which carries a mounting plate (7) to which is in turn releasably fixed an apertured plate (8) whose radially outer edge is supported on a seal (10) located at the edge of the vacuum chamber (1). A pot-shaped cover member (31) which is supported on the edge of the vacuum chamber (1) forms a seed holding chamber (44) which communicates with a seed receptacle (37).

Abstract: Gripper devices transfer covers from a magazine onto filled packing containers guided along a substantially horizontal transport trajectory. The gripper devices are on a supporting shaft which is driven via a rod system 18 by a grooved cam plate and a roller lever interacting therewith. By shortening the effective lever arm of the roller lever with the use of an adjusting unit coming into operation when the cover mounting device is blocked, the articulation point of the rod system in an elongated slot of the roller lever is altered in such a way that the stroke movement of the rod system and thus of the supporting shaft and of the suction elements or gripping devices becomes shorter, i.e. a short stroke occurs, thus ensuring that no further covers are extracted from the magazine and placed on the packing container.

Abstract: Apparatus for introducing discrete seeds or clusters of two or more seeds into each of an array of seed carrying devices at a seed inserting station has a rotary drum-shaped conveyor whose shell has rows of axially parallel suction ports. Such rows form several groups each containing ports of a particular size. The rows travel past a magazine which contains a supply of seeds and from which selected rows draw seeds which remain in the respective suction ports during transport to the inserting station. To this end, the selected rows are connected to a suction generating device by way of channels which are provided in the shell. The component which determines whether a single group or two or more groups of rows are to be connected with the suction generating device is a ring-shaped selector which is rotatable with reference to the shell and has two or more sets of openings which can be moved into or out of alignment with the channels in the shell.

Abstract: Apparatus for metering and dispensing seeds from a liquid or gel suspension of seeds includes a rotor having a plurality of orifices disposed within concave-shaped recesses about the peripheral surface of the rotor, each recess communicating with a bore of the rotor by a passageway. The rotor is supported within a recess in a housing by a stationary pintle having circumferentially extending grooves which are aligned with the radial passageways in the rotor, the grooves being connected to a pressure source and to a suction source so as to enable a suction to be applied to orifices located at a first region of the housing and a pressure to be applied to orifices located at a second region of the housing. The orifices located at the first region are exposed to the seed suspension, and the suction causes a seed from the suspension to be drawn to and held on the peripheral surface.

Abstract: The article separator comprises at least one transfer station (20) receiving the articles to be transferred to the entrance of at least one delivery conveyor (4). Each transfer station is equipped with at least one pickup arm (21) with a suction head (22) at one end, driven between the transfer station and the delivery conveyor and having a plurality of orifices (23) which can be selectively connected to a vacuum source or a blown air source under the control of a video processing circuit (33) coupled to a camera (32) that registers the scene at the front of the transfer station. The separator can handle mail deemed to be non-mechanically-sortable hereto.