Abstract: This relates to a transfer device for transferring labels from a stack into mold cavities without modifying the operation of the existing molding machine. The transfer device includes a pivotally mounted arm which is positioned and pivoted by a linear drive shaft positioned by a cam carried by an associated mold half. The transfer head is mounted on the arm for pivoting about the arm by way of an actuator which includes drive pulleys coupled by drive belts. The transfer head includes vacuum heads, one of which has associated with a suction cup thereof bellows for retracting the suction cup after the suction cup has sealed with the label to initiate peeling of the label from the stack. The suction cup is guidingly mounted so as to maintain its orientation at all times.

Abstract: A sheet separating apparatus has a lifting device and at least one suction device. The suction devices receive a sheet from a stack, and with the sheet engaged with the suction devices, are lifted away from the stack by the lifting device. The suction devices are connected to a vacuum source(s) and the lifting device is connected either to the vacuum source, or one of the vacuum sources, or to a different vacuum source or a positive pressure source. In either case the vacuum source(s) acts through the suction devices to produce the engagement of the sheet and suction devices, and this engagement in turn produces a pressure drop in the suction devices which leads to activation of the lifting device to lift the suction devices.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a vertically movable vacuum plate having openings for sucking sheets individually and for allowing sheet feeding rollers to extend therethrough for translating the sucked sheets, wherein a sheet pressing portion is formed in the vacuum plate to form a space between the forward end portions of the sheets and the vacuum plate prior to the suction of the sheets. In another embodiment, instead of the sheet pressing portion, a sheet feeding roller mounted on the vacuum plate is utilized as the sheet pressing element, so that the sheets are pressed before being sucked causing the suction force to be applied to the forward end portions of the sheets.

Abstract: A pneumatic sheet feeder includes a movable bottom plate which is disposed to form a constant angle with the uppermost sheet in a stack placed on a sheet receptacle, irrespective of the height of the stack. Sheets on the receptacle are attracted one by one by a negative pressure to be sequentially fed by a feed roller which is driven for rotation in an automatic manner.

Abstract: A vacuum pickup device which includes:(1) a tubular outer member having one of its ends open and one of its ends sealed and having one or more ports, between its ends, that provide communication between its interior and exterior and that are in communication with a source of vacuum;(2) a tubular inner member, positioned within the outer member and extending outwardly of the outer member through its open end; the inner member having one or more ports, between its ends, that provide communication between its interior and exterior; the inner member also being adapted to move through the open end of the outer member, between an extended position, in which an open end of the inner member extends a predetermined maximum distance outwardly of the open end of the outer member, and a retracted position, in which the open end of the inner member extends less than the predetermined maximum distance outwardly of the open end of the outer member; and(3) a spring, adapted to urge the inner member from its retracted positio

Abstract: A device for taking off slices sawn from rod-shaped material, having a take-off member which includes a holder and a conical flexible member. Between the holder and the conical member an annular element supports the conical element at some distance from its edge. By means of a vacuum, the center of the conical member is moved towards the holder and the edge is moved towards the slice just before the slice has been sawn entirely, and the slice is held by means of the vacuum.

Abstract: The specification describes an apparatus for stacking and unstacking sheet material, more particularly glass sheets, comprising one or more suction plates, capable of moving towards a sheet material stack and adapted to be moved by a pressure cylinder actuator, and with a sensing member, which on making contact with the stack, the surface position of which changes as the stacking or unstacking progresses generates a pulse adapted to control movement of the piston rod of the pressure cylinder actuator. As a sensing member a switch (vacuum monitor, pressure monitor) responsive to changes in pressure is provided in the suction duct system of the suction plates and/or in the pressure duct system of the pressure cylinder actuator.

Abstract: An automatic device for incorporating an identification marker in a reel or roll, the device having an applying member for placing a new leading end of a textile substance and also the marker against a rotary roll or reel support member, and marker positioning heads for automatically removing a respective marker from a marker container and positioning the marker on the applying member before the applying member is moved up against the rotary support member.

Abstract: An automatic feed mechanism for sheet steel forming equipment such as a power brake or the like is provided. The mechanism comprises essentially four sections. The first section provides a support for a stack of sheets to be fed to the power brake. The second section contains a suction cup and actuating cylinders for lifting a sheet vertically from the stack and for transporting the sheet horizontally to a roller. The third section comprises a roller upon which the sheet is transported horizontally to a lifting bed at the fourth section and a drive for the roller. The fourth section of the mechanism comprises a lifting station positioned adjacent the power brake. The lifting station includes an elevator for engaging the ends of the sheet to raise the sheet from a first level equal to that of the level of the rollers to a second level substantially equal to that of the input to the power brake.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet feeding station for a magazine in which a plurality of individual sheets are located one against another, with a pneumatic pick-up roller rotatably mounted adjacent to the magazine and at that end of the magazine from which the sheets are destined to leave the magazine. The invention is characterized in that the roller is stationary in a precisely defined rest position at the start of a sheet-feeding feeding operation and remains in this rest position until it is sensed that a sheet is held against it by air pressure, the roller then rotating to feed the sheet so held, and continuing to rotate until the sheet-feeding operation has been completed.

Abstract: A printing machine receives single sheets which are removed from a stack by the suction cups of a feeding mechanism which is combined with a monitoring unit serving to detect the absence of sheets at the undersides of suction cups or the lifting of two or more sheets. The monitoring unit employs a transducer having two feelers which determine the thickness of lifted sheet material and an indicating device which is actuated by the feelers and produces signals serving to indicate the absence of sheets, the lifting of two or more sheets and/or to control the operation of the printing machine. The suction cups can form part of the transducer when the latter is designed to detect only the absence of sheets or they form part of a second transducer which is provided in addition to the first mentioned transducer.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding apparatus for separating and feeding sheets of paper, cardboard, metallic and plastic material and the like individually from a stack of such sheets is described. The apparatus as described is provided with a curved sheet-receiving chute for containing and temporarily storing a stack of sheets. A chamber having an apertured movable wall is provided adjacent the stack of sheets. The movable wall is positioned and freely movable to contact the top sheet of the stack. A low-pressure blower is provided for evacuating air from the chamber and drawing the top sheet into sealing contact with the movable wall about the aperture. Sealing of the aperture creates a partial differential pressure which moves the wall, reducing the volume of the chamber and removing the top sheet from the stack. Means, such as a roller, is also provided within the chamber. The roller extends slightly through the aperture to contact the sheet once the sheet is removed from the stack.

Abstract: An article transfer apparatus and method is provided wherein a plurality of article pickup heads mounted on a movable support means is operative to pick up a plurality of spaced articles at a transfer station and move the articles to an output area while the array of articles is being compacted or spread, as desired. The adjustment of the space between the articles is accomplished by making the pickup heads in the form of collapsible suction cups with anti-collapse stiffening means on one side of the cups to tilt the articles either inwardly or outwardly with respect to the original article pattern. The stiffening means in the suction cup includes wedge members mounted in annular folds of the cup and interconnecting beads between the wedge members. The bottom fold is normally not provided with a wedge member and the lip serves to seal the cup on the article. A bifurcated wedge member is provided on the top of the cup and serves to cooperate with index means on the movable support.