Abstract: A device including unpiling apparatus of the gripper type, each gripper including a pick-up beak, the fixed plate of the gripper being rigid with a carriage movable on a horizontal guide, this carriage being coupled to the piston rod of a fixed fluid-operated cylinder and adapted to transfer the sheet or web picked up by the beak from one pick-up station to the treatment station. It further includes apparatus for causing the pick-up beak to grip the web by turns in a first and a second positions, the second gripping position causing the picked-up web to be turned upside down.

Abstract: A rigid airfoil surface and the exposed portion of the bottom sheet of a stack of flexible sheets in a magazine, form opposite passage walls of a venturi flow passage into which a flow of air is directed from a nozzle member. Collapse of the passage wall formed by the flexible bottom sheet is induced by the static suction pressure created at the throat of the venturi passage resulting in deflection of the exposed portion and separation of the bottom sheet from the stack in preparation for withdrawal by a gripper mechanism.

Abstract: An automatic feeding apparatus is disclosed which includes an arm having at one end a hand for holding a workpiece and which is pivotally mounted at the other end in a vertically movable manner, a swinging member that is swung by a swinging mechanism driven by a single motor and which is swung to move the other end of the arm vertically, and a guide member that is shifted along a guide groove in conjunction with the swinging motion of the swinging member to control the movement of the one end of the arm holding the workpiece. The guide groove consists of a curved area that controls a horizontal movement of the one end of the arm and straight areas that control the vertical movements of the one end of the arm at each extremity of the horizontal movement. The swinging action of the swinging member causes the hand to move horizontally between the feed position and working position of the workpiece and to move vertically by a predetermined distance at each position.

Abstract: An in-mold label dispenser (10) is disclosed for supplying labels to a multiple cavity blow molding machine (12) for an in-mold labeling process. Label dispenser (10) includes a dispensing head (24) mounted for movement between a withdrawn position free of the mold and an inserted position between mold sections in an open position of the mold. A plurality of label carriers (26) are mounted on the dispensing head (24) for movement between retracted and extended positions in order to receive labels (32) from magazines (28) and supply the labels to the mold. A drive mechanism (30) moves the dispensing head (24) and the label carriers (26) for the in-mold label dispensing. Preferably, the dispensing head (24) is mounted on a support (34) and is moved in a hesitating manner to receive labels. The dispensing head support (34) is preferably mounted on a frame (38) in a manner that conserves floor space and the frame is also mounted in order to permit access to the associated blow molding machine.

Abstract: An in-mold label dispenser (22) for a blow molding machine is disclosed as including a dispensing head (56) mounted for rectilinear movement along a first axis A between a label magazine (48) and an open mold (28) and having a label carrier (58) mounted on the dispensing head for rectilinear movement between retracted and extended positions along a second axis B transverse to the first axis A. Rectilinear movement of the dispensing head (56) along the first axis A and coordinated extending and retracting rectilinear movement of the label carrier (58) along axis B transfers a label (50) from the magazine (48) to the mold (28) in preparation for the blow molding operation. The label dispenser (22) has particular utility when provided with a pair of the label carriers (58) to simultaneously transfer a pair of labels (50) to the open mold (28) within the confined space limitations involved.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided to pick up single sheets of semi rigid material from a stack and convey them to a further location. The pick up mechanism employs a primary carriage assembly supported for horizontal linear movement. A row of vertically movable suction devices mounted on the carriage lift the sheet adjacent a trailing edge. A secondary carriage including finger elements engages the raised sheet to push it across the stack into nip rollers.

Abstract: A separator sheet feeder for use with an automatic newspaper bundle palletizer is disclosed. An elevator mechanism maintains the top of a stack of nested separator sheets at a constant level. Suction means lifts the top sheet upward and a reciprocating carriage moves between the top of the remaining stack and the lifted sheet. The lifted sheet is deposited onto a carriage which moves the sheet to a location over a layer of newspaper bundles. As the carriage returns to get the next sheet, a stripper mechanism engages the sheet to hold it so that it drops onto the layer of newspaper bundles.

Abstract: A paper sheet stripper device of the type used in a paper sheet dispenser, such as a bank note dispenser, in which sheets of paper are sucked by a suction head assembly one by one and passed to a conveyer assembly by the swinging action of the suction head assembly. The improvement proposed is the use of a vacuum source for generating a constant reduced pressure for sucking operation, instead of the conventionally used vacuum source which fluctuates between positive and negative pressures. A valve is interposed between the suction head assembly and the vacuum source so that the suction head assembly communicates with the vacuum source only when the suction head assembly is swung from a sucking position at which it engages with a lower portion of the first sheet of a bundle of paper sheets to a take-up position at which the sucked paper sheet is passed to the conveyer assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for simultaneously applying individual outserts to multiple containers of pharmaceuticals includes a conveyor (12) for advancing the containers along an input path and magazines (22) containing the outserts. The containers are stopped in groups by a gate assembly (18) opposite to a transfer assembly (20) including a rotatable pick up arm (72) mounted for reciprocation between a retracted position adjacent to the magazines (22) and an extended position adjacent to the container input path. Vacuum cups (76) are provided on the pick up arm (72) for engaging the outserts, and pinion and a drive pin arrangement (100, 102) is utilized to control rotation of the pick up arm to reorient the outserts only during an intermediate portion of travel between linear motion at the extended and retracted positions to facilitate proper engagement between the outserts and the vacuum cups.

Abstract: An inserter for picking, transportation and depositing of non-rigid sheet-like or folded material one at a time from a material bundle to a depositing station, comprises at least one reciprocatingly movable suction head mounted relative to the material bundle so as to be operable at a given level, the suction head being reciprocatingly movable in only one plane from a first position in said one plane above the material bundle but proximal to that end part of the material bundle located nearest to a depositing station to a second position in said one plane at the depositing station and back again to said first position for transport of said material.

Abstract: A linear air cylinder drives a guided slide block or carriage on which is pivotally mounted a vacuum arm biased by a spring to a down horizontal position. Cam followers carried by crank arms on the pivoted vacuum arm engage fixed stops when the rod of the air cylinder is retracted to swing the vacuum arm to an upright tag pickup position. Tags stored in a hopper are transported one at a time to a horizontal position away from the hopper where they are attached to socks.

Abstract: Automatic loading device for automatically positioning of panels of sheet metal or the like and to transfer the panels to a feeding device of a machine tool, preferably a cutting press. The cutting press cuts a plurality of blanks out of the panel along a given pattern which is stored in a program. The program is controlling the cutting press and the feed device in synchronism in order to provide the blanks, e.g. lids for cans within minimum production time. The time when the loading device is working overlaps the production time for the preceeding panel, i.e. the aligning of the panel in the loading device took place when the preceeding panel is cut. As soon as the feeding device returns to the zero position the loading device transfers the next panel to the feeding device, the panel maintaining its precise aligned position. The feeding device starts to a new feed cycle.

Abstract: In a shearing device for cutting plates, such as sheet metal plates, a pl feeding apparatus includes a carriage mounted for movement above and between a plate feeder and the shearing device. A rotatable carrier is mounted on the carriage for lifting and holding plates. The rotatable carrier can be turned through 360.degree.. A plurality of vacuum suction members are positioned on the carrier for holding the plates.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a laminate has a rack having upper and lower vertically displaceable platforms adapted to support respective stacks of upper and lower foils and set up so that the uppermost foils of the respective stacks are always positioned at respective upper and lower levels. A central conveyor has an upstream stretch extending horizontally between the upper and lower platforms from a position upstream of these platforms to a position spaced downstream therefrom, so that it can displace a board in a transport direction between these platforms to an assembly location downstream of the platforms.

Abstract: A device for the automatic feeding of individual sheets from a stack of sheets to an apparatus comprises lower carrier rollers, upper feed rollers in resilient contact therewith, and a suction chamber which is displaceable in the direction of transport of the individual sheets. The suction chamber comprises a cover plate and a base plate, the base plate being designed as a perforated plate and the cover plate being provided with a suction hole for a ventilator which is arranged on the cover plate, above the suction opening.

Abstract: An automatic feeder apparatus is disclosed for feeding collar stays and the like to an associated machine including a first fluid cylinder having a reciprocating piston rod and a second fluid cylinder carried by the piston rod of the first fluid cylinder. The second fluid cylinder includes a reciprocating piston rod on which a suction device is carried which includes a pair of suction tubes having a suction end and a discharge end with air being introduced intermediate the ends to create the suction at the suction ends. A master solenoid valve controls delivery of a pressurized fluid to the fluid cylinders and cooperates with a systematic arrangement of in-line valves which are actuated by the movement of the suction device to provide an automatic sequence for pick-up and delivery of a collar stay.

Abstract: A device for a piece-by-piece delivery of storage-cell electrodes is described which includes a table on which a stack of electrodes is disposed. Located close to the table is a manipulator made as a swivel bar with a holder at a end of which a gripper is provided. The swivel bar is mounted in sliding bearings coaxially with a pushrod which is capable of vertical reciprocations so as to lift the bar and dro it freely under its own weight. Provision is made in the middle portion of the bar for the double-arm lever with the rollers, the lever being kinematically associated with the link of a step-by-step conveyor. The link has a right-angular recess the outside working edge of which is shorter than the inside working edge thereof, thus providing for the link to engage one of the rollers of the double-arm lever in the course of swivelling of the bar.

Abstract: The lowermost sheet of an upright stack of superposed sheets is removed by a device which has one or more suction heads and is moved against the underside of the lowermost sheet prior to folding one or two marginal portions of such sheet downwardly to separate the marginal portions from the adjacent portions of the next-to-the-lowermost sheet. The device thereupon moves the lowermost sheet downwardly, substantially at right angles to the plane of the next-to-the-lowermost sheet, either into the range of one or more tongs or analogous transfer elements, or directly to the periphery of a rotary turret in a cigarette packing machine. Once the marginal portion or portions of the lowermost sheet are flexed downwardly, the corresponding marginal portion or portions of the next-to-the-lowermost sheet are engaged and held by one or more pivotable retaining members which are disengaged from the sheet as soon as the device returns to its raised position and attracts and supports the next lowermost sheet.

Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed for dispensing the uppermost sheet from a stack of sheets without excessive friction of the sheets against each other.The mechanism may advantageously be incorporated in a dispenser for radiographic film which may be installed in daylight conditions. In order to perform a loading cycle automatically, auxiliary expedients are described, particularly concerning the opening and closing of the radiographic cassette.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a carriage fitted with rollers displaced on a track for picking up and raising single flat workpieces which are lying in a stack, such as sheet metal plates, and for feeding them individually to an adjacent processing station. The apparatus further comprises a lifting device with suction lifters and the carriage equipped with moveable impact arms for the workpiece is displaceable from an initial position near the processing station which is outside the effective range of the lifting device to a loading position under the workpiece which has been lifted by the suction lifters for taking the workpiece over and back to the initial position near the processing station where the workpiece is fed to a plate shears or to a bending press. The impact arms serve to shift each workpiece while resting on the carriage on to the processing station.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for removing the top sheet from a stack of sheets and transporting it to a predetermined location includes a vacuum head for displacing and separating the sheet from the stack, a drive arrangement including a threaded shaft supporting the vacuum head for transporting the sheet to the predetermined location and control circuitry for regulating the cyclical operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: In a modified embodiment of the pull-foot sheet feeding device described in U.S. application Ser. No. 608,970, filed Aug. 29, 1975, now Pat. No. 4,013,283 the bottom roller is replaced by a roller segment. The roller segment is pivotally mounted on a carrier which is fixedly mounted on a driving shaft. The pivotal axis of the roller segment is offset from the axis of the driving shaft. The roller segment has an outer surface for pinching sheets between it and the pull-foot while rolling on a sheet in response to rotation of the driving shaft. The position of the roller segment relative to the carrier is constrained by a spring, which provides biasing of the roller segment surface against the pull-foot, and an adjustable stop. The pull-foot is driven outwardly to pull sheets from a hopper by the roller segment but is under the control of a biasing spring and cam during its return.

Abstract: In a mechanism for feeding individual sheets of paper separately from a stack of paper sheets, a separating device exposes an edge of an outer sheet and a "pull-foot" is oscillated between the separated sheet and a remaining stack. A roller is concurrently moved into position to pinch the separated sheet between the pull-foot and the roller. The pull-foot is oscillated away from the stack and, in doing so, the outer sheet is pulled from the stack by interaction between the pull-foot and the roller.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, feeding corrugated blanks from a stack in which the lowermost blank is advanced to processing machinery on a feed bed which comprises rollers mounted above a vacuum source in such manner as to enable the advancing blank to be held flat while minimizing friction between the advancing blank and the feed bed. In one preferred embodiment, a kicker feed bar is utilized which is depressed with respect to the rollers to enable the lowermost blank to be advanced while maintaining substantially the same vertical height in a flat plane until reaching the proximity of the processing machinery.

Abstract: In sheet feeding apparatus of the type having a feed table, feed grippers movable back and forth to transfer sheets on the feed table, carrier means including an oscillating lever, a shaft, a crankwheel mounted on the shaft and a coupler connected between the crankwheel and the lever, the carrier means being movable above the feed table between a first and a second position for mounting the feed grippers thereon, drive means and operable means for respectively moving and lowering the carrier means so as to dispose the feed grippers below the top surface of the feed table as the carrier means commences a return movement to the first position, the improvement including an eccentric crankpin mounted on the crankwheel and connected to the coupler at a location thereof spaced from the location at which the coupler is connected to the oscillating lever; and motion generating means including the crankwheel actuated by the driving means for imparting a cycloid motion to said eccentric crankpin about the center of rot

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for feeding a continuous series of sheets step-wise to a treating machine wherein the rearward and forward edges of successive sheets are overlapped to provide a continuous supply to the treating machine. Each sheet is fed in a simultaneous step-wise manner by a feed member engaging the rear edge of each sheet. The improvement comprises the delivering of each sheet onto the last sheet on the sheet feeder such that the forward edge of the delivered sheet overlaps the rear edge of the last sheet by an amount at least as great as the prescribed overlap so that the feed member adapted to engage the rear edge of the delivered sheet will in the next feed step engage the rear edge of the delivered sheet and bring it into proper overlap position with the adjacent forward sheet which has been moved its prescribed step at the same time.

Abstract: The openable end of a collapsed bag is aligned in an alignment station on the base of the bag aligner machine. The bag is removed from a bag pickup station by a pick-off arm and moved to a preliminary position. At this point the bag is transferred to a bag holder which moves upwardly relative to the base to move the openable end of the bag into a bag-edge locator. This locator includes first and second alignment members which are interconnected in generally a V configuration and the bag openable edge is moved by a first motor into the open V end between the first and second alignment members to abut the closed V end under the urging of the first motor and additional urging of resilient means. This positively locates the edge of the bag so that it may be subsequently gripped, opened and then filled at a subsequent filling station.

Abstract: A sheet applicator for applying individual thin, flexible sheets of paper or similar material to a series of relatively thick, flat articles (e.g., hamburger patties) as those articles fall along a defined discharge path terminating at a stacking position, comprising a shuttle with vacuum grippers for transferring each flexible sheet from a transfer position to an application position on the article discharge path, where one of the articles engages the sheet and carries it to the end of the discharge path. The grippers engage at least three peripheral points around the edges of the sheet; the falling article pulls the sheet from the gripper, falling through a central opening in the shuttle. The carriage then returns for the next sheet. A single-sheet feeder applies the sheets to the shuttle in registry with the vacuum grippers.

Abstract: A case magazine and case stripper part of a case opening, loader sealer machine, including longitudinal case slide rails for supporting a vertical stack of unopened, horizontal, flat folded cases, lug devices mounted on a carriage that is longitudinally reciprocated by an endless chain drive to remove the lowermost case from the stack and push the lowermost case forwardly along the slide rails as the carriage moves forwardly, vertical stack support magazine brackets locates adjacent the corners of the stack extending upwardly from adjacent the elevation of the slide rails, and being mounted to be selectively adjustably positioned longitudinally and transverse relative one another, vacuum cup assemblies on opposite transverse sides of the slide rails for pivoting transversely opposite lowermost flaps about fold lines to a given angle of inclination and then release the flaps, spring hold down mechanism for retaining the flaps at said angle while permitting the flaps to be translated forwardly and control mecha