Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a bin riser positionable between different types of shipping bins to enable these shipping bins to stably stack atop one another in a way that inhibits an adjacent stack of shipping bins from toppling over during transit.

Abstract: The gaseous fluid stream treatment unit for treating a meat product cut into slices includes an enclosure (7) in which there is a conveyor device (1) with two or more vertical translation sections (9, 10) moving the trays (2) loaded with slices of the meat product in alternating opposite vertical directions, and at least one horizontal translation section (11) transferring the trays (2) from a final end of one of the vertical translation sections (9,10) to an initial end of the next vertical translation section (9,10). A gaseous fluid circulation device (8) generates a gaseous fluid stream inside the enclosure (7) in a substantially horizontal direction from a gaseous fluid inlet (12) to a gaseous fluid outlet (13) consecutively traversing the two or more vertical translation sections (9, 10) of the conveyor device (1), subjecting the slices to the action of the gaseous fluid stream.

Abstract: A lap joint platform of a large-load lifting container includes a machine frame, a rocker arm platform, a rear rocker arm platform, locking and loading devices. The lap joint platform is stable in loading and unloading processes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing waste from a soiled container that houses laboratory animals and has an opening is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conveyor having a receiving end for receiving containers from a stack of containers. The stack is disposed such that the openings are upwardly oriented. The apparatus also includes a manipulator that aligns with and engages an uppermost container of the stack and causes the uppermost container to be separated from the stack and to be flipped over onto the receiving end of the conveyor such that the opening is downwardly disposed. Waste discarded from the container falls through openings in the conveyor, and a waste receptacle disposed below the conveyor collects the discarded waste. The conveyor advances to transport the container away from the receiving end toward a discharge end of the conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing waste from a soiled container that houses laboratory animals and has an opening is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conveyor having a receiving end for receiving containers from a stack of containers. The stack is disposed such that the openings are upwardly oriented. The apparatus also includes a manipulator that aligns with and engages an uppermost container of the stack and causes the uppermost container to be separated from the stack and to be flipped over onto the receiving end of the conveyor such that the opening is downwardly disposed. Waste discarded from the container falls through openings in the conveyor, and a waste receptacle disposed below the conveyor collects the discarded waste. The conveyor advances to transport the container away from the receiving end toward a discharge end of the conveyor.

Abstract: A method and device for controlled filling of a channel supplying tobacco articles, whereby a lead-in member is positioned inside the channel to completely cut off passage along the channel; a mass of tobacco articles is then fed into the channel so that the mass of tobacco articles is positioned contacting the lead-in member; and, finally, the lead-in member is eased along the channel, while keeping the mass of tobacco articles in contact with the lead-in member, to ease the mass of tobacco articles along the channel.

Abstract: A component feeder for an automatic placement machine holds a number of tubes containing electronic components and feeds them sequentially to a pick point located at the end of a track. A tube in a loading position is pressed into contact with the end of a track. The remaining tubes in the magazine are held by an escapement mechanism. A pusher is driven along the bore of the tube in the loading position to drive component from the tube and along the track to the pick point. When the tube in the loading position is empty, front and rear supports are withdrawn and the tube drops from the bottom of the feeder. The escapement mechanism then lowers a next tube into the loading position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatic loading of a sleeve on a device testing apparatus, for automatic lining up and loading of a sleeve having a device held therein on a device testing apparatus for carrying out device test, including a sloped loading plate for putting sleeves each having devices held therein thereon, vertical fixation plates at both sides of the sloped loading plate, carrier means fitted so as to be in contact with a lower edge of the sloped loading plate, for holding the sleeves put on, and slid down to the lower edge of, the sloped loading part, and transporting to a loading part in the device testing apparatus one by one in succession, driver means fitted to the fixation plate for driving the carrier means, and return means for, when a plurality of sleeves on the sloped loading plate are loaded on, and transported by the step, returning the sleeves back to the sloped loading plate again, leaving only one of the sleeves.

Abstract: A semiconductor device transporting apparatus and a semiconductor device posture altering apparatus are provided which constitute a portion of a semiconductor device transporting and handling apparatus used in a semiconductor device testing apparatus of magazine/tray combination type. The semiconductor device transporting apparatus and the semiconductor device posture altering apparatus are used for loading onto a test tray in the horizontal posture semiconductor devices from a magazine supported in an inclined posture by which semiconductor devices can run out therefrom by their own weights.

Abstract: A fully automatic device is provided for handling components-containing tubes and for feeding the components contained in these tubes into the input rail or "accumulator" of the loading area of a component processing equipment. Another fully automatic device which is very similar in structure to the above device is also provided for recovering the components from the output rail of the unloading area of the component processing equipment, and reinserting such components into their tubes. Both of these devices have a column holder mounted on a frame for receiving and holding a column of tubes stacked one above the other. A rotatable barrel having a conical shape and a horizontal axis supports a set of tube catching assemblies.

Abstract: A film feed apparatus in which cartridge panels capable of carrying a plurality of films in cartridges are used to store films and feed them continuously into a photoprinter. The film feed apparatus includes a cartridge storage unit, a panel mover, a cartridge separator, a cartridge conveyor, a panel storage unit. Cartridge panels are sent to a specific cartridge separating station, where separating arms are inserted in openings formed in each panel to separate cartridges from the panel and drop them through an opening. The cartridges separated from the panel are sent on a conveyor belt onto another conveyor belt and fed in a single file. The empty panels are stacked in the panel storage unit by a panel stacker.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for separating and reversing a stack of containers includes a supply conveyer that supplies the stack of containers, a lifting device that lifts the stack of containers upwards into a separating and reversing device that separates and reverses each of the containers while transporting them downstream. An ejection conveyer positioned at a downstream end of the separating and reversing device ejects each of the separated and reversed containers.

Abstract: A part feeder capable of moving individual parts to a receiver from a storage tube having an internal track therein generally conforming to at least a portion of the vertical cross-section of parts stored within the tube to permit the parts to freely slide along the track within the tube. The part feeder comprises a base; a horizontally movable support member slidably mounted on the base; a tiltable arm member pivotally mounted on the support member; and a receiver on the tiltable arm member. An air cylinder is provided for releasably securing one end of the tube on the arm member against the receiver. Another actuator is provided for tilting the arm member so that the end of the tube adjacent the receiver is sufficiently lower than the remainder of the tube to permit one part to slide out of the tube onto the receiver. The tube is then returned to a horizontal position.

Abstract: In a supply magazine of a copying machine closed copy paper packages are arranged in stacked relation. The copy paper has been preconditioned by the manufacturer and provided with a packing that protects the preconditioning.Whenever the copy paper supply for the copying machine has to be refilled, one copy paper package is removed from the supply magazine and advanced to an unpacking device and opened.The unpacked copy paper stack is withdrawn from the opened packing by a withdrawing device and moved to a magazine.The magazine is associated with a sheet separating device which removes individual sheets and advances them to the copying station.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing a continuous supply of workpieces to a pickup station comprises a frame having a magazine in the top thereof, the workpieces being packaged in open-ended trays stacked in the magazine. A pickup plate assembly pivots downward from a position paralleling the bottom of the magazine, where it picks up a tray, to an inclined delivery position aligned with the inclined surface of a delivery station. Holding means are released so the connectors slide from the open end of the tray until it is empty. Thereafter the pickup plate pivots further downward and the empty tray is ejected.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling rod-like articles incorporates a buffer reservoir system using trolleys having vertical compartments for storing the articles in stack formation. The compartments receive the articles from outlets in a first conveyor and may return articles to a second conveyor through inlets. The first conveyor may form part of a conveyor system linking one or more cigarette making machines to one or more cigarette packing machines. The outlets are closable by a gate and a platform is moved through each compartment to lower articles from the outlet. The bottoms of the compartments are provided with removable slats. A particular form of closure suitable for separating a stack of rod-like articles and apparatus for loading and unloading containers with rod-like articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically handling palletized poultry coops containing live birds to empty the birds from the coops for hanging. A pallet loaded with tiers of poultry coops after removal from the livehaul truck by a forklift is placed on a conveyor to move automatically to the input end of a coop infeed conveyor extending transverse to the pallet conveyor. Upon alignment of the pallet with the coop infeed conveyor, a limit switch stops the pallet conveyor and an extractor is actuated which pushes a tier of coops off the pallet and onto the coop infeed conveyor. The tier of coops is moved along to an unstacker comprising a lay-down unit having a rotor with coop support arms arranged in quadrature such that the coops are laid down on an inclined conveyor with each quarter of a revolution. The inclined conveyor moves each of the coops in succession to a dumping unit that empties the coop.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving a plurality of tiers of poultry coops containing live birds at an unloading area and automatically handling the coops to unload the birds therefrom at a location outside the hang room. A lay down unit accepts the coops one tier at a time and tilts it from an upright disposition to an inclined disposition, laying the coops down on an inclined conveyor that moves the coops to the end of the incline. The lead coop falls over the end and into a coop unloading unit having a saddle adapted to catch the coop and hold it suspended above an auxiliary conveyor, permitting the coop door to freely open and discharge the birds. A mechanism within the unloading unit moves the coop out of the saddle and onto a coop elevator, causing the coop door to automatically close. A coop elevator takes the coops to a coop inverter which turns each coop over. The coops move to a restack station provided with an outfeed conveyor.

Abstract: An automatic apparatus for discharging loose products, such as fruit, vegetables and the like, contained in the generously dimensioned crates that are commonly known as "bins", are open at the top and have their lower part provided with a support plate in the form of a pallet. The apparatus consists essentially of: a lower full bin infeed platform connected to a de-stacker group that progressively reduces a number of bins placed, for example by a fork lift truck, on the lower platform and feeds them, one at a time and one after the other, to an oscillating frame provided to tip the individual bins through more than 90.degree. until they have been completely emptied; and an upper platform, positioned above the one to which prior reference has been made, onto which the emptied bins pass, this being connected to a stacker group, the purpose of which is to form the empty bins into piles which are then picked up and are sent back to be filled anew.

Abstract: A high-speed planting method and machine in which a plurality of plants are provided in a plurality of webs. The webs are flexible and each web carries a plurality of plants fixed in an array of a plurality of adjacent rows and substantially perpendicular ranks. In the method and machine, each web is bent in a curve about an axis parallel to the ranks of plants, and during the bending operation each leading rank of plants is ejected from the web as a group. Concurrently with that operation, each removed rank of plants is conveyed toward the ground, and each plant in each conveyed rank is successively set into the ground in spaced relation along a line.