Abstract: This invention relates to methods for discharging particulate solids, especially hazardous or toxic materials and contaminants of the atmosphere, from bulk shipping containers, such as bulk-bags, at controlled discharge rates, in an environmentally acceptable manner which eliminates exposure of the environment and personnel to contamination by the material and which allows for an essentially clinically clean environment due to emptying and transfer of the contents to process equipment.

Abstract: A device for supplying cigarettes (5) to a packaging machine is provided with a rotary head (3) for tipping containers (4) full of cigarettes (5) into a tank (6) whose base is formed by an upper branch (38) of a conveyor (7) for supplying a continuous flow of cigarettes (5) to the packaging machine. After each container (4) has been emptied and while it is being replaced by a new container full of cigarettes (5), the branch (38) of the tank base is raised by a displacement device (47-49) provided with an alternating vertical movement such that the mass of cigarettes (5) is raised towards the mouth of the tank (6) and consequently such that there is a reduction of the jump performed by the cigarettes (5) at the moment of opening of the base of the new container (4) for its discharge into the tank (6).

Abstract: A transport mechanism (40) for transporting a semiconductor slice cassette between a clean carrier (10) and a process machine comprises a housing (41) having a forward portion (42) positioned in the people-occupied area of the clean room and a rear portion (46) positioned in the process machine area aerodynamically isolated from people. A moveable glider plate (50) is adapted to receive the carrier (10) and is initially positioned in an aperture provided in the upper surface of forward portion (42). A gearing mechanism (54) is provided which cooperates with glider plate (50) to move the semiconductor slice cassettes mounted on the base of carrier (10) between forward portion (42) and rear portion (46).

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: A dump assembly having a fixed conduit and a rotatable conduit provided with overlapping plates, respectively, at their adjacent ends. The plates are formed with openings, respectively, normally offset from each other to block flow. The other end of the rotatable conduit is provided with means for securing the open end of a filled container thereto. Rotation of the rotatable conduit raises and inverts the container to empty the contents while concurrently aligning the conduit openings to permit flow of material therethrough.

Abstract: A method and a device for feeding rod-like articles, particularly cigarettes, carried by trays, to the feed hopper of handling machines, particularly cigarette-packing machines. In order to assure a broad time period to replace an emptied tray and to practically avoid the sudden drop of the cigarettes from the tray into the hopper, two trays in discharge position and aligned to each other in the direction of the hopper length, are arranged over the inlet opening of the hopper. The descent of the cigarettes into the hopper is permitted alternately only from one of the trays until it is emptied, while the other previously emptied tray is replaced with a stand-by full tray.

Abstract: The improvement in a gravity box farm wagon of a door opening mechanism for side opening discharge door of the farm wagon includes a hand wheel operated spool with cable wrapped around the spool and connected at its opposite ends to the door and a channel member extending vertically from the door.

Abstract: Constant supply of electronic components to a processing station is effected by a reservoir and component supply tubes indexed to sequentially unload into the reservoir automatically, as the need arises. Plural component supply tubes are mounted in a cartridge assembly at each station of a multistation processing machine. Upon command of a controller and in response to a low part sensor of a reservoir at each station, the cartridge is indexed to the next tube in order to unload the components of that tube into the reservoir. Each station includes a separate indexing mechanism for each respective cartridge, and a carriage is translated to a position adjacent the indexing mechanism of each station, upon command, in order to effect such indexing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring plural articles from a shipping carton to a receptacle from which such articles are orderly removed to a machine for further processing is described. The apparatus is constructed from a shuttle box adapted to receive the shipping carton, a pusher bar adapted to load the shipping carton into the shuttle box and for withdrawing the carton such that the articles remain within the shuttle box, and an ejector blade adapted to reciprocally remove articles from the shuttle box to be conveyed to machine for further processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing newspapers from a container in a newspaper live storage buffer having an indexing unit for moving the containers individually from the buffer's conveying device to an unloading position. In the unloading position a pneumatically controlled paddle is raised to engage the newspapers within the container and at approximately the same time a gate forming the bottom of the container is unlatched to permit it to swing to an open position. The paddle is then lowered and is effective in guiding the newspapers into an arcuated channel from which they are delivered for further processing downstream of the buffer.

Abstract: The feed hopper of a cigarette packing machine is provided with an inlet mouth comprising a fixed rectangular tubular member over which there is mounted telescopically slidable in the vertical direction a telescoping rectangular tubular member. The tray filled with cigarettes is positioned upside down, with its discharge side closed by a bottom closure plate, over the open upper end of the telescoping tubular member. The full tray is then lowered, together with the telescoping member, until the bottom closure plate reaches the level of the cigarettes already contained in the hopper. At this point, a level sensing device gives a control signal for the side shifting, and consequent opening, of the discharge side of the tray. After the opening of the discharge side, the tray is again raised to its starting position.

Abstract: A box or container for transporting and disposing of trash is constructed to be operated by the action of a forklift truck alone without the addition of special accessories and so constructed as to have a low overall height making it suitable for placement under machines, benches and other devices, because of the absence of operating mechanisms under the container. The box is constructed so that the discharge cover or lid, as well as a specially constructed dumping leg are automatically released by the action of the forklift. The dumping leg then drops into a pivot bracket customarily located on the edge of the receptacle which receives the trash and further action of the forklift causes the box to tilt or pivot around the leg and discharge the contents of the box. Further action of the forklift returns the leg to its position under the box and closes the cover or lid making the box ready for further receipt of trash.

Abstract: The feed hopper of a cigarette packing machine is provided with an inlet mouth comprising a fixed rectangular tubular member over which there is mounted telescopically slidable in the vertical direction a telescoping rectangular tubular member. The tray filled with cigarettes is positioned upside down, with its discharge side closed by a bottom closure plate, over the open upper end of the telescoping tubular member. The full tray is then lowered, together with the telescoping member, until the bottom closure plate reaches the level of the cigarettes already contained in the hopper. At this point, a level sensing device gives a control signal for the side shifting, and consequent opening, of the discharge side of the tray. After the opening of the discharge side, the tray is again raised to its starting position.

Abstract: A cover assembly is provided which is adapted for use on a receptacle transporting vehicle having a receptacle supporting scull frame swingable from a receptacle transport position to a dumping position for discharging molten contents of the receptacle. Included in the assembly is an insulated lid member for opening and closing the receptacle, the closure position retarding heat loss from the molten contents to preclude solidification during transport thereof between spaced locations. A pair of laterally spaced-apart support arms, mounted so as to move concurrently with the swingable scull frame, position the lid member adjacent the top of the receptacle during scull frame movement and especially during transport of the receptacle from one location to another. A pivot assembly rotates the support arms for similar movement of the attached lid between receptacle opening and closure positions, such movement being independent of the scull frame movement.

Abstract: An improved container dumping apparatus is a press adapted to hold at least one container with or without a pallet and a frame for supporting and surrounding the press where the press comprises a top hopper closure with a valve means on top, pulleys on each side, means for supporting the hopper closure on the frame, and means for pivoting the press, and a bottom support closure with a pulley on each side, and a means for attaching a cable, the frame comprises a rectangular prism with the front lateral portion missing so as to allow the press to pass through the front, having means for supporting the hopper closure and means for interacting with the press to cause the press to invert upon lifting off the frame and to right itself upon lowering onto the frame.

Abstract: A bucket system incorporating a tilting mechanism comprises a pair of horizontal arms each provided integrally with a pair of stanchions having an arcuate bend in the upper portion thereof and having one or more pulleys disposed at the leading end of the arcuately bent upper portion, a bucket rotatably fastened to the pair of horizontal arms, and a pair of cables fastened at one end thereof to the lower end of the rear side of the bucket, passed over the pulleys on the stanchions, and again fastened at the other end thereof to a stationary mast on the fork lift, whereby elevation of the two-pronged platform of the fork lift whose two prongs are inserted into and held within the pair of horizontal arms causes the cables to stretch to their full length and thereby draw up the lower end of the rear side of the bucket so as to tilt the bucket as a whole and de-elevation of the two-pronged platform from its elevated position causes the bucket to return to its original horizontal position.

Abstract: A livestock ration transport and storage system includes an upright cylindrical body of open wire secured at its bottom on a conventional wooden pallet, a flexible plastic liner sack in the cylindrical body filled with alfalfa pellets or other livestock ration, the upper end of the sack being closed about a ventilation tube, and the plastic liner being capable of being ruptured in the area of one or more of the openings in the lower portion of the wire body to give access to the ration contained in the liner; the filled unit being liftable on the tines of a fork life vehicle to load it on a truck for transportion to a consumer for delivery at that point in place of an empty container.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting and emptying containers or trays of cigarettes including a pair of carrier arms which are adapted to recieve the containers and pivot them through a 180.degree. angle such that the cigarettes may be emptied through an opening provided in the top of the container. After the container is emptied, the carrier is operable to return the container to its starting position, after which the carrier arms retract from the container so as to allow the same to be transported away. The carrier arms then return to the starting position to receive another container.

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 refuse bunker of the kind having a horizontal open-topped pressing box disposed beneath a filling hopper and a pressing plunger which is movable longitudinally in the pressing box to feed refuse through an outlet opening of the bunker and, in use, into a container, is provided with a closure which is situated on the outlet side of the outlet opening. The closure includes three passage openings for the passage of refuse from the outlet opening, the passage openings being disposed in two spaced-apart vertical planes. One passage opening, which is in a plane furthest from the outlet opening, is in a stationary member and is aligned with the outlet opening and the other two of the passage openings are vertically movable, are spaced apart one above the other, are of different heights from each other and are situated in a plane between the plane of the stationary opening and the plane of the outlet opening.

Abstract: An improved door is provided for a mail sorting bin which is made of a resilient noise damping material and includes a trip lever integrally formed with the door. The trip lever is substantially coplanar with the door and has a first portion extending outwardly from a first transverse end of the door, a second portion which extends generally outwardly and downwardly from the first portion to engage the movable lever which holds the door shut, and a third portion which extends upward to a point even with the upper edge of the door and to define an aperture between the trip lever and the door. The door is attached between the sides of a mail sorting bin such that one side of the bin extends through this aperture. A tab, may also be formed integrally with the door so that it extends outwardly from the opposite transverse end of the door. This tab is positioned to be engaged by a spring which urges the door open.

Abstract: A refuse container incorporating a security locking mechanism disposed completely within the container and which is actuated only when the container is turned over. In one embodiment a weight is mounted to pivot by gravity through a circular path when the unit is tilted. A hammer carried by the weight strikes an anvil on a crank arm which operates through a toggle connecting link to pivot a locking lever. A detent on the locking lever is moved out of engagement with a perimeter frame which is pivotally mounted on the open end of the container. A closure lid which is independently locked to the frame swings open with the frame for discharging the contents. In another embodiment a weight is moved by gravity through an arc to strike and pivot a detent arm which normally retains a larger second weight. The second weight then moves by gravity along a linear path towards the end of a tube where it strikes and pivots a locking lever.

Abstract: In a textile machine provided with a doffing and donning apparatus utilizing a conveyor belt for temporarily supporting full size yarn packages doffed from the textile machine and carrying the yarn packages outside the textile machine and for temporarily supporting fresh bobbins supplied from a fresh bobbin supply device mounted on an outend frame of the textile machine, a method and device for transferring fresh bobbins from the bobbin supply device to the respective pegs of the conveyor belt when the conveyor belt is driven before starting the donning operation. When the conveyor belt is driven so as to pick up the fresh bobbins by the respective pegs, each peg is inserted into the bottom bore of the corresponding fresh bobbin in such a way that the head of the peg approaches the bottom bore of the fresh bobbin along a passage inclined to a plane along which the fresh bobbins are supported.