Abstract: A divider for dividing a pack of flat-folded cartons into a plurality of stacks of flat-folded cartons, the divider comprising a magazine adapted to hold the carton pack, where the magazine includes a stop member, and where the divider includes a pusher member and a holder foot, where the magazine is arranged in an inclined position, where the pusher member is adapted to compress the carton pack between the pusher member and the stop member, where the holder foot is adapted to bear on the upper side of the compressed carton pack, and where the pusher member is adapted to release the pressure on the carton pack when the holder foot bears on the upper side of the carton pack, thereby creating a low density area adjacent a first carton stack.

Abstract: In a device for removing planar objects (2), such as glass panes, from a frame (1) on which the objects (2) are stacked in abutment, wherein spacers (3) are arranged between objects (2), and wherein holding devices (5) are arranged on a support (4) in order to remove the objects (2), at least one removal device (7) for spacers (3) is arranged on the support (4) in the region above the holding devices and preferably has at least one penetration body (8) for spacers (3).

Abstract: A device for moving plate-shaped objects from a removal point, in which the objects are oriented substantially perpendicularly, to a delivery point, in which the objects are oriented substantially horizontally, includes a removal gripper moveable to and fro between the removal and the delivery points by a drive and which is rotated during the movement. The removal gripper is arranged on a lever so as to rotate with respect to the lever, which is pivoted to and fro by a drive. The removal gripper is connected to a shaft mounted rotatably in the lever and on which a wheel is fastened. An elongate, flexible element is placed over the wheel and fixed immovably in the direction of the longitudinal extension thereof. During pivoting of the lever, the wheel rolls on the elongate element. The movement of the gripper is thus superimposed with a rotational movement of the removal gripper.

Abstract: A device for reducing rotation of an article during singulation of a stack of articles is disclosed. The device may include a torsion element, a rotatable member configured to rotate about an elongated axis of the torsion element between a first position and a second position, and a revolving member coupled to the rotatable member. An outer surface of the revolving member contacts a drive belt in the first position and an article in the second position. The torsion element exerts torque on the rotatable member when it moves from the first position towards the second position. The torque causes the outer surface of the revolving member to apply a frictional force to the article, thereby minimizing rotation of the article. Systems and methods of singulating articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: An inline product feeder for a packaging line and related methods are disclosed. In one example, an inline product feeder includes a product input line configured to receive a contiguous supply of products and configured to guide the products in continuous motion along a path of travel. The inline product feeder also includes a packaging line configured to receive separated groups of the products from the product input line. The inline feeder further includes a feeder unit configured to separate groups of products from the contiguous supply of products in the product input line and move the group of products into the packaging line, each of the separated groups of products including a predetermined number of products from the product input line.

Abstract: A conveyer magazine-type empty bag supplying apparatus including an empty bag separator for separating the topmost empty bag from a set of empty bags and feeding it forward, a positioning stopper for the front end of the fed-out empty bag coming into touch therewith, ratchet wheels coming into contact with the empty bag fed by the empty bag separator and feeding the bag forward, causing the bag to come into touch with the positioning stopper, and an empty bag suction members for adhering to and picking up the bag positioned by the positioning stopper. The ratchet wheels are provided on pivoting arms so as to be oscillatingly moved between its delivery position and its retracted position. The delivery position is between the positioning stopper and the empty bag suction members and the retracted position is on the front side which is beyond the stop surface of the positioning stopper.

Abstract: A system for singulating mailpieces including a first conveyance including a pair of opposing belts for singulating a mailpiece from a stack of mailpieces. The system includes an actuation mechanism operative to apply a force pulse through one of the belts to momentary separate mailpieces of the stack and augment singulation of the mailpiece from the stack by the first conveyance.

Abstract: A thermoformed article stack segmenting apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a frame, a stacked article guide channel, a forward engaging drive finger, a reciprocating actuator and a rearward engaging holding finger. The stacked article guide channel is carried by the frame and configured to receive and guide a stack of inter-nested articles exiting a female die of a thermoforming trim press. The reciprocating actuator is coupled with the finger to drive the finger forward in engagement with one separated stack of articles. The actuator also drives the finger rearward in a retractable state to separate another, successive stack of articles. The rearward engaging holding finger is supported by the frame and is configured to hold the another, successive stack while driving the forward engaging drive finger forward.

Abstract: A feeding unit for an inserting system has a transport device and at least one stack support for a product stack from which products are individually and in sequence removed from an end face of the stack in a downward direction and transported father by the transport device. At least one support roller is positioned at the end face of the stack in an area above the transport device and adjustable in a direction transverse to the end face of the stack and in a direction of height of the end face of the stack.

Abstract: The invention relates to a separating, deflecting and transporting of a disc like substrate (3) such as e.g. a solar wafer. The apparatus (1) for the separating, deflecting and transporting of disc shaped substrates (3) which are sequentially arranged standing one after another in feed direction in the form of a substrate stack (5) within a liquid, comprises a vertical belt conveyor (9) with at least two conveyor belts (11, 11?), whose conveying span (10) is arranged at one front side (12) of the stack (5) parallel to the front side (12), wherein the belt conveyor (9) has a vacuum device (16) by means of which the respective foremost substrate (3) of the stack (5) can be sucked against at least a first conveyor belt (11), and wherein the at least two conveyor belts (11, 11?) of the vertical belt conveyor (9) are arranged coplanar to each other in the adjoining region.

Abstract: The separation tool allows separation of a horizontal pile of recipients into sub-piles of recipients, the first or last recipient of each sub-pile have been previously marked with ultra-violet detectable ink. The tool comprises a frame; a sensor mounted to the frame for detecting the last recipient of a current sub-pile or the first recipient of the next sub-pile upstream therefrom, which ever has been previously marked, and a manipulator arm provided with a fixed finger assembly for holding the recipients upstream from the last recipient of the current sub-pile and a separation finger for creating a gap between the held recipients and those from the current sub-pile.

Abstract: To make possible a tightly packed, essentially horizontal storage of wafers (40), in which a simplified access to each of these wafers (40) is possible, a device is provided having a plurality of superimposed storage elements (10). The storage elements (10) have device features (16) for depositing the wafers (40). The storage elements (10) have projections (14) for lifting, whereby a specific storage element (10a) as well as all storage elements (10) arranged above this specific storage element (10a) can be lifted by a predetermined first height for producing a contact gap. The projections (14) can also be used to lift the storage element (10b) arranged below the said storage element (10a) by a predetermined second height for producing a freedom of access.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method including: opening a door of a shell, the shell enclosing a stack of full-contact rings; determining a full-contact ring within the stack to engage; opening split ends of the full-contact ring to release a large wafer; lowering the large wafer from the full-contact ring; closing the split ends of the full-contact ring; extracting the large wafer from the shell; and closing the door of the shell.

Abstract: A method for rapid loading of stacks of cartons aboard vessels is provided which may include sliding the stacks of cartons from a pallet onto a carrier having fork channels for receiving the blades of a load push lift truck, lifting the carrier into the hold of a ship, removing the stacks of cartons from the carrier using a second load push lift truck and stowing the stack of cartons in a stowage location using the second load push lift truck. The carrier may be used to insert slings about palletless stacks of cartons positioned thereon and the stack of cartons may be moved into the hold of the ship by the ship's gear or other crane. The slings may be withdrawn from about the stack of cartons by releasing one end of the slings and using, for example, the ship's gear to draw the other slings out from around the stack of cartons.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for combining multiple small stacks of flats mailpieces into a single large stack of mailpieces and then transferring the large stack to a standard flats mail tray, all while maintaining the sequence order of the mail in the accumulated stack. The apparatus is comprised of three primary subsystems: a bridge conveyor, a stack accumulator, and an output tray station. The bridge conveyor carries mailpieces from the exit conveyor of a mail processing machine such as a collator, to the stack accumulator. The stack accumulator combines small stacks of mailpieces into large stacks in a desired sequence. The output tray station provides support for an empty tray as the accumulated mail stack is transferred to the tray, and then releases the filled tray in a controlled manner.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for transferring components from a pick-up position amongst a supply of components to a placement position on a receptor, such as a die pad, during semiconductor processing. It includes a first delivery device and a second delivery device operative to alternatively transfer the components from the pick-up position to the placement position. The second delivery device is arranged opposite the first delivery device about a line passing through the pick-up position and the placement position.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting and marking a substrate, such as a collapsed corrugated cardboard carton. A feeder station is configured to receive a substantially vertically aligned stack of substrates. An advancement assembly of the feeder station successively moves the lower portions of the substrates in an inboard direction and a tensioner assembly applies a clamping force to the upper portions of the substrates. A transfer assembly engages the innermost substrate in the stack to rotate and remove the substrate from the rest of the stack and provide the substrate to a transport and marking station, which drives the substrate past a marking mechanism. The transport and marking station advances the substrate into a gravity discharge station which induces sufficient tilt in the substrate so that, upon exiting of the substrate from the transport, gravity induces the substrate to rotate and fall in a controlled fashion into a completed stack.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for handling pallets, such as for inspection and sorting, are disclosed. In a disclosed embodiment, an up-ender includes a support frame, a pallet-tilting mechanism coupled in a pivotal manner to the frame, and first and second generally upright pusher arms coupled to the frame. The pallet-tilting mechanism is pivotable between an up position and a down position, such that when the pallet-tilting mechanism is in the up position, an upright stack of pallets can be loaded onto the pallet-tilting mechanism and when pivoted to the down position, the stack is rotated about 90° so that the pallets become generally vertically oriented. The pallet-tilting mechanism also is adapted to displace the stack of vertically oriented pallets along a support surface. The pusher arms are positioned to receive the stack of pallets from the pallet-tilting mechanism and automatically index the pallets in the stack along the support surface.

Abstract: A system and method for loading product onto a conveyor. The system includes a conveyor movable in at least a first direction and a metering section located proximate to at an end of the conveyor. The metering section includes a plate mechanism movable between a first position and a second position and a door adapted to be opened to a feeder. The door is at least partially supporting a predetermined amount of product and is positioned between a movable distance of the plate.

Abstract: A separating arrangement for the individual removal of carton blanks (Z) from a magazine (M) and for shifting the removed carton blank (Z) from a removal position into a transfer position has a motor-driven pivoting arm (5) and means (6) arranged thereon for removing the carton blank (Z) on its own. The pivoting arm (5) is arranged on a carriage (2) which can be displaced in a rectilinear manner, it being the case that, as the carton blank (Z) is removed and shifted, a pivoting movement of the pivoting arm (5) is superposed by a rectilinear movement of the carriage (2). This arrangement thus allows space-saving and efficient shifting of individual carton blanks and, in addition, can be integrated in a flexible manner in cartoning machines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking small sheets of glass or other material, wherein manual stacking is eliminated and robotic/machine cycle times are significantly reduced, and wherein such an apparatus enables the stacking of small sheets of glass or other material/lites in single and/or multiple rows and/or tiers.

Abstract: A tray destacker is operable to separate individual trays from a stack of trays and to discharge the individual trays. The tray destacker includes a tray separating device which engages an edge or handle of the individual tray and moves the tray away from the stack of trays, while a tray retaining device engages a next tray adjacent to the individual tray and retains the remaining trays of the stack. The tray separating device may be biased toward an engaging position so as to engage the individual tray when the trays and the tray separating device are in an appropriate position relative to one another. The tray retaining device may also be biased to engage the next tray and may release the next tray in response to the tray separating device returning to the stack of trays to remove the next tray from the stack.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming batches in predetermined count or length of laminar articles standing on edge for transfer from multiple supply lines/chutes to a common delivery line is disclosed. The common delivery line is located operatively below the supply lines/chutes. The axis of movement of the common delivery line is perpendicular to the axes of movement of the supply lines/chutes. The apparatus includes a horizontal platform on which the laminar articles, such as biscuits are led from the supply lines/chutes, pusher bars operating simultaneously for each of the arrays of laminar articles emanating from the supply lines/chutes on to the platform. The batch of articles displaced from the arrays are pushed towards striker plates adjacent to hatches in the platform. The batch of laminar articles strike the striker plate, align themselves and rebound from the striker plate without deformation and drop through the hatches in the platform to pockets in the common delivery line below.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for dividing a stack of items. The items may comprise mail pieces. The apparatus comprises at least one supporting finger which extends through an opening within a base. The base supports the items which stand thereon and further lean against a supporting wall. Where more than one supporting finger is present, the finger may further comprise a hollow opening and/or groove which accommodates the other supporting fingers therein. Accordingly, as all of the supporting fingers pass through the opening, the size of the opening is reduced. In addition, the supporting fingers may be specially sized so as to accommodate different sized items. The supporting fingers are arced so that when they are extended through the opening, they arc towards the base. The height achieved by a supporting finger is related to the height of the item being engaged by the finger.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for manipulating lightweight strips in parallel, laterally edge-adjacent array into spaced apart array for processing includes a platen having channels for receiving the strips, and a comb device for translating the strips of alternating channels to form two groups of laterally spaced strips. A pick-and-place conveyor has suction cups to remove each group in unison from the platen and place it on a belt conveyor. Suction holes in the channels selectively retain the groups on the platen. The comb, pick-and-place conveyor, and belt conveyor operate in synchrony and reiteratively to create a continuous stream of spaced apart strips.

Abstract: An arrangement (1, 1′) for automatically unstacking containers (6, 6′) nested in each other in lying posture, by depositing them on a support, e.g. a conveyor (3a), with the container opening (6a) facing upwards, the arrangement comprising a gripping device (5) for gripping and moving out the respective first container (6) of a lying container stack (2, 2′), the gripping device (5, 5′) being arranged on holding elements (8a, 8b) movable in stacking direction, and further comprising a clamping device (4) for holding back the lying container stack (2, 2′), with the foremost container (6) being left free, wherein the gripping device (5) is provided with lateral pressure-medium cylinders (5a; 46) which have horizontal axes on the same level and which are connected with the holding elements (8a, 8b) extending thereabove.

Abstract: A part transporting apparatus comprises: a guiding groove for lining up parts in one row and guiding the parts; a transporting member which is provided at the base of the guiding groove and transports the parts in a forward direction by itself moving forwards and backwards along the groove; and a driving means for reciprocally driving the transporting member in the forward and backward directions; wherein the transporting member is advanced slowly and retracted rapidly, so as to transport the parts forwards. Provided to this arrangement are: a stopper which operates so as to open and close in the width direction of the guiding groove, and hold the second part from the front of the row of parts being transported on the upper plane of the transporting member; and a shutter for opening and closing at the tip of the guiding groove, so as to cover the space above the first part in the row so as to prevent the part from flying out.

Abstract: An inductor station for a sortation conveying system is able to accommodate an assortment of substantially rectangular items which in general each have unique dimensions. A worker loads the inductor station with a charge of items each standing upright on edge and side-by-side. The charges are loaded in sequence to a feeder tray, and a programmably controlled feeding assembly feeds the charges along the feeder tray to a loading mechanism. The loading mechanism loads the endmost item from a discharge end of the feeder tray onto a takeaway conveyor. The items are loaded on the takeaway standing upright and on edge. An indexing motion stripping conveyor is used to time the loading of the items onto the takeaway conveyor so that the items are conveyed to an appropriate pocket on the core conveyor for the sortation conveying system.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for handling pallets, such as for inspection and sorting, are disclosed. In a disclosed embodiment, an up-ender includes a support frame, a pallet-tilting mechanism coupled in a pivotal manner to the frame, and first and second generally upright pusher arms coupled to the frame. The pallet-tilting mechanism is pivotable between an up position and a down position, such that when the pallet-tilting mechanism is in the up position, an upright stack of pallets can be loaded onto the pallet-tilting mechanism and when pivoted to the down position, the stack is rotated about 90° so that the pallets become generally vertically oriented. The pallet-tilting mechanism also is adapted to displace the stack of vertically oriented pallets along a support surface. The pusher arms are positioned to receive the stack of pallets from the pallet-tilting mechanism and automatically index the pallets in the stack along the support surface.

Abstract: A machine and a method for carrying out portioning of products in stacks having a pre-set length. One or more portioning stations are provided, in which there are present at least two elements for supporting the stack, the supporting elements being mobile in translation, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stack, between an initial position of separation of the stack from the respective row and a final position distant from the initial position at a distance greater than or equal to the pre-set length of the stack.

Abstract: An inductor station for a sortation conveying system is able to accommodate an assortment of substantially rectangular items which in general each have unique dimensions. A worker loads the inductor station with a charge of items each standing upright on edge and side-by-side. The charges are loaded in sequence to a feeder tray, and a programmably controlled feeding assembly feeds the charges along the feeder tray to a loading mechanism. The loading mechanism loads the endmost item from a discharge end of the feeder tray onto a takeaway conveyor. The items are loaded on the takeaway standing upright and on edge. An indexing motion stripping conveyor is used to time the loading of the items onto the takeaway conveyor so that the items are conveyed to an appropriate pocket on the core conveyor for the sortation conveying system.

Abstract: Flat items (2) which have an irregular and/or changeable thickness profile are individualized from a substantially lying stack (3/5), wherein the stack serves as buffer between the individualization and the supply of the items (2) and wherein the items (2) arranged in the stack are guided in a stack channel (1) towards the individualization. In order to allow individualization speeds in the range of several tens of thousands of items per hour, the items (2) are supplied to a pre-stack (3) in which the items are conveyed towards individualization in a loose order and being individually laterally guided, the pre-stack (3) is transformed into an individualizing stack (5) and the items are individualized only from the individualizing stack (5). In the individualizing stack (5) the items (2) are guided and conveyed and held in a stable order as a stack, i.e. with forces transmitted via the items.

Abstract: A charging apparatus for handling stations for sheet-like, flexible articles, in particular envelopes, particularly for mail-processing machines, the drive in a feed-channel for stacks of articles standing on edge being controlled in dependence on a detector output signal produced by a light barrier, which responds to the formation of a gap and runs transversely to the conveying direction with the gap forming in the region of a transition between the feed channel and a discharge channel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing an unvulcanized tire tread from a storage device (14) includes the step of inverting the tread (12) and transporting it to a roller conveyor in a single step. The tread (12) is picked up by a vacuum bar (80) fitted with a series of suction cups (76). Individual suction cups (76) can be selectively supplied with vacuum depending on the length of the tread (12). After the suction cups (76) have engaged the tread, the tread is raised from the storage device (14), inverted through 180 degrees, and then set onto a special slotted roller conveyor (130). The slotted roller conveyor (130) has a center slot (142) to receive the vacuum bar (80) as it passes therethrough. Side slots (144,146) in the conveyor receive arms (90,92) attached to the vacuum bar (80).

Abstract: A tray destacker is operable to separate individual trays from a stack of trays and to discharge the individual trays. The tray destacker includes a tray separating device which engages an edge or handle of the individual tray and moves the tray away from the stack of trays, while a tray retaining device engages a next tray adjacent to the individual tray and retains the remaining trays of the stack. The tray separating device may be biased toward an engaging position so as to engage the individual tray when the trays and the tray separating device are in an appropriate position relative to one another. The tray retaining device may also be biased to engage the next tray and may release the next tray in response to the tray separating device returning to the stack of trays to remove the next tray from the stack.

Abstract: A feeder system for incrementally feeding a tube along a linear tube path to a point of use. The feeder system includes a frame, and first and second belts on the frame. The first and second belts are capable of moving incrementally in respective first and second belt paths and thereby incrementally moving a tube engaged by the first and second belts in the linear tube path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for receiving mass-produced individual or stacked articles or products, especially plastic cups, which after having been produced in a moulding and/or punching machine are ejected from same. The device comprises a catching device for catching the ejected products and a stacking device which receives the products from the catching device and after stacking holds them ready for further transport. The catching and stacking devices can be moved away from and towards each other. The stacking device is used during the movement towards the catching device for seizing the product(s) held in the catching device and during the movement away from the catching device for withdrawing the product(s) from the catching device.

Abstract: A work transfer apparatus is equipped with a work feeder 23, a rotatable turn table 11 formed several work-storing pockets 11a at its outer periphery and a separation mechanism 24 provided between the work feeder 23 and the turn table 11. The separation mechanism 24 has a communicating passage 24a. A work detector (15a, 15b) is provided in the work-storing pocket 11a. A work stopper 14 is provided at the work feeder 23 on an upstream side of the work detector (15a, 15b), for separating a preceding work W1 and the succeeding work W2.

Abstract: In the case of a charging apparatus for handling stations for sheet-like, flexible articles, in particular envelopes, particularly for mail-processing machines, the drive in a feed channel for stacks of articles standing on edge is controlled in dependence on a detector output signal produced by means of a light barrier, which responds to the formation of a gap, running transversely to the conveying direction, in the stack of conveyed articles, said gap forming in the region of a transition, formed as a rib or sill, of the feed channel to an obliquely upwardly running discharge channel for the articles which are to be handled.

Abstract: The invention relates to a commissioning system (1) with at least one high-speed automatic machine (2) which comprises at least one article shelf (3) with article shafts (4) which are adjacently and essentially vertically arranged, preferably in a slightly slanted manner, and which can be accessed from the front. Articles which are to be commissioned can be stored in said article shafts, whereby a shelf control unit (5) can travel and which is assigned to the article shelf can be positioned at each article shaft (4) and stores articles in said article shaft. According to the invention, the spatially moveable shelf control unit (5) is equipped with an article handling unit (6) which stores the articles of the same type or dimensions in a stacked manner without the use of a magazine, whereby an article stack (7) which is to be stored in. Simultaneously handled without a separate article stack magazine or receptacle by the shelf control unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically transferring and handling cartridges containing flat articles. The method and apparatus robotically transfers filled cartridges from the output compartments of a sorting machine to a buffer shelf; and from the buffer shelf to a docking station of a cartridge unloader and automatic feeder to the input of the sorting machine, and for transferring empty cartridges from the docking station to either the buffer or the output compartments of the sorter, is provided.

Abstract: An article feeder includes a feeder bin for holding and advancing a stack of articles. A stripper belt mechanism engages the first article contained in the stack and singularly draws the article from the stack. The stripper belt mechanism includes a source of vacuum for drawing vacuum onto the first article. A biasing mechanism biases the stripper belt mechanism against the stack of articles and applies back pressure thereto. The biasing mechanism is adjustable for varying the back pressure against the stack of articles to accommodate articles of varying thickness. A method for operating an article feeder is also disclosed.

Abstract: A part transporting apparatus comprises: a guiding groove for lining up parts in one row and guiding the parts; a transporting member which is provided at the base of the guiding groove and transports the parts in a forward direction by itself moving forwards and backwards along the groove; and a driving means for reciprocally driving the transporting member in the forward and backward directions; wherein the transporting member is advanced slowly and retracted rapidly, so as to transport the parts forwards.

Abstract: A part transporting apparatus comprises: a guiding groove for lining up parts in one row and guiding the parts; a transporting member which is provided at the base of the guiding groove and transports the parts in a forward direction by itself moving forwards and backwards along the groove; and a driving means for reciprocally driving the transporting member in the forward and backward directions; wherein the transporting member is advanced slowly and retracted rapidly, so as to transport the parts forwards. Provided to this arrangement are: a stopper which operates so as to open and close in the width direction of the guiding groove, and hold the second part from the front of the row of parts being transported on the upper plane of the transporting member; and a shutter for opening and closing at the tip of the guiding groove, so as to cover the space above the first part in the row so as to prevent the part from flying out.

Abstract: A part transporting apparatus comprises a guiding groove for lining up parts in one row and guiding the parts; a transporting member which is provided at the base of the guiding groove and transports the parts in a forward direction by itself moving forwards and backwards along the groove; and a driving means for reciprocally driving the transporting member in the forward and backward directions; wherein the transporting member is advanced slowly and retracted rapidly, so as to transport the parts forwards. Provided to this arrangement are: a stopper which operates so as to open and close in the width direction of the guiding groove, and hold the second part from the front of the row of parts being transported on the upper plane of the transporting member; and a shutter for opening and closing at the tip of the guiding groove, so as to cover the space above the first part in the row so as to prevent the part from flying out.

Abstract: The product unit-delivery apparatus of the present invention is basically comprised of a product unit-feeder subassembly, a co-operating product unit-picker subassembly, a continuously operating electric drive motor, a drive train which intermittently and simultaneously provides the power output of the apparatus electric drive motor to the unit-feeder and unit-picker subassemblies, and adjustment components for readily adapting the apparatus to the picking of product units having different heights, different widths, or different thicknesses at very high product unit picking rates.

Abstract: A unit for feeding flat diecut blanks of wrapping material to a user machine is equipped with a conveyor by which blanks disposed on edge transversely to a given feed direction and ordered in a substantially continuous column are caused to advance along a conveying path extending toward a transfer station where each blank in turn is picked up from the column; the conveyor comprises two sections aligned along the path: the one, an intermittently driven first belt by which the column is advanced toward the transfer station through a step of predetermined length, at a predetermined frequency timed with the operation of a pickup mechanism positioned at the transfer station, the other a continuously driven second belt designed to advance the column toward the first belt at a predetermined velocity.

Abstract: A mechanism for accurately transferring a predetermined number of IC (Integrated Circuit) packages from a first IC (integrated Circuit) storage tube to a second IC (Integrated Circuit) storage tube. A first tube platform holds the first IC package storage tube at an inclination, and a second tube platform holds the second IC package storage tube at an inclination. Additionally, an IC (Integrated Circuit) package transfer wheel is disposed between the first tube platform and the second tube platform. The IC package transfer wheel has a plurality of spokes radiating outward from a center of the IC package transfer wheel. An IC package from the first IC package storage tube encounters a stopping spoke of the plurality of spokes of the IC package transfer wheel when the first IC package storage tube is placed on the first tube platform, and the stopping spoke prevents the IC package from entering the second IC package storage tube.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a nut feeder for the feeding of nuts for resistance welding. A stopper 12 is provided which is so energized as to enter into the inside of a chute 7 from a lower-end lateral side of the chute 7. A lowermost nut 5 in the chute 7 is held by the stopper 12, thereby being prevented from falling. With a pin 11 of the nut receiver 9 set against a projection part 29 of the stopper 12, a nut receiver 9 is moved backward together with the stopper 12, by which the holding of the nut 5 is released. Then the nut 5 is placed at a position ahead of the pin 11 of the nut receiver 9 while leaning against the stopper 12. Thereafter the nut receiver 9 is moved forward and the nut 5 falls down so that its threaded hole fits onto the pin 11 and is delivered to under the upper electrode.

Abstract: A part transporting apparatus comprises: a guiding groove for lining up parts in one row and guiding the parts; a transporting member which is provided at the base of the guiding groove and transports the parts in a forward direction by itself moving forwards and backwards along the groove; and a driving means for reciprocally driving the transporting member in the forward and backward directions; wherein the transporting member is advanced slowly and retracted rapidly, so as to transport the parts forwards.