Abstract: A three side trimmer has a trimming unit 1, an accumulating unit 3, a discharge unit 2 and a conveying mechanism 4 conveying trimmed booklets BK to the accumulating unit. The accumulating unit has a shelf 5 movable in a vertical direction, and a drive roller conveyor 7 on the shelf. The accumulating unit, in a mode, delivers the trimmed booklets to the discharge unit at every accumulation of a predetermined number of the trimmed booklets and, in another mode, accumulates the trimmed booklets without delivering.

Abstract: A method is provided for teaching a transfer robot used in conjunction with a workpiece processing system including a pedestal assembly, a light sensor having an optical input fixedly coupled to the pedestal assembly, a transfer robot having an end effector, and a processing chamber containing the pedestal assembly and light sensor. The method includes the steps of producing light within the processing chamber, moving the end effector over the optical input such that amount of light reaching the light sensor varies in relation to the position of the end effector, and recording the signal gain as the end effector is moved over the optical input. The method also includes the step of establishing from the recorded signal gain a desired position of the end effector relative to the pedestal assembly.

Abstract: A media stacker is adapted to accommodate plate-shaped media in a stacked manner. A sensor with which the media stacker is provided is operable to detect a height of the stacked media accommodated in the media stacker.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for packing a required quantity of products, wherein a plurality of different packages for packing the products and a plurality of packaging specifications comprising rounding rules are provided. In one implementation, a method is provided comprising determining a packaging specification out of a plurality of packaging specifications, extracting parameter values form the determined packaging specification and rounding, according to a predetermined packaging specification, the required quantity of products to a multiple of packages.

Abstract: A parallel robot or parallel kinematics mechanism is provided for uses such as robotics or machining. The mechanism comprises a fixed base, a main arm, and a first and second support arm to position and orient an object in a cylindrical space with at least three degrees of freedom and retained inclination. The main arm includes an end component for supporting the object and linkage means to retain the inclination of the end component with respect to the base for all positions and orientations of the end component. The mechanism advantageously provides a large cylindrical workspace and a small footprint and is capable of moving an object at high accelerations and speeds. The mechanism can be equipped with an additional motor to orient an object, thereby providing the mobility of a SCARA robot. Alternatively, it can be equipped with passive transmission means that allow for an object to be displaced in parallel to itself.

Abstract: A device for rapidly counting and dispensing pills and capsules in blister packs or cards is provided. A movable plate with apertures, a sizing guide and a template fit inside a housing. The sizing guide has apertures corresponding to a particular size of pill or capsule, allowing the desired number of pills or capsules to be counted in a first section of the housing. When the excess pills or capsules are removed, the counted pills or capsules are transferred to the template containing a blister pack by moving the plate and placing its apertures in register with the sizing guide apertures.

Abstract: A device for rapidly counting and dispensing pills and capsules is provided. A movable plate with apertures and sizing guide fit inside a housing. The sizing guide has apertures corresponding to a particular size of pill or capsule, allowing the desired number of pills or capsules to be counted in a first section of the housing. When the excess pills or capsules are removed, the counted pills or capsules are transferred to a second section of the housing for dispensing into a prescription bottle by moving the plate and placing its apertures in register with the sizing guide apertures.

Abstract: A mail handling system that imports data from a thickness measurement device regarding the thickness of a substantially flat mail article, counts the number of flat articles deposited on the top surface of the drop pocket, instructs the drop pocket to open to drop a unitary body of flat mail articles when the total stack thickness and/or number of articles exceeds threshold limits. A computer, operably connected to conventional conveyor system having, a drop pocket, a thickness measurement device, and a conveyor, implements the system.

Abstract: A method for dispensing, receiving, storing, testing or binning packaged integrated circuit devices using at least one vertically oriented, removable, tubular magazine disposed above a controllably driven, rod-like indexing element extending from a drive below the magazine. A magazine, with an associated indexing element and drive, is configurable as an individual magazine module. The indexing element, under power of the drive, raises or lowers a vertical stack of devices to a desired level adjacent the top of the magazine to dispense or receive an individual device from a feed mechanism, such as a pick-and-place mechanism. A number of magazine modules may be assembled in a multi-module array, which is particularly suitable for binning tested devices, with a sort category being directed to each magazine.

Abstract: A robot assembly including multiple independently operable robot assemblies are provided for use in semiconductor wafer processing. The robot assembly includes independent co-axial upper and lower robot assemblies adapted to handle multiple objects. The upper robot is stacked above the lower robot and the two robots are mounted concentrically to allow fast wafer transfer. Concentric drive mechanisms may also be provided for imparting rotary motion to either rotate the robot assembly or extend an extendable arm assembly into an adjacent chamber. Each robot can be either a single blade robot or a dual blade robot. Also provided is an apparatus for processing semiconductor wafers comprising a pre/post process transfer chamber housing multiple independent robot assemblies and surrounded by a plurality of pre-process chambers and post process chambers. Within each process, pre-process and post-process chamber is an apparatus for holding a plurality of stacked wafers.

Abstract: A counter-stacker (10) for tortillas includes a housing (12), a perforated belt (16) within the housing (12), the perforated belt (16) adapted and arranged to receive incoming tortillas (42) and form vacuum-lifted tortillas (42A). At least one stacker belt (26) is rotatably mounted within the housing (12). A vacuum housing (28) is sealably mounted to the housing (12), the vacuum housing (28) connected to a means of producing vacuum (30). At least one stacker canister (32) is positioned under a rear end of the perforated belt (16). A bottom perforated plate (36A) has a plurality of bottom perforated plate openings (36AA) therethrough positioned within the perforated belt (16). A top perforated plate (36B) is slidably positioned on top of the bottom perforated plate (36A), the top perforated plate (36B) comprising a plurality of complimentary positioned top perforated plate openings (36BA).

Abstract: An apparatus for accumulating and separating laminations including a lamination storage area; a magnetic fanner arrangement for accumulating and magnetically separating the laminations; a transport mechanism; and a mechanical agitation mechanism. The transport mechanism transports at least one lamination from the lamination storage area to the magnetic fanner arrangement and the mechanical agitation mechanism is in communication with the magnetic fanner arrangement and provides a physical agitation to the magnetic fanner arrangement.

Abstract: A tortilla counter-stacker (10) having a canister (12) which has a canister side (12C) having a horizontal canister side slot (12CA) disposed therein. A stacker (16) is positioned adjacent to the canister (12). The stacker (16) has a stacker cylinder (16A) having a movable stacker cylinder piston (16AA) attached at a front distal end to a rear distal end of a horizontal stacker cylinder piston plate (16AAA) which inserts and retracts through the canister side slot (12CA). A lift (18) is positioned directly below the canister (12). The lift (18) has a lift cylinder (18A) having a lift cylinder piston (18AA) movably positioned therein. The lift cylinder piston (18AA) has a horizontal lift cylinder piston plate (18AAA) securely attached to a top distal end thereof. An upper conveyor (20) is horizontally positioned in alignment with the canister top (12T). The upper conveyor (20) has a rotatable upper conveyor belt (20A) upon which incoming tortillas (28C) are placed.

Abstract: Two shingled streams of signatures are stacked independently of each other in separate stacking bins that are aligned vertically one above the other and also vertically aligned with the collection bin of a re-feeder. The collection bin is replenished periodically by stopping the shingled streams and unloading the contents of the lower and upper stacking bins to form a combined stack of signatures in the re-feeder collection bin. Signatures in the re-feeder collection bin are delivered by an out-feed conveyor belt in a single reshingled stream of signatures to an in-line processing station. In an alternative embodiment, the stacking bins are laterally separated with respect to each other for separately stacking signatures from two incoming shingled streams that are being output from separate web presses or other independent sources. The incoming signatures are separately stacked and the stacks are periodically unloaded onto separate stacking tables on laterally opposite sides of a common re-feeder.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for rapidly, accurately and inexpensively counting stacked objects, preferably by imaging, from below, a stack of flat objects which is standing on its side, preferably on its long side. The objects need not be identical in surface appearance or in configuration. The objects preferably may be of substantially any size or thickness and need not be less than some maximum size or within some narrow range of thicknesses.

Abstract: An article collecting device comprising: feed unit 5 for feeding a set of articles smaller in quantity than a target quantity for collection; a recirculating conveyer 2 for conveying a set of articles fed by the feed unit 5; an operation unit 14 for combining at least two sets of articles fed during conveyance of the set of articles by the conveyer and determining whether a target quantity of articles as a preset collection unit is obtained; and an opening unit 12 for discharging the sets of articles combined as the target quantity from the conveyer to a bagging and packaging unit 13 as the result of the combination by the operation unit.

Abstract: This invention relates to an overhead work suspension conveyor for conveying a piece of work, for example, a tailgate to a main body in an assembly line of a vehicle main body. An object of this invention is to efficiently and surely hold plural kinds of work pieces of different configurations in a suspended position and to permit their easy loading on a work conveyance mechanism. This invention therefore provides an overhead work suspension conveyor comprising a traverser main body, plural spindles turnably supported relative to the traverser main body, plural work support members fixed at upper ends thereof on the spindles and having work supports at lower ends thereof, said work supports being turnable responsive to turning of the corresponding spindles to support a piece of work at an outer periphery thereof, and a spindle drive mechanism arranged on the traverser main body and adapted to selectively turn the spindle depending on the kind of the work piece.

Abstract: A can end counting system which receives a stick of converted can ends, separates and counts the can ends, restacks and conveys a pre-determined number of can ends comprising an output stick to an end line packaging station. At least two counter-rotating screws, each having a separator knife positioned at the entrance end thereof, are provided with a continuous spiral groove cut into the periphery and coact with each other to separate the can ends, one by one, from an input stick and increasingly separate the can ends as they are carried toward the exit end of the device. A sensing device senses each of the can ends as they are carried toward the exit end of the device and sends a signal to a processing device which stores the total number of can ends included in a current output stick and controls a cut-off knife which separates and conveys the output stick toward an end line packaging station when a pre-determined number of can ends is attained.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an indicium in a stream of moving signatures, consisting of a signature displaced laterally from the stream and corresponding to a predetermined count of signatures, comprises an idler roller mechanism connected with a rotatable idler roller shaft and a series of vacuum heads located adjacent to and downstream of the idler roller mechanism. The vacuum heads are mounted to a vacuum head shaft laterally movable with respect to the signatures. A detector such as a laser detector coupled with a counter is used to actuate the system. When a predetermined count is reached as determined by the detector and counter, the idler roller shaft is caused to rotate to lower the idler roller and the signature corresponding to the count contacts the tops of each vacuum head. Simultaneously, a partial vacuum is formed in the recessed vacuum chamber of each head binding the targeted signature to the heads.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for transporting and forming batches of flat pieces with decreasing thickness. The device has a piling unit having a rotatably mounted double storage device for receiving two batches of flat pieces, one after the other, so that the first batch is placed on the second batch in a head-to-toe relationship to form a double batch for bundling.

Abstract: An improved stacking apparatus which is particularly well suited for receiving formed polymeric articles from appropriate forming apparatus and arranging these formed articles in stacked nested relationship with each stack containing a predetermined number of such articles so as to thereby facilitate accurate packaging of the formed articles for shipment. The stacking apparatus includes a plurality of independently controlled elevator and exit gating members which may be easily and readily positioned in various spaced relationships so as to enable the stacking apparatus to handle a wide variety of different sized formed articles. Because each of the elevator and gating members is independently actuable, the stacking apparatus is able to release individual nested stacks of formed articles containing the desired predetermined number without regard to whether or not adjacent stacks have received the same number of formed articles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method according to the invention for determining respective deviations in the total number of signatures in each of a plurality of individual successive stacks from a given number of signatures having a ram for compressing the stacks of the signatures, a linear differential voltage transducer for measuring the relative heights of signature stacks by measuring distance that the ram travels, control apparatus comprised primarily of a programmable controller for processing the output of the transducer and optical detection means for monitoring the stack top for a sheet indicating that the stack has an odd count and disabling the control apparatus for indicating deviations in stack count. Additionally, a strapper which includes the apparatus for determining the count deviations adapted to monitor the position of a belt drive.

Abstract: A device for forming separate batches of flat objects, such as folded box blanks, from a flow of blanks received from a delivery station of a processing machines, such as a folder-gluer, includes a belt conveyor, a counting device, and a movable stop which is movable parallel to the belt surface and also movable vertical to the belt surface with a control device to move the stop in response to sensed conditions. The control device controls a drive arrangement for the belt conveyor so that the speed of the belt conveyor can be driven at a greater rate than the speed of discharge from the delivery station during a selected period for separating the batch of blanks from the remaining flow.

Abstract: A proper number of flexible work pieces such as napkins, handkerchiefs and he like are deposited in a proper position or positions for providing packages each of which contains a freely selectable number of pieces. For this purpose the work pieces travel through at least one branching station and from there alternately into two depositors or stacking stations comprising several compartments. The depositors then deposit the work pieces on a stacking table from which the stacks are removed onto a conveyor belt for continuing the conveying, for example into a packaging machine. The branching station includes three suction drums in which the suction is controlled for alternately distributing work pieces into different directions to different stackers. Air permeable conveyor belts run around the suction drums.

Abstract: A system for counting and stacking a continuous stream of shingled or overlapping sheets in which the shingled sheets are transported by a first conveyor and fed into an optical counting means for individually counting the sheets. From the optical counting means, the sheets are fed into a second conveyor which imparts a concave transverse bow to the sheets thereby providing rigidity to the sheets. The sheets exit the second conveyor and are collected by a recovery means for stacking. The second conveyor further includes an insertion means activated by the optical counter for separating the stream of sheets. The action of the insertion means separates the stream of sheets so that a predetermined number of sheets are collected and stacked by the receiving means while the insertion means temporarily supports the continuing stream of sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus and method in conjunction with a copier and/or a collator is disclosed for providing on-line and off-line insertion of sheet material or collation, respectively. The apparatus includes a single supply tray and sheet feeder therefor. The supply tray is pre-loaded with one or more types of insert material, each type being separated by a coded sheet. As the insert sheets are fed, a sensor detects the coded sheet which is fed to an overflow tray and further feeding from the supply tray is inhibited until additional copy sheets from the copier is supplied in the on-line mode of operation, or a different type of material is to be collated in the off-line mode.

Abstract: A zip code sorter for an article labeling and stacking system of the type having a labeling head for applying address labels to articles and a stacker for stacking the addressed articles, the labels having control marks identifying the end of a zip code group, with a mode selector for programming either split or oversize stacking, a look ahead counter for programming a minimum stack count, a stack counter for programming a maximum stack count, and a control responsive to selection of split stack mode to establish a threshold count whereat looking ahead for a change of zip code group mark is commenced so that when the threshold count is reached, scanning of the labels for a change in zip code group mark is commenced at an upstream label count equal to the count for which the look ahead counter is programmed, the control responding to detection of an end of zip code group mark to set the eject flag for the stack currently being stacked and assure a last stack in the zip code group having the minimum stack count

Abstract: An apparatus for counting and stacking food products such as tortillas. The tortillas are initially placed on an entry chute containing a large number of air outlets for creating a cushion of air to allow the tortilla to slide down the entry chute onto an incline conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is of an open mesh design and it is supported on a belt support having a large number of air inlets which create a vacuum that maintains the tortilla in contact with the belt. The tortillas are carried by the belt down one end of the belt support and along the underside of the belt support with contact between the tortilla and belt being maintained by vacuum creating air inlets formed in the belt support. The air inlets terminate at a location on the underside of the belt support thereby allowing the tortillas to drop from the conveyor belt. The tortillas drop onto a stationary rack formed by rods which are interleaved with conveyor belts moving together as a unit.

Abstract: A signature stacker providing improved structure for intercepting a stream of signatures of newspapers from a infeed conveyor of a press apparatus and having improved apparatus for controlling timed operation of the various elements of the stacker so as to provide for high speed and continuous operation of the stacker.

Abstract: Stacks of superimposed paper sheets are formed from a succession of layers each of which contains a given number of groups of sheets. One or more layers which contain a first number of groups can be followed by one or more layers containing a different second number of groups so that a stack can contain layers which, in turn, contain different numbers of groups and hence different numbers of sheets. The number of sheets in each stack and in each layer is a whole multiple of the number of sheets in a group. If the average number of sheets in a series of successive stacks is to deviate from a whole multiple of the number of sheets in a group, successive stacks contain different numbers of sheets; each such number is a whole multiple of the number of sheets in a group but the total number of sheets in the series of stacks divided by the number of stacks which form the series can deviate from such whole multiple.

Abstract: A laundry piece stacking device which stacks a predetermined number of laundry pieces uniformly and evenly in a stack. Laundry pieces of a predetermined size are conveyed from an ironing area along a double feed conveyor to a swing arm conveyor. The swing arm conveyor is pivotable and rotates in an arc above a work discharge zone. By appropriate adjusting elements, the laundry pieces are evenly draped over a first conveyor in a stacking arrangement until the number of pieces in the stack equals a predetermined count. At that time, the first conveyor and a second, adjacent conveyor are activated for a brief interval so that the first stack formed is transported away from the work deposit zone towards a workpiece receiving area located at the far end of the second conveyor means. The swing arm conveyor is inhibited from operation during this time period. After one stack is removed, additional stacks are formed on the first conveyor and sequentially conveyed towards the receiving area.

Abstract: Apparatus for counting a number of sheet-like articles such as corrugated sheets of paper is disclosed as comprising a platen mounted to be driven rectilinearly from a topmost position to engage the top of the stack, a motor for reversibly driving the platen and a counter for counting the number of pulses required to drive the platen from its topmost position to the top of the stack, thus providing an indication by the number of counted pulses of the distance between the topmost platen position and the top of the stack. Further, a circuit is provided for determining the difference between the first measured distance and the total distance between the bottom of the stack to thereby provide an indication of the stack height, which stack height in a particular unit of measurement, e.g., inches, is multiplied by a factor corresponding to the number of sheets per unit measurement to provide the number of sheets in the stack.

Abstract: A speed compensated timing circuit which detects the velocity of a moving sheet which is to be cut or otherwise processed and which automatically calculates the time delay for actuating a mechanically operating device which controls the cut sheets and which correctly considers and compensates for the delay time of the actuator.

Abstract: A device for counting and delivering sheets which accumulates a plurality of paste-applied and folded cardboard sheets, delivered by a paste-applying and folding machine, in a hopper for delivery to a next step in batches of a prescribed number of sheets. A counter is employed to count the individual sheets as they are being accumulated in the hopper for further processing. A plurality of ledges reciprocal in a vertical direction and projectable into the sheets being accumulated in the hopper divide the sheets into batches of the prescribed number as a function of the sheets having been counted. The batches are then removed from the hopper and delivered to a binding machine which is adapted to bind the cardboard sheets as a next step.

Abstract: An arrangement for forming successive layers of sheets of paper and the like from a stream of individual sheets supplied in succession to a collecting station by a supply conveyor, and for transferring the formed layers to a continuously advancing discharge conveyor, includes an abutment capable of interrupting the advancement of the supplied sheets to form a layer from a predetermined number of sheets, and a clamping device which grips the layer of sheets and transfers the same to the discharge conveyor. The arrangement includes a drive including a transmission, particularly a kinematic linkage transmission, causing the abutment and clamping device to perform a preselected succession of movements, and a prime mover which is kinematically separated from the main drive of the machine in which the arrangement is used and thus from the drive of the supply and discharge conveyors.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to automatic bale wagons of the type adapted to pick up crop material bales in the field and automatically form stacks of these bales utilizing a variety of selected tier configurations for forming a stable, interlocked stack of bales.

Abstract: A document stacking table is lowered in steps under electronic control as the documents accumulate. A predetermined number of documents are stacked, after which the table is lowered by a predetermined amount. An optical sensing arrangement is used to determine the effective top of the stack of documents within the limits of "light sensed" and the "absence of light". If light is sensed, the count is increased and the table lowered again; in the absence of light the count is decreased and the table is again lowered. Thus the stacking table will be lowered by a fixed amount to the level of least error.