Abstract: A cartridge of tubulars may be removably positioned with a carriage, and the carriage may move the cartridge transversely, vertically, and/or rotationally to roll tubulars on an adjacent tubular receiving member using only gravity from a selected tier of tubulars without human contact. A single trolley disposed with the tubular receiving member both pushes and pulls tubulars toward or away from the drilling deck.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor unit constituting a separating and feed mechanism (33), in particular for sheet-shaped workpieces, in particular sheets (3) to be printed, with a lifting mechanism (2) for transporting the sheet (3) vertically and a conveyor track with conveyor means (51, 52) for transporting the sheet (3) horizontally. This being the case, the conveying means (51, 52) are displaceable in a guide system between an operating position for feeding the sheet (3) to a production unit (36), in particular a printing machine (37), and a non-operating position to enable the sheet (3) to be lifted unhindered from a sheet stack (39).

Abstract: A Tray input-output module, comprising a power unit, a clamp unit and a support unit, is capable of automatically retrieving a tray from a transport device and automatically delivering a tray to a transport device for facilitating automation in chip sorter operation, reducing manual work and raising productivity.

Abstract: A palletizer/depalletizer system includes a palletizer assembly and depalletizer assembly stacked one beneath the other on a common frame assembly. Both assemblies are adapted to handle layers of articles and stacks of pallets. The palletizer loads articles on stacks of empty pallets by transferring layers of articles one at a time onto the uppermost pallet until the pallet is fully loaded, conveying the loaded pallet away from the system using a conventional automated storage and retrieval (ASR) machine, and then loading the next pallet on the stack. The depalletizer creates stacks of empty pallets by repeatedly unloading layers of articles from a pallet to empty the pallet and then accepting a loaded pallet on top of the recently-emptied pallet.

Abstract: A top-picking palletizer and de-palletizer moves pallet layers along a fixed path by use of a single-dimension actuation system and top-picking lift head. The illustrated system includes an actuation assembly operated by a single reversible motor moving drive chains selectively in first and second directions. In a first direction, the lift head moves along the fixed path towards a first pick and place site and in the second direction moves along the fixed path toward a second pick and place site. By selectively engaging and disengaging the lift head, layers of items to be stacked or unstacked may be moved from one site to the other site, i.e., such as by palletizing and de-palletizing operations.

Abstract: The apparatus has, along with a magazine in which flat, flexible objects such as cords are stored in a stack, a retaining device for holding the stack in the magazine. Symmetrically disposed retaining elements aligned parallel to the surface of the objects are provided in the retaining device. The form of the retaining elements is selected such that an object of the stack can be singled by being arched past the retaining elements and an object can also be stacked in the magazine by being arched past the retaining elements. A gripping device is provided for moving the objects.

Abstract: There is provided a pallet dispensing apparatus wherein the carriage assembly is reciprocably movable in a vertical direction and has first and second transversely extending rails with pallet supporting members secured thereto. Each of the rails has a cam member at an end thereof which is movable in an associated cam guide which has first and second generally vertically extending cam tracks, an upper cam guide track extending between upper portions of the inner and outer vertical channels and a lower cam guide track extending between lower portions of the inner and outer vertical channels. The guiding movement of the cam guide with associated cam members causes the transversely extending rails to rotate and permit the dispensing of a single pallet.

Abstract: An underground boring machine including an automatic pipe loading apparatus. A plurality of pipes are gravity fed through a discharge opening at a lower end of a magazine combining several columns of pipe. A selection member has a plurality of pipe receiving pockets, equal in number to the columns present in the magazine. The selection member can be in one of a first position wherein a first pipe receiving pocket is aligned with a first column or a second position wherein the first pipe receiving pocket is moved towards the machine. A pick-and-place lever arm picks a pipe from the first pipe receiving pocket and transports the pipe towards the machine. Lift-up arms selectively support the pipes within the magazine.

Abstract: A sensing arrangement is disclosed for use in a pallet dispenser or the like, to determine whether a pallet is present or not. A body, having a shaped engagement surface, displaces in the plane of the pallets upon sliding engagement by a pallet, and suitably has side faces angled in both the horizontal and vertical planes, and a front face.

Abstract: A continuous web of wrapping material for catamenial tampons or other commodities is advanced lengthwise first through a station where it is acted upon by a perforating knife to weaken longitudinally spaced-apart portions of the web transversely of the direction of advancement. The web is thereupon converted into a continuous tubular body and the leader of the tubular body is engaged by a pair of rolls which pull the leader in the direction of lengthwise advancement of the web in order to break the material of the web along successive weakened portions. The thus obtained discrete tubular envelopes are moved sideways, one end portion of each envelope is closed, a commodity is introduced through the other end portion, and the other end portion is closed to confine the commodity at both ends. Such mode of making tubular envelopes ensures that the material of the web is not wasted at all and that the envelopes need not be stored prior to reception of commodities.

Abstract: A card loading device includes an elevator, a roller, a card loading port, and two sensors for detecting the feeding of cards, exhausting the feeding of cards and the reloading of cards. The elevator raises/lowers a plurality of accumulated cards. The roller is arranged at a card feed position and rotated clockwise to feed a card located at an uppermost position of the accumulated cards and brought into contact with the roller when the elevator is raised. The card loading port has an opening slightly larger than a thickness of a card and loads a card fed by the roller. The two sensors can detect the proper and the improper loading of a fed card at the card loading port. When a card has been improperly loaded, the sensors send a signal that reverses the roller direction (counterclockwise) and lowers the elevator, thereby exhausting the card from the card loading port.

Abstract: A device for stacking and destacking a stream of imbricated, substantially planar, flexible units to form or destack a layered stack. The device is a stacker, adapted to receive a stream of units from a source thereof, and a plurality of transfer sheets. The feeder delivers the stream of units to the stacker.The stacker has staging belts which receive portions of the stream and deposit the units serially on one of the transfer sheets, as it is withdrawn from the sheet stack. This forms an imbricated layer of the units and the transfer sheet. The stacker deposits the imbricated layer on a removable support and repeats the cycle to deposit successive imbricated layers on the preceding layers. Destacking is carried out by simply reversing the process.

Abstract: An article supplier is provided with a first elevator for supplying articles contained in a pallet to a robot, a second elevator for discharging an empty pallet, and a driving mechanism for seesaw-moving the first and second elevators with the pallet being moved to an article supply position and a discharge position for the empty pallet by the elevators. In addition, a plurality of detectors detect the positions of the elevators and the raising and lowering of the first and second elevators is based on signals from the detectors.

Abstract: A workpiece loading and unloading method and apparatus are disclosed especially for plate processing machines, such as a punch press. The apparatus includes a workpiece storage device positioned on one side of the plate processing machine and having a plurality of vertically arranged shelves for supporting pallets for storing workpieces to be loaded and finished products unloaded from the machine. An elevator device is provided for moving pallets to and from the storage device to a load/unload station where a transfer device picks up a workpiece from the pallet and moves it to the machine for processing and also picks up the finished product from the machine and returns it to a finished product pallet.

Abstract: A simplified and improved apparatus for handling pallets. The apparatus includes a self aligning storage magazine, a three pneumatic cylinder stack/destack device and a standard live roller conveyor as a pallet transport device. The purpose for this apparatus is to automatically stack or destack wood, metal, or plastic pallets in a manner requiring fewer mechanical components.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stacking device for stacking and unstacking plate-shaped objects such as titer plates. A magazine is provided to hold the titer plates and a support plate is provided beneath the titer plates. A clamping device is provided to hold the bottom-most titer plate or second titer plate from the bottom. The clamping device preferably has two opposing, horizontal clamping beams which are forced by means of springs against the respective titer plate and which can be moved synchronously away from the titer plate by a motor via a linkage. The clamping beams can also be rotated about a vertical axis so as to adapt to titer plates having different shapes.

Abstract: An apparatus for unstacking and stacking containers. The apparatus includes a frame defining a compartment to receive a stack of containers, and a guide mechanism mounted within the frame to guide the stack in vertical movement. Located beneath the compartment is a conveyor, which in the unstacking mode, will deliver a stack of containers to the compartment and discharge individual containers. A vertically movable lift mechanism is mounted in the frame and includes a plurality of pivotable lift members disposed to engage a rim on the second lowermost container, to elevate the stack, and a plurality of holding members mounted on the frame and disposed to engage the upper surface of the rim on the lowermost container to hold the lowermost container against elevation. After elevation of the stack, the separated lowermost container is in a ready position to be conveyed away on the conveyor, depending on a need in the conveying system.