Abstract: A rivet feed system which includes a base feeder assembly (28), having a rivet passageway (30) extending lengthwise therethrough. The base feeder assembly (28) includes cutout regions to receive rivet injectors (24) which are moved in operation between a first position and a second position. In the first position, an opening (80) in the injectors (24) forms a part of the passageway (30) through the base feeder assembly (28), while in the second position, the opening (80) is positioned directly beneath a vertically oriented rivet cartridge (22) to receive a rivet therefrom. The passageway (30) is connected to a source of pressurized air (32) which moves rivets therealong to a rivet machine or the like. The plurality of cartridges (22) positioned along the base feeder assembly contain rivets of various selected sizes.

Abstract: A device for loading dough into cylindrical containers is disclosed. A first conveyor is provided which delivers a plurality of cylindrical containers to a receiving surface which is declining with respect to the horizontal. The containers are oriented such that a central cylindrical axis of each container is substantially parallel to the container receiving surface as the containers approach the container receiving surface. A second conveyor then delivers a cylindrical object to the receiving surface in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to path of the containers in the first conveyor as the objects approach the container receiving surf ace. The second conveyor aligns the cylindrical objects and causes the objects to be inserted into the cylindrical container. Means for positioning the container on the container receiving surface and for releasing the cylindrical containers after filling is also provided. A method of inserting cylindrical objects into cylindrical containers is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic counting and boxing machine. The machine employs a rotatable drum with a plurality of vanes deposited on the outside surface thereof running parallel to the central axis of the drum. Adjacent to the drum is a mechanism for inserting in front of each vane of the drum long cylindrical objects. As the drum rotates it then deposits the long cylindrical objects into an adjacent collection chamber. The collection chamber has an elevator plate which can be moved between an upper and lower position. When the elevator plate is in an upper position, a compression plate extends and moves the long cylindrical objects into a box loading chamber which has a floor coplaner with the elevator plate when it is in its upper position. When the straws are transferred to the box loading chamber, the elevator plate drops to its lower position and continues to receive straws from the drum. After the compression plate retracts the elevator plate moves back to its original position.

Abstract: An automatic loading machine is provided for aligning and loading a predetermined amount of elongated strips of product into individual containers wherein batches of elongated strips are periodically discharged from a product feed. A turret assembly is provided which has a plurality of buckets and each of the batches from the product feed is received by a separate bucket. The turret assembly is continuously vibrated and, as each bucket moves through a horizontal path, the batches of elongated strips carried therein become somewhat more aligned. The strips are dropped out of the buckets onto a flight conveyor and are conveyed to a discharge point where each batch is transferred into a separate container.

Abstract: An orientation and loading device for vials, and in particular syringe vials (A), which are disposed with their axis substantially vertical. The vials are fed by a feeder (1) to an endless conveyor (5) comprising a plurality of orientable cells (6), each of which removably receives a fed vial. In an assigned position (R) of the conveyor (5) the cells (6) and hence the vials received therein lie substantially horizontal above a container (7) provided with several cavities (8) for receiving the vials and intended to form part of the package in which the vials are sold. When in this horizontal position, a release means (9) operates to release the vials (A) from the cells (6) and cause them to fall into the underlying container (7), for example a thermoformed container.

Abstract: A stacked container handling system includes an input section having an input conveyor onto which a box, containing a multiplicity of empty stacked containers arranged in a matrix of rows and columns of vertical stacks of containers, is manually or automatically placed in upside down position. Following removal of the box to expose the matrix of vertical stacks of containers, the vertical stacks of containers are moved forward by the input conveyor to a hinged lay-down table that rotates from an upright position in which one row at a time of the stacked containers is received to a horizontal position from which the received row of stacked containers is unloaded. The stacked container handling system may also include an output section having an output accumulation conveyor that serves to move a desired number of horizontal stacks of containers onto a lift table having a hinged bed that rotates from a horizontal position to an upright position.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for compiling deformable, substantially cylindrical bodies and for packing them, comprising vibrating said bodies being positioned at pile delivery substantially parallel adjacent and superposed to each other and being aligned in at least one row of parallelly positioned bodies adjacent to each other, whereafter this row is loaded into a substantially parallelepipedic magazine (6) that is substantially spaceless charged with bodies and thereafter transferred to a magazine discharge station (E) and positioned below a substantially similar transfer magazine (12), into which the bodies are transferred and which is thereafter transversely shifted above a reception space (14) for said bodies into which the bodies enter by gravity and are divided into streams moving downwardly into the area of two or more adjacent discharge devices (17) from which the bodies being compiled to predetermined groups are conveyed at the same time into cups of a cup conveyer (FIG. 4).

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting cards into thin strips and for transferring predetermined numbers of strips into bottles or the like has a rotary knife set which slits the cards into strips and directs alternate ones of the strips into slots on one side of a carrier and directs the others of the strips into slots at the opposite side of the carrier. The strips are delivered to collection chambers for transfer to bottles, by relative movement of the carrier and collection chambers. In the preferred form of the invention, the carrier extends between two spaced apart pairs of collection chambers and alternately delivers batches of strips to each pair. The apparatus may be used in the bottling of medical diagnostic strips which exhibit a color change when exposed to body fluids of patients having certain medical conditions and enables high speed production and bottling of such strips or similar articles.

Abstract: Cylindrical-shaped objects coming from a conveyor belt of a production line are transferred to a compensator. The compensator continuously receives the manufactured cylindrical-shaped objects and transfers them intermittently. Transfer of the cylindrical-shaped objects is made to a carriage guided on rails. A plate with compartments is disposed on the carriage. A quantity of cylindrical-shaped objects corresponding to a layer in a box are placed on the carriage. The carriage is moved in steps by means of a spindle by a step motor. Once the plate on the carriage is filled, the carriage is moved to the side and all the cylindrical-shaped objects lying on it are pushed into the waiting box by a cross slide. Subsequently, the carriage returns to its initial position. This method and apparatus permit extraordinary cycle times, assure gently treatment of the cylindrical-shaped objects and are very adaptable.

Abstract: A filling apparatus for the ordered, complete filling of a container with rods, such as spent nuclear fuel rods, in a hexagonally close-packed structure, includes a device for orderly positioning a first row of rods at predetermined positions in a container which has an opening formed in a side thereof opposite the positioning means and an interior with a given width. Two slides disposed one above the other can reach through the opening over the entire given width of the interior of the container. Each of the slides has depressions formed therein defining support teeth. The depressions define openings at predetermined positions for receiving rods of a row. The depressions in one of the slides is offset relative to the depressions in the other of the slides so that the support teeth in one of the slides covers the openings in the other of the slides when the slides are superimposed.

Abstract: An apparatus for the insertion of mutually parallel, elongated fuel rods into an elongated can having a rectangular cross section, a longitudinal direction and a lateral transverse slit formed therein, includes a holder for holding a can. A fuel rod positioning arm has an insertion end for insertion through the slit in the can in an insertion direction at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the can. A support structure is attached to the insertion end of the arm for supporting fuel rods. The support structure has a pivot axis at right angles to the insertion direction of the arm and to the longitudinal direction of the can about which the support structure is pivotable back and forth within a given pivot angle. The support structure has a jacket surface with two fuel rod support surfaces being curved outwardly about the pivot axis and offset alongside one another in the direction of the pivot axis.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for transferring irradiated f rods from a trough-shaped receptacle into a canister intended for terminal storage. The canister is docked at a pass-through opening formed in a partition wall of a nuclear facility. The arrangement includes a trough-shaped insert which is movable out of the terminal storage canister while empty and through the pass-through opening into the trough-shaped receptacle whereat it is filled with the irradiated fuel rods and then returned back through the opening and into the terminal storage canister. In this way, and with little effort, a transfer of fuel rods is achieved without components disposed between the receptacle and canister becoming contaminated by radioactive particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for boxing coin rolls comprising a hopper feeding coin rolls to a rotary orienting feeder that discharges the coin rolls through a discharge chute. A conveyer belt system receiving the coin rolls and transporting the same to a manifold. A manifold bypassing apparatus is operative upon the manifold being filled with coin rolls to cause excess coin rolls to be returned to the orienting feeder for re-entry into the conveyor belt system until the filled manifold is emptied and ready to receive a new supply of coin rolls.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for cutting photographic film into individual negatives and placing the cut negatives into envelopes. The invention utilizes a permeable conveyor and vacuum fan arrangement to transport the negatives after they are severed by the cutting mechanism. A pair of opposed fan assemblies located on either side of continuous feed envelopes serve to open an individual envelope. The opened envelope is located in close proximity to the conveyor. In this configuration, an individual negative, retained by suction against the permeable conveyor, can be delivered to the opened envelope extending off the edge of the conveyor track and entering the open envelope. A burst of air may be used to ensure the individual negative's placement into the envelope. A computer coordinates and controls various functions of operations, including transportation movement of the negative and envelopes and printing.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for aligning elongated articles, such as french fried potatoes, includes a bucket for receiving a charge of the articles. Configured with the bucket is a conveyor having an endless belt with a plurality of spaced flights that each receive a portion of the charge. The articles are aligned by the conveyor and presented to a collector bucket configured to store the aligned charge portions prior to discharge to a bagging machine.

Abstract: An alignment apparatus is disclosed for aligning weighed batches or elongated objects, such as French-Fried potato strips. The batch of objects is weighed in a scale and discharged onto a moving conveyor belt which separates the objects and projects such objects from the conveyor into a vibrated alignment container including a first container means having a curved deflector wall and a second container means with a gated discharge outlet. The objects impact a vertically-curved rear deflector wall of the first alignment container means in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto and may fall into contact with a straight front deflector wall so that they are aligned substantially parallel to such rear wall when they fall into the supply inlet of a second container means. The second container means if a rectangular tube having a gate at its discharge outlet which is normally closed.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling trays with cigarettes, or the like, comprises a cigarette-supplying hopper (1) at the outlet of which there is arranged a plurality of vertical or slightly inclined, generally parallel channels (2), or a plurality of passages defined by equispaced adjacent rollers, through which the cigarettes move down by gravity, the width of channels (2) and the distance between the rollers being slightly greater than the cigarette diameter, provision being made of means for facilitating the cigarette downward movement and of means for interrupting it. In order to facilitate the descent of the cigarettes, the channels (2) are so made as to be swingable to and fro, transversely to the direction of the cigarette downward movement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cassette system for inserting a rod inside a tubular basic element. The system consists of at least two elongated plate-shaped cassettes provided with transverse channels as well as of a shank whereby the rods placed in channels of one cassette can be pushed into the tubular basic elements placed in channels of the other cassette after placing the cassettes in alignment with each other. The invention relates also to an apparatus for manufacturing a subcutaneous prophylactic capsule, comprising a tubular basic element and a hormone rod placed therein.

Abstract: An alignment apparatus is disclosed for aligning weighed batches of elongated objects, such as French-fried potato strips. The batch of objects is weighed in a scale and discharged onto a moving conveyor belt which separates the objects and projects such objects from the conveyor into a vibrated alignment container. The objects impact a vertically-curved rear deflector wall of the alignment container in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto and may fall into contact with a straight front deflector wall so that they are aligned substantially parallel to such rear wall when they are discharged from such container. The objects fall freely by gravity through a drop tube from such alignment container for further separation and alignment into a packaging machine which packages the weighed batch of aligned objects.

Abstract: A rod arraying system for nuclear fuel rods or burnable poison rods. A support structure positions a consolidation canister vertically to receive the rods. A rod loading pattern provides a gap between rods to allow projections to hold each rod in position. One or more rod arraying devices positioned vertically along and inclined toward the canister provide a triangular pitch loading configuration. A guide assembly slidably mounted on the mounting base of the rod arraying device has two guide plates with scalloped edges. The guide plates are offset relative to each other with one being cycled back and forth by an air cylinder to allow individual loading of fuel rods one row at a time. The inclined weight of the guide plates keeps them in position against the rods to prevent unwanted shifting of rods during the loading operation.

Abstract: A machine for filling a container with cigarettes comprises a supply hopper for holding the cigarettes, a discharge section arranged in the lower portion of the supply hopper and through which the cigarettes are discharged into the container. The discharge section includes a plurality of partition walls vertically arranged in at intervals, thereby defining discharge passages, a plurality of freely rotatable stop rollers each arranged directly under its corresponding partition wall and oblate in shape. When the stop rollers are at a first rotational position, their paired flat surface extending from both sides of their corresponding partition walls. When the stop rollers are at a second rotational position, the paired arc surface portions into their corresponding discharge passages.

Abstract: A cartoning apparatus for loading loose media, such as spaghetti, vermicelli, or other loose, into a carton, wherein the apparatus is provided with bucket structures, platens, actuators, and a loading assembly which are all moved along parallel predetermined paths. The bucket structures include forward and rearward ends whereby the bucket structures may be translated such that the forward end may be disposed adjacent an aligned open carton, and the rearward end may receive loading assembly. Such rearward end is provided with a funnel structure which cooperates with a self-aligning pusher foot comprising part of the loading assembly to effectuate alignment and mating receipt of the pusher foot with a cavity defined by the bucket structure.

Abstract: Food products are packaged with a conveyor for carrying the food products to be packaged and a conveyor adapted to travel discontinuously for carrying open-topped containers beneath the leading edge of the food-product carrying conveyor at which point the container-carrying conveyor is inclined downwards in the direction of travel at an acute angle of less than 60.degree. to the horizontal so that the food product articles which fall off the leading edge of the food-carrying conveyor are consecutively received by for filling the container in a compact row with the food product articles. A container-supporting conveyor means may be utilized for advancing and urging the containers into position for filling at the successive stopping positions.

Abstract: A machine for automatically setting in place products into receiver alveoli comprises essentially an alignment device (10) for aligning the products (11), which device is designed to arrange the products in lines in a plurality of columns, a device (12) for depositing aligned products into the receiver alveoli (14) and a device (13) for transporting said alveoli. The deposition device comprises a dispenser member (17) comprising a feed pin wheel comprised of a drum (19) provided with pins (20) radially arranged at the periphery of said drum. A control mechanism comprising a drive wheel (24) fitted with a roller (23) drives the feed pin wheel via rollers (22) mounted on a disc (21) which is integral with the drum (19). The device for transporting the receiver alveoli (14) comprises essentially a chain (35) provided with levers (37 ) arranged to pivot about an axis (38) due to the existence of a guide (40) which cooperates with follower members (39) integral with the levers (37).

Abstract: An installation for handling parts between a container in which they are placed in layers and piles and a table which cooperates with a chute joining the installation to a service machine. The installation comprises a table mobile horizontally relative to the frame, structure for displacing in a controlled manner the table so that its free end protrudes with respect to the frame free end, and at least one container formed of at least one bottom and three fixed vertical side walls. The face of the container without a vertical wall has a width slightly greater than the width of the table free end. An elevator is placed opposite the frame in the direction of mobility of the table and is adapted to move vertically in a controlled manner. A container with its face without a vertical wall is in register with the table so that the end of said table can be introduced in the container.

Abstract: A DIP tube loader and handler including magazine for containing a quantity of empty DIP packaging tubes, a tube singulating mechanism for positioning the tubes one at a time into a position to be loaded with DIPs, a DIP singulating mechanism for loading a predetermined number of DIPs into the tubes, and a tube elevator for transporting the loaded tubes from the loading position into a hopper.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for loading containers with individual fuel rods r fuel-rod sections of irradiated nuclear reactor fuel elements are disclosed. In order to ensure maximum safety, cleanliness and close packing when loading the containers, the fuel rods or fuel-rod sections are horizontally front-loaded into the container which is horizontally positioned. The loading aperture is located as closely as possible to the upper inner periphery of the container. Following their insertion, the fuel rods or fuel-rod sections will drop onto the inner wall surface of the container or onto the already existing pile of previously loaded fuel rods or fuel-rod sections. The container for loading with such a method has a loading aperture in the end wall thereof arranged close to the inner periphery thereof for insertion of the fuel rods or fuel-rod sections.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously forming a stuffed product characterized by tube means for feeding a pliable product into a casing; conveyor means for carrying the encased product from the tube means; pincher means for squeezing the encased product at intervals to form twisted links; means for cutting the twists between the links; and means for transferring the links from the conveyor means to a package receptacle.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for loading containers with individual fuel rods r fuel-rod sections of irradiated nuclear reactor fuel elements are disclosed. In order to ensure maximum safety, cleanliness and close packing when loading the containers, the fuel rods or fuel-rod sections are horizontally front-loaded into the container which is horizontally positioned. The loading aperture is located as closely as possible to the upper inner periphery of the container. Following their insertion, the fuel rods or fuel-rod sections will drop onto the inner wall surface of the container or onto the already existing pile of previously loaded fuel rods or fuel-rod sections. The container for loading with such a method has a loading aperture in the end wall thereof arranged close to the inner periphery thereof for insertion of the fuel rods or fuel-rod sections.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packing into a jar elongated articles, such as cucumbers or pickles cut along their length into spears. The jar is positioned with a guide disposed within the interior of the jar. The guide directs a predetermined array of spaced spears into the jar and outwardly towards the wall of the jar. Thereafter, the jar is rotated. The guide, which is coupled to the bottom of the jar, is thereby rotated to position the guide to direct additional arrays of spears between the spears of the array previously placed in the jar.

Abstract: A method for loading a container with rods of nuclear reactor fuel assemblies having mutually parallel longitudinal axes and containing nuclear fuel or neutron absorption material, which includes the steps of loading the container initially with dummies corresponding to the rods in a given dense packing arrangement, and thereafter inserting the rods in axial direction thereof into the given dense packing arrangement so as to replace the dummies; and a device for carrying out the method.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding hypodermic needles into corresponding recesses of a mold cavity in the bottom mold plate of a plastic injection molding machine. The bottom mold plate can be shifted from a molding position to a loading position at one side of the machine. At that side of the machine, a magazine holding two stacks of hypodermic needles is slidably adjustable horizontally with respect to a shuttle plate mounted on that side of the machine. The magazine at the bottom has lower and upper plates slidable respectively across the bottom and top of the shuttle plate. In one position of the magazine, openings in its upper bottom plate register with corresponding openings in the shuttle plate to pass individual needles by gravity into the shuttle plate.

Abstract: This relates to a series of cooperating mechanisms which be individually actuated. Specifically, the mechanisms include a first mechanism for engaging a tubular member, such as a straw, and removing the same from a dispensing unit. The tubular member may then be engaged by a second mechanism which will move it into a desired release position, such as within a pouch. A second mechanism may be utilized individually and includes a crank arm which carries a transfer unit which pivots relative to the crank arm and which includes a support blade having associated therewith jaw members. The two mechanisms are preferably driven by cams carried by a common drive shaft and wherein at least two of the cams have associated therewith return springs. The operation of the two mechanisms, when utilized in unison, is such that one spring counterbalances the other. There is also provided a dispensing unit for dispensing tubular members, one at a time, at a fixed position.

Abstract: There is disclosed a packaging assembly for inserting a plurality of small diameter tubes into a packaging container wherein the assembly is comprised of a container rotor, a tube supply rotor and an injection rotor mounted in keyed relationship on a shaft driven by a motor and wherein the container rotor includes a channel for receiving the packaging container, the supply rotor includes a channel for receiving a preselect quantity of the small diameter tubes and wherein the injection rotor includes a channel for receiving in reciprocating relationship a plurality of rod member and wherein said channels of the rotors are in co-axial alignment with one another whereby a reciprocating movement of the rod member inserts the plurality of small diameter tubes into the packaging container.

Abstract: Label inserting apparatus for automatically inserting identification labels in plant containers or the like comprises a conveying track for conveying containers on a predetermined path; a horizontal label storage magazine positioned above the path for holding the labels in a horizontal stack wherein all labels except the outermost label in the stack are constrained from downward movement; an insertion mechanism mounted transversely to the outer end of the storage magazine and having a vertically reciprocable slide member abutting the outermost label in the stack, the slide having a gripping means for gripping the outermost label only and driving it downwardly into the plant container; and control means for causing labels to be inserted in each plant container. The gripping means may be a projection on the slide that engages the label and also can include a vacuum device.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying cigarette-filled trays from at least one tray-filling device to the hopper of at least one cigarette-packaging machine, and for returning the emptied trays to the tray-filling device. In order to deliver the filled tray system fully automatically by a simple transport system without operators, and with the opened top directed downwardly, to the hopper of the packaging machine, the guide rail system of a container-conveying system which is known per se and which has a plurality of the electrically driven travel mechanisms is disposed between a dispatch station which is associated with the tray-filling device, and a receiving station which is associated with the packaging machine. Each of the travel mechanisms carries a receiving container which is designed to receive at least one tray.

Abstract: A machine for filling jars with pieces of vegetables or fruits, in particular quartered pickles, is provided, in which a jar conveyor belt carries the jars incrementally past filling stations at which the pieces of the vegetables are fed into the jars. The pieces of vegetables or fruits are brought by a conveyor belt to cutting stations, where they are cut into the pieces, and are brought to the filling stations. The vegetables or fruits are fed from the cutting stations, in which they are cut into pieces, horizontally into magazines provided with a partition. These magazines are disposed on a revolving magazine belt, which is disposed obliquely relative to the jar conveyor belt, in such a manner that a plurality of filling stations is produced along the jar conveyor belt, in each of which a magazine is disposed in a different relative association in terms of its height with a jar.

Abstract: Apparatus for assembling multi-layer blocks of parallel cigarettes has a magazine with several outlets having narrow elongated horizontal openings for the discharge of successive layers of cigarettes. An endless conveyor transports a succession of variable-volume receptacles stepwise along a path a horizontal portion of which extends along the outlets so that the opening of each outlet registers with a receptacle when the conveyor is arrested. The volumes of the receptacles are varied by a system of cams, which act upon movable top walls of the receptacles, in such a way that the volumes of the receptacles exceed the space requirements of the layer or layers therein only while the conveyor is idle, i.e.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling packaging boxes with flat, angular articles, includes an intermediate container accommodating the articles in a random pile; a charging hopper introducing the articles into the packaging boxes; and a conveying arrangement delivering the articles from the intermediate container into the charging hopper. The conveying arrangement has a first aligner including a plurality of serially arranged troughs each having side walls and a bottom wall defining a channel. The channels formed in the troughs are serially connected to form a continuous conveying track having an outlet end. The channels include an aligning arrangement for turning the articles, advancing thereon in a flow, into an at least approximately parallel orientation by the time they arrive to the outlet end of the conveying track.

Abstract: Packing apparatus for packing layers of cylindrical articles in a container. The apparatus includes means for accumulating a layer of alternately staggered lines of cylindrical articles arranged end-to-end at a pickup position. The apparatus also includes means for making vacuum contact with each article and transferring the entire layer to the container where it is released and forms a tightly packed flat layer. The packing apparatus also includes means for folding back the top flaps of each empty container as it is conveyed to the loading station.

Abstract: There is provided a method of and apparatus for packing rod-shaped articles, especially cigarettes. A rotatable turret is used, into which blanks are introduced into pockets of the turret, with partial folding of the blanks, whereafter groups of articles are axially introduced into the blanks in pockets, the article groups being introduced alternately from opposite sides of the turret. There is also provided an apparatus whereby article groups can be ejected alternately on both sides of a magazine and also an apparatus wherein, to form article groups from three article rows or layers, the middle row containing fewer cigarettes than the top and bottom rows, a lateral chute wall of the magazine terminates above the region of the cigarette groups to be ejected, merely articles of the top and bottom rows being ejectable in this region via a recess in the entraining member associated with the lateral chute, such recess being at the height of the middle cigarette row.

Abstract: A multi-layer stream of cigarettes is transported from a making machine to a packing machine by way of a first and a second junction. The first junction diverts some or all of the cigarettes from their path and into a tray filler when the output of the making machine exceeds the requirements of the packing machine, and the second junction receives some or all of the cigarettes from a magazine filler when the requirements of the packing machine exceed the output of the making machine. A trickle of cigarettes can flow into the tray filler and a trickle of cigarettes can flow from the magazine filler even at such times when the requirements of the packing machine match the output of the making machine. This prevents moving cigarettes from rubbing against one and the same group of stagnant cigarettes which fill the location where the first junction can discharge cigarettes into the tray filler and the location where the second junction can receive cigarettes from the magazine filler.

Abstract: Apparatus for accumulating arrays of superimposed layers of parallel cigarettes has a magazine with three layer-accumulating sections having outlets at different levels and a set of pushers which expel layers of cigarettes from the sections during the intervals of dwell of an intermittently driven conveyor for a set of receptacles each of which accumulates an array by accepting one layer from each of the sections. The top and side walls of the receptacles have aligned slots for stationary and movable portions of retaining devices which prevent the cigarettes forming layers of incomplete arrays from moving relative to each other during abrupt acceleration and deceleration of the conveyor to move the receptacles from section to section. The undersides of movable portions of the retaining devices can be raised above or lowered into alignment with the undersides of the adjacent stationary portions through distances approximating the thickness of a layer.

Abstract: Apparatus for filling trays with cigarettes has a magazine which contains a supply of parallel cigarettes and the lower end portion of which extends into the interior of an empty tray so that the lower end portions of several vertical ducts in the lower end portion of the magazine are closely adjacent to the bottom wall of the tray. The tray is lowered continuously or stepwise while the ducts admit vertical streams or rows of cigarettes into the interior of the tray wherein the deposited cigarettes form superimposed layers with the cigarettes of each upper layer staggered relative to the cigarettes of the layer therebelow. This is attributed to the provision of horizontal shafts or horizontal tongues which flank the lower end portions of the ducts and are movable back and forth from neutral positions to effect a desirable distribution of descending cigarettes in the tray.

Abstract: The lower end portion of a magazine for parallel cigarettes or like rod-shaped articles contains a horizontal grid of parallel rods which divide the outlet opening of the lower end portion into parallel passages wherein the cigarettes descend into an empty tray therebelow. When the tray is filled (such filling takes place while the tray descends, either continuously or stepwise), the passages are blocked by rod-like closing members which are parallel to the rods of the grid and are movable from inoperative positions behind the rods of the grid to intercepting positions in or above the passages. The closing members are oscillated and/or vibrated to prevent jamming of passages and/or bridging of cigarettes above the grid. The mechanism for moving the closing members between inoperative and intercepting positions employs a pneumatic motor or an electromagnet which can shift a common carrier for the closing members. The mechanism is actuated in automatic response to completed filling of a tray.

Abstract: Apparatus for packaging cigarettes, the apparatus comprising means for applying a strip of packaging material about a group of the articles to form a tube and folding and gluing the ends of the wrapper to define the package is provided with a plural stage drying apparatus which permits a long glue drying operation without adversely effecting the speed of operation of the packaging apparatus. The drying apparatus includes a pair of adjacent, synchronously rotated, drums which have receiving cells for the packages. The packages are transferred, typically in pairs, into individual cells of a first drum and are subsequently simultaneously transferred from cells in the first drum into cells of the second drum.

Abstract: The packaging of plural articles in a common wrapper is accomplished with the aid of wrapping mandrels into which preformed blocks of the articles are loaded. The wrapping mandrels have movable slides which define the effective length of the mandrels and thus insure that first ends of the articles will lie in the plane of the insertion end of the mandrels, the first ends of the articles thus defining a stable base over which a wrapping may be folded. The slides are reciprocated in the mandrels to eject packages, open at one end, to a device for closing the open end.

Abstract: Products such as small chocolate bars, intended to be uniformly aligned on other products passing on a conveyor, such as pieces of dough in the manufacture of chocolate-filled cookies, are placed in a hopper having resiliently mounted walls. Beneath the hopper is a feeder comprising a cylindrical-sector-shaped feeder part. The feeder part includes a slot through which the chocolate bars can be disposed on the pieces of dough. By means of a motor-driven main crank assembly and a supplementary crank assembly, a perturbed sinusoidal motion is imparted to the feeder part, thus ensuring that the chocolate bars are consistently introduced into the feed slot, particularly in the vicinity of the walls of the hopper. A blocking and release mechanism, connected to the feeder and controlled by a sensor unit, ensures that only one chocolate bar drops on each piece of dough.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for packing cut pickle spears in a jar in predetermined positions and orientations by laying the spears side-by-side on a flexible resilient belt, rolling up the belt with the spears on it to form a cylinder, and pushing the cylindrical array of spears out of the rolled up belt into the jar.

Abstract: System for handling axial lead components that have a low ratio of paramagnetism to weight comprising at least one nonmagnetic magazine and at least one packing and/or unpacking station for receiving the nonmagnetic magazine. The packing and/or unpacking stations receive the magazines and enable the slope of the bottom of the magazines to be adjusted to the horizon. The packing stations support two plate-like magnets along each sidewall of the magazine positioned therein for creating a magnetic field passing in and out of the sidewalls of the magazine. A vibrator is mounted to the magazine when secured to the packing and/or unpacking station to apply vibrations to it in a direction substantially aligned with the magnetic field.