Abstract: Bodies such as nuclear fuel pellets are formed into a stack in a stacking lane (34) and the length of the stack is measured at intervals by device (40) to determine if the partly-formed stack is drifting away from a target length. Pellets are issued into the stacking zone (34) by a selector mechanism (32), the input of which receives pellets from three lanes (24, 26, 28) containing oversize, undersize and intermediate size pellets and the pellets issued to the stacking lane (34) are selected under the control of microprocessor-based unit (18) according to the extent of any drift from the target value. The pellets in lanes (24, 26, 28) are derived from a common supply (12) following segregation by a diverter mechanism (22) controlled by unit (18) in accordance with length measurements made by measuring device (16).

Abstract: Three rows of feelers sliding in openings in support plates each bear either a blocking element with a single sight for the outside rows of feelers or a blocking element with two sights for the middle row. When all the feelers are in operative position, the various blocking elements define two parallel sight paths which permit a light beam conveyed to the entry of the first pass through one of the sights of the middle row blocking elements and through all the sights of the blocking elements of one of the outside rows to be reflected from two mirrors, disposed at right angles to each other, and to return by passing through the other sight of the middle row blocking elements and through the sights of the blocking elements of the other outside row. The light beam is conducted from an emitter to the entry of the checking device and from the exit thereof to a sensor by fiber optic cables.

Abstract: A case packing apparatus having a conveyor for moving a plurality of articles seriatim in a first direction to a location where means substantially perpendicular to the conveyor move a predetermined number of articles in the perpendicular direction into a case to form a layer within the case.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding and wrapping products comprising a wrapping machine, which machine has a driving element, and a device for feeding products to the wrapping machine. The feeding device includes a first conveyor for receiving products from a dispensing apparatus, which conveyor continuously moves at either a high or a low speed, and a second conveyor which connects the first conveyor to the wrapping machine and which continuously moves at one speed in the same direction as the first conveyor. A stop element is located at the end of the second conveyor adjacent the wrapping machine. There are provided first and second controls positioned along the second conveyor at selected spacings from the wrapping machine, with each control sensing the presence or absence of products on the second conveyor. A first drive is connected to the first conveyor and is adapted to operate the first conveyor at either the high or the low speed.

Abstract: A system for packaging into cartons cones for ice-cream and other cornet-like articles coming loosely from a production unit wherein in a first processing station (A) splitting of the cone feed main stream into a plurality of individual sub-streams occurs. In a second processing station (B) a temporary cone-storage field is made up, the cones being orderly marshalled in a number of rows, the cone axes being vertical with the cone tips upside down and the cones being closely spaced apart from each other. From said second processing station (B) the cone rows are transferred into a third processing station (C), wherein, for each cone row, a belt having evenly spaced apart bores is provided for receiving individual cones. Each belt is independently motorized for stepwise forward motion. As a predetermined number of bores in each belt carries as many cones as there are bores, a cone-grasping unit (E) draws the cone row and transfers it into empty cartons.

Abstract: A sheet-like material processing apparatus is provided with a pre-processing section and a post-processing section. In the pre-processing section, the sheet-like material set in the supply section is taken out sheet by sheet and those taken-out ones are sorted, by an inspecting device, into at least two kinds of sheet-like material. A transfer/sorting device physically sorts those sheet-like material on the basis of the sorting by the inspection device. The sorted sheet-like material are separately collected each for a given number of the sheet-like material by a sorting and collecting device, and then are bundled by a sheet bundling device. A transfer device transfers the given number of the bundled sheet-like material. Of those sheet-like material transferred by said transfer device, the unreusable ones are invalidated by an invalidating device.

Abstract: An automatic conveyor packaging apparatus for high speed packing of frozen confections in containers with provision for interaction between product conveyors carrying confections from a confection manufacturing process and a conveyor carrying empty cartons to be loaded with these confections. Provision is made for interrupting the flow of confections from the manufacturing process to the packaging apparatus without necessity of stopping the manufacturing process. The mechanism provides for placing the confection pieces in rectilinear arrays within cartons and includes inhibiting mechanisms to prevent improper loading if certain portions of the apparatus malfunction.

Abstract: An apparatus of high capacity is provided for simultaneously filling a plurality of individual containers into a predetermined number of empty cases. The containers are conveyed to two staging areas disposed in adjacent relation to a first station and then are simultaneously moved from each staging area to the first station. When the containers are disposed at the first station, they are arranged in a predetermined pattern which is compatible with the interior configuration of the cases into which they are to be loaded. A second station is provided which is disposed beneath the first station and is adapted to receive a predetermined number of empty cases to be filled by the container positioned at the first station. A means is provided which releasably engages the containers at the first station, lowers said containers into the empty cases at the second station, and then releases the containers in the cases and returns to its initial position.

Abstract: A container loading machine which includes a frame through which a cross feed conveyor feeds successive open crates, containers or receptacles so as to position the open containers successively in the machine for receiving a plurality of layers of articles, such as egg cartons, therein, and for conveying each loaded container away from the machine. The machine includes a plurality of upstanding carton receiving rods, the ends of which project upwardly through the bottom of the container within the loading zone of the machine so that the upper ends stop adjacent the open top of the container in a position to receive the first layer of accumulated egg cartons from a storage zone, thereabove. An infeed carton conveyor, which includes a pair of spaced, flexible, opposed, endless belts, carry successive egg cartons to the storage zone.