Abstract: A document inserter system having an improved control system is disclosed. The system includes a sheet inserter system and one or more web modules for, receiving a web of forms, scanning the forms for information, storing and retransmitting the information, separating the web into discrete forms and feeding the forms for further processing. The information includes control information scanned from a control document for controlling formation of a batch of forms associated with that control document. The control system includes a supervisory control processor which receives the control information and controls the sheet inserter system and the web modules in accordance therewith. The system also includes web control processor systems for direct control of each web module, which web control processor systems are responsive to the supervisory control processor. The system is controlled in accordance with a prespecified configuration which defines the document type for each web module.

Abstract: A method and associate apparatus for providing a scanner interface circuit for a universal multi-station document inserter having a plurality of document feeder stations has a central processor which stores a supervisory program and scanner interface circuits associated with at least some of the feeder stations. Each scanner interface circuit has a unique address, a portion of which is shared with that of its associated feeder station and a distributed processor which stores a scanner program containing instructions for scanning coded documents. The scanner circuit, in response to address signals received from the central processor, scans the coded document and provides document present and end of collation signals to the central processor. A programmable counter is provided in the scanner circuit to provide timing signals for reading codes on coded documents.

Abstract: A method and associate apparatus for providing a universal feeder interface circuit for a multi-station document inserter having a plurality of document feeder stations or modules and a central processor which stores a supervisory program is provided. Each interface circuit has a unique address and a distributed processor which stores feeder programs containing instructions for operating a variety of different types of feeders. The interface circuit, in response to address and command signals received from the central processor provides operating instructions from the programs stored in the distributed processor to its feeder station to operate the feeders in a manner pre-selected by the user.

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 control device for re-starting a cigarette packing machine, while it is slowing down after having cleared itself of a cigarette starvation condition in a flow channel (2), comprises: a triggering circuit (A2, I1) pulsed by a stroboscopic switch (S1) at machine speed, and controlling two flip-flop counters (F1 and F2); a fault emission circuit (R1, C1, R2, C2 and A1) fed from the starvation detector switch (40); a main shut-down circuit (I2, S2) connected from the output of one flip-flop (F1); and a re-start circuit (C3, R3, S3) connected from the output of the other flip-flop (F2).

Abstract: A device is disclosed which grips and transfers articles from one conveyor to another conveyor or to containers on another conveyor. The incoming conveyed articles are sensed and the drive mechanism of an overhead vacuum conveyor which grips and transfers the articles is adjusted automatically to align a gripper with an article.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing liquid impregnated fabric wipes and packaging the wipes in a container. Fabric material in sheet form is initially passed through a folder to fold the side edge of the sheet, and the folded sheet then travels over a pair of liquid impregnating tubes where liquid is discharged from slots in the tubes against opposite faces of the folded sheet material. After impregnation with the liquid, several sheets are placed together in superimposed form and cut into short lengths to form wipes. The wipes are supported along their side edges by two pair of cooperating endless conveyor belts and as the wipes move along the conveyor, a reciprocating platen moves downwardly between the spaced belts to eject the wipes from the belts and pack the wipes into a container.

Abstract: A given number of sheets are set to a supply section and, after being bundled, supplied from the supply section. The bundled portion of the bundled sheets is read out by a reading-out unit and a sorting card is prepared by a sorting card preparing unit on the basis of read-out data. The thus set sheets are taken out sheet by sheet by a take-out unit and sorted by an inspection unit and sorting unit into normal sheets, soiled sheets and reject sheets. The reject sheets are collected, together with the sorting card, at a reject sheet sorting/collecting unit.

Abstract: An off-line system for handling elongated magnetic articles such as axially leaded diodes 12 includes a magnetic receiving chute 20, a blocking mechanism 45, a magnetic loading station 75 for supporting at least one tray 55 and for loading diodes 12 therein, and a drive train 115. The chute 20 receives the diodes 12 and guides such diodes downwardly to an outlet 24 and the tray 55. Over a major accessible face of the tray 55 a cover 63 is slidably removable from a second end 60. At the loading station 75, the tray 55 is disposed in an upright manner resting on the second end 60 at a first elevation with a first end 59 extending at least to the outlet 24 of chute 20. An elevating mechanism 80 applied to the end 60 elevates tray 55 to a second elevation, while the cover 63 remains at about the first elevation. A portion of tray 55 is thereby opened adjacent the first end 59 which opening abuts to and registers with the outlet 24 of chute 20.

Abstract: Labels with and without final item identification mark are put on the individual items in a label collocation station located upstream an item wrapping station followed by a film sealing and cutting station, a heating tunnel and a stacker. Reading means associated to the label collocation station read any identification marks on the labels and control feeding of recognition tabs onto the wrapped items from tab feeding means arranged between the sealing and cutting station and the heating tunnel. Tab detecting means arranged between the heating tunnel and the stacker control the stacker to terminate the formation of a batch of items when a tab on a wrapped item is detected.

Abstract: An apparatus incorporating a microprocessor control is provided for automatically loading nuclear fuel pellets into fuel rods commonly used in nuclear reactor cores. The apparatus comprises first and second elongated members having "V" troughs for alternately receiving a plurality of fuel pellets to be loaded alternately in first and second fuel rods. The pellets are weighed while in the "V" trough of each elongated member and each elongated member is alternately relocated in axial alignment with a cooperating fuel rod. A guide bushing assembly is provided to assist the transfer of the pellets from each of the elongated members into awaiting fuel rods. A rod handling assembly incorporating rod handling means, a thumper assembly to facilitate the loading of fuel pellets into the fuel rods, an adjustable fuel rod backstop and a rod carousel carrying a plurality of fuel rods, presents two fuel rods to the guide bushing assembly at the appropriate stage in the loading sequence.

Abstract: An apparatus incorporating a microprocessor control is provided for automatically loading nuclear fuel pellets into fuel rods commonly used in nuclear reactor cores. The apparatus comprises a split "V" trough for assembling segments of fuel pellets in rows and a shuttle to receive the fuel pellets from the split "V" trough when the two sides of the split "V" trough are opened. The pellets are weighed while in the shuttle, and the shuttle then moves the pellets into alignment with a fuel rod. A guide bushing is provided to assist the transfer of the pellets into the fuel rod. A rod carousel which holds a plurality of fuel rods presents the proper rod to the guide bushing at the appropriate stage in the loading sequence. The bushing advances to engage the fuel rod, and the shuttle advances to engage the guide bushing. The pellets are then loaded into the fuel rod by a motor operated push rod.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically dispensing stacks of cookies into the pockets of cookie packaging trays.The cookies are stacked edgewise on a delivery line which includes a cookie shingler and a cookie separator feeding the cookies one by one onto an accelerating conveyor, in a horizontal spaced-apart disposition. The dispenser assembly includes a stacking chamber into which the cookies are fed by the accelerating conveyor. The bottom of the stacking chamber is normally closed by a rotatable gate controlld by a gate actuating means which on receipt of an appropriate signal rotates the gate to drop the accumulated stack of cookies in the stacking chamber into the cookie tray pocket located therebelow. Cookie detector and counter means prevent actuation of the dispenser gate until a predetermined number of cookies have been deposited in the stacking chamber and then only when the tray conveyor has stopped to locate a tray pocket therebeneath.

Abstract: A cup packaging device for seriately receiving, counting and loosely nesting into a group on a first conveyor segment a preset number of cups, nesting the cups into a more tightly nested stack on a subsequent conveyor segment, conveying the tightly nested group of cups at an accelerated speed past a verifying device to determine if the number of cups in the group matches the previously counted number, laterally offloading to a holding tray a stack of cups in response to a count mismatch signal or a downstream component malfunction signal, advancing an acceptable stack into a bagging device, conveying the bagged stack longitudinally out of the bagging device and then transferring the stack laterally into a collection bin. The conveyor system comprises separately driven conveyor segments which are operated at speeds that vary from one another and are also changed during each cycle.

Abstract: A machine which drops flat articles such as flattened cartons into a case. The articles are delivered to a basket having a floor which can be opened. The basket is mounted for up and down movement. The case is mounted below the basket with its top open and can be held in position by vacuum cup means. When the stack has been formed, the flow of articles is halted and the basket can be lowered into close proximity to the open top of the case. The basket floor is opened to drop the stack into the case. If desired, two stack sections can be formed and dropped into a single case one after the other. When the stack has been dropped into the case, the basket is raised to free the basket from the case. The vacuum is released, and the case is then advanced laterally out of alignment with the basket. The case can then be raised by a lift table to a convenient height for inspection and, following inspection, can be discharged.

Abstract: A combination processing machine and stacker for papered food patties and like layered objects comprising an endless belt conveyor for transporting the previously assembled layered objects through a processing station; for hamburger patties the processing station may be a cuber, a garnish or seasoning applicator, or a cheese applicator. The discharge end of the conveyor belt is a stacking station at which the belt engages a nose sprocket and an idler sprocket both mounted on a shuttle reciprocably movable parallel to the conveyor path; when each layered object reaches an alignment stop at the end of the stacking station, the shuttle is shifted rapidly toward the input end of the conveyor, abruptly shortening the discharge end of the conveyor and dropping the object onto a stack accumulator below the shuttle with no change in orientation.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically dispensing stacks of cookies into the pockets of cookie packaging trays. A succession of multi-pocket cookie trays are intermittently advanced along a horizontal tray conveyor. Cookie delivery assemblies located in spaced relation along said tray conveyor each include a cookie delivery line and a cookie dispenser assembly which deposits stacks of cookies in the tray pockets during the dwell phase of the intermittent tray conveyor. Each said cookie delivery line includes a shingler assembly and a separator assembly. The shingler assembly comprises a pair of spaced parallel horizontal feed belts onto which the cookies are manually loaded in edge-supported face-abutting relation and an underlying shingling belt traveling at a faster speed than said feed belts. The feed belts serve to advance the array of cookies toward the separator assembly while the shingling belt engages the lower edges of the cookies and tilts the cookies into an inclined attitude.