Abstract: A device and a method for the separation of elongated parts (long parts) from bulk materials. The device comprises a conveying device (1), a deflecting device (2) and a rake with webs (4) being oriented longitudinally to the conveying direction. According to the method, the bulk material is transported on the conveying device (1), and then long parts (10) are oriented by means of a deflecting device (2) transversely to the conveying direction. After passing through the deflecting device (2), the transversely oriented long parts are transferred to the rake (4) and discharged as coarse materials (7). Compact parts (11) fall through this rake and thus end up in the fine material (6).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for feeding documents within a document processing machine. The feeder apparatus includes a first feeder paddle and a second feeder paddle, each capable of linear translatory motion within the document feed path, the first paddle being outwardly displaceable with respect to the document feed path, each paddle having a document support surface and a plurality of cutout features along the document surface that allow either paddle to singularly support the document stack, and that allow both the first and second paddle document surfaces to simultaneously occupy a common level plane within the document feed path. The method uses a first feeder paddle to feed a first stack of documents and a second feeder paddle to add a second stack of documents to the first stack without interrupting the feeding of the first stack, and using the first feeder paddle to feed the combined stack of documents.

Abstract: In a process of transporting a strip-shaped optical film F, the optical film F is cut to a predetermined length. Thereafter, the sheet-like optical films F divided by the cutting are intermittently transported while the strip-shaped optical film F is fed by the predetermined length such that a portion to be cut next reaches a cutting action position. Further, a leading one of the sheet-like optical films F in the intermittent transport process is transported to a continuous transport process such that a rear end thereof passes the intermittent transport process in a subsequent intermittent transport operation. Herein, the sheet-like optical film F is transported to the downstream-side continuous transport process following the intermittent transport process to continuously transport the optical film F.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus, by which a failure in control does not occur even if cutting wastes are conveyed by a conveying unit and an image forming apparatus having the sheet processing apparatus are provided. The sheet processing apparatus has a cutter unit for cutting a sheet, a dust box for accommodating the cutting wastes, a conveying belt pair which conveys the cut sheet, sensors for detecting the sheet conveyed by the conveying belt pair, and a controller for controlling conveyance of the sheet based on the signals detected by the sensors, wherein when the length of the sheet detected by the sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the controller does not determine the sheet as a sheet.

Abstract: Provided is a medicine cutting device capable of cutting an accommodated medicine into halves and discharging the cut medicines. A medicine cutting device for cutting and discharging medicines while moving one pill at a time includes: a first member disposed in parallel to a direction in which a medicine is supplied; and a second member facing the first member, wherein the medicine is disposed between the first member and the second member. The medicine is cut while the second member reciprocates with respect to the fixed first member, or the first member reciprocates with respect to the fixed second member, or the first member and the second member simultaneously reciprocate in a mutually proximal or distal direction.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a punch portion punching a hole at an end part of a sheet, and a push-out member discharging the sheet by pushing the end part of the sheet where the punch process is performed by the punch portion. The push-out member discharges the sheet at a sheet discharging speed lower than a predetermined speed from the intermediate process tray in accordance with punch process information (i.e., combination of a size and a type of the sheet and number, a shape and a size of holes) that strength of a sheet end part is decreased by the punch process, and is lower than predetermined sheet strength capable of being discharged at the predetermined speed.

Abstract: A device for cutting a textile yarn during its feed to an operator element such as a textile machine for its processing or a member for feeding it to such a machine. The device includes a blade member inserted into a housing presenting at least one aperture for passage of the yarn, the blade member carried by a movable support element subjected to an actuator for its movement. The movable support element being able to assume two working positions, a first position in which the blade member is spaced from the yarn and a second position in which the member cooperates with the yarn and cuts it. The actuator include a bistable electromagnet, a spring mounted about the movable support member urging the blade member into the cutting position.

Abstract: Machine for the preparation of pieces of an oval or spherical fruit, such as a melon or watermelon, comprising: a first cutting station (10), predisposed to cut a fruit (100) into round portions (101) along parallel planes; a second cutting station (20), with two or more shaped blades (21a, b,c) predisposed to cut the round portions (101) into prismatic fragments; a sorting device (40), predisposed to detect a diameter of said round portions (101) and to assign each round portion (101) to a shaped blade (21a,b,c), selected on the basis of the diameter of the round portion.

Abstract: A sheet is cut between a first conveying unit and a second conveying unit in a state in which the first and second conveying units halt and in which an upstream conveying unit conveys the sheet at a first speed; after the sheet is cut, the first conveying unit conveys the sheet at a second speed higher than the first speed to reduce a slack formed during the halting; after the sheet is cut, the second conveying unit conveys the downstream-side sheet at a third speed higher than the first speed; if the third conveying unit is nipping the sheet during cutting, the third conveying unit conveys the sheet at the third speed; and if the third conveying unit is not nipping the sheet, the third conveying unit conveys the sheet at the third speed or a fourth speed after the detecting unit detects the sheet.

Abstract: In a state that a reference plane of a cutter holder, to which a cutter blade is attached, is brought into contact with a surface of a base of a supporting adhesive tape, the cutter blade cuts the supporting adhesive tape while the reference plane of the cutter holder follows the surface of the base. Herein, a cutting edge of the cutter blade passes by a joining interface between the supporting adhesive tape and a ring frame without penetrating through an adhesive layer of the supporting adhesive tape.

Abstract: A food handling system having a positioning system and method. The positioning system includes a main conveying surface, an electronic sensor, a controller and a robot. The main conveying surface is configured to move food products. The electronic sensor is configured to capture position data about one or more food products on the main conveying surface within a sensor range of the sensor. The controller is signal-connected to the electronic sensor and the robot. The controller is configured to receive data captured by the sensor and is configured to instruct the robot to move a food product to a destination position. The robot is configured to reposition one or more food products on the conveying surface according to instructions sent by the controller. The robot has a longitudinal and a lateral working range. The food product may include formed meat patties or sliced meat or cheese products.

Abstract: A food handling system having a vacancy reduction system. The vacancy reduction system includes the main conveyor, a food product parking station, a vacancy detector, a robot, and a controller. The vacancy detector is configured to detect a vacant food product position on the main conveyor. The robot has a working range for moving between the parking station and the main conveyor. The controller is signal-connected to the vacancy detector. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the vacancy detector indicating a vacant food product position on the conveyor. The controller is signal-connected to the robot and has control instructions for instructing the robot to move the food product from the food product parking station to the vacant food product position on the main conveyor.

Abstract: A sales slip printer for segments (26) that are to be separated from a continuous paper strip (14) with a V-shaped knife (18) and a stacking tray (24) for the segments (26) separated from the continuous paper strip (14) located behind an output channel (12), which is separated from the output channel (12) by projections (28) extending in the side edge areas of the output channel (12), and a slide (30), which pushes through the already separated edges of the continuous paper strip (14) into the stacking tray (24) between the projections (28) during a cutting action.

Abstract: A limiting device to prevent unwanted removal of paper from a paper or ticket printing and dispensing apparatus for paper roll printers, including paper cutter actuating means, positioned between a ticket dispensing exit and a cutting device to cut paper onto which printing has taken place and for controlling feeding of the paper and for controlling operation of the printer; activation of the cutting device is responsive to either an incompletely printed ticket or an action externally of said apparatus or to completion of any printing onto the ticket; a movable member or curved door is provided to more from a deactivation position to an activation position to control the operation of the paper cutter and the curved door is responsive to completion of a ticket printing operation or an occlusion at the dispensing exit or to a pre-set printing operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for molding a honeycomb structure provided with an extruder for the honeycomb structure capable of extruding a honeycomb structure in the gravity direction or an oblique direction at an angle of smaller than 30° with the gravity direction and at least one cradle, said apparatus being provided with a means of being able to place the honeycomb structure extending in length with progress of extrusion on the cradle with cell opening end face 9 of the honeycomb structure being pressure contacted with the cradle under a pressure smaller than the compressive strength at the end face and then to move the cradle at a speed capable of keeping the pressure contact state and in the same direction as the lengthwise direction of the honeycomb structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a honeycomb structure having an extruder, at least one cradle and a cutting device comprising a small-gage wire for cutting the honeycomb structure and a notching member; said cradle is provided with a means capable of moving the honeycomb structure extruded from the extruder in the lengthwise direction of the honeycomb structure at nearly the same speed as the extrusion speed of the honeycomb structure, said cutting device is constructed so that the cutting small-gage wire is moved to the honeycomb structure side on the same plane as the plane of stretched small-gage wire, a cutting induction groove is formed on the outer peripheral side surface of the honeycomb structure by the notching member, and immediately thereafter the cutting small-gage wire is positioned in the induction groove, and the cutting small-gage wire is pressed into the honeycomb structure to cut the honeycomb structure.

Abstract: A conveyor (22) moves workpieces (WP) past a scanning station (40) to ascertain one or more physical parameters of the workpiece (WP) and to a portioning station (24) wherein the workpiece (WP) is portioned into desired smaller portions. Thereafter, the conveyor (22) carries a portioned workpiece (WP) to an unloading station (26) where one or more pickup devices (28) removes specific portioned workpieces (PP) from the conveyor and places the portioned workpieces onto take away conveyors (30) for other locations remote from the first conveyor. A control system, composed in part of a computer (42), keeps track of the locations of the workpieces (WP) on the conveyor (22) and also optionally on the take away conveyor (30) so that portioned pieces (PP) are placed at specific desired locations remote from the conveyor (22) by the pickup devices (28).

Abstract: A reject mechanism (10) for use with a slitter (S) which slits a printed metal sheet (B) into segments (s) subsequently used to form containers. The mechanism is mounted at the outlet of the slitter to deflect rejected segments from a collection bin (C) to which acceptable segments are delivered for further use in container manufacture. The mechanism comprises a series of pneumatically actuated reject fingers (14) normally positioned beneath a path over which the segments pass from the slitter to the collection bin. However, when a reject segment approaches the mechanism, a piston (16) is activated to extend the fingers into the path of the segment to deflect the segment off its path into another collection area in which rejected segments are collected. The fingers are then retracted so that succeeding acceptable segments pass freely over the path.

Abstract: A paper cutter is provided for a photographic processing system which processes photographic materials while collating the photographic materials on the basis of identification marks which have been recorded in advance, by codes which can be read by machine and by operator, on at least one of a photographic film for image recording and an accommodating body which accommodates the photographic film, said paper cutter cutting per print an elongated photographic printing paper on which images recorded on a photographic film have been printed successively and on which an index print has been printed in succession with the printed images. A bar code reader functions to read a bar code (an identification mark) applied to an index print. When conveying of a photographic printing paper is stable, the bar code reader opposes a bar code, and the conveying of the photographic printing paper is stopped.

Abstract: The belt-shaped member supplying method and apparatus are used for cutting a long material paid out of a winding roll into a belt-shaped member of a predetermined length and supplying the belt-shaped member onto a winding drum by means of a transfer device.

Abstract: Veneer handling apparatus having a veneer clipper at one end thereof and a veneer sheet stacker at the other end is disclosed. Veneer sheets cut into a format size by the clipper are sorted so as to allow defective sheets to be discharged from the apparatus. Sound veneer sheets sorted from the defective sheets are distributed selectively into two ways alternately. Two conveyors arranged one above the other and converging at a position adjacent their downstream ends are provided in the apparatus, and one sheet is distributed to the upper conveyor and stopped at a predetermined position thereon until its succeeding sheet distributed to the lower conveyor is moved to another predetermined position. The sheet on the upper conveyor is allowed to move again at such controlled time that it is combined at the converging position with the succeeding sheet moving on the lower conveyor into a pair with one sheet placed over the other.

Abstract: Paperback books are fed one by one from a supply hopper to a stripper which separates the cover from the rest of the book and directs the book cover to a sorter; while directing the rest of the book for other disposition. A feed device receive each cover from the stripper and moves it to a sorter so that covers are spaced from each other a distance equal to the size of a bin of the cover sorter. Computer and electronic controls interconnect the supply feed, stripper and sorter, and include: a trigger, in the form of a notched wheel cooperating with a photocell circuit, to trigger required cover spacing; a senser to read UPC markings carried by the cover; and control and computer components to divert covers to appropriate sorting bins while counting the covers so sorted. Feed controls are provided to maintain cover feed through the sorter until all covers are sorted, even though feed of books from the supply hopper has ceased.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the continuous production of capacitors of the stacked type, wherein a stock or matrix capacitor in the form of a parallelepipedal bar is cut into elementary capacitors of which the lateral connections formed by the application of molten metal (Schoop process) are subsequently connected to electrical connecting wires. In accordance with the invention, the transfer from the cutting station to the soldering station for the connecting wires is performed by means of a gripper whose jaws are applied on the lateral connections formed by the application of molten metal and make it possible to inject an electrical checking signal between the plates of the capacitor during the transfer operation.

Abstract: A stacking conveyor is provided for receiving thin product slices moving along a horizontal path and placing a plurality of slices in stacks of predetermined configuration. One embodiment of the stacking conveyor includes a conveyor belt carried on a fixed position frame and is oscillated to receive a predetermined number of slices forming a stack and then revolved to discharge the formed stack. A second embodiment of the stacking conveyor includes a conveyor belt carried on a movable frame that is reciprocated to receive a slice while moving in one direction and then discharging the slice while moving in the opposite direction. Each of the two embodiments is adapted to be mechanically coupled with an apparatus forming the slices to either revolve the conveyor belt or to displace the conveyor belt at the same speed as the slice being received.

Abstract: Cop preparation plant, including a device for locating, drawing off and cutting to length thread ends of a spinning cop, a device disposed down stream of the locating, drawing off and cutting device in travel direction of the cops, for separating spinning cops having thread ends of a substandard length from other spinning cops, and a device disposed down stream of the separating device for retracting the separated cops into another cop separating device connected in series with the cop preparation plant.

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: An apparatus and method are provided for receiving products, such as stacks of sliced luncheon meat, in an intermittent flow pattern, for conveying the products in two generally parallel paths at two different flow rates, and for merging the two generally parallel paths into a single path through which the products flow on a non-intermittent basis. The two generally parallel paths have a fill mode during which an intermittent grouping of products are received onto the conveyor path, as well as a feed mode during which the intermittent grouping of products are fed in a continuous flow to a merging device. When one of the conveyor paths is in its fill mode, the other conveyor path is in its feed mode, and vice versa. The speed of each conveyor path during its fill mode is greater than that during its feed mode.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for slicing elongated products, such as sausages. A pair of product engaging members are driven simultaneously in opposite directions so that one member can feed the product to a slicer while the other member is returning to the start position. A magazine may be provided for storing a supply of products and automatically discharging the product in timed relationship with the product engaging members. In addition, the product engaging members may have tines for gripping the product during feeding to the slicer and for releasing the waste end of the product during the return stroke.

Abstract: Discharging device for an extrusion press, including a frame being movable in the axial direction of the press; a first part being connected to the frame and adjustable in height, the first part including a substantially flat plate and cutting means; a second part being movable relative to the frame and being adjustable in height, the second part including a horizontally disposed axle, a conveyor belt being suspended from the axle and tiltable about the axis of the press, and a coupling for the conveyor belt; a coupling rod for the cutting means being engageable with the coupling for periodically connecting the cutting means to the conveyor belt; and a continuously variable drive driving the conveyor belt.

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: An automatic numerically controlled slotting or notching press arrangement which includes a multi-armed feed and removing device having a turnstile or turntable which is selectively indexed or rotated so as to convey blanks to various processing stations. The feeding and removing device is adapted to transfer the blanks from at least one stack unloading station to a centering or aligning station, a locating or turning station, a processing station, a stator stacking station, and a rotor stacking station. A numerically controlled indexing unit (a clamping table for blanks to be processed) and a numerically controlled tool changing is provided. The stack unloading station and the rotor stacking station form the first and last processing stations and are linked by a conveying device which operates independently of the turnstile or turntable of the feeding and removing device.

Abstract: A forging machine is disclosed which is provided with means to determine when an undersized or short blank is produced by the shear and to provide for the automatic rejection of such blank. Such short blanks can occur if the stock feed into the shear is insufficient. The illustrated embodiment includes a shear for progressively cutting blanks from the forward end of a piece of stock in which the shear is provided with a load cell in the stock gauge to determine when improper feeding has occurred. Such load cell includes a strain gauge and the signal produced by the strain gauge actuates an overstroke ejection which pushes the blank from the first working station through the transfer fingers so that it does not transfer to a subsequent work station. The overstroke is provided by a piston and cylinder actuator mounted on the ejector lever which operates in response to a signal that the blank in the work station is of improper size.

Abstract: The size of the gap between the leading and trailing portions of a severed web is monitored with respect to an upper limit. The severed web is cut into box blanks which are transported on a stacker conveyor in shingled relation. The speed of the severed web through the corrugator is continuously controlled to prevent the gap from exceeding the limit when the gap reaches the stacker conveyor. Alternatively, the stacker conveyor is temporarily stopped until the size of the gap falls below the limit, and the stacker conveyor is re-started before the gap can close. In either case, the gap control prevents bumping of consecutive box blanks on the stacker conveyor following a change-over of production runs while insuring that the first blank of the new production run shingles on the last blank of the old production run with sufficient tail to insure retention of the first blank by stacker conveyor suction cups or tail grabbers.

Abstract: A photographic print cutting and sorting apparatus cuts photographic prints from a continuous roll of processed photographic print paper and sorts the individual prints into good, remake and reject prints. The print sorter includes a main conveyor line or chute for good prints, a first branch conveyor line or chute for remake prints, and a second branch conveyor line or chute for reject prints. First and second diverters are provided for diverting the remake and reject prints into the first and second branch conveyor lines. The operation of the diverters is based upon remake and reject indicia marked on photographic prints and sensed by an indicia sensor. A print sensor located near the discharge ends of the main conveyor line and the first and second branch conveyor lines provides a signal when a trailing edge of a print passes the print sensor. A control circuit receives signals from the indicia sensor and the print sensor and controls the operation of the cutter and the first and second diverters.

Abstract: An arrangement for notching or slotting circular blanks so as to produce stacks of rotor and/or stator laminations for electric machines. At least one slotting machine is provided which in a first direction is adjustable radially with respect to a spatially fixed axis of rotation of a blank support table by way of a separate adjusting drive. The support table for the blanks, constructed as an indexing apparatus, may be driven by a numerically controlled adjusting drive. The at least one slotting machine is movable in a second direction at right angles to the first direction by way of a further adjusting drive. The stacks of lamination produced by the punching arrangement may include spiral slots or notches as well as oblique slots or notches enabling the production of special motors having a cone or tapered armature.

Abstract: In a machine for cutting a paper web into sheets and forming them into a stack, the sheets are fed from the cutter to a primary conveyor on which they are spaced apart, and then to a secondary conveyor driven at a slower speed so that the sheets are overlapped, and finally fed onto the top of a stack. In one arrangement a pair of rollers, between which the sheets are gripped, is positioned between adjacent ends of the primary and secondary conveyors, which rollers are driven at a speed which is cyclically variable between the speeds of the two conveyors so as to decelerate the sheets. In another arrangement the secondary conveyor is dispensed with and the sheets are fed directly onto the stack from the variable speed rollers.

Abstract: A machine for picking up stacks of sliced food obtained from a slicer and loading the stacks into cavities of a packager which then encloses same. The machine includes a transmission driven in synchronism with the packager that pivots a placer having spring closed doors for stack support from a load position wherein a ram loads each cavity, to an upper pick up position on an inclined, transmission driven, conveyor having suitable stops. The stops retract, and the conveyor pivots downwardly, as the placer moves the stacks to the load position without interference with the stops and the conveyor. Suitable feed conveyors load an escapement for the stacks for the sequential movement of the stacks to the stop positions. A control system is provided to regulate the flow of stacks from the slicer to the loader for continuous loader operation if desired.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking filled flat bags advanced thereto in at least one coherent row forming a bag web of indeterminate length, comprises an advancing arrangement for feeding the bag web vertically downwardly; an orienting arrangement for imparting a back-and-forth oscillating motion on the downwardly advancing bag web; a collecting arrangement situated below the orienting arrangement in the path of the bag web for receiving the bag web in zigzag-folded layers; and a synchronizing arrangement for coordinating the operational speed of the advancing arrangement with that of the orienting arrangement for determining the length of the zigzag-folded layers deposited on the collecting arrangement.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for automatically forming piles out of strips exiting from a machine on which the said strips are produced, comprising at the top, a pair of parallel rods placed downstream with respect to the said cutting device, and supported at their ends by corresponding brackets connected to the base frame, the said rods being provided centrally with a support member for sustaining the packs of strips in a horizontal position and able to rotate, in opposite directions, in order to release the pack of strips which, once freed, falls, suitably guided, on to a collection pallet placed on a driven conveyor, located downstream of the machine, which continues to operate until a number of vertical piles of strips have been formed on the pallet, after which the pallet is sent towards a discharge station.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a glass fiber chopped strand mat is disclosed, in which the dropping direction of chopped strands is detected at all times, so that whenever the dropping direction is varied, immediately the relative position of an axis of a feed roller and an axis of a cutter roller with respect to a stationary structure is displaced so as to correct the dropping direction thereby to uniformly accumulate the chopped strands on a conveyer means.

Abstract: A machine for trimming the edges of a panel in which the panel is introduced on a table of belts to a pair of spaced saws which trim the side edges of the panel, the panel being then passed through a device which increases its speed and separates it from succeeding panels and onto a rack which when the panel reaches a predetermined position descends to carry the panel to the bed of a carriage where it is clamped in squared position so that when the carriage is moved to carry the clamped panel past a second pair of spaced saws the end edges of the panel are trimmed preferably at an angle of 90.degree. from the sawed side edges of the panel.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying filter-tipped cigarettes, comprises means for receiving two streams of such cigarettes with the filters of the two streams facing in opposite directions, means for conveying the two streams side by side while twisting the streams in opposite directions about longitudinal axes of the streams so that the cigarettes of the two respective streams are then parallel, with the filters all facing in the same direction, and means for merging the two streams.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing flat strip material including cutting apparatus for cutting the material and to strip portions and stacking apparatus having air cushion means for stacking the strip portions one on top of the other. An accelerating anchoring roller, having vacuum or magnet devices therein for attracting the sheet portions thereto are provided for the exclusive transfer of the strip portions from the position were cut in the cutting apparatus in positions at the inlet of the stacking apparatus where the air cushion takes over the conveyance and stacking of the strip portions.

Abstract: The meat slice stacking apparatus includes a carrier on which meat slices are piled in discrete stacks and means for dropping successive meat slices onto the stacks; said dropping means including a trap which is alternately movable between a closed position in which it takes delivery of a meat slice from a transport and an open position in which it drops the meat slice onto the stack; the movements of the trap being governed by a sensor which senses meat slices on the transport as it carried them past a sensing station located to sense successive meat slices following the leading meat slices on the transport whereby to procure closing of the trap before said leading meat slices are respectively delivered to and seated on the trap.

Abstract: A conveyor handling system, includes three paths along which articles travel, and a diverter located in an intermediate portion of the paths and operative to effect transfer between the paths. Sensors located upstream and downstream of the diverter monitor the rate at which the articles arrive at and leave the diverter. A comparator is responsive to the downstream sensor to cause the diverter to direct the articles between the paths in such a sense as to maintain the rates of flow of articles along the three paths downstream of the diverter substantially equal. A control unit responds to the upstream sensor to determine whether there is sufficient space for each article to be transferred transversely of the direction of motion to an adjacent path without reducing a predetermined minimum spacing requirement for the articles in each path. If there is insufficient space to effect a transfer, the control unit acts to inhibit the diverter from performing such a transfer.

Abstract: A system for loading a continuously moving conveyor belt comprises a slicer for producing bacon strips from a bacon slab, a conveyor for conveying bacon strips from the slicer, and a transfer station for transferring bacon strips from a serial arrangement on the conveyor to a side-by-side arrangement of spaced transverse rows on the continuously moving conveyor belt. A novel control system is provided to coordinate the operation of the slicer and the transfer station to obtain a continuous and uniform loading of the conveyor belt and to avoid the production of partial or deformed bacon strips by the slicer. The loading system is particularly well adapted to loading unfried bacon strips onto the conveyor of a bacon frying oven.

Abstract: This method and apparatus starts with a lot of distinctively numbered documents consisting of a plurality of stacks of sheets, each sheet bearing multiple reproductions of the document. The documents in corresponding locations of successive sheets in the stack are in consecutive numerical order. In each sheet, the documents are arranged by rows and columns in an arbitrary, nonconsecutive numerical order in which successive members of the order bear numbers separated by a fixed difference. The method involves separating the stacks of documents into a plurality of piles, each pile having its documents in consecutive numerical order, but with the corresponding documents in successive piles separated by said fixed difference. The piles from successive stacks are deposited on successive ones of a plurality of tributary conveyors, all of which deliver their piles to a main conveyor.

Abstract: An automated envelope opener receives a stack of unopened envelopes of varying sizes, types and shapes, and feeds these envelopes individually to a cutting station. An edge of each envelope is automatically aligned with a reference surface, whereby each such aligned envelope edge can be cut at the cutting station by a rotating multi-toothed cutter and stationary anvil which are also aligned with the reference surface. In a preferred embodiment, means are additionally provided for shingling and stacking the envelopes after they have been cut open.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting, sorting and stacking paper or the like in sheet form is disclosed which includes means for collecting packets of sheets in tandem on a collecting drum prior to discharging the collected sheets to the stacker. The basic components consist of a sheet cutting section, a sheet collecting section, a sheet slow down section and a stacker unit. In the tandem collect mode of operation, the length of the cut sheets must be less than one-half the circumference of the collecting drum and the drive ratio between the sheet cutting section and the sheet collecting section is set at 2:1. Packets of sheets containing an odd number of sheets are collected in tandem on the collecting drum with the use of air showers that are controlled by microswitches in an air shower control unit that is driven by the cutting drum.