Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and a server for allocating game resources, which belongs to the field of network technology. The method includes: receiving a game participation request including game subzone information sent by a user; when the user enters a game subzone identified by the game subzone information, assigning the user to a waiting queue corresponding to the user in the game subzone in accordance with a predetermined condition; and when the user is successfully assigned to the waiting queue, selecting participants to play in the same group with the user from waiting queues other than the waiting queue of the user, and allocating game resources for the user and the selected participants. The present technical solution can effectively reduce occurrence of the game participants' cheating.

Abstract: An infeed station has a carriage that is supported on a machine frame of the infeed station in a way that allows it to be moved laterally and a stack conveyor mounted on the carriage for conveying stacks from an infeed position to a transfer position, from which the stacks can each be removed by the stack gripper. The stacks can be centered in two stack chambers, which are arranged side by side on the carriage. A stop element supported on the carriage is assigned to each stack chamber and can be moved between a working position and a retracted position, such that in their working position, the stop elements project into the associated stack chamber in such a way that the stacks can be moved by the stack gripper from a forward holding position of the transfer position towards the stop elements and placed against the stop elements. The stacks positioned on the stop elements are gripped by the stack gripper between a finger and pressing means and conveyed to a pallet.

Abstract: A method of forming layered stacks of bundles includes providing a gripping appliance comprising a first gripping assembly and a second gripping assembly. The first gripping assembly is configured for grasping one or more first bundles and the second gripping assembly is configured for grasping one or more second bundles. The first and second gripping assemblies are configured such that first and second bundles grasped thereby may be reoriented relative to one another. The method further includes retrieving from a first location one or more first bundles with the first gripping assembly and one or more second bundles with the second gripping assembly and transporting the first and second bundles to a second location, During transport of the first and second bundles, the bundles are reoriented relative to one another. The bundles are deposited at a selected position in the second location to form at least a partial layer of a layered stack of bundles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a collecting and conveying device for stacks of sheet layers, comprising a feed conveyor (1) for the sheet layers, —a collecting station (3) in which stacks (4) are formed by the layers of sheets, —a removal conveyor (7) for removing the completed stacks (4), and—a transfer unit for moving the stacks from the collecting station to the removal conveyor (7), wherein the collecting station comprises a series of support elements (6) and a series of delimiting and shaking elements (8), wherein the transfer unit comprises a series of sliding elements (10), wherein in each case a sliding element (10) together with a support element (6) and a delimiting and shaking element (8) can be adjusted transversely.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming stacks of flat objects 12, in particular printed products, comprises a compartment 10 which is mounted for selective rotation about a vertical axis and whose compartment space 10? is bounded on two mutually opposite sides by bounding elements 68, 72. In the ejection direction A, the compartment is bounded by upstream guide elements 66 and downstream guide elements 70. The flat objects 12 are fed to the compartment 10 from above and come to lie in a stack formed on the compartment base 28. The upstream guide elements 66 and downstream guide elements 70 can be moved independently of one another in order, firstly, to permit the ejection of the stack formed and, secondly, to permit the stacked objects 12 to be held firmly during the rotation of the compartment 10.

Abstract: An input device delivers objects one at a time to a transfer station next to a conveyor extending in a transport direction. A cassette defines an upwardly open stack well shaped to receive the objects and has a floor. The cassette is held in an upstream stack-forming position underneath the input device while the input device drops the objects one at a time into the well, and the floor of the cassette is stepped downward each time an object is dropped into the well by a distance generally equal to a vertical height of the object. When a predetermined number of the objects has been dropped into the well, the cassette is displaced downstream out of the upstream stack-forming position synchronously with the conveyor at the transport speed while the stack of objects in the well is pushed transversely of the direction out of the well into the conveyor.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to minimize the number of in-process items. To this end, in an inter-process buffer controlling apparatus according to the invention, the size of a buffer to be used for storage of work subjects of predetermined work is increased if a difference or a ratio between a variance of first intervals at which the work subjects are delivered to the buffer and a variance of duration that is taken for the preceding process exceeds a prescribed first threshold value, and the size of the buffer is decreased if a difference or a ratio between an average of second intervals at which work subjects generated by the work are delivered to the following buffer and an average of the first intervals exceeds a prescribed second threshold value.

Abstract: A device for pushing a stack of printed products from a table on which the stack is stacked has a stacking receptacle provided on the table and receiving the printed products for stacking. The stacking receptacle is defined by four lateral edges of the printed products and has two opposed lateral guide walls viewed in a pushing direction of pushing out the stack of printed products. The guide walls each have vertical guide rails moveable along the guide walls in the pushing direction. The guide rails on the opposed guide walls are positioned opposite one another in guide rail pairs forming a forward receptacle boundary and a rearward receptacle boundary in the pushing direction. The rearward receptacle boundary in the pushing direction is a pushing device for the stack of printed products.

Abstract: A method packs input rectangles into a target rectangle. The rectangles are permuted into one or more an ordered list according to dimensions of the rectangles, e.g., width, height, perimeter, and area. The rectangles are then marked as unaccepted. A next unaccepted rectangle is selected from the ordered list beginning with a first rectangle in the list. Accepting the next rectangle if it is the last unaccepted rectangles, and otherwise, accepting the next rectangle with a probability p, and marking the next rectangle as accepted, and repeating the steps until all rectangles have been accepted.

Abstract: A boom and linkage mechanism for a skid-steer loader includes a frame and a right and a left loader arms. An implement may be vertically pivotally mounted to the forward ends of the loader arms, and a pair of tilt actuators may be respectively connected between the forward ends and the implement. Right and left forward guide links are connected between the frame and the loader arms. Right and left rearward guide links are connected substantially proximate to a rear of the frame and the loader arms. The lower ends of the rear guide links may be substantially lower than the lower ends of the forward guide links. Right and left lift actuators may; be connected between the frame and the loader arms. The right and left lift actuators may extend and retract to raise the right and left loader arms such that the implement moves between a fully lowered position and a fully raised position, and wherein the fully raised position is located substantially vertically above the fully lowered position.

Abstract: A cart loading system for loading materials on a cart in a orderly and compact manner even if the materials being loaded have different dimensions. The cart loading system includes a frame for positioning on a floor surface adjacent to a material shaping table, and at least one material support arm assembly for moving a piece of material from the material shaping table to a position over the frame. A carriage assembly is provided for moving a material cart in a first direction and a second direction with respect to the frame, and includes a subframe movable in the second direction on the frame and a shuttle mounted movable in the first direction with respect to the subframe. A first moving assembly is provided for moving the shuttle in the first direction on the subframe, and a second moving assembly is provided for moving the carriage assembly in the second direction on the frame. A detection assembly detects movement of material on the support arm assembly and generates a detection signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for gathering successive sheets of a scalloped stream in an adjustable receptacle has a pivotable first stop in front of and a longitudinally adjustable second stop behind the receptacle. The second stop is shifted, together with the conveyor for the stream, toward or away from the first stop when the length of the sheets forming the stream is changed. The effective width of the receptacle is adjusted when a stream of relatively narrow sheets is followed by a stream of wider sheets or vice versa.

Abstract: A tortilla stacker has stacker and lift subassemblies that may be logically programmed for simultaneous operation in differing configurations of tortilla numbers and sizes.

Abstract: An object-sorting system has a conveyor having a horizontally extending stretch, a plurality of pushers fixed on and spaced along the conveyor and extending upward from the stretch thereof, and an upright chute adapted to hold a stack of objects and having a downwardly open outlet spaced above an upstream end of the conveyor stretch. An elongated support surface extends horizontally above the stretch and has an upstream end below the outlet port. A drive advances the stretch and thereby displaces the pushers downstream past the outlet so that the pushers engage at least a lowermost object of the stack in the chute and move the engaged object(s) downstream along the support surface. The support surface can pivot about an axis at the support-surface downstream end and thereby change a vertical spacing between the support surface upstream end and the outlet port.

Abstract: A newspaper product conveyance device is provided for feeding a newspaper inserter including a chassis having a transfer belt extending at an incline between a first end of the chassis and a discharge area located adjacent a second end of the chassis. The conveyance device further comprises a roller assembly including a plurality of rollers, the roller assembly extends at an angle from the chassis adjacent the first end and defines with the first end of the chassis a newspaper product feed area for holding a stack of newspaper products. A motor is provided for advancing the transfer belt to move the newspaper products from the product feed area to the discharge area, whereby the roller assembly and transfer belt cooperate to cause a uniform stream of newspaper product to be transported to the discharge area for discharge to the inserter.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus for stacked articles, such as stacked plastic or paper bags, includes a frame, and a plurality of sprocket assemblies about which one or more conveyor chains extend. The apparatus includes a plurality of wicket wire holding assemblies mounted on the chains at spaced apart intervals for intermittent, incremental movement along a conveyor path defined by the conveyor chains. Each of the holding assemblies includes a pair of support arms, and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the spacing between the arms. The apparatus includes an arrangement for simultaneously adjusting the spacing between the support arms of all of the holding assemblies, including an adjustment drive chain trained about the sprocket assemblies, and a mechanism for moving the adjustment drive chain relative to the conveyor chains of the apparatus.

Abstract: An automated circuit board tester comprises an unstacker (1) arranged upstream of a testing device and which by means of a circuit board picker (40) arranged above a chute (30) picks a top-most circuit board from a stack of circuit boards (55) located in the chute (30). The chute (30) comprises a lifting device including at least two sets of vertically travelling supporting elements (38, 101), each of which is able to carry a stack of circuit boards (55). The chute (30) is open at least on one side so that a set of supporting elements (38, 101) can be loaded while a stack of circuit boards (55) located on the other set of supporting elements (38, 101) is unstacked by the circuit board picker (40).

Abstract: A lead frame unloading apparatus includes a pair of opposing plate members, one of which has a long horizontal slit. The opposing plate members define a central space where one or more sliding blocks are located, each of the sliding blocks having a vertical through hole at its center. A picker penetrates through the vertical hole within each respective sliding block, each picker is immobilized when it contacts a lead frame for pickup thereby allowing the sliding block to move vertically up and down on the immobilized pickers, each of the pickers having a vacuum suction device at one end thereof, and a vacuum screw at the other end thereof. The vacuum screw has a hollow projection connected to a vacuum supplier. A spring is disposed beneath respective of the one or more sliding blocks, with the spring being fitted to an outside of the vacuum suction device. Spring stoppers support the springs and fastening devices fasten the one or more sliding blocks to the opposing plate members.

Abstract: In order to increase the efficiency of an arrangement for distributing articles for dispatch with a distributing conveyor, a transfer device is proposed. The distributing conveyor is used to deliver the articles for dispatch to collecting containers that are arranged at delivery locations along a conveying route of the distributing conveyor. The transfer device responds to transfer signals emitted by a control device that respectively designate a delivery location of a collecting container, and is used for transferring the collecting containers between the delivery locations and a predetermined transporting route for the collecting containers.

Abstract: A variable cut sheet stacker has an internal stacking volume that is readily adjusted (in length, width and height) for a large variety of form sizes and thicknesses. First and second side members are spaced from each other horizontally and the positions between them can be adjusted, typically uniformly moved with respect to a central support. An inlet and support is provided in an inlet for the stacker, having a ramp, and an outlet end guide is adjustable with respect to the inlet end support. A top conveyor conveys cut sheets past the inlet support toward the outlet end guide in a first direction, and a bottom support is vertically spaced in an adjustable manner from the top conveyor for supporting cut sheets. The open interior volume defined by these elements is substantially a rectangular prism. The top conveyor includes a frame that is pivotable about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the first direction to move between a conveyance position and an adjustment-facilitating position.

Abstract: An automated, fully adjustable high speed lid dropper (10) including an upright set of guide rods (26) for supporting a stack of lids (12) above a conveyor (16), a set of three feed screws (62) for capturing the lowest lid at the bottom of stack (12) and feeding it onto a can positioned therebelow, a pivotal crank arm (64) for each feed screw for radially adjusting the feed screw, and a height adjustment mechanism (22) for vertically adjusting the position of the feed screws above the cans.

Abstract: The stacking device for printed products includes a rotatable turntable platform for stacking articles, an ejection assembly for ejecting stacks of articles from the platform, and a positioning device for positioning the turntable for two direction ejection. The positioning device allows the turntable to be arranged for ejecting stacks either parallel or normal to a direction in which articles are fed into the stacking device. This versatility of output allows the stacking device to be incorporated into a plant arrangement more easily and reduces floor space and expense of the entire system. The stacking device also includes an article receiving portion which receives and accommodates articles of differing heights without changing an infeed location of the stacking device.

Abstract: A bottom sheet storage and feeder apparatus for use with one or more load forming or stacking machines for the purpose of providing one or more bottom sheets for protecting the load. The apparatus chooses a bottom sheet stored in one of a plurality of vertically stacked bins and sequentially moves one or more of the individual bottom sheets longitudinally to a destination location in a plurality of lay down patterns. The machine is constructed with a frame which supports a plurality of vertically spaced storage bins. A lifting assembly, transported by a transfer assembly, includes at least one laterally positioned vacuum member which engages and lifts an individual bottom sheet from one of the storage bins and delivers the selected bottom sheet to a destination location in a selected lay down position. Several lay down patterns may be made by subsequent cycles of the lift and transfer assembly from the storage bins to the destination location.

Abstract: For the initial operation or changeover of a can body welding machine, a modular stack magazine to guide and hold a stack of blanks has adjustable stack supports with holding surfaces projecting under the lowermost blank. These stack supports are adjustably mounted on a frame which is releasably connected to a blank separating device. To assist the destacking of individual blanks, adjustable spreading air feed elements are also fitted to the frame. These adjustable components together with the frame form an exchangeable module, so that once their settings have been carried out--the setting operations being inherently complex, because as they are governed by many other parameters besides size of blank they have to be arrived at empirically, and they must be made all over again if just one of those parameters is altered--the module can be stored ready for reuse after maintenance operations, or after the use of another module.

Abstract: A stack tube type feeder is designed to be versatile to dispense a variety of parts. The part dependent components of the feeder can be either selectively interchanged or adjusted to accommodate a wider variety of parts. Specifically, a part feeder includes a tube guide assembly for holding a plurality of part supply tubes. Within the tube guide assembly removable front and rear stops prevent longitudinal movement of the part supply tube in the feed position. Included is a removably mounted guide track element having a guide track as part of the feed guide path. The changeover mechanism of the present invention includes removable front and rear tube supports for supporting the part supply tube in the feed position, and removable and adjustable front and rear singulator elements for supporting a next fed tube in a staging position. Preferably, a pusher mechanism includes a pusher tape and pusher element which are driven to advance the parts from the part supply tubes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hold-back device for use with a magazine of an article-handling apparatus. The hold-back device includes a frame defining a feed gap through which articles from the magazine are fed. A plurality of threaded members are threadingly mounted in threaded openings defined by the frame. The threaded members have distal ends adapted to extend into the feed gap to hold back the articles held by the magazine. By threading the threaded members in or out of the frame, the distal ends of the threaded members can be set to desired positions in the feed gap.

Abstract: In a device for the automatic forming of packs of trimmed metal sheets for armatures of electrical machinery or the like, the pack (P') is formed by the controlled drop of a sheet stack (P) housed in a tubular magazine (1) open at the bottom. The pack is dropped against an underlying collection bottom (2) which is brought to a predefined distance from the lower end of the magazine (1). A tightening clamp (3,4) at the lower end of the magazine (1) blocks the stack (P) against a further gravity drop after its descent against the collection bottom (2). A subsequent first lowering of the bottom (2) to separate the pack (P') from the overlying stack, by virtue of a detachment device (22, 122), is followed by a detachment from the lower sheet (L') of the stack (P) of a possible sheet (L) which is mistakenly and temporarily held against the lower sheet (L') of the stack (P) but belongs to the overlying pack (P').

Abstract: A lead frame suction holding device including a suction holder which is movable horizontally and vertically and is provided with two rows of guide plates. A plurality of suction nozzles are installed on each of the two rows of guide plates so as to suction-hold opposite edges of a lead frame, and between the two rows of suction nozzles on the guide plate is provided a detection terminal and a paper suction nozzle which respectively detects and removes paper placed between lead frames which is accommodated in a lead frame magazine.

Abstract: An unstacking feeder capable of unstacking sheet materials efficiently from a sheet stack has a sheet stack transfer device (3) for transferring a sheet stack, which consists of a plurality of stacked sheet materials (1a), along a circulating transport configuration extending across a predetermined unstacking position (A). In order to separate individual sheet materials from a sheet stack in order, a floater (6) is selected and supplied automatically in accordance with the configuration of the sheet materials by a floater supply mechanism (5, 7, 7d). Each unstacked sheet material is transferred to equipment in the subsequent stage, such as a transfer feeder by sheet material transporting arrangements (11, 19). During this period, each sheet material (1a) separated by the floater (6) is transferred onto a sheet material transporting arrangement by a sheet material transfer device (9).

Abstract: ICs with leadframes can be efficiently transferred, stocked and positioned without the need for preparing jigs for each kind of IC.A cassette 4 accommodating a stack of ICs is inserted into a cassette space 35 and held in the center thereof. A moving table 9 is driven to move by a servomotor 21. A lifting member 67 of an IC lifting mechanism 60 raises the ICs in the cassette 4 from the bottom by an amount corresponding to the thickness of one IC at a time. A pulling-over device 70, which is disposed above the cassette space 35, centers the IC in both the lateral and longitudinal directions to thereby effect positioning.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking bundles of sheets includes an elongate stacking table capable of movement upwardly and downwardly, the stacking table being lowered in accordance with an increase in stacking amount of the bundles of sheets. A single-side-openable type shutter member is located above the stacking table and is adapted to support the bundles of sheets arranged in a row, the shutter member being capable of opening only in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the bundles of sheets being arranged in a row, so that the bundles of sheets are simultaneously dropped onto the stacking table. A stationary ruler member is adapted to restrict only one side surface of the bundles of sheets at the openable side of the shutter member and prevent the bundles of sheets from movement following the opening action of the shutter member so that the bundles of sheets are dropped to a predetermined location.

Abstract: A stacker for stacking paper documents seriatim is disclosed. The stacker includes: a platform, a helix extending upwardly from the platform; and a device for rotating the helix, whereby a paper document placed at the bottom of the helix can be driven upwardly to the top of the helix.

Abstract: In a method for the automatic forming of packs of trimmed metal sheets for armatures of electrical machinery or the like, the pack (P') is formed by the controlled drop of a sheet stack (P) housed in a tubular magazine (1) open at the bottom. The pack is dropped against an underlying collection bottom (2) which is brought to a predefined distance from the lower end of the magazine (1). A tightening clamp (3,4) at the lower end of the magazine (1) blocks the stack (P) against a further gravity drop after its descent against the collection bottom (2). A subsequent first lowering of the bottom (2) to separate the pack (P') from the overlying stack, by virtue of a detachment device (22, 122), is followed by a detachment from the lower sheet (L') of the stack (P) of a possible sheet (L) which is mistakenly and temporarily held against the lower sheet (L') of the stack (P) but belongs to the overlying pack (P').

Abstract: A collating machine for stacking sheets of paper fed seriatim thereto from a singulating feeder comprises a deck including a stacking area and a plurality of upper, endless, elastic belts, each of the belts moving around a pair of upstream and downstream pulleys suspended above the deck. A plurality of ramp guide blocks are adjustably secured to the deck between the pairs of pulleys, wherein a lower reach of each of the belts is lower than the highest section of the ramp guide blocks. There is structure for stopping each of the sheets at a downstream end of the stacking area which is a section of the deck between the stopping structure and the ramp guide block. Feeding structure is situated upstream from the pulleys for feeding each of the sheets over the ramp guide blocks toward the stacking area until a trail edge of the sheet moves from control of the feeding structure, wherein the belts convey the sheet to the stopping structure.

Abstract: This is a box stacker which is related with a box shaping machine. The boxes come out at the bottom of the machine and drop by gravity onto a conveyor belt and are conveyed to one end of this belt where the stacker which is object of this invention is located. It has upright adjustable guides, two in front and two at the rear which correspond to the vertical corners of the box, and are at the same time coupled in pairs to two cross shanks respectively, which are in turn coupled at the end to the cross shafts which are joined by longitudinal screws. The screws turn in either direction and the upright guides will be adjusted to fit to the dimensions of the boxes. When one of these lies between the four upright guides, a pusher goes up and moves the box to allow room for another one and so on successively. When a stacked row has been formed, which is automatically counted, it will be moved by a pusher towards a platform which is formed by two plates at right angle.

Abstract: A frame is designed for temporarily supporting a horizontal plate-like workpiece until it undergoes a vertical translation between guiding and squaring stops, which frame is located in a machine. The frame comprises lateral retractable supporting surfaces which are either edges of a horizontal flat bar or sides of a horizontal flat bar. When the supporting surfaces are the edges of the horizontal flat bar, the bar is mounted so that it can be moved from a straight line position retracted from the supporting of the sheet to a curved position for supporting the edge of the sheet. The bars can also be positioned utilizing the side and are moved either by pivoting or by a four-bar linking arrangement between the retracted and engaged positions. Finally, the bars can be mounted for rotation along one edge between the engaging and retracted positions.

Abstract: A device for stacking papers having a disk with a top and bottom surface, a means for rotating the disk, a pair of symmetrically opposing movable walls having opposing longitudinal flat wall sections that are kept in a parallel space apart relationship. The opposing fiat wall sections and the top surface of the disk defining a first space adapted to receive the papers, and the interior of said symmetrically opposing movable walls and the top surface of the disk defining a second space adapted to contain the assembly for turning the opposing movable walls. The movement of the opposing movable walls discharging the papers that have been deposited in the first space of the device. The device also includes tensioners that keep the symmetrically opposing movable walls taut and are positioned so that the tensioners do not alter the parallel spaced apart relationship of the opposing longitudinal fiat wall sections.

Abstract: A conveyor system used in semiconductor manufacturing line, etc. including guide rails which guide workpieces in one direction and a pair of magazine stackers for workpieces installed at both ends of the workpiece guide rails and has magazine guide rails, in which the workpiece guide rails and magazine guide rails are movable in a direction perpendicular to a workpiece feed direction and are connected via a connecting assembly so that the workpiece guide rails and magazine guide rails are moved together.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurately positioning a plurality of slotted boxes which are in a flat collapsed state, in a magazine of a box erector. The box erector handles and sets up the boxes into a position having an open top for subsequently receiving items therein while moving bottom closure flaps into a generally closed position. A laser unit is mounted adjacent a box supply loading magazine of the box erector and projects a beam of light against a box placed in the magazine. The magazine then is adjusted until the fixed light beam strikes a predetermined location on the box, preferably the end of a slot formed between adjacent major and minor flaps of the box. This light beam strike location correlates with a location at an unfold station of the erector which receives a bottom corner of the box.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a plurality of workpieces (W) in a stack on a pallet (22), supporting the workpieces (W) in place on the pallet (22) by a plurality of workpiece support rods (26), and transporting and transferring the uppermost workpiece by a workpiece gripping hand (50) provided with gripping fingers (54) to a desired position, is provided with elastic lifting springs (32) for continuously biasing the workpiece support rods (26) upward to support the workpieces (W) stably in place by the upright work support rods (26). The workpiece gripping hand (50) grips the uppermost workpiece (W) with the gripping fingers (54) without interference, after depressing the workpiece support rods (26) with a depressing plate (56) provided on the back side of the gripping fingers (54) so that the uppermost workpiece (W) is exposed above the upper ends of the workpiece support rods (26), and then transports the workpiece (W) to a desired position.

Abstract: A stack of signatures are dropped upon the platform halves of a rotatable platform, the platform halves being raised to reduce the free fall distance from the point where the stack of signatures are dropped and a lower stack ejection position. The platform halves are lowered as each stack of signatures is delivered thereto. Eventually, the platform is lowered to the stack ejection position and the pusher is pushed through a gap provided between the platform halves to eject a completed bundle from the platform. The pusher moves through the gap as the platform is being raised or lowered to significantly reduce the cycle time. Stack compressors are selectively movable to a position above the turntable and by selectively raising the platform halves, the accumulated stack of signatures on the platform halves are squeezed between the compression members and the platform halves to form a neat, compressed bundle. The turntable is rotatable through a half-revolution to form compensated stacks.

Abstract: A hopper loader interfaced with a variety of hoppers/feeders having a horizontal infeed conveyor with a hand-feed belt section near the input end movable between an operative position for hand-feed operation and a lowered position to facilitate automatic feeding. A positioning actuator is coupled between the hopper loader and the hopper to provide for automatic fine-tuning adjustment of the jogger position as well as for machine make-ready to accommodate changing product size. A single controller is provided for simultaneously positioning a plurality of loaders. The controller has adjustable stops for accommodating frequently used product formats. Automatic air delay shut-off saves energy by shutting off the air blast system a predetermiend delay after the loader is halted. further automatic means saves energy and prevents "over jogging" and damage to the product by turning off the jogger a predetermined delay interval after the loader stops.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for automatically palletizing parcels of various sizes, shapes and contents which arrive in random order at a pickup point to be transferred onto a pallet. A system is disclosed including a digital computer operating under an expert computer program which takes information about attribute factors of the parcels and applies predetermined rules to assign a space for the parcel on the pallet, and communicates coordinates of the assigned space to a flexible material handling robot.

Abstract: A dual drive signature stacker having side-by-side stacker sections, each of substantially identical design and including a stepper motor for driving a pair of buckets for receiving signatures secured at spaced intervals along a drive chain driven by the stepper motor. the buckets have intercept blades supported by brackets joined to the drive chain to position one of the intercept blades of each drive assembly in front of the adjacent drive assembly so that all of the buckets of the dual drive assembly are in alignment with one another and with the signature stream. The side-by-side arrangement greatly simplifies the design cost and assembly. A microprocessor-based control system permits stacking of stacks having as few as two signatures and is further capable of forming successive signature stacks of differing count in a precision manner and compatible with the speeds of any signature flow rate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a container stacker having at least one moving member attached to an endless flexible element. The moving member delivers containers from a delivery device to a container receiving surface and moves the containers across the container receiving surface.

Abstract: A wicket post mounting in a bag stacking machine includes a base unit bolted to a conveyor plate. The base unit includes an upstanding wall with a plurality of machined, vertical post receptacles or openings. Each receptacle is identical to receive and physically support one post in precise accurate relation to a longitudinal location on the station plate of a second post. The spacing of the receptacles and posts is selected to receive bags with spaced holes. A releasable latch pin is secured to each receptacle. The pin projects into an appropriate opening in the post and locks the post in the receptacle. The base unit may include a pair of post mounting bases each having an offset edge wall abutting the station plate to accurately locate the base. Bolts pass through the mounting base into threaded holes in the station. Each base has two spaced receptacles, providing for post spacing of 4, 5 and 6 inches.

Abstract: A palley dispensing machine with latch mechanism for the same machine. A plurality of pallets are positioned in an upright movable frame positioned in a stationary frame. The latch mechanism holds the stack of pallets as the movable frame is lowered and sets the stack on a feeder conveyor. Further downward motion of the movable frame causes the latch mechanism to retract out of engagement by gravity. Thereafter the movable frame moves upwardly and the latch mechanism reengages the remaining pallets above the bottom pallet to lift the stack about an inch so that the feeder conveyor can feed the bottom pallet out of the machine.

Abstract: A stacking device includes an infeed table for batches destined to be assembled in a layer to be placed on a pile, and a conveying device for moving the layer over the pile and for supporting the layer above the pile. The conveying device includes an arrangement for releasing the layer to allow the layer to set on the pile.

Abstract: The invention relates to the sidestop (20) guides, in the separating device (10), in particular a device for feeding a franking machine, the respective pile (11) of letters to be franked, irrespective of their particular format, by the front part of their longitudinal edge. The stop (20) comprises a support (25) with two stop surfaces (21, 22) arranged at right angles. The support can turn through 90.degree. around a pin (29) in a counter-clockwise direction. Small envelopes are guided by one of the stop surfaces (21); larger ones are guided by the other stop surfaces (22) when the support (25) is rotated. The stop (20) can be moved perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the envelope and turned to a third working position in which it forms an additional stop surface for envelopes of very large dimensions.

Abstract: A tube magazine component feeder is disclosed. The component feeder is reconfigurable to accommodate different tube magazine sizes and different component configurations. The component feeder includes a pair of upright masts for supporting loaded tube magazines in a stacked upright manner. The spatial separation of the two masts is adjustable to accommodate different tube magazine lengths. Other elements of the component feeder are adjustable or replaceable so as to quickly and easily adapt the device to a different tube magazine size or different component configuration.