A rack unloader apparatus (10) is used for unloading bars (150) having a plurality of pepperoni sticks (160) from a drying rack (140). The apparatus (10) includes a rail (23) operatively connected to a support frame (20). A motor (62) is operatively connected to a sliding mechanism (30) mounted on the rail (23) for moving the sliding mechanism between first and second positions. A pickup arm (40) has the sliding mechanism (30) operatively connected thereto proximate its first end (40a). A pickup...

An apparatus which is capable of sorting logs of varying diameter and feeding them one at a time to a log processing apparatus. A cylinder handling apparatus comprising: (a) means for receiving and holding a plurality of cylindrical objects of varying diameter and length parallel to and abutting one another in a row; and (b) means for separating and raising the foremost cylindrical object from the secondarily disposed cylindrical objects in the row and dispensing the foremost cylindrical object ...

A plurality of vertically spaced rows of longitudinally inclined fingers spaced laterally in each row are pivotally supported on transverse horizontal axes near one end. The fingers slope upwardly from the supporting means and also project in the opposite direction from said axes. Vertically movable cam members at the lower ends of the fingers are provided with vertical surfaces that overlie the lower ends of the fingers when the cam members are in their uppermost position. The cam members are m...

A method and apparatus for parallelly aligning pieces of timber, such as logs and billets, for further handling, comprises the serial feeding of pieces of timber into a sorting zone provided with a fast-rotating drum surface which pushes the timber towards, and aligns the timber with, a more slowly rotating drum surface provided with engagement members. The pieces of timber are aligned on and between the respective drum surfaces so as to be parallel and at right angles to the direction of rotati...

A pipe handling apparatus comprising a plurality of pipe supports having articulated arms for lifting a joint of pipe and moving it laterally across a recess by means of a temporary support spanning the recess and thereafter moving the pipe back into a trough received in the recess. The apparatus also includes means for tipping trough to roll out a joint of pipe carried therein and inclined guide means for guiding and directing the pipe as it is discharged from the trough.

A method for automatically feeding the metal profiles in bar form entails gripping a set of the metal profiles from a magazine for collecting said profiles and transferring the set of metal profiles into a raised position and arranging the raised metal profiles on a movable transfer device provided with separators for separating the metal profiles, at which a preset number of metal profiles to be fed, at each work cycle to the machine arranged downstream, is conveyed transversely and counted; th...

A printing press material roll lift and drive assembly (40) has a base (16) and a lift support frame (18). The lift support frame provides support for opposed front and rear vertical rails (50). A U-shaped carriage (54) is mounted for elevation on the rails and includes side support plates (56) having rail rollers (57) and an upper plate (58). The carriage is raised and lowered by a releasing ram (80) attached to the support frame at its upper end (82) and to the carriage at its lower end (86), ...

A machine is disclosed for conveying wooden piece such as logs of wood and lumber, in wood transformation industries such as sawmills. The wooden pieces are conveyed in a conveying direction from the front towards the back of the frame of the machine. The machine has several conveying shafts rotatably mounted in parallel on the sides of the frame. Each shaft has a rotating axis about which it is driven in rotation in a direction corresponding to the conveying direction. Several toothed circular ...

A method and machine separates profiled elements from a plurality of profiled elements. The machine includes a structure having opposed first and second ends and opposed sides, the structure receiving profiled elements extending between the first and second ends. A first separating device more evenly distributes the profiled elements between the sides. A displacement member displaces a portion of the profiled elements away from the remainder of the profiled elements. A gripper receives the porti...

A method and machine separates profiled elements from a plurality of profiled elements. The machine includes a structure having opposed first and second ends and opposed sides, the structure receiving profiled elements extending between the first and second ends. A first separating device more evenly distributes the profiled elements between the sides. A displacement member displaces a portion of the profiled elements away from the remainder of the profiled elements. A gripper receives the porti...