Article handling apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereon in succession with their edges in a common plane, comprising an orienting conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent a place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent a place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with a packet to take hold of one of said edges of the packet, means operable as the instrumentalities travel with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentalities to angular positions such as to dispose the packets face-to-face and to move the instrumentalities laterally with respect to the plane of presentation to effect deposit of the packets in a column situated at one side of said plane, and means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentalities on the packets.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there is means for presenting the packets to said orienting conveyor in a plane coinciding with the longitudinal center line oF the conveyor.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there is means for presenting the packets to the orienting conveyor in a plane coinciding with the longitudinal center line of said orienting conveyor and wherein the means for effecting lateral movement of the instrumentalities operates to displace one instrumentality to one side and the next to the other side of said longitudinal center line to form two columns side-by-side situated at opposite sides of the path of travel of the orienting conveyor with the packets in said columns in parallel relation to each other.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising manually operable means for disabling an instrumentality.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for turning the instrumentalities turns them through angles of 90*.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instrumentalities are rotatably mounted on the conveyor and there is cam means fixed with respect to the movement of the instrumentalities to cause the instrumentalities to take hold of the packets at the place of presentation, turn the instrumentalities to said angular positions as they move toward the place of deposit and at the place of deposit to cause the instrumentalities to release their hold on the packets.

Claim 8

Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession with their edges in a common plane, comprising an orienting conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent the place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, each instrumentality comprising a pair of jaws, means operative to cause each pair of jaws at its place of meeting with a packet to take hold of one of said edges of the packet, means operative as the pairs of jaws travel with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to maintain the jaws closed, to turn the jaws to angular positions such as to dispose the packets face-to-face and move the jaws laterally with respect to the plane of presentation to dispose the packets in a column situated at one side of said plane, and means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said jaws on the packets.

Claim 9

Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession with their edges in a common plane, comprising an orienting conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent the place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, each instrumentality comprising a pair of jaws, means operative to cause each pair of jaws at its place of meeting with a packet to take hold of one of said edges of the packet, means operative as the pairs of jaws travel with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to maintain the jaws closed, to turn the jaws to angular positions such as to dispose the packets face-to-face and move the jaws laterally with respect to the plane of presentation to dispose the packets in a column situated at one side of said plane, and means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said jaws on the packets.

Claim 10

Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession with their edges in a common plane comprising an orienting conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent a place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, each of said instrumentalities comprising a pair of jaws, spring means normally urging the jaws of each pair of jaws closed, and cam means operable as the pairs of jaws approach the place of presentation to separate the jaws, at the place of presentation to release the jaws to allow them to close on the edges of the packets and to remain closed until they reach the place of deposit, and then to separate the jaws at the place of deposit.

Claim 11

Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession with their edges in a common plane comprising an orienting conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent a place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, each of said instrumentalities comprising a pair of jaws, spring means normally urging the jaws of each pair of jaws closed, and cam means operable as the pairs of jaws approach the place of presentation to separate the jaws, at the place of presentation to release the jaws to allow them to close on the edges of the packets and to remain closed until they reach the place of deposit, and then to separate the jaws at the place of deposit.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 8, comprising cam means situated intermediate the place of presentation and the place of deposit operable to effect release of the packets by separating the jaws, said cam means being held in an inoperative position so long as the apparatus is functioning normally, and sensing means operative in the event of malfunctioning of the apparatus to effect operation of said cam means.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 8, comprising cam members, means supporting said cam members adjacent the path of movement of said mEans associated with each pair of jaws, said cam members being normally held in inoperative positions but being movable to an operative position of interception of said means associated with the jaws to effect their separation, and sensing means responsive to malfunctioning of the apparatus to move the cam members into operative position.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the means for effecting movement of the cam members into operative positions is a motor, operation of which is initiated by said sensing means.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a hinge plate supports the cam members in said inoperative positions above the path of movement of said means associated with the pairs of jaws, and a motor provided with a rod is supported with the rod engaged with said plate so that operation of the motor to extend the rod displaces the plate and cam members carried thereby.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said hinge plate comprises a flat flexible spring plate fastened at one edge to the machine frame and having fastened to its other edge the cam members.

Claim 17

Apparatus for orienting flat envelope-like packets presented thereto with their edges in a common plane, comprising a conveyor supported for movement of successive packets from a place of presentation of packets thereto to a place of deposit of the packets, carriers mounted on the conveyor for movement therewith, pairs of confronting clamping jaws, means rotatably mounting a pair of jaws on each carrier, means associated with each pair of jaws and movable therewith as they travel toward the place of deposit, said means being operable to spread the jaws apart, cam means fixed with respect to the path of movement of said last means operable to effect separation of the jaws as they approach the place of presentation, allow the jaws to close on the packets at the place of presentation and effect separation of the jaws at the place of deposit, a bar slidably mounted on each carrier for movement transversely of the carrier with respect to the direction of movement, cam means on each bar and cam means fixed relative to the conveyor operable to move the bar and jaws mounted thereon laterally with respect to the longitudinal center line of the conveyor, one pair of jaws to one side and the next to the other side of said center line, and means operable by said movement to rotate the jaws from a position in which the confronting faces are in planes parallelling said edges to a position in which they are at corresponding angles thereto.

Claim 18

Apparatus for orienting flat envelope-like packets presented thereto with their edges in a common plane, comprising a conveyor supported for movement of successive packets from a place of presentation of packets thereto to a place of deposit of the packets, carriers mounted on the conveyor for movement therewith, pairs of confronting clamping jaws, means rotatably mounting a pair of jaws on each carrier, means associated with each pair of jaws and movable therewith as they travel toward the place of deposit, said means being operable to spread the jaws apart, cam means fixed with respect to the path of movement of said last means operable to effect separation of the jaws as they approach the place of presentation, allow the jaws to close on the packets at the place of presentation and effect separation of the jaws at the place of deposit, a bar slidably mounted on each carrier for movement transversely of the carrier with respect to the direction of movement, cam means on each bar and cam means fixed relative to the conveyor operable to move the bar and jaws mounted thereon laterally with respect to the longitudinal center line of the conveyor, one pair of jaws to one side and the next to the other side of said center line, and means operable by said movement to rotate the jaws from a position in which the confronting faces are in planes parallelling said edges to a position in which they are at corresponding angles thereto.

Claim 19

Apparatus for orienting flat envelope-like packets presented thereto with their edges in a common plane, comprising spaced parallel link chains entrained about spaced sprockets, carriers connected at their opposite ends to the chains in spaced parallel relation, a pair of jaws mounted on each carrier, said carriers containing transversely extending ways, bars slidably retained in said ways for movement transversely with respect to the path of travel of the chains, a pin fixed to one end of each bar, said pins on adjacent bars being at opposite ends thereof, cam means disposed adjacent the conveyor embodying tracks within which the pins are engaged, said tracks converging with respect to the direction of movement of the conveyor from the place of presentation to the place of deposit, and diverging in the opposite direction so as to displace the jaws alternately to one side and then the other side of the center line of the conveyor, and a link pivotally connected at one end to each of the rotatably supported jaws at a radial distance from its axis of rotation and at its other end to the carrier on which it is mounted such that the transverse movement of the bar relative to the carrier effects rotation of the jaws.

Claim 20

Apparatus for orienting flat envelope-like packets presented thereto with their edges in a common plane, comprising spaced parallel link chains entrained about spaced sprockets, carriers connected at their opposite ends to the chains in spaced parallel relation, a pair of jaws mounted on each carrier, said carriers containing transversely extending ways, bars slidably retained in said ways for movement transversely with respect to the path of travel of the chains, a pin fixed to one end of each bar, said pins on adjacent bars being at opposite ends thereof, cam means disposed adjacent the conveyor embodying tracks within which the pins are engaged, said tracks converging with respect to the direction of movement of the conveyor from the place of presentation to the place of deposit, and diverging in the opposite direction so as to displace the jaws alternately to one side and then the other side of the center line of the conveyor, and a link pivotally connected at one end to each of the rotatably supported jaws at a radial distance from its axis of rotation and at its other end to the carrier on which it is mounted such that the transverse movement of the bar relative to the carrier effects rotation of the jaws.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the jaws are rotatably mounted on the carrier, a link is pivotally connected at one end to each of the rotatably supported jaws at a radial distance from its axis of rotation and at its otHer end to the carrier on which it is mounted such that the transverse movement of the bar relative to the carrier effects rotation of the jaws.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising means for presenting the packets to said orienting conveyor.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising means for effecting movement of the packets in succession to said orienting conveyor in timed relation with the movement of the instrumentalities to said position of presentation.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising a supply conveyor embodying means for releasably supporting the packets at their lower edges and having a part thereof situated in relation to said orienting conveyor such as to present the upper edges of said packets to the instrumentalities at said place of presentation.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising a supply conveyor embodying means for releasably supporting packets at their lower edges for presentation of their upper edges to said instrumentalities at the place of presentation, and kinematic means operably connecting the two conveyors such as to cause the packet-holding means on the supply conveyor to confront the instrumentalities on the orienting conveyor at said place of presentation.

Claim 26

Apparatus for orienting flat articles presented thereto in a line in which they are disposed edge-to-edge in a common plane, comprising first and second conveyors arranged with portions thereof in overlapping parallel alignment, means for effecting movement of the conveyors in the same direction such that for a predetermined interval said overlapping parallel portions travel in consonance, uniformly spaced holding means on one of the conveyors operable to releasably support said flat articles in said common plane, uniformly spaced gripping means on the other conveyor cooperable with the holding means on the one conveyor while said overlapping parallel portions of the conveyors are moving in consonance to take the articles from said holding means, means for effecting release of the holding means and for effecting gripping of the gripping means to effect transfer of the articles from the one conveyor to the other, means for rotating the gripping means following movement thereof beyond said place of transfer to dispose the articles transversely of said common plane in parallel relation to each other, and means for causing the gripping means to release the articles at a predetermined place following such orientation.

Claim 27

Apparatus for orienting flat articles presented thereto in a line in which they are disposed edge-to-edge in a common plane, comprising first and second conveyors arranged with portions thereof in overlapping parallel alignment, means for effecting movement of the conveyors in the same direction such that for a predetermined interval said overlapping parallel portions travel in consonance, uniformly spaced holding means on one of the conveyors operable to releasably support said flat articles in said common plane, uniformly spaced gripping means on the other conveyor cooperable with the holding means on the one conveyor while said overlapping parallel portions of the conveyors are moving in consonance to take the articles from said holding means, means for effecting release of the holding means and for effecting gripping of the gripping means to effect transfer of the articles from the one conveyor to the other, means for rotating the gripping means following movement thereof beyond said place of transfer to dispose the articles transversely of said common plane in parallel relation to each other, and means for causing the gripping means to release the articles at a predetermined place following such orientation.

Claim 28

Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the holding and gripping means on the respective conveyors travel in spaced parallel relation at the place of overlapping, said holding means are adapted to releasably hold the articles at one edge and the gripping means are adapted to take hold of the articles at the opposite edge.

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein there is means supporting said gripper means for movement laterally with respect to the line along which the holding means moves, and means operable as the gripping means travels toward the place of release to effect lateral movement of the gripping means first to one side and then the other to form two columns of articles.

Claim 30

Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession with their edges in a common plane, comprising a conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent a place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent a place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with the packets to take hold of one of said edges of the packets, means operable as the instrumentalities travel with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentalities to angular positionS, means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentalities on the packets, release means operable at a place intermediate the place of presentation and the place of deposit to cause the instrumentalities to release the packets, and sensing means operable in response to a malfunctioning of the apparatus to effect operation of said release means.

Claim 31

Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession with their edges in a common plane, comprising a conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent a place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent a place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with the packets to take hold of one of said edges of the packets, means operable as the instrumentalities travel with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentalities to angular positionS, means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentalities on the packets, release means operable at a place intermediate the place of presentation and the place of deposit to cause the instrumentalities to release the packets, and sensing means operable in response to a malfunctioning of the apparatus to effect operation of said release means.

Claim 32

Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession with their edges in a common plane, comprising a conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent said place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with the packets to take hold of one of said edges of the packets, means operable as the instrumentalities travel with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentalities to angular positions, means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentalities on the packets, release means operable at a place intermediate the place of presentation and the place of deposit to cause the instrumentalities to release the packets, and sensing means operable in response to the absence of a carton at the place of deposit to effect operation of said release means.

Claim 33

Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession with their edges in a common plane, comprising a conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent said place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with the packets to take hold of one of said edges of the packets, means operable as the instrumentalities travel with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentalities to angular positions, means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentalities on the packets, release means operable at a place intermediate the place of presentation and the place of deposit to cause the instrumentalities to release the packets, and sensing means operable in response to the absence of a carton at the place of deposit to effect operation of said release means.

Claim 34

Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession in a common plane, comprising a conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent a place of presentation and a porition thereof adjacent a place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with a packet to take hold of said edge of the packet, means operable as the instrumentality travels from the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentality to an angular position, means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentality on the packet, said instrumentalities comprising opposed, pivotally supported jaws, means yieldably biasing said jaws toward each other, release means operable to move the jaws away from each other, and cam means supported in an inoperative position adjacent the path of movement of the jaws for movement into an operative position for engagement of said release means therewith to effect actuation of said release means, and means for moving said cam means into said operative position.

Claim 35

Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession in a common plane, comprising a conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent a place of presentation and a porition thereof adjacent a place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with a packet to take hold of said edge of the packet, means operable as the instrumentality travels from the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentality to an angular position, means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentality on the packet, said instrumentalities comprising opposed, pivotally supported jaws, means yieldably biasing said jaws toward each other, release means operable to move the jaws away from each other, and cam means supported in an inoperative position adjacent the path of movement of the jaws for movement into an operative position for engagement of said release means therewith to effect actuation of said release means, and means for moving said cam means into said operative position.

Claim 36

Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession in a common plane, comprising a conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent a place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with the packets to take hold of said edge of the packets, and means operable as the instrumentality travels with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentality to an angular position, means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentality on the packets, said instrumentalities comprising opposed, pivotally supported jaws, means yieldably biasing said jaws toward each other, gear sectors fixed to said jaws at their centers of rotation, a rack bar supported between and in engagement with said gear sectors, said rack bar being movable therebetween to swing the jaws away from each other, and cams supported in an inoperative position adjacent the path of movement of the instrumentality movable at times to positions to cause the rack bar to swing the jaws away from each other.

Claim 37

Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession in a common plane, comprising a conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent a place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with the packets to take hold of said edge of the packets, and means operable as the instrumentality travels with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentality to an angular position, means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentality on the packets, said instrumentalities comprising opposed, pivotally supported jaws, means yieldably biasing said jaws toward each other, gear sectors fixed to said jaws at their centers of rotation, a rack bar supported between and in engagement with said gear sectors, said rack bar being movable therebetween to swing the jaws away from each other, and cams supported in an inoperative position adjacent the path of movement of the instrumentality movable at times to positions to cause the rack bar to swing the jaws away from each other.

Claim 38

Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the rack bars have ends disposed in positions to be intercepted by the cams when the latter are in their operative positions, and means for moving the cams into said operative positions at such times as it is desirable to release the packets before they reach the place of deposit.

Claim 39

Apparatus for orienting flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession with their edges in a common plane, comprising a conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent the place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets of the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with the packets to take hold of said edge of the packets, means operable as the instrumentality travels with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentality to an angular position, means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentality on the packets, each instrumentality comprising a pair of pivotally mounted confronting jaws, a post to one end of which the jaws are pivotally mounted on spaced parallel pins, gear sectors fixed to the pins, said post containing an axial opening, a rack bar disposed in said opening with an end situated between the gear sectors and in mesh therewith, said rack bar extending from the outer end of the post and spring means disposed in the axial opening between a shoulder bounding the inner side of the opening and a shoulder bounding the bar, said spring means biasing the rack bar in a direction to hold the jaws engaged, and said rack bar being movable within said opening in a direction to separate the jaws.

Claim 40

Apparatus for orienting flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession with their edges in a common plane, comprising a conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent the place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets of the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with the packets to take hold of said edge of the packets, means operable as the instrumentality travels with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentality to an angular position, means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentality on the packets, each instrumentality comprising a pair of pivotally mounted confronting jaws, a post to one end of which the jaws are pivotally mounted on spaced parallel pins, gear sectors fixed to the pins, said post containing an axial opening, a rack bar disposed in said opening with an end situated between the gear sectors and in mesh therewith, said rack bar extending from the outer end of the post and spring means disposed in the axial opening between a shoulder bounding the inner side of the opening and a shoulder bounding the bar, said spring means biasing the rack bar in a direction to hold the jaws engaged, and said rack bar being movable within said opening in a direction to separate the jaws.

Claim 41

Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein bearing sleeves disposed at the ends of the opening in the post support the rack bar for axial movement therein.

Claim 42

Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the post has at said one end a diametrical slot within which the proximal ends of the jaws are pivotally mounted by said pins, the latter being set into the post across said diametrical slot.

Claim 43

Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein a sleeve within which the post is concentrically mounted supports the post for rotation about its longitudinal axis.

Claim 44

Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said extending end of the rack bar contains an axially threaded hole and a headed pin is threaded into said hole, said headed pin comprising an adjustable cam operable at times by displacement to effect opening of the jaws.

Claim 45

Apparatus for orienting flat envelope-like packets presented thereto with their edges in a common plane, comprising a conveyor supported for movement of successive packets from a place of presentation of the packets thereto to a plane of deposit of the packets, said conveyor having outer and inner sides with respect to its support, carriers mounted on the conveyor at intervals, pairs of confronting jaws, means mounting a pair of jaws on each carrier, said carrier travelling on the outer side of the conveyor with the jaws extending outwardly therefrom, means associated with each pair of jaws extending inwardly from the carrier operable to spread the jaws apart, cam means fixed with respect to the path of movement of said last means operable to separate the jaws as they approach the place of orientation, allow the jaws to close on the packets at the place of presentation, and separate The jaws at the place of deposit, said means associated with each pair of jaws comprising a pin adapted to be depressed by engagement with said cam means to open the jaws, a wick supported in a position such as to have rubbing engagement with the pins as they travel from the place of presentation to the place of deposit, and means for supplying a lubricant to the wick.

Claim 46

Apparatus for orienting flat envelope-like packets presented thereto with their edges in a common plane, comprising a conveyor supported for movement of successive packets from a place of presentation of the packets thereto to a plane of deposit of the packets, said conveyor having outer and inner sides with respect to its support, carriers mounted on the conveyor at intervals, pairs of confronting jaws, means mounting a pair of jaws on each carrier, said carrier travelling on the outer side of the conveyor with the jaws extending outwardly therefrom, means associated with each pair of jaws extending inwardly from the carrier operable to spread the jaws apart, cam means fixed with respect to the path of movement of said last means operable to separate the jaws as they approach the place of orientation, allow the jaws to close on the packets at the place of presentation, and separate The jaws at the place of deposit, said means associated with each pair of jaws comprising a pin adapted to be depressed by engagement with said cam means to open the jaws, a wick supported in a position such as to have rubbing engagement with the pins as they travel from the place of presentation to the place of deposit, and means for supplying a lubricant to the wick.