A method for operating a packaging machine including one or more of the method steps advancing a transport chain along a chain deflection pulley, wherein chain clips are arranged on the transport chain and moved during the advancing motion of the transport chain along a run-on contour, to open at least one of the chain clips; introducing a flat material blank into the at least one open chain clip using a feed device or by entraining the flat material blank using a connection to a second material blank preceding the flat material blank, wherein the material blank enters the open chain clip during an advancing motion of the transport chain; closing the chain clip by leaving the run-on contour, to grip and secure the material blank in the chain clip; and transporting the material blank to a work station using the transport chain.

A film (50) processing apparatus (20) including a film stretching device (22) and a take-away device (24) and a film processing method using the apparatus. The take-away device receives the film after the stretching device and transports the film along a conveying region in a direction of transport (X). The take-away device includes opposing, first and second conveyor assemblies. The first conveyor assembly has a continuous belt driving a plurality of discrete pads (180a, 180b). Each pad forms a contact face (194a, 194b) extending between leading (200b) and trailing edges (202a). The pads are configured and arranged such that the trailing edge (202a) of a first pad (180a) overlaps the leading edge (200b) of an immediately adjacent second pad (180b) as the first and second pads traverse the conveying region. The overlap is characterized by a line (322) perpendicular to the direction of transport passing at any given moment through the first and second pads. A shape of the contact face can define a major central axis that is non-perpendicular and non-parallel with the direction of transport.

Coupling of conveyor belt modules A module (2) for a modular conveyor chain, comprising a link portion (3) made of sheet metal that includes a substantially elongate conveying body (4), the conveying body having a central hinge loop (5A) on one longitudinal side thereof and a pair of offset hinge loops (5B) on an opposite longitudinal side thereof that are interspaced to receive the central hinge loop of a link portion of a consecutive module therebetween. The central hinge loop and/or or the offset hinge loops are distanced with their free end(s) from a bottom face of the conveying body to form a through pass aperture (16) through which a hinge pin (12) held in the hinge receiving space(s) of the hinge loops of other module may pass transversely to its axis into or out of its hinge receiving space.

The present invention provides a technique to enable sufficient space saving in a transit-type vacuum processing device. The vacuum processing device 1 of the present invention has: a vacuum chamber 2 where a single vacuum ambience is formed; first and second processing regions 4 and 5 that are provided in the vacuum chamber 2 and have a processing source that performs processing on a planar process surface of a substrate 10; and a conveyance drive member 33 that forms a conveyance path for conveying the substrate 10 so as to pass through the first and second processing regions 4 and 5. The conveyance path is formed as a single annular path when the conveyance path is projected onto a plane (vertical plane) containing: a normal line of an arbitrary point on a process surface of the substrate 10 conveyed through the conveyance path, and a trajectory line drawn by the arbitrary point on the process surface of the substrate 10 when the substrate 10 passes straight through the first and second processing regions 4 and 5.

A conveying device with a conveying chain, which includes a plurality of chain links, and a plurality of conveyed object containers, which are attached on the conveying chain, for receiving a conveyed object. The conveyed object containers are fastened to the conveying chain via holding elements connected to the conveying chain, wherein the conveyed object containers are held in each case by the holding element.

Coupling of conveyor belt modules A module (2) for a modular conveyor chain, comprising a link portion (3) made of sheet metal that includes a substantially elongate conveying body (4), the conveying body having a central hinge loop (5A) on one longitudinal side thereof and a pair of offset hinge loops (5B) on an opposite longitudinal side thereof that are interspaced to receive the central hinge loop of a link portion of a consecutive module therebetween. The central hinge loop and/or or the offset hinge loops are distanced with their free end(s) from a bottom face of the conveying body to form a through pass aperture (16) through which a hinge pin (12) held in the hinge receiving space(s) of the hinge loops of other module may pass transversely to its axis into or out of its hinge receiving space.

A conveyor system includes an upper and lower synchronized conveyors that transfer a food product, such as eggs, through a heating system to cook the food product. The lower conveyor includes a belt and the upper conveyor includes rings that are moveably held within frames. The upper conveyor includes a connection system for removably connecting the frames to drive belts. The rings and belt are brought together to define receptacles in which the food product is arranged during cooking. After cooking, the rings are lifted off of the belt, leaving the food product on the belt. A transfer roller transfers the cooked food product from the belt for further processing, such as freezing of the food product.

A conveyor gripper link that includes a movable gripper that adjust the gap in a product pocket defined between the body of the link and the gripper. In the initial or open stage, the product pocket gap is slightly larger than the product and the product may move. The gripper is selectively movable toward the product to close the product pocket gap and apply a stabilizing pressure to the product.

A racetrack collator includes a collator frame, first and second collator drive assemblies and first and second collator carriages. The collator frame defines a racetrack travel path, and the first and second drive assemblies are each mounted thereto. Each drive assembly includes a respective endless drive element extending around the racetrack travel path. Each collator carriage is releasably connected to a respective endless drive element and includes a flexible substrate to which a plurality of dividers are connected.

The disclosure herein relates to methods used to facilitate the assembly of chain-links. In particular, the disclosure relates to using a coupling mechanism comprising at least one coupling pin and at least one coupling socket to form a chain element in various ornamental and decorative forms. Accordingly, the coupling socket of a chain-link element is configured to accommodate a pin-head associated with the coupling pin in a pin-bed associated with the coupling socket. Furthermore, the coupling mechanism comprising a locking mechanism configured to fasten the pin-head into its associated pin-bed. Thus, the disclosed coupling mechanism provides an alternative to using soldering technique in the chain making field, enabling to assemble chain-link elements, especially of jewelry chains, which are typically made of precious metals, mainly gold and silver.