Abstract: Conveyor system accessories are disclosed, which provide an inexpensive way to stage, stockpile and/or sort work pieces and provides easy entry to and exit from a main conveyor. In particular, a trolley or trolleys that carry work pieces ride on the conveyor rail above the chain or intermesh with the chain on the inside of the track. These accessories are used with single track continuous conveyor systems, which greatly enhances the productivity of the single track system by permitting work pieces to be taken off-line without taking the work piece off a load pendant.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses for manufacturing dosage forms, and to dosage forms made using such systems, methods and apparatuses are provided. Novel compression, thermal cycle molding, and thermal setting molding modules are disclosed. One or more of such modules may be linked, preferably via novel transfer device, into an overall system for making dosage forms.

Abstract: A shuttle apparatus for transferring sample carriers comprising a shuttle table having a mating section, the mating section allowing a sample carrier to be transferred between the shuttle table and a mating support structure. The shuttle table can optionally further comprise a mating section having a void section.

Abstract: A device for adjusting conveyors for printing presses that process flat products or further processing units (40) arranged downstream therefrom, in which are received belt movers (1) containing a plurality of individual belts (5) for transporting the flat products, the belt movers including guide rollers (6) and setting rollers (7), which have a drive (2), and use tensioning devices (3) which keep constant the tension in the individual belts (5) of the belt mover (1). Accommodated in the further processing unit (40), whether it be a folder with pins or a folder that works without pins, arranged downstream from the rotary press, are shafts (16, 28, 34) having elements (25, 31, 39), which are arranged in a stationary mount and guide the individual belts (5). Supported on these so as to enable sliding in the axial direction, symmetrically with respect to the machine center (13), are movable elements (20, 27, 36), which guide, drive, and/or prestress the individual belts (5).

Abstract: A counter latch system and method of operation of a hopper having a payload and a latch moveable between a latched position and an unlatched position, the system and method including unlatching a latch of the hopper into the unlatched position and deploying a counter latch to maintain the latch in the unlatched position prior to dumping. The hopper is subsequently responsively returned into the latched position as the hopper is returned from dumping the payload.

Abstract: A micro device using assembly system for feeding, programming, and placing micro devices on circuit boards includes a robotic handling system capable of picking up and placing the micro devices on the circuit boards on a conveyor system. A control system controls the conveyor system and the robotic handling system. An input feeder provides the micro devices and a programming system is capable of programming a plurality of micro devices in sockets which are in line parallel with the input feeder. The input feeder responds to communication with the control system to feed the unprogrammed micro devices while the programming system programs the micro devices and communicates to the control system. The robotic handling system responds to communication of the programming system with the control system to pickup and places the programmed micro devices on the circuit boards at high speed.

Abstract: A rotatable frame mounted on a base with trunnions. The frame can support a workpiece on more than one surface and can have workpiece engaging devices such as clamps, locating pins or nesting fixtures on both sides. The engaging devices can be different on different sides of the frame. The frame can be rotated by an electric motor, a pneumatic motor or a hydraulic motor. The frame can be expandable to accommodate frames of different sizes. The workstation can have a plurality of trunnion mounted fixtures positioned next to each other and a robot moveable between the fixtures. The frames can be replaced with a lifting device moving along an overhead rail. The frame includes an aperture positioned along the rotational axis of the frame for communicating power from an external power source to workpiece engaging devices.

Abstract: A portable rapidly deploying roller transfer device is disclosed, which is adapted to receive and convey objects. The transfer device may be rapidly manipulated between an elongated open configuration and a collapsed compact configuration. The framework of the transfer device includes rods, hubs, and a canopy. Each rod pivotally joins to another rod by a scissors-type connection intermediate the rod ends. In addition, the end portion of each rod pivotally joins to a hub, where each hub may receive a plurality of rods. As configured, each rod enjoys pivotal movement in relation to the hub along a single axis of revolution. The rods rotate about this single axis of revolution from the collapsed compact configuration, where the rods are substantially parallel to one another, to the erect open configuration, where the rods radiate outwardly from one another and the framework of the transfer device assumes a rectangular prism shape.

Abstract: The present invention is an edge grip aligner with buffering capabilities and a method for increasing the throughput of wafers through the device. According to one embodiment, the present invention has first and second buffer arms, and a chuck arm. A workpiece can be aligned while supported on the chuck arm. Once the workpiece is aligned, the chuck arm transfers the workpiece to the buffer arms so that a second workpiece can be aligned on the chuck arm. While the second workpiece is being aligned, an end effector can transfer the first workpiece away from the buffer arms and retrieve another workpiece to place upon the chuck arm.

Abstract: A personal mobility vehicle lift for a vehicle having a door opening and a floor. The personal mobility vehicle lift includes a platform for supporting a personal mobility vehicle (PMV) thereatop. An upright preferably telescoping lift mechanism raises and lowers the platform in an up and down motion. An elongated stationary frame member is structured for connection atop and oriented preferably parallel to the floor of the vehicle. An elongated moveable frame member is connected to the stationary frame member preferably for reciprocal lengthwise movement. The moveable frame member is connected to the lift mechanism for reciprocal lengthwise movement. A drive mechanism operably interconnects the stationary and moveable members and the lift member whereby, when the platform is in the upper position, the platform is moveable from its outside position through the door opening into the vehicle.

Abstract: A mobile unloading apparatus for unloading items from a variety of heights is disclosed wherein the apparatus has a frame supporting a ramp for movement between a first position spaced above a conveyor for permitting items to be placed directly on the conveyor and a second, downwardly sloping ramp position for moving items down the ramp to the conveyor. The apparatus includes a first walkway section supported by the frame on a first conveyor side above a supporting surface, a second walkway section supported by the frame on a second conveyor side above the supporting surface and a third walkway section. The third walkway section can be moved from a first, use position bridging the first and second walkway sections to a second, storage position.

Abstract: A takeout device (10) for transferring one or more, usually a plurality, of freshly-formed glass containers (C) from molds (18) of a section of an I.S. machine to a deadplate (20) of the machine. The takeout device has an oscillatable arm (12) that carries a head (14) from which a tong (16) for each of the containers is suspended. Oscillation of the arm is powered by a reversible, linearly-acting electrical motor (24), preferably an a.c. servo motor, that causes a rack (28) to reciprocate. The rack drives an oscillatable gear (34) that oscillatingly drives the arm. The motor is mounted at the top of a post (30) at an elevation above the elevations of the molds and the deadplate, and the motor, therefore, is readily accessible for maintenance and adjustment.

Abstract: A conveyor roller drive device is provided to mechanically prevent conveyed goods from falling down on a conveyor system. The conveyor roller drive device includes a power generator for generating rotational power and a coupling portion which is coupled to a conveyor roller. A traction roller transmission mechanism is disposed in the rotational power transmission path between the power generator and the coupling portion. The traction roller transmission mechanism includes a sun roller, planetary rollers disposed on the periphery of the sun roller to roll in contact with the sun roller, a ring roller for allowing the planetary rollers to roll in contact with the inner periphery surface of the ring roller, and a carrier being in phase with the revolution component of the planetary rollers.

Abstract: A sprocket drive system for a modular conveyor belt that compensates for drive-shaft twist under load. The drive system includes a plurality of belt drive surfaces spaced apart across the width of the underside of each row of a modular conveyor belt. A drive shaft supports a group of sprockets at spaced-apart locations. Sprocket drive surfaces are spaced apart circumferentially around the peripheries of the sprockets and arranged in rows across the sprocket to engage corresponding belt drive surfaces in the belt rows. The belt is wrapped around the sprockets on the drive shaft. The engagement of the sprocket drive surfaces with the belt drive surfaces drives the belt. Either the sprocket drive surfaces or the belt drive surfaces, or both, in each row are arranged in an out-of-phase relationship with each other when the conveyor belt is at no load. Once the conveyor belt is operating at load and the shaft twists, the drive surfaces assume an in-phase relationship for improved belt driving and tracking.

Abstract: A package sorting conveyor system. The conveyor system includes: a conveying track; at least one unloading station; and a transition zone funnel upstream of the unloading station to receive the package from the conveying track, the transition zone funnel including a positioner assembly for selectively positioning the outlet of the transition zone funnel between at least a first and a second position. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the present invention includes a secondary downstream chute located downstream from the transition zone funnel for conveying the discharged package to its final destination.

Abstract: An intermediate discharge assembly to remove granular material from a conveyor belt used in an enclosed roller belt conveyor assembly. The intermediate discharge assembly includes a first pair of leading and trailing pulleys, a second pair of leading and trailing pulleys and a plow. The first pair of leading and trailing pulleys supports the conveyor belt in a substantially concave manner. The second pair of leading and trailing pulleys supports the conveyor belt in a substantially flat manner. The plow is positioned between the first and second pairs of leading and trailing pulleys. The plow is operable to remove the granular material from the conveyor belt when the second pair of leading and trailing pulleys supports the conveyor belt and the plow is positioned atop the conveyor belt, such that the granular material is removed from the conveyor belt.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling and monitoring a conveyor belt which is made of rubber or a rubber-like plastic material and preferably provided with embedded reinforcements. By overlapping of the longitudinal edges of the conveyor belt the belt can be closed such that it forms a tubular conveyor belt which is supported on all sides by idler wheels. The device also comprises at least the following components: at least one detectable element which is integrated into the conveyor belt and notably takes the form of several elements which in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction are positioned at distances from each other; and at least one scanning unit with which the precise position of the belt can be determined in a non-contacting manner by detection of the element or elements. The device provided for by the invention is characterized in that the detectable element is an induction loop and/or a transponder, a metal particle or a permanent magnet.

Abstract: An empty bag supplying apparatus used in a continuous conveying type bag-filling packaging machine in which the empty bag supplying apparatus receives empty bags and transfers these empty bags to gripper pairs of the bag-filling packaging machine that are moved continuously at a constant speed. The empty bag supplying apparatus includes downward-facing bag holding members and a reciprocating movement mechanism. The bag holding members hold the upper portions of bags. The reciprocating movement mechanism causes the bag holding members to reciprocate along an arc-shaped path and keeps the empty bags held by the holding members to be parallel to the direction of movement of the gripper pairs during the reciprocating motion. In a bag transfer region established in the arc-shaped path path, the speed of the bag holding members holding the empty bags is equal to the moving speed of the gripper pairs.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the traveling direction of a piece of folded material in the feed path of a folding machine. A first roller nip is used to ingest the folded material into the front end of a turn chute. If the traveling direction is to be maintained, the folded material is allowed to move out through the rear end of the turn chute. If the traveling direction is to be reversed, a stop is used to block the rear end in order to keep the leading edge of the ingested folded material from leaving the turn chute through the rear end. At the same time, the trailing edge of the ingested folded material is caused to engage in a second roller nip located in the front end of the turn chute, in order for the second roller nip to move the folded material out of the turn chute, thereby reversing the traveling direction of the folded material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sliding shoe sorters and methods of using those sorters. One or more pluralities of the shoes are interposed between the conveyors lateral edges and can be orderly advanced in lines. Controllers activate or deactivate the diverters which direct the sliding shoes toward one or more receivers, and the diversion of the shoes can result in the egressing of an item away from the conveyer. The receivers can be provided with rediverters to redirect the shoes toward the interposed sliding shoes. Items advanced by the conveyor may have a code placed about them, and after a code has been placed about the item to be sorted, a paradigm or paradigms responsive to the code can be created to orchestrate activation or deactivation of the diverters and/or the rediverters.