Abstract: An article conveyance apparatus includes a carriage which travels along a predetermined travel path, and an on-ground facility including a pair of traveling rails which define the travel path. The carriage includes a first slider which operates according to magnetic action to drive a transfer mechanism, and a drive transmission mechanism which supports the first slider and transmits a driving force from the first slider to the transfer mechanism. The on-ground facility includes a first stator which applies magnetic action to the first slider in the carriage to operate the first slider. The first stator includes an opening through which the drive transmission mechanism of the carriage passes. The opening is disposed in a position such that the inside of the first stator is not seen from the opening in top view of the first stator.

Abstract: Disclosed is device for orienting at least one object, comprising: a fixed frame, conveying means defining a conveying surface to contact a bottom portion of object and convey object along a first direction; and rotating means selectively actuatable for creating on bottom portion a differential speed causing the rotation of object about a first axis transversal to first direction. The rotating means comprise a contact element that is fixed or movable along first direction with a differential speed relative to conveying means. The contact element is selectively movable with respect to conveying surface between: a first configuration, protruding from conveying surface along first axis, so as to contact bottom portion of object and to cause the rotation of object about first axis; and a second configuration, offset from conveying surface along first axis. The contact element is free to oscillate around a second axis parallel to first direction.

Abstract: A pickface builder for a storage and retrieval system for storing goods units and having an in-feed conveyor and a picking device, each goods unit holding at least one product package therein, the pickface builder including a frame, a pusher member movably coupled to the frame, and a snugger member movably coupled to the frame, wherein the pickface builder is configured to receive goods units from the in-feed conveyor and the pusher member and snugger member are movable at least in a direction transverse to a direction of goods unit travel on the in-feed conveyor and configured to form the goods units into a pickface picked by the picking device as a unit and having a predetermined reference datum relating the pickface to a placement position of goods units forming the pickface along a storage surface of the storage and retrieval system.

Abstract: A proppant metering and loading apparatus for a hydraulic fracturing blender unit is provided. A continuous loop conveyor belt receives proppant from a source location on the blender, such as a hopper, and delivers the proppant to a blender device of the blender. A measurement device (e.g. weigh scale) measures and provides an indication of amount (e.g. weight, volume and/or density) of the proppant delivered to the blender device by the conveyor belt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transport wheel arrangement for handling cylindrical bodies, comprising a base body (104), a negative pressure source which is intended to provide a negative pressure for holding the cylindrical bodies, a disc-shaped wheel body (102) which is rotatably mounted about its central axis (R1) on the base body (104), a drive device which is designed to set the wheel body (102) in rotary motion, at least one receiving assembly (112) for holding a cylindrical body, comprising a shaft (114) which receives a line (120) for conducting the negative pressure, a contact member (116) provided radially outside the shaft (114) which is designed to present a contact surface for a held cylindrical body, and a suction cup member (116) which is connected to the line (120) for conducting the negative pressure and is designed to hold a cylindrical body by means of this negative pressure; and a control unit which is designed to control the operation of the drive device and, if necessary, the vacuum

Abstract: A transport device having a plate; a conveyor to transport articles; a pusher to push and move a row of articles on the conveyor onto the plate; and a stopper to prevent the articles from being moved by the conveyor and to define the start of a row of articles being moved onto the plate by the pusher. The conveyor causes the positions of rows of articles stopped by the stopper to move alternately so that the positions of rows of articles moved onto the plate are shifted alternately.

Abstract: Mover for a transport apparatus in the beverage processing industry, the packaging industry, or the warehouse industry, where the mover can form a linear drive together with a guide rail and a long stator of the transport apparatus, and the mover comprises rolling mechanisms for moving along the guide rail, where the mover comprises a base body and one secondary part or two secondary parts, which, in the case of two secondary parts, are arranged on oppositely disposed sides of the base body and are suitable to interact with an electromagnetic field generated by the transport apparatus to drive the mover along the guide rail characterized in that the mover comprises a device for the continuously variable adjustment of the relative position of a secondary part relative to the base body.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a linear feeding-unit having a first linear section and a transfer device that transfers containers, as a group, from the linear feeding-unit to a clocked processing-machine and an entry device having a main feeding-unit distribution-stars. The first distribution-star receives containers from the main feeding-unit at a first transfer-region and transfers and the second distribution-star receives containers from the main feeding-unit at a second transfer-region. A periphery of the first distribution-star comprises a receiving section that receives containers from the main feeding-unit and an empty section interrupts receiving of the containers. The empty section is devoid of supporting-and-retaining elements. However, the receiving section comprises as many supporting-and-retaining elements as there are containers in the container group.

Abstract: A star conveyor for containers which includes at least one supporting body which can move rotatably about a rotation axis, and supports peripherally a plurality of gripping devices, which are distributed around its rotation axis and are each adapted to retain a respective container to be conveyed; each one of the gripping devices includes at least one respective pair of gripping arms; at least one gripping arm of such pair of gripping arms includes a main body and at least one adapter element which is detachably attached to the main body and is interchangeable with at least one other adapter element of a different type, in order to vary the configuration of the at least one gripping arm according to the type of container to be conveyed.

Abstract: A conveyor controller for being implemented into a conveyor system includes control circuitry and one or more network interfaces for coupling with other conveyor controllers. In one embodiment, the control circuitry configured for detecting whether another conveyor controller is connected and to determine which network interface is used in order to set the direction of the conveyor system. In another embodiment, the control circuitry is configured, to receive configuration data from a conveyor controller connected to a network interface, and to detect if another conveyor controller is and to transmit configuration message to another conveyor controller that includes additional configuration data associated with the conveyor controller. In still another embodiment, the control circuitry transmits configuration data to a replacement conveyor controller upon getting a request from the replacement conveyor controller that has been connected to a network interface.

Abstract: A divider system for diverting objects from an infeed lane into one or more discharge lanes includes a dividing screw set, a discharge screw set, and a diverting mechanism. The dividing screw set conveys a sequence of objects to an output end of the screw set where the objects are divided by rotation of the dividing screw set and outputted alternately to first and second discharge screws of the discharge screw set to form a first series of objects conveyed by the first discharge screw and a second series of objects conveyed by the second discharge screw. The divider system includes a diverting mechanism which can be selectively actuated to divert objects from one discharge screw to the other discharge screw to form a diverted group.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a pneumatic mandrel for a packaging system. In one embodiment, the mandrel includes a pneumatic nozzle proximate to a loading volume in which items are disposed before being packaged. The pneumatic nozzle can contain multiple ports for directing airflow in different directions. The directions at which the ports generate the airflow may be selected to move items that may be stuck or snagged into the loading volume. Stated differently, the mandrel may generate airflows in multiple directions for pushing items towards the loading volume.

Abstract: A conveyor system may include a conveyor belt and a conveyor support structure supporting the belt which includes a support truss structure extending between ends of the conveyor support structure. The system may also include a pair of wheels and an axle assembly configured to rotatably support the wheels on the support truss structure. The axle assembly may include an elongated axle housing with opposite ends each having a said wheel of the pair of wheels rotatably mounted thereon, the axle housing having an interior, and a hub rotatably mounted on each of the ends of the axle housing with each hub having one of the wheels mounted thereon. The system may include a rotation detection assembly for detecting rotation of at least one wheel and being integrated with the axle assembly and at least partially positioned within the interior of the axle housing.

Abstract: A conveyor system for conveying electrically conductive articles such as aluminum bottles or cans. The conveyor system comprises a plurality of coils below the top surface of an electromagnetic conveyor at a junction between an infeed conveyor and a discharge conveyor. The coils propagate electromagnetic flux waves that induce currents in the electrically conductive articles that force the articles to follow a conveying path from the infeed to the discharge conveyor. Dead spots on the electromagnetic conveyor can be eliminated by adjusting the coil drive waveforms. And a long electromagnetic conveyor driven by a train of narrow pulses is used to singulate electrically conductive articles.

Abstract: A system for managing parcel flow includes: an upstream conveyor for receiving and conveying a bulk flow of parcels; and a damming conveyor positioned to receive parcels offloaded from the upstream conveyor. The system may also include: a destacking conveyor positioned to receive parcels offloaded from the damming conveyor and configured to separate vertically stacked parcels; and a downstream conveyor positioned to receive parcels offloaded from the destacking conveyor. The damming conveyor can be selectively activated and deactivated to offload parcels in discrete batches, instead of a continuous flow. Selective activation and deactivation of the damming conveyor and/or destacking conveyor can be based on instructions communicated from a control subsystem in accordance in a prearranged sequence or based on data from one or more sensors configured to acquire data corresponding to the positioning of parcels within the system.

Abstract: A supply device for feeding of goods to be transported to a conveyor device has at least one conveyor belt (9) that extends around two deflection pulleys (4) of the supply device. The at least one conveyor belt (9) has, on its inner side (21), a guide strip (23) arranged approximately along a feed direction (13), and has a bed (11) for guiding the at least one conveyor belt (9) between the two deflection pulleys (4) by a guide groove (19) for the guide strip (23). The bed (11) has a base table (22) and at least one guiding device (20) attached to the base table (22). The guide groove (19) is formed at least partially by the at least one guiding device (20).

Abstract: A suspension conveyor system for sorting products, having a plurality of conveyor bags for at least one product. The conveyor bags may be moved along a continuous closed conveyor path, wherein the suspension conveyor system comprises conveyor means, configured to move the conveyor bags, at least one loading source, configured to load the conveyor bags with the at least one product, a control unit, configured to control the conveyor means, and at least one first unloading line having a plurality of unloading positions along a first closed conveyor path. At least one further unloading line is arranged having a plurality of unloading positions along at least one further closed conveyor path, wherein the at least two closed conveyor paths are connected to one another via at least two gates, wherein the conveyor bags may be controlled, independently from one another, in regard to the conveyor path using the conveyor means.

Abstract: A carousel for transporting articles includes: a body rotated by a motor around a main axis, a stationary cam around the main axis and a plurality of transfer units mounted on the body to rotate around the main axis. Each unit includes a transfer element having a radially external portion to retain or release an article. The element is pivoted on the body around an auxiliary axis radial to the main axis and is coupled to the body to move along the auxiliary axis. The element is coupled to the stationary cam to rotate around the auxiliary axis. A pair of auxiliary cams is coupled to the element and integral with the body and auxiliary cam-followers are interposed between the element and the auxiliary cam to move on the auxiliary cams during rotation of the element around the auxiliary axis and move the element along the auxiliary axis.

Abstract: The application discloses a beverage bottle holding and transport device for holding and transporting beverage bottles and similar containers.

Abstract: A singularizing unloader for unloading and singularizing packages provided in a container, having a pivoting installation for pivoting the container from a vertical receiving alignment for receiving the container to a horizontal emptying alignment for emptying the container, and having a holding installation for holding the container on the pivoting installation during the pivoting of the pivoting installation. A belt conveyor device for conveying the packages is connected to the pivoting installation in such a manner that the belt conveyor device by the pivoting of the pivoting installation from the receiving alignment to the emptying alignment is adjustable from a predominantly vertical initial position to a predominantly horizontal unloading position.