Abstract: In a machine for filling capsules, a hopper containing the capsules is mounted to rotate about a respective first axis of rotation, so as to move about the first axis a number of feed channels, each of which receives the capsules successively from the hopper, and has a longitudinal second axis forming an angle of other than 90° with a reference plane perpendicular to the first axis.

Abstract: A conveyor chain has a succession of longitudinally succeeding links, a respective entrainment lug projecting transversely outward from each link and formed with a latch seat and a plurality of identical entrainment elements. The entrainment elements each have a transversely outwardly projecting entrainment arm, a transversely inwardly open socket adapted to fit complementarily over a respective one of the lugs, a formation in the socket engageable in the seat of the respective one lug, and a longitudinally extending brace bearing transversely inward on at least one of the lugs adjacent the respective one lug.

Abstract: A control architecture for material handling includes multiple tiers of controllers, such as three. The lowest-level controllers interact directly with sensors and actuators used in the material handling system, such as photo-eyes and motors used with conveyors. The lowest-level controllers receive higher level commands from one or more mid-level controllers. The mid-level controllers, in turn, receive still higher level commands and information from at least one upper level controller. Each mid and low level controller is designed to include sufficient intelligence to deal with many of the signals and messages it receives without having to forward those signals or messages to the next higher level controller and await instructions from that higher level controller. The system thus distributes intelligence amongst the controllers. The system is well-adapted for application to conveyor control systems.

Abstract: A free flow conveyance system includes a plurality of linear conveyance apparatuses each having a plurality of unit conveyors linearly arranged, and a pivot conveyance apparatus having a unit conveyor which is arranged between the linear conveyance apparatuses being so arranged as to form a predetermined angle, wherein product sensors are arranged at the conveying-in side as well as at the conveying-out side of the respective unit conveyors of the linear conveyance apparatuses and the pivot conveyance apparatus, when a product is conveyed to a unit conveyor of the upstream side along the conveyance direction and product sensors of the unit conveyor become of the sensing-product state, in case respective product sensors of a unit conveyor of the downstream side along the conveyance direction are of the not-sensing-product state, these unit conveyors are driven respectively to convey the product, and when the product is consequently conveyed to the unit conveyor of the downstream side along the conveyance direc

Abstract: The device for dynamically weighing postal items (P) comprises a plate (1) floatingly mounted on a weight sensor, and a conveyor belt mounted on the plate to move the postal items in a longitudinal direction (D) of the conveyor. The conveyor has two parallel conveyor belts (2C, 3C) which extend along the conveyor direction between a conveyor inlet (E) and a conveyor outlet (S), and between which the postal items are pinched and moved in series on edge. The two conveyors belts are engaged on a pair of first elastically deformable finned wheels (2A, 3A) disposed at the inlet (E) of the conveyor and being aligned perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, and on a pair of second elastically deformable finned wheels (2B, 3B) disposed at the outlet (S) of the conveyor and being aligned perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, and the operation of the weight sensor is based on the electromagnetic principle of flux compensation.

Abstract: An escalator or moving walkway is provided in combination with a device for heating components of the escalator or moving walkway. The device includes at least one pivotably mounted heating element adapted to direct heated air onto a selected component of the escalator or moving walkway.

Abstract: A medication dispensing system (10) includes a portable securable container (42), and a mechanism (12, 13, 14, 16, 19) for dispensing a dosage of solid medication. The system further comprises a processor (11) interfacing with the mechanism and further programmed to await (402) an authorization code from an authorized user among a plurality of authorized users, dispense (404) a dosage of medication while maintaining remaining dosages of medication secure in the portable secure dispenser upon receipt of at least the authorization code and optionally a patient's name, and store (406) a code representative of the authorized user, a code representative of the patient's name, and a date and time of dispensation of the dosage of medication in a memory.

Abstract: A supply unit and a user unit employed in the manufacture of tobacco products, typically cigarettes and the like, are linked by a duct along which a mass of the cigarettes is advanced from the outfeed of the supply unit toward the infeed of the user unit. The advancing mass of cigarettes is parted at an intermediate zone of the duct either by rods or by a pair of frames, in such a way as to create a void that will accommodate a trolley directed into the duct from a housing by an elevator; once inside the duct, the trolley proceeds to push the mass of cigarettes from the intermediate zone toward the inlet of a hopper in such a way as to empty the duct completely, for example when changing over from one brand of cigarette to another. To advantage, the trolley is composed of two articulated structures so that its geometry and dimensions can be varied to match the variations in geometry and depth of the duct.

Abstract: A plurality of steps 33 are connected to a pair of step chains 32 wound around step chain sprockets 30. The step chain sprockets 30 drives the step chains 32 to turn the step chains 32 through a forward path 43a, a return path 43b, and reversing areas at the opposite ends of the forward path and the return path. Front wheels 39 are supported on shafts attached to the opposite side surfaces of a front part of the step 33 and connected to the step chains 32, respectively. Rear wheels 40 are supported on a rear part of the step 33. Front wheel guide rails 44 supporting and guiding the front wheels 39 and rear wheel guide rails 45 for supporting and guiding the rear wheels 40 guides the step 33 in the forward path. In the reversing area, in which the step is inverted, an auxiliary step guide means including auxiliary rollers 41 and auxiliary roller guide rails 46 controls the position of the step 33 such that the rear wheels approach a connecting shaft 30a supporting the step chain sprockets 30.

Abstract: A method for handling trays for use with an article sorter includes providing a conveying surface along a plurality of sorter units and conveying empty trays along the conveying surface. The empty trays that are being conveyed along the conveying surface are stopped with a tray stopping device that is positioned at least partially below the conveying surface and operable to project a portion of the tray stopping device above the conveying surface to engage and stop an empty tray. The stopped empty trays are moved from the conveying surface to the tray support areas in a direction generally transverse to the conveying surface. The empty trays are at least partially filled at the tray support areas, and the partially filled trays are moved from the tray support area onto the conveying surface.

Abstract: A conveyor belt cleaner scraper blade for cleaning the surface of a conveyor belt and a method of manufacture of the scraper blade. The scraper blade includes a body having a base member adapted to be attached to a cross shaft of a conveyor belt cleaner and a scraping member which extends outwardly from the base member to a scraping tip. The scraper blade includes one or more electrical sensors that are embedded in an insert member. The insert member and the sensors are molded and embedded within the body of the scraper blade. Each of the sensors is adapted to provide an electrical output signal representing a physical condition of the scraper blade sensed by the sensor. A variety of sensor embodiments are described, as well as two embodiments of control and monitoring systems for use in conjunction with the various blade and sensor combinations.

Abstract: A sortation system and method includes providing a sorter assembly and a slug-building assembly. Product is received by the sorter assembly and sorted to a series of sortation lanes. The slug-building assembly includes a plurality of supply lines supplying product for sorting by the sorter assembly. At least one of the supply lines includes an accumulation conveyor and a slug conveyor. Product is accumulated in slug portions at the accumulation conveyor. Slug portions are combined into product slugs at the slug conveyor. Product slugs are discharged from the slug conveyor for sorting by the sorter assembly.

Abstract: A dispenser includes a feeder bowl for receiving items to be dispensed, and a first vibration device for vibrating the feeder bowl. the dispenser also includes a plurality of dispensing paths positioned around the feeder bowl, and a rotation drive for rotating the dispensing paths. Moreover, the dispensing paths include a second vibration device for vibrating the dispensing paths proportionately to a physical characteristic of each of the items, such that the dispensing paths dispense the items singularly.

Abstract: A turn-around device for packets, in particular packets of cigarettes, wherein the packets are fed successively, with a first surface facing forwards, to a turn-around station, from which they are extracted, with a second surface facing forwards, by a gripper conveyor, which travels through the turn-around station perpendicularly to the second surface, and has a number of grippers, each of which defines a pocket for a relative packet, and closes gradually onto the packet to control its position as it is extracted from the turn-around station with the second surface facing forwards.

Abstract: A dispenser includes a feeder bowl for receiving items to be dispensed, and a first vibration device for vibrating the feeder bowl. the dispenser also includes a plurality of dispensing paths positioned around the feeder bowl, and a rotation drive for rotating the dispensing paths. Moreover, the dispensing paths include a second vibration device for vibrating the dispensing paths proportionately to a physical characteristic of each of the items, such that the dispensing paths dispense the items singularly.

Abstract: A paddle diverter assembly according to the present invention includes an arm and an actuator for actuating the arm to move toward a diverting position. The actuator is adapted to permit the arm to move away from the diverting position upon impact with the object to be diverted and then to return to the diverting position to thereby absorb at least some of the impact between the arm and an object being diverted.

Abstract: A device for detection and adjustment of the tension of a scraper chain of a chain conveyor, in particular of a face conveyor, having a tensionable return station, on which a spoked chainwheel to reverse the scraper chain, having chain links and scrapers attached thereto, is supported between the bottom race and the top race. The devices including a sensor which determines the tension of the scraper chain at the return station and the sensor having a swivellable sensor body coupled with a shaft encoder. The sensor body being in the top race and in contact with the upper face of the scraper chain in a measurement zone with provision being made in the measuring zone for vertical play for the run of the scrapers and/or the chain links.

Abstract: The device (D) for removable fastening of seats (3) housing containers (C) to a metallic belt (1) includes first fastening means (10) made on the metallic belt (1) and aimed at being mutually coupled with second fastening means (34), made in the lower part of the seats (3) to position and lock the seats (3) to the belt (1). The device includes also supporting and sliding guides (4,5), facing each other and situated below and substantially orthogonal to eh metallic belt (1). The guides (4,5) are operated by operating means, between a first gripping configuration (P), in which they are vertical and constitute an abutment for the second fastening means (34), so as to define a fastening between the metallic belt (1) and the seats (3) for housing containers (C), and a second release configuration (R), in which at least one of the guides (4,5) is moved away from the second fastening means (34), so as to allow the seats (3) to be removed from the metallic belt (1).

Abstract: An improved conveyor chain formed from a plurality of modular links arranged in rows and each associated with at least two elongated transverse connectors is disclosed. In one embodiment, the connectors define a substantially open, planar conveying surface intermediate of the links in each row. Each link in a first row includes apertures for receiving a first of the connectors extending through a slot in the links of an adjacent row, as well as a receiver having a closed end and an open end for receiving one end of a second one of the connectors. The chain with the connectors associated with each row is thus capable of side-flexing to negotiate curves or bends, as well as longitudinal compression/expansion, while at all times providing full and even article support.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting articles of the tobacco-processing industry including a rotationally driven conveying element, a support and, a clamping device. The clamping device has at least one drive element and at least two holding elements. The rotationally driven conveying element is detachably connected by the clamping device to the support so that a movement of the at least one drive element of the clamping device causes the at least two holding elements to change their position relative to each other, in a direction crosswise to the direction of movement the drive element. Depending on the direction of movement of the at least one drive element, the movement causes the at least two holding elements to either hold or release the rotationally driven conveying element and the support.