Abstract: Packaging apparatus of sachets comprising a primary packaging unit, a secondary packaging unit, and a transfer unit interposed between the primary and the secondary packaging units in order to transfer the sachets between the primary and secondary packaging units, wherein the transfer unit comprises at least three transfer drawers disposed one after the other, selectively movable independently along a closed-ring path between a reception station and a delivery station and vice versa, each of the transfer drawers being configured to contain a first number of sachets and the transfer unit comprising a removal member associated with the delivery station and configured to remove from one or more of the transfer drawers a second number of sachets and to supply them to the secondary packaging unit. The present invention also concerns a method for packaging sachets.

Abstract: A goods transport facility for transporting goods along a transportation path including a curved part, and in particular a goods transport facility provided with a plurality of transport carriages that move along a pair of left and right rails, which are provided along the transportation path, so as to transport goods. A rail width adjusting mechanism capable of changing a rail width between the left and right rails and is provided in at least one of a curving region and an S-curve region in the curved part of the transportation path.

Abstract: A printed board transport apparatus includes a first conveyor which transports a printed board between a working portion and printed board loading/unloading portions of a working apparatus, and a second conveyor installed in the printed board loading/unloading portions. The first conveyor has a function of rotating a first transport member, and a function of moving in a direction parallel to the transport direction. The second conveyor transports the printed board by rotating a second transport member. After the length of a downstream portion of the printed board, which is placed on a conveyor on the downstream side, has reached a support length, the first conveyor moves toward the working portion by changing the rotational speed of the first transport member to a rotational speed for conveyor movement.

Abstract: A universal automation line is configured for the assembly of electronics and mechanical devices. The universal automation line includes universal cells or stations that can be programmed to perform a variety of automated assembly tasks such as glue dispensing, screw driving, pick and place, etc. The stations are interchangeable by different module design such as selective soldering, heat stacking, bottom lead trimming, bottom screwing and ultrasonic welding. Each station can also include an automated robot, which is also interchangeable, to perform different tasks and complete fully automated assemblies. The stations can be sequenced inline for a fully automated line or combined with some manual operation. The stations can communicate by standardized interfaces and local networks, and can be expanded to an intranet or the internet for remote control.

Abstract: Described are systems, methods, and apparatus for automated item sortation and consolidation of items of a consolidation set. The system includes a consolidation station in which a series of automated devices, robotic arms, conveyors, scanners, etc., move and consolidate items of consolidation sets. The automated devices are controlled by an inventory management system that sends instructions to the various devices to coordinate operation of those devices and to coordinate flow of items through the consolidation station.

Abstract: A substrate conveying system includes a mounting device conveyor for conveying a printed substrate in a first horizontal direction, an upstream-side conveyor, a downstream-side conveyor, and a buffer conveyor. The mounting device conveyor has a function of moving the printed substrate in a horizontal Y direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. The upstream-side conveyor is spaced apart from the downstream-side conveyor in the Y direction. The buffer conveyor has a function of conveying the printed substrate in the first direction, and a function of moving the printed substrate in the Y direction. When the mounting device conveyor and the buffer conveyor are positioned in the same position in the Y direction, the printed substrate is transferred from one of these conveyors to the other.

Abstract: A height-aware item retrieval assignment system (“HIRS”) may facilitate height-aware assignment of mobile shelving units (“MSUs”) to operators during item retrieval. The HIRS may associate various operators with stations of varying heights on which the operators may stand or sit for item retrieval. Coverage may be based on effective item retrieval height zones, which may overlap such that possible shelving heights of MSUs may be reached by one or more of the operators at their associated stations. Upon receipt of an order of items to be retrieved from an MSU, the HIRS may assign the MSU based on the received height information. The HIRS may also adjust heights of the stations rather than relying on stations of fixed heights.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for weighing dough, comprising an endless conveyor, for conveying a plurality of endless dough pieces, extending essentially in parallel lanes on said conveyor in a direction of conveyance and a plurality of weighing-units, arranged under the endless conveyor, and supporting the latter, the weighing units being distributed at different locations spread over the width of the conveyor, each for weighing a different dough piece.

Abstract: The invention relates to a workstation of a food item processing system, said workstation comprising a food item reception area for receiving food items at the workstation from a primary conveyor of the food item processing system, a food item dispatch area for returning processed food items to the primary conveyor, a computer registration device arranged for obtaining information about a return of a processed food item from said food item dispatch area to said primary conveyor and sending said information to a computer system.

Abstract: To provide a substrate transport apparatus and a substrate transport method that enable curtailing of a mounting wait time incidental to movement of support pins. Height data pertaining to components 10 mounted on a back side of a substrate 1 are stored beforehand. During substrate carrying-in operation, support pins 7 are caused to descend according to component height data and wait at a height h1 where to be able to avoid interference with the components 10. During substrate carrying-out operation, the support pins 7 are caused to descend according to the component height data and recede to the height h1 where to be able to avoid interference with the components 10.

Abstract: Apparatus for RFID tagging of packages is provided, including a conveyor, along which tags having microchips and antennae are applied to packages, with the tags being encoded via radio waves, to contain information about package identification and other information, with the encoding being done upstream of a palletizer system, and with the palletizer system being provided for receiving encoded packages from the conveyor.

Abstract: Processing a work piece by first scanning the work piece. The work piece is modeled to determine its weight, outer perimeter and/or how the work piece could be divided into portions of specific areas and perimeters based on desired portion weights of desired areas and perimeters. The modeled work piece and/or the modeled portions are compared with the one or more desired perimeter configurations. The deviation of the modeled outer perimeter size of the work piece and/or portions from the desired perimeter configuration(s) is calculated. Based on such calculations, one or more steps in processing the work piece and/or portions therefrom is carried out. Such one or more steps may include modeling the work piece again, using different modeling criteria or options, if the calculated deviation is outside an acceptable range.

Abstract: A lumber transfer system and a method for individually transferring lumbers from a feeding conveyor to an outfeed conveyor. Detectors are used for monitoring a lumber presence along a corridor on a longitudinal conveying surface. Motorized blocking fingers located about the corridor and transversally spaced along the conveying surface are provided and are configured for moving between blocking and unblocking positions. A controller is also provided, the controller having at least one input for receiving detecting signals from the detectors respectively, the detecting signals of the detectors being respectively associated to the motorized blocking fingers.

Abstract: Apparatus for RFID tagging of packages is provided, including a conveyor, along which tags having microchips and antennae are applied to packages, with the tags being encoded via radio waves, to contain information about packaged identification and other information, with the encoding being done upstream of a palletizer system, and with the palletizer system being provided for receiving encoded packages from the conveyor.