Abstract: A pharmaceutical order filling system receives pharmaceutical orders and uses a loading device to label containers and load the labeled containers onto a pallet. The loading device is configured with at least one container drop assembly that receives containers to be labelled and loaded onto the pallet and that is in communication with a label assembly configured to print and apply labels to the containers. The loading device also includes at least one loading rotary wheel configured to receive the labelled containers and hold the labelled containers in a pick position to be moved from the pick position to a predetermined position on the pallet. The loading device may be configured to accommodate multiple sizes of containers and to consolidate multiple sizes of labelled containers into a single loading rotary wheel for loading onto the pallet.

Abstract: Robotic pick-and-place automation is used to transfer oral solid pharmaceuticals from moveable trays or canisters. Sensors are used to verify that the pharmaceuticals have been properly placed in the desired pharmaceutical locations precisely according to the patient prescription data. A pharmacist places pharmaceutical products within dispensing trays or canisters to present the pharmaceutical products for picking and placing via the robotic pick-and-place machinery. Once the canister or tray is located adjacent the pick-and-place device, a sensor or imaging unit associated with the pick-and-place device verifies that the pharmaceutical product the size, shape, and/or color of an expected pharmaceutical product that is to be placed within the packaging material in accordance with patient prescription data stored by a computer associated with the system.

Abstract: A merchandise sorting device includes a conveyance path, a chute, and a sorting plate. The conveyance path includes a placement surface on which an item is placed, and along which the item moves. The chute is inclined downward from the conveyance path and forms an inclined surface on which the item can be slid. The sorting plate is provided at a lower end of the chute and is rotatable about an axis paralleling an edge of the lower end of the chute to open and close the lower end of the chute.

Abstract: A flexible feeding system including a tray configured to orient, segregate and singulate objects. The tray is operatively coupled to a multi-directional vibratory platform for causing movement of the objects in multiple different directions on the tray. The tray includes an orienting region having orienting slots for orienting the objects, and a divider that separates the orienting region from a singulating region of the tray. The divider includes openings that correspond with the orienting slots. The openings are configured to permit the objects which are oriented in the slots to pass across the divider into the singulating region, while restricting the misoriented objects from passing across the divider. The tray may include an upstream bulk region for containing a plurality of the objects in bulk form. The tray also may include a downstream pick region for confining the oriented objects at predetermined locations in each of the slots.

Abstract: A method for pitting and re-pitting fruit halves, in particular peach halves, has steps of lifting fruit halves from a loading area to a feeding zone, feeding the fruit halves to an advancing lane, moving the fruit halves forward, detecting the supporting condition of each fruit half and a presence of pit or pit fragments, if any, assessing the supporting condition as correct or incorrect, communicating the presence of pit or pit fragments, if any, in the fruit half, pit removing, if any, delivering the fruit halves to their further treatment or bringing them back to the step of lifting the fruit halves, in case their supporting condition is assessed as incorrect. There is shown a multi-lane machine having a detecting station (9), a control unit (10), communication means for sending information to a cutting station (8) and to a separating station (13) for delivering the fruit halves to their further treatment or to the loading area of the machine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for aligning preforms in a row and righting same, the device including a bowl centrifuge formed by: a horizontal circular platen rotating about a vertical axis; a fixed peripheral rail; at least a first angular sector for aligning the preforms against the rail; and at least a second angular sector for righting the preforms. The device includes a unit for actively ejecting incorrectly aligned preforms from the row of correctly aligned and righted preforms.

Abstract: A packaged integrated circuit transfer track with a stopper arm that is constrained to vertical motion. A packaged integrated circuit transfer track with a cam follower that engages a cam causing a stopper arm to raise or lower vertically. A packaged integrated circuit transfer track with an actuator that engages a switch causing a motor or solenoid to raise or lower the stopper arm vertically.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical order filling system receives pharmaceutical orders and uses a loading device to label containers and load the labeled containers onto a pallet. The loading device is configured with at least one container drop assembly that receives containers to be labelled and loaded onto the pallet and that is in communication with a label assembly configured to print and apply labels to the containers. The loading device also includes at least one loading rotary wheel configured to receive the labelled containers and hold the labelled containers in a pick position to be moved from the pick position to a predetermined position on the pallet. The loading device may be configured to accommodate multiple sizes of containers and to consolidate multiple sizes of labelled containers into a single loading rotary wheel for loading onto the pallet.

Abstract: An automated granule portioning system includes at least one volumetric measuring chamber capable of adjusting the volume of the chamber automatically to a programmed target volume and arranged to receive a first portion of granules into the chamber to fill the target volume. A transport system automatically delivers the target volume of granules from the chamber to a weighing device. A granule metering device dispenses granules and, depending on a signal from the weighing device that the first portion of granules is below a programmed target weight, dispenses granules to the first portion to increase the weight to achieve a second portion having the target weight.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles includes a housing and a drive system. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles, a dispensing outlet, and a dispensing path between the hopper chamber and the dispensing outlet. The drive system includes a belt and a belt actuator operable to drive the belt. The dispensing apparatus is configured such that articles disposed in the hopper chamber are directed onto the belt and the belt, when driven by the belt actuator, conveys the articles received from the hopper chamber in a dispensing direction along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed.

Abstract: An asymmetric article-carrying puck is driven by a linear star conveyor through an angular rotation orienting section to orient the pucks and articles therein irrespective of random initial orientation. In one embodiment, an upper puck plate carries the article while a separated lower puck plate defines a rotational orienting circular gear rack with a rotation-stopping bridge, separating ends of the rack and inclined from a base of one end tooth in the rack to a crest of another end tooth in the rack. The lower puck plate can be a combination of two circular plates with the circular gear rack interposed therebetween and within the periphery of the circular plates. Pucks can be accumulated in mutual engaged positions and separated by the linear star into preselected pitch while transported and turned. Integral pucks can be used. The structural details and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A vibration feeding apparatus comprises an alignment track that is operative to receive electronic components and to arrange the electronic components in a desired orientation by vibrating and accelerating the electronic components located on the alignment track. An inspection station rejects electronic components that are not in the desired orientation onto a reject track for reintroduction to the alignment track. A spreading unit adjacent to the alignment track then transfers rejected electronic components from the reject track to the alignment track for arranging the electronic components in the desired orientation.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed, in part, to a method of transporting rolls of a fibrous material. The method comprises providing a V-shaped conveying mechanism, stacking a plurality of the rolls of the fibrous material on the V-shaped conveying mechanism, and transporting the plurality of the rolls of the fibrous material between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: A vibration feeding apparatus comprises an alignment track that is operative to receive electronic components and to arrange the electronic components in a desired orientation by vibrating and accelerating the electronic components located on the alignment track. An inspection station rejects electronic components that are not in the desired orientation onto a reject track for reintroduction to the alignment track. A spreading unit adjacent to the alignment track then transfers rejected electronic components from the reject track to the alignment track for arranging the electronic components in the desired orientation.

Abstract: This device feeds and sorts tablets or small parts from a common hopper to a product count sensor head. Two parallel feed rolls and two transport rollers rotate together on an adjustable incline. The feed rolls are positioned above the transport rolls. The rotation direction of each feed and transport roller can vary along with its speed. As the feed rollers rotate the feeding threads will push out the product from the hopper and drop the product onto the transport rollers which will sort them along the length of the transport rollers. As the roller angle increases so does the product feed rate.

Abstract: A carrier bar to convey at least one pellet-shaped article along a predetermined conveyer path in a direction of travel, the carrier bar comprises at least one pocket adapted to receive a pellet-shaped article and each pocket having a pocket wall, and a product settling area included in each pocket and having a dimple defined in the product settling area by an edge, said dimple adapted to seat the bottom side of the pellet-shaped article, wherein said dimple is offset from a center of said product settling area and said dimple is shaped to position, hold, or bias a portion of the pellet-shaped article towards and/or against a portion of the pocket wall.

Abstract: An orienting device for receiving a bulk flow of unshelled pistachio nuts and aligning and orienting them to provide single flows of nuts having a desired, common orient, the device comprises: an orienting section (27) comprising a plurality of tracks (25), which receive a flow of nuts from an infeed section, and align and orient the nuts, each track (25) comprising an orienting part (29), which comprises a base and first and second lateral orienting guides (39) makes the nuts rotate. The tray is a vibrating tray.

Abstract: A cardboard-handling system with a rule-die associated to a first drum and a counter die associated to a second drum for pre-treating cardboards. A cardboard-alignmentor on a first side of the rule-die and counter-die aligns and conveys a cardboard together with one or more synchronized-cardboard transferors toward a side-gripper conveyor. The side-gripper conveyor transfers the cardboard toward and through the rule-die and counter-die drums for pre-treatment of the cardboard. Next the side-gripper conveyor conveys the cardboard toward and through a laser-treatment module to be further pre-treated. The side gripper conveyor movement is synchronized with a laser-treatment module for which a base with a plurality of protruding elements has moving capabilities and is synchronized with the side-gripper conveyor (via a timing belt for example).

Abstract: A handling system for multiple workpieces is provided for repeatedly lifting rows of multiple workpieces on a lift assembly from a collection of workpieces in a hopper and selectively delivering one or more rows of orientated workpieces to an exit conveyor. Any disoriented workpieces on the exit conveyor can be discarded from the exit conveyor and returned to the collection of workpieces in the hopper.

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting objects in a preset direction, in particular objects that have a cavity having an opening at one of the ends of the objects, comprises a conveying device for the objects comprising a conveying surface tilted by an angle with respect to a horizontal plane, on the conveying surface there are arranged hooking elements that are suitable for interacting with the cavities, the conveying surface being movable in an advancing direction oriented from a lower end of the conveying device to an upper end of the conveying device.

Abstract: A safety arrangement for use with a piece of equipment. The safety arrangement includes a signal generating unit for generating an optical signal, an elongate element, and a signal detecting unit. The elongate element is disposed along, about, around or through the piece of equipment and is capable of transmitting an optical signal. The signal detecting unit detects an optical signal. The signal generating unit is connected to the signal detecting unit by the elongate element such that the signal detecting unit is in optical communication with the signal detecting unit. The signal detecting unit is arranged to detect a change in the optical signal transmitted by the elongate element as a consequence of movement of the elongate element and, upon detection of the change in the signal, the detecting unit is configured to effect a change in the operation of the piece of equipment.

Abstract: A tablet conveying apparatus for transporting tablets includes a conveyer. Each of the tablets includes a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a generally flat, circumferential belly band that interconnects the first and second sides. The conveyer includes a plurality of carrier bars to convey a plurality of tablets along a predetermined conveyer path. Each carrier bar has at least one pocket to receive and transport a tablet in a vertical orientation along the predetermined conveyer path. The pocket may be configured to allow rotation of the tablet about its central axis that extends transverse to the first and second sides. The pocket may be configured to establish line contact between two flat portions of the pocket and two corresponding circumferential portions along the belly band.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for aligning disordered sheet material. The apparatus according to the invention in particular has the advantage, that disordered sheet material is fast and reliably aligned, so that the sheet material can be formed into bundles. Since the alignment of the sheet material can be carried out automatically by the apparatus, i.e. in particular has not to be carried out by an operator, moreover, a cost-effective alignment of the disordered sheet material is permitted.

Abstract: A handling system for multiple workpieces is provided for repeatedly lifting rows of multiple workpieces on a lift assembly from a collection of workpieces in a hopper and selectively delivering one or more rows of orientated workpieces to an exit conveyor. Any disoriented workpieces on the exit conveyor can be discarded from the exit conveyor and returned to the collection of workpieces in the hopper.

Abstract: This device feeds and sorts tablets or small parts from a common hopper to a product count sensor head. Two parallel feed and transport rollers rotate together on an adjustable incline. The rotation direction of each feed and transport roller can vary along with its speed. As the feed and transport rollers rotate the feeding threads will push out the product from the hopper and sort them along the length of the rollers. As the roller angle increases so does the product feed rate. As the product flows out from the hopper, the product will start to separate in a common row. This is also due in part to the feed and transport roller angle and the product's roll ability. The product exits the bottom end of the feed and transport rollers in a straight line, is spaced, and directed downwards through a guide to a product count sensor arrangement.

Abstract: A safety arrangement for use with a piece of equipment. The safety arrangement includes a signal generating unit for generating an optical signal, an elongate element, and a signal detecting unit. The elongate element is disposed along, about, around or through the piece of equipment and is capable of transmitting an optical signal. The signal detecting unit detects an optical signal. The signal generating unit is connected to the signal detecting unit by the elongate element such that the signal detecting unit is in optical communication with the signal detecting unit. The signal detecting unit is arranged to detect a change in the optical signal transmitted by the elongate element as a consequence of movement of the elongate element and, upon detection of the change in the signal, the detecting unit is configured to effect a change in the operation of the piece of equipment.

Abstract: A supply unit for positionally correct feeding of component parts, for example connecting elements, from an unordered quantity in a holder to a processing unit, comprising a sword-shaped conveyor element with a drive unit for moving at least one section comprising a transport or conveyor surface of the conveyor element in a back and forth stroke movement along an inner surface of the holder, the component element dips into an area of the holder occupied by the component parts, and transports the component parts to a transport route provided above said area for transporting away the required component parts with the conveyor element to the transport route.

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting a pill. The apparatus has a curved member having a point of tangency at which the pill is positioned on the curved member and a portion for positioning the pill skewed from a tangent at the point of tangency.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting piece goods may include a receiving surface which can rotate about a predefined rotation axis and is designed to receive the piece goods. The apparatus may include a first guide rail for guiding the piece goods, wherein this guide rail has a gap through which one region of the piece goods passes and by means of which another region of the piece goods is held. The apparatus may include a turning device which pivots the piece goods with respect to a longitudinal direction of the piece goods. The apparatus may include a separating device which separates out some of the sorted piece goods which are not guided in a predefined manner by the first guide rail or by the turning device. The turning device may be arranged upstream of the separating device in the movement direction of the piece goods.

Abstract: An improvement to finishing machines that are used to orient objects. The finishing machine includes a hopper for receiving loose objects, such as lids, and an endless belt for extracting the lids from the hopper. The belt moves vertically upwards with the lids and sorts the lids automatically, such that only correctly-oriented lids are retained.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying objects such as fruits, comprises a first endless conveyor, with conveying elements such as diabolos connected thereto. A conveying position is defined between at least two conveying elements. A second endless conveyor, with product carriers connected thereto, comprises gripper hands, for transferring objects from between the conveying elements. The second conveyor is in the direct proximity of the first conveyor. The conveying elements comprise grooves in a direction perpendicular to the conveyor, and the gripper hand has fingers. A distance between the fingers corresponds to a distance between the grooves of the conveying elements such that upon transfer of the objects by the gripper hand, the fingers are positioned at least partly under the objects in groove ends of the grooves.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for aligning rolls in a feed system. The rolls are spaced at regular intervals so as to enable incorrectly positioned rolls to be turned to the correct feed position, when necessary, while they are moving forward in a feed direction. The correct position of each roll is identified by detecting the longitudinal hole through the center of the roll.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying parts for use with parts with projections the protruding part of which is formed on either the upper side or the lower side as seen in the direction of height, has a regulating member (17) comprising a regulating portion of a width for preventing passage of the protruding part (11) of the part (10) and a non regulating portion (19) of a width allowing passage of the protruding part (11), to prevent passage of a part placed upside down in the case where such part is transferred.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying parts for use with parts with projections the protruding part of which is formed on either the upper side or the lower side as seen in the direction of height, has a regulating member (17) comprising a regulating portion of a width for preventing passage of the protruding part (11) of the part (10) and a non regulating portion (19) of a width allowing passage of the protruding part (11), to prevent passage of a part placed upside down in the case where such part is transferred.

Abstract: A component discharge portion is provided on the upper end of a non-end delivery belt having an upward inclined delivery surface and driven and rotated, and a component delivery path is connected to a component discharge portion and delivers a component in a predetermined attitude to the lower end side of the delivery belt. A component transfer portion for receiving the component delivered along the delivery path and for transferring the component to a next step with a constant directivity is provided on the downstream end side of the component delivery path. Furthermore, there is formed a component return path for coupling the downstream end of the component delivery path and the lower end delivery surface of the delivery belt. The component delivered in an abnormal attitude other than the component transferred to the next step is automatically returned to the delivery belt through the component return path.

Abstract: An adjustable unit for the unscrambling and lined up delivery of empty containers (A) has a plurality of compartments (6) connected to a first rotary structure (7) to receive containers (A) in a lying position. The compartments (6) have an open bottom delimited by arrangements (11 and 12) for supporting the open end (A1) of the container (A) in the vicinity of the leading and trailing sides. A plurality of discharge chutes (8) associated with each structure (7) below each compartment (6) receives the containers (A) as they fall, and to thus transfer them in an upright position and in a lined up arrangement onto another equipment. A supporting stationary floor (9) is interposed between the compartments (6) and said chutes (8), with a discharge gap (10) for supporting the open end (A1) of the container (A) in the vicinity of said leading side of the compartment (6).

Abstract: An apparatus for arranging and supplying a plurality of objects, the apparatus including a hopper which stores the objects in bulk and which has a funnelform bottom surface at least a portion of which extends in a reference direction inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, a chute which includes an end portion extending, from a lowest portion of the hopper, substantially parallel to the reference direction, and which causes the objects arranged in an array to be moved, a discharging-promoting member which is provided in a vicinity of the end portion of the chute, which is movable substantially parallel to the reference direction, and which promotes discharging of the objects from the hopper to the chute while arranging the objects into the array, and a drive device which reciprocates, relative to the chute, the discharging-promoting member between an advanced position where an end portion of the discharging-promoting member projects into the hopper and a retracted position away from the advanced position

Abstract: A foodstuff collating apparatus having a plurality of discrete channels within which foodstuffs are collated. The apparatus is elevated at one end to provide a slide for the foodstuff with the channels converging from one end of the apparatus to the other. As the foodstuff slides down a channel, the former is oriented from a random position to an ordered vertical disposition.

Abstract: An integrated continuous assembly of synthetic crystals of diamond, or like materials, which exhibits crystallographic characteristics substantially the same as a single crystal so that characteristics of diamond such as abrasive resistance, thermal conductivity, electrical properties and chemical vapor deposition are more fully utilized for various applications. The crystals are of substantially uniform size and of cubic and cubo-octahedral shapes, each having a crystallographic direction of maximum abrasive resistance lying along a diagonal of the crystal. The crystals are assembled with their mating faces in congruent contact with respectively adjacent mating faces of adjacent crystals, and with their exposed face substantially coplanar with the exposed faces of adjacent crystals to form a common surface for the assembly.

Abstract: A component conveying device is provided in which a lead component and a second component behind the lead component can be reliably separated and the lead component can be readily extracted with reduced error. The device includes a guide groove 6 for guiding and aligning the components P in a single line. A blade 5 is provided which moves back and forth in the groove. The components P are conveyed forward by moving the blade 5 forward at a low speed and then moving the blade backward in a high speed. A first stopper 31 holds a second component at the distal end of the device. A second stopper 41 stops the lead component P1 from moving back and forth, and a shutter 43 includes a magnet 49 for attracting the lead component. The second stopper is provided at a distal end portion of the guide groove 6.

Abstract: An electronic component supplying apparatus conveys electronic components in an aligned state to supply the same to a predetermined taking-out position. When a leading chip component abuts on a component stopper and a component conveyance is stopped, a plurality of the chip components including the leading chip component are covered in a non-contacting state by a slider, the leading chip component which has abutted on the component stopper is attracted to the component stopper. In a state where the component conveyance by the conveying path is stopped, the component stopper is displaced in a component conveying direction, the leading chip component is separated from a second leading chip component, and also the slider is displaced in a direction opposite to the component conveying direction, so that the slider covering is uncovered, and the leading chip component is allowed to be taken out.

Abstract: An apparatus for orientating randomly organized articles formed of spaced planar members coupled along an edge of the planar members to define an opened end and a closed end along the edge where the planar members are coupled. The apparatus includes a conveyor for moving articles along a conveyor path between first and second positions, and at least one elongated member extending across the conveyor between first and second positions. The elongated member is aligned at an elevated height above a surface of the conveyor to define a gap between the member and the conveyor surface. The extent of the gap is sized greater than the thickness of the planar members and less than the height of the article formed by the planar members for orientating randomly organized articles.

Abstract: A rotary puck conveying mechanism and method will qualify articles and place them within a puck or article handling device. This puck has a centrally disposed opening for receiving the articles. The mechanism includes a centrifugal feeder with a rotatable rim having a plurality of openings. Pucks are positioned beneath the openings in order to receive the articles. The pucks will be fed to the centrifugal feeder and aligned with the openings in the rim. The pucks will simultaneously move with these aligned openings beneath the rim. When the articles remaining on the rim are swept off of this rim, the pucks or at least a piece of the pucks can then be detached and conveyed away from the centrifugal feeder. The pucks are designed to maintain orientation of an article held therein even when the pucks are inverted. The pucks can also have a movable insert for exposing and orienting articles held therein.

Abstract: Electronic chips accumulated at random directions are arranged in an orderly line by a chip part supplier. A chip part feeder transfers the first aligned chip onto a printed circuit board. Chip parts having random directions in a hopper are fed to a discharge channel, organized in a prescribed direction and transferred through the discharge channel before being discharged through the channel bottom end onto a conveying belt before being carried by the belt in a prescribed direction. A clearance forcefully caused between the first chip and next chip separates the two chips completely just before the first chip is picked up. The thus separated first chip part is picked up by a suction head before being transferred to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for treating a polyolefin surface to become receptive to inks and adhesives is disclosed. The present invention provides a method of and apparatus for treating a polyolefin surface to become receptive to inks and adhesives, using the steps of introducing the shaped object onto a conveyor belt; conveying the shaped object towards an output end of the conveyor belt; aligning and guiding the shaped object across a treatment device to treat the entire 360.degree. surface of the shaped object. The treatment device includes, for example, an electrode spark generator.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for moving a pear from a roll orientor into a transfer cup wherein an inclined pear stop shoe is provided which contacts and guides the pear downwardly into the transfer cup as the orienting rolls separate. The rolls are separated at a predetermined speed so that the roll maintains contact with the pear and helps guide the pear into the transfer cup. The pear stop shoe is retractable after the pear is guided into the transfer cup so that the pear is supported only by the walls of the transfer cup.

Abstract: The method and device are used to move a center core 2 from a given delivery passage to a given position and position the same at the given position, the center core 2 including in the outer periphery thereof a flange portion 12 for bonding a magnetic disk sheet thereto, a circular recess portion 15 disposed on one side of the center core 2 and inside the flange portion 12 with a stepped portion 11 between them, and a center hole 13 formed in the central portion of center core 2.

Abstract: A pear processing method and apparatus is provided which includes several mechanisms for properly orienting the pear prior to coring, peeling and seed celling of the pear. Each pear is tumbled between a pair of orienting rolls to a position wherein the stem of the pear is oriented downwardly. Whiskers on one of the rolls speed up this orienting of the pear. A friction clutch on the other roll helps maintain the pear in its proper position, once the proper alignment has been attained. The pear is dropped downwardly into a transfer cup having four resilient fingers which tend to orient the pear. The pear is then pushed out of the transfer cup downwardly into a feed cup having a concave receptacle for centering the stem of the pear and three upwardly extending arms which grasp and center the blossom end of the pear. The pear is then transferred to a station wherein the pear is cored and thereafter peeled and seed celled simultaneously. The stem and blossom are also trimmed.

Abstract: A vane typed orienter is formed by a plurality of spaced parallel shafts having radial extending axially spaced disks mounted thereon. Passages are formed between the disks and adjacent disks on adjacent shafts define sides of such passages. A vane element is provided to complete the wall formed by a pair of adjacent disks forming one wall of a passage and at least substantially fills the lower gap formed between the peripheries of the adjacent disks forming the one wall.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vibration parts alignment apparatus capable of aligning parts or vibrated objects 40 with a multiplicity of alignment holes 31 formed in a parts alignment tray 30 in a very short period of time by vibrating the parts alignment tray 30 with a vibration generator 10 while inclining the same reciprocatively with an inclining device 20.