Abstract: A method of processing objects is disclosed using a programmable motion device. The method includes the steps of acquiring an object from a plurality of mixed objects at an input area, perceiving identifying indicia in connection with the object, assigning an intermediate station to a destination location for the object responsive to the identifying indicia in connection with the object, and moving the acquired object toward the intermediate station.

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 system for feeding a diaphragm includes a diaphragm separating device adapted to separate a diaphragm from a stack of diaphragms, a first visual device adapted to identify the diaphragm separated from the stack of diaphragms and a position of the diaphragm, a robot adapted to pick up the diaphragm separated from the stack of diaphragms under guidance of the first visual device, and a second visual device adapted to check whether the diaphragm picked up by the robot is a single diaphragm.

Abstract: A device for sequentially dispensing individual objects includes a housing having a first housing portion which is conically-shaped. The first housing portion has a first end proximate a supply of objects and a second end proximate a location where the objects are to be dispensed. There is a spiral race, disposed on an interior surface of the first housing portion and extending from the first end to the second end of the first housing portion, along which the objects to be dispensed travel.

Abstract: A control system for an automated singulation system is provided. The control system detects a presence of a first item on a first conveyor and detects a presence of a second item on a second conveyor while the first item is present on the first conveyor. The second conveyor transfers items onto the first conveyor and is at a lower height than the second conveyor. The first conveyor is oriented perpendicularly with respect to the second conveyor. In response to detecting the presence of the second item, a location of the first item along a length of the first conveyor is determined. The first conveyor and the second conveyor are controlled based at least on the location of the first item.

Abstract: A medicine cassette includes a medicine supplier configured to supply accommodated medicines according to prescription information, a medicine delivery part configured to deliver the medicines supplied from the medicine supplier to a medicine discharge part, and the medicine discharge part configured to discharge the medicines, which are delivered through the medicine delivery part, to the outside. The medicine supplier may include a medicine accommodation part configured to accommodate the medicines and a rotating rotor part configured to deliver the medicines accommodated in the medicine accommodation part to the medicine delivery part. The rotating rotor part may include a rotating rotor, and at least one sliding member. The sliding member may be configured to be outwardly moved in the radial direction of the rotating rotor as the recess of the rotating rotor approaches a medicine supply inlet configured to supply the medicines to the medicine delivery part.

Abstract: A loose component supply device including component support member 150 configured to support components in a scattered state; and component supply apparatus 88 configured to store components and discharge components towards the component support member from discharge opening 98, wherein, in the component supply apparatus, conveyor belt 112 is arranged between storage section 100 that stores components and a discharge opening so as to extend diagonally upwards from the storage section on the side on which the discharge section is provided. Components housed in the housing section are discharged from the discharge opening towards the component support member by being conveyed by the conveyor belt. The component supply apparatus is removably mounted on the mounting section. Thus, because components are not discharged from the discharge opening unless the conveyor is operated, components do not fall from the discharge opening when the component supply apparatus is mounted on or removed from the mounting section.

Abstract: A conveyor system for processing items, such as manufacturers' products or boxes, from a three-dimensional arrangement to a two-dimensional arrangement includes inclined and declined conveyors. The inclined conveyor may include vacuum through perforations in the belt. A collimating conveyor includes parallel belts that operate at different speeds to space the items longitudinally apart and then align the items against sidewalls.

Abstract: An object orientation device includes a shaking stand and a slide provided on the shaking stand; the slide includes a sliding groove and a retaining member on the sliding groove. A retaining member is parallel to and extends along a sliding direction, and has a retaining surface parallel to a side wall of the sliding groove. The retaining surface and the side wall form an orientation space which is parallel to the sliding direction. After asymmetric objects are on the slide and shaken by the shaking stand, each object has a first end restricted into the orientation space, and has a seat orientation and moves towards a predetermined direction. Such object orientation device allows objects to be aligned in the slide and have consistent seat orientations; a printing equipment can print on the same position of each object. Additionally, a system and a method of orientation and printing are provided.

Abstract: A turntable is divided into an inner part (50) and an outer part (40). The angular speed of a large-diameter turntable 40 is made higher than the angular speed of a small-diameter turntable 50, and a tablet transfer path 32 of a straightening guide 30 is configured to be a spiral path extending from an inner end portion 32a to an outer end portion 32b. A tablet contact portion (64) of a tablet holding mechanism is reciprocated with respect to a temporary holding area (62) located before the outer end portion 32b. A tablet is temporarily held in the temporary holding area and when a long narrow blade insertion slit 43 in the large-diameter turntable 40 reaches the temporary holding area, a tablet cutting blade of a tablet cutting mechanism is reciprocated with respect to the temporary holding area and a blade insertion notch (62, 63) to split the tablet.

Abstract: A component mounting apparatus sets a position that is offset with respect to a suction reference position of a component toward the front side in a feeding direction as a suction position based on a difference between a dimension of the recess-shaped cavity in the Y-direction and a dimension of the component accommodated in the cavity in the Y-direction and sucks the component. Therefore, even if the component in the cavity positionally deviates toward the front side in the feeding direction due to inertia when a carrier tape is stopped, a suction nozzle sucks an appropriate position of the component.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a robotic pick and stow storage system with a built-in consolidation function that increases the storage density. The system can include a stowing robot, a consolidation robot, and individual containers. The stowing robot may pick an item, identify a free space in the container large enough for the item, and then place the item in the free space. The items placed in the container may have a space between it and a neighboring item or items (referred to herein as a stow buffer) due to uncertainties or inaccuracies in the stowing process. The embodiments herein describe a stow and consolidation action that reduces the stow buffers thereby providing additional space in the container for more items. The consolidation robot can tilt and vibrate the container such that the items move closer together thereby generating free space for additional items in the container.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a transfer system has a conveyor system with first and second conveyors. The first conveyor has inner and outer sides and a first conveyor surface between the inner and outer sides that is configured to carry payloads along a first direction. The second conveyor has inner and outer sides and a second conveyor surface between the inner and outer sides of the second conveyor that is configured to carry payloads along the first direction. The first and second conveyors are coupled to one another such that the inner sides are spaced closer to one another than the outer sides and the first and second conveyors are angularly offset from one another. The transfer system also has a movement system that moves the conveyor system along at least one of a vertical direction, and a second direction so as to align the conveyor system with another conveyor system.

Abstract: A system and method for material handling are disclosed. The system includes a platform for receiving a plurality of articles, a plurality of sorting bins that each correspond to an article type, an object recognition system for identifying the article on the platform and categorizing the article by a specific article type, and an article engagement assembly. The object recognition system includes a 3D detector for detecting the article and a database containing data on characteristics of article types. The 3D detector is arranged to capture at least one two-dimensional image, and at least one depth image of the article. The article engagement assembly engages and delivers the article to the corresponding sorting bin. The object recognition system is arranged to identify the article based upon the data within the database and instructs the article engagement assembly to engage and place the article in the sorting bin.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for delivering sorted elements of the cap, stopper or other type, in order to feed a downstream work station, the device including a unit for lifting elements, in which a first sorting operation is performed, and, mounted downstream, a unit for treating the elements in which the elements are treated individually. Also disclosed is a delivery device including a conveyor mounted downstream from the treatment unit in order to direct the elements towards the work station, the conveyor moving the elements singly. Further disclosed is a corresponding method.

Abstract: A component supply device includes a storage section, a mounting section, and a component support section. The storage section stores multiple components. The storage section is mounted to the mounting section. The storage section is attachable and detachable in relation to the mounting section. The component support section supports, in a scattered state, multiple components which are discharged from an opening of the storage section which is in a state of being mounted to the mounting section.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a workpiece singulator with one or more movable stairs. A first one of the movable stairs may include an outer step member and an inner step member that is positioned between the outer step member and a second one of the movable stairs. The step members may be movable synchronously as a single stair to transport larger workpieces and asynchronously to transport smaller workpieces on the outer step member. Optionally, the workpiece singulator may further include a sensor configured to detect the size and/or position of a workpiece. In some embodiments, the workpiece singulator may be coupled with a controller configured to control the position of the outer step member independently of the position of the inner step member. In various embodiments, a workpiece singulator as disclosed herein may be operable to selectively singulate workpieces of different sizes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a product stand-up device (10) for standing up products (11) of a plurality of product columns (20) in stack rows (30), which are each associated with a product column (20), comprising a feeding unit (13) for products (11) lying flat, which feeding unit is common to the plurality of product columns (20), and/or a removal transport unit (16) for products (11) stood up in stack rows (30), at least one erecting path (12) for erecting the products (11) of at least one product column (20), and a plurality of shifting elements (21), which are each associated with a stack row (30) and are provided for producing an accommodating gap for lining up a following product (11) of the particular product column (20). According to the invention each shifting element (21) has a separately controllable driving means (22).

Abstract: Embodiments of a tie plate sorter are disclosed wherein the tie plates are sorted and fed to an output device for further feeding to a tie plate distribution system. The tie plates may be oriented as needed. Exemplary methods are also provided.

Abstract: A container supply unit and an automated analyzer in which anomalous orientations of containers ejected from a container (cuvette) ejection part can be prevented. This container supply unit has a container storage part, a container ejection part, and a container alignment part. The container ejection part includes a circular belt, placement members provided on said circular belt, and a belt rotation mechanism. The belt rotation mechanism rotates the circular belt in an R direction, forming an outward leg along which the placement members move upwards and a return leg along which the placement members move downwards. The placement members carry containers placed thereon on the outward leg and eject said containers to the container alignment part between the outward leg and the return leg.

Abstract: A component feeder includes a distributor for distributing components from a bulk storage on a pick surface, and a retaining wall preventing the components from escaping the pick surface. The retaining wall is flexible such that it deforms when a force is applied on it, and it assumes its original shape when the force is no longer applied. The flexible retaining wall allows a robot gripper to push the retaining wall aside when picking a component close to the retaining wall.

Abstract: A vibratory conveyor system particularly suitable for elongated foodstuffs and other products includes a rogue product removal pan which can only pass a single one of the items being processed, with the item having the desired alignment/orientation, through each of its product acceptance lanes at a given time. Items therefore leave the rogue product removal pan in orderly rows of single items, thereby easing their packaging. Misaligned items, and or items that were stacked atop other items, are culled by the rogue product removal pan, and can be “recycled” back to the entry of the rogue product removal pan. These “recycled” items are passed through the rogue product removal pan for packaging if they assume the desired orientation, or are again culled and “recycled” if they do not assume the desired orientation.

Abstract: An interchangeable flighting insert is disclosed to maximize the efficiency of singularly delivering objects, such as products, to a user through a product dispensation device. The flighting insert can be removably coupled to an auger of the product dispensation device, thereby allowing variation of the flighting characteristics based on the object to be dispensed. The same auger can therefore use a first flighting for certain products, and a second flighting for different products.

Abstract: A cap sorter comprising: first and second belts traveling along a closed loop belt path substantially adjacent and parallel to each other, the belt path defining a non-vertical cap receiving section, a sorting section extending substantially upwardly therefrom, a discharging section provided above the sorting section and a return section extending from the discharging section and returning to the cap receiving section; a cap providing element provided above the cap receiving section for discharging the caps on the cap receiving section; and first and second belt actuators for moving respectively the first and second belts along the belt path. The first and second belts are each provided with a plurality of cleats mounted outside of the first and second belts, each of the cleats extending across both the first and second belts, the cleats being alternately secured to the first and second belts.

Abstract: A singulator for sorting a single item from a supply of such items stored randomly in bulk is provided, including at least one primary vertically reciprocating elevator defining a platform reciprocating between first lower position in which the platform receives and holds an initially limited number of the items delivered from bulk storage, and a first upper position in which the items are delivered to at least one secondary elevator. Each secondary elevator has a second platform and reciprocates between a second lower position in which the second platform receives a further limited number of the items and a second upper position in which the items are delivered to a desired location. The platforms are constructed and arranged for orienting the items in a desired orientation at the desired location.

Abstract: A component feeder including a bulk storage container for storage of components, and a lift for elevating a selection of components from the container, the lift being located inside the container. The feeder further includes a transfer arrangement for transferring elevated components from the lift onto a component pick surface on which the components are distributed in order to be picked by a tool or by a hand, and a plate configured to include the component pick surface. Further described is a component feeder system including at least one component feeder, a camera for monitoring the component pick surface and a processor used to control an industrial robot to pick pickable components lying on the pick surface. A corresponding method is also described.

Abstract: System for feeding and processing bottles (1) to be conveyed to a device (30) for entry into a filling machine (40) operating at an assigned speed (Vp), the system comprising: a realignment centrifuge (100) fed randomly with the bottles (1) and having a tangential outlet (113); movement devices (12, 13, 14), able to convey the bottles (1) leaving the realignment centrifuge (100) and vary the speed of advancing movement thereof; at least one device (21) for handling the bottles; the realignment centrifuge is operated at an operating speed (Vc) greater than the speed (Vp) of the filling machine, and movement devices (12, 14) comprise at least a first device (12); a third device (14); said handling device (21) has means (5) for gripping the bottles.

Abstract: A rotary loader taught herein comprises a rotatable load plate including a plurality of component pockets arranged about a rotational axis of the load plate, the load plate inclined with respect to a horizontal surface at an angle of inclination of less than 50 degrees and a load wall arranged about a lower portion of the load plate adjacent certain ones of the plurality of component pockets and extending above a height of the load plate. The load wall includes a retention surface extending in a direction parallel to an outer peripheral edge of the load plate and a loading surface inclined with respect a line perpendicular to a top surface of the load plate in a direction away from the retention surface at an angle of inclination of less than 45 degrees.

Abstract: A destroying apparatus aims to destroy electronic elements with magnetic substance. The destroying apparatus includes a conveying unit and a destroying unit. The conveying unit includes a collection plane to hold a plurality of electronic elements, at least one picking arm spinning against the collection plane to form a conveying path, a barrier portion connecting to the collection plane to block the electronic elements on the conveying path, and a release passage corresponding to the barrier portion to allow the electronic elements to escape the conveying path. The picking arm includes a magnetic attraction portion to attract the magnetic substance on the conveying path. The destroying unit is located correspondingly to the release passage and includes a plurality of cutting elements and a cutting path between the cutting elements to communicate with the release passage.

Abstract: A tubular food product launching system and method for interacting with a product loading head is disclosed. The system includes a pick belt, positioned alongside product carrying intermediate belts. The pick belt supplies additional product to a product inspector or vision equipped robot cell to replace defective or missing product observed on the intermediate belt(s) with replacement product from the pick belt. The overall system speed, and pick belt speed, can be adjusted to accommodate varying product post-launcher fill-rates in accord with the nature of the product and the abilities and speed of the robot cell and/or product inspector, so as to reliably assure 100% final fill-rate as product is fed to the loading head.

Abstract: A tubular food product launching system and method for interacting with a product loading head is disclosed. The system includes a pick belt, positioned alongside product carrying intermediate belts. The pick belt supplies additional product to a product inspector or vision equipped robot cell to replace defective or missing product observed on the intermediate belt(s) with replacement product from the pick belt. The overall system speed, and pick belt speed, can be adjusted to accommodate varying product post-launcher fill-rates in accord with the nature of the product and the abilities and speed of the robot cell and/or product inspector, so as to reliably assure 100% final fill-rate as product is fed to the loading head.

Abstract: An automatic rail spike feeder system for use with a rail maintenance vehicle having a bulk storage bin for containing a supply of spikes, and at least one spike driving mechanism, includes a mechanism constructed and arranged for receiving a supply of spikes from the storage bin and for automatically delivering individual spikes to the at least one spike driving mechanism in a desired orientation without operator contact of the spikes.

Abstract: A tray is provided for orienting and conveying items having a longitudinal axis, a tip, an opposite head, and a head-up and a head-down orientation, the tray conveying the items in a direction of travel and including a series of connected, function-oriented static regions configured for orienting the item from a random orientation to a desired tip-down orientation, at least one of the regions being inclined for facilitating movement of the item through the regions, the regions being configured such that proper orientation of the item is achieved without operator contact.

Abstract: A workpiece feeder includes a forward stage that separates base plates from one another and adjusts the base plates into correct top-bottom orientation and a pickup unit that individually holds the separated and adjusted base plates and horizontally aligns the held base plate into correct planar posture while feeding the held base plate to a destination. The forward stage includes a stage body that has a stage surface on which the base plates are placed and is movably supported so as to shift the stage surface and a drive unit that applies separate impacts to the stage body so that the stage body moves to apply a bouncing force and a shifting force orthogonal to the bouncing force due to the separate impacts to the base plates.

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: The present invention is directed to a cap supply device having a simple and inexpensive structure and which is capable of supplying caps all directed in the same direction. The cap supply device includes: a receiving section 104 for receiving the caps 3; and a discharge unit 106 having an endless member 108 placed in the receiving section 104 and support members 109 provided at the endless member. The discharge unit 106 is configured to lift the caps upward and discharge the caps 3 from the receiving section 104 while the caps 3 are supported at the support members 109 with their openings directed to an opposite side of the endless member 108.

Abstract: Device for separation and position alignment of metallic container closures (21), as well as for conveying the separated and position-aligned container closures (21), preferably crown corks, to a further processing machine, preferably sealing machine. It is provided that a conveying unit (2) comprises a run (2b) of an endless conveyor belt or link belt or plate belt, which conveys the container closures (21), which run is guided along a permanently magnetic or electromagnetic conveyor track configured as a magnetic bar, lying on this track at least in sections, or at a slight distance from it, and conveys the container closures (21) out of the transfer station (8).

Abstract: An automated spring detangler takes clumps of springs and whirls them around a rotating chamber. When they separate and fall to the bottom of the container, they are sucked into a delivery tube that continuously individually deposits them at an assembly line which may be remote from the detangler. Any non-separating clumps of springs are periodically ejected from the container.

Abstract: Centrifugal feeder device having an outer enclosure (2) which accommodates a ring (3) mounted rotatably in the enclosure (2) and lying in an approximately horizontal plane, and a disc (4) rotatable in the ring (3). The axis (5) of rotation of the disc (4) is inclined with respect to the axis (6) of rotation of the ring (3), the disc (4) and the ring (3) approximately tangent to each other in a transfer area (10) and distant from each other in a loading area (8). The ring (3) is surrounded by a lateral guide (15). The ring (3) supplies an outlet channel (13) whose inlet is situated above a part of useful width of the ring, the ring (3) is provided with approximately radial notches (3a), and the device includes a mechanism for adjusting the useable width of the ring (3).

Abstract: A device is disclosed for discharging elongate, coarse bulk products—such as bottle preforms—from a product hopper. The device includes a product hopper with a discharge opening and a rotating disc that is configured to receive bulk products passing through the discharge opening.

Abstract: A rotary structure carries cavities with an upper inlet for receiving articles and an open bottom for dropping articles distributed along a closed circuit, and funnel-shaped conduits, each of which is located below a respective cavity to receive an article therefrom, a support plane for temporarily supporting the articles in the cavities and dropping them into the corresponding conduits in a site of the closed circuit, and support elements in each cavity to cooperate with parts of the article when the latter falls in order to confer to it a predetermined orientation inside the conduit. The cavities have their inlets in a perimetric ring surrounding a receptacle for the accumulation of the articles on a bottom formed by a rotating disk the peripheral edge of which reaches, upon rotating, a level above the perimetric ring.

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: A thin-part feeding device is provided which is compact and efficient. The device has a funnel portion with a feeding opening at the bottom thereof, a take-out tube for taking out thin parts from the funnel portion, and a receiving portion with separate opening for receiving thin parts from the discharge opening. The receiving portion is movable, and the receiving opening is sized to receive only one thin part. The device is operative to repeat a state where the receiving opening faces the discharge opening, and a state where the receiving opening is away from the discharge opening to enable thin parts to be taken out from the receiving opening. The device also features a novel, posture-correcting portion to correct vertical posture of thin parts, a delivery portion for receiving posture-corrected thin parts, and a transporting portion as described.

Abstract: The device for individual conveying of elongate objects comprises: a hopper from which batches of elongate articles are extracted, which fall onto an initial tract of a conveyor belt provided with transversal seatings. The belt draws the articles towards a strongly-inclined ascending tract, along which all the articles which are not correctly inserted in the seatings are unloading. After the ascending tract thereof follows an intermediate tract, superiorly of which a television camera is arranged to monitor the transversal seatings as they transit, in order to detect each of the a presence or absence of articles and if there should be any present, a number, position and orientation thereof.

Abstract: A textile separating apparatus may include a textile collection area for supporting the pile of textile items, and a transport mechanism having an inclined face intersecting the pile of textile items. One or more pick members may project from the face of the transport mechanism, and may successively separate and carry individual textile items from the pile of textile items towards a textile receiving area.

Abstract: There is provided an article alignment apparatus 10 including an article alignment device for aligning orientations of articles by arranging two aligners 21, 21 having cylindrical surfaces, rotating each of the aligners 21 while keeping it at a predetermined inclination with respect to a horizontal direction, placing the articles on cylindrical outer surfaces of the two aligners 21, and carrying the articles from one side to the other side, in which protrusions 22 are provided on the surfaces of the aligners 21.

Abstract: Plural receiving recesses are radially formed at the periphery of the disc-like rotating body. The rotating body is rotatably installed at the base, and the cylindrical cover is provided at outside of the periphery of the rotating body. From the receiving region of the receiving recess for receiving the waterproof seal to downstream side of the rotational direction of the rotating body, the first brush and the second brush are attached with the cover and at the further downstream side, the detection device and the take-out device are mounted on the base in order.

Abstract: A plastic bottle unscrambler, wherein the tables (8) for settling and supporting the containers (2) in the cradles (6) comprise a box-like chamber having a housing (9) under the surface supporting the container (2), in which vacuum is applied, and at least one row of holes (12) arranged over the surface supporting the container (2) in the direction of feed of the cradles (6); as vacuum is applied in the housing (9), a negative pressure is created around the container (2) contained in the overlying cradle (6) to draw it and keep it lying against the outer wall (6b) of the cradle (6).

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring pliant articles, such as poultry carcasses or parts thereof, includes a first separator stage comprising a slide plate with spaced apart sets of guides for receiving articles and for conveying the articles toward a second separator stage. The second separator stage comprises a rotary drum with spaced apart hook-like tines which engage articles received from the slide plate for rotation to a position whereby the force of gravity allows the articles to be released from the drum to fall into respective compartments of a third separator stage. The third separator stage includes spaced apart moveable closures which are operated in timed relationship to each other to release the articles onto a conveyor or other apparatus to provide spacing and alignment of the articles generally in single file.