By Longitudinally Respacing Successive Articles In Stream Patents (Class 198/459.1)
  • Patent number: 11807462
    Abstract: A product management system (100) including a first panel (102) with a first continuous track (106) including a queuing section, a product engagement section and a return section, and a first series of magnetic sources (115) disposed circumferentially along the first continuous track (106). A first series of lugs (116) are movably dispersed around the first continuous track (106) configured to react to the first series of magnetic sources in order to increase or decrease a velocity of each lug (116) of the first series of lugs along the first continuous track (116) and a product engagement member (118) attached to each lug configured and adapted to actuate to engage a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Jean-Christophe Bonnain
  • Patent number: 11691478
    Abstract: A brake device (100) for braking the movement of at least one movable element (1) relative to a housing (2) of an air outlet, wherein the movable element (1) is an air-flow-directing and/or air-flow-limiting element and/or an actuation element, wherein the brake device (100) has at least one resilient element (4), wherein the resilient element (4) has a main extent direction which is orientated at least substantially perpendicularly to a movement path of the at least one movable element (1). An air outlet, having such a brake device, is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Joachim Pestke, Günther Krämer
  • Patent number: 11136152
    Abstract: Packer machine and wrapping method to manufacture a packet of tobacco articles containing two distinct groups of tobacco articles; the following are provided: a coupling wheel which rotates with continuous motion around a rotation axis and supports a pair of coupling pockets; a feeding station in which a first group of tobacco articles is fed to a first coupling pocket and, subsequently, a second group of tobacco articles is fed to a second coupling pocket; an actuating device which brings, downstream of the feeding station, the two coupling pockets closer to each other, until the two coupling pockets are side by side; and a releasing station, in which the two groups of tobacco articles are extracted together from both the coupling pockets arranged side by side, so that the two groups of tobacco articles are side by side when they come out of the coupling pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Massimo Fortini, Franco Falcinelli, Luca Federici
  • Patent number: 10750775
    Abstract: A spacing drum comprising: a segment receiving drum section capable of receiving a predetermined number of segments per revolution of the drum from a procession of segments approaching the segment receiving drum section at a segment-feed spacing and a segment-feed speed; a segment releasing drum section capable of releasing the predetermined number of segments at a segment-release spacing and a segment-release speed; and a radial profile flight comprising a continuous arc segment extending across at least portions of the segment receiving drum section and the segment releasing drum section. Associated methods are also provided, including method of changing pitch along a spacing drum progressively with a radial profile flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Dwight David Williams
  • Patent number: 9873571
    Abstract: Described are a device and a method for grouping, and in particular, for sorting out containers conveyed in a container flow. Provided for this purpose are an outlet star wheel and an immediately adjoining outlet conveyor. Because the latter comprises a plurality of separately driven vehicles with positioning elements to influence the conveying position of a container relative to the container flow, and because a conveyor section is provided for the containers along which the vehicles run during the grouping of the containers, the positioning elements can be selectively positioned in a flexible manner between individual containers in order to push the containers together into container groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Hahn
  • Patent number: 9856092
    Abstract: A system, method and an end effector may arrange into a group two articles within a stream of articles moving spaced apart and in a line in a conveying direction on a conveyor. The system, method, and end effector may contact and slow the more downstream of the two articles and then contact the more upstream of the two articles without substantially slowing the more upstream article to form the group. The end effector may include a downstream stop portion for contacting at least one of the articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Woks Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Job, Craig Kirkpatrick, Christopher Ray, Roger Johnston, Brett A. Stripe
  • Patent number: 9266284
    Abstract: A foam affixing mechanism employed to affix foam to a workpiece, includes a robot arm, a foam supplying assembly and a clamping assembly. The foam supplying assembly is located adjacent to the robot arm to supply foam pieces. The clamping assembly is mounted on the robot arm. The clamping assembly includes a fixing frame, a driving member, a pair of fixing members, and a pair of clamping subassemblies. The driving member is mounted on the fixing frame, the pair of fixing members are fixed to the fixing frame. The clamping subassembly includes a first linking member rotatably connected to the driving member and a second linking member rotatably connected to the first linking member. The second linking member is rotatably connected to the fixing member by a middle portion thereof, the second linking member includes a clamping portion at an end. The present invention further discloses a clamping assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jian-Qiang Lu
  • Patent number: 9067736
    Abstract: A system for spacing conveyed articles is generally provided. The system advantageously includes an apparatus for conveying articles characterized by a driven loop element and a plurality of article selectors, each article selector adapted for select reversible engagement with the driven loop element. A queuing station, characterized by an ingress and egress portions wherein article selectors are retained for select dispensing, is likewise provided and includes a first actuator to facilitate disengagement of article selectors from the driven loop element, and a second actuator to facilitate engagement of article selectors with the driven loop element. An assembly for selectively dispensing article selectors from the queuing station is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Douglas Machine Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Anderson, Irvan Leo Pazdernik
  • Patent number: 9022200
    Abstract: A line accumulation conveyor includes a secondary belt rotatably mounted to a frame so as to define upper and lower surfaces caused to move in opposite directions by rotation of the secondary belt. The conveyor further includes a product conveying belt that is rotatably engaged with the secondary belt at a first position on the first surface and at a second position on the second surface therebetween in an endless manner. The product conveying belt has an upper portion that extends from the first surface in an upper plane between the first position and a looping portion of the product conveying belt and a lower portion that extends from the second surface in a lower plane between the looping portion and the second position. The upper portion of the product conveying belt defines a product accumulation path that can be elongate or shorten by rotating the secondary belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: TRIO PAC Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Baechtel, Jean-Claude Espitalier
  • Patent number: 8991588
    Abstract: Conveyor for transporting articles such as a chain conveyor that can be changed between a stretched configuration and a compact configuration, the chain being formed from a plurality of articulated links. Each link includes a trolley provided with lateral guide mechanism cooperating with a track defining a predetermined trajectory, a support carrying a nozzle for the releasable attachment of an article, the support mounted rotatably with respect to the trolley between a straight position corresponding to the deployed configuration of the chain, and an oblique position, corresponding to the compact position of the chain and in which the support is inclined with respect to the straight position; and an actuator coupled to the support, capable of driving the support in rotation from its straight position to its oblique position, and reciprocally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sidel Participations
    Inventors: Yoann Lahogue, Laurent Danel, Damien Cirette, Caroline Bellec, Franck Santais, Isabelle Maillot, Guy Feuilloley
  • Patent number: 8939273
    Abstract: A high speed servo laner apparatus and system includes an entrance to the laner which receives products from an upstream processing line. A pivoting guide has a distal end attached to the entrance and a proximal end attached to a movable portion. At least one pacing screw is also attached to the moveable portion. The at least one pacing screw includes a thread, which has a pitch and radius configured to accommodate passage of a unit of product between two axially adjacent portions of the thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Delkor Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Scott Thompson, Adam Koller, Todd Thomas Palm
  • Patent number: 8925713
    Abstract: A method for operating a processing system, in which product units of different formats are processed. The processing system contains a plurality of processing devices that are arranged one after the other in a processing line. In the event of a format changeover, certain component arrangements arranged in the processing system must be adapted to the new product format. In the event of an upcoming format change, a gap in the conveyed goods is generated while the conveying operation is maintained, wherein the gap in the conveyed goods runs through the processing system along the processing devices. As soon as the gap in the conveyed goods runs through a component arrangement to be adapted to the new format, the format is changed over at the component arrangement while the gap in the conveyed goods runs through the component arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Roman Dax
  • Publication number: 20140353121
    Abstract: An article metering system is generally provided. The system is primarily comprised of a conveyor section, for receipt of a bulk flow of articles and conveyance of spaced apart metered article groups downstream of an ingress portion thereof, and an article metering station characterized by an article metering apparatus characterized by a drive assembly and a driven member driven thereby. The driven member includes an end effector for select positioning between adjacent articles of articles of the bulk flow of articles received by the conveyor section in furtherance of delimiting a downstream spaced apart metered article group characterized by a select number of columns. The drive assembly includes cooperatively driven servo drives to effectuate travel of the end effector in either of a downstream article flow direction or an upstream article flow direction, and an up/down direction in relation to articles of the bulk flow of articles received by the conveyor section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: DOUGLAS MACHINE INC.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Peterman, Irvan L. Pazdernik, Richard W. Lukanen, JR., Matthew D. Toyli
  • Patent number: 8893876
    Abstract: A unit for forming one or more layers of individual flat supports, taken from at least a first conveyor device, conveying the supports from upstream to downstream at a first speed, that includes a second conveyor device, conveying the supports from upstream to downstream at a second speed lower than the first speed, positioned downstream of the first conveyor device, equipped with a receiving zone for receiving the supports arriving from the first conveyor device, and having a curved portion, and means for forming the layer positioned above the second conveyor device, situated downstream of the curved portion, and driven at the second speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Bobst Mex SA
    Inventors: Jean-Bernard Morisod, José-Manuel Romero
  • Publication number: 20140332345
    Abstract: Method and a conveyor for registering articles on a conveyor belt. The conveyor includes a registration belt having retractable flights regularly spaced along the length of the belt and article-propelling rollers between consecutive flights. The flights are raised in an upstream portion of the conveyor, and the rollers rotated to propel articles forward against the raised flights. In a downstream portion of the conveyor, a flat-top belt under the conveyor belt runs faster than the conveyor belt and causes the flights to lower and the rollers behind the lowering flights to rotate in reverse to urge the articles away from interfering with the lowering flights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Matthew L. Fourney
  • Patent number: 8880217
    Abstract: A picking system includes a conveyer, a robot, a main camera, and a control device. The conveyer conveys workpieces. The robot performs a holding operation and a moving operation on the workpieces. The main camera captures the transport path of the conveyer. The control device detects the workpiece on the basis of the image captured by the main camera and instructs the robot to perform the holding operation on the detected workpiece. Moreover, the control device instructs the robot to perform the holding operation on the overlapped workpieces when the overlapping of the workpieces is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Tetsuro Izumi, Kenichi Koyanagi, Kenji Matsukuma, Yukio Hashiguchi
  • Patent number: 8851881
    Abstract: Ovens for preforms in plastic material, applicable in particular but not exclusively to blowing machines and stretch blowing machines, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: SMI S.p.A.
    Inventor: Vanni Zacche
  • Patent number: 8833758
    Abstract: A stacking system for stacking paper from a linear feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Vits America, Inc.
    Inventor: John Salamone
  • Patent number: 8813948
    Abstract: A device for transferring articles between a first machine implementing intermittent movement of the articles at a first predetermined pitch, and a second machine implementing continuous movement of the articles at a second predetermined pitch. The device includes a flexible conveyor extending around at least two pulleys so as to have at least one rectilinear segment facing a conveyor of the first machine and a rounded segment facing a conveyor of the second machine. The flexible conveyor of the device carries laterally-projecting article-handling members arranged at regular intervals in such a manner that the handling members are at a pitch corresponding to the first pitch in the rectilinear segment. The rounded segment has a radius such that the handling members are at a pitch corresponding to the second pitch in the rounded segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Serac Group
    Inventor: Jacky Brunee
  • Patent number: 8807319
    Abstract: A divider dividing products into parallel lanes comprises a support frame; at least one guide channel for receiving the products, carried by the frame and extending parallel to a longitudinal direction; a fixed first guide connected to the frame and extending parallel to a transversal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction; second guide carried by the frame and extending parallel to the longitudinal direction; first actuator for moving the guide channel parallel to the transversal direction; and second actuator for moving one of two telescopically coupled channel portions of the guide channel relative to the other in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction; the second guide connected to the frame in a fixed position; the first/second actuators comprising a first/second motorized cursor slidably coupled to the first/second guide and connected to the guide channel/one of the two channel portions to move it parallel to the transversal/longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Davide Borghi, Stefano Flore, Elena Sacchetti, Paolo Mignano, Roberto Torelli
  • Publication number: 20140116846
    Abstract: A line accumulation conveyor includes a secondary belt rotatably mounted to a frame so as to define upper and lower surfaces caused to move in opposite directions by rotation of the secondary belt. The conveyor further includes a product conveying belt that is rotatably engaged with the secondary belt at a first position on the first surface and at a second position on the second surface therebetween in an endless manner. The product conveying belt has an upper portion that extends from the first surface in an upper plane between the first position and a looping portion of the product conveying belt and a lower portion that extends from the second surface in a lower plane between the looping portion and the second position. The upper portion of the product conveying belt defines a product accumulation path that can be elongate or shorten by rotating the secondary belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: TRIO PAC Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude BAECHTEL, Jean-Claude ESPITALIER
  • Publication number: 20140054134
    Abstract: The invention relates to an accumulating conveyor, in particular for use in the motor vehicle industry, for example for conveying body parts on pallets. The pallets are automatically coupled in a form-fitting manner at the reversing station or at the reversing stations by at least one centering pin, wherein, after the relevant reversing station has been passed, the centering pin or the centering pins is or are automatically released again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Tunkers Iberica S.L.
    Inventor: Jose Pac Gracia
  • Patent number: 8622197
    Abstract: A spacing apparatus singulates and spaces items for further processing and packaging. The apparatus comprises a rotatable dispensing wheel member having apertures for receiving items, such as food parts. The apertures are configured to place the items in a consistent alignment on a conveyor system. As the dispensing wheel rotates, the items are deposited from the apertures sequentially and with consistent positioning on a conveyor system that transports the singularized items to a measuring point. The rate of rotation of the dispensing wheel member can be controlled by a controller. A guide disposed above the dispensing wheel member provides greater accuracy in depositing items into the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Baader Linco, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank J. Criscione, II, Ronnie Lee Avey, Oliver Hahn, Douglas Barnett, Ryan Foltz
  • Publication number: 20140004650
    Abstract: A solar cell module manufacturing apparatus includes a stage, a holding member, a moving mechanism, and a pushing member. The stage suctions a plurality of elongated solar cells that is arranged to form a solar cell module. The holding member releasably holds a portion of a solar cell to be placed on the stage. The moving mechanism moves the holding member forward and backward with respect to the stage. The moving mechanism moves the holding member backward in a state that an end portion in a front side of the cell held by the holding member that has been moved forward is suctioned on the stage, and then the portion of the cell is released by the holding member. The pushing member moves over the cell such that the pushing member pushes a lift portion of the cell down to the stage while the holding member moves backward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Toray Engineering Co., LTD
    Inventors: Takashi Iwade, Toyoharu Terada, Kazunori Nakakita
  • Publication number: 20130327613
    Abstract: Provided is a collector device for sheets including a conveyor configured to move the sheets, defining for them a leading portion and a tail portion, and defining a support surface on which the sheets are substantially arranged by gravity reciprocally overlapping the leading portion with the tail portion; a pressure body, suitable to press on the sheets before they come into contact with the support surface and including at least one substantially rigid contact body and a motor apparatus configured to command the contact body, varying at least the resistance action so as to exert an action substantially exclusively in correspondence with the tail portion of the sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: ITALDRY S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giuseppe BRIVIO, Renato ROSSI
  • Publication number: 20130299310
    Abstract: The invention relates in particular to a tool (1) for handling and grouping together products which are aligned one behind another and which are separated by a given spacing, said tool (1) comprising a row of supports (2) which are each able to carry a grasping element (5) for grasping a product, the supports (2) being mounted such as to be able to move on at least one rail (3,4), each support (2) being connected to an adjacent support (2) by attachment means (10). The attachment means (10) each comprise a rod (11) that connects two adjacent supports (2) and also a member (12) for locking the position of at least one of the two adjacent supports (2) on the rod (11), it being possible to deactivate the locking member (12) in order to adjust the distance between two supports (2) to said distance between two products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: SIDEL PARTICIPATIONS
    Inventors: Michel Begin, Eric Devaux, Sébastien Damien
  • Publication number: 20130284562
    Abstract: Apparatus for select, reversible attachment to a traveling conveyor of a conveyance apparatus is provided. The apparatus generally comprises a body and an interface assembly. The interface assembly is generally characterized by opposingly paired tensioned elements and an actuatable member interposed between the opposingly paired tensioned elements for pivoting between a first assembly position and a second assembly position upon application of a select external force to one portion of one of two opposing portions of the actuatable member. The actuatable member has a peripheral portion adapted to receive and retain the conveyor of the conveyance apparatus with the traveling conveyor freely passing through the peripheral portion of the actuatable member at the first assembly position for the actuatable member, and the traveling conveyor captured for attaching the apparatus to the traveling conveyor for travel therewith at the second assembly position for the actuatable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: DOUGLAS MACHINE INC.
    Inventors: Paul L. Anderson, Irvan Leo Pazdernik
  • Publication number: 20130284563
    Abstract: An article (2) accumulation conveyor (1) having an endless conveying belt (9), characterized in that it comprises: a plurality of accumulation modules (14) having adjustable capacity, comprising independent frames (16), a device (53) for transferring the articles (2) from one accumulation module (14) to mother (14), said device (53) being interposed between said modules (14); an endless conveying belt (9) common to the accumulation modules (14) and to the transfer device (53).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: SIDEL PARTICIPATIONS
    Inventors: Rémy Lopez, Zmaj Petrovic, Pascal Walter
  • Publication number: 20130264170
    Abstract: A method for operating a processing system, in which product units of different formats are processed. The processing system contains a plurality of processing devices that are arranged one after the other in a processing line. In the event of a format changeover, certain component arrangements arranged in the processing system must be adapted to the new product format. In the event of an upcoming format change, a gap in the conveyed goods is generated while the conveying operation is maintained, wherein the gap in the conveyed goods runs through the processing system along the processing devices. As soon as the gap in the conveyed goods runs through a component arrangement to be adapted to the new format, the format is changed over at the component arrangement while the gap in the conveyed goods runs through the component arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: FERAG AG
    Inventor: Roman Dax
  • Patent number: 8550230
    Abstract: A method of moving opening devices configured to be attached to respective sealed packages of pourable food product involves: forward moving a plurality of linearly arranged opening devices in a forward direction along a path; stopping the forward movement of the linearly arranged opening devices by virtue of a forwardmost one of the opening devices contacting a stop positioned at a first position in front of the forwardmost opening device; pushing the stop to a second position at which the stop no longer prevents movement of the forwardmost opening device in the forward direction; and moving the forwardmost opening device in the forward direction past the stop located at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Menozzi, Alessandro Morselli
  • Publication number: 20130115033
    Abstract: A column of cups guided by their rims in elongated slots is spaced into desired cup pitch by one or more linear stars from which the cups can be transferred for packaging. The linear stars have lugs engaging and spacing the cups. In another aspect of the invention, cups are manipulated into patterns for final grouping and packaging and by a plurality of cup orienting pickers engaging, inverting and re-orienting the cups. In one final packaged cup group of two or more layers, alternating cups in each layer are inverted and a top lid of a cup in an upper layer is disposed on a top lid of a cup in a bottom layer, while a bottom of a cup in an upper layer is disposed on a bottom of a cup in a lower layer, and in an alternating pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Matthew R. Lukes, Jerome Brugger
  • Patent number: 8360229
    Abstract: An isolating plant for isolating objects, in particular nuclear fuel pellets, fed in stacks, includes a feeding conveyor belt and an output conveyor belt, permitting a particularly reliable and interruption-free isolation of the fed objects simultaneously with a high processing speed. A delivery area, situated between the feeding conveyor belt and the output conveyor belt, includes a separating device driven by a pressure gas, in which the fed objects are separated from each other during operation of the plant by purposeful pressure-gas pulses in order to be delivered one by one to the output conveyor belt. A method for isolating nuclear fuel pellets is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Areva NP GmbH
    Inventor: Hermann Janning
  • Publication number: 20120261233
    Abstract: A method for transporting containers or groups of containers, wherein the containers are conveyed along a predefined transport path and with a predefined distance (D) between the containers or groups of containers and a conveyor unit and a conveyor unit, which conveyor unit transports the containers by means of at least two first conveying elements for conveying the containers, which first conveying elements respectively move along a first predefined movement path on a circulating carrier, and which first conveying elements contact the containers with respectively one contacting body and in this way vary a distance between the containers or groups of containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Johann Huettner, Martin Seger
  • Publication number: 20120118702
    Abstract: An isolating plant for isolating objects, in particular nuclear fuel pellets, fed in stacks, includes a feeding conveyor belt and an output conveyor belt, permitting a particularly reliable and interruption-free isolation of the fed objects simultaneously with a high processing speed. A delivery area, situated between the feeding conveyor belt and the output conveyor belt, includes a separating device driven by a pressure gas, in which the fed objects are separated from each other during operation of the plant by purposeful pressure-gas pulses in order to be delivered one by one to the output conveyor belt. A method for isolating nuclear fuel pellets is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: ADVANCED NUCLEAR FUELS GMBH
    Inventor: HERMANN JANNING
  • Publication number: 20120013065
    Abstract: The invention relates to a separator device (18) comprising a passage zone (40) through which the articles pass and which extends between drive means (20, 30), retaining means (24, 34) for retaining an article relative to another article, and suitable for separating them mutually, control means suitable for activating and deactivating, independently, each first and second drive means (20, 30), and each first and second retaining means (24, 34). The drive means (20, 30) are distant from each other so as to define the passage zone (40), and the retaining means (24, 34) are suitable for exerting substantially transverse forces in opposite directions, so as to suck at least one article against corresponding drive means. The invention also relates to a method of controlling the above-mentioned separator device (18), and to a postal sorting machine including such a separator device (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: SOLYSTIC
    Inventors: Stephane Ambroise, Stephane Samain, Mickael Dauvergne
  • Patent number: 8061507
    Abstract: A sequencing unit operating along a feed path of a number of opening devices for attachment to respective sealed packages of pourable food products includes a conveyor for conveying the opening devices arranged in at least one line, and a releasable stop mechanism interacting with the opening devices downstream from the conveyor along the path. The stop mechanisms are normally set to a first configuration, in which they arrest the opening devices along the path, and are movable into a second configuration allowing travel of the opening devices. The unit also has a push mechanism traveling at predetermined intervals past the stop mechanism to move the stop mechanism from the first configuration to the second configuration, so that the opening devices are fed in sequence and at a predetermined rate through the stop mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Menozzi, Alessandro Morselli
  • Publication number: 20110240439
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus measure a quantity parameter during the transport of objects. The objects are in particular flat mail items and are tipped onto a conveyor component of a transport device and are transported by the latter. At least one recording time, in each case at least one photograph of a measurement sector of the conveyor component is taken. For each recording time, the value which a quantity parameter which describes the quantity of objects in the measurement sector has at the recording time is calculated. For this purpose, the proportion of the area of the measurement sector which is covered by objects is measured. A prescribed functional relationship between the quantity parameter and the measured proportion is evaluated. The speed at which the conveyor component transports the objects is changed depending on the quantity parameter value measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Andre Rompe
  • Patent number: 7985065
    Abstract: A pitch adjustment device for blow molding machine is disclosed, which comprises: a platform, a driving unit, a screw rod unit, and a plurality of clipping units. The screw rod unit is composed of a transmission mechanism and a screw rod, in which the screw rod is pivotally mounted on the platform in a manner that when the platform is driven to move, the moving platform will activate the transmission mechanism for bringing along the screw rod to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Chumpower Machinery Corp.
    Inventors: Chih-Chung Lo, Chien-Pin Li, Tsung-Yu Yang
  • Patent number: 7743908
    Abstract: A receive device of a conveyor unit, an apparatus including the receive device and a method for transporting rod-like articles for tobacco-processing. The receive device includes a deceleration device to decelerate the rod-like articles and an acceleration device to accelerate the rod-like articles. The acceleration device is arranged downstream from the deceleration device. A conveyor speed limit device is located between the deceleration device and the acceleration device. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau AG
    Inventor: Michael Haul
  • Publication number: 20100133066
    Abstract: A container filling machine comprising a vibration tray that is suitable for moving discrete articles from a discrete article receiving end of the vibration tray towards a plurality of guiding paths that lead to a container. The container filling machine further comprises at least one spacing device located in proximity to the vibration tray. The at least one spacing device is operative for receiving the discrete articles from the vibration tray at a first speed, and causing the discrete articles to be deposited into the plurality of guiding paths at a second speed. The second speed is greater than the first speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: COUNT LAB, INC.
    Inventor: Loris BASSINI
  • Patent number: 7726462
    Abstract: Described herein is a method and a unit for the formation of groups of products in a machine for continuous packaging of products, according to which at least two continuous rows of products are fed via two conveyor devices set in series with respect to one another along a first given path and in contact with at least one alignment element, which is set transverse to the first path and in front of the rows of products to align the rows themselves with respect to one another, and is displaced along a second, loop-like, path defined by two portions, along which the alignment element is set on the inside and on the outside, respectively, of the first path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: KPL Packaging S.p.A. Societa Unipersonale
    Inventors: Nicola Baldanza, Moreno Cremonini, Giordano Gorrieri
  • Publication number: 20100122891
    Abstract: A horizontal conveyor for transporting bulk materials, in particular of containers for food, has at least one conveyor belt encompassing at least one assembly surface for the material to be conveyed. There is at least one sliding part, which is moveably guided parallel to the conveying direction thereof, be arranged below the assembly surface of the conveyor belt. At least one drive is assigned to the sliding part for its positively driven motion. There is at least one height-adjustable actuator for the material to be conveyed, arranged on the sliding part. The actuator is capable of being brought into an entrainment position, that projects into the plane of the assembly surface by means of a lifting device. A discontinuous conveyance of materials is possible in a simple manner with this horizontal conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventor: Joerg Von Seggern
  • Publication number: 20100072027
    Abstract: A machine for forming a stream of articles (A) into spaced groups of articles, which machine has a working reach and a metering element (10) for being brought into contact with an article (A) passing, in a stream, into the working reach, which metering element (10) is driven by a drive means (18), wherein a speed at which the metering element (10) is driven is retarded as the metering element (10) enters the working reach without retarding the drive means (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: MEADWESTVACO PACKAGING SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Philippe Duperray
  • Publication number: 20100038209
    Abstract: In one embodiment, apparatus for controlling spacing of objects conveyed by an object conveyor and for selectively ejecting objects from the object conveyor include flights that extend transversely across the object conveyor to limit travel of the objects to control their relative spacing, and ejectors associated with the flights that can be selectively actuated to eject the objects whose travel has been limited by the associated flights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventor: Robert F. Risley
  • Patent number: 7658275
    Abstract: A carrier type conveying apparatus capable of solving a problem in a conventional conveying apparatus wherein a conveying carriers (1) stop abnormally, comprising a rear-pushing traveling district (3) having, at its inlet, a rear-pushing drive means (5A) propelling the conveying carriers (1) at a constant speed and, at its outlet, a speed control drive means (5B) for sending out the conveying carriers (1) at the constant speed and a high-speed traveling district (4). The conveying apparatus comprises carrier connection systems (carrier connection means (9), connection engagement means (10), connection release means (11)). When the conveying carriers (1) travel in the high-speed traveling district (4), the connection of the conveying carriers (1) adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction by the carrier connection systems is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20090139838
    Abstract: A device for spatially orienting blanks having a length in a transport direction has at least one stop roll body rotatable about a rotation axis and having at least one stop element, and a driver transport system for driving the blanks relative to the stop roll body. The driver transport system has at least one driver roller that pushes the blanks against the driver transport system, and at least one roll body roller that pushes the blanks against the stop roll body, wherein the roll body roller is prestressed in contact with the stop roll body. The driver transport system is a transport belt system having at least one endlessly revolving transport belt. The driver roller is mounted such that path spacing between the roll body roller and the driver roller are set to the length of the blanks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: WINKLER + DUENNEBIER AG
    Inventors: Nikolaus Isaak, Reiner Schonberger, Carsten Schrader
  • Publication number: 20080264761
    Abstract: A device for carrying out a “re-pitching” operation, i.e., an operation for changing the pitch between articles included in a flow of moving articles, includes one or more elements for conveying the articles, which are able to perform an orbital movement about a principal axis between a position for pick-up and a position for release of the articles. The speed of the orbital movement is selectively variable in the passage between the position for pick-up and the position for release. Members are provided for distribution of subatmospheric pressure to the conveying elements to enable them to carry out selectively an action of suction to pick up the articles. The members include a distributor, which can turn about the aforesaid principal axis. Set between the rotating distributor and each conveying element is a respective flexible pipe or hose for transferring the subatmospheric pressure to the conveying element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: FAMECCANICA.DATA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Cristian Giuliani, Massimiliano Lombardi, Paolo Pasqualoni
  • Publication number: 20080210518
    Abstract: A loading assembly for a packaging system includes a carriage coupled and reciprocally moveable relative to a support structure. The carriage is moveable relative to the support structure along a longitudinal axis in a first direction and a second direction opposite said first direction. A continuous loop configured with a plurality of spaced apart receptacles is moveably supported by the carriage. The loop includes a first portion that is moved at a continuous speed relative to the support structure, and a second portion that is alternatively moved and stopped relative to the support structure. Various methods of loading a receptacle are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Boris Bershadsky, Vadim A. Lubezny
  • Publication number: 20080149460
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventor: David W. Harris
  • Patent number: 7389622
    Abstract: A transfer system comprised of an air conveyor, a servo conveyor, and a fan feeder. In a typical configuration, the air conveyor is located at a first location where it receives packaged articles from a bagger system or a conveyor system. The servo conveyor abuts the air conveyor and extends to a second location adjacent to a destination point. The fan feeder is located adjacent to the servo conveyor at an end opposite the air conveyor. The fan feeder lies over a bucket conveyor for a cartoner system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventor: Flom H Douglas