Abstract: A conveying method and system for a machine to fill bottles, with a non-circular cross-section, in particular for products in the pharmaceutical industry; the following are provided: a plurality of holding members designed to hold a plurality of bottles in a suspended position; movers to move the plurality of holding members along a processing path; and guides, which are arranged parallel to the processing path, allow the bottles to move only when the bottles are arranged according to a predetermined orientation, and force the bottles to assume and maintain the predetermined orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for metallizing parts in an efficient manner. The apparatus includes a plurality of plates stacked together and spaced from one another in a manner that enables placement thereon of a plurality of part supports, which are affixed to the plates. Spindles are coupled to the part supports, wherein the spindles are configured to allow for rotation of the parts. The plates are also configured for rotation so that parts may be moved to a metallizer station and rotated at the metallizer station. The plates are supported by centered or offset plate supports. The part supports may be pins to which the spindles are coupled. The pins may be configured to rotate or the spindles may be configured to rotate on the pins. The stacked plates may be moved between a metallizer and parts loading and unloading stations in a convenient manner.

Abstract: A method and device for feeding beads in a tobacco industry system including a bead container, a bead feeding unit having a plurality of channels for supplying a plurality of bead streams, a unit for transferring the beads to the filter material, where the beads are fed from holding pockets of the bead feeding unit to receiving pockets of the bead transfer unit, in which the beads are supplied from the bead container to a plurality of channels of the bead feeding unit which form holding pockets; the beads are fed from the holding pockets of the bead feeding unit to the receiving pockets of the bead transfer unit and to a delivery wheel by a movable feeding device; the beads are picked up from the receiving pockets by a movable guiding device.

Abstract: The subject matter of the application is a method of feeding beads in the tobacco industry system, in a unit for transferring a stream of beads (2), from receiving pockets (18) to outfeeding pockets (21, 21?), where the beads are transferred along guiding grooves (5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 6C) disposed on guiding plates (5, 5?, 6, 6?), comprising the steps in which: the beads are fed to a guiding chamber (22, 22?, 22?) formed at the intersection of the guiding groove (5A, 5B) of the first guiding plate (5, 5?) and the guiding groove (6A, 6B, 6C) of the second guiding plate (6, 6?); at least one guiding plate is rotated relative to the second guiding plate, which forces the movement of the guiding chamber (22, 22?, 22?) so that the distance of the guiding chamber (22, 22?, 22?) to the axis of rotation of the guiding plates changes; the beads are conveyed from the guiding chamber (22, 22?, 22?) to the outfeeding pocket (21, 21?). The subject matter of the application is also a device for the implementation of the method.

Abstract: A universally adjustable star wheel for conveying articles on an automated handling line is disclosed. In one embodiment, the adjustable star wheel includes rotatable elements that are configured to rotate around a central axis. Each rotatable element has a central axis, a periphery, and at least one control surface for assisting in controlling the article being conveyed. The control surfaces on the rotatable elements are arranged to together form at least one pocket for the article, wherein the pocket has a width and a depth. The angle defining the control surface on at least one rotatable element is different from the angle of another rotatable element to form the depth of at least a portion of the pocket. In this embodiment, the boundaries of the pocket are configured solely by at least partially rotating at least some of the rotatable elements to adjust the location of the control surfaces of the different rotatable elements to form a pocket for the article being conveyed.

Abstract: An adjustable guide rail assembly for a conveyor system includes an adjustable guide member having a face extending between opposite sides, a large radius face segment and a small radius face segment. The large radius face segment and the small radius face segment extend widthwise between the opposite sides of the adjustable guide member and each define an arcuate guide path for a three dimensional article. A radius of the arcuate guide path changes by rotating the adjustable guide member from a large article configuration where the large radius face segment having a larger radius defines the arcuate guide path to a small article configuration where the small radius face segment having a smaller radius defines the arcuate guide path.

Abstract: A method and a device for feeding beads (2) in a tobacco industry system comprising a bead (2) container (2A), a bead feeding unit (3) provided with a plurality of channels (4) for supplying a plurality of bead streams, a unit (13) for transferring the beads to the filter material, where the beads are fed from holding pockets (14) of the bead feeding unit (3) to receiving pockets (18) of the bead transfer unit (13), in which the beads are supplied from the bead container (2A) to a plurality of channels (4) of the bead feeding unit (3) comprising holding pockets (14); the beads are fed from the holding pockets (14) of the bead feeding unit (3) to the receiving pockets (18) of the bead transfer unit (13) and to a delivery wheel (7) by means of movable feeding means (8); the beads are picked up from the receiving pockets (18) by means of movable guiding means (5, 6).

Abstract: The subject matter of the application is a method of feeding beads in the tobacco industry system, in a unit for transferring a stream of beads (2), from receiving pockets (18) to outfeeding pockets (21, 21?), where the beads are transferred along guiding grooves (5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 6C) disposed on guiding plates (5, 5?, 6, 6?), comprising the steps in which: the beads are fed to a guiding chamber (22, 22?, 22?) formed at the intersection of the guiding groove (5A, 5B) of the first guiding plate (5, 5?) and the guiding groove (6A, 6B, 6C) of the second guiding plate (6, 6?); at least one guiding plate is rotated relative to the second guiding plate, which forces the movement of the guiding chamber (22, 22?, 22?) so that the distance of the guiding chamber (22, 22?, 22?) to the axis of rotation of the guiding plates changes; the beads are conveyed from the guiding chamber (22, 22?, 22?) to the outfeeding pocket (21, 21?). The subject matter of the application is also a device for the implementation of the method.

Abstract: A system for supplying articles to a platform rotating about a vertical axis, the platform exhibiting seatings (K) conformed for receiving corresponding articles (10), vertical axes (B) of which are situated on a circumference (C1) which is coaxial to an axis of the platform (60), the vertical axes (B) being angularly equidistanced such as to define a predetermined operating step (Po).

Abstract: A universally adjustable star wheel for conveying articles on an automated handling line is disclosed. In one embodiment, the adjustable star wheel includes rotatable elements that are configured to rotate around a central axis. Each rotatable element has a central axis, a periphery, and at least one control surface for assisting in controlling the article being conveyed. The control surfaces on the rotatable elements are arranged to together form at least one pocket for the article, wherein the pocket has a width and a depth. The angle defining the control surface on at least one rotatable element is different from the angle of another rotatable element to form the depth of at least a portion of the pocket. In this embodiment, the boundaries of the pocket are configured solely by at least partially rotating at least some of the rotatable elements to adjust the location of the control surfaces of the different rotatable elements to form a pocket for the article being conveyed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of transporting food products to a loading station having a cooling conveyor that selectively drops food product into a distributor. The distributor separates product into at least two lanes and drops product onto a conveyor. A balancing and diverting conveyor monitors and counts product in each lane and diverts product selectively based upon the sensed product. An orienter transfers product from a loading conveyor to a buffer conveyor. The buffer conveyor transfers product to a main conveyor which transfers product to a loading head.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of transporting food products to a loading station having a cooling conveyor that selectively drops food product into a distributor. The distributor separates product into at least two lanes and drops product onto a conveyor. A balancing and diverting conveyor monitors and counts product in each lane and diverts product selectively based upon the sensed product. An orienter transfers product from a loading conveyor to a buffer conveyor. The buffer conveyor transfers product to a main conveyor which transfers product to a loading head.

Abstract: A method and device for transferring signatures. The device includes a first gathering chain which conveys the signatures with the aid of pushers and which transfers the signatures in a transfer region to a second gathering chain. The second gathering chain includes at least one conveying chain provided with pushers that are arranged at a pre-defined distance relative to each other. The second gathering chain includes recesses adjacent to each of its pushers such that each pusher of the first gathering chain corresponds to a pusher of the second gathering chain and can be lowered through a respective recess.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of transporting food products (10) to a loading station (12) having a cooling conveyor (14) that selectively drops food product into a distributor (34). The distributor (34) separates product into at least two lanes (48, 50) and drops product onto a conveyor. A balancing and diverting conveyor (46) monitors and counts product in each lane (48, 50) and diverts product selectively based upon the sensed product. An orienter (70, 80) transfers product from a loading conveyor (68) to a buffer conveyor (72). The buffer conveyor (72) transfers product to a main conveyor (76) which transfers product to a loading head (84).

Abstract: A vertical device and method for the ultimate insertion of a leaflet or the like together with a container such as a medical bottle into a carton and which can be used in conjunction with either a vertical or a horizontal cartoner.

Abstract: A workpiece carrier system for the loose support on a friction conveyor comprises a displacement element. The displacement element has a friction surface adjacent to drive elements, such as drive rollers of the friction conveyor for displacing the workpiece carrier system. The displacement element is connected with a carrier element for receiving a workpiece. Support elements are connected with the carrier element for absorbing part of the workpiece weight.

Abstract: An isolating device for isolating objects, in particular fuel pellets, contains a conveying device having a conveying belt with a conveying side and a backing side and is guided over at least two deflection pulleys and on which a number of pushing elements protruding from the conveying side of the conveying belt are arranged. The isolating device is configured for a particularly reliable and interruption-free isolation at a high processing speed. Each pushing element is connected with a directing element arranged on the backing side. The directing element includes a sliding surface facing away from the conveying belt. The conveying device contains a guide rail having a guiding surface for the directing elements arranged in a partial section of the conveying belt lying between the deflection pulleys. The sliding surface and the guiding surface are of a complementary shape so that the sliding surface can slide on the guiding surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting containers may include a transport body having at least two segments. The transport body is arranged such that it can rotate about a predefined geometric axis of rotation. The transport body has a plurality of openings and, on its outer circumference, a plurality of recesses for receiving at least one region of the containers to be transported. The apparatus comprises a plurality of holding bodies for holding the transport body. An extension direction of the holding bodies extends at an angle other than 0° relative to a plane of the transport body. At least one engagement region of each of the holding bodies is arranged in each case in one of the openings.

Abstract: A rotary conveyor (1) utilized in equipment (1a) for filling containers (2) with liquid or powder products includes a supporting shaft (8) aligned on a longitudinal axis (X) and coupled to relative drive components (10) associated with the shaft (8), by which the shaft is set in rotation about the axis (X). A support element (11) is keyed to the shaft (8), presenting a peripheral rim (12) with a plurality of slots (13) each designed to accommodate a container (2) transferred from a transport and/or processing device (3) forming part of the equipment (1a). The slots (13) incorporate restraining components (14) having grippers (15) movable between a position of engagement, in which the containers (2) are locked to the support element (11), and a position of disengagement in which no restraining force is applied to the containers (2).

Abstract: An apparatus for deflecting sheet material from a first transport direction to a second transport direction while maintaining the orientation of the sheet material comprises a deflecting area (5) with a sheet-material supply zone (5a) and a sheet-material removal zone (5b), as well as at least one slider (11) with slider elements (12), which engages on the trailing edge of the sheet material to be deflected. By moving the slider from the sheet-material supply zone to the sheet-material removal zone around a rotation axis (13) the sheet material is deflected by the desired deflection angle. The sheet-material transport path preferably has two steps and the rotation axis (13) of the sliders (11) is preferably arranged in such a fashion that the slider elements (12) substantially only engage with the sheet-material transport path in the deflecting area (5) and emerge from the sheet-material transport path both upstream of the sheet-material supply zone (5a) and downstream of the sheet-material removal zone (5b).

Abstract: A gate reader assembly for positioning and identifying articles carried by conveyor systems. The gate reader assembly including a main housing for attachment to said conveyor adjacent a conveyor line of the conveyor; a sprocket rotatably mounted on said housing and having a plurality of gullets formed thereon, each gullet configured for receiving one of said articles. In addition, said sprocket is configured to rotate about an axis normal to said conveyor line via a horizontal force from said articles such that said rotating sprocket is configured to receive and move said articles along said conveyor line. The gate reader assembly additionally includes a detent mechanism disposed on the housing and slidably coupled to the sprocket for releasably restraining said sprocket from rotation thereby inhibiting said article against further movement along said conveyor line.

Abstract: An automated feeder transports pastry product dishes and/or moulds and includes a movable headstock arranged transversely above a first conveyor. The headstock includes an upper plate, a main linear actuator attached thereto, a lower mobile plate extendable by the main linear actuator, and a plurality of magnetic elements attached to the lower mobile plate. The magnetic elements hold a plurality of metallic plates in a predetermined arrangement. The headstock also includes at least two secondary vertical linear actuators disposed on the upper plate for actuating a releasing mechanism to dislodge the dishes from the magnetic elements and a transportation mechanism to provide longitudinal movement along a pair of longitudinal rails. The transportation mechanism permits the headstock to move between a first position over the first conveyor to a second position over a second.

Abstract: A rotary conveyor has a supporting shaft rotating about a respective longitudinal axis and having a top attachment end having a radial projection; a bottom platform fitted to the supporting shaft; and a circular top plate having a central opening for fitment to the top attachment end. The circular top plate also has, on its peripheral edge, a number of seats, each for receiving a container to be conveyed resting on the bottom platform. The conveyor also has fastening means for fastening the circular top plate to the supporting shaft. The fastening means include at least one clamp movable between an idle position permitting engagement of the top attachment end by the circular top plate or removal of the circular top plate from the top attachment end of the supporting shaft, and a work position to grip the circular top plate between the radial projection and the clamp. And an actuating member moves the clamp between the work position and the idle position.

Abstract: A device for feeding packages from a packaging machine has first, second, third and fourth package drivers. The drivers are arranged to transport packages in a transportation direction from an infeed station to an outfeed station. The drivers are arranged diametrically in relation to each other in pairs and rotatably about a common centre axis. A method of feeding packages from a packaging machine includes receiving at the infeed station packages between the first and second drivers, transporting the packages by rotation of the drivers to the outfeed station, and when the packages have reached the outfeed station, returning the first driver to the infeed station and advancing the second driver so that the fourth driver advances to the infeed station, the first and fourth drivers being ready to receive subsequent packages.

Abstract: Various conveyor designs are disclosed, along with related link designs, suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction. The conveyor may include a plurality of connected links. Each link may have a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport. Each link may have a body, a slider, at least one gripping member, and a gear drive mechanism interconnecting the slider and gripping member. The slider is slidable along the length of the body to selectively move the gripping member between a first position and a second position via the gear drive mechanism. The gripping member when in first position is disposed in an open position, and the gripping member when in the second position is disposed in a gripping position for contacting one of the objects to hold the object during transport.

Abstract: The apparatus is formed of two identical devices (A, A?) installed mirror image-fashion, each of which is equipped with a pressure bar (19, 19?) fitted to overhang the relevant lateral toothed conveyor belts (T, T?) which move and recircle the sai bars, and which are in their turn activated by relevant motors (8, 8?) with electronic speed and phase control governed by one programmable processing unit (26). When the length of the products (P) is less than the length of the straight branches of the conveyors moving the said bars, the two devices are installed mirror-image fashion, with the axles of the pulleys of one conveyor aligned with those of the corresponding pulleys of the other conveyor. In this position, the bars (19, 19?) of the two devices alternate in taking, moving foward by pushing and the final placing of the product in the workstation (K).

Abstract: The present invention discloses a lift-table flatcar conveyor for transferring a roll (3) or, respectively, group of rolls of cardboard, cellulose or paper from a first station to a second station, the lift-table flatcar conveyor comprising a rail (2) arranged between the first station and the second station and, arranged back-and-forth movable along the rail (2) between the first station and the second station, a flatcar (1) onto which the roll (3) or, respectively, a group of rolls is movable. During the transfer operation, the roll (3) or, respectively, the group of rolls moved onto said flatcar (1) is supported by support means (4) that are adapted rotatable for the duration of the return travel of the flatcar (1) from the second station to the first station into a home position, wherein the support means (4) can pass rolls (3) waiting on the stations without making a physical contact with the rolls.

Abstract: In a paper-leaves conveying means for conveying a plurality of paper leaves, set together in a bundle in a depositing section, toward a paper-leaves feeding position where a separating/supplying belt exists, an arm is provided which is designed to be moved toward the paper-leaves feeding position in a protruding condition into the interior of the depositing section for supporting side surfaces of the paper leaves, and further to be retreated instantaneously from the interior of the depositing section immediately before the last paper leaf existing between the arm and the separating/supplying belt is handed over to the separating/supplying belt side. Thus, the arm can support the paper leaves until immediately before they are handed over to the separating/supplying belt, which eliminates the occurrence of the falling-down of the paper leaves at the paper-leaves feeding position.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus for spouts or bags with spouts thereon, including: a circular rotating body which is driven rotationally, a guide rail disposed around the circumference of the rotating body with a predetermined spacing in between, and a plurality of grippers disposed on the rotating body and rotated with the rotating body. The rotating body has an outer circumferential edge that supports the flanges of the spouts, and the guide rail has on its inner edge an arc-shaped guide portion that also supports the flanges of the spouts. During the rotation of the rotating body, the grippers close to hold the spouts at the flanges and then opens to release the spouts. A rotational force is imparted by the rotating body to the spouts while spouts are held at the flanges by the grippers.

Abstract: An apparatus for the transfer of articles is provided. The apparatus includes a first conveyor that moves in a first direction and a second conveyor that moves in a second direction opposite from the first direction. The second conveyor is spaced from the first conveyor. A transfer device is substantially disposed between the first and second conveyors. The transfer device includes a transfer plate that is used to transfer articles between the first and second conveyors. The transfer plate overlaps more of the second conveyor than the first conveyor. The transfer plate may be under the first conveyor and over the second conveyor, and the axis of revolution may be in the middle or offset from the middle between the conveyors.

Abstract: A packaging machine is shown for individually wrapping objects, such as candies. The machine has a rotary hopper for selecting the objects to be wrapped, folding them and ejecting them precisely onto a delivery conveyor. A continuous wrapping film is laid over the objects on the delivery conveyor and the sides of the film are folded downwardly to partially wrap the objects. The objects are then gripped through the wrapping film by gripping fingers mounted on a second gripping conveyor. The gripping conveyor moves the objects along while the bottom edges of the wrapper are crimped, and the wrapper between the objects is then crimped and cut off. The gripping fingers then release the wrapped object.