Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt having a tubular shape and extending in a longitudinal direction, and having a longitudinal end, a drive roller to rotate the belt to convey a print medium between the drive roller and the belt, a bushing located at the longitudinal end of the belt, and a guide wall adjacent to the bushing. The belt is displaceable in the longitudinal direction relative to the bushing. The bushing includes a shoulder adjacent to the longitudinal end of the belt and a stem extending from the shoulder to an inside of the belt to support the belt. The guide guides the bushing to move in a direction opposite to a conveyance direction of the print medium when the belt moves toward the bushing. The stem of the bushing includes a convex portion that is in contact with an inner surface of the belt when the belt is displaced in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A conveyor system has an endless belt with an upper transport portion sized to support a wheeled structure, and a lower return portion. A support deck is positioned to support the upper transport portion of the endless belt, the support deck includes a lower support deck structure, and wear plates that are supported on the lower support deck structure. The support deck includes alignment aperture pairs. Each alignment aperture pair includes a first alignment aperture through the lower support deck structure, and a second alignment aperture through one of the plurality of wear plates. A belt-rinsing system is provided and includes a plurality of rinsing system outlet bodies, wherein each of the plurality of rinsing system outlet bodies extends into one of the first alignment apertures of the lower support deck structure and into one of the second alignment apertures of one of the plurality of wear plates.

Abstract: This invention refers to an enclosed conveyor (10) of bulk material (100) comprising an enclosure (20) and provided within said enclosure (20) with a conveyor belt (30) arranged over a set of rollers (40). More particularly, the invention relates to an enclosure (20) capable of improving the manufacturing process of the enclosed conveyor (10). The enclosed conveyor (10) comprises an enclosure (20) formed by a first side wall (21) and a second side wall (22) arranged over a bottom plate (23) and provided with a cover (24) disposed over said side walls (21, 22). The enclosed conveyor (10) comprises at least one set of rollers (40) comprising a first inclined roller (41) mounted on the first side wall (21) and a second inclined roller (42) mounted on the second side wall (22), and a conveyor belt (30) arranged over the set of rollers (40).

Abstract: Powder module (1) for an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, the powder module (1) comprising a powder chamber (6) having a power chamber volume (7) and a carrying device (9), the carrying device (9) comprising: a carrying unit (8) being moveably supported along a motion axis between a first position, particularly a lower end position, and a second position, particularly an upper end position, relative to the powder chamber (6), a drive unit (10) for generating a drive force for moving the carrying unit (8) between the first position and the second position or vice versa, a coupling unit (11) for coupling the carrying unit (8) with the drive unit (10), and a second extension state, particularly corresponding to the second position of the carrying unit (8), a guiding unit (12) surrounding the coupling unit (11).

Abstract: An airflow system for a waste conveyor, having a conveyor enclosure with a bottom side configured for being mounted above a conveyor surface. One or more air flow unit enclosures are mounted to the conveyor enclosure. Each air flow unit enclosure has a divergent channel with a channel intake end fluidly connected to the air exhaust and a channel discharge end configured for providing a stream of air (Q) toward the conveyor surface. The divergent channel has a widening cross section (Xd) in a downstream air direction (D) between the channel intake end and the channel discharge end of the divergent channel, and is arranged at an angle (?) larger than 0° and smaller than 45° degrees with respect to the bottom side of the conveyor enclosure.

Abstract: A jump shuttle conveyor system is configured to receive formed food patties from a molding assembly of a patty forming machine. The system includes a lifting plate and belt assembly coupled to a frame which are configured to be indexed to different vertical positions relative to the frame. Formed food patties are received on a belt of the belt assembly thereon, and can be moved off of the belt onto a transfer shuttle conveyor system. An output conveyor system can be provided to receive the formed food patties.

Abstract: A conveyor sensor arrangement is disclosed. The conveyor sensor arrangement includes a conveyor configured to move a product from a first conveyor end to a second conveyor end in a conveying direction. A plurality of fingers are pivotally arranged on a support that is positioned above the conveyor and that is arranged perpendicular to the conveying direction. Each finger of the plurality of fingers includes a first finger end and a second finger end, and the first finger end extends toward a surface of the conveyor. A single sensor is arranged above the conveyor. Contact between a leading edge of a product moving along the conveyor and at least one of the first finger ends causes a corresponding one of the second finger ends to trigger the sensor.

Abstract: An unjamming system is used in connection with mass-produced parts fed through a process by a rotating bowl feeder. The bowl feeder has a bowl with an axis of rotation and an outer wall. The parts are disposed against the outer wall by centrifugal force. The unjamming system includes a jamming region adjacent the bowl, wherein unjamming is carried out. A sensor adjacent the jamming region detects a jam. A pneumatic cylinder actuator and an air blow jet adjacent the jamming region removes the parts from the jam. The parts are returned to the bowl by the air blow jet.

Abstract: At a conveyor forefront portion, velocity distribution of an airflow is provided. The velocity distribution is wind velocity distribution in a vertical direction of an airflow from a surface of an upper rectifying plate to a surface of a conveyor at the conveyor forefront portion, and has a maximum value in a range of less than 10 mm downward of the vertical direction from the rectifying plate surface. Moreover, a ratio obtained by dividing the maximum value by a wind velocity in the vicinity of the surface of the conveyor is 4 or more, and 12 or less. In a range other than the range of less than 10 mm, the airflow has a wind velocity equal to the wind velocity in the vicinity of the surface of the conveyor.

Abstract: A conveyor system with a pop-up transfer assembly for transferring articles off the end of conveyor belt having protrusions extending above the belt's outer conveying surface. The transfer assembly is cantilevered over the reversing path of the conveyor belt from a pivot. When a protrusion from the belt hits the transfer assembly, the transfer assembly pivots away from the belt about the pivot. When the protrusion is clear, the transfer assembly drops, by gravity, back to its home position proximate the belt. A bilateral transfer assembly is cantilevered in opposite directions to transfer articles off the end of one conveyor belt onto another conveyor belt that may or may not have protrusions.

Abstract: A separation method includes: conveying a separation subject comprising a group of pieces placed on a conveyor in one direction; detecting, by a detecting device, compositions of pieces in the group of pieces placed on the conveyor; generating, by a blower, airflow at an end portion of the conveyor in a conveying direction in which the conveyor conveys the separation subject, the airflow having a velocity matching or substantially matching a conveying speed of the conveyor; stabilizing the airflow by a current plate placed along a trajectory of the group of pieces; and by a jetting device, obtaining position information of a piece of a particular material detected, and jetting pulse air toward the piece of the particular material when the piece of the particular material, which is travelling through air from the conveyor and whose travel is assisted by the airflow, passes by the jetting device.

Abstract: A reciprocating assembly for applying vapor steam to the surface of a multi-width conveyor belt, having a frame to support the belt, to clean and sanitize the conveyor belt, includes, a housing having two ends, with the housing enclosing an endless chain member positioned within the housing and powered by a motor member, with the chain member having a cam member extending outwardly from the endless chain, a reciprocating block member supports a nozzle, with the block member having a cam guide notch structurally arranged to be engaged by the cam member extending from the endless chain member. The housing ends are engageable with vertical housing supports to mount the assembly to the conveyor belt frame to predeterminely control the reciprocating movement of the nozzle between the edges of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Disclosed is a linear conveyor (21) for transporting glass panels (3) in the vicinity of grinding stations (9, 13) or a washing station (15) of a system for producing glass panel blanks including a linear conveyor (23), for example, a driven toothed belt, and opposite the driven toothed belt a beam (25), from which a fluid, in particular water, is discharged. The glass panel (3) is pressed against the linear conveyor (23) in a non-positive manner and reliably conveyed by water discharged from the beam (25). Such linear conveyors (21) can be arranged at the upper or lower edge of a glass panel (3) in order to trim the glass panel using at least one grinding disk (27), for example.

Abstract: The conveyor device comprises a support, a magnetic driving unit at the support, and an at least substantially sealed conveyor unit demountably supportable on the support. The conveyor unit includes a magnetic drivable unit magnetically drivable by the said magnetic driving unit, and an endless conveyor belt extending around two spaced apart rollers. At least one of the rollers is drivable by the said drivable unit. The conveyor unit is thus preferably demountable from the support for cleaning without requiring disconnection of a physical drive and/or electrical feed extending between the conveyor unit and the support. Additionally, a weighing element is preferably provided at the support to dynamically weigh an item as it moves along the conveyor unit.

Abstract: A method system and device, to align a substrate on a surface, the device including a first intake and a second intake where the first intake is configured to accept a first fluid and the second intake is configured to accept a second fluid. The first fluid is channeled into the device to vertically move the device a distance, and the second fluid calibrated and channeled into the nozzle, the nozzle having a focusing outlet, and where the fluids are configured to exert a force to facilitate the alignment of the substrate on the surface.

Abstract: A conveyor belt scraper includes a non-linear scraping edge for directing product towards the center of the scraper. The non-linear scraping edge comprises two obliquely extending portions that intersect at an obtuse angle to define a nadir of a channel. The non-linear scraping edge is formed at the top end of a curved inner surface that abuts a conveyor belt wrapped around a reversing element. Channeling surfaces are formed between the non-linear scraping edge and an outer surface of the scraper. The scraping edge and channeling surfaces direct product away from the conveyor belt and over the outer surface of the scraper.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a conveyor system (2) comprising a support frame (4) and an endless carrier chain (6) arranged horizontally thereon and defining an upper part (6a) and a lower part (6b); the carrier chain thereby having an inner side (12) and an outer side (14); wherein the support frame comprises a shielding element (24) in an area (A) defined between the inner side (12a) of the upper part of the carrier chain (6) and the inner side (12b) of the lower part of the carrier chain (6); wherein the shielding element (24) itself, or in combination with the first main support element (16) and/or the second main support element (18) having an extension that blocks a direct access between any point P1 located on the inner side (12a) of the upper part of the carrier chain (6) and a corresponding point P2 located on the inner side (12b) of the lower part of the carrier chain.

Abstract: Non-contact, gas-ejecting bearings (3) are provided for conveying flexible glass sheets (13), such as LCD substrates, at high conveyance speeds, e.g., speeds of 40 meters/minute and above, e.g., 60 meters/minute. Gas is provided to the bearing's orifices (22) from a plenum which operates at a pressure Pplenum and the bearings have a calculated static pressure Pmidpoint at the midpoints (27) between the bearing's centermost orifice (26) and each of its nearest neighbors (28) in a horizontal direction which satisfies the relationship Pmidpoint/Pplenum?0.05. The bearings (3) can reduce the time-averaged, peak-to-peak variation in the spacing between a LCD substrate (13) traveling at, for example, 60 meters/minute and the face (20) of the bearing (3) to less than 500 microns, thus reducing the chances that the substrate (13) will hit and be damaged by the bearing (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for sterilizing caps or the like closures for closing bottles or the like containers. Said device comprises a conveyor system conveying the caps in a direction of conveyance through a treatment section having a plurality of successive treatment stations in the direction of conveyance.

Abstract: A method system and device, to align a substrate on a surface, the device including a first intake and a second intake where the first intake is configured to accept a first fluid and the second intake is configured to accept a second fluid. The first fluid is channeled into the device to vertically move the device a distance, and the second fluid calibrated and channeled into the nozzle, the nozzle having a focusing outlet, and where the fluids are configured to exert a force to facilitate the alignment of the substrate on the surface.

Abstract: A sterilizing system for sterilizing a continuous loop conveyor belt of a conveyor system is provided. The conveyor system includes a drive operatively connected to the conveyor belt and operative to move the belt between upper and lower flight paths. The upper flight path includes an exposed surface for receiving items. The sterilizing system includes a housing that is configured to at least partially cover the lower flight path. An ultraviolet light source is positioned in the interior of the housing. The light source is operative to emit ultraviolet light on the belt at the lower flight path to sanitize the belt.

Abstract: An apparatus for substrate processing, mainly includes a processing unit and a fluid supply unit. The processing unit includes a platform for laying a substrate. The platform includes a plurality of injection holes defined thereon, the injection holes obliquely and downwardly extend from a top surface of the platform. The fluid supply unit includes a plurality of containers containing fluids for supplying to the processing unit and fluid-connected to the injection holes of the platform. The fluids from the fluid supply unit can be obliquely injected out from the injection holes and slightly floats and moves the substrate over the platform and reacts with the substrate.

Abstract: Non-contact, gas-ejecting bearings (3) are provided for conveying flexible glass sheets (13), such as LCD substrates, at high conveyance speeds, e.g., speeds of 40 meters/minute and above, e.g., 60 meters/minute. Gas is provided to the bearing's orifices (22) from a plenum which operates at a pressure Pplenum and the bearings have a calculated static pressure Pmidpoint at the midpoints (27) between the bearing's centermost orifice (26) and each of its nearest neighbors (28) in a horizontal direction which satisfies the relationship Pmidpoint/Pplenum?0.05. The bearings (3) can reduce the time-averaged, peak-to-peak variation in the spacing between a LCD substrate (13) traveling at, for example, 60 meters/minute and the face (20) of the bearing (3) to less than 500 microns, thus reducing the chances that the substrate (13) will hit and be damaged by the bearing (3).

Abstract: An apparatus and an associated method comprise a receiving zone, for receiving solid material, a transferring zone, for transferring said solid material and optionally a releasing zone for releasing said solid material, e.g. to another moving surface and with a moving endless surface moving in and through said zones, said a moving endless surface has thereto a multitude of primary cavities and secondary cavities receiving said solid material, wherein said primary cavities are connectable and/or connected to said vacuum system of said transferring zone, and said secondary cavities are not connectable/connected to said vacuum system of said transferring zone, and wherein thus only said primary cavities transfer said solid material e.g. to said further moving surface; and wherein typically both primary and secondary cavities are connectable/connected to a vacuum system in said receiving zone.

Abstract: A device for opening and further transporting of printed products with respectively at least two sheets held together over a fixed edge, including a conveying device with transport grippers driven in conveying direction (F) arranged with a distance between one another, which are designed to hold the printed products suspended on their fixed edge, as well as with an opening device arranged below the transport grippers, which is destined to open the printed products. The opening device includes an opening wedge capable of being inserted into a free edge zone between the sheets of the printed product, and the opening device furthermore includes a device for supplying blast air, by way of which the sheets of the printed product are capable of being fanned open in the edge zone, into which the opening wedge is inserted.

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.

Abstract: A singulating disc, carried by a housing, has a plurality of openings around its periphery. The disc rotates vertically through a pickup chamber of a hopper carried by the housing. A vacuum is pulled through the openings by a pump which is connected to the disc. Items are placed in the hopper and, via gravity, fall to the bottom of the hopper where they contact the periphery of the rotating disc. The vacuum at the openings attaches an item and holds it while the disc rotates. At the top of the discs rotation, a diverter directs the item into a path depending on the results of a fragment detection and/or counting mechanism. Items that are allowed to pass by the diverter are scraped off the disc into another path by a scraper. Negative pressure is used to singulate and count a multitude of sizes and shapes of items with no calibration. Retractable paddles, a vacuum management system, and RFID tags may be incorporated.

Abstract: A product support surface for a conveyor belt includes a pair of side links spaced apart by a rod connected therebetween; and a longitudinal member attached to the rod between the pair of side links, the longitudinal member having a surface to support a product thereon during a conveying mode and to be pivoted with respect to the pair of side links during a cleaning mode.

Abstract: A germicidal irradiation approach to killing germs on conveyors and other check out surfaces in stores, such as grocery stores, which sell articles such as food items where possible contamination from leaks and the like is a concern. An adaptable, portable ultraviolet light apparatus is provided to irradiate surfaces such as conveyor belts.

Abstract: A testing table that allows testing lights along its length. The testing table can be used to convey lights along the direction, and to test the lights at different locations along the direction along the conveying. The lights can be cleaned and tested. Empty tubs can be returned.

Abstract: A workpiece conveying apparatus for conveying a workpiece disposed in a through hole in a conveying table allows the workpiece to be reliably dismounted from the through hole using compressed gas, suppresses the workpiece from unintentionally jumping out because of residual pressure of the compressed air, and increases the conveying efficiency. In an electronic-component conveying apparatus, a conveying table is arranged to face a conveying surface of a conveying stage, with an electronic component disposed in a through hole in the conveying table. When the conveying table is rotated, the electronic component is conveyed. The conveying surface has an exhaust hole at a position where the electronic component is to be dismounted. The total area of the opening of the exhaust hole in the conveying table is larger than the area of the surface of the electronic component facing the conveying surface of the conveying stage.

Abstract: Non-contact, liquid-ejecting bearings (3) are provided for conveying flexible glass sheets (13), such as LCD substrates, at high conveyance speeds, e.g., speeds of 15 meters/minute and above. The operating parameters and physical properties of the bearings satisfy at least one of the following conditions: (a) the average flow rate from the bearing's orifices (22) is in the range of 100-800 milliliters/minute/orifice; (b) the orifices' average horizontal pitch (P) is in the range of 20-55 millimeters; and/or (c) the orifices' average size (e.g., D0) is in the range of 1.0-4.5 millimeters. The bearings (3) can reduce the time-averaged, peak-to-peak variation in the spacing between a LCD substrate (13) traveling at 15 meters/minute and the face (20) of the bearing (3) to less than 100 microns, thus reducing the chances that the bearing (3) will lose control of the substrate (13) or that the substrate (13) will hit the bearing (3).

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for forming tobacco rod portions of a smoking article. A conveyor unit is configured to receive a continuous stream of the tobacco material and to transport the continuous tobacco material stream along an elongate path for formation of the continuous tobacco material stream into a continuous tobacco rod, wherein the conveyor unit is housed in a conveyor housing. A suction system is in fluid communication with the conveyor housing through a suction port and is configured to apply suction to the conveyor housing via the suction port so as to draw the continuous tobacco stream into engagement with the conveyor unit. A wear resistant member is engaged with a wall of the conveyor housing and defines the suction port, wherein the wear resistant member is configured to resist wear from interaction with particles associated with the tobacco material.

Abstract: An electronic-component conveying apparatus that conveys an electronic component by holding the electronic component in a through hole provided in a conveying table of the apparatus, in which the electronic component can be quickly and reliably dismounted from the through hole by using compressed gas, and undesired popout of the electronic component due to a residual pressure infrequently occurs, whereby the efficiency in the conveying process can be increased.

Abstract: A continuous cooker having a conveyor capable of repositioning product and cleaning itself of debris and a method for its operation. The cooker includes a conveyor that transports food atop a conveyor belt to a cooking chamber. Upper and lower diverting rollers guide the belt along an S-shaped product-repositioning path segment. The lower diverting roller is rotated at a speed different from the speed of the conveyor belt to cause the belt to slip on the roller's periphery, which effects a scraping action against the conveying side of the belt to dislodge debris.

Abstract: A technique for the conveyance of solid combustible material, having at least one conveying means, wherein the conveying means is supported at least partially by bearing means and/or drive means, in particular on a stand, and the apparatus having at least one collecting space located below the conveying means and having a height, at least one deflecting means for the deflection of solid combustible material towards the collecting space being located below at least one bearing means and/or below at least one drive means. Such an apparatus is suitable most especially for the conveyance of solid materials presenting a fire and/or explosion hazard.

Abstract: The present invention provides a floating-type substrate conveying and processing apparatus that floats a substrate to be processed. The device includes a floating stage that floats the substrate, a liquid supplier placed above the floating stage via the substrate to supply a process liquid to a surface of the substrate, and a moving mechanism for holding the substrate as detachable at opposite ends of the substrate, at a floating height of the substrate, and for moving the substrate on the floating stage. The floating stage is formed of a porous member and has a plurality of suction apertures airtightly defined in a porous portion of the porous member. The floating stage injects gas through the porous portion and sucks gas through the suction apertures to float the substrate placed on the porous portion.

Abstract: A push device, for transferring glass articles from an intermediate supporting plate to an unloading conveyor, has at least one seat bounded by two flat supporting surfaces converging with each other and forming between them an angle of over 90°, and by at least one further supporting surface adjustable in position with respect to at least one of the two flat supporting surfaces; the article being retained close to a convergence area of the two flat supporting surfaces by a circuit for feeding compressed air between the two flat supporting surfaces.

Abstract: An electronic component conveying apparatus is provided in which an electronic component is accommodated in a through-hole of a conveyer table and is conveyed. The electronic component can be reliably picked up from the through-hole using a compressed gas in a short time. In addition, undesired exhaust of the electronic component due to a residual compressed air can be prevented, and the conveying efficiency can be increased. In an workpiece conveying apparatus, a first surface of a conveyer table includes a pressure relief groove that extends from a location at which the pressure relief groove overlaps with an exhaust hole in a direction crossing a conveying direction and communicates with a suction recess portion when the conveyer table is rotationally driven. Alternatively, the first surface includes a pressure relief hole for relieving pressure to the atmosphere.

Abstract: The conveyor for bottles or containers in general comprises a conveyor belt for supporting the bottles, and a lubricant dispensing unit associated with the conveyor belt. The lubricant dispensing unit comprises a cylindrical element rotatably connected to the conveyor belt and associated with a lubricant feed member, such that the feed member transfers lubricant to the cylindrical element and this, by rotating in contact with the conveyor belt, releases the lubricant onto the conveyor belt. The lubrication process for a conveyor belt of a conveyor for bottles or containers in general consists of feeding lubricant onto a cylindrical element and rotating the cylindrical element in contact with the conveyor belt, such that the lubricant passes onto the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A conveyor feeding system for reliably and continuously supplying particulate matter as feedstock, such as rubber tire chips, to a reactor or distillation unit. The feeding system includes a pair of inclined spiral augers having their lower ends submerged in oil or other liquid to provide a liquid seal, thereby preventing undesirable back flow of distillation gases through the feeding system. The push auger acts to push lightweight feedstock downward, submerging it through the liquid seal. The material thereafter is taken up by the partially submerged feed auger, for withdrawal up out of the liquid seal for delivery to further processing, such as a pyrolytic reactor. Buoyant material, which otherwise might float upon the liquid of the seal reservoir, accordingly may be effectively processed through the system.

Abstract: Non-contact, gas-ejecting bearings (3) are provided for conveying flexible glass sheets (13), such as LCD substrates, at high conveyance speeds, e.g., speeds of 40 meters/minute and above, e.g., 60 meters/minute. Gas is provided to the bearing's orifices (22) from a plenum which operates at a pressure Pplenum and the bearings have a calculated static pressure Pmidpoint at the midpoints (27) between the bearing's centermost orifice (26) and each of its nearest neighbors (28) in a horizontal direction which satisfies the relationship Pmidpoint/Pplenum?0.05. The bearings (3) can reduce the time-averaged, peak-to-peak variation in the spacing between a LCD substrate (13) traveling at, for example, 60 meters/minute and the face (20) of the bearing (3) to less than 500 microns, thus reducing the chances that the substrate (13) will hit and be damaged by the bearing (3).

Abstract: A chamber apparatus for reducing the speed of particles carried in a pneumatic conveyor conduit includes a chamber with an inlet port in the chamber, the inlet port adapted for attachment to the pneumatic conveyor conduit, and an outlet port in a lower portion of the chamber. A plurality of flexible bristles is secured at ends thereof to a wall of the chamber and extend into the chamber such that particles carried in an air stream entering the inlet port contact the bristles. The chamber is configured such that particles falling inside the chamber move out of the chamber through the outlet port.

Abstract: There is provided a support platform of a non-contact transfer apparatus. The support platform includes a plurality of first holes for introducing air on a surface of the support platform, and a plurality of second holes for removing the air introduced through the first holes. At least one of a size and a number of the first holes varies in a direction from a central portion of the support platform to peripheral portions of the support platform, and the second holes are identically formed to one another.

Abstract: A package sorting conveyor system including a conveying track, at least one unloading station and an air-film lubricated entrance chute upstream of the unloading station to receive the package. In one of the embodiments, the system further includes a positioner assembly for selectively positioning an outlet of the entrance chute. The air-film lubricated entrance chute includes: a plenum including a plurality of spaced apart apertures and an opening for communicating with an air supply; and a conveying surface in communication with the apertures.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a conveying element arranged for conveying objects, an advancing promoting arrangement for promoting a movement of the objects along the conveying element, the advancing promoting arrangement comprising a bristle arrangement arranged along the conveying element and suitable for interacting with the objects; an apparatus for conveying objects comprises a conveying plane element arranged for supporting the objects and a blowing arrangement arranged for advancing the objects in an advance direction, the conveying plane element being selected from a group comprising a rolling arrangement, a fluid cushion arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laser drilling system for drilling holes or cavities in a solid, in particular a solid dosage form. The system includes a loading zone, firing zone, inspection zone and delivery zone. The system also includes optional components such as a process validation system, solids detector, color detector, solids rejection/repositioning means, accepted products receptacle, rejected products receptacle and/or solids inspection system. Operation of the laser device in the firing zone and of other optional equipment is synchronized with movement of a continuous solids indexer by way of an electronic synchronizer. A solids handling system includes an optional fill level detector that directly or indirectly controls solids loading means that fills a solids reservoir. The system can be run continuously, semicontinuously or batchwise.

Abstract: The substrate transportation apparatus 10 comprises a plurality of transportation rollers 22A-22D disposed at a predetermined spacing for transporting the substrate 40 in response to rotation of the transportation rollers 22. Each of the transportation rollers 22 is generally hollow cylindrical member formed with a plurality of slit nozzles 24 in the circumference. Alternating rows of the transportation rollers 22 are designed to blow and suck air to and from the bottom surface of the substrate 40 under transportation while preventing dust or any other foreign materials from collecting on the bottom surface of the substrate 40.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor which can be used to route oriented objects, such as caps, covers, lids, etc. from a finishing machine of the type comprising a belt, a vibrating bowl or other. The inventive conveyor consists of a module (12) comprising (i) a vertical conveyor in the form of a column (14) with an adjustable height and (ii) an intermediate conveyor in the form of a casing (13) which is disposed between the finishing machine and the column (14). In addition, the module (12) comprises channel-type means (15) for guiding the objects and means for propelling said objects, in the form of jets of air pulsed through eyes (32). The channel (15) and the eyes (32) form a continuous assembly between the finishing machine and the upper end of the column (14). The conveyor also comprises means enabling the automatic ejection of objects from grooves (7) provided in the belt (3) of the machine.

Abstract: A conveyance system comprises a production machine for manufacturing a web of packaging cushions, a duct downstream from the production machine, a blower to provide an air flow through the duct to apply a conveyance force for conveying the web of packaging cushions, and a friction contact area downstream from the production machine and upstream from the duct entrance. The web of packaging cushions passes beneath and contacts the friction contact area to create a friction force opposing the conveyance force so that the conveyance force is not transmitted along the web of packaging cushions to the production machine.