Abstract: The repositioning station (200) allows a continuous shingled stream (120) of overlapping semirigid planar articles (100) to be transported on an incoming conveyor (122) along a transport circuit (204) onto an outgoing conveyor (302) so as to form a stack that can be carried away upon the outgoing conveyor (302). The repositioning station (200) includes a lateral deviation assembly (210) and may also include a final positioning assembly (212). The transport circuit (204) within the lateral deviation assembly (210) follows a generally ellipsoidal deviation path to veer the shingled stream (120) and also to pivot the articles (100) therein about a curvilinear axis (206) from a facedown position to an upright position. The outgoing conveyor (302) can carry the cartons (100) in a direction that is parallel to that of the incoming conveyor (122).

Abstract: The device enables a free-standing package to be formed with an open, light structure for packing a bundle of individual flat articles placed in direct juxtaposition and aligned along a straight longitudinal axis in the direction of the thickness of the flat articles. The device includes a pair of individual rigid lateral supports which are opposite each other and which rest directly on the respective sides of the bundle. The rigidity of the flat articles in the width direction is used to form the free-standing package. In particular the device enables the longitudinal compression of the flat articles to be controlled, which is useful in the case of flat articles which have a shape memory, such as folding cartons.

Abstract: The system is provided for repositioning flat-disposed objects that can be arranged in an overlapping manner at a system inlet. The system includes a first and a second lateral deviation conveyor, each having an inlet located downstream the inlet of the system. The system also includes a diverting device creating a first transport circuit ending on the right side of a common receiving zone, and a second transport circuit ending on the left side of the common receiving zone. The system can invert the orientation of the objects transported in the first transport circuit with reference to the objects transported in the second transport circuit. The system can advantageously be used with objects having a variable thickness and in particular with folding cartons in a flat configuration.

Abstract: The conveyor system is provided for carrying a shingled stream of items along at least two possible transport paths. The conveyor system includes an incoming endless-belt conveyor unit. The downstream end portion of the incoming conveyor unit includes a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt forming juxtaposed first and second conveyor belt runs between which the items are frictionally engaged when carried along the incoming portion of the transport paths. A diverter is provided within the downstream end portion of the incoming conveyor unit. The diverter includes at least one diverter segment pivotable around a transversal pivot axis, each diverter segment supporting one of the first rollers for the first conveyor belt run and one of the second rollers for the second conveyor belt run. A method of minimizing the length of a diverter in a conveyor system is also disclosed.

Abstract: The conveyor system is provided for carrying a shingled stream of items along at least two possible transport paths. The conveyor system includes an incoming endless-belt conveyor unit. The downstream end portion of the incoming conveyor unit includes a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt forming juxtaposed first and second conveyor belt runs between which the items are frictionally engaged when carried along the incoming portion of the transport paths. A diverter is provided within the downstream end portion of the incoming conveyor unit. The diverter includes at least one diverter segment pivotable around a transversal pivot axis, each diverter segment supporting one of the first rollers for the first conveyor belt run and one of the second rollers for the second conveyor belt run. A method of minimizing the length of a diverter in a conveyor system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A package stream indexer device (1) for indexing a stream (S) of packages (P) being displaced thereon within a stream plane includes first and second articulated tracks (24) with live rollers (28) and corresponding lower articulated tracks (50) with depending pressure wheels (58) for maintaining packages (P) in contact with the first and second tracks (24) and within the package path defined there between within the stream plane. Each of the first and second articulated tracks (24) along with corresponding lower track (50) are each composed of a plurality of interconnected links (26,52) frictionally engaged together to allow adjustment in track orientation from one set position to another by means of dynamic movement on the tracks (24,50). The second tracks (24) respectively register upstream arid downstream of a moveable intermediate conveyor (2?) bridging an input conveyor (40) and a reception conveyor (40? or 40??), with the respective indexing mechanisms (1?, 1? or 1??).