Abstract: A modular conveyor belt constructed of a series of articulating rows of belt modules having flights formed atop laterally consecutive interleaved hinge elements of adjacent belt rows. The flights on leading and trailing rows are aligned when the belt is running flat, but open up for cleaning as their rows articulate about a sprocket.

Abstract: A towing device for motor vehicles includes a conveyor chain revolving between a first deflecting device including a first axis of rotation and a second deflecting device including a second axis of rotation, wherein the conveyor chain comprises a chain forward strand along a load strand and a chain return strand along an empty strand; a conveying path for motor vehicles at least partially disposed along the load strand; at least one driver for a motor vehicle tire, wherein the driver is connected to an associated chain joint disposed at the conveyor chain and serves for towing a motor vehicle along the conveying path; and a circumferential guide track for guiding the at least one driver. The first and the second axis of rotation are arranged vertically. The load strand and the empty strand of the conveyor chain are arranged in a horizontal plane.

Abstract: The present invention includes a housing, multiple conveyors, and a driving system. The conveyors are provided for a working object to be moved on the conveyors. The driving system has a horizontal moving portion and a vertical moving portion. As the horizontal moving portion moves from the second position toward the first position, when a first detector detects a rear edge of the working object, a controller is able to stop the horizontal moving portion and to set an actual pushing position. Then, it can reset that the horizontal only can move between the actual pushing position and the second position for shortening a moving time and a moving distance of the horizontal moving portion. So, this invention can shorten the horizontal moving time of the horizontal moving portion. It can shorten the vertical moving time. Plus, it can increase the total processing efficiency.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing pre-cut material wound into a coil or folded into a “Z” comprises a casing forming a receptacle with a bottom plate, a lower horizontal wall, vertical walls with a lid that is hinged at the base of the casing and raised vertically up to its closure. The apparatus also comprises a shutter attached to the side walls of the casing and is positioned vertically. The said shutter has in its upper portion a curvilinear configuration for the passage and guidance of the pre-cut strip of material. The said strip of material passes between the said shutter and said lid. The said shutter and said lid each has an identical central cut to allow the release of the pre-cut strip of material and its gripping.

Abstract: A secondary dispenser readily attachable to a standard toilet-tissue dispenser of a roll type for positioning next to the primary toilet-tissue dispenser for dispensing supplemental materials such as pre-wetted toilet sheets. The sheets can be withdrawn from an open door. A compact auxiliary device providing wetted or self-wetting sheets for releasable proximate mounting in conjunction with a conventional toilet-tissue dispenser of dry sheets; comprises an inexpensive container or magazine component pre-loaded with the supplemental sheets. The magazine can be snapped into functional position rapidly. It serves an improved health care and cleanliness function.

Abstract: A cigarette paper pack includes a removal opening and a spring element comprising at least one spring. The spring element is configured to feed cigarette rolling papers in a direction of the removal opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying granular material, comprising a storing unit for storing granular material, a feeding unit for feeding granular material stored in the storing unit to a supply destination, a driving unit coupled to the feeding unit for driving the feeding unit, and a supporting unit forming a space for receiving the feeding unit, supporting the storing unit, the feeding unit and the driving unit, and being fixed to an object to be installed. The driving unit is supported by the supporting unit so as to be freely displaced between a coupling position where the driving unit is coupled to the feeding unit and a retracting position where coupling of the driving unit with the feeding unit is released and the feeding unit is removable from the supporting unit.

Abstract: The invention provides a livestock feed-displacing device and system, with a grab bucket which can be positioned above a feed kitchen with feed positions by a control unit, wherein the control unit is designed to compose an amount of animal feed from feed material provided in the feed kitchen by positioning the grab bucket at a grabbing position, grabbing livestock feed underneath said grabbing position, positioning the grab bucket at a desired feed-unloading point, such as in a feed wagon, and unloading the grabbed livestock feed at the feed-unloading point, wherein the control unit is designed to earmark, if at least one predetermined clearing-up criterion has been met, livestock feed in the feed kitchen as waste to be removed and to make the device carry out a clearing-up operation, wherein the clearing-up operation comprises the removal of the livestock feed at said feed position by displacing it to another position in the feed kitchen.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes first, second, and third conveying sections, and a controller. The first and second conveying sections include first and second conveying mechanisms configured to convey workpieces at first and second speeds, respectively. The third conveying section includes a third conveying mechanism, a rotation mechanism, and a first sensor. The third conveying mechanism is in a form of a slide and positioned between the first and second conveying mechanisms. The third conveying mechanism is configured to allow the workpieces dropped thereon from the first conveying mechanism to slide to be transferred onto the second conveying mechanism. The rotation mechanism is configured to turn the third conveying mechanism about a rotation shaft. The first sensor is configured to detect first information indicating that the workpieces have passed the second end portion of the third conveying mechanism. The controller is coupled to the first sensor and the rotation mechanism.

Abstract: Belt conveyor idler systems for increasing the trough angle of a conveyor belt are disclosed. In some embodiments, wing roll brackets that support the wing rolls increase in length from the front end to the back end of the idler system.

Abstract: A return roller battery has a plurality of idler rollers rotatably attached at either end to opposing mounting plates. The mounting plates are rotatably attached to a conveyor belt frame and selectively rotated by a crank mechanism to position one of the idler rollers beneath the conveyor belt to support the belt. A locking mechanism secures the mounting plates against rotation when an idler roller is in position.

Abstract: A laundry transfer apparatus comprising a frame within which is disposed a transfer conduit that traverses a distance between the openings of a washing machine and dryer. A plurality of upper extensions are provided to enable the apparatus to rest on the top surfaces of the washing machine and dryer and to vertically suspend the apparatus so that the conduit is appropriately positioned for each use. The conduit preferably comprises a substantially planar surface formed by individual table sections that fold out to form the conduit when the laundry transfer apparatus is in use. The conduit is slidably engaged to the frame via a railing. When use of the laundry transfer apparatus is complete, the individual sections are folded upright and pushed into a retracted position for later use.

Abstract: A gravity-adaptive card separation mechanism, which keeps the friction forces of stacked hard cards basically consistent. The mechanism is arranged on a storage box for storing stacked hard cards, and is used for separating the hard cards individually.

Abstract: A conveyor belt and belt modules with plug-in accessories, such as sideguards. The accessories have plugs that plug into sockets in the belt or individual belt modules. Lugs and mounting slots and tabs and detents on the plugs and sockets help guide, register, and lock the accessories in place. The plugs and sockets allow the accessories to be locked and unlocked by twisting the plugs in the sockets.

Abstract: A medication adherence and container system for informing a patient when it is time to and not to take medication; for storing medicine information sheets with the medicine containers; and holding the medicine containers in arranged clusters, having containers and caps which interact between each other as switches with the electrical circuits provided. The electrical circuits have a timing device which can be set for a predetermined elapsed time and provides a continuous signal, such as a colored light, during the running of said predetermined time to indicate “not to take medication” and then provides a different signal, such as a different colored light, when the predetermined time has lapsed to indicate “take medication” and continues that signal until being reset upon breaking the electrical circuit between cap and container and restarting the timing device on closing the circuit between cap and container for measuring another predetermined elapsed time.

Abstract: A singulating conveyor system that consists of conveyor sets comprising driven tapered rollers oriented in a herringbone pattern about the centerline of the conveying surface which is capable of sorting a continuous flow of randomly oriented and sorted packages into a single file line of packages along the centerline of the conveyor surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of transferring discrete articles between a transfer assembly and an apparatus comprising a head. The transfer assembly comprises a frame defining a first rotation axis and a transfer member comprising a transfer surface configured to receive one of the discrete articles. The method comprises rotating the transfer member of the transfer assembly about the first rotation axis at a substantially constant angular velocity, maintaining the transfer surface at a substantially constant minimum distance away from a surface of the head at a point of discrete article transfer, and rotating the head of the apparatus about a second rotation axis at a plurality of angular velocities. A first angular velocity of the head is substantially constant at the point of discrete article transfer.

Abstract: A sorting device comprises a support member for supporting and transporting an article. The support member is drivable in a conveying direction. The sorting device also comprises a loading station at which at least an article can be loaded to the support member, and an unloading station at which at least an article can be removed from the support member. The unloading station is provided with a plurality of receivers for receiving an article that is removed from the support member. The receivers are arranged transversely with respect to the conveying direction and disposed such that they are below the support member when the support member is at the unloading station. Furthermore, the sorting device comprises a controller for directing an article that is supported and transported by the support member to a selected one of the receivers.

Abstract: A sorter drive for propelling travelling members of a sorter along a path, in which the sorter has a plurality of interconnected travelling members that travel along a path and sortation members carried by the travelling members, with the sortation members adapted to discharge articles to particular destinations, according to an aspect of the invention, includes an endless drive member and an electro-adhesion system. The endless drive member engages the travelling members. The electro-adhesion system increases attraction of the endless drive member and the travelling members.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing objects from automated storage and retrieval systems such as medications is disclosed which may also include a singulator to assure singulation (retrieval of singular objects). The singulator may be an imaging system to confirm and/or identify the objects being dispensed and/or a variable orifice dynamically adjustable to a specific object or pill size, and through which only a single object or pill is allowed to pass. The system may further include a flexible probe so as to reduce the size of the system where the movement of the probe relative to or while retrieving objects is accomplished by advancing/retracting a flexible tube. The method and apparatus may further include an imaging system.