Abstract: A pulley belt (100) for transmitting force from a first pulley (12) to a second pulley (14) includes a belt member (110) having a contact surface (120) configured to be in contact with the first pulley (12) and the second pulley (14). A plurality of projections (122) extends from the contact surface (120). The projections have a predetermined height/diameter aspect ratio. In a method of making a pulley belt, an uncured elastomer (316) is placed in a mold (310) having a shape of a belt member (320) with an inner surface from which patterned projections (312) extend inwardly. The uncured elastomer is cured to form a cured belt member (320), which is removed from the mold (310).

Abstract: Methods of dispensing small piece goods include storing one or more small piece goods in a storage container for a storage and dispensing station, engaging a positioner of a retainer with a separating device to fix the retainer above a dispensing opening, securing, by a holder, the retainer against a concurrent rotation with the separating device. Also, aligning, by the holder, the retaining section with the dispensing opening, rotating the separating device within the housing to situate a first channel above the dispensing opening, preventing, via the retaining section, additional small piece goods from entering the first channel containing a first small piece good and dispensing the first small piece good through the dispensing opening. Methods of using a system for storage and dispensing of drug portions are also provided.

Abstract: A mask dispensing assembly includes a housing that is positionable in a public transportation vehicle and the housing has a dispensing slot extending into an interior of the housing to dispense face masks stored in the housing to the passengers. A lifting unit is positioned within the housing to lift a stack of disposable face masks in the housing thereby aligning a topmost one of the stack of disposable face masks with the slot. A dispenser is positioned in the housing to urge the topmost one of the stack of disposable face masks outwardly through the slot. A switch is positioned in the public transportation and the lifting unit is actuated when the switch is depressed to facilitate the driver to dispense a disposable mask for a passenger to wear.

Abstract: A dual-layer linear cross belt sorting system is provided, including a package supply table, a sorting loop, a platform, sliding chutes and a scanning device. The sorting loop is of a closed-loop and dual-layer linear conveying structure in a vertical direction, and the sorting loop includes sorting trolleys connected along a single queue, two sets of dual-layer rails formed by connecting bent rails located at two ends and straight rails located at upper and lower layers to each other by an internal welding, a driving component and a tensioning component. The driving component and the tensioning component constitute a transmission structure of the sorting loop and are located at two ends of the sorting loop respectively.

Abstract: Included are a chute arranged in an inclined manner to allow sorting targets to flow downward, optical detection means for detecting the sorting targets at a detection position, and ejector means for sorting and removing the sorting targets based on a result of detection of the optical detection means. The chute is provided with an optical detection slit in a direction orthogonal to a flow-down direction of the sorting targets, a slit width of the optical detection slit is adjustable, and the optical detection means images the sorting targets flowing downward on the chute with the imaging means at a position where the optical detection slit is provided as the detection position.

Abstract: A roller ball assembly is provided. The assembly includes a primary roller ball supported by a support element that is composed of a superhard material. The assembly includes a cup defining a cavity within which the support element is positioned. A cap is coupled with the cup and positioned to retain the primary roller ball within the cavity. Also, a cup is disclosed for supporting roller halls. Additionally, disclosed are system and apparatus incorporating the assembly, as well as to methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: Provided are devices, compositions, and methods for surface disinfection and decontamination; the devices generally adapted to contain a single or multi-component indicator composition, and optionally a disinfectant composition, and to dispense the indicator composition and optional disinfectant composition to a disinfectant solution, a surface, or a disinfectant article upon actuation of the device; also provided is an article of manufacture in the form of a removable cartridge adapted to fit a device described here, which may be pre-filled with a single or multi-component indicator composition as described here, and/or with a disinfectant composition, and one or more optional additives.

Abstract: A belt and a belt conveyor are provided for transporting particulate material and especially oilseeds up the belt conveyor. The belt conveyor can include an intake end having a hopper, a discharge end, a body extending between the intake end and the discharge end and a belt. The belt travels along a travel path in the belt conveyor; the belt traveling through the hopper, up an upper run in the body to the discharge end, down a return run in the body, and back through the hopper. The belt can have a top surface having pairs of adjacent ridges provided on the top surface, each ridge having a pair of arms extending from a point, in a travel direction of the belt, wherein each pair of adjacent ridges define a v-channel on the top surface of the belt.

Abstract: An article sorting nesting device includes an article delivery device, a rack assembly and a collection device under operation by a controller to transport, sort and nest random articles into a particular configuration. The rack assembly is arranged at an angle and incrementally displaced relative to the delivery device to position empty shelves adjacent the delivery device to successively receive the articles by gravity. The controller controls which articles from the shelves are delivered in sequence to a collection device based on a sensed length, width or color of each article. The collection device collects the selected sequential articles and arranges them in the particular configuration.

Abstract: A spiral conveyor for positively driving a conveyor belt along a helical path. The spiral conveyor includes a rotating cylindrical tower with parallel drive members extending from the bottom to the top of the tower on its periphery. Each drive member includes an outwardly protruding ridge that varies in height from the bottom to the top of the tower. The variations in height facilitate the belt's entry onto and exit from the tower and robust, positive driving engagement with the inside edge of the belt along the majority of its path along the tower.

Abstract: A dispenser insert for being mounted in an existing cabinet, the dispenser insert including a frame configured to be mounted in the cabinet, a dispensing mechanism mounted to the frame, the dispensing mechanism including a magazine part for accommodating a stack of sheet products and a dispensing part for dispensing the sheet products, the magazine part having a refilling access at its bottom, wherein the dispensing part is at least translationally moveable relative to the magazine part into a refilling position.

Abstract: A conveyor belt is arranged in tiers at spiral stack conveyor unit. A ceiling is positioned over the spiral stack(s). A circulation fan draws thermal processing medium laterally from the tiers of the spiral stack, up the exterior of the stack and across the ceiling and through a heat exchanger. The treated thermal processing medium is then routed across the remainder of the diameter of the spiral stack and then down the side of the spiral stack diametrically opposite to the circulating fan to enter the spiral stack in a lateral direction diametrically toward the circulating fan. The thermal processing medium flows into an opening formed in the ceiling downstream of the heat exchanger and into the interior of the conveyor drive hub and then into the spiral stack through openings in the drive hub outer wall.

Abstract: A detection device includes a frame, a transport mechanism, detection mechanisms, and a grasping mechanism. The transport mechanism includes a feeding line, a first flow line, and a second flow line arranged in parallel on the frame. The detection mechanisms are arranged on the frame and located on two sides of the transport mechanism. The grasping mechanism is arranged on the frame and used to transport workpieces on the feeding line to the detection mechanisms, transport qualified workpieces to the first flow line, and transport unqualified workpieces to the second flow line.

Abstract: A method and system to access vending machines via a touch-free user interface using a personal electronic device (PED) are described. For each vending session, a unique dynamic tag is generated and presented on a vending machine to be read via a camera. The tag is forwarded by the PED to a remote servicer, which accesses a remote database to determine real-time inventory of the vending machine. This inventory list is transmitted back to the PED for display to a user. The user selects a product from inventory using her PED. This selection is sent to the server, which then transmits instructions to the vending machine to dispense the selected product. The method is free of a requirement for the user to download an app. Security and payment are assured by the use of a unique dynamic tag for each vending session, displayed on or by the vending machine.

Abstract: A system for dispensing and packaging drug portions includes one or more storage containers, the one or more storage containers each including a housing defining a receiving chamber for drug portions and a singulating device disposed at least partially within the housing for singulating and dispensing the drug portions contained within the receiving chamber, the singulating device having an electrically conductive outer surface. The system also includes a blister packaging machine for packaging drug portions dispensed from the one or more storage containers, wherein a conductor device is provided, the conductor device providing an electrically conductive coupling between the singulating device outer surface and a contact configured to dissipate an electrical charge.

Abstract: A method of lining up portions of slices of food, the portions are transported by a belt conveyor on a plurality of tracks along a conveying direction, one of the plurality of tracks is selected as a first reference track, conveying speeds of a remainder of the plurality of tracks excluding the first reference track are adapted in such a way that the portions are arranged in straight rows arranged orthogonally to the conveying direction when the portions reach a lining-up position, and when the lining-up position is reached, the conveying speeds of the plurality of tracks including the first reference track are aligned to one another.

Abstract: A system for sorting metallic objects by magnetic separation has an electromagnetic core. The electronic core includes at least a first portion, a second portion, and a bottom. A sorting flap is arranged facing the electromagnetic core to fashion a circulation space for a conveyor of objects to be sorted from the first portion toward the second portion. The sorting flap includes a magnetic element arranged to form an air gap (E1) between the first portion and the sorting flap. The air gap forms a magnetic barrier opposing the passage of non-magnetic metallic objects, such that the objects are ejected from the conveyor. The second portion is arranged to ensure a return of the magnetic flux lines toward the first portion.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a sorting system using the principles of linear motors to move a magnetized mat in multiple directions. The sorting system uses a series of stator coils in particular patterns to direct the magnetized mat along predefined looping pathways such that the magnetized mat can move articles in a desired direction. Embodiments include the use of multiple magnetized mats to improve package sorting rates. The magnetized mat is comprised of a plurality of magnetized and non-magnetized tiles which are connected using flexible tabs that form a living hinge. The living hinge flexes and allows the mat to travel along the predefined looping pathways. The sorting system may be used as a node in a larger grid sorting system and may be connected to conveyors, chutes, or other means for moving articles.

Abstract: The present invention is a snack containment and dispensing apparatus having a plurality of separate snack containment compartments, a preferably transparent lid having an opening therein, and a lockable plunger or like means to index or rotate the lid such that access to a singular snack compartment is obtained one-at-a-time. The rotation of the tray can alternately be accomplished through electromechanical means or through a ratcheting handle on the outside of the tray. The electromechanical actuation can be connected to external devices to track data about the use and contents of the device. Additionally, a door latch on the lid can selectively attach to and release from the tray through the depression of a door latch actuator. Additionally, the contents of the tray can be temperature controlled either through a passive heating or cooling back in the wall of the tray or through electromechanical means.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a recycled golf ball vending machine having a housing with a bottom retrieval chamber and a plurality of shelves disposed above the retrieval chamber. Each shelf includes at least a single coiled wire and at least two opposing coiled wires. The recycled golf ball vending machine includes at least a first transparent cylindrical container having a plurality of recycled golf balls positioned upright within the single coiled wire. The recycled golf ball vending machine further includes a first transparent clamshell container having a first predetermined number of recycled golf balls positioned between the two opposing coiled wires. A payment mechanism activates an instruction mechanism upon a receipt of a payment by a user, which in turn rotates the single coiled wire or the at least two coiled wires.