Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading substrates in an inspection station is disclosed herein. In one embodiment a loading module is disclosed that includes a loading station for two or more substrate cassettes, a first lane comprising a first conveyor that is substantially aligned with one of the two or more substrate cassettes and a conveyor system, a second lane comprising a second conveyor that is substantially aligned with another of the two or more substrate cassettes and positioned in a spaced-apart relation relative to the first lane, and a lateral transfer module positioned between the first lane and the second lane that is adapted to move substrates from the second lane to the first lane.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the elongation, or stretch, of a modular plastic conveyor belt. The belt-stretch measuring system measures stretch as the ratio less one of an actual belt travel distance or actual belt speed to an expected belt travel distance or expected belt speed for a new, unstretched belt. The actual belt travel distances or actual belt speeds are measured by sensors. The expected belt travel distances or expected belt speeds are calculated from the pulse outputs of encoders measuring the rotation of sprockets engaging the conveyor belt and from the known number of teeth on the sprockets. Actual belt pitch and catenary sag are also calculated.

Abstract: A bulk feeder includes a feeder main body, a track member having a reception region in which multiple components discharged from a component case accommodating the components in a bulk state are received, a supply region to which the components are supplied, and a conveyance path of the components from the reception region to the supply region, a vibration device configured to apply vibration to the track member such that the components on the conveyance path are conveyed, and a conveyance control section configured to execute a feeding operation of conveying the components on the conveyance path in a direction toward the supply region and a returning operation of conveying the components on the conveyance path in a direction toward the reception region.

Abstract: An in-line valve assembly for a tubular drag conveyer system includes a first tube segment having a first end and defining a first passageway, a second tube segment having a second end and defining a second passageway, and a tubular valve body translatably disposed relative to the second tube segment and defining a valve passageway. The first end of the first tube segment is spaced apart from the second end of the second tube segment by a gap. The valve body is selectively adjustable between a closed position wherein the valve passageway spans the gap and connects the first passageway to the second passageway and an open position wherein the valve passageway is spaced apart from the first passageway by at least a portion of the gap.

Abstract: A system for controlling the tension in a conveyor assembly includes a conveyor, a hydraulic motor, a pump, a hydraulic fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the pump and in fluid communication with the hydraulic motor, a first valve in fluid communication with the pump and the hydraulic motor, a hydraulic actuator, and an actuator control valve assembly. The conveyor includes a continuous, flexible conveying member rotatably driven around a drive wheel at one end, the drive wheel being connected to the hydraulic motor which receives pressurized hydraulic fluid from a first supply line to drive the motor in a first direction, and from a second supply line to drive the motor in a second direction. The actuator control valve is in fluid communication with the first motor supply line, the hydraulic reservoir, and a first and second port of the actuator.

Abstract: A conveying device for conveying bulk material, comprising products and product breakage thereof, in a conveying direction has a first conveying element and a second conveying element which is arranged downstream of the first conveying element, with the result that a gap is formed between the first and the second conveying element. A covering element is arranged above the gap. The gap has a first width according to a predefined separating criterion in such a way that the passage of product breakage through the gap is allowed and the passage of products through the gap is prevented.

Abstract: A movement device for moving roller boxes, comprising: a support frame (10), movable along a vertical direction; a conveyor plane (11), solidly constrained to the support frame (10) with respect to the movement in a vertical direction and movable with respect to the support frame (10) along a horizontal transversal direction (X), in which the conveyor plane (11) is predisposed to translate objects (O) along a horizontal conveying direction (Y); three operating arms (21,22,23), solidly constrained to the support frame (10), each of which is provided with spindles (S) rotating about rotation axes which are coplanar, horizontal and perpendicular to the conveying direction (Y). A main arm (21) is provided with motorised spindles (S) and is movable along the transversal direction (X) between a first operating position and a second operating position, to selectively interact with one of two roller boxes (B1,B2).

Abstract: A collator device for receiving finished ammunition cartridges in a non-oriented condition and orienting them into a stream of aligned ammunition cartridges for downstream manufacturing or packaging processes. The device incorporates a flat, circular collator plate which rotates inside a collator can with an upstanding circular sidewall. The collator plate upper surface forms a series of radially orienting vanes. Ammunition apertures are formed around the perimeter of the collator plate interleaved between the vanes. As the collator plate is rotated, the apertures receive ammunition cartridges aligned in either a radially inward or radially outward position. Features of the apertures cause the cartridges to drop in an aligned condition as the apertures pass over a slot in the collator can backing plate. Numerous features are provided to enhance throughput and reduce damage to the components as they are handled and processed in the device.

Abstract: A conveying device for conveying a sheet-like material of the present invention includes: a rail portion arranged in a loop shape; a plurality of travelers; a linear motor for circulating the travelers along the rail portion; and a pad attached to each of the travelers, wherein the pad circulates in at least one horizontal plane while holding the sheet-like material on the pad, thereby conveying the sheet-like material.

Abstract: A conveyor belt monitoring system includes a field generation array, a sensor array and circuitry. The field generation array is configured to generate a magnetic field. The sensor array is positioned a conveyor distance downstream from the field generation array and configured to measure a remaining magnetic field of a conveyor belt, the sensor array may include a series of sensors. The circuitry is configured to determine conveyor belt characteristics of the conveyor belt based on the measured remaining magnetic field.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus having a buffering unit extending between a receiving end and output end, including, a base conveyor, a distributing unit adapted to distribute a at least one incoming line of articles received at the receiving end into buffering lanes configured onto the base conveyor, and including a first closed loop track at the receiving end of the base conveyor. The first closed loop track having a distributing lugs, an accumulator unit extending away through the buffering to accumulate positioned on a base conveyor and oriented generally transversally to the first closed loop track, the second closed loop track including a plurality of accumulating lugs, Articles received at the buffering unit are moved along by distributing lugs and dropped into buffering lanes merging into a output lane, and having a second closed loop track on a base conveyor oriented transversally to the first closed loop track having accumulating lugs.

Abstract: A container transport device for transporting containers in a container handling system includes a chassis for supporting the container transport device on a track. The chassis is equipped with a frame on which at least one tray for transporting the containers is provided in a vertically adjustable manner. The at least one tray has a transport surface with multiple transport elements arranged in a substantially parallel manner for temporarily storing and conveying containers in rows, and each transport element is drivable in a controlled and/or closed-loop manner independently of one another in two different conveying directions.

Abstract: A pallet loader for a positioning apparatus, including at least two pallet bays and at least one intermediate member, arranged such that at least two pallet bays are located on different sides of the intermediate member, such that at least one pallet can be driven i) from one pallet bay to another, and ii) from one pallet bay to a positioning apparatus, in which the apparatus includes cooperating guide features on the underside of the at least one pallet and on one or more of the intermediate member and pallet bays for guiding the pallet along a predetermined path and/or for controlling the rotational orientation of the pallet about a vertical axis, as the pallet moves across the intermediate member/pallet bay.

Abstract: A device for transporting and positioning a golf ball has a shuttle configured to be attached to a track for movement along the track relative to a printing station. The device has a golf ball holder attached to the shuttle. The golf ball holder maintains an orientation of the golf ball. The device also has at least one plate configured to move the golf ball holder between an with respect to the shuttle and the printing station. The at least one plate enables position registration of the golf ball for printing.

Abstract: An object centering device configured to center a conveyed food container includes a restricting guide member having a pair of guide surfaces facing the food container and configured to be respectively in contact with at least a pair of opposed contact portions. The pair of guide surfaces of the restricting guide member includes front end portions that extend away from each other toward a downstream side of a conveyance direction of the food container. The front end portions are configured such that an angle formed by the pair of guide surfaces is changeable.

Abstract: A parcel processing system (400) includes infeed conveyors (404, 406, 408) each conveying parcels (106) with an assigned orientation class, a merging conveyor (410) configured to merge parcels fed by the infeed conveyors into a single stream of parcels, and an induction conveyor (200) configured to feed the merged stream of parcels along an induction feed path (202) to a sorting conveyor (100). The infeed paths (404a, 406a) of the infeed conveyors are arranged at different angular orientations in relation to a merging feed path (412) of the merging conveyor such that each parcel in the merged stream of parcels has an orientation that is dependent upon its assigned orientation class.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical container processor for processing pharmaceutical containers includes a set of container operation stations along which a set of container operations occur. The set of container operation stations includes a storage station where pharmaceutical containers are stored; a first identification station where pharmaceutical containers are each identified; a labeling station where a label is applied to pharmaceutical containers; a second identification station where pharmaceutical containers are each identified after the label is applied; and an outlet station where pharmaceutical containers are moved to after said pharmaceutical containers are identified at the second identification station. First and second container transporters move each pharmaceutical container through the set of container operation stations. Each pharmaceutical container is transferred from the first container transporter to the second container transporter along the set of container operation stations.

Abstract: Provided are a raw material discharge device, a method of processing an electronic and electrical device component scrap, and a raw material discharging method of an electronic and electrical device component scrap, which are capable of efficiently discharging the raw material having various shapes, specific gravities and shapes in each fixed amount.

Abstract: An escalator device includes a plurality of steps, wherein both sides of each step are provided with mounting portions and step wheels rotatably mounted to the mounting portions; step wheel guide rails fixedly arranged on both sides of the escalator device for guiding the step wheels of each step, during the operation of the escalator device, the step wheels of each step move along the step wheel guide rails on both sides respectively; and anti-detachment guide rails arranged on both sides of the escalator device, during the movement of the step wheels of each step along the step wheel guide rails on both sides respectively, the anti-detachment guide rails are located above and spaced apart from anti-detachment portions of each step, a piezoelectric sensor is provided on the surface of the anti-detachment guide rail facing the anti-detachment portion.

Abstract: A sortation conveyor includes a conveying surface extending in a longitudinal direction and configured to carry an article along a conveying path. The sortation conveyor also includes a pusher element configured to be selectively diverted transversely relative to the longitudinal direction for engaging and diverting the article away from the conveying path. The sortation conveyor further includes a flexible divert guide including at least one compressible member configured to transition between an uncompressed state and a compressed state.