Abstract: The invention relates to a transport device (1) and a method for distributing a plurality of similarly shaped and dimensioned articles (10). The transport device (1) comprises an infeed (2) for conveying articles (10) in a mass flow, and a distribution section (3) downstream of the infeed (2), where the distribution section (3) leads into a row transport (4), where the articles (10) are conveyed in at least two separate parallel rows (5). The transport device (1) also comprises at least one sensor device (6, 8, 11) signal-coupled to a motor-driven actuator (14) assigned to the distribution section (3) In the event of detected gaps, interruptions, or in the event of a detected termination of the mass flow within the infeed (2) or within the distribution section (3) or within the rows (5), the actuator (14) moves a movable steering device (16) adjoining the mass flow.

Abstract: A conveyor arrangement for airborne battery replacement between an aerial supply vehicle having a store of replacement batteries suitable to power electric aerial vehicles and an electric aerial vehicle powered by a set of replaceable batteries is disclosed. The conveyor arrangement is configured to convey batteries between the aerial supply vehicle and the electric aerial vehicle during flight to replace a replaceable battery from the set of the electric aerial vehicle by a replacement battery from the store of the aerial supply vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods capable of transferring items from a bin are described. A de-binning system includes an item transfer apparatus including a transfer conveyor configured to move a conveyor belt surface, and a bin sub-frame coupled to the transfer conveyor and configured to receive a bin. While an item-containing bin is secured to the bin sub-frame, the bin sub-frame and the transfer conveyor are inverted to transfer the items onto the transfer conveyor, which can move the items onto a second conveyor belt. Various aspects of the present systems and methods prevent damage to the surface of delicate items being transferred.

Abstract: A scraper system for a conveyor system having a conveyor belt and a method for attaching a scraper module to a scraper system. The scraper system includes a system carrier and scraper modules for contacting the conveyor belt. The scraper modules are attached to a module carrier that extends on the system carrier parallel to the system carrier. The module carrier is releasably attached to the system carrier by a clamping assembly for applying a clamping force in the transverse direction to the system carrier. The clamping assembly has a clamping rod that runs parallel to the system carrier and applies the clamping force by wedge action.

Abstract: An electro adhesion (EA) conveyor system for transporting a metallic container includes at least one electro adhesion (EA) pad. The EA pad includes at least one positive electrode and at least one negative electrode arranged in a predetermined pattern. The predetermined pattern is configured to generate an electric field when a voltage is applied to one or more of the at least one positive electrode or the at least one negative electrode. The EA conveyor system includes a conveyor belt operable to transport the metallic container between a first position and a second position. The metallic container is held against the conveyor belt via EA generated by the EA pad during transportation. The EA conveyor system may be adjusted by a control unit of a control system based on production line information such as operational data received from sensors.

Abstract: A driver includes: a first motor located so as to rotate a driving shaft; a second motor located so as to rotate the driving shaft; and circuitry. The circuitry performs control while switching between a dual mode and a single mode. In the dual mode, the circuitry drives the first motor and the second motor together. In the single mode, the circuitry drives a drive target motor that is one of the first motor and the second motor and performs such control as to set one or more among a rotational speed, rotation acceleration, and rotation deceleration of the drive target motor to be lower than that or those in the dual mode.

Abstract: A plant (100) for producing food products, more particularly chocolate products; a module for a plant of this kind and a method for process changeover on the plant (100). The plant (100) includes a plurality of modules (10) in which the food products, preferably in product carriers (20), can be processed and/or transported. The modules (10) each have a module frame (11) with heights (12), widths (13) and lengths (14, 15, 16). The length is a multiple of a smallest module length (15). The plant preferably has modules (10) with a single smallest module length (15) and modules (10) with a length (16) of a twice the smallest module length. Preferably, the modules (10) are designed such that they can be connected or are connected to adjacent modules in the longitudinal direction, preferably on both sides.

Abstract: An article transport feeder is equipped with an article transporter removably attachable to a vibratory head of a vibration mechanism. The article transport feeder is also equipped with a fastening unit having an operation lever. The fastening unit rotates the operation lever to retainably engage the article transporter with the vibratory head by fastening. The article transport feeder is further equipped with a movable coupling member having a spindle elastically deformable. The movable coupling member is coupleable to the fastening unit and allowed to move along with the rotation of the operation lever. The spindle is elastically deformable by moving the movable coupling member along with the rotation of the operation lever of the fastening unit to elastically retain the engagement of the article transporter with the vibratory head.

Abstract: A conveyor for transferring debris that falls from an end dump conveyor to a main incline conveyor. A cleanup conveyor is attached to an end dump conveyor of a crop piler. The upper run of the cleanup conveyor is positioned below a lower run of the end dump conveyor and is adapted to receive debris that falls from the lower run of the end dump conveyor. The outer end of the cleanup conveyor is near a main incline conveyor of the crop piler to transfer the debris that falls from the lower run of the end dump conveyor to the main incline conveyor of the crop piler.

Abstract: The invention is a digitally adjustable and reversible vibrating conveyor. It provides a trough to which sinusoidal motion is applied variably and adaptably. A motor turns a shaft in an oscillating or rocking motion about its longitudinal axis. Variable settings on a controller determine the oscillation parameters for the motor. These settings particularly address three variables: the oscillation speed; the arc angle through which the oscillation proceeds, and a net angle that represents the mid-point for the oscillation relative to vertical. The invention allows for adaptation of vibrating conveyors without adjusting them mechanically, and enables reversal of load transfer direction when desired.

Abstract: A vertical packaging machine that includes a forming tube having an inner passage section and retaining means associated with the forming tube. The retaining means includes a retaining device configured to be displaced between a blocking position (P1) in which it at least partially blocks the inner passage section of the forming tube, and a release position (P2) in which it does not block said inner passage section of the forming tube. While in the blocking position (P1), the retaining device is arranged at a fixed specific height and is configured to prevent a product from passing through the inner passage section of the forming tube. Upon transitioning to the release position (P2), the retaining device is withdrawn from the path to be followed by the product.

Abstract: A manufacturing machine includes a feeding system that has first and second processing conveyors arranged in series along the processing path, and a transfer unit interposed between there-between that cyclically transfers the products from the first processing conveyor to the second processing conveyor, picking up the products in a pick-up station arranged in the area of the first processing conveyor and releasing the products in a release station arranged in the area of the second processing conveyor. The transfer unit has a plurality of trays, each having a series of seats designed to house a product, a moving system, which cyclically moves the trays between the pick-up and release stations, a first transferring and second transfer devices arranged in the pick-up station and release stations, respectively to transfer the products from the first processing conveyor to a tray, and from a tray to the second processing conveyor, respectively.

Abstract: A conveyor system and drive element for same include a chain including a plurality of links that hinge with respect to each other and a plurality of moving elements such as balls that freely move in the links. A drive element drives the chain in a conveying direction and includes an elongated body with a surface that has a plurality of planar facets arranged around the longitudinal axis of the body. The facets extend along the body and engage respective links of the chain as the body is rotated to drive the chain. Relief elements are located in each facet and are configured for receiving the moving elements of the chain links engaging the facets so the links lie generally flat on the facets when the chain is driven. Other versions of the drive element are faceted for driving a chain with links but without relief elements.

Abstract: A belt tear monitoring system for a conveyor belt includes an RFID tag embedded in the conveyor belt, and at least two conductor loops which are embedded in the conveyor belt and each closed. One of the at least two conductor loops is arranged within another one of the at least two conductor loops. The at least two conductor loops are short-circuited to one another at a short-circuit location, with the short-circuit location and the RFID tag being arranged in a region of belt edges of the conveyor belt which lie opposite one another in a longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt, and with the at least two conductor loops and the RFID tag being connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner.

Abstract: Method and machine to carry out a control on a group of articles. An initial conveyor is configured to move the articles along an initial path, which starts in an input station; a final conveyor is configured to move the articles along a final path, which is parallel and next to the initial path and ends in an output station; a control unit is configured to carry out a simultaneous control of all articles of the group of articles; a first transferring device is configured to simultaneously transfer the whole group of articles to be controlled from the initial conveyor to the control unit; and a second transferring device is configured to simultaneously transfer the whole group of articles controlled by the control unit to the final conveyor.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for setting an object conveying speed, relating to the technical field of computers. The method comprises: acquiring historical feature data of an object within multiple predefined time periods, and constructing a conveying speed level model, which indicates a corresponding relationship between the historical feature data and a conveying speed level, and which further includes a feature index that indicates the conveying speed level (S101); acquiring feature data of an object to be conveyed, and determining, by using the conveying speed level model, the conveying speed level of the object to be conveyed (S102); and determining the conveying speed of the object to be conveyed according to the conveying speed level (S103).

Abstract: Provided is a transport system to facilitate interlayer movement of a transported object. The transport system comprises: a rail device; and a transport vehicle moving in the rail device, wherein the rail device comprises: a first rail with a first inclination angle; a second rail with a second inclination angle larger than the first inclination angle; a first connection rail configured to connect the first rail to the second rail; and a rack rail installed along the first connection rail and the second rail, wherein the transport vehicle comprises: a frame; a driving wheel connected to the frame and moving the first rail, the first connection rail and the second rail; and a pinion gear connected to the frame and moving along the rack rail.

Abstract: The tail pulley and belt saver may couple to a shaft of a tail pulley in order to keep a belt of a conveyor on the tail pulley. As a non-limiting example, the end of the conveyor may comprise a non-driven pulley commonly referred to as the tail pulley. Due to excessive wear, uneven wear, misalignment, and other factors, the belt may tend to travel to one side of the tail pulley or the other. The tail pulley and belt saver may be coupled to the shaft of the tail pulley in order to keep the belt on the tail pulley. The tail pulley and belt saver may reduce damage to the belt and the tail pulley that may occur when the belt travels laterally on the tail pulley.

Abstract: An applicating machine for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers provided from an infeed includes an orienter for placing containers into a correct rotational position and a transfer device for transferring the oriented containers in a fixed rotational position to a jaw drum for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers provided.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a handrail treatment device which comprises a housing and a cylindrical base body which is arranged in the housing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. A cleaning facing is arranged on a cylinder outer surface of the base body, over which a circulating handrail of a passenger transport system can be guided for the purpose of removing dirt and germs. At least one radiation source is arranged inside the housing, which radiation source can emit germicidal electromagnetic radiation, wherein the radiation source is aligned with the base body in such a way that the cleaning facing moving continuously past the radiation source is exposed to the germicidal electromagnetic radiation of this radiation source when the base body rotates.