Abstract: Elongate workpieces are transported in a transport direction and assembled to a string in the transport direction. A leading elongate workpiece is removed from the string and accelerated in a downstream discharge device such that a gap is formed between the leading elongate workpiece and a following elongate workpiece of the string. A stop is moved into the gap and prevents the following elongate workpiece of the string from being transported farther. The stop is removed when the leading elongate workpiece has left the discharge device and then the following elongate workpiece is removed from the string.

Abstract: A feeding device for feeding stacks of standing flat-folded cartons to a receiving station, comprising a conveyor track having a flat bearing plane adapted to support the stacks, where the conveyor track comprises at least two rows of teeth where each row of teeth comprises a plurality of spaced apart teeth adapted to support the stacks of flat-folded cartons, where the teeth can be positioned in either an erected position or in a folded position, and where the feeding device comprises a guide track arranged along the bearing plane adapted to hold the teeth in the selected position, and where the guide track ends at an end region of the conveyor track, such that the teeth are unsupported at the end region. The advantage of the invention is that stacks of flat-folded cartons can be merged continuously at an outfeed region.

Abstract: A circulating conveyor may comprise: a first conveying line and a second conveying line, wherein both the first conveying line and the second conveying line have a loading position and an unloading position at the two ends and clamps may be circularly conveyed between the first conveying line and the second conveying line in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction; and a circulating adapter. The circulating adapter may comprise a first circulating adapter and a second circulating adapter arranged in pairs at both the loading position and the unloading position, wherein the first circulating adapter and the second circulating adapter may be used for conveying the clamps between the first conveying line and the second conveying line.

Abstract: Present embodiments relate to a tie plate dispenser which selectively changes the orientation of the tie plates being ejected, if needed. An actuator is used to flip the tie plate as it falls from an ejection location of the dispenser.

Abstract: Replacement cleaning blades offering flexibility to be installed onto a variety of differently configured conveyor belt cleaning systems. The replacement cleaning blades are suitable for mounting frames having varied through-hole patterns as well as mounting frames that are devoid of any attachment through-holes.

Abstract: A lift gate apparatus includes a movable conveyor device and a bracket. The movable conveyor device is configured to transition between a conveying position and a non-conveying position. The bracket configured to bridge a gap between the movable conveyor device and a fixed conveyor device, wherein the bracket pivots and slides over the fixed conveyor device when the movable conveyor device is transitioned from the conveying position to the non-conveying position.

Abstract: An efficient transplanting device with an automatic seedling pick-up and supplementation function includes a seedling pick-up device, a seedling discharging device, and a seedling supplementation device. The seedling discharging device is used to discharge plug seedlings for transplantation; the seedling pick-up device is used to transfer the plug seedlings and the seedling supplementation device is used to supplement the plug seeding. A seedling pick-up photoelectric sensor, a detection camera, and a controller are provided for the operations of plug seedling pick-up, supplementation and discharge of the plug seedlings.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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 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 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 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.