Abstract: A warehousing system for storing and retrieving goods disposed in containers is provided. The system includes a multilevel storage array including an array of storage shelves for holding containers thereon, at least one substantially continuous lift for transporting containers to and from at least one level of the storage array, at least one transport vehicle located on the at least one level and configured to traverse a transport area transporting containers between the at least one continuous lift and container storage locations so that the at least one continuous lift communicates non-deterministically, via the transport vehicle, with storage locations of each of the storage shelves on the at least one level, an infeed transport system linked to the at least one continuous lift, and an order fulfillment station for generating order containers corresponding to customer orders where the order containers are entered onto the storage shelves of the storage array.

Abstract: A conveyor controller for being implemented into a conveyor system includes control circuitry and one or more network interfaces for coupling with other conveyor controllers. In one embodiment, the control circuitry configured for detecting whether a another conveyor controller is connected and to determine which network interface is used in order to set the direction of the conveyor system. In another embodiment, the control circuitry is configured, to receive configuration data from a conveyor controller connected to a network interface, and to detect if another conveyor controller is and to transmit configuration message to another conveyor controller that includes additional configuration data associated with the conveyor controller. In still another embodiment, the control circuitry transmits configuration data to a replacement conveyor controller upon getting a request from the replacement conveyor controller that has been connected to a network interface.

Abstract: An exemplary suspension member for a reciprocating conveyor has a horizontally oriented resilient spring member, two bases, and a support. The spring member has a main body, two ends, and a center with a mounting portion. Each base has a retention portion for retaining an end of the spring member. The support supports a tray disposed on top of the mounting portion and has at least one support member extending downward to engage the mounting portion.

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: An infeed apparatus includes an item manipulator that orients items such as cases in a desired orientation as determined by a build menu, and a row build apparatus that is synchronized with the manipulator to space items pursuant to the build menu. The manipulator uses a pusher to push items across a friction belt to thereby orient the items, and includes sensors for determining when an item is in an incorrect orientation. The row build receives items from the pusher and is selectively advanced to locate items in a desired relative orientation so that rows of items are built correctly.

Abstract: A device for transporting elongated metal material comprises two chain drive units with a continuous chain, which are arranged such that the elongated material is passed through between the chains with frictional contact so that the elongated material is moved; two controllable pressure units configured to apply pressure forces to the chains towards each other; at least one controllable adjusting unit which is mechanically connected to at least one of the chain drive units and which is configured to move same in a longitudinal direction of the elongated material during operation. A plant can have such a device, and a process is used for controlling such a device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a friction conveying system, comprising a friction driving unit, a clamping unit and a friction driving component, wherein the friction driving unit comprises a rotation driving component, a first connecting rod, a second connecting rod, at least one first rollers arranged on the first connecting rod, and at least one second rollers arranged on the second connecting rod, the clamping unit comprises a clamping driving component by which the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod are moved towards each other to cause the first rollers and the second rollers to clamp the friction driving component, the first rollers and/or the second rollers are drivable by the rotation driving component to rotate, causing the friction driving component clamped between the first rollers and the second rollers to move by means of frictional force.

Abstract: A slip conveyor (10) including a plurality of conveyor trays (11) that convey product (34) in the downstream direction (12). Each tray (11) is of a tubular construction and has at least one aperture (20) through which product is delivered upon angular movement of the tray (11) about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A hot glass sheet processing system includes a roller conveyor (22) having sintered bonded fused silica rollers (24) and a roller support structure (34) located within a heated location (32) together with an elongated cooling unit (36) having a housing (38) defining a cooling chamber (40) that receives and has bearings (42) that rotatably support an aligned set of roller ends (30) having end caps (86) adhesively bonded to the roller ends. The cooling unit includes a cooling circuit that supplies cooling fluid to the cooling chamber (40) to provide cooling of the aligned set of roller ends (30) and the bearings (42).

Abstract: A truss section (2) which is configured to support at least one tread element in a passenger area (30) of a passenger conveyor (15) of the type conveying passengers by moving the at least one tread element in a longitudinal direction along the passenger area (30) between a first landing and a second landing area, comprises at least two longitudinal elements (5a, 5b) extending basically parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction; and a drawer mechanism (19) including at least one moveable portion (11, 12, 13), which is slidable between an open position allowing access to a maintenance space of the conveyor (15) in the passenger area (30), and a closed position in which the moveable portion (11, 12, 13) does not allow access to the maintenance space.

Abstract: A divert chute and a sorting conveyor system having divert chutes that include an array of high-friction rollers in a landing zone to resist the cross-chute momentum of parcels diverted off the sorting conveyor at high speeds. The rollers, which protrude above a flat slide region of the chute, rotate only in a direction down the chute. Parcels sliding axially along the high-friction rollers across the chute are slowed or stopped in the cross-chute direction while being redirected down the chute.

Abstract: A holder (10) for use in a conveyor line (20) formed from a stator of a long stator linear motor with at least a first retaining element (1) and a second retaining element (2), wherein the first retaining element (1) and the second retaining element (2) are arranged side by side and spaced apart from each other in a first direction (3) and the first retaining element (1) in this first direction (3) comprises a first rigidity (S1) and the second retaining element (2) in this first direction (3) a second rigidity (S2), which is lower than the first rigidity (S1).

Abstract: The ordered food and drink conveying apparatus includes: a main belt conveyor to form a conveying path leading to a customer seat from a kitchen side of a restaurant; an auxiliary belt conveyor to be provided in extension from the main belt conveyor on the kitchen side to elongate the conveying path; and a control unit to operate the auxiliary belt conveyor and the main belt conveyor upon a conveyance start operation being performed and to convey the dish of the food and drink placed on the auxiliary belt conveyor to the customer seat, the control unit setting the auxiliary belt conveyor in a stop state enabling placement of the dish to be conveyed next on the auxiliary belt conveyor before stopping the main belt conveyor upon the dish being transferred onto the main belt conveyor from the auxiliary belt conveyor by performing the conveyance start operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary hopper feeder (10) for conveying and separating elements (20) which have at least one shaft, comprising a rotary feeder (18) with radially oriented conveyor cells (22) for conveying the elements (20), said rotary feeder (18) being at least partially surrounded by a hopper wall (14). The invention is characterized in that said conveyor cells (22) have holes (23) at the cell edges (18) and below the rotary feeders (18), near the holes (23), a rolling surface (28) is provided on which at least parts of the shafts of the elements (20) with shafts are supported and made to roll as they are conveyed.

Abstract: Stub shaft conveyor pulleys that may be used as a tail pulley and/or head pulley in a belt conveyor system are disclosed. The conveyor pulley includes first and second stub shaft assemblies connected to a center tube. Each stub shaft assembly includes an inner bearing and an outer bearing. In some embodiments, the outer bearing has a diameter larger than the inner bearing. Alternatively or in addition, the inner bearing may be within the center tube and the outer bearing may be exterior to the center tube.

Abstract: An inventory management system includes a first robotic device and a second robotic device. The first robotic device includes a first conveyor removably docked with a first head of the first robotic device. The second robotic device includes a second conveyor removably docked with a second head of the second robotic device. The first robotic device includes a first conveyor controller that communicates conveyor control signals to a second conveyor controller of the second robotic device. The conveyor control signals specify operations to activate the second motor of the second conveyor.

Abstract: A clearing apparatus for removing bulk materials from an area with a low vertical clearance including an operator vehicle and an auger conveyor coupled to the operator vehicle. The auger conveyor is pivotable vertically in relation to the operator vehicle and rotatable substantially 90 degrees about a vertical axis of the auger conveyor, whereby the direction of rotation of the auger and the direction and pitch of the auger thread conveys material from the area with low vertical clearance toward the operator vehicle.

Abstract: A safety chain for conveyor pallets may comprise bent links arranged in alternating fashion with straight links. Each of the bent links may have two ends with a wheel disposed at each end. Each consecutive bent link and straight link may be joined at an articulation point. The safety chain may also comprise arms extending from each articulation point, wherein a conveyor pallet may be coupled to each arm. Further, roller guides that follow a trajectory of the safety chain may be arranged on one of two sides of the safety chain. The roller guides may rotate the wheels of the bent links. The articulation points enable rotation and position change of the bent links and the straight links so as to increase or decrease a distance between consecutive conveyor pallets according to a change of speed of a conveyor.

Abstract: A pickface builder for a storage and retrieval system for storing goods units and having an in-feed conveyor and a picking device, each goods unit holding at least one product package therein, the pickface builder including a frame, a pusher member movably coupled to the frame, and a snugger member movably coupled to the frame, wherein the pickface builder is configured to receive goods units from the in-feed conveyor and the pusher member and snugger member are movable at least in a direction transverse to a direction of goods unit travel on the in-feed conveyor and configured to form the goods units into a pickface picked by the picking device as a unit and having a predetermined reference datum relating the pickface to a placement position of goods units forming the pickface along a storage surface of the storage and retrieval system.

Abstract: A container treatment plant and a method for displacing an element of a valve or a diverting unit of a container treatment plant. The container treatment plant comprises at least one element for treating containers. The element is part of a valve or a diverting unit. The container treatment plant also comprises a displacing unit for displacing the element between a first position and a second position, wherein the displacing unit comprises a magnetically operating actuator such that a rotary motion caused by the actuator displaces the element with the aid of a mechanism between its first and second positions.