Abstract: An article transport facility includes a main conveyor device and induction conveyors. The main conveyor device includes belt conveyors and carriage bodies. The induction conveyor includes a first conveyor device for loading article onto a second transport path and a second conveyor device that is provided for an article-loading position on a transport path and loads the article onto the belt conveyor. The first conveyor device adjusts the timing of loading the article to the article-loading position, by controlling the timing of loading the article onto the second conveyor device. The second conveyor device adjusts, on the belt conveyors, loading position of the article loaded onto the belt conveyor by controlling the timing of loading the article onto the belt conveyor.

Abstract: Systems, devices, methods and computer program products for extendable conveyors are provided. A system includes an extendable conveyor and a separation module. The extendable conveyor is operable to convey items from an upstream side of the extendable conveyor to a downstream side of the extendable conveyor. Further, it is configured to increase the distance from the upstream side to the downstream side. The separation module is operable for conveying items towards the extendable conveyor and configured to decelerate the conveying of the items on the separation module.

Abstract: A device conveying a solid material into a radially-arranged stockpile. The device has a a trailer chassis, with at least one wheeled axle at a first end thereof and, at a second end thereof, means provided for attaching the trailer chassis to a tractor in a mobile condition and for fixed mounting in an operational condition. A stacking conveyor is mounted near the first end of the trailer chassis. A power unit for generating electrical and hydraulic power is positioned on the trailer chassis. A feed system is mounted to the trailer chassis and extends generally along the length thereof from the second end to the first end, to receive the solid material at the second end and transport the solid material to the stacking conveyor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for handling waste material, the machine comprising an upper conveyor member with a conveying portion of a first width, a downstream lower conveyor member with a receiving portion of equal or greater width and an apparatus for distributing material from the upper conveyor member to the downstream lower conveyor member, wherein the apparatus comprises oscillating means, a drive mechanism connected to the oscillating means; and a protruding element attached to the oscillating means for oscillatory movement thereof, wherein the protruding element is a reciprocating attachment adapted to oscillate in a direction transverse to the direction in which it extends, wherein the apparatus is mountable between the conveying portion of the upper conveyor member and the receiving portion of the downstream lower conveyor member such that the protruding element extends substantially in the direction of conveyance of the downstream conveyor member; and wherein in use the oscillating protrudi

Abstract: A product inspection apparatus includes a conveyor system for transporting items. The conveyor system includes a weigh conveyor with a load detector for detecting the weight of items transported on the conveyor system and a transport conveyor adjacent the weigh conveyor. The apparatus also includes a support structure with a support beam. The transport conveyor is mounted to the support beam by at least one support column externally mounted to the support beam such that vibrations are suppressed by the at least one externally mounted support column.

Abstract: A conveyor belt sanding assembly includes a panel is comprised of a rigid material. A pair of clips is each coupled to the panel and each of the clips releasably engages a paddle of a mail sorting machine thereby mounting the panel to the paddle. A sheet of sand paper is bonded to the panel and the sheet of sand paper is positioned on an opposing surface of the panel with respect to the clips. In this way the sheet of sand paper is directed toward the conveyor belt of the mail sorting machine. The sand paper abrades the conveyor belt when the paddle is moved against the conveyor belt to enhance the capacity of the conveyor belt to frictionally engage mail that is being sorted by the mail sorting machine.

Abstract: A control system for a cargo handling system is disclosed. The control system may be configured to advance larger containers at a slower speed than smaller containers. For instance, all containers may be initially advanced by the same first velocity control signal. At the expiration of a certain time period, all containers may thereafter be advanced by a different velocity control signal (from the first velocity control signal) that should least substantially maintain the velocity of the container as it existed at the time of the expiration of the noted time period. The length of the time period (for advancing the container at the first velocity control signal) may be varied based upon the size of the containers such that larger containers are accelerated for a shorter time than smaller containers and which in turn should then advance larger containers at a lower velocity compared to smaller containers.

Abstract: A board turner assembly may include an endless chain, first and second groups of turning arms pivotably coupled with the endless chain and disposed along opposite sides thereof, an upper guide with an inclined surface, an actuator selectively operable to move the upper guide between a resting position and an extended position, and one or more endless belts. The turning arms may be spaced apart at regular intervals that are offset on one side of the chain relative to the other. The groups of turning arms may be operated in an alternating fashion to turn selected boards to a desired orientation (e.g., wane side up). Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: A plant for packaging capsules comprising a main frame (20) on which is positioned a system for moving capsules (30) to make one or more capsules (12) advance along a first predetermined axial direction (A-A) from an inlet (22) to an outlet (24). The plant comprises a plurality of operating stations (200, 201, 203) for packaging a substance into a plurality of capsules (12), wherein the system for moving capsules (30) comprises a movement device that comprises a pair of sliding profiles (36) that extend along said first predetermined axial direction (A-A) and are connected to the main frame (20), a first movable frame (87, 88, 89) movable in transverse direction with respect to the first predetermined axial direction (A-A), a driving member mounted slidable on an upper movable beam (88) of the first movable frame (87, 88, 89) along said predetermined axial direction (A-A) and positioned between the pair of sliding profiles (36).

Abstract: A sensor-based monitor system for a conveyor belt station are described. A conveyor device in the conveyor belt station includes a conveyor belt that transports containers. A bracket is connected a surface of the conveyor device, a first sensor device is connected to the bracket, and a second sensor device is connected to the bracket. A conveyor controller is configured to control the motor, which causes the conveyor belt to move based on the first sensor device receiving a first light beam reflected by a corresponding first reflective surface and on the second sensor device receiving a second light beam reflected by a corresponding second reflective surface. An object, different from the containers, is detected on the conveyor belt based on the first sensor device receiving the first light beam and on the second sensor device ceasing to receive the second light beam.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor arrangement (1) for conveying a conveyed material, comprising a motor-driven conveyor roller (100), comprising a roller body (10) mounted so as to be able to rotate about a roller axis (A), a drive unit (20) arranged inside the roller body (10), coupled mechanically to the roller body (10) and an axle element (16) and designed to generate a torque between the axle element (16) and the roller body (10), a sensor function unit (40) arranged inside the roller body (10) and designed to sense a conveyed material to be conveyed by the motor-driven conveyor roller (100), and a control unit (30) that is connected to the sensor function unit (40) in order to transmit signals, wherein the control unit (30) is designed to receive a sensor signal from the sensor function unit and to transmit a control signal to the drive unit (20) depending on the sensor signal, wherein the control signal contains data for driving the motor-driven conveyor roller, in a conveyor mode, with a characteris

Abstract: A cartridge having a housing, an outer looped element affixed at least partially in a cavity that spans substantially all of a length of the housing. A movable inner looped element is mounted a roller and positioned inside the outer looped element. Panels are radially attached to the movable inner looped element such that each of the plurality of panels extends toward the outer looped element. Movable chambers defined by a space between the panels. A first opening that spans substantially all of a first side of the outer looped element. A second opening is disposed on the outer looped element proximate to a bottom end of the outer looped element providing access to outside the cartridge. A second movable door covers substantially all of the second opening and partially defining the outer looped element when the second movable door is in a second movable door closed position.

Abstract: Systems and methods monitor a conveyor system to determine whether packages are at risk of falling off or jamming. Sensor(s), such as emitters, emit signals in a direction along a longitudinal length of the conveyor system, such as parallel to a flow of packages. Additional sensor(s), such as receivers, are arranged to receive the signals. In instances where the signals are received by the receivers, the packages may be properly positioned on the conveyor system and may not be at risk of falling off and/or jamming. However, if the signals are not received, this may be indicative of the packages being improperly positioned on the conveyor system. In such instances, the conveyor system may come to a stop, may slow in speed, and/or personnel may be instructed to reposition the packages on the conveyor system.

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: The invention relates to a conveying device (1) having an accumulation area (SB) for accumulating objects (O, O1 . . . O2, Oa . . . Oj), and to an operating method for the conveying device (1). By means of a measuring device (L1), the object rear edge (KHO1) of a first object (O1) and the object front edge (KVO2) of a second object (O2) which follows the first object (O1) are detected. The position of the objects (O1, O2) is determined by means of rotation signals from the drives (M) of conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L). For the second object (O2), a continuous curve of a speed reduction of a target speed (vSoll) is calculated, wherein the calculated stop position (PStop) of the object front edge (KVO2) of the second object (O2) is located at the position of the object rear edge (KHO1) of the stopped first object (O1), or between the object front edge (KVO1) of the stopped first object (O1) and the object rear edge (KHO1) of the stopped first object (O1).

Abstract: A system (500) for distributing a stream of articles (100) at a fix pitch (P) includes a belt assembly (250) with belt segments (252) carrying a stream of articles (100), a sensor assembly (510) with sensors (512), a control system (550) interfacing with the belt assembly (250) and the sensor assembly (510), wherein the sensor assembly (510) provides measurements of initial positions of each article of the stream of articles (100) and transmits the measurements to the control system (550), wherein the control system (550) utilizes the measurements to determine deficits of the initial positions to final positions for each article based on a predefined pitch value (P), and wherein the control system (550) controls a speed of the plurality of belt segments (252) to provide the final positions for each article according to the predefined pitch value (P).

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 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 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: A linear motor conveyor system having a moving element including a first and a second magnetic element on opposite sides; a first track including a first linear motor configured to generate a dynamic magnetic field which acts on the first magnetic element to provide a first lateral force and a first longitudinal force; a second track with a transfer region positioned adjacent to the first track, the second track configured to generate a magnetic field that acts on the second magnetic element to provide a second lateral force; and a controller to control the first linear motor such that the first dynamic lateral force is configured to bias the moving element toward the first linear motor until the moving element reaches a switch point in the transfer region, where the first and second lateral forces are selectively adjusted to bias the moving element toward the second track.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor arrangement, comprising a motor-operated conveyor roller, comprising a roller body which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a roller axis, a drive unit which is arranged within the roller body and is mechanically coupled between the roller body and an axle element and is designed to generate a torque between the axle element and the roller body, and a control data interface which is connected in a signal-transmitting fashion to the drive unit. The invention is characterized by an electronic addressing model which can be coupled in a signal-transmitting fashion to the sensor and to the bus line and is designed to encode a sensor signal, which is generated by the sensor and received in the addressing module, to form a bus-encoded sensor data block which comprises a digital sensor signal data block which characterises the sensor signal and a sensor address data block, and to transmit the bus-encoded sensor data block into the bus line.