Abstract: A transport device for transporting containers having a first transport section configured to convey containers in and a second transport section configured to convey containers out. The transport device includes a transfer device having a rotary cylinder, a clamping belt and a compensation device. The clamping belt can be adjusted in the area of the transfer device. The rotary cylinder and/or the clamping belt are configured to be drivable. The rotary cylinder and the clamping belt are configured to hold the containers between the rotary cylinder and the clamping belt and to transfer them from the first transport section to the second transport section. The rotary cylinder has one or more container support rings and at least one belt support element, wherein the belt support element is arranged such that the clamping belt abuts against it when there are no containers on the transfer device.

Abstract: An article accumulating apparatus that uses a robot to transfer to a predetermined location and accumulate an article conveyed thereto is disclosed. The article accumulating apparatus includes a conveyance unit, an accumulation unit, and a discharge unit. The conveyance unit is configured to convey the article. The accumulation unit is disposed in series with the conveyance unit and is configured to accumulate the article. The discharge unit is configured to discharge the article in the conveyance unit to an area outside the accumulation unit. The discharge unit is disposed in a robot movable range that is a range in which the robot holds and transfers the article to the accumulation unit.

Abstract: A conveying and sorting apparatus has a plurality of tilting conveyor units in the conveying direction. Each tilting conveyor unit is able to swing to the left and right about a support shaft, between a horizontal conveying orientation and a tilted orientation for ejecting objects being conveyed by means of gravity. Both side edges in the left and right swinging direction are provided with side guides which restrict the width of the conveying path, and at least the side guide on the side to which the conveyor unit swings in the tilted orientation, is supported so as to be able to open in the swinging direction towards the tilted orientation with respect to the structure of the tilting conveyor unit, and is held in a standing orientation by the orientation holding means until a certain load or more is applied in to said side guide in the opening direction.

Abstract: An article container for an overhead conveying device for transporting an article includes front and rear walls, a bottom adjoining the front and rear walls, and a storage space between the front and rear walls and the bottom, in which the article is transportable. The bottom forms a first longitudinal edge, which adjoins the front wall, a second longitudinal edge, which adjoins the rear wall, spaced from the first longitudinal edge, a first end edge extending between the first and second longitudinal edges, and a second end edge extending between the first and second longitudinal edges. The article container includes a loading and/or unloading opening delimited by the front wall and rear wall and adjoining the first end edge and a side wall stop adjoining the second end edge, against which the article can be applied in a transport position.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus, comprising a drive conveying sub-apparatus. The drive conveying sub-apparatus comprises a first movable supporting film (81), a second movable supporting film (82), a first fixed supporting film (71), and a drive conveying mechanism. The first movable supporting film (81) and the second movable supporting film (82) are respectively located at both sides of the first fixed supporting film (71). The first movable supporting film (81) and the second movable supporting film (82) are both slidably connected with the drive conveying mechanism, so that the drive conveying mechanism drives the first movable supporting film (81) and the second movable supporting film (82) to move up and down and move forward and backward. The first movable supporting film (81), the second movable supporting film (82), and the first fixed supporting film (71) are all provided with grooves having sizes matched with the size of an object to be conveyed.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a lightweight roller, including: a cylindrical tube manufactured using a lightweight material; the cylindrical tube comprising a first end, a second end substantially opposite the first end, and an outer surface; and at least one end cap attached to at least one of the first end and the second end. Other aspects are described and claimed.

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 conveyance system for conveying a workpiece to each of a plurality of processing apparatuses includes a track extending over the plurality of processing apparatuses and fixed to the upper portions of the processing apparatuses; an automated conveying vehicle for traveling on the track, the automated conveying vehicle including a storage member having a housing space for housing the workpiece therein, a traveling member coupled from above to the storage member, a traveling mechanism mounted on the traveling member, a lifting and lowering mechanism mounted on the traveling member, for lifting and lowering the storage member while suspending the storage member from above, and a receiver for receiving control signals.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for an improved accumulation conveyor and systems and methods for controlling a high rate, high density tunable accumulation conveyor. In one embodiment, an accumulation conveyor system determines whether an item detection variable associated with a second zone of a plurality of zones is satisfied, wherein the second zone is downstream of a first zone. The accumulation conveyor system determines whether at least one of two operational characteristic variables is satisfied. In an instance where both the item detection variable and at least one operational characteristic variable are satisfied, the accumulation conveyor system is configured to set a zone operating state associated with the first zone to inactive and send a command signal comprising the zone operating state associated with the first zone to a control module associated with the first zone. In another embodiment, an improved method for adjusting aggressiveness is disclosed.

Abstract: A roller assembly comprises a first axle having a first inner shaft and a second axle having a second inner shaft. The roller assembly may further comprise a plurality of roller elements between the first inner shaft and the second inner shaft. The roller assembly may further comprise a roller disposed between a first tension strap and a second tensions strap.

Abstract: A composite panel tooling system may include a forming platform having a contoured surface configured to support a layup of composite material to form a contoured composite part. The system may further include a flexible carrier removably disposed on the contoured surface and comprising a frame, where the frame is configured to receive a set of double-sided vacuum grippers within a set of apertures defined within the frame, and where each double-sided vacuum gripper of the set of double-sided vacuum grippers is configured to connect to a pneumatic system to induce a vacuum on a first side of each vacuum gripper for gripping the contoured surface and on a second side of each vacuum gripper for gripping a surface of the contoured composite part after the contoured composite part has been formed.

Abstract: A transfer device and a stacker crane can stabilize the posture of a conveyed object on a placement portion in a horizontal direction even when the conveyed object is conveyed at high speed. The transfer device transfers the storage container by advancing and retreating the hand on which the storage container is placed. The transfer device is provided with a gripper that grips the storage container placed on a hand in the X direction that is the horizontal direction.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a fastener is provided for securing to an end of a conveyor belt having cables. The fastener comprises a crimp configured to be fixed to a conveyor belt cable and a connector. The connector has a unitary, one-piece fastener body with an upper portion for being disposed adjacent an upper surface of the conveyor belt end and a lower portion for being disposed adjacent a lower surface of the conveyor belt end. The upper and lower portions are spaced apart to receive the crimp therebetween and permit the conveyor belt cable to extend in an outboard direction between the upper and lower portions. The connector includes a stop arranged to block inboard movement of the crimp and the conveyor belt cable fixed thereto.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for aligning box-shaped articles of various sizes on a conveyor belt, as well as a printing station, a reading station, and a labelling station including said apparatus. The apparatus comprises an input conveyor belt operable to move transversally with respect to an output conveyor belt conveying direction, to adapt to a transverse size of a transported box-shaped article, and feed said output conveyor belt with corresponding aligned article.

Abstract: A conveyor condition monitor, for use with a conveyor comprising a plurality of trollies (12) running along a conveyor rail (14) and linked to one another by a chain link system, is disclosed. The monitor comprises a conveyor monitoring station (3) and a first deformation sensor (5a, 5b). The deformation sensor (5b) is in communication with the conveyor monitor, and is adapted to notify the conveyor monitor of the presence of a deformed (13b) trolley (12) in the conveyor.

Abstract: Systems for automatically leveling a base frame of a bulk material transport conveyor include radial travel wheels mounted on generally opposing sides of the base frame that can move from a raised position above the ground to a lowered position in contact with the ground to permit radial travel of the conveyor. Actuators normally used to raise or lower the radial travel wheels may be actuated automatically by a controller in response to a signal from an inclination and/or limit sensor mounted on the conveyor that represents a non-level orientation of the conveyor, to level the base frame.

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 grate for conveying bulk material (preferably cement clinker) in a conveying direction, which has at least two conveying means and at least one motor for advancing such conveying means in the conveying direction and for retracting the conveying means, The grate can be installed and operated at reduced costs, if a first of these conveying means is coupled via a first clutch to the motor and a second of these conveying means is coupled via a second clutch to the same motor.

Abstract: A drive belt (10; 20; 60) for a people conveyor comprises: a load bearing portion (12; 22; 62) extending in a longitudinal direction and having a length extending in the longitudinal direction and a width extending in a width direction; and a plurality of rollers (17; 27; 67) accommodated within the width of the load bearing portion (12; 22; 62). At least a part of the load bearing portion (12; 22; 62) is provided with a drive belt engagement structure (13; 23; 63). The drive belt engagement structure (13; 23; 63) in particular includes teeth (14, 25; 24), grooves (16; 26), and/or openings.

Abstract: Disclosed is an escalator system including handrail, the system having: a handrail including a handrail base and a handrail cover operationally connected to the handrail base, a first sensor disposed between the handrail base and the handrail cover and a first controller for controlling the first sensor, and wherein the first sensor processes data representing a sensed parameter, whereby the system identifies the occurrence of a trigger event and executes a first responsive measure.