Abstract: A method and apparatus for singulating individual product items, such as pills, in unit-dose or multi-dose dispersing packaging that utilizes a pill-filling mechanism for reducing a large amount of bulk pills to a single-file stream of pills; a pill separation mechanism for singulating a variety of different sized and shaped pills; and a mechanism for delivering pills to a package, such as a blister-pack. Bar-code scanning and identification software may also be implemented to adjust the mechanisms to adapt the apparatus to different pills as they are presented to the apparatus.

Abstract: In a transport belt drive control device, a first detection unit has a first resolution and indirectly detects a feed amount of a transport belt, a control unit controls drive of the transport belt based on an output of the first detection unit, and a second detection unit has a second, lower resolution and directly detects the feed amount of the transport belt. The control unit is configured to switch, when an output of the second detection unit is determined as not allowing detection of a stop position of the transport belt, the direct detection of the belt feed amount by the second detection unit to the indirect detection of the belt feed amount by the first detection unit, so that the drive of the transport belt is controlled based on the output of the first detection unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an overhead conveyor of the type that comprises at least one drive carriage (13) which is drivably arranged in a girder system and from which load-holding means (18) are suspended, and where the girder system comprises an elongate straight box girder (9) having a first inner space with rails (12) for the drive carriage (13) and a second elongate inner space comprising a driven endless belt (5, 6) with means (23) to be drivingly connected to the drive carriage.(13).

Abstract: Health considerations mandate continuous and thorough cleaning of modular conveyor belts used in the food processing industry. A modular belt cleaning system is provided having a sleeve bearing slidable over a supply pipe, and having apertures for engaging nozzles in the supply pipe. A sprocket is mountable over the sleeve bearing. Depressible retainers are disclosed to permit installation and removal of a sprocket over the sleeve bearing.

Abstract: A chain module with an undulating edge has an upper conveying surface having an opening for receiving a projecting portion of an adjacent chain module. The upper conveying surface has a top edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The leading edge has first and second portions separated by the opening. The trailing edge has first and second portions separated by the projecting portion. A curved portion extends from the top edge of the conveying surface to the leading edge. The leading edge and trailing edge have alternating peaks and valleys such that the peaks on the trailing edge align with the valleys on the leading edge of an adjacent chain module. A pair of opposed first hinge eyes extends from the upper conveying surface on opposite sides of the opening, each hinge eye having a transverse pivot rod opening. A second hinge eye is disposed in the projecting portion and also has a transverse pivot rod opening.

Abstract: According to a first aspect, a first conveyor system is provided that is adapted to deliver substrate carriers within a semiconductor device manufacturing facility. The first conveyor system includes a ribbon that forms a closed loop along at least a portion of the semiconductor device manufacturing facility. The ribbon is adapted to (1) be flexible in a horizontal plane and rigid in a vertical plane; and (2) transport a plurality of substrate carriers within at least a portion of the semiconductor device manufacturing facility. Numerous other aspects are provided, as are systems, methods and computer program products in accordance with these and other aspects.

Abstract: A method and machine separates profiled elements from a plurality of profiled elements. The machine includes a structure having opposed first and second ends and opposed sides, the structure receiving profiled elements extending between the first and second ends. A first separating device more evenly distributes the profiled elements between the sides. A displacement member displaces a portion of the profiled elements away from the remainder of the profiled elements. A gripper receives the portion of the separated profiled elements, the gripper moving the separated profiled elements toward one of the sides. A second separating device disposed adjacent the first end between the portion of the separated profiled elements and the remainder of the profiled elements travels from the first end toward the second end for separating the separated profiled elements from the remainder of the profiled elements, directing the separated profiled element to one side of the structure.

Abstract: A chip discharge system with a fluid dispersing means which inhibits clogging, which has a simple structure, which can spray out a uniformly-spreading flow, and which can adjust the momentum of dispersing flow without requiring an additional device.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying and simultaneously turning objects has a first conveyor device for conveying the objects into the area of two conveyor-turning stations and a second conveyor device for conveying the objects out of the area of the conveyor-turning stations. The conveyor-turning stations have a conveyor that rotates horizontally and at least one turning device for contacting and turning the objects. The two conveyor-turning stations are used for alternate conveying of the objects along a common conveyor path. Each conveyor-turning station can be driven by its own electric motor with controllable speed. In an access area of the conveyor-turning stations, there is a device for detecting the position of the next object to be contacted and to be conveyed by the respective conveyor-turning station.

Abstract: A screw feeder can be used to transport a high temperature particulate material. A housing contains the material within the screw feeder which includes an inlet and an outlet port. A screw is rotatably positioned within the housing to advance the material from the inlet port to the outlet port, which rotates axially. A labyrinth seal can be formed around and in communication with the screw to eliminate reverse movement of the material. A cooling medium can be directed into contact with at least the housing. A fluid can be injected through the screw to prevent blockage of the particulate material. A pressure differential is created from the inlet to the outlet port of at least 0.069 MPad.

Abstract: An automatic device for handling objects comprises gripper blades attached to a guide, an actuator connected to an external connection transporting the device, and a switching mechanism. The switching mechanism alternately changes the state of the pickup device between object-engaging and object-disengaging states each time the guide reaches an end-of-travel position at an object holder. A single external axial movement is performed for both transporting the pickup device and actuating the switch and the grippers. The pickup device may include radially-gliding pierced grippers crossed by curved arms attached to the axially moving actuator. The described devices and methods may be used in object-handling robots, in particular for CD/DVD handling applications.

Abstract: Disclosed is a chain-type conveyor having a direction-changing roller capable of easily changing the orientation of an article to continuously transfer the article, without using any separate direction-changing unit at a corner part of the conveyor, in the case in which the transfer direction of the article has to be changed during the transfer of the article by a conveyor, thereby reducing a cost of the article and usefully utilizing a limited space.

Abstract: People conveyor (2) including an endless conveyor band (4) extending through an inclined portion (6), a first and a second turnaround portions (8) and a return portion (5) of an endless path and comprising a plurality of steps (10) connected to and driven by a step chain (12), the steps (10) comprising a step roller (18), the people conveyor (2) further including a step roller track (20) for guiding the step roller (18), the step roller track (20) extends along the path of the conveyor band (4) and has an inner and an outer rails (24, 22) for supporting the step roller (18), and a device (20) for restraining the step roller (18) against one of the inner and outer rails (24, 22).

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus comprises step chains which couple a plurality of steps such that the steps, and driving units which drive the chains. Each of the driving units comprises a power unit comprising a motor, and a driving machine including pulleys and belts that reduce a rotation speed of the motor so as to meet a required reduction gear ratio and transfer the rotation speed to the chains, and a pair of right and left driving mechanisms that convert a rotary movement transferred from the machine of the power unit via an eccentric shaft into a movement of rocking units, and apply a propelling force to the chains via pin rollers provided at any one of sides of the rocking units and the chains and gears provided at the other side of the rocking units and the chains to engage with the rollers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of changing the direction of motion of a pallet at an end of a transport conveyor while maintaining the pallet at a substantially constant attitude. The method comprises conveying pallets in a passenger transport direction and at a first level, conveying pallets in a return direction and at a second, different level, positively guiding a trailing end of a first pallet with respect to its direction of motion with a supporting element, and rotating the supporting element with a second pallet located immediately behind the first pallet with respect to the direction of motion, thereby moving the trailing end of the first pallet from one of the first level and the second level to the other of the first level and the second level and changing the direction of motion of the first pallet.

Abstract: A conveyor belt for use in the food processing industry includes a stainless steel substrate and nickel-boron coating material. The nickel-boron coating is applied on at least a portion of the stainless steel substrate to increase wear resistance.

Abstract: A chip components feeding apparatus is provided to be able to lessen a push load applied to a leading electronic part from succeeding electronic chip component to favorably take out the leading electronic part even in the case where a residual pressure phenomenon occurs in a conveyance passage. Since a chip component conveyance tube is provided with an ascending portion, in which an air flow based on an action of negative pressure causes electronic chip component to move climbing against dead weight, it is possible to restrict a pushing force applied to electronic chip component forwardly from those electronic chip component in the ascending portion, which are acted by dead weight, to lessen a push load applied to a leading electronic part by succeeding electronic chip component even in the case where a residual pressure phenomenon occurs in a conveyance passage including a chip component conveyance tube when the action of negative pressure is released.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a conveyor pan (110) for underground face or gate conveyors, with a pair of side parts (101) comprising cast parts which include cast vertical arms (113) extending over the height of the bottom run (106) and the top run (107), a lower cast flange arm (111) extending outwards to the rear, a cast foot flange (112) extending inwards onto whose lower side a base plate (104) is welded which closes the bottom run to the bottom, as well as on the end faces cast accepting elements (114) for the means of joining conveyor pans, and with a conveyor pan base (105) preferably comprising a rolled sheet. This has tongue like segments (109) on both long sides, which engage in cut-out slots (135) in the vertical arms (113) of the side parts (101) and are welded to them on the outer of the side parts (101).

Abstract: A mounting-waiting process for making a substrate to be transferred into a mounting process wait before the mounting process; and a substrate discharge-waiting process for making the substrate transferred from the mounting process wait before the following process are provided. When transfer of an unmounted substrate into the mounting process and transfer of a mounted substrate from the mounting process to the substrate discharge-waiting process are performed simultaneously, it is detected, by a substrate-arrival detecting sensor for detecting the mounted substrate transferred to the substrate discharge-waiting process and a substrate-continuity detecting sensor for detecting the unmounted substrate continuously transferred following to the mounted substrate, that a plurality of substrates have been transferred into the discharge-waiting process continuously.

Abstract: A tapered spline conveyor roller, and a curved conveyor roller assembly using a plurality of the tapered spline rollers. The tapered spline roller has a cylindrical barrel and an inner and an outer drive portion that is formed of a plurality of parallel, radially-disposed, tapered splines about the circumference of the barrel portion. The splines can be tapered inwardly at a taper angle toward the center of the roller, along the length of the spline, from the first end toward the second end of the roller. A belt connects and engages the tapered splines of the drive portions of adjacent rollers, for rotationally coupling the rollers. The connecting belt typically has an inner surface having spaced-apart ribs for engaging the slots disposed between the tapered splines. The tapered splines of the two drive portions of adjacent rollers is provided with a taper angle that is one-half of the angle that is formed between the centerlines of the adjacent rollers.