Abstract: A method for removing a piece good from a conveying means of a sorting system, includes the steps generating image data by means of a camera arranged on a conveyor line; by means of a controller, detecting a piece good not placed completely in the cell area on the conveying means on the basis of the image data generated; generating a blowoff command for a blowoff device arranged on the conveyor line, wherein the blowoff command is generated while considering a time of the generation of the image data, a conveying speed of the conveying means, and an arrangement of the camera, the conveyor line and the blowoff device relative to one another; and by means of the blowoff device, blowing off the piece good not placed completely in the cell area on the conveying means on the basis of the blowoff command.

Abstract: Improved carrier plates and methods of use thereof are provided to secure and transport individual layers of a multilayer structure during manufacture of the multilayer structure. In one implementation a carrier plate is provided including a lower portion and a raised portion to support a flexible substrate holding an individual layer laid on an upper surface of the raised portion. Clamping mechanisms, such as rollers, are formed on extended regions adjacent to side walls of the raised portion. The clamping mechanisms are configured to move from open positions, where the clamping mechanisms are spaced apart from the sidewalls of the raised portion, to closed positions, where the clamping mechanisms secure opposite edge portions of the flexible substrate between the clamping mechanisms and the first and sidewalls of the raised portion.

Abstract: A vertical transmission equipment includes a base having a mount surface, a rail structure disposed on the mount surface, and a carrier movably disposed on the rail structure, the carrier includes a supporting surface, and the supporting surface of the carrier is perpendicular to the mount surface of the base.

Abstract: A transport unit for moving articles along a conveyor from a first station to a second station is presented. The unit includes a first conveyor segment having entry lanes separated from each other, a second conveyor segment downstream of the first conveyor segment to receive the articles from the first segment and having exit lanes separated from each other, in a number equal to the entry lanes, and a switching device, interposed between the first conveyor segment and the second conveyor segment. The switching device is movable between a first operating configuration, where each entry lane is in communication with a respective exit lane, and at least one second operating configuration, where at least one entry lane is selectively put in communication with an exit lane different from the exit lane with which the at least one entry lane communicates in the first operating configuration.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a chute liner for mounting on a shelf of a material transfer chute. The shelf has at least one locking formation aperture formed therein. The chute liner has a base for mounting on the shelf. The base has an operatively upper surface that comes into contact with material passing through the chute and an opposed operatively lower surface. The base has at least one mounting formation that depends from the operatively lower surface of the base that defines a passage which in use is passed through the locking formation aperture in the shelf. The chute liner also has a locking member passed through the passage until it operatively engages the mounting formation to lock the base to the shelf.

Abstract: A temporary storage and reflow frame substrate system includes a substrate frame, a substrate loading and unloading station, a first conveying unit, and a second conveying unit. The substrate frame is suitable for loading the substrate. The substrate loading and unloading station includes a robotic arm, a feeding and discharging unit and a returning unit, the substrate frame is suitable for connecting to the feeding and discharging unit and the returning unit, the robotic arm is suitable to place the substrate into or remove the substrate from the substrate frame. The first conveying unit is connected to the feeding and discharging unit and is suitable for conveying the substrate frame. The second conveying unit is connected between the first conveying unit and the returning unit, in order to return the substrate frame to the returning unit, thereby loading and unloading the substrate at the substrate loading and unloading station.

Abstract: A system includes a pump configured to transfer a granular material out of a hopper into a transfer pipe. The pump includes an upstream portion having an upstream helical flight and a downstream portion having a downstream helical flight. The downstream portion includes a tailpiece. An outer diameter of the downstream helical flight is less than an outer diameter of the upstream helical flight, a gap between the outer diameter of the downstream helical flight and an auger housing is greater than a gap between the outer diameter of the upstream helical flight and the auger housing, a thickness of the downstream helical flight is less than a thickness of the upstream helical flight, a surface of the downstream portion has a lesser coefficient of friction than a surface of the upstream portion, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying a welding tip of a welder and an apparatus for replacing the same include a fixed bracket secured to a support. The apparatus includes an actuator coupled to the fixed bracket and a first moving member moved by the actuator. A second moving member is coupled to the first moving member and hingedly coupled to the fixed bracket. A third moving member is hingedly coupled to the second moving member. A first welding tip removal member is coupled to the third moving member to separate a welding tip coupled to a shank. A fourth moving member is disposed opposite to the first moving member. A fifth moving member is coupled to the fourth moving member and hingedly coupled to the fixed bracket. A sixth moving member is coupled to the fifth moving member. A second welding tip removal member is coupled to the sixth moving member.

Abstract: This invention provides framework for supporting a plurality of conveyor idlers, mounted on central risers and end risers, and a method for constructing the same. A center section comprises, an upper component having a downwardly oriented channel with a sidewalls. It includes a first pair of central riser tabs folded upwardly from the top surface. The center section also comprises a lower component having an upwardly oriented channel with sidewalls. It includes a second pair of central riser tabs folded upwardly from the top surface. The upper component is sized and arranged to nest within the lower component and the first pair of central riser tabs overlap on the second pair of central riser tabs. A pair of end risers are mounted at each opposing ends of the center section, formed from sheet metal, and affixed to the opposing ends of the center section.

Abstract: A pneumatic transport system for histological samples includes a transport tube within which a carrier containing samples is transported. A station for loading/unloading the samples into/from the carrier is arranged at one tube end. When the carrier is arriving at the station, a blower of the system is deactivated and the carrier is braked, allowing stopping within the station against a stop member. Thereafter, a motor imparts, via the stop member, rotation to said carrier until a carrier door is at an angular position substantially corresponding to an angular position of a station door. Thereafter, the carrier is stopped and the doors are opened by an actuator, this enabling activation of an operating cycle of loading/unloading of the samples. Upon completion, the doors are closed, a carrier locking device is deactivated and the blower is activated, allowing departure of the carrier from the station and its transport within the tube.

Abstract: A method to set up at least one moveable operating member of an automatic machine for manufacturing consumer articles and comprising the steps of defining a first motion profile of the movable operating member and defining a corresponding second motion profile of an electric actuator system, which moves the moveable operating member with the first motion profile. The method calls for the further steps of: determining possible imperfections in the processing of the articles caused by the movable operating member; correcting, by means of an interface device and on the basis of the possible imperfections, the first motion profile, thus obtaining a first changed profile of the moveable operating member; and calculating, through a control unit, a reverse kinematics of the first changed profile so as to obtain a corresponding second changed profile to be commanded to the electric actuator system.

Abstract: A pressure and vacuum generating module for a carrier transport system includes a combined blower, air chamber and rotating valve module which alternately couples a pressure chamber and a vacuum chamber to the carrier transport system, creating high or low pressure regions which move a transport carrier. The valve repositions a baffle which blocks one or the other of the chambers, or both chambers, the latter for breaking and landing of the carrier. With a chassis that includes the blower motor, air chamber and valve, the module is adapted for new construction as well as for retrofitting and replacing older legacy blower modules.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying a welding tip of a welder and an apparatus for replacing the same include a fixed bracket secured to a support. The apparatus includes an actuator coupled to the fixed bracket and a first moving member moved by the actuator. A second moving member is coupled to the first moving member and hingedly coupled to the fixed bracket. A third moving member is hingedly coupled to the second moving member. A first welding tip removal member is coupled to the third moving member to separate a welding tip coupled to a shank. A fourth moving member is disposed opposite to the first moving member. A fifth moving member is coupled to the fourth moving member and hingedly coupled to the fixed bracket. A sixth moving member is coupled to the fifth moving member. A second welding tip removal member is coupled to the sixth moving member.

Abstract: A diversion assembly for use with a feed material. The diversion assembly includes a plurality of movable gate chutes, a first conveyor, and a second conveyor. The plurality of movable gate chutes are each positionable in a retracted position and an extended position. The first conveyor is configured to carry, for each of any of the plurality of movable gate chutes in the retracted position, a first portion of the feed material to a first area. The second conveyor is configured to carry, for each of any of the plurality of movable gate chutes in the extended position, a second portion of the feed material to a second area. The second area is spaced apart from the first area.

Abstract: A receptacle delivery system that includes a rail extending between first and second locations of an instrument and a carriage configured to move on the rail between the first and second locations of the instrument. The carriage includes a bracket having opposed first and second sidewalls and a base extending between the first and second sidewalls, where the carriage is configured to support a receptacle. The carriage further includes a pair of opposed support pads, where the pair of support pads are configured to (a) move toward a receptacle supported by the carriage as the carriage moves from the first location toward the second location, and (b) move away from a receptacle supported by the carriage as the carriage moves from the second location toward the first location. The carriage also includes a pair of meshed cam gears rotatably coupled to the first sidewall, where each cam gear is coupled to a different one of the support pads.

Abstract: Embodiments include a parcel processing system and methods for operating the same. The parcel processing system includes a collector configured to receive a flow of parcels and a slug accumulation system configured to receive the flow of parcels and produce a normalized bulk flow of parcels. The parcel processing system also includes a bulk transport conveyor configured to receive the normalized bulk flow of parcels and a singulator configured to receive the normalized bulk flow of parcels from the bulk transport conveyor. The normalized bulk flow of parcels is a flow of parcels having an approximately constant parcel density traveling at a fixed speed.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus for tablet products produced by a tableting apparatus having a sliding base and a conveying mechanism, which runs over the sliding base and has a pockets for the separated products, the pockets being open in relation to the sliding base and being movable by the conveying mechanism in a conveying direction over the sliding base, the conveying apparatus includes a discharge device having an aperture, which is provided in the sliding base and encompasses a discharge portion of the conveying path, and having a movable discharge base, which is assigned to the aperture and has at least one closed base region for closing the discharge portion and at least one open through-passage region for giving the discharge portion free, wherein the movement direction of the discharge base for optionally closing or freeing the discharge portion is essentially the same as the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism.

Abstract: A receptacle delivery system includes a carriage configured to move from a first to a second location of an instrument. The carriage may be configured to removably support a receptacle and may include a receptacle clamping mechanism. The receptacle mechanism may be configured to apply a clamping force to the receptacle as the carriage moves from the first to the second location and release the clamping force as the carriage moves from the second to the first location.

Abstract: A receptacle-supporting puck includes spring-biased fingers arranged about a vertical axis, each finger having a contact surface to contact a receptacle seated in the puck. A supporting disc of the puck includes a disc sidewall projecting from a base and defining a pocket for seating a receptacle, first cavities in the base extending toward the vertical axis, and a puck passageway extending through opposed portions of the disc sidewall transversely to and offset from the vertical axis. Each finger is rotatably coupled to the supporting disc at a corresponding first cavity. A synchronization disc is positioned in the pocket, and each of the fingers is coupled to the synchronization disc such that the contact surfaces of the fingers move synchronously toward and away from the vertical axis. A retaining ring couples the fingers, the supporting disc, and the synchronization disc together.

Abstract: A method of delivering a receptacle to an instrument includes the steps of supporting a receptacle containing a fluid on a carrier, transporting the carrier supporting the receptacle on a conveyor extending adjacent to each of a plurality of instruments, transferring the receptacle from the carrier to a puck supported on a carriage when the carriage is positioned at a first location, moving the carriage with the receptacle seated in the puck from the first location to a second location within an instrument of the plurality of instruments, and drawing at least a portion of the fluid from the receptacle seated in the puck into a tip associated with a fluid extraction device of the instrument when the carriage is positioned at the second location.