Abstract: Disclosed is a detector for detecting a product flow on a conveyor, including a base, to be fixed at a side of the conveyor, a pendulum, fixed to the based with a rotation to an axis, the pendulum rotating when products are pushed against it, a sensor, for detecting the position of the pendulum. The pendulum includes at an end thereof a contact unit having a flat plate shape, with a non-metallic surface for contacting the products.

Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure include a rigid tray container and methods and equipment for using the rigid tray container in batched process operations. In one embodiment, a mass container is sized and dimensioned to receive one or several rigid tray containers. In other embodiments, equipment is configured to lid/unlid, secure, stack, load/unload, and buffer rigid tray containers. In other embodiments, equipment is configured to stack and stage mass containers. In some embodiments, methods are provided for batch processing items.

Abstract: A lane divider system includes a guide rail and a bracket for connecting the guide rail to a flow bed. The guide rail can be tubular, with a proximal end of a bracket inserted into each end of the tube. A flexible, compressible sleeve can be installed at each end of the tube where the proximal end of the bracket, are inserted into the tube. The tube and bracket being inserted should be closely dimensioned to fit securely. By providing a compliant sleeve, the security of the connection with the tube can be enhanced.

Abstract: An aligning and conveying apparatus includes a rotating disk having a bottom wall, a first ring having a first circumferential wall, a second ring having a second circumferential wall. First and second conveying parts are respectively provided in upper parts of the first and second circumferential walls. In the rotating disk and the first ring, the bottom wall is positioned lower than the first conveying part to form a retaining space for retaining preparations inside the first ring. The respective rotational axes are relatively inclined such that the preparations move from the bottom wall to the first conveying part at a first delivery position. In the first and second rings, the first conveying part is positioned lower than the second conveying part, and the respective rotational axes are relatively inclined such that the preparations move from the first conveying part to the second conveying part at a second delivery position.

Abstract: A gearbox below a grain bin floor can have a shift coupling movable between a drive position and a neutral position. A control rod can be axially movable between a corresponding drive position and a corresponding neutral position. A pair of biasing members can be operably positioned between the control rod and the shift coupling to bias the shift coupling in opposite directions. The opposite biasing forces of the biasing members can act against each other to bias the control rod into the neutral positioning recess to retain the external shift coupling and the control rod in the neutral position and the corresponding neutral position, respectively. The opposite biasing force of the biasing members can bias the control rod into the drive positioning recess to retain the external shift coupling and the control rod in the drive position and the corresponding drive position, respectively.

Abstract: A conveyor for transporting a board along a path in a transport direction has an upstream section, a downstream section aligned with the upstream section and defining therewith a horizontal support plane, and a center section between the upstream and downstream sections. The center section is movable from a pass-through position aligned and level with the upstream and downstream sections to an offset position spaced therefrom horizontally or vertically. A platform underneath the center section is moveable vertically, and a lift moves the platform vertically between upper and lower positions. Hooks or grab can, when the center section is in the offset position and the platform is in the lower position, either pull a board off the platform and onto the downstream section or guide and deposit a board from the upstream section onto the platform.

Abstract: An extendible conveyor system having an extendible conveyor configured to extend into a container, at least one belt on the extendible conveyor configured to transport an irregular parcel from the container to a base end of the extendible conveyor, and a transfer mechanism configured to move the irregular parcel from the at least one belt to a shelf. A method includes transporting an irregular parcel on the at least one belt from the container to a base end of the extendible conveyor and moving the irregular parcel from the at least one belt to a shelf using the transfer mechanism.

Abstract: A weigh hopper assembly including a plurality of adjacently aligned weigh hoppers connected via a frame, and longitudinal conveyor mechanism extending along a top portion of the weigh hopper assembly. Each weigh hopper has independent load cells in order to individually weigh the material discharged into the weigh hopper. The conveyor mechanism includes a plurality of gates along a bottom surface of the conveyor mechanism, each gate being aligned with a corresponding weigh hopper of the plurality of weigh hoppers. The conveyor mechanism is in turn connected to a plurality of product bins. A top portion of the conveyor mechanism is in communication with a plurality of product bins via a series of inlet chutes and gates. The weigh hoppers are aligned adjacent to each other and spaced so that each weigh hopper aligns with the transport vehicle.

Abstract: A conveying system for shock-sensitive items, in particular eggs, comprises a plurality of conveying devices in which the items are transferred from one conveying device to another. More particularly, the items are transferred from a conveying device oriented in a substantially horizontal direction to an adjacent conveying device oriented in a substantially vertical direction, without the risk of being damaged. The advancing movement of the conveying device having a substantially horizontal orientation is not movement at constant speed but, on the contrary, it is a movement at variable speed, sometimes accelerated and sometimes decelerated, and the transfer of the conveyed item from the conveying device to the conveying device having a substantially vertical orientation takes place when the advancement speed of the conveying device having a substantially horizontal orientation is at its minimum value.

Abstract: A lane divider system includes a guide rail and a lane divider bracket for connecting the guide rail to the loading and unloading ends of a flow bed. The guide rail can be tubular, with a proximal end of the bracket inserted into each end of the tube. Retention devices for releasably securing the distal ends of brackets to the loading and unloading ends of the flow bed can include a pin, inserted through an opening in the distal end of the bracket, beneath where the bracket is inserted through the flow bed. Preferred pins can include a handle portion for inserting and pulling the pin out of the opening in the locking structure, such as a split cotter pin, resilient projection, spring clip and the like, to resist the unintentional withdrawal of the pin from the end of the lane divider.

Abstract: A method of conveying articles includes moving a first plurality of articles in a first input lane and a moving second plurality of articles in a second input lane in a downstream direction to a lane combiner, and operating the lane combiner to combine the first plurality of articles and the second plurality of articles into a combined plurality of articles in an output lane. The operating the lane combiner includes engaging a first article from the first plurality of articles with a first combiner wheel, engaging a second article from the second plurality of articles with a second combiner wheel that is out of phase with the first combiner wheel, rotating the first combiner wheel and the second combiner wheel to move the first article and then the second article into the output lane, the combined plurality of articles includes the first article and the second article in sequence.

Abstract: A machine for conveying containers may include a guide, a main carriage for transporting containers slidably mounted on the guide, an auxiliary carriage slidably mounted on the guide, a plate for supporting a container mounted on the main carriage and able to rotate about an axis of the container, an actuator connected to the plate and configured to set the plate in rotation about the axis of the container, a control unit electrically connected to the guide and configured for controlling the sliding of the main carriage and the auxiliary carriage on the guide and a mutual distance thereof. The actuator may include a connecting rod and a crank connected to one another and interposed. The control unit varies the mutual distance between the main carriage and the auxiliary carriage so as to activate the connecting rod and the crank and consequently move the plate.

Abstract: A transport bag for the hanging transportation of goods by a transport device extending in a transport direction, the transport bag having a rear wall oriented in a transverse direction to the transport direction and a front wall oriented in a transverse direction to the transport direction, which are moveably connected to one another at an upper bag end and a lower bag end in such a way that the front wall can move relative to the rear wall between a filling position in which same is at a first distance to the rear wall, and an empty position in which same is at a second distance to the rear wall, which second distance is smaller than the first distance, and which transport bag can be connected in a hanging manner to the transport device by a connection means attached at the top on the rear wall.

Abstract: A container-treatment machine comprises first and second motors, a bearing device, a ring gear, and a gyroscope that rotates about a rotation axis and receives containers. The motors are arranged in corresponding first and second columns and couple to corresponding first and second pinions. They are fixed relative to the bearing device. The ring gear is mounted on the bearing device and includes a circular tooth arrangement that meshes with the pinions. The pinions are arranged at a distance from one another along a circumferential direction of the tooth arrangement.

Abstract: Devices for separating piece goods such as pharmaceutical product packages to be stored in a picking device are provided. The device includes a feed device for piece goods, a recording device for recording 3D images of piece goods, a control device for evaluating 3D images and for determining a piece good to be picked, a conveyor for picking a piece good, a deposit surface, and a lateral recording device. The control device is configured so that the orientation of the picked piece good is ascertained and the preferred storage surface is established and that the conveyor is activated in such a way that a picked piece good is situated on a preferred storage surface on the deposit surface. Methods of separating piece goods to be stored in a picking device are also provided.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for dynamically configurable articulating surfaces for mobile carrier units. In one embodiment, an example mobile carrier unit may include a number of tiles that form a surface on which to receive an object, the tiles including a first tile in a first row and a second tile in a first column. The mobile carrier unit may include a first actuator coupled to the first tile and configured to actuate the first tile in a first direction, and a second actuator coupled to the second tile and configured to actuate the second tile in a second direction. A portion of the tiles may be configured to be actuated into angled orientations at or near a perimeter of the object, such that the object is prevented from sliding along the surface past the tiles.

Abstract: A component supply device including a component storage device that stores a plurality of components, a component support member on which the components from the component storage device are dispersed, and a component return device that returns the components on the component support member to the component storage device, is provided. In a case where the necessary number of components exceeds the number of holdable components, return work of the components to the component container and dispersal work of the components to the component support section are carried out prior to holding the components from the component support section by the component holding tool.

Abstract: A conveying and sorting apparatus has tilting motors which switch tilting conveyor units which are supported so as to be able to swing about a support shaft that is parallel with the conveying direction, between a horizontal conveying orientation and a tilted orientation; and a conveyor driving motor which drives the conveying conveyors and that are provided to the tilting conveyor units. The support shaft has a single interlocking transmission shaft having a length which covers the entire area of the plurality of tilting conveyor units. The conveying conveyors of each tilting conveyor unit are interconnected by the interlocking transmission shaft. One conveyor driving motor is provided for the plurality of tilting conveyor units supported by the interlocking transmission shaft. This single conveyor driving motor drives the conveying conveyors via the interlocking transmission shaft.

Abstract: A conveyor system for processing items, such as manufacturers' products or boxes, from a three-dimensional arrangement to a two-dimensional arrangement includes inclined and declined conveyors. The inclined conveyor may include vacuum through perforations in the belt. A collimating conveyor includes parallel belts that operate at different speeds to space the items longitudinally apart and then align the items against sidewalls.

Abstract: The subject disclosure includes structure for easily and reliably connecting and disconnecting first and second ends of an agricultural harvester draper belt. A unitary hairpin connecting bar enables connection of adjacent flanges of the first and second ends of the draper belt. A plurality of connecting bar pairs provide connection of adjacent flanges of the first and second ends of the draper belt when the flanges are arranged in an angled, stepped or staggered pattern. A flexible connecting bar pair provides connection to flanges at the first and second ends of the draper belt that extend at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the leading edge of the draper belt.