Abstract: A product transfer apparatus for transferring product between a horizontal form, fill, and seal machine and a cartoner machine is provided. The product transfer apparatus includes an electromagnetic motor table configured to define a plurality of pre-selected zones and a plurality of moving elements configured to float over a surface of the electromagnetic motor table and move between one or more of the pre-selected zones. The product transfer apparatus further includes a product delivery device configured to deposit one or more products in a pre-selected common orientation, relative to a longitudinal axis of the product transfer apparatus, onto one or more moving elements of the plurality of moving elements, respectively, at a first pre-selected zone of the plurality of pre-selected zones such that each of the one or more moving elements receives a single product from the product delivery device in the pre-selected common orientation at the first pre-selected zone.

Abstract: A product transfer apparatus for transferring product between a horizontal form, fill, and seal machine and a cartoner machine is provided. The product transfer apparatus includes an electromagnetic motor table configured to define a plurality of pre-selected zones and a plurality of moving elements configured to float over a surface of the electromagnetic motor table and move between one or more of the pre-selected zones. The product transfer apparatus further includes a product delivery device configured to deposit one or more products in a pre-selected common orientation, relative to a longitudinal axis of the product transfer apparatus, onto one or more moving elements of the plurality of moving elements, respectively, at a first pre-selected zone of the plurality of pre-selected zones such that each of the one or more moving elements receives a single product from the product delivery device in the pre-selected common orientation at the first pre-selected zone.

Abstract: A gantry assembly and appurtenances therefor for a linear motor driven laser cutting machine. The gantry box is made of honey comb construction characterized by high strength, light weigh, high stiffness to weight ratio and vibration absorption. The gantry box is supported at each of its ends on a linear motor driven carriage by a torsion plate. The torsion plates are exteriorly flanked by protective panels which support a light weight cover for the upper part of the gantry assembly. The beam end of the gantry box is additionally attached to its gantry carriage by a snubber pin-snubber bushing assembly and by a gantry pin-carriage pin-link assembly. These last two assemblies, together with the torsion plates and gantry carriages, limit or restrain certain movements of the gantry box. The laser cutting machine is controlled by a high performance multi-axis motion controller.