Abstract: An article conveyor system for conveying a singulated row of articles includes an upstream belt conveyor, a downstream belt conveyor spaced apart from the upstream belt conveyor by an air gap, and an air conveyor bridging the air gap from the upstream belt conveyor to the downstream belt conveyor. The air conveyor receives upright articles from the upstream belt conveyor and conveys them over the air gap to the downstream belt conveyor. Tipped or fallen articles on the upstream belt conveyor are not received by the air conveyor and fall into the air gap, thereby being ejected from the article conveyor system.

Abstract: A method of forming on a moving conveyor belt an article layer formed from multiple article row sets includes capturing the article row sets between adjacent pairs of fences to stabilize the articles while forming the article layer. An article stabilizing device for carrying out the method includes a number of individually movable fences that move between standby and operating positions to capture the article rows sets.

Abstract: An air conveyor segment for conveying articles along a conveyor path includes a main air duct extending the length of the segment and a wall dividing the air duct into upper and lower air ducts. The wall includes an opening that extends the length of the main air duct. A valve assembly includes a valve member attached to the wall that opens and closed the wall opening to regulate the speed of articles being conveyed along the conveyor segment.

Abstract: A conveyor tunnel for providing a process environment for articles being conveyed through the tunnel includes a plenum that discharges process air into the tunnel. The flow of the discharged process air is directed to impinge against a portion of the article being conveyed through the tunnel.

Abstract: A system for palletizing a multi-row pattern of articles includes a pattern-forming apparatus that includes a pair of fingers movable towards and away from each other to constrain rows of articles that impact one another to form a multi-row pattern of articles. The fingers can be either be fixed along the conveyor path or move with the containers along a portion of the conveyor path.

Abstract: An adjustable curved fence assembly for a conveyor includes a curved guide fence and a number of pneumatic cylinders attached to the curved guide fence. The cylinder piston rods move between extended and retracted positions to change the radius of curvature of the curved guide fence.