Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for a comestible loader with flatteners that pivot and translate. One of the methods includes receiving, by a comestible loader, a comestible through an opening defined in a loader frame of the comestible loader and onto a surface; and pivoting and translating a first flattener and a second flattener to a pre-press position to permit the first flattener and the second flattener to position the comestible approximately at a target position on the surface.

Abstract: A conveyor system for containers including a conveyor module configured to convey and meter a stream of containers, including a first star wheel configured to move a plurality of first containers along a first travel path, wherein the first containers each have a first geometric center, and wherein the first travel path is defined by the geometric center of the first containers, and a second star wheel configured to move a plurality of second containers along a second travel path, wherein the second containers each have a second geometric center, and wherein the second travel path is defined by the geometric center of the second containers.

Abstract: A container supplying apparatus includes a supply conveyer conveying containers and a screw engaging with the containers on the supply conveyer and conveying the containers to a downstream side. The screw is divided into an upstream screw and a downstream screw rotationally driven by different servomotors. In a case where no container is supplied to a specific bottle table of a weighing and filling apparatus, the upstream screw is decelerated and is then accelerated relative to the downstream screw. As a result, an interval of the successive containers is expanded, and a large interval is maintained therebetween. This supplies no container to the specific bottle table of the weighing and filling apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides certain additional improvements for such mechanical-type multi-axis machine tools. These improvements include: (1) permitting the spindles to be rotated about their respective axes relative to the member independently of one another, (2) providing a low-cost, and yet highly-effective, sensor apparatus for determining the angular position of the member relative to the frame without the use of an expensive encoder or the like, (3) mounting the rotatable member more precisely relative to the frame, and (4) providing a zero-backlash tool slide on the frame for imparting an action to a workpiece.

Abstract: A method for sawing metal workpieces is disclosed. The method includes: controlling the clamping jaws (8) via the machine controller (12) to clamp a workpiece placed on the sawing bench (2); inputting an offset value into the machine controller (12); advancing or retracting the clamping jaws (8) in order to move the workpiece into a zero position using the offset value, opening the clamping jaws (8), moving the clamping jaws (8) to an initial position, re-clamping the workpiece located in the zero position, the clamping jaws (8) being in their initial position, and moving the clamped workpiece from the zero position into a cutting position by way of a feeding movement, the cutting position being a position in which that point of the workpiece is located in the cutting plane (7).

Abstract: A workpiece clamp has a base with first and second sides with a cam ring rotatably coupled to the first side. The cam ring has plurality of cam slots. An actuator selectively rotates the cam ring with respect to the base. A plurality of rotary clamps, have respective shafts, cam followers assemblies, and workpiece engagement members, where the shaft extends through the base from the first to second side and rotate about an axis. The shaft has individually rotatable first and second members. The cam follower assemblies couple first and second portions of the shaft, where a cam follower is radially offset from the shaft axis and configured to engage a respective cam slot. The workpiece engagement member has a gripper member that is radially offset from the shaft axis and is configured to engage a workpiece based on a position of the cam follower in the respective cam slots.

Abstract: The invention concerns a conveyor lane divider for dividing trays that are received in one lane from an infeed conveyor and are passed on to a two-lane production unit. The conveyor lane divider has a line motion control system that can be automatically initialized when starting.

Abstract: In a transport system, a plurality of carriers are attached to an endless belt configured to rotate in a circulating manner. At a station, a hand, a driver configured to move the hand in a rotation direction and a vertical direction, a first carrier sensor configured to detect the carriers at a predetermined position upstream of the hand along the rotation direction of the endless driving medium, and a second carrier sensor configured to detect the carriers at a position downstream of the first carrier sensor are provided. When the carriers pass through the second carrier sensor, it is checked whether the moving distance of the belt matches the distance between the two carrier sensors. In this manner, before starting loading or unloading, for example, whether the encoder is operated normally or not can be confirmed.

Abstract: A manufacturing chain includes a plurality of modular manufacturing stations positioned in series and defining a forward transport direction. An article transportation device of at least one modular manufacturing station is configured to move a carrier in a reverse transport direction while an article transportation device of at least one other modular manufacturing station is driven in the forward transport direction.

Abstract: A system for handling vehicle frames. The system includes a conveyor assembly including a loading end and an unloading end, and the conveyor assembly carries a plurality of vehicle frames thereon. The system also includes a frame transfer assembly disposed at the unloading end of the conveyor assembly. The frame transfer assembly may be adapted to grasp a vehicle frame from the conveyor assembly and transfer the vehicle frame from the conveyor assembly. A vehicle frame inversion system is also provided that includes a first robotic inversion device that may include a first clamping system, and a second robotic inversion device that may include a second clamping system. The first and second clamping systems are adapted to grasp a vehicle frame, and the first and second robotic inversion devices are adapted to lift and invert the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A device for assembling electronic circuits comprises a placing station (7) for placing circuit components on a circuit carrier (1) held at a placing location (17), a fixing station (19) for fixing the circuit components to the circuit carrier (1) under the effect of heat, and a belt conveyor means (9) for conveying a circuit carrier from the placing location (17) to a take-over location (29) of the fixing station (19). The fixing station (19) comprises a heatable zone (22) and a manipulator (21) for raising the circuit carrier (1) from the take-over location (29) and placing it in the heatable zone (22). A continuous belt conveyor (9) of the belt conveyor means extends from the placing location (17) up to the take-over location (29).

Abstract: In an apparatus for making and inspecting a multi-component cigarettes, each cigarette including two or more different components arranged relative to one another, the apparatus includes a device for advancing a web in a first direction. The apparatus further includes a device for positioning at least two different components of a cigarette relative to one another on the web as the web advances in the first direction. The apparatus further includes a garniture device for wrapping the web around the at least two different components by moving opposite edges of the web transversely to the first direction such that, at a closure point in the garniture device, the opposite edges overlap each other. The apparatus further includes an imaging device disposed upstream of the closure point for generating an image of the at least two different components.