Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for growing mushrooms, comprising a shelving, comprising multiple support beds for holding compost and casing soil arranged above each other, a picking platform for harvesters, the platform movable with at least a vertical directional component along the shelving and a harvesting conveyor, comprising a harvesting conveyor belt that extends at least partially along the beds and is supported by a number of guides, along which the harvesting conveyor is movable, wherein at least one of the guides is coupled to the shelving; and at least one of the guides is coupled to the picking platform and is movable together with the platform with at least a vertical directional component.

Abstract: A method for tamping media during transportation is disclosed. Multiple parallel beltsets lie between an inlet station(s) and a delivery station(s). The multiple parallel beltsets have one or more parallel belts, a motor connected to drive the beltsets, and multiple pushers attached to the belts of the beltset with the pushers of one beltset placed between the pushers of the adjacent beltset. A control module coupled to the motors accepts a set of instructions and controls tamping of the media stack during transportation. The control module varies the velocity of one of the beltsets relative to the adjacent beltset and adjusts the distance between successive pushers on the beltsets to accept media or to tamp media during transportation.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively dispensing a web from a plurality of rolls of serrated bags or layflat tubing comprises a web selector for selecting and advancing a web from the plurality of rolls; a bag driver for advancing the selected web and separating a bag from the web; and a bag transfer device for transporting the separated bag from the bag driver to a location for processing. A sealer/cutter is used to produce a bag from the layflat tubing. A method of selectively dispensing a web from a plurality of rolls of serrated bags or layflat tubing comprises selecting and advancing a web from the plurality of rolls of serrated bags; advancing the selected web and separating a bag from the web; and transporting the separated bag to a location for further processing. In the case of layflat tubing, the selected web is sealed and cut to make a bag.

Abstract: During the production of (cigarette) packs by packers (13), the pack, depending on its configuration, has printing carriers, namely coupons which may be folded a number of times, added to it. These are produced by a coupon-production device (16) in a coupon arrangement (15) and are introduced into containers, namely magazines (20), in a filling station (18). A number of these magazines, in turn, which corresponds to requirements is kept on vehicles, namely transporting carts (42, 43), in order to be fed to the packer (13). The relevant machines and subassemblies are connected to a central control unit (91) which defines the quantity of coupons which are to be produced and causes the magazines (20) and/or the transporting carts (42, 43) to be coded, with the result that the supply of the packers (13) with coupons is controlled in accordance with the batch of packs which is to be produced.

Abstract: This invention relates to an article distribution apparatus for distributing a stream of conveyed food articles from a conveyor conveying the food articles to one or more receiving stations, where two or more receiving arms are used for successively receiving and displacing the food articles from the conveyor to the one or more receiving stations. In a receiving position the first receiving arm is arranged at the end of the conveyor and forms an extension of the conveyor and the conveying path of the food articles for receiving one or more of the food articles. After receiving one or more food articles from the conveyor the first receiving arm is moved from the receiving position to the one or more receiving stations, the receiving position subsequently being replaced by the second receiving arm for receiving one or more of the subsequent food articles.

Abstract: A bidirectional sorter using an automated guide to selectively divert articles off a transverse roller-top conveyor belt. A sorting station forms a segment of a conveying line conveying articles in a conveying direction. The sorting station includes a transverse roller-top belt having rollers protruding above an outer surface of the belt. The rollers are arranged to rotate about axes in the conveyor direction to provide a low-friction rolling surface to articles being pushed sidewise on the belt. A guide suspended above the belt is positionable over the belt at positions to intercept conveyed articles and guide them atop the rollers off one side of the belt or the other. The guide is also movable to a bypass position that allows conveyed articles to pass freely through the sorting station.

Abstract: A bidirectional article pusher for a conveying system, which includes a multiplicity of spaced rollers for moving articles along a longitudinal path. There is a push up stop arranged below the conveyor and movable between adjacent rollers to a position above the rollers to stop forward movement of an article which is on the rollers. There are lateral stations, one on each side of a section of the conveying system, and lateral diverters move articles which are on the rollers and stopped by the push up stop, to a position off of the rollers and out of the longitudinal path and at a right angle to the longitudinal path. A stop activator is controlled based upon information, such as that on a bar code sort label on an article and which has been previously provided to the control device upstream of the push up stop. There are three jam detection/correction devices provided to assure proper operation. One is a proximity sensor to detect the presence of the pusher fingers while in their home position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transfer type circuit board fabricating system including a conveyor device for transferring circuit boards in a predetermined transfer direction through a component placing device for placing electronic components on the circuit boards. The conveyor device includes a pair of conveying surfaces for conveying the circuit boards and a pair of board supports for supporting one of the circuit boards. Each board support extends between and is supported by the pair of conveying surfaces. A table having a surface is situated below both the pair of conveying surfaces and the pair of board supports. A pair of deflection shields extend from and at an acute angle with respect to the surface of the table to terminate at an edge. Each edge is flush with and adjacent to one of the conveying surfaces and is also beneath the pair of board supports.

Abstract: A modular power roller conveyor is described having a conveyor section for transporting a product unit. The conveyor section comprises a number of active zones, each active zone containing means for sensing the entry of a product unit into the active zone. A programmable controller generates activation signals to a drive roller in response to the means for sensing. A plurality of carrier rollers are slaved to the drive roller within the active zone such that activation of the drive roller actuates all of the carrier rollers to drive the product unit through the active zone and into the next active zone. The programmable controller also generates a deactuation signal to deactivate the active zone as a product unit exits the zone.

Abstract: To provide for diversion of transport plates (3) being transported in a main transport path (3) to a diversion path (6) extending, for example, at right angles to the main transport path and having transport belts (7) extending along the diversion path, while rotating workpieces (2) on the workpiece carrier plates (3) so that they will always face the same direction with respect to the transport or diversion path, for example at the outside of a rectangular production line-and-bypass arrangement (FIG. 1), deflection plates (10) are formed with a groove (12) at the bottom thereof, having a straight run-on and run-off portion and a quarter-circular portion, for engagement with guide rollers (18) positioned on pins (13) and secured to the transport plates (3) so that, upon frictional engagement of the transport plates with the belts running underneath the main transport path and the bypass path (6), the plates will be deflected and rotated at the same time.

Abstract: A system for delivering and inspecting packages including an apparatus for delivering packages and an inspecting device of packages delivered from the apparatus. The apparatus for delivering packages comprises a first delivering device for receiving packages from a path of their transportation and a second delivering device for receiving the package from the first delivering device and delivering them to the inspecting device. Each of the first and second delivering devices include a package receiving member and a mechanism for changing the package receiving position of the package receiving member in accordance with the kind of the packages.

Abstract: An article selecting system for sorting and discriminating a plurality of types of articles comprising a branch path provided intermediately of a transport path which transports n-types (n.gtoreq.3) of different articles for sorting articles of the n-types into 2 types of articles and n-2 types of articles, a gauge located at a particular position on a transport path for the 2 types of articles for displacing the articles to two positions in accordance with the 2 types, and an article arrival detecting sensor and an article presence detecting sensor for indicating whether a specific article type in present. In one embodiment, two specific article types are allowed to progress along a selected path due to an overlappig coding feature of such two specific article types, while all other article types are diverted to a different path.

Abstract: A system for conveying and handling articles of different kinds comprising a main conveyor line shared among the articles of different kinds; branch lines especially for the articles of different kinds branched from the main conveyor line and merging again into the main conveyor line; and stations disposed midway of the branched lines for handling the articles of different kinds. The article is a spinning bobbin and the bobbin is conveyed to be fitted and erected on a carrier members.

Abstract: An automatic assembling apparatus includes a pair of parallel conveyers for transferring carriers, each carrier having four chassis and parts to be assembled on the chassis; a plurality of assembly stations, each having a movable table on which various assembling operations can be performed with respect to the carriers; a carrier loader associated with each assembly station and movable between a first position in opposing relation to the movable table thereof and a second position in opposing relation to the conveyers, and having a pair of chucking stations in opposing relation to the pair of parallel conveyors, respectively, when the carrier loader is at the second position for simultaneously feeding and discharging the carriers to and from the conveyers and in opposing relation to the respective assembly station when the carrier loader is at the first position for feeding and discharging the carriers to and from the respective assembly station; a plurality of stopping members associated with respective ones

Abstract: Apparatus and method for diverting articles being moved by a conveyor in a line extending along a predetermined path to at least one additional conveyor moving along at least one additional path extending from a diverting station located adjacent to the first path. A different diverting signal corresponding to each additional path can be generated, causing a diverter to switch a given article to a selected additional path. The diverters includes a plurality of engaging devices supported in spaced relation and driven in a closed path that is adjacent to the conveyor at the diverting station. The engaging devices are programmed in response to corresponding diverting signals to divert specific articles on the conveyor by enabling assemblies at an enabling station located along the closed path ahead of the diverting station. The diverting signals may be generated as each article passes a sensing station located along the predetermined path ahead of the diverting station.