Abstract: A method, electromagnetic switch, controller and program product, when energizing an electromagnetic coil to urge a selected shoe into a diverting path downstream of the electromagnetic switch, reverse current flow during at least a portion of the time that the electromagnetic coil is energized to recover energy from the electromagnetic coil.

Abstract: An overhead conveyor system with an elongate box girder (9) having a first inner space with rails (12) and a second elongate inner space comprising an endless driven drive element (5, 6) is provided with at least one carrier (14, 14?) adapted to run on said rails (12) wherein said carrier is provided with an elongated body (C) supporting at least one friction driver (15), wherein said at least one friction driver is in the form of a friction arm assembly (19) with an upper end (20), a lower end (21) and an intermediate portion (22) between said upper and lower ends, said upper end comprising a friction shoe (25) adapted to be pressed upwards by the force of gravity towards engagement with the drive element (5) so as to transfer drive to the carrier.

Abstract: A singulator is provided for orienting, sorting and conveying at least one rail fastener, from a bulk supply of such fasteners, and includes a frame defining a lower end and an upper end. A plurality of transverse magnet bars is connected to an endless conveyor system disposed on the frame to move from the lower end to the upper end. A ramp is disposed on the frame, has an underside facing the magnet bars, and an opposite sorting surface opposite the underside and receiving the fasteners. At least one deflector assembly is associated with the ramp and is constructed and arranged for sorting fasteners drawn along the ramp by the magnet bars from the lower end to the upper end so that single fasteners are delivered at the upper end.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveying device having a first and a second conveyor belt and a moveable turnout which directs a flow of products onto the first and/or second conveyor belt.

Abstract: A sheet guiding apparatus, including: a supporting member having a supporting surface which supports a sheet; a first electrode provided in the supporting member; an electric field generating portion configured to generate an electric field between the supporting surface and the first electrode; a guide member which is distant from the supporting surface by a predetermined distance in a direction perpendicular to the supporting surface; a moving portion configured to move the sheet supported by the supporting surface by moving at least one of the supporting member and the guide member relatively to each other in a direction parallel to the supporting surface; and an electric field inverting portion configured to invert a direction of the electric field generated by the electric field generating portion, when a leading end portion of the sheet in a direction in which the sheet is moved has reached a vicinity of the guide member.

Abstract: A conveyor system has a monitor for entering information about sheets, an input/output control console for setting operating conditions of a first conveyor and a second conveyor based on the information about the sheets, and a power control console for operating the first conveyor and the second conveyor based on the operating conditions. The information about the sheets includes information as to the length of each of the sheets and data as to the position where the sheets are loaded from a press. A conveyor feed length representative of a feed cycle of a sheet on the first conveyor and the second conveyor, and the number of sheets on the second conveyor are automatically determined based on the length of the sheets and the data.

Abstract: A positive displacement sorter includes a conveying surface, a plurality of pusher shoes capable of traveling laterally of the conveying surface travel direction, a diverting assembly selectively diverting the pusher shoes and a control. The pusher shoes are generally separated from each other and the travel of direction by a shoe pitch. The diverting assembly includes a plurality of diverting rails extending generally diagonally under the conveying surface and a plurality of actuators associated with the diverting rails. The control is capable of controlling at least two of the actuators in a manner that selectively diverts at least two of the pusher shoes that are spaced apart in integer increments of the shoe pitch notwithstanding that the actuators are separated from each other by more than the shoe pitch.

Abstract: A positive displacement sorter apparatus and method includes providing a plurality of slats being interconnected in an endless web, an upper run of the web defining a conveying surface, and a plurality of pusher shoes gliding along at least some of the slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A linear motor system is provided to propel the web and includes a plurality of linear motor secondaries at the slats and at least one primary for propelling the secondaries. A control system controls the primaries.

Abstract: A positive displacement sorter, preferably of the parallel displacement type, includes a conveying surface, a plurality of pusher shoes capable of travelling laterally of the conveying surface, a plurality of diverting rails extending diagonally under the conveying surface and a plurality of electromagnetic actuators associated with the diverting rails. The pusher shoes include a transfer assembly below the conveying surface including a pilot member made of a magnetically permeable material. A pusher shoe is diverted to one of the diverting rails by the actuator associated with the diverting rail magnetically attracting the pilot member associated with that pusher shoe to magnetically initiate a divert. The transfer member associated with the pusher shoe mechanically completes the divert that is initiated magnetically. This allows actuators to be positioned at a pitch that is no greater than the shoe pitch.

Abstract: In order to separate tin can bodies carried by a first conveyor belt at a high speed, a second conveyor belt is taken close to the first conveyor belt and individual bodies are transferred from the first conveyor belt to the second conveyor belt. It is thus possible to separate a sequence of tin bodies into two sequences, thus facilitating further processing. The process can also be reversed to form a single sequence from two sequences.

Abstract: In order to separate can bodies carried by a first conveyor belt at a high speed, a second conveyor belt is taken close to the first conveyor belt and individual bodies are transferred from the first conveyor belt to the second conveyor belt. It is thus possible to separate a sequence of tin bodies into two sequences, thus facilitating further processing. The process can also be reversed to form a single sequence of bodies from two sequences.