Abstract: A material conveying device includes a base frame, a first conveying unit, a second conveying unit and a transfer assembly. The first conveying unit is provided on the base frame, the second conveying unit is provided on the base frame, and the transfer assembly is provided on the base frame and can transfer a material between the first conveying unit and the second conveying unit. The present disclosure further provides a processing equipment facilitating material distribution and a material distribution method.

Abstract: A layboy includes an upper belt section with a plurality of transversely spaced upper belts that extend in a longitudinal direction such that bottom portions of the upper belts lie in a first plane that defines an upper boundary of a transport path through the layboy and a lower belt section having a plurality of transversely spaced lower belts that extend in the longitudinal direction such that top portions of the lower belts lie in a second plane that defines an upper boundary of the transport path. The bottom portion of one of the top belts and/or the top portion of one of the bottom belts extends away from the transport path to define a gap in the transport path at which scrap moving through the layboy can fall out of the transport path.

Abstract: A transfer system for removing articles from trays includes a supply conveyor and a discharge conveyor A separation and transfer arrangement, including an article transport member, is interposed between a downstream end of the supply conveyor and an upstream end of the article discharge conveyor. The article transport member. Which may be a vacuum conveyor, acts on an upper end defined by each article to suspend the articles therebelow, and advances the articles from the downstream end of the supply conveyor to the upstream end of the discharge conveyor, which are at generally the same elevation. A tray transport member extends from the downstream end of the supply conveyor, and advances the trays downwardly in an upstream-to-downstream direction so that the trays are positioned below the upstream end of the discharge conveyor as the articles are deposited on the upstream end of the discharge conveyor by the article transport member.

Abstract: A tuft picker for a brush-making machine for automated production of brushes, such as toothbrushes, which is adapted to remove filaments from a filament container. The tuft picker comprises two parts. Each of the two parts comprises at least one picker eye for taking up a predefined number of loose filaments from the filament container. These picker eyes comprise an opening which can be opened and closed by moving the cover tool from a first position into a second position during one working stroke.

Abstract: A coin identification device includes: a first magnetic sensor detecting an amount of magnetic variation while the coin passes in the carrying direction; a second magnetic sensor installed where the second magnetic sensor detects a passage of an arc of a small-diameter coin when the first magnetic sensor detects a passage of the small-diameter coin; and a third magnetic sensor installed where the third magnetic sensor does not detect a passage of an arc of the small-diameter coin when the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor detect a passage of the small-diameter coin and detects a passage of an arc of a large-diameter coin; and an identification control unit identifying an outer diameter of the small-diameter coin and the large-diameter coin based on the amount of magnetic variation of the first magnetic sensor.

Abstract: A blister package stacker having a nest inlet for reception of blister packages from a conveyor, a nest assembly for holding one of the blister packages, and a blister package collection tower for storing a stack of the blister packages. The nest assembly is configured to insert one blister package at a time upward into a bottom of the blister package collection tower. The blister package stacker may have a push arm which pushes the stack of the blister packages from the collection tower into storage tubes.

Abstract: A material handling system includes a very high speed linear sortation conveyor that receives articles at an operating speed of 650 to 700 feet per second (fps) and up to 100 fps with gapping as small as one inch. In one or more embodiments, a recirculation sortation conveyor receives articles that are not diverted by the linear sortation conveyor with dynamic capacity sufficient to handle a high speed shutdown of the linear sortation conveyor. The recirculation sortation conveyor is itself a very high speed linear sortation conveyor having a pusher pre-sort feature that can distribute received articles at different lateral positions on an endless conveyor to align with more than one recirculation sortation conveyors that may be operating at a slower operating speed. In an exemplary embodiment, the recirculation sortation conveyor has a divert section for diverting articles to a divert target on a lateral side.

Abstract: A handling device for money items such as coins and tokens has a receiving station (6) at which coins are fed onto a conveyor (4) that feeds them one by one to a processing station (9). The conveyor is made up of conveyor link members (17, 18) having a money item receiving surface (21), and first and second lugs (30, 31) upstanding from the surface (21), each having forward facing capture regions (33, 35) configured to be driven in a longitudinal conveying direction C through the receiving station (6) to receive a coin or token its major discoidal surface overlying the surface (21) and with its peripheral edge abutting the capture regions (33,35) of the lugs (30,31), one of the capture regions of the lugs being upstanding from the surface (21) at least in part by a height (h2) greater than the other capture region (h3), so as to capture and singulate the coins in a manner that prevents two coins from being held, such that one of them is ejected.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that relate to causing indicators to present indications. Sensor data associated with a space of a fixture that includes a set of slots may be received. The sensor data may indicate that a sensor has sensed a condition of a container relative to the space. It may be determined that the condition corresponds to a slot of the set of slots based at least in part on the sensor data. Information usable to associate the container with a record may be generated. An indicator corresponding to the slot may be caused to produce an indication.

Abstract: There is presented a device and method for filling and advancing a series of containers including a first container and a next container. The device includes first and second assemblies having first and second restraining members respectively. The assemblies are positionable relative to each other in an object-receiving configuration in which the first restraining member and the second restraining member are inserted into the first container, and at least partially define a gap therebetween for deposition of an object. They are also positionable in a transitional configuration in which the second restraining member is raised relative to the first restraining member, and a lower portion of the second restraining member is positioned above and behind a leading internal face of the next container; and a container advancement configuration in which at least part of the second restraining member is in contact with and applying an advancement force to the leading internal face of the next container.

Abstract: A method for handling bags (10), in particular wicketed bags, combined into bundles (13) and for feeding the bags (10) to a packaging machine (11), and a corresponding apparatus. In the method and apparatus, the bags (10) are supplied in a plurality of bundles (13) in a magazine (14) arranged upstream of the packaging machine (11); the bundles (13) are arranged on bag carriers (15) in each case such that the bag carriers (15) extend through suspension holes (12) of the bags (10); the bag carriers (15) with the bags (10) located thereon are fed from the magazine (14) to the packaging machine (11); and the bundles (13) are transferred from the bag carriers (15) directly to appropriately arranged receiving pins (28) of a cyclically driven conveying device (29) of the packaging machine (11) and are then filled in the packaging machine (11).

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying money items, which is configured to singulate money items during conveyance, sense characteristics of money items during conveyance and eject money items from a conveyor.

Abstract: An inventory system can include multiple floors. The system can assign operations involving inventory items to a floor based on information about the floor, other floors, the operations, and/or the inventory items. In one example, the system may assign an order to be assembled on a floor based on the floor containing items for the order. Items may be moved to the floor from other floors to complete the order. In another example, a receipt receptacle received from a shipping vehicle can be moved to a rack without separating inventory items from the receipt vehicle. A mobile drive unit can move the rack to a floor based on information known about the inventory items matching criteria about the floor.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a frame defining a machine direction. The apparatus includes first and second transport members operatively engaged with the frame. The apparatus includes first carriage and second carriage drive mechanisms each having a carriage drive belt, a drive shaft, and a sprocket drive belt operatively engaged with the drive shaft. The carriage drive belts are operatively engaged with the carriage drive mechanisms and operatively connected with the respective transport member such that the carriage drive belt moves the transport member in the machine direction about an endless loop. The sprocket drive belts engage the drive mechanism in a position of the drive mechanism not connected with the carriage drive belt.

Abstract: A temporary parking station of conveying devices containing only one container of biological, products is described, interfaced with a laboratory automation system, comprising a conveyor belt with at least one dispatching lane with a stop gate adapted to queue the conveying devices let into the station and to release only one of said conveying devices at each step to a diverter fitted on a motorized belt, parallel to the dispatching lane, adapted to move said diverter in steps in either one direction or the other from a start of travel position to an end of travel position, diverting in steps only one at a time said conveying devices on a main conveyor belt moveable in a direction perpendicular to the motorized belt.

Abstract: A device for delivering print shop products supplied in a product stream in two separate stacks contains a transport belt on which the print shop products are deposited, a first deflection roller, a second deflection roller arranged in an horizontal plane with the first deflection roller, a third deflection roller arranged below the second deflection roller, and a stationary fourth deflection roller arranged below the third deflection roller and guiding the transport belt. An actuator jointly moves the second and third deflection rollers in parallel with a horizontal plane from a first delivery position, in which the print shop products are transported to a first stop, into a second delivery position, in which the print shop products are transported to a further stop. First and second first adjustment devices change a distance between the bottom of the respective first and second product receiving spaces and the horizontal plane.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting and processing a plurality of articles includes a conveyer structured to convey a plurality of articles along a conveyer path and at least one processing station provided along the conveyer path to perform at least one processing operation. The conveyer path includes at least one loop or festoon.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling trays with rod-shaped smokers articles comprises a station for filling the trays, a conveying apparatus for directing the smokers' articles in bulk to the filling station, a first conveyor assembly for directing the empty trays in succession to the filling station, and a second conveyor assembly for removing the full trays in succession from the filling station; the conveying apparatus has an outlet in communication with the filling station, and the apparatus comprises a delivery device for delivering the smokers' articles, in communication with the outlet and insertable into each tray to be filled, and a movement device for reciprocally moving the delivery device and each tray while the tray is being filled.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a slicing machine (1) for cutting rows of slices (A) from several pieces of food product, and a loading unit (2) comprising a set of array-forming conveyor belts (7a, 7b, 7c) arranged in parallel, a device for aligning each of the array-forming conveyor belts (7a, 7b, 7c) with the slicing machine (1) for receiving successive rows of slices (A) arranged in a direction transverse to the forward movement direction while the array-forming conveyor belt is made to move forward synchronously with the operation of the slicing machine (1) until forming a partial array of slices (A) on each array-forming conveyor belt, and a transfer device for transferring a complete array of slices (A) formed by the partial arrays from the array-forming conveyor belts (7a, 7b, 7c) to a moving conveying surface.

Abstract: A paper board stacking mechanism includes a transfer platform, a front conveyor group, a rear conveyor group, an inclination device, an elevation platform, and a stop plate. The transfer platform receives and conveys cut paper boards rearward. The front conveyor group includes first and second belt conveyors. The first belt conveyor is connected to the transfer platform. The second belt conveyor is connected to the rear end of the first belt conveyor. The rear conveyor group includes third and fourth belt conveyors. The paper boards pass through the front conveyor group and the rear conveyor group to then form at least a paper board stack. The rear end of the fourth belt conveyor maintains a fixed height difference from a surface of the elevation platform on which no paper board stack is loaded or from a top end of a paper board stack positioned on the elevation platform.

Abstract: A method and a device for aligning dough pieces on a conveying surface of a conveyor. The device is arranged for performing the following steps: providing at least one dough piece to a supply device arranged above the conveying surface; supplying the dough piece onto the conveying surface which is moving in a conveyance direction, and wherein the dough piece is supplied up-stream of a roller arranged at a distance above the conveying surface; blocking the conveyance of the dough piece by the roller, wherein the roller is driven to rotate in a rotation direction such that a peripheral velocity at a side of the roller facing the conveying surface is substantially opposite to the conveyance direction; temporarily reversing the rotation direction of the roller in order to pass the dough piece underneath the roller; and conveying the dough piece on the conveying surface.

Abstract: A unit for forming one or more layers of individual flat supports, taken from at least a first conveyor device, conveying the supports from upstream to downstream at a first speed, that includes a second conveyor device, conveying the supports from upstream to downstream at a second speed lower than the first speed, positioned downstream of the first conveyor device, equipped with a receiving zone for receiving the supports arriving from the first conveyor device, and having a curved portion, and means for forming the layer positioned above the second conveyor device, situated downstream of the curved portion, and driven at the second speed.

Abstract: A container-bundler includes a transporter having an alignment section with infinitely revolving single-station conveyor elements drivable in the transport direction with a controllable rotation element. An actuatable adjustment element is arranged in an alignment section. The controllable rotation element interacts with the adjustment element. A partitioning and/or compressing unit is downstream of the alignment section.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for robotic induction in materials handling facilities with batch singulation inventory areas are disclosed. A control system directs the one or more robotic devices to transport a particular portable storage unit of a plurality of portable storage units to and from a particular induction station of one or more induction stations. The control system directs induction of one or more single units of items from one or more locations of the portable storage unit, while the particular portable storage unit is located at an induction station, into the conveyance mechanism at the particular induction station. The control system directs picks of batches of heterogeneous items from a separate inventory storage area. The control system directs induction of single units of items from the batches of heterogeneous items picked from the separate inventory storage area into the conveyance mechanism at a batch singulation station.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying printed products, includes a first accumulating section and at least one second accumulating section to convey the printed products from at least one intake area to at least one discharge area. The apparatus includes a feeding device to supply the printed products to one of the first or second accumulating sections in the at least one intake area. The apparatus further includes a discharge device to remove the printed products from one of the first or second accumulating sections in the at least one discharge area.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying printed products, includes a first accumulating section and at least one second accumulating section to convey the printed products from at least one intake area to at least one discharge area. The apparatus includes a feeding device to supply the printed products to one of the first or second accumulating sections in the at least one intake area. The apparatus further includes a discharge device to remove the printed products from one of the first or second accumulating sections in the at least one discharge area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for grouping (flat) articles (10), in particular hygiene products such as diapers, wherein the articles (10) to be grouped are conveyable individually and one after another on a feed conveyor (19) and are suppliable to a grouping conveyor (12). The invention is characterized in that the grouping conveyor (12) has compartments (13) for in each case one group (11) of articles (10), in which compartments the articles (10) are arranged preferably standing upright, in particular tightly packed together, wherein the articles (10) are suppliable by means of the feed conveyor (19) at an angle, in particular substantially transversely, with respect to the conveying direction of the grouping conveyor (12) and are conveyable in the conveying direction of the grouping conveyor (12) by way of a substantially cone-shaped conveyor (24) thus forming a group (11) of articles (10) in one compartment (13).

Abstract: The invention relates to an accumulation device (4) comprising a first linear conveyor belt (5) and a second linear conveyor belt (6), a third conveyor belt (7) forming a semi-circle and configured for transferring items from the first to the second conveyor belt and translation means (10, 11) of the third belt relative to the first and second belt. The accumulation device comprises two ramp systems (23, 24) attached respectively to the two ends (7a, 7b) of the third belt. The first ramp system (23) deforms the first belt to constitute a first slope ensuring that items rise from the first belt to the third belt. The second ramp system (24) deforms the second belt to constitute a second slope ensuring that items descend from the third belt to the second belt. Displacement of the third conveyor belt at the same time enables displacement of the first and second slopes formed on the first and second belt. The invention also relates to an installation equipped with such an accumulation device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for forming groups of products that arrive in a line, separated on a feeding conveyor (2), which includes vertically separated collectors (4) connected to chutes (8) that are arranged transversely relative to the feeding axis, said chutes (8) each comprising a mobile carriage (7) that supports a collector (4) by means of an actuator (11), said carriages (7) and actuators (11) being vertically adjacent and controlled by a programmable automaton (17) suitable for controlling the cyclic polygonal movement of each collector (4). The means for controlling the collectors (4) offer the possibility of organizing the capture of the products and, in particular, of selecting a number of collectors (4) suited to the group forming rates and/or the type of products (1) to be formed into groups.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for products having a non-circular cross-section, such as ovoid containers or bottles. The machine includes: a collector having cavities arranged obliquely relative to the XX' axis of the conveyor used to supply said products; a means for transferring the batch of products formed into groups by said collector to a depositing station, on a table arranged along said feed conveyor; a means for dropping the batch of products by a reversing movement in an oblique direction; and a means for returning said collector to the starting point, that is, level with the first product on said feed conveyor.

Abstract: A carrier device and product handling system are described, in which product items are stored or transported through a product processing environment including such stages as portioning, packaging and labeling. The carrier device is designed such that product items can be loaded and unloaded automatically on trays. Traceability is provided by means of a machine-readable tag storing information relating to the contents of the carrier device's array of compartments. Examples of loading and unloading mechanisms are also described. The invention has particular application to the processing of meat products or other perishable goods.

Abstract: A device for moving containers or other objects relative to a surface such as a pallet includes a frame and a pin matrix movably attached to the frame. The pin matrix includes an array of pins and is housed in a plate having apertures for receiving the pins. The device further includes a pair of tracks that movably support the pin matrix. A method for moving containers or other objects relative to a surface includes the steps of moving the pin matrix over the objects, lowering the pin matrix, securing the objects within the pin matrix, moving the pin matrix and the objects relative to the surface, and raising the pin matrix.

Abstract: A method and device for handling flat objects, in particular flat folded diapers (10), which are fed to a conveyor with receptacles for each object or for each diaper (10) by way of a feeder (13, 14), in particular to a compartment conveyor (17) comprising separation struts (22) which are arranged so as to protrude radially from a continuous conveyor (21) in order to form compartments (23) for each object. Provision is made for the speed (v) at which the objects are transported on the feeder (13, 14) to be reduced for handover of the objects to the conveyor. The device includes a database in which respective data records containing transport speeds (vx) for a control unit (34) being filed for different objects and/or objects of different size, the speed of the feeders (13, 14) being regulated by the control unit (34) in accordance with the transport speed (v) pertaining to the respective object.

Abstract: The installation comprises:—an upstream conveyor (2) which supplies the lines of products, and a downstream conveying system, having, between the two;—a unit (5) for regulating the flow of products and, in each lane of said unit, a conveying module (9) of the endless belt type and sets of mobile fingers (8) for controlling the advancing speed of said products. The endless belt of each conveying module (9) extends as far as the inlet of the downstream conveyor (4), and control means are provided to separately adjust the speed of the sets of fingers (8) so as to ungroup the products in accordance with two separate modes:—an ungrouping mode with selection by regulated flow (SRF) and—an ungrouping mode with selection by adjustable fingers (SAF).

Abstract: Tray filling machine, comprising: a first conveying device (2), structured so as to transport between a loading position (C) and an unloading position (S) along a direction of transport (X) a plurality of items (F) arranged in one or more distinct rows; a second conveying device (3), structured so as to transport a tray (V) on a movement plane (31) arranged in the proximity of the unloading position of the first conveying device (2) beneath the first conveying device; said first and second conveying devices (2,3) being synchronized in relation to each other in a manner such that the items (F) and the tray (V) transit contemporaneously at the unloading position and the items (F) can be arranged on the tray (V).

Abstract: A palletising device for populating transport pallets (1) with packaging units (2) in rows and/or stacks in at least one layer (A1) of packaging units (2), having a feed apparatus (3) for bringing the packaging units into the vicinity of the transport pallet (1) and having a delivery apparatus (5) for providing a transport pallet (1) with the packaging units (2) brought. In order to make continuous palletising possible with a generic palletising device, it is proposed that the delivery apparatus (5) comprises an endless conveying means (5A), which comprises at least two conveyor runs (T1, T2, T3, . . . ) acting as transport legs (T) in a horizontal arrangement and the horizontally arranged endless conveying means (5A) as a whole can be moved by at least one packaging unit width or part-width and/or height relative to the transport pallet (1) in a transverse direction component to the direction of extent of one of its transport legs.

Abstract: An apparatus for accumulating sheet material in a sheet handling system including a first conveyance, a second conveyance, an auxiliary conveyance and a processor to control the conveyances based upon a selected operating mode. The first conveyance receives singulated sheets and conveys the sheets to an accumulator station to produce completed collations. The second conveyance is operative to dispense completed collations from the accumulator station and, receives the completed collations from the first conveyance, in one operating mode, and from the auxiliary conveyance in another operating mode when the first conveyance is inoperative. The processor is responsive to a next collation signal, to control the conveyances based upon a selected one of the operating modes.

Abstract: A system for improving stacking of flat items stacked on edge and forming a batch of items in a sort bin (200a) of the type comprising a stacking deck (210) for supporting the batch of items, a paddle (220) movably connected to a shaft (224) mounted on the stacking deck for registering the batch of items while applying a first stacking pressure to the batch of items, a driving device (228) for applying at least another adjustable pressure to the batch of items for refining their registering against the paddle, and a movement control module (229) for controlling the driving device so as to adjust pressure in the batch of items, wherein the batch of items and the paddle are driven synchronously and separately.

Abstract: A loading head for use with food articles has a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the main conveyor, and a transfer member positioned between the main conveyor and the indexing conveyor. The transfer member is adapted to transfer each food article from the main conveyor to the indexing conveyor. A buffering mechanism is adapted to move the transfer member between a first position and a variable second position. A pusher mechanism is associated with the indexing conveyor to raise and lower gates from an open position permitting food article transfer to a closed position prohibiting food article transfer. The pusher mechanism includes a cam operably associated with the gates to open and close the gates.

Abstract: A product handling system includes a product conveyor capable of transporting a plurality of products. An overhead diverter assembly includes a flighted conveyor situated substantially orthogonal to the product conveyor that includes a flight. A transport containment device is located at least partially below the flighted conveyor. A control system operates the overhead diverter such that the flighted conveyor has a diverting mode and a cassette filling mode. When the flighted conveyor is in the diverting mode, the flight moves in a profiled motion to acquire the product from the product conveyor at a location beneath the overhead diverter and transports the product along the transport containment device.

Abstract: A loading head for use with food articles has a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the main conveyor, and a transfer member positioned between the main conveyor and the indexing conveyor. The transfer member is adapted to transfer each food article from the main conveyor to the indexing conveyor. A buffering mechanism is adapted to move the transfer member between a first position and a variable second position. A pusher mechanism is associated with the indexing conveyor to raise and lower gates from an open position permitting food article transfer to a closed position prohibiting food article transfer. The pusher mechanism includes a cam operably associated with the gates to open and close the gates.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a bundle (11) of rolled bars, comprising bar conveying means (4), an inclined plane device (1) for forming a layer of bars and bar accumulation means (5), wherein the inclined plane device (1) comprises a plurality of support elements (2), arranged parallel to each another and defining a first plane inclined by an angle (a) with respect to a horizontal direction, and adapted to receive a predetermined number of bars defining the layer of bars on said first plane from said bar conveying means (4), handling means (60) for translating the inclined plane device (1) from a first maximum advancement position distal from the conveyor means (4) to a second maximum retraction position proximal to the conveyor means (4) to unload the layer of bars onto the accumulation means (5), at a speed such to prevent the bars resting on said supporting elements from being dragged.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking items (I) includes first and second pluralities of stacker shelves (22) extending towards each other in spaced and parallel operative sections and each moving along first and second endless paths. The stacker shelves (22) are switchable by a switch (350) between extended and retracted positions. The stacker shelves (22) in retracted positions in the operative sections are operatively spaced from the item (I) received on the corresponding stacker shelves (22) in extended positions. In preferred aspects, the stacker shelves (22) are slideable relative to first and second plurality of carriers (310) carried along the first and second endless paths by roller chains (304). The switch (350) switches a cam follower (328) on each of the stacker shelves (22) into one of first and second cam tracks (342, 344) as the stacker shelves (22) enter the operative sections of the endless paths.

Abstract: A loading head for use with food articles has a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the main conveyor, and a transfer member positioned between the main conveyor and the indexing conveyor. The transfer member is adapted to transfer each food article from the main conveyor to the indexing conveyor. A buffering mechanism is adapted to move the transfer member between a first position and a variable second position. A pusher mechanism is associated with the indexing conveyor to raise and lower gates from an open position permitting food article transfer to a closed position prohibiting food article transfer. The pusher mechanism includes a cam operably associated with the gates to open and close the gates.

Abstract: To provide a product accumulation device with superior general-purpose capabilities, being able to cope with the modified specification of target products only by partially altering the structure thereof. An accumulation means of a product accumulation device includes: a rotary member having a product contact surface relative to products supplied from the product supply means, and a guide member that is provided with the rotary member and that shifts the products from the product contact surface to an approximately perpendicular direction relative to the product contact surface by means of the rotation of the rotation member, thereby being able to cope with the modified specification of target products only by partially altering its structure.

Abstract: A package apparatus includes a first conveyance unit and a second conveyance unit. The first conveyance unit is configured and arranged to convey a plurality of packaged objects in a first conveying direction. The second conveyance unit is provided below the first conveyance unit and configured and arranged to convey the packaged objects in a second conveying direction generally opposite from the first conveying direction. The second conveyance unit is configured and arrange to overlay each of the packaged objects received from the first conveyance unit on an adjacent one of the packaged objects such that the packaged objects are generally oriented in the second conveying direction to form a group of the packaged objects that is conveyed in the second conveying direction on the second conveyance unit.

Abstract: In an item-handling device, a layer head includes an item layer building platform defining an item receiving plane, the layer building platform being vertically positionable. A puller bar mounts to the layer head and moves in relation thereto within a plane above the item-receiving plane. The puller bar is positionable between a retracted position above the layer building platform and an extended position offset from the layer building platform.

Abstract: A product aggregating apparatus receives product with an in-feed conveyor assembly and provides the product in an aggregated, registered and/or organized form, such as to a product picking apparatus. The in-feed conveyor assembly includes at least one in-feed conveyor, each in-feed conveyor configured to deliver product to first and second locations. A product receiver assembly includes at least first and second product receiver carriages to receive product at the first and second locations, respectively. An aggregated product receiver assembly comprises a carriage configured for vertical movement to positions adjacent to each product receiver carriage. A pusher assembly, comprising a pusher carriage configured for vertical movement to positions adjacent to each product receiver carriage, contains pushers horizontally moveable to push product from the adjacent product receiver carriage and onto the carriage of the aggregated product receiver assembly for picking by an appropriate apparatus.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method which consists in cyclically: transferring a first row of products (3) between the station for preparing said products (6) and the pre-assembly station (7), at a speed V; transferring similarly a second row of products (3) onto said pre-assembly table (7), and in order to manage the docking of said second row with the row of products already set on said pre-assembly table (7), moving said set row at a speed v selected between zero and V, depending on the type or products (3); transferring, as the case may be, another row of products (3) onto the table (7), and, when the number of rows is reached to obtain said layer, transferring said layer onto the setting table (13) of the palletizing station (14). The installation comprises transfer means consisting of pushers (25) and (26) mobile between different stations, driven at suitable speeds.

Abstract: A conveying device for conveying and aligning flat products or stacks of flat products, in particular printed products, includes leading pins for stop on a leading edge of conveyed products and trailing pins or pushers for stop on a trailing edge of the conveyed products. The products are insertable between the leading and trailing pins and are thus aligned by the pins. A distance between successive pushers is adjustable without parts of the device having to be exchanged.