Abstract: A system, and associated method, for launching and delivering separated food product in organized groups to a robotized packaging station for the product. The system initiates the delivery via a metered hopper of food product delivering the product to a launch V-belt that aligns the product end to end. A successive singulator belt, positioned adjacent to and receiving product from the launch belt, further organizes the product into a single file alignment. An optional separator belt may follow the singulator belt to create gaps between successive product units. The product is then delivered to a pick belt for product to be provided to the packaging robot. The system product information is from a single (per product delivery line) sensor, enabling integrated end-to-end control from hopper to robot, and a nearly continuous motion of said pick belt.

Abstract: A weighing system for weighing an item when being conveyed comprising: at least one container for transporting the item; a conveyor means for conveying said container in a first vertical direction; and a weighing device for weighing the container; wherein the container is connected to the conveyor means via a primary connecting means and a secondary connecting means, each of them comprising a first section permanently connected to the container, a second section permanently connected to the conveyor means, and a third section hingedly connected to both the first section and the second section; and wherein the third section of the primary connecting means is rotatable about a first axis transverse to the conveying direction and the third section of the secondary connecting means is rotatable about a second axis parallel to said conveying direction such that the container may move from the first vertical position to a second vertical position.

Abstract: A textile machine producing take-up packages, comprising a storage area for wound take-up packages, a detecting element for measuring the weight of each take-up package to be placed on the tray, a summing element for adding up the measured weights of the take-up packages to be placed on the storage area, and an output element for outputting an output signal if the sum of the measured weights of the take-up packages exceeds a predefined threshold value.

Abstract: A system, and associated method, for launching and delivering separated food product in organized groups to a robotized packaging station for the product. The system initiates the delivery via a metered hopper of food product delivering the product to a launch V-belt that aligns the product end to end. A successive singulator belt, positioned adjacent to and receiving product from the launch belt, further organizes the product into a single file alignment. An optional separator belt may follow the singulator belt to create gaps between successive product units. The product is then delivered to a pick belt for product to be provided to the packaging robot. The system product information is from a single (per product delivery line) sensor, enabling intergrated end-to-end control from hopper to robot, and a nearly continuous motion of said pick belt.

Abstract: A singulator conveyor system having conveying surfaces arranged in adjacent parallel configuration for separating and moving side by side packages. The singulator includes a first conveyor conveying lane having a high friction surface for conveying articles forward along a vertical side wall. A second conveyor conveying lane adjacent thereto has a lower friction surface including both forward and lateral conveying forces urging parcels forward and away from the first conveyor conveying lane and side wall. The lateral receiving edge of the second conveyor conveying lane is below the outer lateral edge of the first conveyor conveying lane and the conveying surface is transversely inclined and angled laterally upward having an elevated outer side edge even with or below the lateral receiving edge of an adjacent third conveyor conveying lane having a high friction conveying surface.

Abstract: A camera based vision system that recognizes and maximizes belt area utilization. A plurality of cameras are positioned at flow entry points of feed conveyors and at the singulator. The control algorithm recognizes individual items area, the rate at which individual objects are passing, and the area utilization of the collector belt. The video camera and computer based conveyor package management system monitor and control the number and size of the packages present on the infeed conveyors, collector conveyor, singulator conveyor and sorting conveyor in a package handling system wherein the camera data is used to measure the available area or space on the conveyors to maintain a desired density of packages on selected conveyor(s). The conveyor speed is controlled as a function of occupancy on a collector or just prior to a singulator or receiver.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus of feeding workpieces, capable of preventing generated contaminants from adhering workpieces and improving stabilization in a discharge rate of the workpieces while having advantage of the drum type. The apparatus has a mesh drum, a rotary drive and an angle adjuster. The mesh drum has a mesh circumferential wall that defines a space for accommodating workpieces, the mesh drum is configured to be rotated and tilted by the rotary drive and the angle adjuster. The mesh drum has a mesh size of the mesh circumferential wall being set according to form of the workpieces to ensure the separating of the workpieces.

Abstract: A typing tunnel off-loading and sorting system includes an off-loading conveyor, cameras and photoelectric eye. The overhead cameras detect the item size and whether it is cubic in nature and type and size of its footprint. An in-line slide sorter having alternating conveyor rollers and pop-up belts pass through to, or divert articles from, a downstream conveyor. The vision based system may also be used to detect space between articles and insert articles in the unoccupied space.

Abstract: A singulator conveyor system having conveyors arranged in adjacent parallel configuration for separating and orienting side-by-side packages having unequal loading, different sized packages (e.g., boxes, flats and softpacks), partially filled bags, long and slender articles, and packages having an offset center of gravity. Two of more small items abreast of one another are separated while permitting large items to pass thorough the singulator even when the item is a large bag of small items. A first conveyor lane includes a high friction surface for conveying articles forward along a vertical side wall. A second conveyor adjacent thereto has a low friction surface including both forward and lateral conveying forces urging parcels forward and away from the first conveyor and side wall toward a third conveyor having a high friction conveying surface wherein the longitudinal edge of the second conveyor is below the first conveyor and above the third conveyor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a conveyor system reorients objects from a side-by-side orientation to a sequential orientation. The system has an upper conveyor level and a subsequent conveyor level disposed below the upper level. The upper level has an upper conveyor segment that has an upstream end, a downstream end opposite the upstream end along a flow direction, a pair of lateral sides, a top side, and a bottom side. The upper conveyor segment defines an conveying surface that is between the pair of lateral sides and that carries objects aligned therewith along the flow direction. The upper conveyor segment also defines a discharge opening that is between the conveying surface and one of the lateral sides. The discharge opening extends through the upper conveyor segment along a vertical direction so as to discharge objects onto the subsequent conveyor level that are aligned with the discharge opening.

Abstract: A ball feeding device includes: a ball transfer tube comprising a ball lifting tube and a ball feeding tube; and a ball transfer module connected to the ball lifting tube and transferring the ball. The ball transfer module includes: a first rotating portion and a second rotating portion connected to opposite end portions of the ball lifting tube, respectively; a driving motor connected to the first rotating portion; a link connecting the first rotating portion and the second rotating portion; and a main support portion supporting the ball, the main support portion coupled to the link and passing through the ball lifting tube.

Abstract: A singulator has been realized which comprises a diverger module extending between an inlet station and an outlet station; the diverger module is configured to receive articles at the inlet station and convey them towards the outlet station along a main advancement direction. The diverger module has: a first zone extending from the inlet station to the outlet station and configured to impart to the articles resting thereon an advancement motion along the main advancement direction, a second zone flanking the first zone along the advancement direction and extending between the inlet station and the outlet station. The second zone is configured to impart to the articles resting thereon an advancement motion along the main direction and a lateral movement away from the first zone.

Abstract: A component feeder including a lift for elevating a selection of components from a bulk storage, and a pick surface adjacent to the lift for receiving the selection of components. A spreader gives the selection of components a push for spreading the selection of components from the lift on the pick surface. The combination of a vertical lift and a separate pick surface adjacent to the lift enables the bulk storage being positioned right below the pick surface. The area of the pick surface is large in relation to the total footprint of the component feeder.

Abstract: An apparatus, system for analyzing, and process for separating cuvettes supplied in bulk form are presented. The apparatus comprises a reservoir with an inlet for supplying cuvettes in bulk form to a reservoir space, a separator with an outlet for outputting separated cuvettes from a separator space communicating with the reservoir space, a reservoir spiral contained in the reservoir space to transport cuvettes to the separator space by rotating the reservoir spiral, and a separator spiral contained in the separator space to transport cuvettes to the outlet by rotating the separator spiral. Adjacent turns of the separator spiral have an inter-distance dimensioned such that a cuvette can be held in a holding position in which projections projecting outwards from a body for receiving liquid rest on adjacent turns, with the body dipping into a spiral groove between the adjacent turns.

Abstract: A method for resorting piece goods assortments and in particular packaging unit assortments, includes the steps of supplying a first type of piece goods to a redistribution unit; supplying a second type of piece goods, which is different from the first type, to the redistribution unit; and picking up individual piece goods or groups of piece goods using a pick-up element of the redistribution unit, wherein the pick-up element picks up both piece goods of the first type and also piece goods of the second type and deposits these piece goods in such a way that a piece goods assortment consisting of piece goods of the first type and piece goods of the second type is formed.

Abstract: The present invention is a pill dispensing method and apparatus wherein a first rotor rotates pills about a rotation axis along a first part of a spiral path at a first rotational speed whereupon the pills move spirally away from the rotation axis. A second rotor receives the pills from the first rotor and rotates the pills about the rotation axis along a second part of the spiral path at a second, greater rotational speed whereupon the pills move spirally away from the rotation axis toward a discharge chute which dispenses the pills into a pill bottle or a storage container. A counter can be provided for counting pills that exit the discharge chute or opening.

Abstract: Embodiments of a tie plate sorter are disclosed wherein the tie plates are sorted and fed to an output device for further feeding to a tie plate distribution system. The tie plates may be oriented as needed. Exemplary methods are also provided.

Abstract: An article sorting and conveying device that conveys articles by the vibrations of a movable body provided through an elastic support unit, includes a first vibration unit that imparts a periodic vibration force to the movable body in a direction inclined from a vertical direction; a second vibration unit that imparts a periodic vibration force in a direction crossing the periodic vibration force by the first vibration unit; and a vibration control unit that causes a periodic vibration force imparted by each vibration unit to have a phase difference and occur simultaneously at the same frequency, and that creates an elliptical vibration trajectory in the movable body. The articles are sorted and conveyed on the movable body by setting the vibration trajectory of the movable body by the vibration control unit such that articles having a different coefficient of friction are conveyed in different directions.

Abstract: A singulator conveyor system having conveyors arranged in adjacent parallel configuration for separating and orienting side-by-side packages having unequal loading, different sized packages (e.g., boxes, flats and softpacks), partially filled bags, long and slender articles, and packages having an offset center of gravity. Two of more small items abreast of one another are separated while permitting large items to pass thorough the singulator even when the item is a large bag of small items. A first conveyor lane includes a high friction surface for conveying articles forward along a vertical side wall. A second conveyor adjacent thereto has a low friction surface including both forward and lateral conveying forces urging parcels forward and away from the first conveyor and side wall toward a third conveyor having a high friction conveying surface wherein the longitudinal edge of the second conveyor is below the first conveyor and above the third conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus, system for analyzing, and process for separating cuvettes supplied in bulk form are presented. The apparatus comprises a reservoir with an inlet for supplying cuvettes in bulk form to a reservoir space, a separator with an outlet for outputting separated cuvettes from a separator space communicating with the reservoir space, a reservoir spiral contained in the reservoir space to transport cuvettes to the separator space by rotating the reservoir spiral, and a separator spiral contained in the separator space to transport cuvettes to the outlet by rotating the separator spiral. Adjacent turns of the separator spiral have an inter-distance dimensioned such that a cuvette can be held in a holding position in which projections projecting outwards from a body for receiving liquid rest on adjacent turns, with the body dipping into a spiral groove between the adjacent turns.

Abstract: Method and system for arranging rod-like elements, in particular cigarettes, on a longitudinal aligning conveyor (11) along the direction of movement of the conveyor, comprising a container (5) for unordered rod-like elements (6), a feeding conveyor (1), a chute (8) and the aligning conveyor (11), wherein the rod-like elements (6) fed from the container (5) are transported by the feeding conveyor (1) to the chute (8), the rod-like elements (6) being arranged on the feeding conveyor (1) transversally to the direction of movement, the bottom of the chute (8) being downwardly slanted at an angle (?) to the horizontal, the intake end of the longitudinally grooved aligning conveyor (11) being located downstream the outlet end (8C) of the chute (8), the aligning conveyor (11) being upwardly slanted at an angle (?) to the horizontal and being adapted to convey the rod-like elements (6) from the outlet end (8C) of the chute (8) upward the aligning conveyor (11) with a speed enabling passing the rod-like elements (6)

Abstract: A method and device for feeding beads in a tobacco industry system including a bead container, a bead feeding unit having a plurality of channels for supplying a plurality of bead streams, a unit for transferring the beads to the filter material, where the beads are fed from holding pockets of the bead feeding unit to receiving pockets of the bead transfer unit, in which the beads are supplied from the bead container to a plurality of channels of the bead feeding unit which form holding pockets; the beads are fed from the holding pockets of the bead feeding unit to the receiving pockets of the bead transfer unit and to a delivery wheel by a movable feeding device; the beads are picked up from the receiving pockets by a movable guiding device.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a system for transferring a plurality of non-oriented items. The system includes a feeding area, a conveyor and a rail. The feeding area can accept the plurality of non-oriented items. The conveyor has a first end, a second end, a conveyor length disposed between the first end and the second end, a conveyor first side, a conveyor second side, a conveyor width disposed between the conveyor first side and the conveyor second side, and a conveyor ledge along the second side. The rail is disposed above the conveyor and from the conveyor ledge at a distance equal to one of the item height, the item width and the item length. A first portion of the plurality of non-oriented items will convey along the conveyor path. A second portion of the plurality of non-oriented items will fall off the conveyor ledge.

Abstract: An intermodal container for transporting frac proppant, such as frac sand, and/or other types of granular material is disclosed. The intermodal container is designed to receive frac sand from a quarry or other frac sand supply source. Once the container is filled with material, the container is loaded onto a transportation device and transported to a well site. Once received at the well site, the containers can be stacked and the frac sand stored until needed. Once the frac sand is needed, the containers are placed on a base unit and the container discharges its contents onto a conveying system formed as part of the base unit. The conveying system directs the frac sand to a blending location. The empty intermodal containers can be removed from the base unit and loaded onto a transportation device to be refilled at a mine site.

Abstract: In the present method, which includes use of an operating head, groups of articles are intermittently picked up from a plurality of identical flanked channels (10, 20, 30) which bear articles (3) equidistanced from one another. The articles are ordered in groups in identical flanked lines (F1, F2, F3) and in a number that is equal to the number of channels. In the method, each group of articles is transferred above a supply line (40) provided with equidistanced compartments corresponding to the articles arranged on the channels. Each line of articles is unloaded into underlying compartments (4) of a series of compartments in the line. It is thus possible to insert into the compartments of a series of compartments an equal, smaller or greater number of articles than the number of channels.

Abstract: A method for transporting articles (2) to a station, in particular preforms to a blow-molding apparatus, wherein each article has a protrusion (10) and is moved along a guide (16) by a drive means (18), the article (2), along at least part of the guide (16), should be retained on an abutment (19, 21, 23), and advanced along this abutment, by an air stream.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing open-ended objects such as pharmaceutical vials includes: a housing having an internal cavity configured to house open-ended objects, the housing including a guide and a floor; a pick-up unit mounted to the housing, the pick-up unit including an endless member and at least one pick-up member attached to the endless member; and a drive unit. The endless member engages the drive unit and the guide for movement relative thereto. As the drive unit drives the endless member, the at least one pick-up member travels on a pick-up path, at least a portion of which is within the housing.

Abstract: A spacing apparatus singulates and spaces items for further processing and packaging. The apparatus comprises a rotatable dispensing wheel member having apertures for receiving items, such as food parts. The apertures are configured to place the items in a consistent alignment on a conveyor system. As the dispensing wheel rotates, the items are deposited from the apertures sequentially and with consistent positioning on a conveyor system that transports the singularized items to a measuring point. The rate of rotation of the dispensing wheel member can be controlled by a controller. A guide disposed above the dispensing wheel member provides greater accuracy in depositing items into the slots.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a system for transferring a plurality of non-oriented items. The system includes a feeding area, a conveyor and a rail. The conveyor has a first end, a second end, a conveyor length disposed between the first end and the second end, a conveyor first side, a conveyor second side, a conveyor width disposed between the conveyor first side and the conveyor second side, and a conveyor ledge along the second side. The rail is disposed above the conveyor and from the conveyor ledge at a distance equal to one of the item height, the item width and the item length. A first portion of the plurality of non-oriented items will convey along the conveyor path. A second portion of the plurality of non-oriented items will fall off the conveyor ledge. ledge.

Abstract: A feeder system and associated method are provided for feeding rod components of a tobacco product, particularly a rod-shaped, cylindrical, or stick-type tobacco product, wherein such a tobacco product may be intended to be used in a smokeless manner. A hopper is configured to receive a plurality of rod components therein. A separator device is operably engaged with the hopper and is configured to receive one of the plurality of rod components at a time therefrom. An orienting device is operably engaged with the separator device. The orienting device is configured to receive the one of the plurality of rod components in a first orientation and to direct the one of the plurality of rod components into a second orientation, different from the first orientation, and toward a subsequent process.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a system for transferring a plurality of non-oriented items. The system includes a feeding area, a conveyor and a rail. The conveyor has a first end, a second end, a conveyor length disposed between the first end and the second end, a conveyor first side, a conveyor second side, a conveyor width disposed between the conveyor first side and the conveyor second side, and a conveyor ledge along the second side. The rail is disposed above the conveyor and from the conveyor ledge at a distance equal to one of the item height, the item width and the item length. A first portion of the plurality of non-oriented items will convey along the conveyor path. A second portion of the plurality of non-oriented items will fall off the conveyor ledge.

Abstract: A stripper of the invention uses flat metal springs (leaf springs) preferably made of spring steel and a flexible polymer based friction material covering the springs on one side so that the friction material contacts an incoming mail piece passing by the stripper along the friction surface presented by the outside of the friction material. A stripper according to the invention has variable stiffness, is quick responding, and is critically damped, meaning that incoming mail pieces will not bounce off it with excessive force likely to cause a misfeed or loss of control of the mail piece.

Abstract: A singulating disc, carried by a housing, has a plurality of openings around its periphery. The disc rotates vertically through a pickup chamber of a hopper carried by the housing. A vacuum is pulled through the openings by a pump which is connected to the disc. Items are placed in the hopper and, via gravity, fall to the bottom of the hopper where they contact the periphery of the rotating disc. The vacuum at the openings attaches an item and holds it while the disc rotates. At the top of the discs rotation, a diverter directs the item into a path depending on the results of a fragment detection and/or counting mechanism. Items that are allowed to pass by the diverter are scraped off the disc into another path by a scraper. Negative pressure is used to singulate and count a multitude of sizes and shapes of items with no calibration. Retractable paddles, a vacuum management system, and RFID tags may be incorporated.

Abstract: To provide a medium storing and advancing apparatus which orderly piles up bills even when not flat. The medium storing and advancing apparatus includes a tongue piece roller having tongue pieces having the length thereof predetermined. While the tongue piece roller is rotated to slap the rear end of a bill with the tongue pieces to orient the latter downward, the front end of a following bill is superimposed on the downward-oriented rear end of the preceding bill.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing open-ended objects such as pharmaceutical vials includes: a housing having an internal cavity configured to house open-ended objects, the housing including a guide and a floor; a pick-up unit mounted to the housing, the pick-up unit including an endless member and at least one pick-up member attached to the endless member; and a drive unit. The endless member engages the drive unit and the guide for movement relative thereto. As the drive unit drives the endless member, the at least one pick-up member travels on a pick-up path, at least a portion of which is within the housing.

Abstract: A regulation method for ordering a flow of two lines of products includes at least: —a first step of slowing when the spacing value between a first product pertaining to one of the lines and a second product, situated immediately upstream and pertaining to another of the lines is less than a first set value; and—a second step of slowing when the value of the spacing between a downstream product of the first line and the proximal product situated immediately upstream on the second line is lower than a second set value, the first step of slowing and second step of slowing being respectively implemented selectively so as to place in phase the spacings between the products of the first and second lines according to a sequence determined as a function of the device for transferring to cavities.

Abstract: A spacing apparatus singulates and spaces items for further processing and packaging. The apparatus comprises a rotatable dispensing wheel member having apertures for receiving items, such as food parts. The apertures are configured to place the items in a consistent alignment on a conveyor system. As the dispensing wheel rotates, the items are deposited from the apertures sequentially and with consistent positioning on a conveyor system that transports the singularized items to a measuring point. The rate of rotation of the dispensing wheel member can be controlled by a controller. A guide disposed above the dispensing wheel member provides greater accuracy in depositing items into the slots.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for product changeover in a filling plant and to a bugger system for carrying out the method. A first product is passed through a primary buffer and then a second product is initially buffer-stored in a secondary buffer, and so a clear separation of the products is achieved and a product changeover can be carried out in upstream and downstream production machines without production coming to a standstill.

Abstract: A rebar separator having a crossbar situated atop one or, preferably, two vibrational insulators which are preferably inflatable cushions. Preferably, there are two or more such crossbars on one or two inflatable cushions. At least one vibrational motor is in contact with at least one crossbar. And preferably each crossbar slopes from a first end to a second end. A source of fluid is in communication with each inflatable cushion. Preferably, the vibrational insulators are placed on top of first and second longitudinal channels of a horizontal rack.

Abstract: An apparatus for resorting piece goods assortments comprises a supply device, which transports along a first predefined transport path a piece goods assortment containing a plurality of piece goods arranged in predefined geometric positions, and at least one redistribution unit arranged at least partially downstream of the supply device along the transport path of the piece goods assortment. The redistribution unit comprises at least one pick-up element for picking up an individual item of piece goods of the piece goods assortment or a group of piece goods of the piece goods assortment, and a discharge device which is arranged downstream of the redistribution unit along the transport path. The pick-up element of the redistribution unit is movable in at least two different directions. The pick-up element removes individual piece goods or groups of piece goods from the piece goods assortment and transfers said piece goods to the discharge device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for aligning food products in a plurality of rows for feeding a subsequent processing operation in a production process. The apparatus includes first and second continuous belt conveyors adjacent to each other, a dispensing plate operable to delay movement of the plurality of food products and cluster the food products together. The food products are then periodically distributed onto the second continuous belt conveyor, improving dispersion of the food products thereon. Guide fingers that extend and retract over the second continuous belt conveyor contact and displace the food products into rows within channels formed by longitudinal members extending over at least a portion of the second continuous belt conveyor. The rows of food products are then conveyed to the next processing operation.

Abstract: An arrangement for separating cylindrical bodies, such as parisons for hollow bodies, which have at least one protuberance at a first end, has a pair of parallel guide elements between which the cylindrical bodies can be erected in that the cylindrical bodies hang on the guide elements in each case by way of the protuberance. The separation arrangement here has a height guide, wherein a spacing between the height guide and the cylindrical bodies, as seen in the conveying direction, decreases to a predetermined spacing in relation to the guide elements, as a result of which vertically projecting cylindrical bodies, as they are being conveyed in the conveying direction, are forced downwards by the height guide and wherein the height guide can be raised briefly by means of a lifting device in accordance with a triggering signal.

Abstract: The present invention is to present a sample analyzer which can conduct a stable feeding of container used for preparing a measuring sample.

Abstract: A food item is cooked in a cooking device and transferred to a heated holding table by two exit conveyors. The food item then falls onto one of two transfer conveyors that move perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the exit conveyors. The food items travel on the transfer conveyors and then fall onto a main conveyor. The main conveyor moves in a direction that is parallel to the direction of movement of the exit conveyors. If the food item has not been manually removed from the main conveyor after a predetermined amount of time, the food item falls off the main conveyor and into a drawer waste chute for disposal.

Abstract: A supply station of articles to a plurality of channels opening above a continuous blister strip, of a type comprising supply organs for containing the articles and for dispensing the articles towards conveying means located downstream, which conveying means select and direct the articles in an ordered fashion in an advancement direction towards mouths afforded in the plurality of channels; collection and transfer means, functionally associated to the mouths and receiving and collecting excess articles which accumulate at the mouths, and transferring the excess articles upstream of the mouths, in proximity of a predetermined first zone of the conveying means.

Abstract: A conveyor and a method for depalletizing and singulating packages. The conveyor comprises, in one version, a set-down conveyor on which pallet layers are deposited and conveyed, a row-separation conveyor that separates the pallet layer into spaced rows, a row-extraction conveyor that extracts a leading row of packages from the trailing rows and conveys the packages of the extracted row in a transverse direction, and a singulating conveyor that arranges the articles in a single file. The conveyor system operates by first pulling a gap in the leading row of a pallet layer when the packages cross into the row-separation conveyor. Then the row is extracted from the other rows on the row-extraction conveyor. Finally, as the packages travel on and along the singulating conveyor, they are aligned to the conveyor's outer edge and rotated, if necessary, to be properly singulated.

Abstract: A stripper of the invention uses flat metal springs (leaf springs) preferably made of spring steel and a flexible polymer based friction material covering the springs on one side so that the friction material contacts an incoming mail piece passing by the stripper along the friction surface presented by the outside of the friction material. A stripper according to the invention has variable stiffness, is quick responding, and is critically damped, meaning that incoming mail pieces will not bounce off it with excessive force likely to cause a misfeed or loss of control of the mail piece.

Abstract: Two supply streams (1.1 and 1.2) of printed products are combined to form a combined printed-product stream. For this purpose, the supply streams are conveyed into a combining region (V) in a main conveying direction (F) in a state in which they, for example, rest loosely on conveying surfaces (3.1 and 3.2), are parallel to one another, adjacent to one another and on the same level, inner and outer edges of the printed products (P) of the two supply streams (1.1 and 1.2) being oriented parallel to the main conveying direction (F). At the entrance to the combining region (V), the inner edge region of each printed product of the first supply stream (1.1) is raised and, as they are conveyed through the combining region (V), the printed products of the two supply streams (1.1 and 1.2) are pushed transversely to the main conveying direction (F) and towards one another. An inner edge region of a printed product of the second supply stream (1.

Abstract: A device for transfer of items, in particular food items such as pieces of meat, with the device having a base part using a vacuum source, a conveyor belt having a plurality of openings formed in the conveyor belt, a driver for the conveyor belt and a support adapted for supporting the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is arranged in a path or course such that the conveyor belt is supported by the support. Further, the base part has a first part corresponding to a vacuum transport zone and a second part corresponding to a friction transport zone. The invention also relates to a method of transferring items, in particular food items such as pieces of meat.

Abstract: The present invention is a pill dispensing method and apparatus wherein a first rotor rotates pills about a rotation axis along a first part of a spiral path at a first rotational speed whereupon the pills move spirally away from the rotation axis. A second rotor receives the pills from the first rotor and rotates the pills about the rotation axis along a second part of the spiral path at a second, greater rotational speed whereupon the pills move spirally away from the rotation axis toward a discharge chute which dispenses the pills into a pill bottle or a storage container. A counter can be provided for counting pills that exit the discharge chute or opening.