Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a supply device, comprising at least one feed conveyor, at least one intermediate conveyor, a discharge conveyor and at least one handling device, wherein individual products are continuously conveyed from the at least one feed conveyor to a work area of the at least one handling device. The invention relates to a supply device for forming an article layer from individual products and for transferring the article layer to a downstream device, comprising at least one feed conveyor, at least one intermediate conveyor, a discharge conveyor and at least one handling device, which is adapted for carrying out the method according to the invention.

Abstract: A device for conveying products within an industrial line, comprising a conveyor transporting a stream of products along at least one line. The device comprises at least one main zone delimited by primary beacons and covering a segment of the stream; and above the conveyor, at least one member for detecting the primary beacons and for counting the number of products at least inside the main zone. Also a method for conveying products, in which a stream of products is transported along at least one line and, by means of primary beacons at least one main zone is delimited, covering a segment of the stream; the primary beacons are detected and the number of products in the main zone is counted.

Abstract: Article transport vehicles have, as operation states, a first state of traveling toward a transport destination that is a destination set for receiving an article or delivering an article, and a second state in which a transport destination has not been set. A controller divides the entirety of a travelable route into a plurality of set areas and executes imbalance reduction control to arrange standby transport vehicles such that imbalance of the densities of standby transport vehicles present in the areas is within a predetermined range, the standby transport vehicles being article transport vehicles in the second state.

Abstract: Synchronizing variables can be tuned based on a sod harvester's speed. A sod harvester's control system can include a tuning component that receives as input a current speed of the sod harvester. The tuning component can apply logic to the current speed to calculate values for synchronizing variables that are tuned for the current speed. In this way, the sod harvester can be operated with precision across a range of speeds, including at high speeds.

Abstract: A method of adjusting accelerations within a packaging machine includes determining the dimensions and frictional coefficients of each product or group of products that are placed on a product feeder 106. Acceleration profiles of first and second drive lines 200, 202 can be adjusted to ensure that the products are moved through the packaging machine at appropriate speeds and accelerations. The method may ensure that the products maintain proper positions throughout the packaging process so that the products are not damaged, and the packaging process is not hindered. A packaging machine with means for determining the coefficient of friction associated with a product is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the position determination of an object (6, 6a . . . 6d), which is conveyed on a conveying device (1a . . . 1c). In this process, a deviation (?P) between a position (Psig) of the object (6, 6a . . . 6d), which is calculated with the aid of rotation signals from the drives (M) for conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) of the conveying device (1a . . . 1c), and a position (P1 . . . P5) of a detection area (E1,E2) of a sensor (L1 . . . L5) fixedly installed on the conveying device (6, 6a . . . 6d) is determined and used for calculating a corrected position (Pkorr) of the object (6, 6a . . . 6d) during a movement of the object (6, 6a . . . 6d) away from this detection area (E1,E2). Furthermore, a conveying device (1a . . . 1c) for performing the presented method is indicated.

Abstract: Item singulation systems and methods may include an input conveyor, a vision system, and an output conveyor that receives items from the input conveyor. The vision system may determine individual columns of items from among a plurality of items on the input conveyor. Operations of the input conveyor and output conveyor may be controlled substantially as a pull system to transfer individual columns of items to the output conveyor, such that singulated items can be transferred by the output conveyor to downstream processes.

Abstract: A conveyor system for moving a plurality of targets is provided. The conveyor system includes at least one input group to input the target, at least one output group to output the target, and at least one bridge group to connect the input group with the output group. Each of the input group, the output group, and the bridge group includes a plurality of nodes having a size corresponding to a size of one target. The conveyor system further includes a control unit to align the target moving on the conveyor system.

Abstract: There is provided a parcel determination device that determines whether or not parcel recognized in a first recognition region provided in a predetermined transport path and parcel recognized in a second recognition region being disposed on a downstream side from the first recognition region in the transport path and being discontinuous with the first recognition region are the same parcel, the device including: a processor; and a memory, in which by cooperating with the memory, the processor determines whether or not parcel which leaves the first recognition region and parcel which enters the second recognition region are the same parcel, based on whether or not a time when parcel leaves the first recognition region and a time when parcel enters the second recognition region correspond to a time required for parcel to be transported between the two recognition regions.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for transferring an object are disclosed. The apparatus includes a transfer track comprising a plurality of conveyors for transferring an object, an upper scheduler creating a transfer path for transferring the object and creating transfer information for controlling operations of conveyors constituting the transfer path, and a plurality of lower schedulers each receiving the transfer information from the upper scheduler and each controlling the operations of the conveyors based on the transfer information.

Abstract: The invention is based on a device for aligning products (14), more particularly products moved by means of a transport device (12), more particularly to form rows and/or groups of the products (14) running transverse to a main transport direction (16) of the transport device (12), having at least one aligning unit (18) having at least one alignment element (20, 22, 24) that can be introduced into a gap that exists, more particularly along the main transport direction (16), between at least two of the products (14) in order to align the products (14), and having at least one straightening drive unit (26), more particularly a linear drive unit, at least to drive the at least one alignment element (20, 22, 24), said straightening drive unit having at least one movement element (28, 30, 32) that can be driven in an individually speed- and/or position-controlled manner, on which movement element the at least one alignment element (20, 22, 24; 20, 22, 24) is arranged.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing gaps in article or package processing. In some embodiments, the system can include a conveying path along which a first advanced article and a second advanced article can be advanced. The system can further include a first stop location and a second stop location. The first stop location can include movable fingers that are configured to raise to stop the advance of the articles and then lower at specific times to allow the articles to advance with specific distances between the articles. Additionally, the system can include a paddle that also raises and lowers. The paddle lowers to stop an advancing article again, and in doing so, front-end registers the article. Then the paddle can raise to allow the package to advance again along the conveyor.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for an improved accumulation conveyor and systems and methods for controlling a high rate, high density tunable accumulation conveyor. In one embodiment, an accumulation conveyor system determines whether an item detection variable associated with a second zone of a plurality of zones is satisfied, wherein the second zone is downstream of a first zone. The accumulation conveyor system determines whether at least one of two operational characteristic variables is satisfied. In an instance where both the item detection variable and at least one operational characteristic variable are satisfied, the accumulation conveyor system is configured to set a zone operating state associated with the first zone to inactive and send a command signal comprising the zone operating state associated with the first zone to a control module associated with the first zone. In another embodiment, an improved method for adjusting aggressiveness is disclosed.

Abstract: A cargo handling system includes a conveyance surface; a first power drive unit having a first drive roller; a first restraint device; one or more sensors configured to provide positional data corresponding to a current location of a unit load device on the conveyance surface; a first power drive unit controller configured for communication with the one or more sensors, the first power drive unit configured to selectively activate and deactivate the first drive roller and the first restraint device based on the positional data and a second power drive unit and a second power drive unit controller configured for communication with the sensor, the second power drive unit controller configured to selectively activate and deactivate a second drive roller based on the positional data.

Abstract: An article transport device includes: an input section configured to input a package; an input belt conveyor configured to transport, toward a seal attaching mechanism, the package input by the input section; a passage detection sensor configured to detect that the package transported by the input belt conveyor passes by a predetermined position; a suspending pusher configured to temporarily suspend a subsequent package while a package is processed by the seal attaching mechanism; and an article stopper configured to block the subsequent package in a traveling direction and suspend the subsequent package while the package is processed by the seal attaching mechanism. An article detection sensor is disposed upstream of the passage detection sensor. When the passage detection sensor detects passage of one package, the suspending pusher is caused to operate so that a subsequent package is temporarily suspended.

Abstract: A controller of a material handling system performs a method of dynamic spacing on a sortation conveyor by predicting fullness of divert destinations. Required tray spacing between inducted articles destined for the same divert destination can be reduced when the divert destination is calculated to have sufficient capacity. Fewer discharge commands need to be ignored due to insufficient tray spacing. The material handling systems can achieve higher throughput by having fewer articles that cannot be discharged to an assigned destination.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring and/or stacking products, the apparatus including a frame, a bar conveyor associated with the frame, the bar conveyor having a plurality of flight bars that are independently driven by a plurality of independent drivetrains, a lifting device having a lifting plate, the lifting device being located within the bar conveyor, and at least one pusher.

Abstract: A method for transferring and/or stacking products, the method including providing a first plurality of products as a first unit, pushing the first unit onto a lifting plate, lowering the plate, providing a second plurality of products as a second unit, pushing the second unit onto the top of the first unit to create a stack.

Abstract: A method for transporting manufactured products from a first production machine to a second production machine via a conveying apparatus comprises receiving, at one end of the conveying apparatus, manufactured products produced by the first production machine. The manufactured products are transported at a speed of the conveying apparatus. The manufactured products are spaced apart from each other along the conveying apparatus such that an empty space is created between each manufactured product. The first production machine is stopped in response to a stoppage of the second production machine and the conveying apparatus is actuated to a second operating state that is configured to allow a manufactured product last output by the first production machine prior to the stop to be received by the conveying apparatus in the empty space nearest to the first production machine. The conveying apparatus is then stopped.

Abstract: A cargo handling system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the cargo handling system includes a conveyance surface having a tray defining an interior section and a rail section; a power drive unit disposed within the interior section; and a power bus routed along a length of the rail section and configured to supply power to the power drive unit.

Abstract: A conveyor system conveying packages with controlled gaps or pitches to a processing station and a method for controlling the speed of an infeed conveyor to supply packages to the processing station with maximized throughput. The conveyor system comprises the infeed conveyor followed by a separation conveyor, a gapping conveyor, and a processing conveyor delivering packages to the processing station. The length of a string of packages and interpackage gaps is measured on the separation conveyor and compared to the length of a string of packages on the processing conveyor. If the string length on the processing conveyor exceeds the string length on the separation conveyor, a programmed controller adjusts the infeed speed down. If the string length on the separation conveyor exceeds the string length on the processing conveyor, the controller adjusts the infeed speed up.

Abstract: A workpiece processing system and method, the workpiece processing system comprising at least one workpiece processing module (3), each workpiece processing module comprising: a workpiece processing unit (11) for processing workpieces (W); and a feed unit (37) which is operable to transfer workpieces to and from the workpiece processing unit, wherein the feed unit comprises input and output feed assemblies (38, 39) which are operable to transfer workpieces to and from the workpiece processing unit and a processing zone feed assembly (40) which interconnects the input and output feed assemblies and is operable to transfer workpieces from the input feed assembly (38) to the workpiece processing unit and from the workpiece processing unit to the output feed assembly (39).

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a food processing apparatus with a scanner for determining properties of a food product, in particular a food bar, with at least two substantially parallel separately drivable conveyor tracks for supplying the food products to the scanner, and with a control unit for controlling the drive of the conveyor tracks. According to the disclosure, the control unit is adapted to separately control the drive of the conveyor tracks to convey at least one food product of a first conveyor track and at least one food product of a further conveyor track sequentially through a scanning area of the scanner. The disclosure further relates to a method for scanning food products.

Abstract: A motorized drive roller conveyor includes an upstream zone and a downstream zone, with each zone having a drive roller, an idler roller that is driven by the drive roller, and a sensor. The upstream zone and the downstream zone are controlled by a card, which measures a gap between a first item on the conveyor and a second item on the conveyor by beginning a counter when a trailing edge of the first item passes the sensor of the upstream zone and stopping the counter when a leading edge of the second item passes the sensor of the upstream zone to generate a counter value. If the first item is stopped in the downstream zone, the card of the upstream zone causes the drive roller of the upstream zone to advance the second item into the downstream zone for a distance derived from the counter value before stopping the transportation of the second item.

Abstract: A numerical controller carries out acceleration/deceleration control over an interpolation pulse produced based on command blocks. This numerical controller exercises acceleration/deceleration control processing over the interpolation pulse based on an acceleration/deceleration setting which corresponds to the command blocks, and outputs a first speed pulse. The numerical controller exercises acceleration/deceleration control processing over the first speed pulse such that command blocks overlap each other, based on an overlapping shared acceleration/deceleration setting which does not depended on the command blocks, and outputs a second speed pulse.

Abstract: A conveyor device for conveying an object with an identification device. The conveyor device comprises a plurality of rollers, connected drive motors for driving the rollers, a transmitter, a receiver for detecting the distance of the identification device and a control device for controlling the connected drive motors.

Abstract: An article induction system for preparing a stream of articles, such as mail parcels, for processing employs a series of conveyors operating under control of a controller for feeding articles to an operator at a cull belt at an optimal paced rate. The article induction system includes a destacking section, a separation and alignment section, a buffer section and a culling section manned by an operator. A controller controls the speed of each component based on measurements provided by sensors so as to feed articles to the operator at a desired paced rate.

Abstract: A transfer system is provided. The transfer system comprises a loading stage, configured to receive a product from a first movement system. The transfer system also comprises a gap stage, configured to receive the product from the loading stage and move the product at a speed. The speed is configured to separate the product from a subsequent product. The transfer system also comprises a detection stage, configured to identify the product by detecting a product identifier using a sensor. The transfer system also comprises a transfer system configured to move the product from through the loading stage, gap stage and detection stage to a second movement stage. The transfer system also comprises a controller configured to generate and send control signals to the transfer system and receive an identification of the product from the sensor.

Abstract: A robot system including a conveying device; a robot that processes an object being conveyed; a first and second supply unit that supply the object onto the conveying device; a movement amount detection unit that successively detects an amount of movement of the object supplied by the first supply unit; a single vision sensor that successively acquires visual information of the object being conveyed; an object detection unit that processes the acquired visual information to detect position and orientation of the object; an interval detection unit that detects an interval between objects on the conveying device; a control unit that controls the robot based on the amount of movement and the position and orientation; and a production management unit that causes the second supply unit to supply the object at a position of the interval.

Abstract: Embodiments of a conveyor system for separating cases of product are disclosed. An elongated, substantially horizontal frame extends from an entry point to an exit point and has a plurality of linear zones. A plurality of motivators is arranged along the frame, such that a case placed on one or more motivators will be moved forward toward the exit point by a coordinated movement of the motivators. A plurality of case sensors arranged along the frame detects the presence of one or more cases within each of the linear zones, and a controller activates the motivators such that a minimum time period elapses between cases delivered to the exit point. The system can include an AC/DC power supply configured to receive 110-120V alternating current power at 60 Hz and to provide direct current power to the controller, the plurality of case sensors, and the plurality of individually-controllable motivators.

Abstract: A distributed logic control apparatus is usable to control a system and includes a plurality of enhanced intelligent devices and a network protocol control that are connected with a data network. The intelligent devices each have a processor apparatus and an algorithm operable thereon that enables each intelligent device to control a corresponding part of the system. Other algorithms on the intelligent devices provide an advantageous setup operation that enables the intelligent devices to cooperate with one another in a self-setup operation.

Abstract: A robotic material handling system has a controller that positions a nose conveyor surface proximate to an article pile, uses a robotic manipulator to robotically move one or more articles per operation onto the nose conveyor from the article pile, and receives a scan of the nose conveyor surface to detect respective locations of any articles received on the nose conveyor surface. The controller determines whether the respective locations of any scanned articles prevent immediate rearward conveyance by the two or more parallel conveyors at a first speed. If so detected, the controller causes at least one of the two or more parallel conveyors to operate at the first speed and at least another one of two or more parallel conveyors to operate at a second speed that is not equal to the first speed so that cartons do not jam or overwhelm a narrower rearward conveyor.

Abstract: An adjustment method for adjusting the heights of the nipping belts in a transport conveyor that moves flat articles in series and on edge, so that a transport height is substantially constant for the flat articles. The method causes the conveyor to operate empty in such a manner that the nipping belts of heights that are to be adjusted run without any flat article in the conveyor, emits two parallel and superposed light beams towards a belt of height to be adjusted, spaced apart by a certain distance equal to the width of the belt between the two opposite edges of the belt to be adjusted, the light beams emitted from a portable tool, and manipulate a tensioner adjusting the belt so as to move the belt heightwise while it is running empty until the two light beams intersect respective ones of the two opposite edges of the belt.

Abstract: A conveyor includes a conveyor belt, a sensor and a controller, wherein the sensor includes a light ray generator, a light ray receiver and at least one baffle. The controller is connected with the light ray receiver for controlling the conveyor belt to stop moving in response to a signal fed back by the light ray receiver that the conveyed product has been conveyed to the end of the conveyor belt. The baffle has a light transmission hole to let the light ray emitted from the light ray generator pass through. The gap between a lower edge of the baffle and the conveyor belt is smaller than the thickness of the conveyed product. When the baffle is impinged by the conveyed product, the baffle will move along the conveying direction of the conveyor belt so as to block the light ray emitted from the light ray generator.

Abstract: A standardized drive system for a roller conveyor assembly having a motor with an integrated motor drive unit with superior heat transfer characteristics. A motor driver annex is attached to the motor housing and provides a mounting method and a heat sink for cooling the DMOS that provides power to the motor phases. The system includes an easily accessible multi-mode conveyor control management system which provides design flexibility with minimal cost and additionally adds functional improvements for transportation modes. The motor is configured to be mounted on a metal bracket below the rollers and between the side frames of the conveyor assembly. The control system is exceptionally flexible, allowing the system to be configured to operate in many common conveying modes.

Abstract: A tray feeding system having a buffer conveyor for trays including a belt with spaced apart free running rollers having a rotation axis perpendicular to the conveying direction. These rollers extend upward from the belt such that the trays partly rest on the rollers. A tray conveyor receiving end is adjacent to an outputting end of the buffer conveyor where items are placed into the trays by a tray filler. A roller interactor is positioned below and adjacent to the surface of the buffer conveyor belt at an outputting end to engage with the rollers at the outputting end area when the buffer conveyor belts move forward rotating the rollers positioned within the outputting end area accelerating the trays on the buffer conveyor within the outputting end area of the buffer conveyor towards the receiving end of the tray conveyor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a machine for transferring electronic components onto electronic cards (4), including: a conveyor (1) on which the electronic cards (4) file past in succession, and sensors (3) disposed along the conveyor in such a way as to determine the position of the electronic cards (4) filing along the conveyor (1). The density of the sensors (3) along the conveyor (1) is sufficiently high such that an electronic card (4) does not leave the field of a sensor (3) before it has entered the field of another sensor (3), over at least a part of the length of the conveyor (1).

Abstract: As fruit (preferably apples) are harvested, the fruit is placed on a conveyor that conveys the fruit to a fruit singulating section. In the singulating section, the fruit is directed into slots in a lane formed by two cooperating helical drives. The helical drives rotate the fruit and convey the fruit into an imaging chamber where a camera acquires an image of the fruit. The fruit image is evaluated by a processor in communication with the camera. The fruit is then directed into a rotary sorter which sorts the fruit based on the image evaluation by the processor.

Abstract: A conveyor system includes successive modules forming a conveyor segment, each module includes a control device associated with, and controlling, at least one zone. Each control device includes a communication device for communicating with the control devices included in the adjacent modules. The control devices execute a mechanism for propagation and enrichment of quantitative segment information, from the two end zones of the conveyor segment, thereby providing for each zone: a first quantitative segment information item (propagated and enriched from upstream to downstream and relating to all of the zones in an upstream sub-segment located upstream from the zone) and/or a second quantitative segment information item (propagated and enriched from downstream to upstream and relating to all of the zones in a downstream sub-segment located downstream from the zone). Each control device dynamically adapts the behavior of each zone it controls, according to the available quantitative segment information.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automated method of assembling or processing components using computer numerical controlled drives to decouple the stages of delivering components to a tool, into a series of separately programmable stages, namely, a component loading stage, a component separating stage, an accelerating stage and a delivery stage, wherein the timing, position, speed, velocity, and acceleration of each component during each stage is selected through programming of the computer numerical controls.

Abstract: This disclosure pertains to weighing a physical item while it is moving in a servo-driven conveyor system for e-commerce, logistics, manufacturing and other applications. The introduction of an unknown mass to an electro-mechanical feedback or filter network controlling a conveyance system will modify the steady state behavior of that system in such a way that measuring the phase or frequency shift of an input signal or oscillation will enable us to infer the magnitude of that mass.

Abstract: A conveyor system and method for cascaded accumulation on a series of in-line roller belts. An accumulation system comprises a series of roller belts that can be actuated in contiguous zones to accelerate conveyed articles forward at twice the belt speed. When articles start to accumulate on the accumulation conveyor, the belt rollers are deactuated downstream to upstream zone by zone. Then the belts are stopped as they fill with accumulated articles. The process is repeated in cascade for the upstream roller belts as articles continue to accumulate.

Abstract: A packaging assembly and a method of operating such a packaging assembly, the packaging assembly comprises at least one of a thermoform packaging machine, a separation robot, a conveyor and a checkweigher. The separation robot is operable to adjust a distance between packages of a group of packages formed by the packaging machine. The conveyor and the separation robot may be operated together to provide a flow of packages that is supplied to the checkweigher, wherein the flow of packages may include substantially constant distances between the individual packages.

Abstract: A product packaging system comprises a plurality of product sources (2, 4, 6) delivering product to a final collating and packaging line (10). The output from each machine is delivered by separate conveying means (8) delivering the products directly into a collating conveyor (20) which in turn delivers the collated products to a packaging line. The collating conveyor comprising an endless conveyor carrying a plurality of compartments, each compartment receiving from said conveying means products to be packaged. The compartments are configured to enable their sizes to be changed, and the endless conveyor comprises a track arranged in a vertical loop and a plurality of product supporting members mounted for movement along the track, each supporting member being driven along the track and controllable independently of the other supporting members.

Abstract: A conveying system includes several conveying sections that are driven in each case by an individual drive. A regulation unit for regulating a regulated drive of one of the two conveying sections includes a measuring device and a regulating device. The measuring device measures loading of the conveying system in a coupling region between the conveying section and another conveying section. The regulating device regulates the regulated drive in accordance with the measured loading.

Abstract: An infeed apparatus includes an item manipulator that orients items such as cases in a desired orientation as determined by a build menu, and a row build apparatus that is synchronized with the manipulator to space items pursuant to the build menu. The manipulator uses a pusher to push items across a friction belt to thereby orient the items, and includes sensors for determining when an item is in an incorrect orientation. The row build receives items from the pusher and is selectively advanced to locate items in a desired relative orientation so that rows of items are built correctly.

Abstract: Types of molded articles carried by a carrier are identified and the molded articles are sorted based on image-related information for the molded articles molded based on set operating conditions for injection molding machines and molded article images acquired by an image acquisition unit. It is thus possible to narrow down candidate images in processing in a molded article identification unit, thereby making it possible to construct an injection molding system that has excellent production efficiency with a reduced load on processing in the molded article identification unit.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus that increases the conveying speed of a conveyance object, and improves reliability and conveyance efficiency at low cost. Acceleration/deceleration sections, each of which includes a plurality of variable-speed conveyance sections, are provided among constant-speed conveyance sections. The conveying speed of a conveyance object is continuously accelerated or decelerated while the conveyance object passes through the acceleration/deceleration sections. This changes the conveying speed from the conveying speed of the upstream constant-speed conveyance section to the conveying speed of the downstream constant-speed conveyance section. Thus, it is controlled that the conveying speed and the conveyance acceleration/deceleration is identical between the upstream conveyance section and the downstream conveyance section when the conveyance object is transferred from the upstream conveyance section to the downstream conveyance section.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes a conveying portion configured to convey conveyed items at a predetermined speed, a speed adjustment portion arranged midway in the conveying portion, the speed adjustment portion being configured to adjust the conveying speed of the conveyed items, a thickness detector arranged further upstream in conveying direction than the speed adjustment portion, the thickness detector being configured to detect a thickness of the conveyed items; a gap detector arranged further upstream in conveying direction than the speed adjustment portion of the conveying portion, the gap detector being configured to detect a preceding gap between a conveyed item and the conveyed item that is conveyed immediately in front of that conveyed item and a following gap between that conveyed item and the conveyed item that is conveyed immediately behind that conveyed item; and a control device configured to control the adjustment speed of the conveyed item by the speed adjustment portion.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a conveying apparatus includes: a conveyor configured to convey a conveyed item at a predetermined speed; a first gap detector provided midway in the conveyor, the first gap detector being configured to detect a first preceding gap between the conveyed item and a preceding conveyed item that is conveyed immediately before the conveyed item, and a following gap between the conveyed item and a following conveyed item that is conveyed immediately behind the conveyed item; at least two speed adjusters provided midway in the conveyor downstream from the first gap detector, the speed adjusters being configured to adjust a conveying speed of the conveyed item.