Abstract: A method for estimating the extent of a friction interaction between a transport surface of an article conveyor and articles transported on the transport surface by providing a representative test article, associating an acceleration sensor with the test article so that the acceleration sensor is capable of measuring acceleration along a direction lying in a plane parallel to a support plane of the test article, placing the test article on the transport surface and having it transported by the article conveyor, so that the acceleration sensor measures at least an acceleration experienced by the test article along a direction lying in a plane parallel to the transport surface on which the test article rests, acquiring measurements of the acceleration along the direction, and estimating the extent of the friction interaction between the transport surface and the test article on the basis of the acquired measurements of the acceleration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveying device (1) having an accumulation area (SB) for accumulating objects (O, O1 . . . O2, Oa . . . Oj), and to an operating method for the conveying device (1). By means of a measuring device (L1), the object rear edge (KHO1) of a first object (O1) and the object front edge (KVO2) of a second object (O2) which follows the first object (O1) are detected. The position of the objects (O1, O2) is determined by means of rotation signals from the drives (M) of conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L). For the second object (O2), a continuous curve of a speed reduction of a target speed (vSoll) is calculated, wherein the calculated stop position (PStop) of the object front edge (KVO2) of the second object (O2) is located at the position of the object rear edge (KHO1) of the stopped first object (O1), or between the object front edge (KVO1) of the stopped first object (O1) and the object rear edge (KHO1) of the stopped first object (O1).

Abstract: Signage packs for retail store shelves are compiled with a continuous belt pusher system having multiple pushers that allow accumulated set signage packs to be collated and pushed to a downstream transport system that forwards them for the application of hot-melt adhesive to an edge of each pack while simultaneously eliminating printer skipped pitches.

Abstract: An induction station for conveying packages in a storage facility is provided. The induction station includes a plurality of parallel feed conveyors including at least first and second conveyors, and one or more buffer conveyors including at least a third conveyor for conveying the packages from the first and second conveyors to the third conveyor. The induction station further includes sensors for measuring a height, a weight, a length, and a width of each package. The induction station further includes sensors for detecting each package as one of a first package type or a second package type. The induction station further includes a controller to control a first, a second speed, and a third speed of the first through third conveyors, respectively, based on the detected package type of each package and at least one of the weight, height, length, and width of each package.

Abstract: A conveyor system comprising a synchronization unit having a first conveyor belt, a second conveyor belt disposed adjacent to the first conveyor belt, an inlet end and an outlet end. The system further comprises a joint shuttle disposed between the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt, each of the first and second conveyor belts having a variable length while the distance between the inlet end and the outlet end is fixed. A discharge conveyor belt is disposed upstream the inlet end and is operating at a first velocity (VD). At a time T1, the velocity of the first conveyor belt (V1T1) is equal to the velocity of the discharge conveyor belt (VD) and, at a time T2, the velocity of the first conveyor belt (V1T2) is equal to the velocity of the second conveyor belt (Vm), without relative movement between the conveyor belts and objects conveyed thereon.

Abstract: An envelope feeder for a printer having two aligned conveyors moving at different speeds is disclosed. An upstream conveyor moves a backwards slanted procession of envelopes having aligned upper edges onto an inline downstream conveyor that accelerates the envelopes along a curved upper edge so that by the time any single envelope arrives at the printer ingestion or feed slot, the envelope is almost completely flat yet supported upwards slightly so that the pickup roller of the printer can easily and reliably ingest the envelope for processing. Due to the speed of the downstream conveyor, envelopes are continually and reliably presented to the printer to avoid printer stalls. The configuration reduces the amount of skill and operating labor required to establish a high-speed envelope feed source for high-speed printing.

Abstract: A device with a gripper conveyor and with a conveying-away device as well as with means for transferring two-dimensional products fed by the gripper conveyors, to the conveying-away device amid the formation of an imbricate formation, wherein the device forms a transfer region, in which the gripper conveyor is arranged above the conveying-away device. At least two, preferably at least three product release devices which are arranged in series after one another and distanced to one another, are individually activatable and are for the individual release of the products, are assigned to the gripper conveyor in the transfer region.

Abstract: A mailpiece inserter includes a feed conveyor adapted to feed a shingled stack of mailpiece envelopes along a feed path to an insert module and a chassis module adapted to produce content material for insertion into the mailpiece envelopes processed by the insert module. An envelope position detector is operative to sense a discontinuity in the shingled stack and issues a first position signal indicative thereof, and an input conveyor module is adapted to convey mailpiece envelopes into shingled engagement with an aft end of the shingled stack of mailpiece envelopes on the feed conveyor. The input conveyor module has an input end proximal to a single workstation of the chassis module which enables an operator to (i) feed mailpiece envelopes to the input module and (ii) supply content material to the chassis module.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) loads product in the form of bags into a carton held at a tilt angle. The leading ends of the bags on an adjustment conveyor (20) are abutted by a bumper (30) to reorient the bags 90° on the adjustment conveyor (20). The downstream roller (44) of a twist conveyor (40) is tilted to collate bags on a decline conveyor (70). The collated bags are moved on an orientation conveyor (74) to engage a product scoop (110) extending at an inclined position and moved to a vertical position to vertically orient the bags. The orientation conveyor (74) is moved to an offset position to allow the bags to drop onto a lowerator (92) of an accumulator (86) where they can be sandwiched between retainer plates (88, 90). A pusher plate (94) pushes the bags off the lowerator (92) into the carton and is tilted to correspond to the tilt angle of the carton.

Abstract: A method for feeding a shingled stack of sheet material to a downstream processing device includes the step of identifying a discontinuity in the shingled stack of sheet material wherein the discontinuity has a length dimension from an aft end of a downstream portion of the shingled sheet material to a forward end of an upstream portion of the shingled sheet material. In a next step, the motion of first and second serially arranged conveyors are controlled such that the length dimension of the discontinuity is substantially equal to a prescribed gap of known length dimension. The first conveyor supports the upstream portion of the shingled sheet material and the second conveyor supports the downstream portion of the shingled sheet material. The deck of the first is advanced over the deck of the second conveyor toward the aft end of the downstream portion by the length dimension of the prescribed gap.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling gaps between articles traveling on a conveyor system includes providing a plurality of tandem conveying surfaces defining a series of sequentially arranged conveying surface interfaces. At least one of the conveying surfaces associated with each of said conveying surface interfaces is an adjustable-speed conveying surface. At least one article sensor is provided adjacent at least one of the conveying surface interfaces. The article sensor provides information on positions of the articles. The speeds of the tandem conveying surfaces are controlled in a manner that establishes controlled gaps between articles, by identifying a controllable gap that can be adjusted between articles at a particular conveying surface interface and adjusting the controllable gap at the particular conveying surface interface.

Abstract: A machine for sealing containers by applying a covering film or a lid, which is located downstream of an infeed system for feeding containers to be sealed, the infeed system including an accumulation unit driven by motor means and located downstream relative to a feeder unit driven by motor means, the feeder unit feeding containers to the accumulation unit.

Abstract: A textile separating apparatus may include a textile collection area for supporting the pile of textile items, and a transport mechanism having an inclined face intersecting the pile of textile items. One or more pick members may project from the face of the transport mechanism, and may successively separate and carry individual textile items from the pile of textile items towards a textile receiving area.

Abstract: An accumulation conveyor system and method of accumulating articles includes providing an accumulation assembly that is adapted to accumulating a plurality of articles into a slug of articles. Slugs of articles are discharged to a transport line which transports the slugs and accumulates the slugs as required. The accumulation assembly is made up of a slug forming section which forms slug portions and discharges slug portions into slugs. The accumulation assembly accumulates articles in zones and reduces gaps between articles in sequence from upstream gaps to downstream gaps.

Abstract: A device for correcting uneven spacing of successive articles includes a first conveyor belt having a plurality of articles spaced thereon. At least one article is unevenly spaced. A second conveyor belt is located downstream of the first conveyor belt upon which the plurality of articles are evenly spaced or shingled. A controller moves forwards and backwards, thereby extending or retracting a discharge end of the first conveyor belt and allowing uniform spacing or stacking of the articles on the second conveyor belt.

Abstract: An intelligent deck apparatus and method for serially moving workpieces moving side-by-side on a conveyor system to a processing system. The intelligent deck is comprised of an edge detector system having at least one sensor, a shift mechanism, and a lift arm system having at least one lift arm. The intelligent deck apparatus also has a computer system operatively connected to the working parts of the intelligent deck and the processing system. The intelligent deck distinguishes between workpieces by shifting the leading workpiece to distinguish it from subsequent workpieces.

Abstract: A device for correcting uneven spacing of successive articles includes a first conveyor belt having a plurality of articles spaced thereon. At least one article is unevenly spaced. A second conveyor belt is located downstream of the first conveyor belt upon which the plurality of articles are evenly spaced or shingled. A controller moves forwards and backwards, thereby extending or retracting a discharge end of the first conveyor belt and allowing uniform spacing or stacking of the articles on the second conveyor belt.

Abstract: A conveyor induct system includes a control point subsystem for measuring the point at which control of an article transitions from one conveyor to another. The induct system also includes a subsystem for accurately creating or controlling the gaps between articles on the conveyor system. The control point subsystem monitors the location, and changes in the speed, of an article as it passes between two conveyors operating at different speeds. The gap control subsystem provides real time monitoring and measuring of the package gaps. The measured package gaps are fed into a feedback control system which alters the speed of a conveyor in order to change the gapping as desired.

Abstract: The device for conveying objects (14) consists of successively arranged conveyor elements (17) which can move along a conveyor path (16). A conveyor clamp is associated with each conveyor element. Said conveyor clamp is mounted on the conveyor element in such a way that it can be moved backwards and forth between two positions (22, 24) in a defined direction of conveyance relative to the conveyor path (16). A fixed control device (48) is provided in order to displace predetermined passing transport clamps from one position (22, 24) into another position (24, 22), thereby simplifying the processing and treatment of individual objects in a stream of objects.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for conveying flat objects (46), especially products of a printing works, which comprises successively arranged conveying elements that are moved along a continuous track (16) in a direction of conveyance (F). Individually controllable conveying clamps (22) are mounted on each conveying element (12) and are configured for laterally holding, with the clamp jaw thereof that is arranged in the plane of conveyance extending in the direction of conveyance (F). at least two objects (46), which are arranged in the plane of conveyance and in the direction of conveyance (F) while overlapping one another in an offset manner. The conveying clamps are mounted on the conveying elements in the plane of conveyance and in a direction of displacement (30), which is perpendicular to the continuous track (16), in a manner that permits them to be displaced to and fro between two positions (50, 50′).

Abstract: A zero-back pressure conveyor in which a transport belt is flanked on opposite sides by two series of inverted roller belt loops. The transport belt forms an upper carryway for transporting articles in a transport direction between the two series of inverted roller belt loops, each of which forms a top supportway. The supportways of corresponding pairs of belt loops are generally coplanar and jointly support an article. The transport belt and each pair of inverted roller belt loops are relatively positionable between a first position in which the upper carryway of the transport belt is generally coplanar with the supportways of the pair of flanking belt loops and a second position in which the carryway is below the plane of the supportways. Thus, in the first position, the transport belt is positioned to contact conveyed articles to move them in the transport direction; and, in the second position, the transport belt is out of contact with the articles.

Abstract: Flat objects, conveyed in succession, are deposited on a slower forwarding conveyor in shingle formation so that a decelerating unit settles from the top on the deposited objects. To guarantee a flawless deposit of the workpieces in shingle formation, the decelerating unit comprises a group of bands or belts, which rotate parallel to each other over deflecting rolls and which are driven at the same speed as the forwarding conveyor and which are forced against the self-forming workpiece shingle, by means of the wheels or rolls, mounted on swivelable levers.

Abstract: An accumulating conveyor system for transporting a series of loads includes a series of conveyor zones including at least an upstream conveyor zone and a downstream conveyor zone. Each conveyor zone includes a drive arrangement for operating the conveyor zone to advance loads therealong. An improved singulated release control is interconnected with each drive arrangement. The control is operable to advance adjacent first and second loads on adjacent upstream and downstream conveyor zones, respectively. The control is operable to stop operation of the upstream zone to maintain the second load stationary, while continuing operation of the downstream zone to advance the first load. When the downstream load approaches the downstream end of the downstream conveyor zone, the control is operable to resume operation of both the downstream and upstream conveyor zones, to continue advancement of the first and second loads, respectively.