Abstract: This invention discloses a system and method for detecting a cover with an abnormal condition. The system includes a transport track for defining a sliding direction of at least one cover with a detection surface. The transport track has a detection area and a cover removal area, and includes a pair of bottom rails and a pair of side rails. The pair of bottom rails support the cover at an inclination angle so that the cover slides on the pair of bottom rails. The cover is located between the pair of side rails, and the sliding direction of the cover is defined by the pair of side rails. The detection area is used for detecting the detection surface of the cover, and the cover removal area has an outlet for removing a cover with an abnormal condition determined based on a detection result of the detection surface thereof.

Abstract: Provided is a printing apparatus that includes a printing unit, a conveyance belt that is stretched over a first roller and a second roller such that a tension is applied to the conveyance belt, and a control unit configured to perform on the conveyance belt a forward rotation operation configured to convey a medium in a conveyance direction and a reverse rotation operation configured to convey the medium in a reverse conveyance direction. When the reverse rotation operation has been performed during a print pause period and the tension at the end of the print pause period has changed from the tension when printing of a first image is complete due to the reverse rotation operation performed during the print pause period, the control unit corrects a rotation amount of the conveyance belt in a first rotation direction during printing of a second image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a scraping device for a rotary tablet press comprising a scraper that is designed to scrape off material for pressing that is located on the top side of a die plate of the rotary tablet press, the die plate rotating relative to the scraper, and comprising a force-generating apparatus that is designed to press the scraper with a predetermined compression against the top side of the die plate, characterized in that the force-generating apparatus comprises a fluid pillow filled with a fluid that is in contact with the scraper directly or via at least one transmission element in order to press the scraper by the predetermined compression against the top side of the die plate. The invention also relates to a rotor for a rotary tablet press, as well as a rotary tablet press.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system are provided for separating material. In some embodiments the separator may include a deck. The deck may accept the material to be separated at a feed end and may provide separated output material at a discharge end. The flow of the material along the deck from the feed end to the discharge end may define a feed direction. The deck may be subject to a vibration or conveyance aligned with the feed direction. The deck may include riffles or corrugations. The riffles may be oriented at an angle relative to a direction of the vibration or conveyance, or at an angle relative to the feed direction. The deck may be subjected to an end-to-end elevation or slope. The end-to-end slope may be positive/downhill, negative/uphill, or zero.

Abstract: A paper discharge device has a first conveyance path having an input port through which paper is introduced, a second conveyance path having a discharge port through which the paper is discharged, and a third conveyance path. A paper feeding mechanism feeds the paper through the first, second and third conveyance paths. A paper storage space temporarily stores the paper to prevent removal of the paper from the discharge port prior to completion of a paper cutting operation or a paper printing operation.

Abstract: A rotating sorting device for sorting packaged goods has one or more linear supply conveyors and a plurality of removal locations arranged circularly about a central axle. One or more linear removal conveyors are positioned between the central axle and the removal locations and are arranged substantially radially. The linear removal conveyor rotates continuously about the central axle. The linear supply conveyor is positioned above or below the linear removal conveyor and has an end portion in a conveying direction of the linear supply conveyor. The end portion has an incline extending downwardly or upwardly toward the linear removal conveyor. A distribution control device controls the linear supply conveyor, the linear removal conveyor, and the removal locations.

Abstract: A system and method for stocking and sorting reticles used in a semiconductor fabrication facility, the facility having a material handling system that presents a reticle to a photolithography process area. In an example embodiment of the reticle management system, a reticle storage system and a reticle sorting apparatus are coupled to a host system that is adapted to track and control the movement of reticles in the material handling system. The host system is capable of interfacing with a management input module that integrates management directives into the reticle flow plan in the manufacturing process. The result is a reticle management system that is flexible enough to manage a finite number of reticles and pods in minimizing the delivery time of a reticle to the desired location while responding to changing conditions external to the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A machine vision inspection system for industrial parts such as plastic molded caps or the like can reliably detect defects at very high inspection rates on the order of 1600 per minute of a variety of cap colors and liners including previously difficult to inspect combinations. Advantageously, the system includes an inclined inspection ramp which provides separation between the caps which are processed through an inspection station to provide accurate imaging of each individual cap without interference from adjacent caps. Further, the inspection station includes a light source which is provided on the back side of the cap in the form of an infrared LED strobe light which provides accurate and reliable lighting for appropriate imaging of caps of any color to detect and identify defects therein.

Abstract: A system for sorting coupons according to information contained within bar codes or similar markings printed thereon. The system includes a storage bin in which the coupons are received and from which they are removed one at a time. A coupon picker removes the coupon from the storage bin and deposits it upon a conveyor belt at a loading station. The information contained on the coupon is read by an appropriate scanner which ascertains through the use of an appropriate data processing system the address of a receiving bin in which the coupon is to be deposited. The position of the coupon on the conveyor belt is tracked and when the coupon arrives at the address of the receiving bin an air jet is activated to propel the coupon from the conveyor belt into the receiving bin.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for sorting capsules of hard or soft gelatin, starch or another material, for faultless and faulty capsules. In the apparatus, capsules are first fed from a supply container holders in a control station, then conveyed in the capsule holders through individual control positions in the control station where they are observed using cameras. The images acquired by the cameras are evaluated to determine production faults in the capsules. The faulty capsules are finally ejected from the control station separately from faultless capsules.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for detecting and ejecting articles of different weights in a product and article stream, by varying the dwell and delay time in accordance with the color classification of the products and articles being sorted. The ejector dwell and delay times are determined by the weight of the products and articles, which can be identified by the percentage reflectivity of color wavelengths of interest.

Abstract: The disclosed sorting conveyor and method of operating sorting conveyors provide for greater utilization of the apparatus, by using different separations between any leading article and its trailing article, either close separation of the articles when the leading article is to remain on the conveyor while its trailing article is being diverted or wide separation when the leading article is to be diverted while its trailing article remains on the conveyor; and when the sorting conveyor is applied to order-filling, the article discharge points can be chosen for the various kinds of articles so as to increase to a maximum the occurrence of small article-to-article separations.

Abstract: A ticket diverter for use in conjunction with a ticket processing apparatus. The diverter has an entry passage through which a ticket enters and an exit passage through which the ticket is expelled. A stationary diverter ramp deflects the ticket from the entry passage to the exit passage. The ticket is propelled in the exit passage by a reversible exit drive roller toward either a dispensing outlet or a capture outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting articles based upon the presence of defects on the surface thereof is characterized by a roller conveyor carrying a random array of articles in transverse channels defined between adjacent rollers. As the conveyor is advanced through a viewed area the articles are simultaneously rotated such that electrical images are formed of the portions of the surface of each article within a viewing zone defined in each channel during a given time frame. The viewing zones advance a predetermined distance through the viewed are in synchronization with the scanning of the electrical images. A characteristic signal for the portion of the electrical image corresponding to each article is developed and output to a processor. The processor generates a classification signal representative of the acceptability of each article based upon the percentage of total surface of area or number of defects on the surface each article.