Abstract: A bag in which a content is put and of which a mouth portion is not sealed, is disposed in a substantially horizontal attitude in a takeoff area. A height direction position of an expected hold part of the bag and a height direction position of a hold member are caused to correspond to each other. The hold member is caused to hold the expected hold part of the bag disposed in the takeoff area in a state where the height direction position of the expected hold part of the bag and the height direction position of the hold member correspond to each other. The hold member is moved to transfer the bag from the takeoff area to a delivery area after the hold member holds the expected hold part of the bag disposed in the takeoff area.

Abstract: A carton feeding system is provided for feeding selected cartons from a stack of cartons contained within a carton magazine to a downstream carton conveyor such as for a product packaging machine. A carton picking device removes a selected carton from the stack of cartons within the magazine, after which the carton is engaged between a carton engaging segment of the primary segment wheel and a draw roller, which pulls the carton from the magazine and feeds the carton along a first path of travel. Thereafter, a secondary segment wheel engages and redirects a leading portion of the carton toward a second path of travel. The carton then is fed along its second path of travel toward engagement between a pair of downstream nip rolls that feed the carton into the downstream carton conveyor.

Abstract: A modular packaging system includes a base system configured to manipulate a product and configured to receive at least one of a group of packaging modules, wherein the base system is used with a variety of packaging modules depending on a desired packaged output. The system also includes a first packaging module selectively coupled to the base system, the packaging module having a first member coupled to the packaging module, the member configured to manipulate an object. The system may also include a second packaging module selectively coupled to the base system, the second packaging module having a lifting device coupled to the second packaging module, the lifting device configured to manipulate an object.

Abstract: A conveyance apparatus is disclosed which includes a delivery device that delivers an article supplied in a horizontal position from a conveyor to an accumulation and conveyance apparatus, and delivery tables which receive the article and move the same to a standing position by rotating to the standing position, and which also deliver the article while orderly placing the same from front to rear in a bucket by moving forward; and a drive unit comprising a synchronous pulley, a synchronous timing belt, and a motor, which rotate and move the delivery tables in synchronization with the movement of the bucket. In addition, a rotation shaft, which is a rotation support point of the delivery table, is located above a lower end portion of the delivery table in the standing position.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus (10) are disclosed for handling pallets (S) to be inspected and sorted. The method can include tipping a substantially vertically oriented pallet (L) in a forward rotational direction to expose and allow inspection of a trailing major (17) surface of the pallet. A lower portion of the pallet then can be moved to cause the pallet to tip in a rearward rotational direction and land in a substantially horizontal position. The apparatus can include a pallet restraining device (16) for blocking the motion of an upper portion of the pallet as it tips in the forward rotational direction and a conveyor (30) for moving the lower portion of the pallet to cause the pallet to tip in the rearward rotational direction.

Abstract: A storage and retrieval system that includes a carrier and a drive member. The carrier includes a guide member rotatable with respect to a support surface from a first position to a second position such that the carrier is movable in a first direction when the guide member is in the first position and the carrier is movable in a second direction when the carrier is in the second position. The drive member includes a portion coupled to the guide member. The portion of the drive member is selectively rotatable from a first orientation to a second orientation such that the drive member is configured to move the carrier in the first direction when the portion of the drive member is in the first orientation, and the drive member is configured to move the carrier in the second direction when the portion of the drive member is in the second orientation.

Abstract: A transfer device for transferring stacks (4, 4a, 4b, 5, 5a, 5b), which have a cylindrical external shape, of products resting on one of their edges between a conveyor (1) set upstream for advance of the stacks (4, 4a, 4b, 5, 5a, 5b) in a direction (a) transverse to the generatrices of the aforesaid cylindrical shape, and a conveyor (2) set downstream for advance of the stacks In a direction parallel to said generatrices, or vice versa, the said transfer device being operatively set between said conveyor (1) set upstream and said conveyor (2) set downstream. The transfer device comprises at least one gripping assembly (3) for picking up and conveying a stack. Said gripping assembly (3) moreover turns, according to a motion of revolution. (C) about a first axis (X), between a position in which it engages a stack (4, 4a, 4b, 5, 5a, 5b), in a position (A) corresponding to an output end of the conveyor (1) set upstream, and a position (B) in which it releases the stack onto the conveyor (2) set downstream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking small sheets of glass or other material, wherein manual stacking is eliminated and robotic/machine cycle times are significantly reduced, and wherein such an apparatus enables the stacking of small sheets of glass or other material/lites in single and/or multiple rows and/or tiers.

Abstract: A flexible manufacturing system for producing and packaging consumer products into different packages is disclosed. The system includes one or more supplying means for providing the consumer products, and a multiplicity of packaging means for packaging the consumer products into different packages. The system further includes one or more conveying means for conveying the consumer products from the supplying means to the packaging means. The conveying means forms a continuous path linking the supplying means with the packaging means. The continuous path includes a multiplicity of receptors capable of accepting, carrying, and discharging the consumer products. Further, the system includes one or more stacking means for arranging the consumer products into separate stacks of products prior to packaging.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking substantially rigid food portions in preparation for packaging, and without human intervention, including a conveyor for receiving and moving food portions, at least one counter for counting each of the food portions as the food portion is moved by the conveyor, and a rotary transporter having multiple generally right-angled notches for receiving food portions from the conveyor and moving the food portions into a stack. The conveyor, counter, and rotary transporter are cooperatively interconnected by a programmable computer so that a predetermined number of food portions is moved from the conveyor onto the transporter, where the transporter moves the food portions into a substantially horizontal stack of vertically oriented food portions.

Abstract: 1-Loader/unloader of printed circuits that includes a chassis (1) that carries a storage tray (2), a conveyor belt (4) and a mechanism for transferring the printed circuits (3) from the storage tray to the conveyor belt and vice versa. The transfer mechanism consists of a handling device comprising an arm (6) equipped with suction pads (5) for securing the printed circuits, which is moveable angularly between a receiving position, coinciding with the storage tray, and a final position, coinciding with the conveyor belt.

Abstract: An intermediate guide member is provided attachable and removable between a head portion and a supporting frame of a stocker for printing plates. A number of intermediate guide members is an element to set a time of starting downward movement of hooks supporting a leading end of a printing plate. Three conditions in accordance with lengths of non-detection times are set for detecting the printing plate to judge authenticity of the detection. When the hooks reach vicinities of stoppers provided at supporting bars of a reversal unit, the hooks swing, are pulled-in from above the slope, and transfer the printing plate to the stoppers. Thereafter, by rotating the supporting bars and the stoppers integrally around a shaft, the printing plate is pivoted over toward a back plate, and a lower end of the printing plate is transferred from the stoppers to a receiving plate without damaging the printing plate.

Abstract: A device for stacking empty transport pallets and removing empty transport pallets from a stack has a pallet receptacle with a first leg and a second leg positioned at a right angle to the first leg. The pallet receptacle is configured to receive a pallet stack of pallets, wherein the pallets are supported with a narrow side on the first leg while the lowermost pallet of the pallet stack rests flat on the second leg. A pivoting device is provided to pivot the pallet receptacle between a first end position, in which the first leg extends at a slant to the horizontal, and a second end position, in which the first leg extends substantially vertically.

Abstract: A device (1) to contain and present flat cardboard blanks (40) for the purpose of individual collection of the lafter and comprising a first portion (10), including conveyor means (11) with a conveyor belt (12), a second portion (20), sensor means (23a, 23b) and a collection mouth (30). Downstream from the said conveyor means (11) there are provided at the top one or more thrust wheels (27a, 27b, 27c, 27d) which are designed to rotate relative to an axis (26x) which is disposed parallel to the downstream end edge of the said conveyor means (11), wherein the portion which faces upstream of the said thrust wheels (27a, 27b, 27c, 27d) interferes with the cardboard blanks (40) which are advancing, in order to apply thrust downwards for the cardboard blank (40) further downstream after rotation of the said wheels (27a, 27b, 27c, 27d).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing an unvulcanized tire tread from a storage device (14) includes the step of inverting the tread (12) and transporting it to a roller conveyor in a single step. The tread (12) is picked up by a vacuum bar (80) fitted with a series of suction cups (76). Individual suction cups (76) can be selectively supplied with vacuum depending on the length of the tread (12). After the suction cups (76) have engaged the tread, the tread is raised from the storage device (14), inverted through 180 degrees, and then set onto a special slotted roller conveyor (130). The slotted roller conveyor (130) has a center slot (142) to receive the vacuum bar (80) as it passes therethrough. Side slots (144,146) in the conveyor receive arms (90,92) attached to the vacuum bar (80).