A method and a feeding apparatus for feeding spacers for cigarette packs are disclosed, in which each spacer comprises a substantially rectangular flat body, the spacers being insertable in cartons for cigarette packs to space out packs with dimensions smaller than the standard dimensions; the spacers are stacked on a pallet that is positioned in a withdrawal station; the stacks of spacers are withdrawn from the withdrawal station and transferred to a respective hopper by passing each stack of spacers through an upper opening of the hopper, to then unload the spacers one by one through a lower opening of the hopper.

A feeding device for feeding products from a storage container on to a conveyor belt moving in a conveyor direction is provided wherein a feeding belt at a storage container opening on a lower side of the storage container receives products to be conveyed and transports them to an upper side of the conveyor belt, in order to deliver the products on to the conveyor belt in a feeding region on the upper side of the conveyor belt, the feeding belt has a number of holes, the dimensions of which are adapted to the products to be conveyed such that a respective product can fall through an associated hole. A guiding element extending from the storage container opening to the feeding region on the upper side of the conveyor belt, including a guiding surface arranged directly below the feeding belt, is arranged on a lower side of the feeding belt in such a way that the guiding surface prevents the products from falling through the holes of the feeding belt until the products are delivered on to the upper side of the conveyor belt in the feeding region. The holes are arranged in the feeding belt in a matrix shape. The guiding surface of the guiding element forms a low-friction and abrasion-resistant flat sliding surface.

A system for automatic organization, hanging and driving of slaughtered animals installed at the outlet of a slaughtered animals processing station such as a chiller. The system comprises a receiving and aligning means of slaughtered animals in longitudinal position, which is previously disposed to an accumulator device of slaughtered animals positioned longitudinally. The system further comprises a suspension and movement assembly of each slaughtered animal from the axial alignment assembly to a driving guide of each slaughtered animal to a hanging transfer device of each animal slaughtered in the hanging line.

A system for automatic organization, hanging and driving of slaughtered animals installed at the outlet of a slaughtered animals processing station such as a chiller. The system comprises a receiving and aligning means of slaughtered animals in longitudinal position, which is previously disposed to an accumulator device of slaughtered animals positioned longitudinally. The system further comprises a suspension and movement assembly of each slaughtered animal from the axial alignment assembly to a driving guide of each slaughtered animal to a hanging transfer device of each animal slaughtered in the hanging line.

A method for formatting food products on a conveyor device includes a) receiving the food products in a plurality of parallel conveyor tracks, some of which include product gaps; b) outputting the food products into the parallel conveyor tracks in a specific product format; c) detecting the product supply in the conveyor tracks incoming on the input side individually for each of the conveyor tracks; and d) filling the product gaps in the conveyor tracks with food products, so that on the output side all of the parallel conveyor tracks are supplied with the food products. The product gaps are also filled with food products from a product buffer in that at least one of the food products is transferred from the product buffer to the conveyor track only when an odd number of product gaps exist in one of the conveyor tracks.

A method for formatting food products on a conveyor device includes a) receiving the food products in a plurality of parallel conveyor tracks, some of which include product gaps; b) outputting the food products into the parallel conveyor tracks in a specific product format; c) detecting the product supply in the conveyor tracks incoming on the input side individually for each of the conveyor tracks; and d) filling the product gaps in the conveyor tracks with food products, so that on the output side all of the parallel conveyor tracks are supplied with the food products. The product gaps are also filled with food products from a product buffer in that at least one of the food products is transferred from the product buffer to the conveyor track only when an odd number of product gaps exist in one of the conveyor tracks.

A smart moving platform for transport of components in manufacturing includes a vehicle body, a transmission device, a conveying system, a detection device, a tag installation device, a control unit, and a tag reader. The conveying system conveys components. The detection device detects a location of the component and in a first predetermined area, the tag installation device installs and activates a tag on the component. The control unit writes component information to the activated tag and sets a predetermined period. The tag starts to count time elapsing, and the conveyor belt conveys the component to a second predetermined area. The tag reader reads the component information, the elapsed time, and a predetermined period of the tag. When the elapsed time matches the predetermined period, the conveying system sends the component to a third predetermined area.

Disclosed herein is an insect sorting system that includes a conveyor stage having a drive unit, a grasping surface movably coupled with the drive unit and having textured surface elements, and a diverter that is configured to remove insects from the grasping surface.

An automated carrier system is disclosed for moving objects to be processed. The automated carrier system includes a base structure of a carrier on which an object may be supported, and at least two wheels mounted to at least two motors to provide at least two wheel assemblies, the at least two wheel assemblies being pivotally supported on the base structure for pivoting movement from a first position to a second position to effect a change in direction of movement of the carrier.

The invention relates to a machine for handling waste material, the machine comprising an upper conveyor member with a conveying portion of a first width, a downstream lower conveyor member with a receiving portion of equal or greater width and an apparatus for distributing material from the upper conveyor member to the downstream lower conveyor member, wherein the apparatus comprises oscillating means, a drive mechanism connected to the oscillating means; and a protruding element attached to the oscillating means for oscillatory movement thereof, wherein the protruding element is a reciprocating attachment adapted to oscillate in a direction transverse to the direction in which it extends, wherein the apparatus is mountable between the conveying portion of the upper conveyor member and the receiving portion of the downstream lower conveyor member such that the protruding element extends substantially in the direction of conveyance of the downstream conveyor member; and wherein in use the osciallating protruding element agitates material being transferred from the upper conveyor member to the downstream lower conveyor member.