The present invention comprises methods and apparatus for inspecting a tread. Such methods include providing a tread having a top side and a bottom side, one of the top and bottom sides including a tread feature extending into the thickness of the tread. Such methods further include bending mechanically a transverse extent of the tread relative the tread thickness along a portion of the tread to be inspected about a bending member to form a bent portion of the tread, the portion of the tread to be inspected including the tread feature such that the step of bending expands the tread feature to further expose a depth of the tread feature within the thickness of the tread for inspection. Such further methods include constraining the tread on opposing sides of the portion of the tread to be inspected to maintain the bent portion of the tread in a bent arrangement.

An article alignment apparatus includes an interval setting unit configured to specify a distance between articles aligned along a movement direction of a conveyor, a movement amount acquisition unit configured to acquire a movement amount of a placement portion of the conveyor from a detector, a virtual target generation unit configured to generate a virtual target which serves as a reference in positioning the article on the placement portion, before a robot executes a placement operation of the article, and a placement operation execution unit configured to place the article within the virtual target by tracking the virtual target moving together with the conveyor based on information detected by the detector.

An article alignment apparatus includes an interval setting unit configured to specify a distance between articles aligned along a movement direction of a conveyor, a movement amount acquisition unit configured to acquire a movement amount of a placement portion of the conveyor from a detector, a virtual target generation unit configured to generate a virtual target which serves as a reference in positioning the article on the placement portion, before a robot executes a placement operation of the article, and a placement operation execution unit configured to place the article within the virtual target by tracking the virtual target moving together with the conveyor based on information detected by the detector.

A conveyor system for displacing passenger/goods formed by a moving endless belt comprising a plurality of pallet assemblies and drive means to transmit a drive movement to the pallet belt. The pallets have a functional surface opposite to the support surface and having first meshing means. The drive means comprise second meshing means designed to interact with the first meshing means, so that the drive pallets, are driven by the drive means by means of a meshing between the first meshing means and the second meshing means and to drive said pallet belt in the movement direction D. The drive means have a linear motor aligned with the movement direction D.

A conveyor system for displacing passenger/goods formed by a moving endless belt comprising a plurality of pallet assemblies and drive means to transmit a drive movement to the pallet belt. The pallets have a functional surface opposite to the support surface and having first meshing means. The drive means comprise second meshing means designed to interact with the first meshing means, so that the drive pallets, are driven by the drive means by means of a meshing between the first meshing means and the second meshing means and to drive said pallet belt in the movement direction D. The drive means have a linear motor aligned with the movement direction D.

A system and a method for destacking and conveying articles disposed in stacks include a conveying device which is constructed for transporting the articles in a conveying direction. The conveying device is inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle of inclination and has a drive device and adhesion elements. The adhesion elements exert an adhesion force on articles with which they are in contact. The system also includes a controller which is connected to the drive device of the conveying device. In order to provide for more effective destacking for the system and the method, the adhesion elements are connected to the controller and constructed to be activated by the controller.

A system and a method for destacking and conveying articles disposed in stacks include a conveying device which is constructed for transporting the articles in a conveying direction. The conveying device is inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle of inclination and has a drive device and adhesion elements. The adhesion elements exert an adhesion force on articles with which they are in contact. The system also includes a controller which is connected to the drive device of the conveying device. In order to provide for more effective destacking for the system and the method, the adhesion elements are connected to the controller and constructed to be activated by the controller.

A conveying device includes a carrier which includes a holder side member; a conveying passage which guides conveyance of the carrier; a spirally-shaped spiral member which is arranged below the carrier and extends along the conveying passage, the spiral member causing between the spiral member and the holder side member a first force which acts in a direction away from the holder side member or a second force which acts to draw in the holder side member; a partition wall portion which is provided between the carrier and the spiral member and partitions the carrier and the spiral member; and a rotary unit which rotates the spiral member axis-wise thereof.

A conveying device includes a carrier which includes a holder side member; a conveying passage which guides conveyance of the carrier; a spirally-shaped spiral member which is arranged below the carrier and extends along the conveying passage, the spiral member causing between the spiral member and the holder side member a first force which acts in a direction away from the holder side member or a second force which acts to draw in the holder side member; a partition wall portion which is provided between the carrier and the spiral member and partitions the carrier and the spiral member; and a rotary unit which rotates the spiral member axis-wise thereof.

PA system (20) for removing pallets (22) from carriers (24) may include an infeed conveyor (30) configured for conveying carriers with pallets, a pallet takeaway conveyor (34) configured for conveying pallets, and a removal conveyor (32) between the infeed conveyor and the pallet takeaway conveyor. The removal conveyor is configured for removing the pallets from the carrier, the removal conveyor driven in synchronicity with the infeed conveyor so as to remove the pallets with continuous motion.