A system and method for tracking a location of a moving element on a conveyor system. The system including: magnetic sensors; a magnetic encoder strip that is readable by the magnetic sensors; and a processor for receiving and processing the sensor readings to determine a location of the moving element. The method including: sensing a current location of the moving element, wherein at least one of the magnetic sensors and magnetic encoder are associated with the moving element; and providing a current location to a conveyor system controller. The system may further include: color sensors; and a color gradient encoder strip that is readable by the color sensors, wherein the color gradient encoder strip and color sensors provide moving element location at start up and the magnetic sensors and magnetic encoder strip track moving element location during operation. In this case, the method is adjusted accordingly.

A system and method for tracking a location of a moving element on a conveyor system. The system including: magnetic sensors; a magnetic encoder strip that is readable by the magnetic sensors; and a processor for receiving and processing the sensor readings to determine a location of the moving element. The method including: sensing a current location of the moving element, wherein at least one of the magnetic sensors and magnetic encoder are associated with the moving element; and providing a current location to a conveyor system controller. The system may further include: color sensors; and a color gradient encoder strip that is readable by the color sensors, wherein the color gradient encoder strip and color sensors provide moving element location at start up and the magnetic sensors and magnetic encoder strip track moving element location during operation. In this case, the method is adjusted accordingly.

A tray sealing machine comprises a gripper device including first and second tray grippers that operate together to take up trays provided by a feed unit and transport them to a sealing station that is downstream in a production direction. A speed of the first and second tray grippers in the production direction when respectively performing a closing motion from a respective initial position toward a respective closing position can be accelerated such that the speed of the first and second tray grippers in the production direction relative to a belt speed of the feed unit during a predetermined first time interval is slower than the belt speed, and during a subsequent predetermined second time interval until the respective closing position has been reached is greater than the belt speed, so that gripper fingers on the first and second tray grippers immerse into respective position windows located between the trays.

A fabric treating apparatus including: a cabinet defining a treating chamber in which clothes is accommodated; a heating unit for supplying at least one of hot air and steam into the treating chamber; and a conveying device for conveying clothes positioned outside the cabinet to the inside of the cabinet, wherein the conveying device includes: a frame including at least two sliding surfaces inclined downward in a first direction, and at least two restraining surfaces that is disposed between the two sliding surfaces and defines a surface intersecting the sliding surfaces; a lifter including at least two inclined surfaces inclined downward in the first direction, and at least two intersecting surfaces that is disposed between the two inclined surfaces and defines a surface intersecting the inclined surfaces; and a drive unit which moves the lifter in a vertical direction intersecting the first direction, wherein each of the intersecting surface is disposed on an arbitrary line parallel to each of the sliding surfaces in the vertical direction.

A transporting apparatus for rolling ingots, having at least one travelling carriage, includes a tilting frame and a guide frame, wherein the tilting frame has at least one longitudinally displaceable transporting carriage with a rail section, which is intended for accommodating an ingot rest and, for the purpose of forming a rail extension, can be positioned collinearly in relation to a furnace rail, and the guide frame has at least one hook carriage, which can be moved essentially parallel to the transporting carriage and comprises at least one tiltable hook for engaging in the ingot rest.

A control system for a material gathering mechanism includes a gathering head configured to gather material from aground surface, a plurality of gathering members configured to transport the material gathered by the gathering head towards a material conveying apparatus, and a jam detection device for detecting a jam condition in movement of one or more of the plurality of gathering members and generate signals indicative of the jam condition. The control system further includes a controller communicably coupled to the plurality of gathering members and the jam detection member. The controller receives signals indicative of the jam condition from the jam detection device. The controller initiates a sequence of stopping, delaying, and restarting the gathering member on receiving the signals indicative of the jam condition.

An apparatus and associated method are provided for an automated presentment assembly that sequentially feeds fasteners to an outlet and an escapement apparatus comprising a chuck that has a transport feature for selectively removing a fastener from the outlet and transporting the fastener to a tool station, the chuck being moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein at the first position the transport feature is operably aligned with the outlet and at the second position the transport feature is displaced both linearly and rotationally from the first position.

A container treatment plant and a method for displacing an element of a valve or a diverting unit of a container treatment plant. The container treatment plant comprises at least one element for treating containers. The element is part of a valve or a diverting unit. The container treatment plant also comprises a displacing unit for displacing the element between a first position and a second position, wherein the displacing unit comprises a magnetically operating actuator such that a rotary motion caused by the actuator displaces the element with the aid of a mechanism between its first and second positions.

A switching valve module which is part of a switching valve control system for use with reciprocating slat-type conveyors is disclosed herein. Disclosed herein is a switching valve module that includes an inner control valve and an outer control valve. A spool is positioned within the inner control valve and a spool positioned within the outer control valve. Movement of each the spool creates both a spool-type seal and a poppet-type seal between the spool and the respective control valve.

A diverter belt having translatable pushers with article-contacting rollers to push articles across the belt. Cam followers on the pushers follow guides under the belt along an upper carryway run to translate the pushers across the width of the belt along one or more transverse tracks.