A joint system and method for managing alignment tolerances in a track section of a conveyor, the system including: a plurality of track sections, each track section including at least one end to be joined with an adjacent track section and one or more rails on which bearings of moving elements move; and wherein, at the end of each track section, the one or more rails each comprise a finger such that rails from adjacent track sections form an interlaced connection between fingers from each track section and both fingers are angled such that a non-alignment of the rails will not jar a bearing moving over the joint.

A system, and associated method, for launching and delivering separated food product in organized groups to a robotized packaging station for the product. The system initiates the delivery via a metered hopper of food product delivering the product to a launch V-belt that aligns the product end to end. A successive singulator belt, positioned adjacent to and receiving product from the launch belt, further organizes the product into a single file alignment. An optional separator belt may follow the singulator belt to create gaps between successive product units. The product is then delivered to a pick belt for product to be provided to the packaging robot. The system product information is from a single (per product delivery line) sensor, enabling integrated end-to-end control from hopper to robot, and a nearly continuous motion of said pick belt.

A slat conveyor belt includes connected drive modules that can be easily disassembled and assembled. Each drive module comprises a slat portion connected to a drive portion forming a drive chain. A conveyor frame for the conveyor belt includes a dust cover for the drive chain and a separator for selectively separating a slat portion from an associated drive portion. A magazine automatically removes and stores separated slats.

A plurality of slats having a head and a tail form a conveyor system. A sorter travels laterally across the slat to divert parcel across the slat. Each of the slats has a front edge and a rear edge located longitudinally apart from each other. The front edge and the rear edge are located at different vertical heights to create overlap between adjacent slats. The lower edge positioned vertically below the upper edge has an upper surface that curves downward from the conveying surface to the lower edge. The upper edge positioned vertically above the lower edge has a lower surface that curves downward from the upper edge towards the lower edge. A retention lip extends upward between the lower edge and the conveying surface to trap articles within the retention curve between the retention lip and the conveying surface.

A roller modular conveyor belt module for motorized continuous conveyors includes first and second hinge elements extending from a main body along opposite directions orthogonal to the first direction and spaced from each other. Each of the hinge elements has a through hole with axis parallel to the first direction and being coaxial to each other to receive a respective hinge pin. The first hinge elements are adapted to interpose to second hinge elements of another module with through holes coaxial to each other to receive a hinge pin articulating therebetween. In the space between adjacent hinge elements, there is at least one roller passed through by an axial hole arranged coaxially with the through holes of the adjacent hinge elements delimiting the space. The module includes at least one bushing having an end portion inserted in the through hole, and extending through the roller axial hole.

A shock-absorbing conveyor boom includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, hingedly connected to the proximal portion, the proximal and distal portions supporting a laterally flexible endless conveyor belt. The distal portion is pivotal in a generally horizontal plane, and is biased toward longitudinal alignment with the proximal portion, whereby physical shock applied to the distal portion can be absorbed by lateral deflection of the distal portion.

A conveyor belt assembly (10) for transporting single sheets or stacks of a packaging material is described. It comprises at least one conveyor belt (12a) being arranged over at least two pulleys (20a-20d), wherein at least one of the pulleys (20a-20d) is adapted to drive the conveyor belt (12a) in a conveying direction (15). Furthermore, the conveyor belt assembly (10) comprises a conveying section (22) adapted for transporting the sheets or stacks and a return section (24) adapted to return the conveyor belt (12a) from an end (22b) of the conveying section (22) to a beginning (22a) of the conveying section (22). The conveying section (22) is equipped with a middle section (26), in which the conveyor belt (12a) is arranged in a substantially flat manner, and at least one transition section (28) arranged between the middle section (26) and the respective pulley (20a-20d), with the conveyor belt (12a) being arranged in the transition section (28) in a retracted position with respect to a plane (26a) defined by the middle section (26).

A Support device (14) for storing or transporting single sheets or stacks of a packaging material is described. It comprises a multitude of slats (32) being arranged on a basic component (34), wherein the slats (32) are in an upright position and spaced from each other in a generally parallel manner such that respective side contour contact sections (36) of the slats (32) form a substantially flat support surface configured to support the single sheets or stacks. Each slat (32) is mounted on the basic component (34) via two connection tongues (52) being arranged on opposite ends of the slat (32), the connection tongues (52) engaging corresponding connection slots (54) being provided on the basic component (34)), wherein two types of slots (54) are provided on the basic component (34), wherein a first type of slots (54) is arranged closer to a basic surface of the basic component (34) than a second type of slots (54), and wherein two types of slats (32) are provided, wherein a first type of slats (32) is engageable with connection slots (54) of the first type, but not with connection slots (54) of the second type, and a second type of slats (32) is engageable with connection slots (54) of the second type, but not with connection slots (54) of the first type.

A link for a chain for an article conveyor includes first and second link elements formed as coupleable separate parts. The first link element may be configured to support articles, and the second link element may be adapted to support the first link element and to allow the chain to be moved when in use. The link includes a hinging region in the second link element for hinging the link to a further link of the chain. The hinging region may be adapted to the insertion within it of a hinging element for hinging the link to another link of the chain. The link includes confining means provided in the first link element and adapted, when the first and second link elements are coupled, to confine the hinging element within the hinging region, thereby preventing the hinging element to escape from the hinging region.

A slat conveyor belt includes connected drive modules that can be easily disassembled and assembled. Each drive module comprises a slat portion connected to a drive portion forming a drive chain. A conveyor frame for the conveyor belt includes a dust cover for the drive chain and a separator for selectively separating a slat portion from an associated drive portion. A magazine automatically removes and stores separated slats.