A transfer module assembly includes a frame, a conveyor belt with internal rotating elements, where the conveyor belt is supported by the frame, conveyor drive rollers supported by the frame and configured to drive the conveyor belt, a flat transfer belt mounted beneath the conveyor belt and configured to contact undersides of the internal rotating elements of the conveyor belt in operation, and flat transfer belt drive rollers supported by the frame and configured to drive the flat transfer belt. The conveyor drive rollers are friction-based and operate without use of a sprocket, and comprise depressions for receiving the internal rotating elements of the conveyor belt.

A conveyor system and drive element for same include a chain including a plurality of links that hinge with respect to each other and a plurality of moving elements such as balls that freely move in the links. A drive element drives the chain in a conveying direction and includes an elongated body with a surface that has a plurality of planar facets arranged around the longitudinal axis of the body. The facets extend along the body and engage respective links of the chain as the body is rotated to drive the chain. Relief elements are located in each facet and are configured for receiving the moving elements of the chain links engaging the facets so the links lie generally flat on the facets when the chain is driven. Other versions of the drive element are faceted for driving a chain with links but without relief elements.

A conveyor system and drive element for same include a chain including a plurality of links that hinge with respect to each other and a plurality of moving elements such as balls that freely move in the links. A drive element drives the chain in a conveying direction and includes an elongated body with a surface that has a plurality of planar facets arranged around the longitudinal axis of the body. The facets extend along the body and engage respective links of the chain as the body is rotated to drive the chain. Relief elements are located in each facet and are configured for receiving the moving elements of the chain links engaging the facets so the links lie generally flat on the facets when the chain is driven. Other versions of the drive element are faceted for driving a chain with links but without relief elements.

An article induction system for preparing a stream of articles, such as mail parcels, for processing employs a series of conveyors operating under control of a controller for feeding articles to an operator at a cull belt at an optimal paced rate. The article induction system includes a destacking section, a separation and alignment section, a buffer section and a culling section manned by an operator. A controller controls the speed of each component based on measurements provided by sensors so as to feed articles to the operator at a desired paced rate.

A modular transfer system with a primary flow system and a diverter system. The primary flow system includes a primary flow belt for conveying an article along a primary flow path from an infeed side of the modular transfer system to a pass-through side of the modular transfer system. The diverter system includes one or more diverter belts for diverting an article from the primary flow path towards a divert side of the modular transfer system. The primary flow belt includes multiple movable components contacting the diverter belt. The movable components can have one or more rotational degrees of freedom.

A modular transfer system with a primary flow system and a diverter system. The primary flow system includes a primary flow belt for conveying an article along a primary flow path from an infeed side of the modular transfer system to a pass-through side of the modular transfer system. The diverter system includes one or more diverter belts for diverting an article from the primary flow path towards a divert side of the modular transfer system. The primary flow belt includes multiple movable components contacting the diverter belt. The movable components can have one or more rotational degrees of freedom.

The present invention provides a banknote-receiving bucket circulating conveying line apparatus, a banknote-receiving bucket conveying apparatus and a conveying method, wherein the banknote-receiving bucket conveying apparatus which is used to convey at least one banknote-receiving bucket comprises a conveying unit and a positioning unit, wherein the conveying unit is provided with a conveying channel such that the banknote-receiving bucket may be conveyed along the conveying channel, and the positioning unit is provided at the conveying unit such that the positioning unit may position the banknote-receiving bucket at a preset position of the conveying unit.

A method for transferring conveyed items from at least one feed conveyor onto an outgoing conveyor, in a transfer region, wherein the at least one feed conveyor includes a conveying member that is driven along a feed conveying stretch, for conveying conveyed items into the transfer region, and the outgoing conveyor includes conveying containers that are movable along a transfer conveying stretch for taking over the conveyed items that are delivered by the at least one feed conveyor. The conveyed items that lie on the conveying member are accelerated relative to the conveying member along the feed conveying stretch towards the transfer region via an acceleration device and for the purpose of delivery of the conveyed items are brought into a cyclically synchronous side-by-side conveying with a conveying container of the outgoing conveyor.

A method for transferring conveyed items from at least one feed conveyor onto an outgoing conveyor, in a transfer region, wherein the at least one feed conveyor includes a conveying member that is driven along a feed conveying stretch, for conveying conveyed items into the transfer region, and the outgoing conveyor includes conveying containers that are movable along a transfer conveying stretch for taking over the conveyed items that are delivered by the at least one feed conveyor. The conveyed items that lie on the conveying member are accelerated relative to the conveying member along the feed conveying stretch towards the transfer region via an acceleration device and for the purpose of delivery of the conveyed items are brought into a cyclically synchronous side-by-side conveying with a conveying container of the outgoing conveyor.

A sorting system having a main sorting conveyor sorting articles to discharge conveyors feeding articles to diverters having freely rotatable, gravity-activated rollers arranged in an inclined plane. The orientations of the rollers are selectably changed to divert articles riding downward along each diverter to different destinations. The main sorting conveyor comprises a roller belt with belt-roller actuators at sorting locations. The belt-roller actuators and the diverters are identical mechanisms.