A linear motor conveyor system including: a track comprising a shaped guide rail; a plurality of moving elements, each moving element having: a body; at least two bearings supported by the body and configured to match with the shaped guide rail, wherein the bearings are mounted to the moving element such that the moving elements overlap along the direction of the track providing a reduced tooling pitch between the moving elements. A moving element for moving on a track of a conveyor system, the moving element including: a first set of bearings shaped to match with a first shaped guide rail; a second set of bearings configured to abut against a second guide rail; and a body supporting the first and the second bearing, wherein the body is shaped to allow the first bearing to at least partially overlap the body of an adjacent moving element.

A linear motor conveyor system including: a track comprising a shaped guide rail; a plurality of moving elements, each moving element having: a body; at least two bearings supported by the body and configured to match with the shaped guide rail, wherein the bearings are mounted to the moving element such that the moving elements overlap along the direction of the track providing a reduced tooling pitch between the moving elements. A moving element for moving on a track of a conveyor system, the moving element including: a first set of bearings shaped to match with a first shaped guide rail; a second set of bearings configured to abut against a second guide rail; and a body supporting the first and the second bearing, wherein the body is shaped to allow the first bearing to at least partially overlap the body of an adjacent moving element.

A conveyance device includes a pair of first and second support frames provided so as to be parallel to each other, and configured to define a conveyance track of a pallet; a driving unit provided on the first support frame and configured to apply a conveyance force to the pallet; a driven unit as a unit forming the pallet, configured to travel along a first guide portion of the first support frame by the driving unit; an auxiliary unit as a unit forming the pallet, connected to the driven unit via a placement member of the pallet and capable of freely traveling along a second guide portion of the second support frame, and a stopping unit including an engaging portion that engages with a portion of the driven unit, and configured to temporarily stop a movement of the pallet.

Long-stator linear motor with vehicle arranged for movement along transport path. Motor includes holding structure(s) having drive coils, on which passive part of vehicle is arranged; and guide surface and guide track running along path. Passive part has first drive magnet(s) arranged parallel to guide surface with air gap. Vehicle has first profile member(s) arranged on guide track and positioned by pressing force acting in transverse direction onto guide track with respect to an ascending direction running normally to movement direction and transverse direction. First running member(s) support passive part on holding structure against attractive force acting between drive magnets and drive coils to ensure the air gap. Vehicle has first auxiliary guide member(s) which, interacting with an auxiliary guide on holding structure at least in divergence and/or convergence areas of path, delimits movement of vehicle in a positive and/or negative ascending direction at least on one side.

Long-stator linear motor with vehicle arranged for movement along transport path. Motor includes holding structure(s) having drive coils, on which passive part of vehicle is arranged; and guide surface and guide track running along path. Passive part has first drive magnet(s) arranged parallel to guide surface with air gap. Vehicle has first profile member(s) arranged on guide track and positioned by pressing force acting in transverse direction onto guide track with respect to an ascending direction running normally to movement direction and transverse direction. First running member(s) support passive part on holding structure against attractive force acting between drive magnets and drive coils to ensure the air gap. Vehicle has first auxiliary guide member(s) which, interacting with an auxiliary guide on holding structure at least in divergence and/or convergence areas of path, delimits movement of vehicle in a positive and/or negative ascending direction at least on one side.

The present invention includes conveying and sorting systems utilizing a plurality of continuous rails which support a plurality of sliding pucks that are urged forward using a plurality of sprocket wheels, and which utilize magnetically operated activation components for causing produce to be selectively dropped from cups carried by the pucks into sorting bins. The structures for the conveying and actuating components of the systems have smooth external surfaces reducing potential contamination by bacteria, contaminants and debris, thereby making them easily accessible for cleaning, and allowing for longer continuous operation times and higher efficiency.

The invention relates to a container conveyor device (10) in a packaging machine having a container carrier (13) with a plurality of container receptacles (15). At least two rotary-driven linear conveyors (11, 28) are provided, and the container carrier (13) has at least one engagement part (14) which can be brought into engagement with the linear conveyors (11, 28). Two curved conveyors (20, 34) each have a curved guide track (21, 35) with which at least one projection of the container carrier (13) can be brought into engagement. A plurality of container carriers (13) can be transported along the upper linear conveyor (11) in a row with a mutual first spacing of less than 30 mm and at an average speed V0. The container carriers can be transported along the lower linear conveyor (28) with a mutual second spacing which is greater than the first spacing and at an average speed Vu, where V.sub.u1.5 V.sub.0.

Apparatus for unscrambling articles, in particular containers (100) fed randomly to an inlet of said apparatus, comprising: a transport system (20) for transporting the articles fed to the inlet; devices (31;32) for picking and releasing the articles (100), configured to pick up the articles arranged randomly on the transport system (20) and release them to an extraction system (50) with a predefined orientation and/or position; a detection system (60) designed to detect the position and the arrangement of the articles (100) in transit on the transport system and to provide the information for controlling the pick and release devices (30); a unit (500) for processing and controlling the components and the drives of the apparatus; wherein the extraction system comprises: a plane (40;140) for supporting the containers (100); means (50;150) for extracting the articles (100), designed to pick up the articles and transport them on the plane (40) towards the outlet (O) of the apparatus; said extraction means comprise a plurality of grippers (50;150), each comprising a pair of jaws (51;151), each gripper (50;150) being displaceable along a fixed guide (55) independently of one or more of the other grippers (50;150).

A transport device for transporting goods includes at least one track and at least one transport vehicle which is configured to travel on the track and to transport the goods. The transport vehicle has at least one vehicle-side or on-board drive for moving the transport vehicle relative to the track. In order to enhance the performance of the transport device in a simple and cost-effective manner, the track has at least one track-side or in-track drive for moving the transport vehicle relative to the track at least in sections.

A transport device for transporting goods includes at least one track and at least one transport vehicle which is configured to travel on the track and to transport the goods. The transport vehicle has at least one vehicle-side or on-board drive for moving the transport vehicle relative to the track. In order to enhance the performance of the transport device in a simple and cost-effective manner, the track has at least one track-side or in-track drive for moving the transport vehicle relative to the track at least in sections.