A Knuckle Jointed Lance (KJL), comprising a segmented lance including a plurality of elongate and hollow KJL segments in a concatenated string thereof. The first segment end of one KJL segment is rotatably connected to the second segment end of a neighboring KJL segment via a pinned connection. Neighboring pairs of KJL segments together provide an interlocking toothed connection such that each interlocking toothed connection restrains relative torsional displacement between the neighboring pair of KJL segments. In other embodiments, pinned connections also provide ears, each with cooperating ear ledges and ear ledge recesses to strengthen the pinned connection.

A level compensator system may be configured to receive containers of different heights and position them at the same level. The level compensator system can include engagement platforms for engaging with the containers. The engagement platforms can move between an engagement configuration for engaging with the containers and a conveyance configuration for conveying of the containers relative to the level compensator.

A level compensator system may be configured to receive containers of different heights and position them at the same level. The level compensator system can include engagement platforms for engaging with the containers. The engagement platforms can move between an engagement configuration for engaging with the containers and a conveyance configuration for conveying of the containers relative to the level compensator.

A conveyance device can include a conveyance surface and a conveyance constraint. The conveyance surface can receive a container and advance the container along the conveyance pathway. The conveyance constraint can be positioned across the conveyance pathway and include an opening. The conveyance constraint can block containers having a width or height larger than the respective width or height of the opening.

A two-loop cross-belt sorter includes at least one loop-shaped track (1); two cross-belt trolley groups (2), and forms two side-by-side conveyance loops able to circulate on the loop-shaped track (1), and a power apparatus (3) that drives the two cross-belt trolley groups (2) to move along the loop-shaped track (1). The two-loop cross-belt sorter uses two sets of trolleys on a loop-shaped track, allows the space inside the loop to be utilized and the quantity of cross-belt trolleys to be increased without increasing the area occupied by the sorter, thus doubling sorting capacity, while allowing parcels to be transferred between cross-belt trolleys on the two conveyance loops, thereby reducing the idle rate of the trolleys.

An arranging conveyor system has outlet conveyors in a plurality of lines, intermediate conveyors in the plurality of lines, and transferring/discharging conveyors in the plurality of lines. When a discharging interval has not passed from a previous discharging action and a predetermined clog condition in a specific line is fulfilled, a conveyed object which is present in the specific line at a stop position on the transferring/discharging conveyor is discharged outside of the arranging conveyor system.

Elongate workpieces are transported in a transport direction and assembled to a string in the transport direction. A leading elongate workpiece is removed from the string and accelerated in a downstream discharge device such that a gap is formed between the leading elongate workpiece and a following elongate workpiece of the string. A stop is moved into the gap and prevents the following elongate workpiece of the string from being transported farther. The stop is removed when the leading elongate workpiece has left the discharge device and then the following elongate workpiece is removed from the string.

Elongate workpieces are transported in a transport direction and assembled to a string in the transport direction. A leading elongate workpiece is removed from the string and accelerated in a downstream discharge device such that a gap is formed between the leading elongate workpiece and a following elongate workpiece of the string. A stop is moved into the gap and prevents the following elongate workpiece of the string from being transported farther. The stop is removed when the leading elongate workpiece has left the discharge device and then the following elongate workpiece is removed from the string.

A packaging machine includes a series of stations or assemblies, including a carton feeding system and a product conveyor that receives a series of articles or products at a first, upstream or intake end of the packaging machine. The products generally can be grouped into a series of products, such as for forming six-packs, four-packs or other package configurations, and will be wrapped by or loaded into a series of carton blanks, after which the loaded cartons will be moved through a discharge station. The discharge station meters the loaded cartons or packages for discharge from the packaging machine.

A packaging machine includes a series of stations or assemblies, including a carton feeding system and a product conveyor that receives a series of articles or products at a first, upstream or intake end of the packaging machine. The products generally can be grouped into a series of products, such as for forming six-packs, four-packs or other package configurations, and will be wrapped by or loaded into a series of carton blanks, after which the loaded cartons will be moved through a discharge station. The discharge station meters the loaded cartons or packages for discharge from the packaging machine.