A seasoning provision device according to the present invention comprises: a work unit provided to acquire the weight of a food material to be loaded thereon; a seasoning provision unit provided to form a semi-finished product by providing seasoning of a seasoning serving amount, which is a predetermined weight, to the food material loaded on the work unit; and a processor electrically connected to the work unit and the seasoning provision unit, wherein the processor controls the seasoning provision unit so that seasoning is provided according to the seasoning serving amount determined on the basis of the weight of the food material acquired by the work unit.

A system for inspecting bottles includes a conveyor conveying bottles at a first speed. A starwheel, rotating at a second speed, less than the first speed, receives each bottle. Sensors are disposed adjacent the starwheel for detecting at least one of a residual liquid in the bottle and a defect in the bottle. The starwheel deposits each bottle on the conveyor at a downstream position. An outer sidewall inspection system, disposed along the path, has a first camera assembly and a second camera assembly disposed along the path and each bottle passes therebetween. A first belt is disposed along the conveyor in facing relation with a second belt to rotate the bottle. The outer sidewall inspection system has a third camera assembly and a fourth camera assembly disposed along the path, downstream of the first belt; each bottle passing between the third camera assembly and the fourth camera assembly.

Asynchronous conveyor networks serving as inter-process transport mechanisms eliminate transport capacity constraints of vehicle-based systems in integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing environments. Demand variability may be buffered without the use of off-line-storage such as stockers. The variability in wait times for transport service is also eliminated. Overall factory cycle times are thus reduced while manufacturing capacity is simultaneously increased. An autonomous conveyor network automated materials handling system combines clean frictionless conveyor principles with a unique network layout to fulfill the logistics requirements of IC manufacturing environments. Mechanical conveyor-to-tool interfaces, also referred to as equipment delivery interfaces (EDi's), bridge the conveyor network to individual tools. An operating software module integrates the functionality of the conveyor network and EDi's. The result is a full capability factory logistics system.

A transfer device for a transport container has a plurality of rotation/transport devices arranged in the form of a matrix. Each of the rotation/transport devices has a bearing for the transport container, wherein the bearing is formed at least as a three-point bearing and each of the rotation/transport devices has a dedicated drive for rotation purposes and a dedicated drive for transportation purposes.

The invention relates to a palletizing apparatus (10) and a method for conveying articles (16), piece goods, and/or bundles (18) and/or palletizable article layers, piece good layers, and/or bundle layers (20) with at least two conveyor line sections (12, 14), each in a particular conveying direction (28, 29). Each conveyor line sections include consecutive handling stations, grouping stations, and/or transfer stations (32, 33, 40, 44, 48, 50), which lead to a central loading station (24), where the article layers, piece good layers, and/or bundle layers (20) are stacked on top of each other and/or palletized in a common loading place (25). The loading station (24) is located between at least two vertically adjustable support surfaces and/or conveying surfaces (52). The common loading place (25) is supplied with article layers, piece good layers, and/or bundle layers (20).

A transport mechanism and a method for transporting objects are disclosed. The transport mechanism includes a transport unit, an adhesive-type conveyor unit, and a push-type transport unit. The adhesive-type conveyor unit receives objects from the transport unit and conveys the received objects to the push-type transport unit. The adhesive-type conveyor unit can generate a vacuum force to adhere the plurality of objects thereon. When the adhesive-type conveyor unit stops conveying the objects carried thereon, the objects adhered to the adhesive-type conveyor unit would block the objects being transported by the transport unit, and when the adhesive-type conveyor unit starts to convey the objects carried thereon to the push-type transport unit, the transport unit would immediately transport more objects to the adhesive-type conveyor unit. Thus, with the adhesive-type conveyor unit, the objects are conveyed to the push-type transport unit and the position of objects is also accurately controlled.

A compact conveyor apparatus for conveying fluent material. A primary conveyor, a feed conveyor and a hopper mount to a mobile base. The base may be a trailer or a vehicle bed. The hopper is vertically moveable relative to the base and the feed conveyor is pivotably mounted to the hopper. The primary conveyor is rotatably and pivotably mounted to the base. In a transport mode the feed conveyor is substantially parallel to, and supported by, the base, and the primary conveyor is substantially parallel to, and directly above, the feed conveyor. In operation mode, the feed conveyor is angled relative to the base's upper surface and its lower end and the hopper are disposed lower than the base's upper surface. The apparatus maintains the hopper substantially parallel.

The invention relates to an arrangement (20) to transport a round blank ring (30) made from plastic from a receiving location (35) to an assembly station (90). A every point in time, the orientation and the position of the round blank ring (30) are predefined, at least within a tolerance range. To execute a movement from top to bottom in a height direction (H), it is possible to use a feed device (34) with a motor-driven conveying unit (58). This conveying unit (58) moves one or more round blank rings (30) in a positively guided manner downward in the height direction (H) to a delivery location (36). At every point in time as this is done, the orientation of the round blank ring relative to the height direction (H) is defined, at least within a predefined tolerance range.

Device for lifting an article from a roller conveyor having a fork that can be raised and lowered, and having a plurality of spaced-apart elongate tines which, in the lowered position, move with the tines between or below the rollers of the roller conveyor in order to lift one or a plurality of articles from the rollers as the fork is being raised into the raised position with the tines, where the tines form a carrier surface for the article and the tines can be expanded in the direction transverse to the longitudinal extension thereof in order to form an expanded carrier surface.

A material transfer vehicle includes a loading conveyor and a loading component (such as a truck-receiving hopper component or a windrow pick-up component) that is adapted to be removably attached to the lower end of the loading conveyor. The loading conveyor has a right guide plate on the right side of the lower end and a left guide plate on the left side of the lower end. The loading component has a right guide bracket that is adapted to align with and engage the right guide plate of the loading conveyor, and a left guide bracket that is adapted to align with and engage the left guide plate of the loading conveyor.