Provided are papermaking belts comprising a plurality of 3-D printed modules comprising first and second machine direction extending arms that may be interdigitated with one another and joined by a linkage pin. The 3-D printed modules generally have protuberances and apertures to facilitate molding and dewatering of the embryonic tissue web during manufacture. The protuberances are joined to, and extend from, the first web contacting surface of the module and are integrally formed therewith. In this manner the web contacting surface of the belt comprises a first and a second plane, where the second plane is generally defined by the upper surface plane of the protuberances. The apertures, which generally consist of both intra-module and inter-module apertures, allow water to be removed from a tissue web during manufacture.

A sortation system uses short conveyors or transporter units on a lift to move products or packages to totes in a storage rack. The lift may be a carousel. Automated components remove the totes from the rack and place them on outfeed conveyors. The system to remove the totes can include a transfer vehicle. The sortation system may be modular.

A hygienic magnetic tray and conveyor. The low-profile tray includes a forcer sandwiched between an article-supporting top and an opposite bottom. The top is made of hygienic material, and the bottom can be made of a low-friction material. The tray is propelled along a guide surface on an enclosure housing stator coils supported in a conveyor frame. The stator forms a linear motor with the forcer in the tray. Roller balls protruding from the bottom of one version of the tray provide low-friction rolling contact with the guide surface. Various disposal systems provide escape routes for removing fluids and debris from the guide surface of the stator enclosure.

A conveyor employs electrostatic force to selectively adhere packages to an inclined conveying surface and selectively release packages from the inclined conveying surface to separate the packages from each other. A pair of electrodes embedded in the body of a conveyor belt module are selectively energized via electrically conductive hinge rods used to connect conveyor belt modules together to generate the electrostatic force.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods of manufacturing are described that provide a conveying module and conveying table for item transport. An example conveying module include a frame and an item transport plate that supports one or more items received thereon. The conveying module further includes a conveying drive motor supported by the frame and operably coupled to the item transport plate. The conveying drive motor causes rotation of the item transport plate about the conveying drive motor. The conveying module further includes a tilt adjustment mechanism that adjusts a tilt direction of the item transport plate relative to the frame. The conveying module also includes, in some instance, a tilt drive mechanism that controls operation of the tilt adjustment mechanism.

A conveyor system is provided. Conveyor modules are pivotally secured to one another through engagement of links on a first and second side of each module. Portals extend through the modules. Each portal comprises four portal surfaces oriented in opposing pairs. A radial slot is located on each of at least two portal surfaces. A cup is provided with four walls. Ridges are formed on the outside surfaces of at least two opposing walls of the cup. An orifice is formed on two opposing walls of the cup. A roller is rotatably mounted on an axle that extends between the orifices to position the roller inside the cup. The cup is secured inside the portal by engagement of the ridges with the slots. The cup and roller assembly may be rotated to change its orientation relative to the module.

A conveyor module includes an elongate frame to which a looped conveyor track is mounted. The frame includes first and second end housings which include end pulleys for the conveyor track. The frame also includes a drive housing located at a mid-portion thereof which houses the drive motor for the conveyor track. The conveyor module is a discrete independently driven unit with an upper portion (running surface) of the conveyor track in a planar orientation for conveying items thereon in use. The conveyor module can include additional smart features. A warehouse floor arrangement uses a plurality of side by side conveyor modules being identical and grouped into banks.

A glass product transport apparatus is provided. The glass product transport apparatus includes a slotted element assembly configured to engage a narrowed portion of a glass product. A carriage assembly has a longitudinal slot configured to receive the slotted element assembly for longitudinal movement. An actuator is connected to the slotted element assembly and configured to move the slotted element assembly in a longitudinal direction. A rail structure is configured to support the carriage assembly. The slotted element assembly is configured to retain the glass product in the event power is removed from the actuator.

A conveyance system (10) including: a conveyor having a frame (22) connectable to a drive unit; and a shipping container (12) having a base (16), a top wall (14), two opposing side walls (18) and two opposing end walls (20), wherein the conveyor is fixed within the shipping container (12) in an assembled state.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for sorting a wide variety of packages, including, but not limited to, parcels, mail pieces, bundles, and other similar items. Embodiments of the invention specifically relate to interchangeable sorting modules with sort stations that may be used to quickly and accurately sort packages of varying shapes and sizes. Additional embodiments of the invention relate to a control architecture for operating the aforementioned interchangeable sorting modules. Such control architecture may comprise a programmable logic controller (PLC) for controlling each of the interchangeable sorting modules.