A processing system including a singulation system is disclosed. The singulation system includes a conveying system for moving objects to be processed from a source area along a first direction, a detection system for detecting objects at the conveying system, and for selecting certain selected objects for redistribution on the conveying system, and a movement redistribution system for redistributing the certain selected objects on the conveying system for providing a singulated stream of objects.

A method for controlling a velocity of a conveyance path of a system including an industrial robot, a first conveyance path configured to transfer items within a working area (b2) of the robot with a velocity v.sub.1, and a second conveyance path configured to transfer empty places within the working area (b2) of the robot with a velocity v.sub.2. The method includes: obtaining position data for a plurality of items and for a plurality of empty places; creating one or more pairs including one of the empty places of the plurality of empty places and a respective item of the plurality of items; calculating, for one of the one or more pairs, a time t.sub.As for the empty place of the one pair and a time t.sub.Bk for the item of the one pair to reach a border of the working area (b2) based on position data for the one pair and the velocities v.sub.1 and v.sub.2; and controlling the velocity v.sub.2 of the second conveyance path based on a difference between the time t.sub.As and a time (t.sub.Bk+t), where t is a predetermined time difference.

An applicating machine for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers provided from an infeed includes an orienter for placing containers into a correct rotational position and a transfer device for transferring the oriented containers in a fixed rotational position to a jaw drum for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers provided.

An applicating machine for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers provided from an infeed includes an orienter for placing containers into a correct rotational position and a transfer device for transferring the oriented containers in a fixed rotational position to a jaw drum for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers provided.

Herein described is a system and method for packaging packages (C), comprising the steps of: forming a row of packages (C) advancing, one following the other, along a pre-set advancement direction (A), picking up at least two first packages (C) from the row, superimposing each of said first packages (C) on a respective second package (C) of the row, releasing each of the first packages (C) resting on the respective second package (C), obtaining at least two stacks of packages, each of which comprises at least two mutually superimposed packages (C) and stabilising the stacks of packages (C).

Herein described is a system and method for packaging packages (C), comprising the steps of: forming a row of packages (C) advancing, one following the other, along a pre-set advancement direction (A), picking up at least two first packages (C) from the row, superimposing each of said first packages (C) on a respective second package (C) of the row, releasing each of the first packages (C) resting on the respective second package (C), obtaining at least two stacks of packages, each of which comprises at least two mutually superimposed packages (C) and stabilising the stacks of packages (C).

A system, apparatus and method are presented for loading product containers into a crate wherein the crate is a reusable crate having four sides, which may be distorted bowed or bent relative to a nominal position. The system has a conveyer to convey the crate to an actuation assembly. The actuation assembly then actuates the crate into contact with a bracing assembly. The bracing assembly has four bracing members, each of which has at least one bracing block engaged thereto. Each bracing block has a grasping portion which contacts and bias against one of the four sides of the crate when the crate is actuated into engagement with the bracing assembly so as to reposition the sides of the crate to be in the nominal position.

A system, apparatus and method are presented for loading product containers into a crate wherein the crate is a reusable crate having four sides, which may be distorted bowed or bent relative to a nominal position. The system has a conveyer to convey the crate to an actuation assembly. The actuation assembly then actuates the crate into contact with a bracing assembly. The bracing assembly has four bracing members, each of which has at least one bracing block engaged thereto. Each bracing block has a grasping portion which contacts and bias against one of the four sides of the crate when the crate is actuated into engagement with the bracing assembly so as to reposition the sides of the crate to be in the nominal position.

A filling device for filling nested containers, which are arranged in at least one row in a nest and are conveyable by means of a conveying device, having a filling station for simultaneously filling the containers of one row, having at least one weighing station for weighing a row of containers, having a first gripping device for simultaneously removing a row of containers to be filled and for transferring said containers to a first weighing station of the at least one weighing station and for transferring the weighed containers from the at least one weighing station back into the nest or into a different nest. The filling device additionally comprises a second gripping device, for simultaneously removing the row of filled and weighed containers and for transferring said containers to the first weighing station or to a second weighing station of the at least one weighing station and for transferring the row of filled and twice weighed containers from the at least one weighing station back into the nest or into a different nest.

A filling device for filling nested containers, which are arranged in at least one row in a nest and are conveyable by means of a conveying device, having a filling station for simultaneously filling the containers of one row, having at least one weighing station for weighing a row of containers, having a first gripping device for simultaneously removing a row of containers to be filled and for transferring said containers to a first weighing station of the at least one weighing station and for transferring the weighed containers from the at least one weighing station back into the nest or into a different nest. The filling device additionally comprises a second gripping device, for simultaneously removing the row of filled and weighed containers and for transferring said containers to the first weighing station or to a second weighing station of the at least one weighing station and for transferring the row of filled and twice weighed containers from the at least one weighing station back into the nest or into a different nest.