A product distribution system including a chute and a controller. The chute includes a variable friction angled surface configured to receive a product and/or slidably transport the product along the angled surface. The controller is operatively coupled with the chute. The controller is configured to vary an amount of friction at the angled surface based on information about the product.

The load is carried on a horizontal conveyor belt which is driven by a motor. The conveyor system is carried on a base which supports a number of lever arms. The lever arms are balanced by a fixed weight and by movable weights. There is a clutch and brake mechanism on the drive axis of the main drive motor so that the load may be accelerated or stopped. The movement of the levers is directly proportional to the load so that the braking or accelerating forces are also proportional to the load. The clutch and brake mechanism may be controlled by a cam and piston.

The invention relates to a hopper (10) for rod shaped articles (100) defining a longitudinal axis, the hopper (10) including: a chamber (20) to hold the rod shaped articles (100); a distributor device (30) to align the rod shaped articles (100) with substantially parallel longitudinal axes, the distributor device (30) including a plurality of walls (50) defining adjacent channels (40), at least one of said walls (50) including a stationary part (51) and a movable part (52) connected to the stationary part (51); and a vibrating device (70) adapted to oscillate the movable part (52) with respect to the stationary part (51).

A component supply device includes a storage section, a mounting section, and a component support section. The storage section stores multiple components. The storage section is mounted to the mounting section. The storage section is attachable and detachable in relation to the mounting section. The component support section supports, in a scattered state, multiple components which are discharged from an opening of the storage section which is in a state of being mounted to the mounting section.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for using an induced magnetic field tote transfer chimney including a pair of opposed roller conveyer frames comprising a plurality of rollers disposed in opposed roller pairs, the plurality of rollers comprising a combination of different types of rollers, the combination comprising a magnetic roller and at least one other roller, the at least one other roller being one of a standard uncoated roller, a standard coated roller, or another magnetic roller, each magnetic roller being a magnetic coated roller or a magnetic uncoated roller. The induced magnetic field tote transfer chimney has a conveying direction extending in a vertical direction and each magnetic roller disposed in the induced magnetic field tote transfer chimney is configured to induce induction braking to reduce product speed and generate an induction braking force proportional to speed.

A sorting system having a main sorting conveyor sorting articles to discharge conveyors feeding articles to diverters having freely rotatable, gravity-activated rollers arranged in an inclined plane. The orientations of the rollers are selectably changed to divert articles riding downward along each diverter to different destinations. The main sorting conveyor comprises a roller belt with belt-roller actuators at sorting locations. The belt-roller actuators and the diverters are identical mechanisms.

A picking device for piece goods is disclosed, in which cleaning of the picking device is facilitated. The picking device may include a shelf row having shelf bases, each including a plurality of storage chutes, and a retrieving device, via which piece goods can be retrieved. A shelf base may include a frame structure, chute partitions, chute bases, and blocking devices, which are coupled to a control device. Two chute partitions and one chute base may define one elongate storage chute, assigned to each chute base is a support device, on which the chute base rests and which is designed such that another chute base can be slid between the resting chute base and the support device. Assigned to each chute base is a holding means, which prevents the chute base from sliding in the longitudinal direction of the storage chute when the chute base is on the support device.

A battery aligning device includes an inlet through which a first cylindrical battery is input, an outlet from which the first cylindrical battery is discharged, regulating plates constituting a slit in a path from the inlet to the outlet, and a support member which supports one end portion and the other end portion of each of the regulating plates, in the regulating plates, a length from the one end portion to the other end portion is longer than a length of the first cylindrical battery, an X-Z cross-section has a non-linear shape, in an interval between the one regulating plate and the other regulating plate, a facing interval between surfaces is larger than a diameter of the first cylindrical battery, and when a line segment having the same length as that of the first cylindrical battery is in contact with the regulating plate at two points on the X-Z cross-section, a distance between the line segment and the regulating plate is arranged at an interval smaller than the diameter of the first cylindrical battery.

An apparatus for dividing horticultural products, propelled by a fluid for transport from an intake region connected to an upstream station to an evacuation region connected to a downstream station. The apparatus includes a supporting frame for a contoured floor, which is arranged so that a first edge is at said intake region and is arranged so that a second edge, arranged opposite the first edge, is at the evacuation region. The contoured floor includes a plurality of lanes interposed in a parallel arrangement between the regions and have a substantially V-shaped transverse cross-section so as to produce the progressive conveyance and alignment of the horticultural products in transit along the bottom of each lane.

SUMMARY

Conveyor arrangement (1), comprising a terminal chute (11, 12, . . . ), adapted to the takeover a conveyed object (9), in particular a postal parcel (9), at a takeover area (A1), in particular from an upstream feed in device (7); for transferring the conveyed object (9) at a transfer area (A3), in particular at a terminal (4); for transmitting the conveyed object (9) in a chute area (A2) from the takeover area (A1) to the transfer area (A3), wherein the terminal chute is inclined downwardly in the conveying direction (F) so that the conveyed object (9) is conveyed in a gravitationally sliding manner, in particular comprising means for reducing damage to the conveyed material.