An apparatus and method for grading sensitive products. The apparatus and method treat the objects to be graded gently and are accurate and may be constructed so as to handle extremely large quantities. The grading device has grading channels that are wider at the outlet than at the intake. The belt machine draws the objects forward between two inclined belts which form the channel. An adjusting device is implemented perpendicular underneath the belts of the apparatus having alternatively arranged support members and adjusting members arranged on an adjusting screwing shaft. Both components have screwing sections which regulate an increase or a decrease in the gap between the support members when the adjusting screwing shaft is rotated.

A conveyor system includes a product distribution conveyor which spreads products across its width and aligns them in uniform orientations while doing so; a lateral transfer conveyor which receives a row of the aligned products from the product distribution conveyor, and rejects unaligned and/or excess products while doing so; and a product loading conveyor which receives each row of products and loads them into packaging in a neatly aligned array.

The machine (1) for laying sliced food products (2) in containers (3), comprises: a first conveyor (4) able to convey slices (2) or groups of slices (2) along at least one advancement direction and provided with an end portion (40) from which the slices (2) are released; a second conveyor (5) able to convey containers (3) suitable for receiving one or more slices (2) from the end portion (40) of the first conveyor (4), the second conveyor (5) being placed below the first conveyor (4); and a positioning apparatus (45, 46, 47, 81, 82) for regulating the arrangement of the first and the second conveyor (4, 5) with respect to each other.

The machine (1) further comprises a detection apparatus (6) able to determine the arrangement of the slices (2) or of the groups of slices (2) on the first conveyor (4), and a processing unit (7) connected to the positioning and detection apparatuses and configured to control the activation of the positioning apparatus according to detections carried out by the detection apparatus (6).

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and apparatuses for locating, engaging, and shifting objects. The systems may be used to unload objects from a storage space, e.g., inside a vehicle or facility, including one associated with a logistics network operation. The systems disclosed herein may operate in automated or semi-automated fashion, e.g., at the direction of a control system associated with a computing device. The systems may further utilize shifter mechanisms that each include one or more belt-driven mechanisms and position-changing mechanisms that facilitate the locating, engaging, and shifting of objects in a storage space. The components of these systems may operate independently, or in coordination, thereby increasing the efficiency of an object-handling operation.

The invention relates to a method for the singulation of packages, especially for the singulation of parcels. The invention is based on the assumption that the parcels are initially present as a bulk flow. The packages are transported in the form of a package flow on fifteen different transport means at different transport speeds, whereby the transport direction is deflected at least once by approximately 90.

The invention relates to a method and to a device for the singulation of packages, especially for the singulation of parcels. The invention is based on the assumption that the parcels are initially present as a bulk flow. The packages are transported in the form of a package flow on fifteen different transport means at different transport speeds, whereby the transport direction is deflected at least once by approximately 90.

A magnetic lifting device for bodies (Z) comprises an input transport device (10) for transporting lying bodies (4), a transport device (12) for transporting lifted bodies (9) hanging at the transport device (12) and arranged above the input transport device (10) and a control device (13). A first magnet arrangement (1) which is activated and deactivated by the control device (13) is arranged below the input transport device (10) in such a way that a body (4) lying on the input transport device (10) is magnetically held in a releasable way on the input transport device (10). A second magnet arrangement (2) is arranged above an area of the input transport device (10), in which the bodies are transported, and is formed in such a way that a body lying on the input transport device (10) is lifted by the magnetic field of the second magnet arrangement (10) when the magnetic field of the first magnet arrangement (1) is deactivated. A third magnet arrangement (3) is provided above the transport device (12) and is formed and arranged in such a way that a partially lifted body (4a) is lifted more and is lifted off the input transport device (10) and is transported in an upright position hanging magnetically at the transport device (12). The control device (13) is adapted to activate the first magnet arrangement (1) when a front edge of a body (4) lying on the input transport device (10) has passed the second magnet arrangement (2) and to deactivate the first magnet arrangement (1) when a trailing edge of this body (4) comes to lie below the second magnet arrangement (2).

A main drive mechanism provided with a main motor drives a rack on a first main path and a rack on a second main path simultaneously in the forward direction or simultaneously in the reverse direction. The rack is sent along a first auxiliary path by a first auxiliary drive mechanism. Then the rack is further sent in the forward direction along the second main path by the main drive mechanism. Once the rack leaves the first receiving region, the first claw member of the first auxiliary drive mechanism is sent to a retraction position and the rack is driven by the main drive mechanism in the reverse direction. The first claw member is then sent to an engagement position on the first main transportation path, the main drive mechanism is driven for transport in the forward direction, and the rack and the first claw member engage each other.

An apparatus and method for grading sensitive products. The apparatus and method treat the objects to be graded gently and are accurate and may be constructed so as to handle extremely large quantities. The grading device has grading channels that are wider at the outlet than at the intake. The belt machine draws the objects forward between two inclined belts which form the channel An adjusting device is implemented perpendicular underneath the belts of the apparatus having alternatively arranged support members and adjusting members arranged on an adjusting screwing shaft. Both components have screwing sections which regulate an increase or a decrease in the gap between the support members when the adjusting screwing shaft is rotated.

A main drive mechanism provided with a main motor drives a rack on a first main path and a rack on a second main path simultaneously in the forward direction or simultaneously in the reverse direction. The rack is sent along a first auxiliary path by a first auxiliary drive mechanism. Then the rack is further sent in the forward direction along the second main path by the main drive mechanism. Once the rack leaves the first receiving region, the first claw member of the first auxiliary drive mechanism is sent to a retraction position and the rack is driven by the main drive mechanism in the reverse direction. The first claw member is then sent to an engagement position on the first main transportation path, the main drive mechanism is driven for transport in the forward direction, and the rack and the first claw member engage each other.