A container supply system for the transport of a container along a transport route from a container source to a container receiver includes a movement device configured to receive and transport the container along the transport route, a transport belt stretching along the transport route with a length, the container moveable upon the transport belt along the transport route by the movement device, and a sensor arranged at the transport belt to detect the container. The sensor stretches along a width of the transport belt running perpendicular to the length of the transport belt such that the container moving along the transport route is detectable by the sensor.

A container supply system for the transport of a container along a transport route from a container source to a container receiver includes a movement device configured to receive and transport the container along the transport route, a transport belt stretching along the transport route with a length, the container moveable upon the transport belt along the transport route by the movement device, and a sensor arranged at the transport belt to detect the container. The sensor stretches along a width of the transport belt running perpendicular to the length of the transport belt such that the container moving along the transport route is detectable by the sensor.

A joint system and method for managing alignment tolerances in a track section of a conveyor, the system including: a plurality of track sections, each track section including at least one end to be joined with an adjacent track section and one or more rails on which bearings of moving elements move; and wherein, at the end of each track section, the one or more rails each comprise a finger such that rails from adjacent track sections form an interlaced connection between fingers from each track section and both fingers are angled such that a non-alignment of the rails will not jar a bearing moving over the joint.

A joint system and method for managing alignment tolerances in a track section of a conveyor, the system including: a plurality of track sections, each track section including at least one end to be joined with an adjacent track section and one or more rails on which bearings of moving elements move; and wherein, at the end of each track section, the one or more rails each comprise a finger such that rails from adjacent track sections form an interlaced connection between fingers from each track section and both fingers are angled such that a non-alignment of the rails will not jar a bearing moving over the joint.

A film (50) processing apparatus (20) including a film stretching device (22) and a take-away device (24) and a film processing method using the apparatus. The take-away device receives the film after the stretching device and transports the film along a conveying region in a direction of transport (X). The take-away device includes opposing, first and second conveyor assemblies. The first conveyor assembly has a continuous belt driving a plurality of discrete pads (180a, 180b). Each pad forms a contact face (194a, 194b) extending between leading (200b) and trailing edges (202a). The pads are configured and arranged such that the trailing edge (202a) of a first pad (180a) overlaps the leading edge (200b) of an immediately adjacent second pad (180b) as the first and second pads traverse the conveying region. The overlap is characterized by a line (322) perpendicular to the direction of transport passing at any given moment through the first and second pads. A shape of the contact face can define a major central axis that is non-perpendicular and non-parallel with the direction of transport.

A film (50) processing apparatus (20) including a film stretching device (22) and a take-away device (24) and a film processing method using the apparatus. The take-away device receives the film after the stretching device and transports the film along a conveying region in a direction of transport (X). The take-away device includes opposing, first and second conveyor assemblies. The first conveyor assembly has a continuous belt driving a plurality of discrete pads (180a, 180b). Each pad forms a contact face (194a, 194b) extending between leading (200b) and trailing edges (202a). The pads are configured and arranged such that the trailing edge (202a) of a first pad (180a) overlaps the leading edge (200b) of an immediately adjacent second pad (180b) as the first and second pads traverse the conveying region. The overlap is characterized by a line (322) perpendicular to the direction of transport passing at any given moment through the first and second pads. A shape of the contact face can define a major central axis that is non-perpendicular and non-parallel with the direction of transport.

A cleaning device is provided with a three-dimensional circulation route for circulating workpiece holding tools that hold a workpiece, and this three-dimensional circulation route is formed by an endless conveyor chain bendable in various directions being disposed within a rectangular parallelepiped space following along the upper and lower sides thereof. The conveyor chain circulates from an upper side horizontal transport path portion via a falling side transport path portion, a lower side horizontal transport path portion, and a rising side transport path portion, and the workpiece held in the workpiece holding tools is treated by ultrasonic cleaning, shower cleaning, steam cleaning, drying and the like. Thus, it is possible to suitably dispose a workpiece transport route in a limited rectangular parallelepiped space, and carry out cleaning operations for the workpiece efficiently.

The chain stretch detection device is configured to detect a stretch of a chain in a power transmission device. The power transmission device includes: a driving sprocket; a driven sprocket; and a chain, which is wound around the driving sprocket and the driven sprocket, and is configured to transmit power of the driving sprocket to the driven sprocket. The chain stretch detection device includes: a meshing height measurement device configured to measure meshing heights of the chain in a range in which the driven sprocket meshes with and the chain; and a signal processing device configured to determine a height difference between adjacent rollers in the chain through use of signals acquired by the meshing height measurement device and estimate an amount of the stretch of the chain based on the determined height difference.

A rotating vertical storage system for barrels is provided. The system may comprise a first vertical support tower and a second vertical support tower. A first vertical support tower may have a first upper sprocket wheel and a first lower sprocket wheel with a first carrier chain rotationally coupled to the upper and lower first sprocket wheels. A second vertical support tower may have a second upper sprocket wheel and a second lower sprocket wheel with a second carrier chain rotationally coupled to the upper and lower second sprocket wheels. The system may further include a first cradle with a first end coupled to the first carrier chain and with a second end coupled to the second carrier chain. The cradle may comprise a plurality of barrel receiving valleys adapted to removably secure a plurality of barrels such as kegs.

A rotating vertical storage system for barrels is provided. The system may comprise a first vertical support tower and a second vertical support tower. A first vertical support tower may have a first upper sprocket wheel and a first lower sprocket wheel with a first carrier chain rotationally coupled to the upper and lower first sprocket wheels. A second vertical support tower may have a second upper sprocket wheel and a second lower sprocket wheel with a second carrier chain rotationally coupled to the upper and lower second sprocket wheels. The system may further include a first cradle with a first end coupled to the first carrier chain and with a second end coupled to the second carrier chain. The cradle may comprise a plurality of barrel receiving valleys adapted to removably secure a plurality of barrels such as kegs.