A conveyor system for the local transport of workpieces having a track having rail sections extending next to one another, with portions, inclined differently from one another relative to a horizontal plane, along which load carriers for receiving the workpieces, are movable one behind the other. Each load carrier has a running gear with a first and a second bearing assembly spaced apart from each other relative to the extension of the track and by which the load carriers are guided on the track. In some sections, the relative height positions of two rails section running next to one another are different from one another. The load carriers, which are each guided via their first bearing assembly on one rail section and via their second bearing assembly on one further rail section, are, relative to the direction of travel, horizontally oriented the same at every point of the track.

A conveyorized industrial system includes at least one work station including a heated oven chamber. A fixed, non-powered rail defines a conveyor path including an oven zone in which the rail extends through or over the heated oven chamber. An automated conveyor carrier (ACC) is suspended from the rail by a self-driving trolley having an on-board motor for driving the ACC along the rail, and by at least one additional free-rolling trolley. The ACC further comprises an enclosure containing one or both of an inverter and a battery, the enclosure having a wall defining an interior space of the enclosure. A heat protection system is provided in addition to the wall, the heat protection system operating to limit an internal temperature of the enclosure during transport along the oven zone.

A conveyor system including a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path, and a plurality of automated conveyor carriers supported on the rail. Each carrier includes an on-board motor, at least one wheel forming an interface with the rail, and an on-board power source selectively powering the on-board motor to drive the ACC along the rail. Each of the plurality of carriers operates to power the on-board motor from the on-board power source under the direction of instructions programmed to a local controller. Each of the local controllers is programmed with an algorithm for independent wear monitoring of the at least one wheel and further programmed to take at least one responsive action based on an identification of the at least one wheel being worn.

A conveyor belt comprising: a belt body (13), one rotatable portion (12) coupled to the belt body (13) and configured to turn relative to the belt body (13). The rotatable portion comprises a plurality of sub-elements (17), with each one of said sub-elements being rotatably connected to an adjacent sub-element and having first opposite side portions and second opposite side portions; each one of the sub-elements (17) further comprises: one or more first annular features (19) at each of the first opposite side portions, one or more second annular features (20) at each the second opposite side portions. The first annular features (19) of a sub-element mate with the first annular features (19) or with the second annular features (20) of an adjacent sub-element forming a coupling seat (21) located between the two adjacent sub-elements and extending along an axis of rotation; one pin (22) is inserted in said coupling seat (21) formed between the two adjacent sub-elements to rotatably connect the two adjacent sub-elements (17). It is also disclosed a packaging apparatus using the above conveyor belt.

A conveyor belt comprising: a belt body (13), one rotatable portion (12) coupled to the belt body (13) and configured to turn relative to the belt body (13). The rotatable portion comprises a plurality of sub-elements (17), with each one of said sub-elements being rotatably connected to an adjacent sub-element and having first opposite side portions and second opposite side portions; each one of the sub-elements (17) further comprises: one or more first annular features (19) at each of the first opposite side portions, one or more second annular features (20) at each the second opposite side portions. The first annular features (19) of a sub-element mate with the first annular features (19) or with the second annular features (20) of an adjacent sub-element forming a coupling seat (21) located between the two adjacent sub-elements and extending along an axis of rotation; one pin (22) is inserted in said coupling seat (21) formed between the two adjacent sub-elements to rotatably connect the two adjacent sub-elements (17). It is also disclosed a packaging apparatus using the above conveyor belt.

A carrier basket support and stabilizing system having cars configured to travel along a pathway, at least some support groups including three of the cars, and each support group of three of the cars includes a lead, center, and trailing car, and a carrier basket support is connected to the center car. The carrier basket support includes a center plate and a support post connected to the center car and first and second wing plates located on opposite sides of and pivotally connected to the center plate. The lead and trailing cars slidably support the respective wing plates there-against as the cars pivot while moving along the pathway. A carrier basket is pivotally connected to the support post and has rollers configured for rolling contact with the center, first, and/or the second wing plates, depending on an orientation of the carrier basket support.

A method of operating a conveyor system includes providing a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path, the rail supporting first and second consecutive automated conveyor carriers (ACC), each of which includes a motor-powered self-driving trolley. First and second loads are suspended from the first and second ACCs. The first and second ACCs are driven independently along the rail by executing instructions from independent on-board controllers of the first and second ACCs, wherein a first spacing between the first and second ACCs is maintained through a first section of the rail. The first ACC is accelerated away from the second ACC to increase the spacing from the first spacing to a second spacing for navigating a second section of the rail, the second section being a curved section.

A system and a method for automatic transfer of carcass parts suspended from a first carrier to being suspended from a second carrier. The carcass parts may be a half carcass that may have been eviscerated and cleaned. The first carrier may be an industry standard gambrel or a single carrier or a Marel DeboFlex carrier, for example a Euro Carrier. The second carrier may be a single carrier, for example a Euro Carrier, or a Marel DeboFlex carrier.

The invention relates to an overhead conveyor system (1a . . . 1d) with hanging bags (2, 2a . . . 2d), which are adjustable between a transport position and a loading position and which are designed for transporting articles (4, 4a . . . 4i), with a loading station (5a . . . 5d), at which a hanging bag (2, 2a . . . 2d) can be loaded with an article (4, 4a . . . 4i), and with an overhead conveying device (6, 6a . . . 6d) for transporting a hanging bag (2, 2a . . . 2d) into the loading station (5a . . . 5d) and for transporting the hanging bag (2, 2a . . . 2d) out of the loading station (5a . . . 5d). The overhead conveyor system (1a . . . 1d) further comprises a measuring device (11a . . . 11d), by means of which an expansion (a) of the bag body (3) in a transport direction of the loaded hanging bag (2, 2a . . . 2d) is determined in the transport position of the bag body (3). Moreover, the invention relates to a method for operating such an overhead conveyor system (1a . . . 1d).

A ceiling-mounted delivery assembly for a cabin of a vehicle includes a conveyance system that has a pair of guide rails, and a trolley operatively connected to the conveyance system for movement relative thereto. The trolley includes a control box having a pair of wheels. Each wheel is operatively connected to a respective one of the pair of guide rails. The control box includes a plurality of pulley drums extending from the control box. The trolley includes cable connection system having a plurality of cables. Each cable attached to a respective one of the pulley drums of the control box. The trolley includes a tray operatively connected to the cables of the cable connection system to be moved up and down relative to the control box.