A belt conveyor is configured for conveying products in a conveying direction and defines a width extending in a transverse direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, and a height direction orthogonal to the conveying and transverse directions. An ejector is fixed to the belt conveyor and acts in the transverse direction for sorting out/discharging products. The ejector has an end region which faces the product to be sorted out, and has a base body mounted in a base position on the belt conveyor by means of a holder. The basic position of the base body can be adjusted by means of an adjusting device of the holder in the transverse direction within an adjustment path so that the end area of the non-actuated ejector in the transverse direction can protrude across the belt conveyor width by at least half of that width, or more.

A conveyor system, comprising a first conveyor assembly having: an input end; an output end; and a conveyor belt arranged to convey an object from the input end toward the output end in a direction of travel. The conveyor system comprises a fluid projection mechanism, the fluid projection mechanism being arranged to provide a fluid suitable for providing a lifting force to a conveyed object as the conveyed object passes over the fluid projection mechanism.

A container-transport machine that selectively ejects container includes a transporter that is movable relative to a base and grippers arranged at the transporter. Each gripper suspends a container that is to be transported. An actuator is arranged at the base so as to be stationary relative to the transporter. The actuator is disposed at an ejection position for participating in selectively ejecting an individual container. A selectively-actuatable air nozzle disposed on the base at the ejection position promotes ejection of a container when an opening lever of a gripper interacts with the actuator while the opening lever passes through an ejection position.

A cross-conveyor sorter with a clearing apparatus for removing misplaced items (S.sub.d) is described, wherein the cross-conveyor sorter has a plurality of carriages which are connected to one another on an endless conveying track, the carriages are provided with a cross-conveyor device, which is oriented transversely to the transportation direction (x) and on which the items (S.sub.p) can be transported and unloaded at predetermined unloading locations. The cross-conveyor sorter clearing apparatus enables the risk-free removal of misplaced items (S.sub.d) during operation. The clearing apparatus is a blow-off device which is arranged on a first side alongside the conveying track.

An image inspection device has a platform, a controlling unit, multiple image capture units, and a discharging unit. The platform has a carrier being capable of rotating for carrying products under inspection. The controlling unit is capable of controlling rotation of the carrier. The image capture units are disposed around the platform and electrically connected to the controlling unit. Each image capture unit has a zoom lens electrically connected to the controlling unit for transmitting digital information of images captured by the zoom lens to the controlling unit. The discharging unit is configured to move the products under inspection away from the carrier and electrically connected to the controlling unit.

The invention includes a method (100) and an apparatus to handle irregularly conveyed and/or irregularly aligned and/or non-upright articles of an article stream under prevention of disturbances. The method (100) comprises the following steps: identifying at least one non-upright article in an article stream as an error; performing a correction step to resolve the error, the correction step comprising removal from the article stream of the at least one irregularly aligned article, or transfer to an upright orientation of the at least one irregularly aligned article, with a defined action being exerted temporally before and/or in temporal overlap with the correction step upon the at least one irregularly aligned article or upon regularly conveyed articles of the article stream.

A belt conveyor is configured for conveying products in a conveying direction and defines a width extending in a transverse direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, and a height direction orthogonal to the conveying and transverse directions. An ejector is fixed to the belt conveyor and acts in the transverse direction for sorting out/discharging products. The ejector has an end region which faces the product to be sorted out, and has a base body mounted in a base position on the belt conveyor by means of a holder. The basic position of the base body can be adjusted by means of an adjusting device of the holder in the transverse direction within an adjustment path so that the end area of the non-actuated ejector in the transverse direction can protrude across the belt conveyor width by at least half of that width, or more.

A method and system for an automatic parts conveying system includes a parts feeder configured to receive parts from a receiving bin, a linear conveyor for conveying parts away from the parts feeder to an installation robot. The installation robot includes a robot arm controlled by a controller and a parts handling device coupled to a distal end of the robot arm. The automatic parts conveying system also includes one or more vibrating elements positioned along at least one of the linear conveyor, the parts feeder, and the receiving bin to impart vibratory motions to the at least one of the linear conveyor, the parts feeder, and the receiving bin for stimulating the parts into motion. The automatic parts conveying system also includes an air assist portion configured to provide pressurized fluid to the parts to facilitate moving parts through the automatic parts conveying system.

An unloading apparatus for horticultural products such as blueberries and the like, which are conveyed along a predefined advancement path by respective movement units includes at least one dispenser of pressurized fluid, which can be activated on command during the transit of each product in order to send a jet of the pressurized fluid toward the product and consequently cause its fall from the respective movement unit. The apparatus also includes at least one deflector screen arranged facing and proximate to the dispenser, on the opposite side with respect to the predefined trajectory in order to intercept the products struck by the jet. The screen is inclined so as to define, between its face directed toward the dispenser and a vertical plane that passes through the dispenser, a work angle one and ninety degrees configured for the optimum downward deflection of the products.

Disclosed is a method for unblocking the movement of hollow bodies travelling in a line in a conveyor, including: a guiding chute in which each hollow body is intended to take up a freely suspended position; a component for continuously driving hollow bodies into the chute in a direction of movement; a hollow body being likely to take up a position in which it is stuck against a stationary surface of a member that complements the chute and thus to block the movement of the hollow bodies that build up behind same. The method includes an unblocking step which consists of applying an unblocking pulse to the hollow bodies of the blocked line against the direction of movement in order to move the blocking hollow body away from the stationary surface and to allow the blocking hollow body to swivel into the freely suspended position thereof in the chute.