The present invention relates to a switch device for a transfer point (C) between a first and a second rotatable star wheel (20, 30), at which transfer point objects (B1-B8) can be transferred selectively from the first star wheel (20) to the second star wheel (30), characterized in that the switch device comprises: a base (12) at least in the region of the transfer point (C) for supporting the objects (B1-B8) transported by the star wheels; a first and a second wall portion (40, 50) which extend in the region of the transfer point (C), so as to substantially follow the outer periphery of the first and second star wheels (20, 30), respectively, and are movable in the vertical direction between a first position, in which they extend beyond the base (12), and a second position, in which they do not extend beyond the base (12); at least one drive mechanism for driving the movement of the wall portions (40, 50); and a control means for actuating the at least one drive mechanism. The first and the second wall portions (40, 50) are individually vertically movable by the at least one drive mechanism.

The present invention relates to a switch device for a transfer point (C) between a first and a second rotatable star wheel (20, 30), at which transfer point objects (B1-B8) can be transferred selectively from the first star wheel (20) to the second star wheel (30), characterized in that the switch device comprises: a base (12) at least in the region of the transfer point (C) for supporting the objects (B1-B8) transported by the star wheels; a first and a second wall portion (40, 50) which extend in the region of the transfer point (C), so as to substantially follow the outer periphery of the first and second star wheels (20, 30), respectively, and are movable in the vertical direction between a first position, in which they extend beyond the base (12), and a second position, in which they do not extend beyond the base (12); at least one drive mechanism for driving the movement of the wall portions (40, 50); and a control means for actuating the at least one drive mechanism. The first and the second wall portions (40, 50) are individually vertically movable by the at least one drive mechanism.

A product order fulfillment system including a multi-level transport system and a lifting transport system. Each level of the multi-level transport system having a corresponding independent asynchronous level transport system separate and distinct from the asynchronous level transport system corresponding to each other level of the multi-level transport system. Each independent lift axis of the lifting transport system being configured to independently hold at least one case and being communicably coupled to each asynchronous level transport system so as to provide for exchange of the at least one case between each asynchronous level transport system and each independent lift axis. Each independent lift axis is communicably coupled to each other independent lift axis of the more than one lift axis and forms a common output of mixed cases so as to create an ordered sequence of mixed cases in accordance to a predetermined case out ordered sequence.

A transportation path diverter diverts the transportation path of a conveyed article. The transportation path diverter includes an upstream-side lower diverting conveyor, a downstream-side upper diverting conveyor, a downstream-side lower diverting conveyor, a height sensor, and an article sensor. The height sensor detects the article conveyed by the upstream-side lower diverting conveyor, the article having at least a predetermined height. The article sensor detects the article transferred from the upstream-side lower diverting conveyor to the downstream-side lower diverting conveyor. A swing of the downstream-side upper diverting conveyor by a first swinging device is controlled based on the detection of the article by the height sensor and the article sensor.

A product order fulfillment system including a multi-level transport system and a lifting transport system. Each level of the multi-level transport system having a corresponding independent asynchronous level transport system separate and distinct from the asynchronous level transport system corresponding to each other level of the multi-level transport system. Each independent lift axis of the lifting transport system being configured to independently hold at least one case and being communicably coupled to each asynchronous level transport system so as to provide for exchange of the at least one case between each asynchronous level transport system and each independent lift axis. Each independent lift axis is communicably coupled to each other independent lift axis of the more than one lift axis and forms a common output of mixed cases so as to create an ordered sequence of mixed cases in accordance to a predetermined case out ordered sequence.

A conveying module includes a base structure; a first conveying device to convey a unit of goods in a first conveying direction (x) in the horizontal; a second conveying device to convey a unit of goods in a second conveying direction (y) in the horizontal, wherein the second conveying direction runs substantially perpendicular to the first conveying direction; a carrier structure to carry a unit of goods; a first lifting device to raise and/or lower the first conveying device in the vertical (z) between a lower position and an upper position; and a second lifting device to raise and/or lower the second conveying device in the vertical (z) between a lower position and an upper position; wherein a unit of goods located on the conveying module rests on the carrier structure when the first conveying device and the second conveying device are in the lower position.

A conveyor system includes a conveyor belt having a plurality of article-diverting conveyor belt rollers. An underlying drive roller assembly includes a plurality of pivotable rollers carriers, each having a freely rotatable drive roller that contacts the conveyor belt rollers from below. An actuator engages an orientation device to pivot the carriers and change the orientation of the drive rollers. The drive rollers may also move into and out of engagement with the conveyor belt rollers as their orientation changes. The orientation device is sandwiched between three-dimensional support plates to adjust the orientation of the drive rollers relative to the belt rollers. A top support plate includes corrugated vertical walls forming wearstrip holders. The orientation device may raise or lower the drive rollers during pivoting of the roller carriers. The drive roller assembly may be a modular assembly that can be customized for varying sizes, shapes and configurations.

The disclosure relates to a method for operating a transport apparatus with a storage apparatus and to a corresponding transport apparatus with a storage apparatus. The method includes the following steps, providing the transport apparatus (1) with the storage apparatus (2) for storing transport units (3), including a plurality of transport units (3), a plurality of storage conveyors (4), and a feeding conveyor (5) to the storage conveyors. Furthermore, the transport apparatus includes an optical sensor (7) arranged at the feeding conveyor (5) and an evaluation electronics (8) connected to the optical sensor. The method also includes determining measurement data with the optical sensor (7) from a transport unit (3) moving past the optical sensor (7), and processing the measurement data obtained from the optical sensor (7) with the evaluation electronics (8) in order to determine the spatial extent in at least one dimension of the transport unit (3) moving past; and selecting a storage conveyor (4) for storing the transport unit (3) moving past on the basis of the determined spatial extent of the transport unit (3) moving past.

The invention concerns a conveyor system for formatting slice-shaped food products in product stacks. The conveyor system includes an inlet, a lower product conveyor, an upper product conveyor, a vertically swiveling distributor conveyor for distributing the incoming food products selectively to the lower product conveyor or to the upper product conveyor, an output conveyor receiving the food products partially stacked from the lower product conveyor and the upper product conveyor, and an outlet for outputting the stacked food products in product rows. The individual conveying tracks of the distributor conveyor can be swivelled vertically independently of one another in order to forward the incoming food products individually for each conveying track selectively to the lower product conveyor onto the upper product conveyor.

A product order fulfillment system including a multi-level transport system and a lifting transport system. Each level of the multi-level transport system having a corresponding independent asynchronous level transport system separate and distinct from the asynchronous level transport system corresponding to each other level of the multi-level transport system. Each independent lift axis of the lifting transport system being configured to independently hold at least one case and being communicably coupled to each asynchronous level transport system so as to provide for exchange of the at least one case between each asynchronous level transport system and each independent lift axis. Each independent lift axis is communicably coupled to each other independent lift axis of the more than one lift axis and forms a common output of mixed cases so as to create an ordered sequence of mixed cases in accordance to a predetermined case out ordered sequence.