A parcel processing system (400) includes infeed conveyors (404, 406, 408) each conveying parcels (106) with an assigned orientation class, a merging conveyor (410) configured to merge parcels fed by the infeed conveyors into a single stream of parcels, and an induction conveyor (200) configured to feed the merged stream of parcels along an induction feed path (202) to a sorting conveyor (100). The infeed paths (404a, 406a) of the infeed conveyors are arranged at different angular orientations in relation to a merging feed path (412) of the merging conveyor such that each parcel in the merged stream of parcels has an orientation that is dependent upon its assigned orientation class. The merging conveyor (410) includes a multi-axis transport mechanism configured to move parcels along a principal axis parallel to the merging feed path and a secondary axis perpendicular to the principal axis, the merging conveyor being operable to selectively activate movement along the secondary axis for centering parcels being loaded thereon.

A loading apparatus for use with tubular food articles. The loading apparatus comprises an input conveyor configured to convey the tubular food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the input conveyor and configured to operate in an intermittent motion, and a curved end member positioned in spaced arrangement to the input conveyor to permit the tubular food articles to pass between the input conveyor and the curved end member such that the curved end member retains the tubular food articles on the input conveyor. The input conveyor is configured to transfer the tubular food articles from the input conveyor directly to the indexing conveyor using gravity from a space between the input conveyor and the curved end member.

Diverting equipment for conveying an article on a conveyance path to a branching path formed so as to branch from the conveyance path. In the conveyance path, a branching section to the branching path has a plurality of conveyance rollers disposed in a conveyance direction H of the article in the conveyance path and a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction H of the article in the conveyance path, the conveyance rollers forming the conveyance surface of the conveyance path and being rotatable around the axes of vertical shafts. Between the adjacent conveyance rollers disposed in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction H of the article, a gap is formed along the conveyance direction H of the article. In the gap, a rail capable of supporting the article is extended along the conveyance direction H of the article.

Diverting equipment for conveying an article on a conveyance path to a branching path formed so as to branch from the conveyance path. In the conveyance path, a branching section to the branching path has a plurality of conveyance rollers disposed in a conveyance direction H of the article in the conveyance path and a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction H of the article in the conveyance path, the conveyance rollers forming the conveyance surface of the conveyance path and being rotatable around the axes of vertical shafts. Between the adjacent conveyance rollers disposed in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction H of the article, a gap is formed along the conveyance direction H of the article. In the gap, a rail capable of supporting the article is extended along the conveyance direction H of the article.

A system and method for independently routing vehicles and delivering containers and closures to unit operation stations are disclosed. The containers and closures can, in some cases, be transported on the same vehicle. In other cases, the containers and closures can be transported on different vehicles.

A component mounting system including: a component mounting device group in which a plurality of component mounting devices that mount components supplied to a board transported in from an upstream side by a tape feeder and transport out the board to a downstream side, and cut a carrier tape after supplying the components by a cutter device and discharge scraps of carrier tape, are installed on a floor surface while being arranged in a direction of conveying the board; a main conveyor that is installed along an arrangement direction of the plurality of component mounting devices in a region on the floor surface under the component mounting device group, and transports the scraps of carrier tape discharged from each of the plurality of component mounting devices; and a scraps storage that is installed outside the region and stores the scraps of carrier tape transported by the main conveyor.

A component mounting system including: a component mounting device group in which a plurality of component mounting devices that mount components supplied to a board transported in from an upstream side by a tape feeder and transport out the board to a downstream side, and cut a carrier tape after supplying the components by a cutter device and discharge scraps of carrier tape, are installed on a floor surface while being arranged in a direction of conveying the board; a main conveyor that is installed along an arrangement direction of the plurality of component mounting devices in a region on the floor surface under the component mounting device group, and transports the scraps of carrier tape discharged from each of the plurality of component mounting devices; and a scraps storage that is installed outside the region and stores the scraps of carrier tape transported by the main conveyor.

A method and system (100) for controlling transport of products (1). The products (1) are guided by at least one conveyor surface (10) through a control zone (15). A flow profile (Fm) of the products (1) in the control zone (15) is measured. The measured flow profile (Fm) is compared to one or more predetermined flow patterns (P1,P2,P3) for controlling the transport based on the comparison. Preferably, the flow profile (Fm) is measured by a sensor device (20) disposed adjacent the transported products, e.g. using LIDAR.

A grouping station includes first conveyor tracks for moving loading pallets to the grouping station and second conveyor tracks for forwarding the loading pallets from the grouping station. The first conveyor tracks and the second conveyor tracks are both arranged for two different handling directions of the loading pallets.

A row-forming device (10) together with processes form a bottle row (8) from a bottle layer (7). The row-forming device (10) is configured to pick up and transport away, in rows, the respectively frontmost layer row (61) of the bottle layer (7) moved in a conveying direction (60), in a transverse transport direction (72). One or more layer conveyors (59) moves the bottle row (7) in a conveying direction (60) and adjoins the transport device (62), which has a plurality of parallel conveyor belts (63, 66) that extend in the transport direction (72) and are driven independently and also exhibit mutually different transport speeds. The transport device (62) has a guide strip (68) oriented obliquely to the transport direction (72). The guide strip (68) extends over a part of the conveyor belts (63, 66) and is arranged downstream of the layer conveyor (59) in the transport direction (72).