A part-processing machine having, in series, consecutive parts on a belt (2) moving same along a main conveying line. Selectively identified non-compliant parts are removed from the conveying line, into a transfer device (1) by pickup tools (8) supported on the periphery of a rotating drum (6) mounted transversely to the conveying line and arranged to rotate about itself so as to pass over the belt, enabling the non-compliant parts to be picked up by the pickup tools and released once the parts have been transported away from the conveying line. The pickup tools have pneumatic gripping heads, more particularly for example suction cups. The pneumatic gripping heads are depressurized relative to the surrounding air by a low-pressure chamber provided inside the drum, to which each head is connected by a tube inside a tool support arm.

The present application provides a sample rack conveying apparatus, a sample rack conveying pipeline, and a sample rack conveying method. The sample rack conveying apparatus includes a track, a detector and dual-channel track switching areas. The detector provided at an outside of the analysis areas to detect whether there is a test tube or not. The dual-channel track switching areas are defined at two ends of the track and positions between every two analysis areas. The track includes an outer track and a parallel inner track. The inner track defines at least two analysis areas. The dual-channel track switching areas include two parallel connecting channels. The connecting channels are moved along a direction perpendicular to the track to transfer the tracks between the inner track and the outer track.

One object is to provide an electron beam sterilization apparatus for sterilizing a preform product (P) by applying an electron beam while conveying the preform product (P), the apparatus comprising: an input star wheel (21) configured to convey the preform product (P) in a circular path; and an outer-surface electron beam application device and an inner-surface electron beam application device configured to apply an electron beam to the preform product (P) being conveyed by the input star wheel (21). A blocking short tube (31) is provided on a lower surface of the star wheel plate (22) of the input star wheel (21) so as to block radioactive rays produced by application of the electron beam and surround a central axis (1v) of the input star wheel (21). The blocking short tube (31) includes a ventilation space (34) formed therein.

A shoe sorter is described. The shoe sorter can include a switch plate that supports movement of a shoe pin of a pusher shoe, a finger, and an actuation arm. In some examples, the finger can be configured to be moved in a first direction in response to a portion of the shoe pin contacting a portion of the finger. The actuation arm can be pivotably engaged to the finger so that a movement of the finger in the first direction can cause a movement of the actuation arm in a second direction. In this regard, the actuation arm in the second direction can cause a change in a signal outputted by the photoelectric sensor coupled to the shoe sorter. This change in the signal can be used by a processor to determine that the shoe pin is misaligned.

The present disclosure relates to assembling, advancing, reorienting, and/or transferring stretched elastic parts during the assembly of absorbent articles. As described herein, a transfer assembly reorients a stretched elastic part from a first orientation, wherein the direction of stretch is generally parallel to the machine direction, to a second orientation, wherein the direction of stretch is generally perpendicular to the machine direction. The reoriented elastic part is then transferred to a carrier while maintaining the stretched condition of the elastic part. The orientation and/or configuration of vacuum apertures in a carrier surface relative to the direction of stretch of the elastic part and relative to the machine direction helps to prevent the elastic part from contracting, while at the same time helps to allow the elastic part to slide off the carrier surface without snagging and/or sticking to aperture perimeter edges.

A transfer machine for machining operations includes a frame, a rotary table with a rotary feeding movement relative to a machine axis, a plurality of workpiece-holder members associated with the rotary table and spaced by a working radius (r) from the machine axis, and a plurality of workstations accessible by the workpiece-holder members as a result of the feeding movement of the table. The transfer machine further includes at least one rotary unit able to rotate a workpiece-holder member about a respective axis and relative to the table, wherein the rotary unit includes a motor assembly located in the machine base at a distance (d) from the machine axis which is less than the working radius (r).

An apparatus and a method convey and sort articles. The apparatus contains a link conveyor, having link elements, pushing-off elements, drive elements, and a control device. The link conveyor runs along a belt-movement line and has along the belt-movement line the link elements which are arranged to follow one after the other and form a conveying surface for the articles. In each case one pushing-off element can be arranged on one of the link elements, above the conveying surface, and therefore the pushing-off element runs along the belt-movement line together with the link element, and the pushing-off element can be moved, and stopped, along a pushing-off-line, which is arranged transversely to the belt-movement line. The drive elements each drive one or more pushing-off elements individually, and therefore the operations of moving and stopping these pushing-off elements, which are arranged to follow one after the other, are independent of one another.

A machine for automatically positioning objects is disclosed. The machine has one inlet conveyor to transport objects in a lying position; a detector system to identify the orientation and/or shape of the objects; a robotic collection device to collect and position the objects according to information received by the detector system; a transfer conveyor having transfer fasteners arranged in fixed positions along a periphery of the transfer conveyor defining a closed loop around a tilted axis; an outlet conveyor to receive and transport the objects in an upright position; and a transfer fastener seat for the objects at each transfer fastener. The conveyor moves the fasteners seats because of the movement of the transfer conveyor between an upper receiving position, in which the object is held in a lying position, and a lower delivery position, in which the object is held in an upright position. The transfer conveyor and said outlet conveyor are synchronized.

Unit for the attachment of mouthpieces to cigars having: a first belt conveyor provided with first pockets, which are designed to contain respective cigars, so as to feed the cigars along a straight attachment path; a second belt conveyor arranged parallel and next to the first belt conveyor and provided with second pockets, which are designed to contain respective mouthpieces, so as to feed the mouthpieces along the attachment path; and a coupling device provided with at least one pushing member, which is arranged along the attachment path in the area of an attachment station and is movable along an attachment direction that is perpendicular to the attachment path, so as to push a mouthpiece carried by a second pocket towards a corresponding cigar carried by a first pocket and then attach the mouthpiece to the cigar.

The present invention relates to a device for ejecting products in a unit for processing said products, a flow of said products moving one behind the other along a circulation trajectory. The device comprises an ejector for individually ejecting a product out of the circulation trajectory and a motor of the ejector. The ejector comprises at least one plate with a peripheral edge provided with at least one recess for receiving a single product and the motor comprises a rotation drive for said plate and means for synchronizing said drive with the flow of said products. The invention relates also to an installation and an ejection method.