Connector assembly (100), system and method for converting a batch wise supply of insects (102) to a continuous supply of insects (102). A container unit is present (105) having an internal volume, a water inlet unit (106-109, 117), and a suspension outlet unit (110-113). A receiving unit (101) has a top opening (101a) arranged for receiving batch wise quantities of insects (102) and a bottom opening (114). A conveyor unit (104) has a receiving part (104b) arranged near the bottom opening (114) of the receiving unit (101), and an outlet end (119) extending into the container unit (105). By suspending the insects (102) in water it is possible to transport the suspension of insects (102) in water, e.g. to a buffer container (300).

A piler conveyor system for screening debris such as tare dirt from materials such as beets as the materials are conveyed across a piler. The piler conveyor system generally includes a frame supporting an upper conveyor and a pair of lower conveyors. The upper conveyor is adapted to receive materials such as beets. As the materials are conveyed by the upper conveyor, debris such as tare dirt or the like will fall through screening openings in the upper conveyor and onto the lower conveyor. The lower conveyor may then dispense the debris through a debris opening. The materials will drop off the end of the upper conveyor and fall onto the second lower conveyor, which will convey the screened materials to be dispensed.

A separating apparatus includes a feed device for feeding pipette tips, a dispensing device for dispensing pipette tips, a separating device arranged between the feed device and the dispensing device and having a transport shaft rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis, and a retaining element spaced apart from the transport shaft for retaining the pipette tips. The transport shaft has a thread for moving the pipette tips in an intermediate space between the transport shaft and the retaining element. The transport shaft has a transfer region for transferring the pipette tips from the feed device. The thread has a first thread pitch in the transfer region, and the transport shaft has an acceleration region after the transfer region. The thread has a second thread pitch in the acceleration region which is greater than the first thread pitch.

A system enables management of dispensable units by supporting functions such as retrieval, scheduled distribution, analysis, and notifications. To this end, a dispensable retrieval mechanism may be programmed to carry out blind retrievals of dispensable units using a retrieval strategy with a predetermined sequence of retrieval attempts (e.g., fixed or varying two-dimensional retrieval patterns), which may be open loop or closed loop. Techniques may also include the identification of dispensable units through optical sensors and weight measurement devices that can detect, e.g., a texture, a shape, and a size of dispensable units. Such identification can be used to program retrieval attempts by a retrieval robot and in the formulation of the retrieval pattern. Additionally, networked notification systems for dispensable units can be used for updating rules or schedules related to the dispensable units, or alerting users and remote resources of any potential misuse or hazards of the dispensable units.

A magazine (200) is described for portion-wise receiving individualized bulk electronic components (298). The magazine (200) comprises (a) a receiving structure (110) which comprises multiple closable receiving cavities (112, 112a), which are arranged along a longitudinal axis (100a) of the receiving structure (110); (b) a cover structure (120) which is arranged at an upper side of the receiving structure (110), displaceable along the longitudinal axis (100a), so that in a closed position of the cover structure (120) all receiving cavities (112, 112a) are covered and in one opening position of multiple opening positions at least one receiving cavity (112) is free; and (c) a closure foil (225) which encompasses the cover structure (120) along the longitudinal axis (100a) in the form of a closed tape, wherein at least a part of the closure foil (225) is releasably connected to the receiving structure (110). Further, a device (430) is described for portion-wise transferring components (298) from one such magazine (200) into a reservoir (490) for a component supply device. Further, a method is described for portion-wise transferring components from one such magazine (200) into the one such reservoir (490).

A dip tank is fillable with a liquid. An accommodation device accommodates components and is rotatingly drivable around an axis of rotation. The accommodation device and the dip tank are movable relative to each other to dip the components in the dip tank or to lift the components out of the dip tank. A splash guard is provided. A lifting device is arranged to move the splash guard relative to the dip tank.

A method for the partial emptying of buoyant objects, which are stored in a loading aid having at least one opening is provided. A processing weight to be partially emptied is established. A fill weight is determined of the objects in the loading aid via a first weighing. The loading aid is at least partially immersed in a liquid bath. The loading aid is positioned or moved for a retention time predefined as a function of the fill weight and of the processing weight in the bath such that there is an on-average constant flow relative to the loading aid and such that the opening is disposed at least partially below a fill level surface of the bath, whereby the objects are taken along by the flow. The at least partially emptied loading aid is lifted out of the bath after the retention time has elapsed.

An automated pharmaceutical dispensing system includes: a tablet dispensing station comprising a plurality of cells for dispensing pills, each of the cells mounted in a dispensing location, each of the cells including a channel for dispensing pills into a container and an inlet configured to be adjustable so that pills in the cell are conveyed through the inlet and into the channel in single file; and an autocalibration station, the autocalibration station comprising a mechanism for automatically adjusting the inlet of a cell based on the dimensions of the pills to be contained in the cell. The autocalibration station is configured and located to also provide a dispensing location, such that a cell docked therein may function to dispense pills.

An object of the present invention is to provide an oil seal distributing mechanism for a vibrator bowl, which is structured as follows. A feeding track of the vibrator bowl comprises a left side plate and a base plate, a through groove running vertically and taking a right side wall of the left side plate as its left side wall is provided at a portion of the base plate close to the left side plate, and a distributor, having a minimum distance L between its leftmost edge and the right side wall of the left side plate, is provided in the through groove; an oil seal has an outer diameter D, a maximum inner diameter d1 and a minimum inner diameter d2, where L>D-d1; a distance between front and rear walls of the through groove is greater than the outer diameter of the oil seal; the base plate is aslant arranged and/or a force applying mechanism is provided above the through groove, and the base plate gradually extends upward from left to right when the base plate is aslant arranged; and the force applying mechanism is configured to enable an edge of the oil seal close to the left side plate to flip down.

A storage apparatus for transport goods includes a first conveyor, a second conveyor and a deflecting mechanism for deflecting transport goods conveyed by the first conveyor onto the second conveyor. A motor configuration is provided for motorized driving of the first conveyor and/or the second conveyor. A step is provided over which the transport goods are conveyed. The storage apparatus is configured to vertically compress the transport goods with the aid of the step. A method for storing transport goods, in particular packages, is also provided.