An ejector device is provided for food portions, and in particular for sausages. A food portion in a conveying area between two conveyor belts is engaged in a conveying mode and can be conveyed in the conveying direction. It is proposed that the ejector device has at least one adjustment mechanism for ejecting a food portion in an ejection area, which is so designed that the distance of the conveyor belts from each other in the conveying area can be partially varied. A method of ejecting food portions is also provided, in which it is proposed that the food portions be taken out of engagement with the conveyor belts as described above.

An ejector device is provided for food portions, and in particular for sausages. A food portion in a conveying area between two conveyor belts is engaged in a conveying mode and can be conveyed in the conveying direction. It is proposed that the ejector device has at least one adjustment mechanism for ejecting a food portion in an ejection area, which is so designed that the distance of the conveyor belts from each other in the conveying area can be partially varied. A method of ejecting food portions is also provided, in which it is proposed that the food portions be taken out of engagement with the conveyor belts as described above.

A drawing assembly for drawing machines for metal products includes drawing clamps, each selectively clampable in a housing seating of a corresponding link of a track, and on a corresponding lying plane, by a corresponding rapid attachment/detachment device associated with the link. The rapid attachment/detachment device includes at least a clamping element and an activation element, wherein the clamping element includes at least a segment having a cam profile able to cooperate with a mating cam surface of the activation element. The activation element is mobile in a direction of thrust, orthogonal to the median axis of the clamping element, and slides in a hollow with the mating cam surface in contact with the cam profile of the clamping element.

A drawing assembly for drawing machines for metal products includes drawing clamps, each selectively clampable in a housing seating of a corresponding link of a track, and on a corresponding lying plane, by a corresponding rapid attachment/detachment device associated with the link. The rapid attachment/detachment device includes at least a clamping element and an activation element, wherein the clamping element includes at least a segment having a cam profile able to cooperate with a mating cam surface of the activation element. The activation element is mobile in a direction of thrust, orthogonal to the median axis of the clamping element, and slides in a hollow with the mating cam surface in contact with the cam profile of the clamping element.

A film (50) processing apparatus (20) including a film stretching device (22) and a take-away device (24). The take-away device receives the film after the stretching device and transports the film along a conveying region in a direction of transport (X). The take-away device includes opposing, first and second conveyor assemblies. The first conveyor assembly has a continuous belt driving a plurality of discrete pads (180a, 180b). Each pad forms a contact face (194a, 194b) extending between leading (200b) and trailing edges (202a). The pads are configured and arranged such that the trailing edge (202a) of a first pad (180a) overlaps the leading edge (200b) of an immediately adjacent second pad (180b) as the first and second pads traverse the conveying region. The overlap is characterised by a line (322) perpendicular to the direction of transport passing at any given moment through the first and second pads. A shape of the contact face can define a major central axis that is non-perpendicular and non-parallel with the direction of transport. The invention also relates to a method of processing a film using such an apparatus.

A gripper (12) is disclosed having a base (24) that extends from a first end a second end and includes resilient (32) fingers that extend from the base between the first end and the second end. The resilient fingers (32) may be configured to generally conform to and engage with articles (34) being transferred when the base is mounted to a conveyor.

A gripper (12) is disclosed having a base (24) that extends from a first end a second end and includes resilient (32) fingers that extend from the base between the first end and the second end. The resilient fingers (32) may be configured to generally conform to and engage with articles (34) being transferred when the base is mounted to a conveyor.

A system, and associated method, for launching and delivering separated food product in organized groups to a robotized packaging station for the product. The system initiates the delivery via a metered hopper of food product delivering the product to a launch V-belt that aligns the product end to end. A successive singulator belt, positioned adjacent to and receiving product from the launch belt, further organizes the product into a single file alignment. An optional separator belt may follow the singulator belt to create gaps between successive product units. The product is then delivered to a pick belt for product to be provided to the packaging robot. The system product information is from a single (per product delivery line) sensor, enabling integrated end-to-end control from hopper to robot, and a nearly continuous motion of said pick belt.

A system, and associated method, for launching and delivering separated food product in organized groups to a robotized packaging station for the product. The system initiates the delivery via a metered hopper of food product delivering the product to a launch V-belt that aligns the product end to end. A successive singulator belt, positioned adjacent to and receiving product from the launch belt, further organizes the product into a single file alignment. An optional separator belt may follow the singulator belt to create gaps between successive product units. The product is then delivered to a pick belt for product to be provided to the packaging robot. The system product information is from a single (per product delivery line) sensor, enabling integrated end-to-end control from hopper to robot, and a nearly continuous motion of said pick belt.

A vertical roller mill comprising a grinding table and a grinding roller having a rotational axis, each having a grinding surface and arranged to define a grinding zone between the grinding surfaces grinds particulate material. A feeder feeds the particulate material to the vertical roller mill, with the grinding roller is-arranged to roll around a grinding path on said grinding table. The feeder receives a supply of the particulate material and directs that material to flow to the grinding zone of the vertical roller mill. The feeder can constrain the flow of material to a defined cross-section by applying a momentum to and/or pushing, or to compact the flow of material prior to directing the material, or combinations thereof. In particular, the disclosure is applicable to grinding particulate materials like mining ores, industrial minerals and chemicals, sand, slag, ash, clay, pigments for coatings, pharmaceuticals and cement raw materials.