A laboratory distribution system is presented. The system comprises diagnostic laboratory container carriers and a conveyor. The conveyor comprises an endless drive defining a closed-loop conveyor pathway. The system comprises supporting elements attached to the endless drive. The supporting elements receive a container carrier and transport the container carrier in an upright position along a pathway section. The supporting elements are mounted pivotally about a horizontal pivot axis to the drive and structured such that a center of gravity of the supporting element with or without an empty or loaded container carrier is arranged below and vertically aligned with the pivot axis when the supporting element is in an upright position such that each supporting element is free to pivot about the associated pivot axis under the effect of gravitational forces acting on the supporting element for maintaining the supporting elements in an upright position while travelling along the path.

A laboratory distribution system is presented. The system comprises diagnostic laboratory container carriers and a conveyor. The conveyor comprises an endless drive defining a closed-loop conveyor pathway. The system comprises supporting elements attached to the endless drive. The supporting elements receive a container carrier and transport the container carrier in an upright position along a pathway section. The supporting elements are mounted pivotally about a horizontal pivot axis to the drive and structured such that a center of gravity of the supporting element with or without an empty or loaded container carrier is arranged below and vertically aligned with the pivot axis when the supporting element is in an upright position such that each supporting element is free to pivot about the associated pivot axis under the effect of gravitational forces acting on the supporting element for maintaining the supporting elements in an upright position while travelling along the path.

A control device for activating a transverse belt (8) of a conveying carriage (6) of a transverse-belt sorter (2), wherein a transverse-belt conveyor (4) for conveying an article in a transverse conveying direction, which is oriented substantially transversely to the conveying direction of the transverse-belt sorter (2), is formed on the conveying carriage (6), and wherein the transverse belt (8) can be driven mechanically, wherein the control device is configured so that, when the article is introduced laterally onto the transverse belt (8), it activates the transverse belt (8) such that the article is transported to a conveying position on the transverse belt (8) or, when the article is discharged laterally, it activates the transverse belt (8) such that the article is transported in the downward direction from a conveying position on the transverse belt (8); and wherein, when the article is introduced and/or discharged laterally, the control device activates the transverse belt (8) at least in dependence on a mass of the article.

A sorting installation, in particular for transporting and/or sorting items to be conveyed, includes a transport path, a stator arranged adjacent to the transport path and a transport unit configured to move on the transport path in a movement direction. The transport unit includes a conveyor element for loading and/or unloading an item, and a conveyor rotor for driving the conveyor element. The conveyor rotor includes a permanent magnet and interacts electromagnetically with the stator for rotation about an axis of rotation. A latching apparatus applies a detent torque on the conveyor rotor, when the conveyor rotor interacts electromagnetically with the latching apparatus.

A discrete conveyance unit for blueberries and similar fruit or vegetable products that can be installed in series along a processing line for blueberries, or similar fruit or vegetable products, includes a central plate, which can be moved cyclically along at least one portion of the line. The unit further includes a plurality of axially symmetrical supporting elements which are coupled to respective opposite lateral edges of the plate. Each adjacent pair of elements defines a respective support and accommodation seat for a corresponding blueberry, or similar fruit or vegetable product, so as to allow its discrete conveyance along the at least one portion of the line.

A discrete conveyance unit for blueberries and similar fruit or vegetable products that can be installed in series along a processing line for blueberries, or similar fruit or vegetable products, includes a central plate, which can be moved cyclically along at least one portion of the line. The unit further includes a plurality of axially symmetrical supporting elements which are coupled to respective opposite lateral edges of the plate. Each adjacent pair of elements defines a respective support and accommodation seat for a corresponding blueberry, or similar fruit or vegetable product, so as to allow its discrete conveyance along the at least one portion of the line.

Provided is a mounting base member used in a pair for mounting an object to be conveyed thereon, the mounting base member including: a body part configured to support the object to be conveyed; and a top plate part that extends in at least a horizontal direction from an upper part of the body part. The top plate part covers an upper surface of the body part, or the upper surface of the body part contacting the conveyed object is flush with an upper surface of an extending portion of the top plate part.

Provided is a mounting base member used in a pair for mounting an object to be conveyed thereon, the mounting base member including: a body part configured to support the object to be conveyed; and a top plate part that extends in at least a horizontal direction from an upper part of the body part. The top plate part covers an upper surface of the body part, or the upper surface of the body part contacting the conveyed object is flush with an upper surface of an extending portion of the top plate part.

A torque transmission device (1) is provided for a crossbelt-sorter-cart (200) comprising a crossbelt (210). The torque transmission device (1) comprises a rotatable drive end (10) configured to be coupled to a drive (13, 120) for driving the crossbelt (210) of the crossbelt-sorter-cart (200). A rotatable crossbelt end (20) is configured to be coupled to the crossbelt (210) of the crossbelt-sorter-cart (200). An unrotatable support (30) is configured to be fixed to the crossbelt-sorter-cart (200). A coupling (40) connects the drive end (10) to the crossbelt end (20) at the support (30). The coupling (40) allows a transmission of a drive torque originating from the rotating drive end (10) to the crossbelt end (20) and inhibits a belt torque originating from the rotating crossbelt end (20).

An automatic cart transport system. A track located in a factory working floor provides a trackway for an endless flexible conveyor chain. A plurality of chain units including a first chain portion having vertical rollers and a second chain portion having horizontal rollers are flexibly coupled, and the chain is advanced along the trackway by a drive motor. The chain units support thereabove, but within the track, a coupling plate having therein an aperture for accepting and capturing a chain connection shaft which is detachably connected to a cart. The cart is automatically towed along a defined pathway on the working floor of a factory by the chain, when connected to the coupling plate on the endless flexible conveyor chain.