New systems, methods and devices for the management of reusable food containers, such as dishes and/or trays, are provided. Systems and devices for managing a large inventory of dishes or trays to be re-used, are provided. A re-usable tray management and processor device is provided. The re-usable tray management and processor device includes a control system, a first, tray-receiving end, a tray conveyor, at least one scanning device(s), a denester/dispenser, a separator and an offloading end, configured to offload soiled reusable food containers to a washing, drying and packing section. Rotary release actuator(s) are included within the denester/dispenser. And a new form of rotary actuator and brush and excavator tool is provided, coupled with each of the rotary release actuators. In some embodiments, the control system plans actions downstream of a pre-cleaning station, based on data received from the scanning device(s).

A core box with interchangeable rails for holding a variety of sizes of cores.

A core box with interchangeable rails for holding a variety of sizes of cores.

Provided is a stick pick-up device which has a simple structure, is easy to control, and is capable of reliably picking up sticks one by one. The stick pick-up device includes a stick stock portion, a reverse inclined wall, and a push-up portion. The stick stock portion includes a stick receiving portion that is inclined down toward a downstream side and can store a plurality of sticks. The reverse inclined wall is provided on the downstream side of the stick receiving portion, and has a reverse inclined surface inclined in a direction covering over a stick receiving portion side. The push-up portion is provided on a reverse inclined surface side, has a stick push-up surface inclined down toward the downstream side, pushes up the sticks on the stick push-up surface one by one along the reverse inclined surface, and causes the sticks to move downstream over the reverse inclined wall.

Provided is a stick pick-up device which has a simple structure, is easy to control, and is capable of reliably picking up sticks one by one. The stick pick-up device includes a stick stock portion, a reverse inclined wall, and a push-up portion. The stick stock portion includes a stick receiving portion that is inclined down toward a downstream side and can store a plurality of sticks. The reverse inclined wall is provided on the downstream side of the stick receiving portion, and has a reverse inclined surface inclined in a direction covering over a stick receiving portion side. The push-up portion is provided on a reverse inclined surface side, has a stick push-up surface inclined down toward the downstream side, pushes up the sticks on the stick push-up surface one by one along the reverse inclined surface, and causes the sticks to move downstream over the reverse inclined wall.

A method of supplying pouches intended for containing liquid, viscous, or granular products to a carousel includes the steps of: positioning pouches along a first zone that is part of a first feeding component for feeding the pouches to the carousel; moving the pouches in the first zone as far as the carousel; and picking up the pouches from the first zone via the carousel; The method further includes positioning pouches along a second zone that is part of a second feeding component for feeding the pouches to the carousel. The step of positioning pouches along the second zone occurs in part simultaneously with picking up the pouches from the first zone; moving the pouches located in the second zone as far as the carousel queuing the pouches behind the pouches located in the first zone; and picking up the pouches from the second zone via the carousel.

A method of supplying pouches intended for containing liquid, viscous, or granular products to a carousel includes the steps of: positioning pouches along a first zone that is part of a first feeding component for feeding the pouches to the carousel; moving the pouches in the first zone as far as the carousel; and picking up the pouches from the first zone via the carousel; The method further includes positioning pouches along a second zone that is part of a second feeding component for feeding the pouches to the carousel. The step of positioning pouches along the second zone occurs in part simultaneously with picking up the pouches from the first zone; moving the pouches located in the second zone as far as the carousel queuing the pouches behind the pouches located in the first zone; and picking up the pouches from the second zone via the carousel.

The present invention relates to a horizontal-flow-type apparatus for automatically transporting reagent cartridges. The apparatus includes: a magazine (110) in which a plurality of reagent cartridges (1) is stacked; a conveyer belt (120) having a plurality of separating projections (121) arranged in a conveying direction to horizontally separately convey the reagent cartridges (1); a driving motor (130) for driving the conveyer belt (120); a feeding unit (140) for feeding the reagent cartridges (1) stacked in the magazine (110) onto the conveyer belt (120); an examining unit (150) disposed over the front end of the conveyer belt (120) to examine the reagent cartridges (1); and reagent cartridge aligning members (161, 162) disposed in the conveying line of the conveyer belt (120), opposite to the examining unit (150), to align the reagent cartridges (1) in position.

The present invention relates to a horizontal-flow-type apparatus for automatically transporting reagent cartridges. The apparatus includes: a magazine (110) in which a plurality of reagent cartridges (1) is stacked; a conveyer belt (120) having a plurality of separating projections (121) arranged in a conveying direction to horizontally separately convey the reagent cartridges (1); a driving motor (130) for driving the conveyer belt (120); a feeding unit (140) for feeding the reagent cartridges (1) stacked in the magazine (110) onto the conveyer belt (120); an examining unit (150) disposed over the front end of the conveyer belt (120) to examine the reagent cartridges (1); and reagent cartridge aligning members (161, 162) disposed in the conveying line of the conveyer belt (120), opposite to the examining unit (150), to align the reagent cartridges (1) in position.

A conveyance apparatus, a conveyance method and a food production method that enable to accurately place a conveyance object on a conveyance body while enabling the conveyance object to be conveyed at high speed by the conveyance body are provided. A catcher is moved to be arranged in a raised position where a placement surface is located above a conveyance surface, and in a lowered position where the placement surface is located at a same height as the conveyance surface or where the placement surface is located below the conveyance surface. A conveyance object supply unit places a first conveyance object onto the placement surface in such a manner that the first conveyance object is received by the placement surface above the conveyance surface. The catcher is moved from the raised position toward the lowered position so that the first conveyance object is conveyed downstream by the conveyance body.