A system for harvesting insects from a habitat. The system configured to separate waste, live insects, and dead insects in a manner that the live insects may undergo a first processing procedure and the dead insects may undergo a second processing procedures. For example, the first processing procedure may include processing the insects for human consumption and the second processing procedure may include processing the dead insects for minerals or materials.

An air-driven container twisting system is configured for changing orientation of containers moving through a material-handling system. The air-driven container twisting system may include a container guide that extends through an air drive arrangement with the container guide configured to direct containers longitudinally while simultaneously rotating the containers while moving through the air-driven container twisting system without the need of declining elevation change and gravity assist.

In a flange-nut posture control device includes a first opening, a direction controlling portion is constituted by two vertical wall portions extending in a vertical direction such that the vertical wall portions are distanced from each other to face each other via a space with a distance smaller than the diameter of a flange portion of the flange nut. A lower guide portion is provided such that a V-shaped groove having a bottom portion between the vertical wall portions extends to be inclined from a horizontal plane. A second opening is surrounded by at least the vertical wall portions and the lower guide portion and formed such that the flange nut is passed through the second opening. An outlet groove portion is connected to the lower guide portion at an end surface of the second opening and extends with the same inclination as the lower guide portion.

In a flange-nut posture control device includes a first opening, a direction controlling portion is constituted by two vertical wall portions extending in a vertical direction such that the vertical wall portions are distanced from each other to face each other via a space with a distance smaller than the diameter of a flange portion of the flange nut. A lower guide portion is provided such that a V-shaped groove having a bottom portion between the vertical wall portions extends to be inclined from a horizontal plane. A second opening is surrounded by at least the vertical wall portions and the lower guide portion and formed such that the flange nut is passed through the second opening. An outlet groove portion is connected to the lower guide portion at an end surface of the second opening and extends with the same inclination as the lower guide portion.

Method for orienting tube components (2), such as heads or stoppers, comprising a step of measuring the angular position (6) of a component followed by a step of orienting said component, in which step the angular correction of the component is determined especially while taking into account the measured signal (8); method characterized in that said angular correction is also determined while taking into account a modelled parasitic signal (15). The invention also comprises a device using said method.

Method for orienting tube components (2), such as heads or stoppers, comprising a step of measuring the angular position (6) of a component followed by a step of orienting said component, in which step the angular correction of the component is determined especially while taking into account the measured signal (8); method characterized in that said angular correction is also determined while taking into account a modelled parasitic signal (15). The invention also comprises a device using said method.

A system for dismantling a pallet includes a feed system configured to convey the pallet along a direction of travel. The feed system has a measuring station and a staging area. The measuring station is configured to obtain dimensions of the pallet. A saw is configured to dismantle the pallet. A manipulator includes a robotic arm. The manipulator is configured to move the pallet from the staging area to the saw for dismantling.

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 the outlet conveyor are synchronized.

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 the outlet conveyor are synchronized.

A flipping apparatus, a system for processing articles comprising a said flipping apparatus, and a method for processing articles are provided. An article is picked by a first flipping arm. The first flipping arm rotates from a pick position into a pass position, at which the article is passed to a second flipping arm, which is in a receive position. The second flipping arm rotates from the receive position to a place position and places the article. By the passing of the article from the first to the second flipping arm and the rotations a flipping of the article is achieved. The first flipping arm and the second flipping arm each rotate at a higher speed when not carrying an article than when carrying an article. In addition, first and/or second flipping arm may perform a translation movement.