Techniques for product-stacking and case-packing are particularly adapted for product that is packaged in envelopes or flexibly-sided containers. Such products include may different types, such as foodstuffs, books, boxed goods, etc. In an example, a product-stacking and case-packing system may include a product-stacking assembly and a case-packing assembly. In the example, the product-stacking assembly may be configured with a plurality of pairs of flights, each pair of flights programmed to move according to operation of an associated pair servo motors, and programmed to receive and down-stack incoming product items into groups. In the example, the case-packing assembly may include a robotic arm and end-of-arm tool configured to grasp one or more groups of stacked product items, when pushed from the product-stacking assembly, and place each group of stacked product items in a case (e.g., a cardboard box).

Techniques for product-stacking and case-packing are particularly adapted for product that is packaged in envelopes or flexibly-sided containers. Such products include may different types, such as foodstuffs, books, boxed goods, etc. In an example, a product-stacking and case-packing system may include a product-stacking assembly and a case-packing assembly. In the example, the product-stacking assembly may be configured with a plurality of pairs of flights, each pair of flights programmed to move according to operation of an associated pair servo motors, and programmed to receive and down-stack incoming product items into groups. In the example, the case-packing assembly may include a robotic arm and end-of-arm tool configured to grasp one or more groups of stacked product items, when pushed from the product-stacking assembly, and place each group of stacked product items in a case (e.g., a cardboard box).

A telescoping pole is provided with a device for attaching a series of removable grabber attachments at one end. One such attachment resembles the head of a hoe, where a flat blade member is attached to a shaft, so that the flat blade member is oriented in a generally perpendicular relation to the longitudinal axis of the telescoping pole. The shaft of the hoe head includes complementary attachment devices that allows the hoe head to be attached to one end of the telescoping pole. Additionally, other attachments may be used interchangeably with the telescoping pole, including a removable hook member or a removable claw member. Further, an extension member may be added to the end of the telescoping pole to extend the range of the pole, and the hoe head attachment (and other attachments) may be attached at the end of the extension member.

A telescoping pole is provided with a device for attaching a series of removable grabber attachments at one end. One such attachment resembles the head of a hoe, where a flat blade member is attached to a shaft, so that the flat blade member is oriented in a generally perpendicular relation to the longitudinal axis of the telescoping pole. The shaft of the hoe head includes complementary attachment devices that allows the hoe head to be attached to one end of the telescoping pole. Additionally, other attachments may be used interchangeably with the telescoping pole, including a removable hook member or a removable claw member. Further, an extension member may be added to the end of the telescoping pole to extend the range of the pole, and the hoe head attachment (and other attachments) may be attached at the end of the extension member.

A destacking conveyor having a conveyor belt with pushers selectively pushing stacked packages transverse to the conveying direction to one side of the conveyor against a vertical wall with a gap between the bottom of the wall and the belt to block the top package of a stack and allow the bottom package to pass through the gap and off the side of the belt to a reject bin. In another version a destacking conveyor uses a force applicator to apply a downward force against the top of a stack to hold the top package while the pushers slide the bottom package from under the top package.

A destacking conveyor having a conveyor belt with pushers selectively pushing stacked packages transverse to the conveying direction to one side of the conveyor against a vertical wall with a gap between the bottom of the wall and the belt to block the top package of a stack and allow the bottom package to pass through the gap and off the side of the belt to a reject bin. In another version a destacking conveyor uses a force applicator to apply a downward force against the top of a stack to hold the top package while the pushers slide the bottom package from under the top package.

Device for delivery of sorted elements for feeding a downstream work station that includes a downward drop that brings the elements, a one-at-a-time processor that receives the elements from the drop, an upward conveyor branch that extends from the processor and that receives the elements therefrom, and an ejector that is located in the area of the upward conveyor branch. The device includes at least one viewing unit that is positioned to monitor the elements in the area of the processor, such as a camera.

Parts merge smoothly without any stopper at a branching region. A determining and sorting unit determines, between an introduction passage and a branching region, whether weld nuts at rest are facing up or down. The weld nuts determined as facing up are fed to a first branch passage, whereas the weld nuts determined as facing down are fed to a second branch passage.

The present disclosure is related to a device for aligning a number of packages including at least one bottom belt. In some embodiments, the at least one bottom belt may include a first end portion for receiving packages and a second end portion for exiting packages. In some embodiments, said at least one bottom belt may include a laterally declined portion facing a support surface arranged along a side of the at least one bottom belt, whereby in use, packages conveyed by the at least one bottom belt move laterally towards the support surface for alignment thereto due to the laterally declined portion and by means of gravity.

A capsule direction restricting mechanism includes a supply path 10, a restricting device 20, and a discharge path 30. The restricting device 20 includes: a pressing member 40 that presses a capsule 90 at a predetermined position P in a width direction, and moves the capsule 90 toward the discharge path 30; and a slit-like posture changing portion 50 that is disposed between the predetermined position P and the discharge path 30, and changes the posture of the capsule 90. The posture changing portion 50 causes the cap 92 to slide and generate a frictional force when the capsule 90 passes through the posture changing portion 50, and thus causes the body 91 to precede the cap 92. The pressing member 40 includes: a protruding portion 41 that presses an axially central portion of the capsule 90; and cap pressing portions 42 and 43 that are provided on both sides of the protruding portion 41, and presses the cap 92 of the capsule 90 whose posture has been changed by the posture changing portion 50.