An orientation device for orienting loose products for a packaging manufacturing line including a conveyor belt movable at a transport speed along an advancement direction between entry and exit stations, a plurality of gripping equipment each including a support body and a gripping head, a transport track to which the support bodies are connected, and wherein the transport track includes an active branch extending parallel to the conveyor belt, spaced from the conveyor belt and completely contained between the entry and exit stations. Each gripping head is rotatable about a rotation axis perpendicular to the conveyor belt and configured to pick up and hold a product transported by the conveyor belt. Each support body is movable parallel to the rotation axis of the respective gripping head between an approached condition and a distanced condition. Each support body moves along the active branch with a speed equal to the transport speed.

An automated screw driving machine may include a hopper adapted to hold associated fasteners, a chuck assembly adapted to hold an individual fastener in position with respect to an associated component part, a feeder assembly adapted to convey the fasteners from the hopper to the chuck assembly; and, a driver assembly that takes fasteners from the chuck assembly and attaches them to the associated component part.

An article transfer system including: a transfer device that transfers an article in one direction; a travel distance detecting unit that sequentially detects a distance the article transferred by the transfer device has traveled; an article sensing unit that senses passage of the article transferred by the transfer device; an image capturing unit that photographs the article, the image capturing unit being disposed downstream of the article sensing unit in a transfer direction of the transfer device; a position-and-orientation detecting unit that processes an image captured with the image capturing unit to extract the article and detect a position and an orientation of the article; and a removal unit that removes the article, which has been sensed with the article sensing unit but not extracted by the process performed in the position-and-orientation detecting unit, from the transfer device, the removal unit being disposed downstream of the image capturing unit.

A singulator conveyor system having conveying surfaces arranged in adjacent parallel configuration for separating and moving side by side packages. The singulator includes a first conveyor conveying lane having a high friction surface for conveying articles forward along a vertical side wall. A second conveyor conveying lane adjacent thereto has a lower friction surface including both forward and lateral conveying forces urging parcels forward and away from the first conveyor conveying lane and side wall. The lateral receiving edge of the second conveyor conveying lane is below the outer lateral edge of the first conveyor conveying lane and the conveying surface is transversely inclined and angled laterally upward having an elevated outer side edge even with or below the lateral receiving edge of an adjacent third conveyor conveying lane having a high friction conveying surface. The conveying surface of the second conveyor forms an inclined plane extending above an inner receiving side edge of the adjacent third conveyor conveying lane.

A singulator conveyor system having conveying surfaces arranged in adjacent parallel configuration for separating and moving side by side packages. The singulator includes a first conveyor conveying lane having a high friction surface for conveying articles forward along a vertical side wall. A second conveyor conveying lane adjacent thereto has a lower friction surface including both forward and lateral conveying forces urging parcels forward and away from the first conveyor conveying lane and side wall. The lateral receiving edge of the second conveyor conveying lane is below the outer lateral edge of the first conveyor conveying lane and the conveying surface is transversely inclined and angled laterally upward having an elevated outer side edge even with or below the lateral receiving edge of an adjacent third conveyor conveying lane having a high friction conveying surface. The conveying surface of the second conveyor forms an inclined plane extending above an inner receiving side edge of the adjacent third conveyor conveying lane.

A device and method for aligning preforms in a row and righting same, the method being intended for use with axisymmetric preforms having an annular supporting face. The method includes a first step of discharging the preforms in bulk onto a rotating horizontal platen; a second step of aligning the preforms against a fixed peripheral rail by way of the centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the rotating platen; a third step of successively righting the aligned preforms by tilting the preform bodies, performed under the annular supporting face. During the second alignment step, the main axis of the preforms is oriented essentially tangentially to the direction of movement.

A system for controlled distribution of components, the system including a vibrating bowl provided with an enclosure having a wall extending right around an axis of revolution of the bowl and in which the components are placed in bulk, and an articulated gripping arm provided to distribute the components to the automatic assembly installation, the vibrating bowl including an ascending helical ramp extending along an internal face of the wall between a base and an upper edge of the vibrating bowl constituting an exit of the ramp, the components being able to travel along this ramp towards a supply platform, particularly a slide, on which at least one component is arranged in advance of its seizure by the articulated gripping arm, the supply platform being connected to the exit and extending above or in the enclosure of the vibrating bowl.

Disclosed is a device for delivering sorted elements of the cap, stopper or other type, in order to feed a downstream work station, the device including a unit for lifting elements, in which a first sorting operation is performed, and, mounted downstream, a unit for treating the elements in which the elements are treated individually. Also disclosed is a delivery device including a conveyor mounted downstream from the treatment unit in order to direct the elements towards the work station, the conveyor moving the elements singly. Further disclosed is a corresponding method.

Disclosed is a device for delivering sorted elements of the cap, stopper or other type, in order to feed a downstream work station, the device including a unit for lifting elements, in which a first sorting operation is performed, and, mounted downstream, a unit for treating the elements in which the elements are treated individually. Also disclosed is a delivery device including a conveyor mounted downstream from the treatment unit in order to direct the elements towards the work station, the conveyor moving the elements singly. Further disclosed is a corresponding method.

A belt conveyor comprises a belt with a drive roller, a deflection roller that can be adjusted relative thereto upwardly and/or downwardly, and an upper run extending therebetween for transporting the food products. The belt conveyor comprises a deflection element arranged between the drive roller and the deflection roller and configured for adjustment in the direction of transport. The upper and/or the associated lower run of the belt transitions from a first longitudinal section running in the direction of transport to a second longitudinal section tilted relative thereto when the deflection roller has been adjusted. The second longitudinal section can be quickly tilted and flexibly adapted to the dimensions of the food products and their transport distances inbetween.