Buffer device for buffering containers, with an inlet, an inlet manipulator, a first buffer system, a transposition device, a second buffer system, an outlet manipulator, and an outlet, where containers can be transferred by the inlet manipulator from the inlet to the first buffer system and can be transported along a first direction in the first buffer system, where the transposition device can transfer containers from the first buffer system to the second buffer system, and the containers can be transported in the second buffer system along a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, and the containers can be removed from the second buffer system by the outlet manipulator and fed to the outlet, where the buffer capacity of the buffer device is adjustable.

A system for transferring parcels made in accordance with the present invention includes: a first conveyor for conveying a bulk flow of parcels; a second conveyor positioned adjacent to the first conveyor; a robot positioned adjacent to the first conveyor and the second conveyor; and a rejection member. The robot engages and transfers select parcels in the bulk flow of parcels on the first conveyor to the second conveyor. The rejection member is positioned as to receive parcels offloaded from the first conveyor and/or the second conveyor and directs such parcels out of the system. Parcels within the bulk flow of parcels with characteristics which make it difficult for one or more of the components of the system or downstream systems to handle or process can be directed to the rejection member by operation of the first conveyor and/or the second conveyor to reduce system processing delays and stoppages.

An object of the present invention is to provide an oil seal distributing mechanism for a vibrator bowl, which is structured as follows. A feeding track of the vibrator bowl comprises a left side plate and a base plate, a through groove running vertically and taking a right side wall of the left side plate as its left side wall is provided at a portion of the base plate close to the left side plate, and a distributor, having a minimum distance L between its leftmost edge and the right side wall of the left side plate, is provided in the through groove; an oil seal has an outer diameter D, a maximum inner diameter d1 and a minimum inner diameter d2, where L>D-d1; a distance between front and rear walls of the through groove is greater than the outer diameter of the oil seal; the base plate is aslant arranged and/or a force applying mechanism is provided above the through groove, and the base plate gradually extends upward from left to right when the base plate is aslant arranged; and the force applying mechanism is configured to enable an edge of the oil seal close to the left side plate to flip down.

An object of the present invention is to provide an oil seal distributing mechanism for a vibrator bowl, which is structured as follows. A feeding track of the vibrator bowl comprises a left side plate and a base plate, a through groove running vertically and taking a right side wall of the left side plate as its left side wall is provided at a portion of the base plate close to the left side plate, and a distributor, having a minimum distance L between its leftmost edge and the right side wall of the left side plate, is provided in the through groove; an oil seal has an outer diameter D, a maximum inner diameter d1 and a minimum inner diameter d2, where L>D-d1; a distance between front and rear walls of the through groove is greater than the outer diameter of the oil seal; the base plate is aslant arranged and/or a force applying mechanism is provided above the through groove, and the base plate gradually extends upward from left to right when the base plate is aslant arranged; and the force applying mechanism is configured to enable an edge of the oil seal close to the left side plate to flip down.

A device for the orientation and feeding of closures includes a hopper for containing closures and a lifting device. The lifting device includes a component used for selecting the closures which are adapted to allow the feeding to an unloading region of the closures. The lifting device includes at least one transfer element to move along a movement direction between a loading region and an unloading region.

The present disclosure concerns a method for sorting items transported along a conveyance direction on an item carrier of a sorting system, the item carrier comprising a charging zone, a first detection zone, an item orientation-changing zone, a second detection zone and a sorting zone, the method comprising sequentially: loading the items on the item carrier in the charging zone; capturing a first image of the items in the first detection zone; changing an orientation of the items in the item orientation-changing zone, located downstream of the first detection zone; capturing a second image of the items in the second detection zone, located downstream of the first detection zone; identifying nonstandard items amongst the items from information derived from the first and second images; and isolating the identified nonstandard items in the sorting zone. It also concerns a corresponding sorting system.

The invention relates to a method and to a device for feeding products (2) from a first process to a second process in a packaging plant, wherein a buffer device (3) is provided between the first process and the second process, wherein the buffer device (3) has a closed conveying section (32) having a receiving position (30) for receiving products (2) from the first process, and having a transfer position (31) for transferring products (2) to the second process, and a plurality of conveying units (33) which at least in portions along the conveying section (32) can be driven in a mutually independent manner, and wherein the products (2) from the first process are in each case provided in groups with a variable first placing pattern, the method comprising the following steps: a) detecting the first placing pattern of a group (21, 23) of products (2) to be relocated, b) providing a number of conveying units (33), disposed in the detected first placing pattern, at the receiving position (30) of the buffer device (3), and c) collectively relocating the group (21, 23) of products with the detected placing pattern into the conveying units (33) of the buffer device (3) that are provided at the receiving position (30).

The invention relates to a method and to a device for feeding products (2) from a first process to a second process in a packaging plant, wherein a buffer device (3) is provided between the first process and the second process, wherein the buffer device (3) has a closed conveying section (32) having a receiving position (30) for receiving products (2) from the first process, and having a transfer position (31) for transferring products (2) to the second process, and a plurality of conveying units (33) which at least in portions along the conveying section (32) can be driven in a mutually independent manner, and wherein the products (2) from the first process are in each case provided in groups with a variable first placing pattern, the method comprising the following steps: a) detecting the first placing pattern of a group (21, 23) of products (2) to be relocated, b) providing a number of conveying units (33), disposed in the detected first placing pattern, at the receiving position (30) of the buffer device (3), and c) collectively relocating the group (21, 23) of products with the detected placing pattern into the conveying units (33) of the buffer device (3) that are provided at the receiving position (30).

The invention relates to a device for providing stopper elements that are sorted in order to feed a downstream workstation. The devices comprising a lifting means; a means or referencing said stopper elements one by one, located downstream from the lifting means; a conveyor for bringing the referenced elements to said workstation, positioned at the outlet of said referencing means; a vision means for verifying the conformance of said elements in an inspection zone extending at the level of the referencing means and/or of the conveyor; and a means for expelling those elements that do not conform located downstream of said vision means. The inspection zone comprises at least two successive sections each including a distinct color. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.

The invention relates to a device for providing stopper elements that are sorted in order to feed a downstream workstation. The devices comprising a lifting means; a means or referencing said stopper elements one by one, located downstream from the lifting means; a conveyor for bringing the referenced elements to said workstation, positioned at the outlet of said referencing means; a vision means for verifying the conformance of said elements in an inspection zone extending at the level of the referencing means and/or of the conveyor; and a means for expelling those elements that do not conform located downstream of said vision means. The inspection zone comprises at least two successive sections each including a distinct color. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.