A packaging machine may include a grouping device comprising a spreading area with a spreading table having a base body and a plurality of support bars adjustable in their transverse spacing, each having at least one row of seats extending in a longitudinal direction, each for one product. The grouping device may also include at least one transverse drive for adjusting the transverse spacing, for producing a single-layer group having an even or uneven number of rows of products, and for inserting the group into an outer package. The plurality of support bars include a plurality of double-row support bars which cannot be moved relative to one another in the transverse direction, and at least two single-row support bars that are movable relative to one another in the transverse direction positioned between two of the double-row support bars.

An article accumulating apparatus includes a transport part configured to place and transport an article on a transporting surface, and a transfer part configured to suction and hold the article on the transporting surface and move it. The transfer part suctions and holds the article to be in an inclined state in which the downstream side of the article in a transporting direction of the transport part is inclined higher than the upstream side thereof, and moves the article in the inclined state downstream in the transporting direction.

The invention relates to a conveying device (1) having an accumulation area (SB) for accumulating objects (O, O1 . . . O2, Oa . . . Oj), and to an operating method for the conveying device (1). By means of a measuring device (L1), the object rear edge (K.sub.HO1) of a first object (O1) and the object front edge (K.sub.VO2) of a second object (O2) which follows the first object (O1) are detected. The position of the objects (O1, O2) is determined by means of rotation signals from the drives (M) of conveyor elements (2, 2.sub.M, 2.sub.L). For the second object (O2), a continuous curve of a speed reduction of a target speed (v.sub.Soll) is calculated, wherein the calculated stop position (P.sub.Stop) of the object front edge (K.sub.VO2) of the second object (O2) is located at the position of the object rear edge (K.sub.HO1) of the stopped first object (O1), or between the object front edge (K.sub.VO1) of the stopped first object (O1) and the object rear edge (K.sub.HO1) of the stopped first object (O1). Subsequently, the second object (O2) is moved and stopped by means of the conveyor elements (2, 2.sub.M, 2.sub.L) on the basis of the calculated speed reduction.

A conveying device has an accumulation area for accumulating objects, and an operating method operates the conveying device. Using a measuring device, the object rear edge of a first object and the object front edge of a second object which follows the first object are detected. The position of the objects is determined using rotation signals from the drives of conveyor elements. For the second object, a continuous curve of a speed reduction of a target speed is calculated, wherein the calculated stop position of the object front edge of the second object is located at the position of the object rear edge of the stopped first object, or between the object front edge of the stopped first object and the object rear edge of the stopped first object. Subsequently, the second object is moved and stopped using the conveyor elements on the basis of the calculated speed reduction.

Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for an improved accumulation conveyor and systems and methods for controlling a high rate, high density tunable accumulation conveyor. In one embodiment, an accumulation conveyor system determines whether an item detection variable associated with a second zone of a plurality of zones is satisfied, wherein the second zone is downstream of a first zone. The accumulation conveyor system determines whether at least one of two operational characteristic variables is satisfied. In an instance where both the item detection variable and at least one operational characteristic variable are satisfied, the accumulation conveyor system is configured to set a zone operating state associated with the first zone to inactive and send a command signal comprising the zone operating state associated with the first zone to a control module associated with the first zone. In another embodiment, an improved method for adjusting aggressiveness is disclosed. In another embodiment, a tunable release rate accumulation conveyor is disclosed. In still another embodiment, a tunable crowding accumulation conveyor is disclosed.

A conveyor controller for being implemented into a conveyor system includes control circuitry and one or more network interfaces for coupling with other conveyor controllers. In one embodiment, the control circuitry configured for detecting whether another conveyor controller is connected and to determine which network interface is used in order to set the direction of the conveyor system. In another embodiment, the control circuitry is configured, to receive configuration data from a conveyor controller connected to a network interface, and to detect if another conveyor controller is and to transmit configuration message to another conveyor controller that includes additional configuration data associated with the conveyor controller. In still another embodiment, the control circuitry transmits configuration data to a replacement conveyor controller upon getting a request from the replacement conveyor controller that has been connected to a network interface.

Method, apparatuses, and computer program products for dynamically detecting an item within a conveyor zone are disclosed herein. An example method may comprise: accessing a load condition data object, wherein the load condition data object is indicative of a force exerted on at least one conveyor zone, processing the load condition data object using a weight condition detection model to generate a weight condition indication associated with the at least one conveyor zone, and causing one or more prediction-based actions to be performed based at least in part on the weight condition indication.

A motorized drive roller conveyor includes an upstream zone and a downstream zone, with each zone having a drive roller, an idler roller that is driven by the drive roller, and a sensor. The upstream zone and the downstream zone are controlled by a card, which measures a gap between a first item on the conveyor and a second item on the conveyor by beginning a counter when a trailing edge of the first item passes the sensor of the upstream zone and stopping the counter when a leading edge of the second item passes the sensor of the upstream zone to generate a counter value. If the first item is stopped in the downstream zone, the card of the upstream zone causes the drive roller of the upstream zone to advance the second item into the downstream zone for a distance derived from the counter value before stopping the transportation of the second item.

An apparatus and system include an upper stepped chute having a substantially downward sloped configuration; a lower stepped chute having a substantially downward sloped configuration; and an intermediate conveyor section separating the upper stepped chute from the lower stepped chute. The intermediate conveyor section has a slope that is different from the slope of the upper stepped chute and the lower stepped chute.

An apparatus and system include an upper stepped chute having a substantially downward sloped configuration; a lower stepped chute having a substantially downward sloped configuration; and an intermediate conveyor section separating the upper stepped chute from the lower stepped chute. The intermediate conveyor section has a slope that is different from the slope of the upper stepped chute and the lower stepped chute.