An article-transfer apparatus as disclosed herein can maintain the processing capacity of a transport mechanism at a fixed capacity regardless of the capacity at which articles are supplied to the apparatus from upstream thereof. An article-transfer apparatus includes an infeed conveyor, an alignment conveyor, and an article transport unit. The infeed conveyor conveys bags in a first direction. The alignment conveyor lines up in a predetermined state a plurality of the bags fed thereto from the infeed conveyor to form an article group, and simultaneously conveys them in a second direction. The article transport unit transports the article group to a container. A plurality of the article groups are formed on the alignment conveyor.

According to an embodiment, a supply apparatus includes first, second and third conveyance portions. The first conveyance portion removes processing targets from a feeder in which the processing targets are placed. The first conveyance portion conveys the processing targets along a first conveyance direction. The second conveyance portion is disposed on a downstream side of the first conveyance portion. In the second conveyance portion, a plurality of conveyance portions having mutually different conveyance directions are sequentially connected. The second conveyance portion conveys the processing targets from an upstream side to the downstream side along a second conveyance direction. The third conveyance portion is disposed on a downstream side of the second conveyance portion. The third conveyance portion conveys the processing targets along a third conveyance direction while separating the processing targets from each other at a predetermined pitch.

According to an embodiment, a supply apparatus includes first, second and third conveyance portions. The first conveyance portion removes processing targets from a feeder in which the processing targets are placed. The first conveyance portion conveys the processing targets along a first conveyance direction. The second conveyance portion is disposed on a downstream side of the first conveyance portion. In the second conveyance portion, a plurality of conveyance portions having mutually different conveyance directions are sequentially connected. The second conveyance portion conveys the processing targets from an upstream side to the downstream side along a second conveyance direction. The third conveyance portion is disposed on a downstream side of the second conveyance portion. The third conveyance portion conveys the processing targets along a third conveyance direction while separating the processing targets from each other at a predetermined pitch.

Method and machine to carry out a control on a group of articles. An initial conveyor is configured to move the articles along an initial path, which starts in an input station; a final conveyor is configured to move the articles along a final path, which is parallel and next to the initial path and ends in an output station; a control unit is configured to carry out a simultaneous control of all articles of the group of articles; a first transferring device is configured to simultaneously transfer the whole group of articles to be controlled from the initial conveyor to the control unit; and a second transferring device is configured to simultaneously transfer the whole group of articles controlled by the control unit to the final conveyor.

Method and machine to carry out a control on a group of articles. An initial conveyor is configured to move the articles along an initial path, which starts in an input station; a final conveyor is configured to move the articles along a final path, which is parallel and next to the initial path and ends in an output station; a control unit is configured to carry out a simultaneous control of all articles of the group of articles; a first transferring device is configured to simultaneously transfer the whole group of articles to be controlled from the initial conveyor to the control unit; and a second transferring device is configured to simultaneously transfer the whole group of articles controlled by the control unit to the final conveyor.

Various embodiments provide systems and methods for providing a desired gap between articles within a continuously flowing train of articles. Various embodiment methods may include operating a material handling system including a plurality of conveying units, by generating motion profiles for a plurality of articles to provide a pre-determined gap between the articles, and controlling the plurality of conveying units to move each article in accordance with its motion profile as the plurality of articles move through the material handling system.

Various embodiments provide systems and methods for providing a desired gap between articles within a continuously flowing train of articles. Various embodiment methods may include operating a material handling system including a plurality of conveying units, by generating motion profiles for a plurality of articles to provide a pre-determined gap between the articles, and controlling the plurality of conveying units to move each article in accordance with its motion profile as the plurality of articles move through the material handling system.

A container inspection device includes an inlet conveyor, an outlet conveyor, a mounting table having a mounting surface, a chamber portion having an opening in a section of the chamber portion, in which a receiving space is formed when the mounting surface contacts the chamber portion to close the opening, and a transfer. The transfer is movable in the certain direction at a speed greater than the conveying speed of the cartons by the inlet conveyor. The transfer holds multiple ones of the cartons that have been conveyed by the inlet conveyor collectively and conveys the cartons to the mounting surface of the mounting table, and holds the multiple ones of the cartons mounted on the mounting surface collectively and conveys the cartons to the outlet conveyor.

Various embodiments provide systems and methods for providing a desired gap between articles within a continuously flowing train of articles. Various embodiment methods may include operating a material handling system including a plurality of conveying units, by generating motion profiles for a plurality of articles to provide a pre-determined gap between the articles, and controlling the plurality of conveying units to move each article in accordance with its motion profile as the plurality of articles move through the material handling system.

Various embodiments provide systems and methods for providing a desired gap between articles within a continuously flowing train of articles. Various embodiment methods may include operating a material handling system including a plurality of conveying units, by generating motion profiles for a plurality of articles to provide a pre-determined gap between the articles, and controlling the plurality of conveying units to move each article in accordance with its motion profile as the plurality of articles move through the material handling system.