Disclosed is an object transfer device for a conveying installation, the device including a main object conveying path and a plurality of rotary drive elements, the rotary elements being configured to adopt a lowered position in which the element is situated below the main path a raised position in which the element projects above the main path in order to drive an object, the rotary drive element including drive surfaces with external diameters that vary over the length of the element, wherein the drive surfaces of the rotary drive elements have an external diameter that varies according to the angular position of the rotary element along the transfer path. Also disclosed is a conveying installation including such transfer device.

Disclosed is an object transfer device for a conveying installation, the device including a main object conveying path and a plurality of rotary drive elements, the rotary elements being configured to adopt a lowered position in which the element is situated below the main path a raised position in which the element projects above the main path in order to drive an object, the rotary drive element including drive surfaces with external diameters that vary over the length of the element, wherein the drive surfaces of the rotary drive elements have an external diameter that varies according to the angular position of the rotary element along the transfer path. Also disclosed is a conveying installation including such transfer device.

Diverting equipment for conveying an article on a conveyance path to a branching path formed so as to branch from the conveyance path. In the conveyance path, a branching section to the branching path has a plurality of conveyance rollers disposed in a conveyance direction H of the article in the conveyance path and a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction H of the article in the conveyance path, the conveyance rollers forming the conveyance surface of the conveyance path and being rotatable around the axes of vertical shafts. Between the adjacent conveyance rollers disposed in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction H of the article, a gap is formed along the conveyance direction H of the article. In the gap, a rail capable of supporting the article is extended along the conveyance direction H of the article.

A method and system for automatically forming and handling compound pallet units including a pallet and a plurality of products stacked on the pallet. The method includes the steps of providing a conveyor device, at least one loading area provided for automatically receiving empty pallets and temporarily hosting compound pallet units to be transferred to a main conveyor, and at least one manipulator robot configured for picking selected products and placing the products on a pallet stationing at said loading station.

A conveyance device and a planar conveyance apparatus having a simple structure and capable of carrying out an article in any direction are developed.

A conveyance device 1 that includes an energizing mechanism unit 2 configured to energize and move an article and a rotation mechanism unit 3 configured to rotate the energizing mechanism unit itself, and is capable of changing a moving direction of the article by rotating the energizing mechanism unit 2 with the rotation mechanism unit 3. The energizing mechanism unit 2 includes an energizing mechanism side motor 10, and the energizing mechanism side motor 10 includes a coil 32 on a center side and an outer body 30 surrounding the coil 32, and is an outer rotor type motor in which the outer body 30 rotates. The energizing mechanism side motor 10 is disposed such that a central shaft of the outer body 30 is in a substantially horizontal posture, and the outer body 30 energizes the article by coming into contact with the article directly or through a freely-rotating rotor 7 interposed therebetween.

A conveyance device and a planar conveyance apparatus having a simple structure and capable of carrying out an article in any direction are developed.

A conveyance device 1 that includes an energizing mechanism unit 2 configured to energize and move an article and a rotation mechanism unit 3 configured to rotate the energizing mechanism unit itself, and is capable of changing a moving direction of the article by rotating the energizing mechanism unit 2 with the rotation mechanism unit 3. The energizing mechanism unit 2 includes an energizing mechanism side motor 10, and the energizing mechanism side motor 10 includes a coil 32 on a center side and an outer body 30 surrounding the coil 32, and is an outer rotor type motor in which the outer body 30 rotates. The energizing mechanism side motor 10 is disposed such that a central shaft of the outer body 30 is in a substantially horizontal posture, and the outer body 30 energizes the article by coming into contact with the article directly or through a freely-rotating rotor 7 interposed therebetween.

A grouping station includes first conveyor tracks for moving loading pallets to the grouping station and second conveyor tracks for forwarding the loading pallets from the grouping station. The first conveyor tracks and the second conveyor tracks are both arranged for two different handling directions of the loading pallets.

A grouping station includes first conveyor tracks for moving loading pallets to the grouping station and second conveyor tracks for forwarding the loading pallets from the grouping station. The first conveyor tracks and the second conveyor tracks are both arranged for two different handling directions of the loading pallets.

A multi-tiered automated parcel sortation system is utilized to sort parcels according to a common destination. A first tier includes an automated sorter configured to transport parcels from a source location to a release destination. A second tier includes accumulation containers each associated with a shipping destination, and the release destination within the first tier is a positioned directly above the accumulation container associated with the shipping destination of the parcel. Once transported to the release destination, a parcel is released into the accumulation container, and once the accumulation container is filled, the accumulation of parcels within the container is released into a third tier, which may include conveyors or autonomous guided vehicles with transport containers. In the third tier, the parcels are transported away for further processing.

An assessment system and method are provided for determining whether an item handled in a material handling system is stable and conveyable or unstable and non-conveyable. If an item is deemed non-conveyable, it is diverted or otherwise removed from the material handling system before it is transported downstream where it may affect the operation of the system or cause damage to the system and/or item. The system utilizes a dimension sensor system, such as including photo arrays, to measure contact region dimensions between an item being conveyed and the conveyor surface. The contact region is observed under constant conveyance rates, accelerating conveyance rates, and decelerating conveyance rates to determine whether the item orientation changes due to shifts in momentum. Any measured contact region changes are compared to a maximum allowed value, and if the measured change is greater than the maximum, the item is deemed non-conveyable.