Provided is an inspection machine capable of inspecting even an article that has a substantially circular side surface. The present invention is provided with: a conveyance means for an inspection device, the conveyance means conveying an article; an identification information acquisition means that acquires identification information about a second side surface of the article, the identification information acquisition means being disposed facing the conveyance surface of the conveyance means; an imaging means that captures an image of a first side surface of the article, which is disposed on a side opposing the imaging means across the conveyance means; and a determination means that compares an image captured by the imaging means and the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition means to determine the degree of matching between the two portions of information, a conveyance member of the conveyance means comprising a material having high transparency.

A conveyor includes a first conveyor belt with a first surface along which an article is conveyed in a conveyance direction from an upstream end to a downstream end, The first surface has an upstream end and a downstream end along the conveyance direction. A second conveyor belt is directly downstream of the first conveyor belt in the conveyance direction and has a second surface along which the article is conveyed in the conveyance direction from an upstream end to a downstream end. The downstream end of the first surface is at a height greater than the upstream end of the second surface. A first reading unit is positioned to read a symbol on the article through a gap left between the first and second conveyor belts.

A conveyor includes a first conveyor belt with a first surface along which an article is conveyed in a conveyance direction from an upstream end to a downstream end, The first surface has an upstream end and a downstream end along the conveyance direction. A second conveyor belt is directly downstream of the first conveyor belt in the conveyance direction and has a second surface along which the article is conveyed in the conveyance direction from an upstream end to a downstream end. The downstream end of the first surface is at a height greater than the upstream end of the second surface. A first reading unit is positioned to read a symbol on the article through a gap left between the first and second conveyor belts.

A vertical washer or dryer, such as integrated into an egg handling operation. The vertical washer or dryer includes a vertically extending body supporting a carousel conveyor adapted to support pluralities of eggs during transport in successive ascending and descending fashion within the body between an inlet location and an outlet location of the body. A first egg conveyor communicates the eggs with the inlet location of the carousel conveyor, a second egg conveyor communicating the eggs with the outlet location. A least one of a plurality of egg washer spray bars or, in the separate variant, a plurality of egg dryer air knives, are integrated into the body in communication with the carousel conveyor for washing/drying the eggs while supported upon the carousel conveyor.

A laboratory distribution system is presented. The system comprises diagnostic laboratory container carriers and a conveyor. The conveyor comprises an endless drive defining a closed-loop conveyor pathway. The system comprises supporting elements attached to the endless drive. The supporting elements receive a container carrier and transport the container carrier in an upright position along a pathway section. The supporting elements are mounted pivotally about a horizontal pivot axis to the drive and structured such that a center of gravity of the supporting element with or without an empty or loaded container carrier is arranged below and vertically aligned with the pivot axis when the supporting element is in an upright position such that each supporting element is free to pivot about the associated pivot axis under the effect of gravitational forces acting on the supporting element for maintaining the supporting elements in an upright position while travelling along the path.

A laboratory distribution system is presented. The system comprises diagnostic laboratory container carriers and a conveyor. The conveyor comprises an endless drive defining a closed-loop conveyor pathway. The system comprises supporting elements attached to the endless drive. The supporting elements receive a container carrier and transport the container carrier in an upright position along a pathway section. The supporting elements are mounted pivotally about a horizontal pivot axis to the drive and structured such that a center of gravity of the supporting element with or without an empty or loaded container carrier is arranged below and vertically aligned with the pivot axis when the supporting element is in an upright position such that each supporting element is free to pivot about the associated pivot axis under the effect of gravitational forces acting on the supporting element for maintaining the supporting elements in an upright position while travelling along the path.

A device and a method for the separation of elongated parts (long parts) from bulk materials. The device comprises a conveying device (1), a deflecting device (2) and a rake with webs (4) being oriented longitudinally to the conveying direction. According to the method, the bulk material is transported on the conveying device (1), and then long parts (10) are oriented by means of a deflecting device (2) transversely to the conveying direction. After passing through the deflecting device (2), the transversely oriented long parts are transferred to the rake (4) and discharged as coarse materials (7). Compact parts (11) fall through this rake and thus end up in the fine material (6).

A device and a method for the separation of elongated parts (long parts) from bulk materials. The device comprises a conveying device (1), a deflecting device (2) and a rake with webs (4) being oriented longitudinally to the conveying direction. According to the method, the bulk material is transported on the conveying device (1), and then long parts (10) are oriented by means of a deflecting device (2) transversely to the conveying direction. After passing through the deflecting device (2), the transversely oriented long parts are transferred to the rake (4) and discharged as coarse materials (7). Compact parts (11) fall through this rake and thus end up in the fine material (6).

A transfer apparatus contains a conveying unit, a sorting unit, which is configured for receiving and sorting articles from the conveying unit, and a transfer unit with a feeding unit. The transfer unit forms a transporting connection between the conveying unit and the sorting unit. A discharging unit is positioned on a portion of the conveying unit and is configured to discharge an article onto the transfer unit only when the article is at a predefined minimum distance from a previously discharged article.

A transfer apparatus contains a conveying unit, a sorting unit, which is configured for receiving and sorting articles from the conveying unit, and a transfer unit with a feeding unit. The transfer unit forms a transporting connection between the conveying unit and the sorting unit. A discharging unit is positioned on a portion of the conveying unit and is configured to discharge an article onto the transfer unit only when the article is at a predefined minimum distance from a previously discharged article.