A system for controlling a flow of articles includes two or more conveyor sections driven in a feed direction to convey articles. A plurality of sensors, each sensor associated with a conveyor section, count the articles in each lane. An accumulator conveyor is associated with a conveyor section and runs in an opposite direction to permit accumulation.

A modular switch device temporarily stores workpiece carriers for a linear conveyor system. The modular switch device is arrangeable between a changeover region, comprising a depositing and/or removal region, and a processing region of the linear conveyor system that conveys workpiece carriers at a conveyance level. The modular switch device includes a first and second horizontally arranged carrier unit. The carrier units are disposed vertically one above the other at a fixed distance. Each carrier unit has a respective guide apparatus, by which respective ones of the workpiece carriers are conveyable in a conveyance direction in interaction with a conveyor belt. The carrier units are movable together in a vertical direction by a lifting device in such a way that both guide apparatuses are positionable such that the respective workpiece carriers are conveyable at the conveyance level by the respective guide apparatuses.

A modular switch device temporarily stores workpiece carriers for a linear conveyor system. The modular switch device is arrangeable between a changeover region, comprising a depositing and/or removal region, and a processing region of the linear conveyor system that conveys workpiece carriers at a conveyance level. The modular switch device includes a first and second horizontally arranged carrier unit. The carrier units are disposed vertically one above the other at a fixed distance. Each carrier unit has a respective guide apparatus, by which respective ones of the workpiece carriers are conveyable in a conveyance direction in interaction with a conveyor belt. The carrier units are movable together in a vertical direction by a lifting device in such a way that both guide apparatuses are positionable such that the respective workpiece carriers are conveyable at the conveyance level by the respective guide apparatuses.

An automated method and system for a conveyor holding system for holding vials of a multi-vial order in a holding pattern until all vials of the order have been filled by an automatic pill counter. The system uses RFID information to divert vials off the conveyor into the conveyor holding loop if all vials of the multi-vial order have not been filled. The system is adapted to divert the vials of the multi-vial order out of the holding loop when all vials of the multi-vial order have been filled.

An automated method and system for a conveyor holding system for holding vials of a multi-vial order in a holding pattern until all vials of the order have been filled by an automatic pill counter. The system uses RFID information to divert vials off the conveyor into the conveyor holding loop if all vials of the multi-vial order have not been filled. The system is adapted to divert the vials of the multi-vial order out of the holding loop when all vials of the multi-vial order have been filled.

Disclosed is a conveying device including an upstream conveying unit for receiving products from at least one upstream station, an accumulation surface along which the upstream conveying unit circulates, a loading unit for moving the products from the upstream conveying unit to the accumulation surface, a downstream conveying unit for clearing the products, and an unloading unit for moving the products from the accumulation surface to the downstream conveying unit. The downstream conveying unit includes a plurality of independent moving unit receiving the products in receiving zones which are successively distributed from the edge of the accumulation surface opposite the edge along which the upstream conveying unit extends. Also disclosed is a corresponding method.

A distributor system (1) for conveying articles with loading aids includes a provisioning system (2), a first distributor device (3a), a first buffer device (4a) and a target system (5), wherein the first distributor device (3a) has a distributor line (32a), along which the loading aids can be conveyed, and a first distributor infeed line (31a), which is connected, in terms of conveyance, to the provisioning system (2), and wherein the first distributor device (3a) is connected, in terms of conveyance, to the first buffer device (4a) and to the target system (5), wherein the first distributor device (3a) has a second distributor infeed line (33a), which is connected, in terms of conveyance, the buffer outfeed line (43a) of the first buffer device (4a). Methods for provisioning articles included in an order are also disclosed.

A distributor system (1) for conveying articles with loading aids includes a provisioning system (2), a first distributor device (3a), a first buffer device (4a) and a target system (5), wherein the first distributor device (3a) has a distributor line (32a), along which the loading aids can be conveyed, and a first distributor infeed line (31a), which is connected, in terms of conveyance, to the provisioning system (2), and wherein the first distributor device (3a) is connected, in terms of conveyance, to the first buffer device (4a) and to the target system (5), wherein the first distributor device (3a) has a second distributor infeed line (33a), which is connected, in terms of conveyance, the buffer outfeed line (43a) of the first buffer device (4a). Methods for provisioning articles included in an order are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to an object transportation apparatus for transferring articles from a supply device to a take-away device, comprising at least two, preferably three, transportation belts that are arranged above one another in their width directions and that each have a separate drive; a plurality of reception elements of which at least one is arranged at each of the transportation belts and that serve to receive the articles to be transported; and a screw element that is configured to cooperate with the plurality of reception elements to transfer an article to be transported to one of the plurality of reception elements in a transfer zone or to take it over from one of the plurality of reception elements, wherein the screw element has a first section having an unchanging diameter and a second section having a diameter larger in comparison at which the screw element cooperates with the plurality of reception elements.

The present invention relates to an object transportation apparatus for transferring articles from a supply device to a take-away device, comprising at least two, preferably three, transportation belts that are arranged above one another in their width directions and that each have a separate drive; a plurality of reception elements of which at least one is arranged at each of the transportation belts and that serve to receive the articles to be transported; and a screw element that is configured to cooperate with the plurality of reception elements to transfer an article to be transported to one of the plurality of reception elements in a transfer zone or to take it over from one of the plurality of reception elements, wherein the screw element has a first section having an unchanging diameter and a second section having a diameter larger in comparison at which the screw element cooperates with the plurality of reception elements.