A selectably configurable modular labware transport system including a labware bulk overhead transport system module forming an overhead transport path. The labware bulk overhead transport system module has a labware support, with at least a movable part of the labware support being configured to support labware thereon, and move longitudinally defining the overhead transport path. The labware support has more than one labware holding stations for holding a labware piece, each of the labware holding stations having a different location along the labware support and overhead transport path. The labware bulk overhead transport system module is communicably couplable to another labware bulk overhead transport system module that forms another different overhead transport path, and effects undisrupted transport of the labware throughout the overhead transport path with the labware bulk overhead transport system module both coupled to and uncoupled from the other labware bulk overhead transport system module.

A robotically-operated gripping device is provided and includes a frame assembly, a vacuum device, a clamping device, and a robotic arm. The vacuum device is connected to the frame assembly and configured to selectively attach to and position at least a portion of an object. The clamping device is connected to the frame assembly and provided for selectively clamping the object attached to the vacuum device. The robotic arm is connected to the frame assembly and provided for selectively positioning the vacuum device and the gripping device.

A conveyor chute is suitable for use as a store for goods, such as packages and pieces of luggage. The conveyor chute has at least one sliding section with an inclined sliding surface with a direction of fall along the sliding surface as well as a sliding width. The sliding section has a width adjusting mechanism which allows the goods to be distributed across at least part of the sliding width and which thus allows the conveyor chute to be used in an improved manner for storing the goods.

Flight and indexing assemblies for automated packaging systems provide better product spacing for faster and more reliable automation. In an example, a plurality of flights may include a plate- or sheet-like body with a perpendicular flange extending from an upper portion of the flight. Two adjacent flanges contain a pouch or other product to be packaged in a case. A flange constrains an upper portion of each pouch to a confined and predetermined area, thereby aiding grippers of an end-of-arm tool to grasp the pouches. A flight and product indexing assembly is configured to control spacing between adjacent flights, and to position pouches constrained between adjacent flights, so that flights position product at predetermined locations for gripping by the end-of-arm tool.

Provided is a relay device capable of moving objects to be conveyed from a conveying section of a continuous conveying system to a conveying section of an intermittent conveying system in various modes. The relay device includes: a first conveying section that conveys the objects to be conveyed, continuously in a forward direction in a first direction; a second conveying section that transfers a plurality of assembly sections intermittently in the forward direction in the first direction; a relay conveying section provided between the first conveying section and the second conveying section; and a relay driving section that moves the relay conveying section in the first direction. The relay driving section moves the relay conveying section in the forward direction in the first direction, at the same speed as a speed at which the plurality of objects are conveyed in the forward direction of the first direction by the first conveying section, at least while the first pusher moves the plurality of objects in the forward direction of the second direction.

The invention relates to a transport bag (28) having a roll running gear (1) which comprises only one pair of rolls (3) on which it is oscillatingly mounted in the transport rail (33). The upper coupling (2) of the transport bag (28) is located above the rolls (3) and enables driving and transport by means of a conveying element (29) which preferably has a commercially available roller chain having driver pins. The disengagement of the drivers and the upper coupling parts (2) is prevented by the design of the transport bag (28) in that the transport bag (28) generates a sufficient torque (M1) around the roll axis (4), and the permissible inclination of the upper coupling (2) relative to the vertical (36) during transport along conveyor paths is not exceeded, so that more reliable entrainment of the transport bag (28) is guaranteed. The curved-angle track switches (80) for the conveyor system have few parts and are therefore cost-effective and operationally reliable. Further advantages are achieved with the lower coupling (12), by means of which reliable transport is provided in the inclined conveyor (45) at gradients up to at least 65?. The sliding surfaces (13) of the roll running gear (1) enable sharp cross conveying through 90? out of the rolling movement into the sliding movement and a compact and efficient design of the loading station (50).

A method and an apparatus of supplying a bag are provided in which position information on a bag width in a direction parallel to a conveyance path at a part in a neighborhood of a bag opening of a conveyed bag and position information on a center of the bag width are obtained, an intermittent conveyance distance of a conveyance unit is adjusted based on the position information on the center of the bag width so that the center of the bag width of the bag stopping at a takeoff position is placed on a reference plane, and an interval of the pair of holding members positioned at the takeoff position is adjusted based on the position information on the bag width.

A method for filling the pockets of a transport device in the form of a suspension conveyor, the transport device including one or more trolleys which are movably mounted on a trolley track and on each of which a pocket hanging downwards for receiving transported goods is arranged, the pocket formed by at least one flexible material web that is planar when open and that is fastened at both ends to the trolley, forming a carrying loop or transport loop hanging downwards. The material web is releasably fastened by at least one end to the trolley. The method includes: a) advancing a closed pocket, b) opening the pocket by releasing the fastening of the material web to the trolley, c) filling the opened pocket with goods to be transported, d) closing the pocket by fastening the material web to the trolley, and e) transporting away the filled and closed pocket.

A method for transferring pouches for containing products, including gripping two corresponding flaps of a pouch by means of first and second grippers, transferring the pouch between a first turntable and a second conveyor; one out of the first turntable and the second conveyor comprising the first and second grippers for gripping corresponding flaps of the pouch, the other comprising third and fourth grippers for gripping the pouch, where the step of transferring the pouch between the first turntable and the second conveyor includes gripping the pouch by means of the third grippers, releasing the first grippers that are gripping the pouch, gripping the pouch by means of the fourth grippers, and releasing the second grippers that are gripping the pouch.

The invention relates to a transport bag (28) having a roll running gear (1) which comprises only one pair of rolls (3) on which it is oscillatingly mounted in the transport rail (33). The upper coupling (2) of the transport bag (28) is located above the rolls (3) and enables driving and transport by means of a conveying element (29) which preferably has a commercially available roller chain having driver pins. The disengagement of the drivers and the upper coupling parts (2) is prevented by the design of the transport bag (28) in that the transport bag (28) generates a sufficient torque (M1) around the roll axis (4), and the permissible inclination of the upper coupling (2) relative to the vertical (36) during transport along conveyor paths is not exceeded, so that more reliable entrainment of the transport bag (28) is guaranteed. The curved-angle track switches (80) for the conveyor system have few parts and are therefore cost-effective and operationally reliable.