The disclosure relates to a conveying storage device for containers, said device comprising: a first conveyor/second conveyor which is drivable in a first direction/second direction; a transfer device for transferring containers from a first conveying surface to a second conveying surface; an additional element; and a separating element. Between the transfer device and the separating element is a passage region along a transition region between the first and second conveying surface. The transfer device is movable into an emptying position during an emptying process. The additional element is movable during the emptying process relative to the transfer device, is introducible into the passage region or is located in the passage region, and can move containers to the second conveyor.

The invention relates to a method for grouping preferably empty long products (4) embodied as tins, tubes or cartridges, the products (4) being delivered by a delivering conveyor device (5), preferably from a production line for producing the products (4), and placed on a conveyer belt (3) and transported thereby at a conveying speed along a conveying section (S) in a conveying direction (F), a product group (P) comprising a plurality of the products (4) being transferred by transfer means (7) at the same time from the conveyor belt (3) into receiving means (6), the transfer means (7) for transferring the products (4) being moved during the movement with the product group (P) in the conveying direction (F) at an angle, particularly perpendicularly, to the conveying direction (F) in a transfer direction (T) towards the receiving means (6), the receiving means (6) being moved perpendicularly to the conveying direction (F) and perpendicularly to the transfer direction (T), in order to be able to receive the subsequent product groups (P) above or below the already transferred product groups (P), after the transfer of each product group (P) or after the transfer of a plurality of product groups (P). The receiving means (6) and the transfer means (7) are moved along the conveying section (S) in the conveying direction (F) during the transfer of the product group (P), particularly synchronously with the conveyor belt (3) and the product groups (P) conveyed thereon and to be passed on, and following a successful transfer, are moved along the conveying section (S), in the opposite direction to the conveying direction (F), in order to transfer another product group (P) into the receiving means (6).

A machine and method for packaging tobacco sachets, comprising a plurality of linearly arranged, multi-functional, vertically moveable chambers having fluid sealing means on lower portions thereof, conveyor means disposed below the plurality of multi-functional, vertically moveable chambers, and a lidding apparatus disposed downstream of and in communication with the plurality of vertically moveable chambers through the conveyor means.

A comb for spacing apart articles. The comb includes protrusions defining recesses therebetween. At least one of the protrusion is longer than the protrusion located just in front of it. Also, a method of spacing apart articles.

A metallic beverage container body inspection apparatus processes a plurality of metallic beverage container bodies along an index path. An indexer sequentially transfers metallic beverage container bodies from the manufacturing queue through the apparatus while maintaining an orientation of the container bodies. A dwell position is located on the index path wherein the indexer delivers metallic beverage container bodies to the dwell position. An inspection position is vertically aligned with and horizontally offset from the dwell position. An image recorder is aimed the inspection position and captures a plurality of images about a circumference of each metallic beverage containers.

A device for singulation of used beverage or food containers received in bulk into individual objects, including: a first receiving area arranged for simultaneously receiving and keeping a plurality of containers; a second receiving area positioned at a higher vertical level than the first receiving area, wherein the device further includes a transporting device including a container elevating member for transporting a container from the first receiving area to the second receiving area, wherein the elevating member is attached to the transporting device, moves along and is locked to a circumferential path around a first axis upon activation of the transporting device, and the first axis is inclined at an angle of 1 to 45 relative the horizontal plane.

An article metering assembly for forming of an article group from a downstream most end portion of a bulk flow of conveyed articles is generally provided. The assembly, in one embodiment, is characterized by a robotic arm, a linkage assembly, and an end effector operatively united with the robotic arm and the linkage assembly such that the end effector is fixedly orientated relative to and overhead of the bulk flow of articles throughout a robotic arm motion cycle. Alternately, the assembly is characterized by a robotic arm in operative combination with an end effector, the end effector selectively oriented in relation to articles of a bulk flow of article during travel about its travel path in furtherance of forming an article group from above.

A can body loader assembly includes a turret starwheel having asymmetrical pockets and a vacuum belt that provides a precise pitch dimension between adjacent cans.

An article metering assembly for forming of an article group from a downstream most end portion of a bulk flow of conveyed articles is generally provided. The assembly, in one embodiment, is characterized by a robotic arm, a linkage assembly, and an end effector operatively united with the robotic arm and the linkage assembly such that the end effector is fixedly orientated relative to and overhead of the bulk flow of articles throughout a robotic arm motion cycle. Alternately, the assembly is characterized by a robotic arm in operative combination with an end effector, the end effector selectively oriented in relation to articles of a bulk flow of article during travel about its travel path in furtherance of forming an article group from above.

A device for inhibiting rotational motion of an article to be processed comprises a pressure plate assembly including a generally ring-shaped guide assembly. The guide assembly has and at least two guide pins extending from a first side in a transverse direction. The guide assembly further includes at least two resilient devices positioned over a respective one of the at least two guide pins and a container guide having an aperture for receiving an open end of a container moving in a first direction and for aligning the open end with a processing device. The container guide is positioned adjacent to the first side of the pressure plate assembly. At least two resilient devices are configured to be compressed in response to movement of the container guide in a first direction and are configured to decompress in response to movement of the container guide in a second, generally opposite direction.