The invention relates to a handling device and/or layer forming device (10) and a method for forming piece good layers. Piece goods (14, 14a) are conveyed on a horizontal conveying device (16) to a grouping station and/or layer forming station (12) comprising a manipulator (20). In a work cycle the manipulator (20) seizes at least one piece good (14, 14a) and moves it into a defined relative target position and/or target alignment, in particular with regard to a piece good layer to be formed.

The horizontal conveying device (16), which is arranged upstream of the grouping station and/or layer forming station (12) in the transport direction (18) of the piece goods (14, 14a), comprises at least one sensor device (24) for obtaining positional data and/or dimensional data and/or alignment data of the transported piece goods (14, 14a). Electronic output signals (26) are generated from the obtained data, which processed in a control device (28). The control device (28) controls the movements of the manipulator (20) within the movement range (22) for the purpose of the layer formation.

An apparatus that forms bundles of glass articles includes a glass article infeed station including an infeed conveyor that continuously transports individual glass articles to a layer separating conveyor. The layer separating conveyor includes a conveyor belt that forms a layer of side-by-side glass articles. A robotic lift assembly is configured to place the layer of side-by-side glass articles together on a layer separation insert. The layer separation insert has side-by-side slots that each receive a single glass article of the layer of side-by-side glass articles.

Conveyor assembly for in a lying position, in X-direction from an inlet to an outlet, conveying products serially supplied in transverse series comprising: —an inlet conveyor situated on the inlet side; —a drive for driving the inlet conveyor for in X-direction conveying the transverse series of products lying thereon; —a first recording device for recording the position of the products within a transverse series, in a Y-direction that is horizontally transverse to the X-direction; —a first correction device for influencing the positions in Y-direction of the products within a transverse series; —a programmable control unit which is configured for receiving and processing the recording data from the first recording device and for controlling the first correction device, if the products within the recorded transverse series are not in the wanted position in Y-direction, —wherein the first correction device comprises a first conveyor and a first drive for it for conveying the products in X-direction, —wherein the first conveyor comprises a number of first sub-conveyors positioned next to each other for respective conveyance in X-direction of the products situated in a transverse series, according to paths that are situated next to each other, —wherein the first correction device further comprises first sub-drives for individually from each other setting the upstream ends of the first sub-conveyors in position in Y-direction, which first sub-drives can be controlled for that purpose by the control unit in response to the recording data received from the first recording device relating to the positions of the products in a transverse series in Y-direction, —wherein the first conveyor is situated downstream of the inlet conveyor.

Processing a list of customer orders with a control system and a preparing station, which includes a picking position, an insertion position and local recirculation. The control system: selects a reference in the greatest number of order lines of the list; determines a set E of all the N.sub.E orders each containing an order line containing the selected reference; creates a group G of N orders that are the N.sub.E orders, if N.sub.E≤N.sub.max with N.sub.max being a predetermined threshold, or the N.sub.max first orders of the N.sub.E orders sorted according to decreasing order of priority, if N.sub.E>N.sub.max; builds a list LC of the K order lines in the N orders of the group G; and controls the system to bring source loads to the picking position and ship loads to the insertion position and to make the shipping loads recirculate to the insertion position, according to the list LC.

In one embodiment, a system is provided. The system includes a set of pallets to hold a set of parcels. The system also includes a conveyor system to move the set of pallets to and from a transportation pod. The system further includes a lift system to lift the set of pallets to different heights within the transportation pod. The system further includes a storage system to store a set of parcels. The system further includes a mechanical arm to move the set of parcels from the storage system to the set of pallets.

A container handling system includes first and second rotary machines each comprising transport elements for transporting containers along first and second conveying paths, where the second conveying path is downstream of the first conveying path, a memory device, and a control device configured to determine during transport of a container that first and second transport elements transport containers in the first and second rotary machines and to store identifiers assigned to the first and second transport elements in the memory device, to ascertain whether an error is occurring during transport of the container through the container handling system, and to retrieve a stored identifier from the memory device if it is ascertained that the error has occurred.

A hanger orientation detection system determines the orientation of a hanger on a rail-based garment conveyor. To do so, the detection system continuously monitors the pivot state of a pivot arm. The pivot arm pivots between no-contact and contact pivot states. The no-contact pivot occurs when a garment hanger in a correct orientation translates past the pivot arm without contacting the pivot arm. The contact pivot state occurs when a garment hanger in an incorrect orientation translates past the pivot arm and contacts the pivot arm. Contacting the pivot arm displaces the pivot arm in a measurable manner. The sensor measures the deflection of the pivot arm to determine the pivot state. When the sensor senses that the pivot state changes from the no-contact pivot state to the contact pivot state, the detection system generates an alert signal indicating that a garment hanger is in the incorrect orientation.

The invention relates to an apparatus for the single-track or multi-track conveying of objects along a conveying path extending in a conveying direction, wherein the conveying path for at least one track comprises at least one conveying device that takes over objects at the input side from a functional unit connected upstream and that transfers objects at the output side to a functional unit connected downstream; and wherein the conveying device as a whole and/or in an output-side end region is adjustable transversely to the conveying direction by means of an adjustment device such that the transverse position of objects to be transferred is changed within the respective track.

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.

A system, and associated method, for launching and delivering separated food product in organized groups to a robotized packaging station for the product. The system initiates the delivery via a metered hopper of food product delivering the product to a launch V-belt that aligns the product end to end. A successive singulator belt, positioned adjacent to and receiving product from the launch belt, further organizes the product into a single file alignment. An optional separator belt may follow the singulator belt to create gaps between successive product units. The product is then delivered to a pick belt for product to be provided to the packaging robot. The system product information is from a single (per product delivery line) sensor, enabling integrated end-to-end control from hopper to robot, and a nearly continuous motion of said pick belt.