A method of sorting articles with a sorter apparatus and a sorter apparatus having a conveying surface that is adapted to transport articles in a direction of conveyance and a mechanism adapted to displace articles on the conveying surface, the sorter apparatus having an endless web of bodies travelling in an endless loop defining the conveying surface includes a distributed drive system having at least one drive that is adapted to produce to provide force with at least one of the bodies to propel the endless web. A diagnostic device traveling with the web and positioned at one of the bodies of the endless web. The diagnostic device is adapted to monitor operation of the sorter apparatus and includes at least one sensor that is adapted to detect at least one parameter of a proximate drive that is proximate to the at least one sensor, and a controller adapted to receive the at least one parameter from the at least one sensor. A stationary thermal sensor may also monitor the endless loop via another controller including receiving thermal data from the stationary thermal sensor and the another controller correlates the thermal images with a portion of the endless loop.

A device for supplying containers to a container handling device, for example to a container filling device for filling containers with a liquid filling product, includes a guide which is arranged at a predetermined guide height level for guiding a container on the container base thereof. The guide has a transfer portion for transferring the container to a receiving device of the container handling device, and the transfer portion is height-adjustable. A filling system including such a device is also described.

An article transport apparatus includes a mast provided upright on the traveling body, an upper frame (6) coupled to an upper end portion of the mast and an upper rail (R2) that guides movement of the upper frame (6). Separately from guide rollers disposed on lateral opposite sides of the upper rail (R2), a first roller (18A) and a second roller (18B) that are rotatable about vertical axes (P1, P2) are disposed on opposite sides of the upper rail (R2). A first supporting member (19) supporting the first roller (18A) is attached so as to be biased by a first biasing body (22) in a direction to push the first roller (18A) against the upper rail (R2), and a second supporting member (20) supporting the second roller (18B) is attached so as to be biased by a second biasing body (22) in a direction to push the second roller (18B) against the upper rail (R2).

The present invention relates to a pouch conveyor belt (1) with a conveyor belt body (10), preferably an elastomer conveyor belt body (10), which is designed to hold a conveyed material (3) in the interior (19) of the closed pouch conveyor belt (1). The pouch conveyor belt (1) is characterized in that the conveyor belt body (10) comprises at least one sensor element (4) which is configured to detect at least the temperature of the conveyor belt body (10) at the location of the sensor element (4).

A control device (1) for a goods transport conveyor (100) has a processor (10) that generates control signals for at least one drive motor (350) of a transport section (110; 120; 130) of the goods transport conveyor (100). The motor operates in stop-and-go mode. The processor (10) is configured to control the drive motor (350) by means of a forward phase and/or reverse phase when the transport section (110; 120; 130) of the goods transport conveyor (100) stops such that the torque (M(t)) produced by the drive motor (350) is reduced according to an adjustable stopping function. The processor (10) sets the stopping function depending on detected process data of the transport section (110; 120; 130).

A method of sorting articles with a sorter apparatus and a sorter apparatus having a conveying surface that is adapted to transport articles in a direction of conveyance and a mechanism adapted to displace articles on the conveying surface, the sorter apparatus having an endless web of bodies travelling in an endless loop defining the conveying surface includes a distributed drive system having at least one drive that is adapted to produce to provide force with at least one of the bodies to propel the endless web. A diagnostic device traveling with the web and positioned at one of the bodies of the endless web. The diagnostic device is adapted to monitor operation of the sorter apparatus and includes at least one sensor that is adapted to detect at least one parameter of a proximate drive that is proximate to the at least one sensor, and a controller adapted to receive the at least one parameter from the at least one sensor. A stationary thermal sensor may also monitor the endless loop via another controller including receiving thermal data from the stationary thermal sensor and the another controller correlates the thermal images with a portion of the endless loop.

In order to improve control of a long-stator linear motor, a first measured value is ascertained in a first measurement section and a second measured value is ascertained in a second measurement section, in each case along a transport path in a movement direction. The first measurement section overlaps, in the movement direction, the second measurement section in an overlap region, and the first measured value and the second measured value represent the same actual value of a physical quantity. An operating parameter of the long-stator linear motor determined based on a deviation occurring between the first measured value and the second measured value.

A conveyor module includes an elongate frame to which a looped conveyor track is mounted. The frame includes first and second end housings which include end pulleys for the conveyor track. The frame also includes a drive housing located at a mid-portion thereof which houses the drive motor for the conveyor track. The conveyor module is a discrete independently driven unit with an upper portion (running surface) of the conveyor track in a planar orientation for conveying items thereon in use. The conveyor module can include additional smart features. A warehouse floor arrangement uses a plurality of side by side conveyor modules being identical and grouped into banks.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for transporting aggregates or similar, comprising a conveyor belt for aggregates or similar and actuating means actuating advancement of said conveyor belt. According to the invention, the apparatus comprises a plurality of thermal cameras positioned along the development of said conveyor belt and configured to detect the temperature of said conveyor belt in a plurality of detection positions positioned along said development of the conveyor belt. The apparatus further comprises a processing and control unit communicating data with each one of thermal cameras of said plurality of thermal cameras to receive input temperature data detected by each thermal camera. The processing and control unit is configured to estimate the extent and origin position of an overheating phenomenon of the conveyor belt on the basis of the temperature detected in correspondence of at least two detection positions of said plurality of detection positions.

The present invention relates to a pouch conveyor belt (1) with a conveyor belt body (10), preferably an elastomer conveyor belt body (10), which is designed to hold a conveyed material (3) in the interior (19) of the closed pouch conveyor belt (1). The pouch conveyor belt (1) is characterized in that the conveyor belt body (10) comprises at least one sensor element (4) which is configured to detect at least the temperature of the conveyor belt body (10) at the location of the sensor element (4).