A lane divider system includes a guide rail and a lane divider bracket for connecting the guide rail to the loading and unloading ends of a flow bed. The guide rail can be tubular, with a proximal end of the bracket inserted into each end of the tube. Retention devices for releasably securing the distal ends of brackets to the loading and unloading ends of the flow bed can include a pin, inserted through an opening in the distal end of the bracket, beneath where the bracket is inserted through the flow bed. Preferred pins can include a handle portion for inserting and pulling the pin out of the opening in the locking structure, such as a split cotter pin, resilient projection, spring clip and the like, to resist the unintentional withdrawal of the pin from the end of the lane divider.

An apparatus for producing a multipack includes forming groups on opposite sides of a transport section. The first forming group comprises a sliding carriage that moves along and transverse to a transport direction, a format part that forms a contact surface for engaging a container, and a guiding-and-holding element that detachably secures the format part to the sliding carriage. The first and second forming groups are movable along the transport direction and transverse to the transport direction such that contact surfaces of the first and second forming groups that are opposite each other are brought into contact with containers to move the containers along the transport direction and to press the containers against each other by moving transverse to the transport direction.

A guiding device for a goods conveyor includes a support coupling with a fixed structure of the conveyor at least one sliding profile manufactured as a separate component with respect to the support structure and arranged for coupling with at least one corresponding grooved guide formed on the second side of such support structure and is oriented along the second axis. The grooved guide extends over the entire length of the support structure and includes a central rib arranged to abut against the rear surface of a respective sliding profile. The central rib divides the respective grooved guide into two cavities each having an L-shaped cross-section, so that linear projections are arranged to be inserted into a corresponding cavity of the grooved guide so that the free ends of the linear projections abut against respective abutment walls of the cavities.

A centering system comprising a conveyor for receiving a plurality of blanks outputted from a furnace and displacing the blanks along a first horizontal axis and shifting units for each individual blank including two or more adjustable lifting bars, the shifting units configured to move along a second horizontal axis, and the adjustable lifting bars being configured to lift the blanks along a vertical axis, wherein each of the shifting units is independently movable along the second axis, and a plurality of centering pins for centering the blanks, such that the blanks can be centered by moving the individual blanks along the second axis against the centering pins. Also disclosed are conveyor systems and methods for centering and conveying blanks.

The invention includes a method for adjusting a preform conveyor. The method includes a preadjustment phase during which preforms of a first format are conveyed. Each preform is supported under its collar by guides delimiting a lateral space and the body of each preform is guided by rails delimiting a holding gap. The rim of each preform is guided by a top guide defining a maximum height, and the lateral support space, the lower holding gap, and the maximum height are independently adjusted with respect to the first format. The values of the first format are recorded. In order to convey preforms of a second format, the preadjustment phase is carried out, and in order to convey pre-forms of the first format, the lateral space, the holding gap and/or the maximum height are adjusted automatically according to the recorded values of the first format. The invention also relates to a suitable adjustment device.

The present invention pertains to the art of sensing articles typically moving on a conveyor. An apparatus is disclosed, for the purpose of securely attaching a sensing device to a sub-structure such as a sidepan metal sheet that contains a hole through which the sensing/detection device passes its sensing beam. A primary novelty of the apparatus is that it enables secure mounting of various through-hole devices without the need for attaching any additional bracketry and without creating obstructions to package movement. It is unique in that it utilizes the through-hole which is necessary to allow passage of the sensing beam through the side guards of the conveyor, with the below-surface attachment being made possible by means of a tapered, or sloping surface that is created when the hole is made.

A radio sensor module for detecting material containers in a storage or transport system includes a transmission device for the wireless transmission of signals. The radio sensor module has a holder and a rocker pivotably mounted therein. A sensor for detecting a position of the rocker and the transmission device are arranged in the rocker.

The invention relates to an apparatus (14) for adapting a guide width (B) of a conveying device (12) for conveying containers for a container treatment installation. The apparatus (14) includes a longitudinally movable and pliable adjusting element (24), a guide element (20) for guiding the containers along a conveying direction (F) and a transmission device (26). For the adaptation of the guide width (B), the transmission device (26) is configured to convert a longitudinal movement, preferably a pushing and/or pulling movement, of the adjusting element (24) into a movement of the guide element (20) transversely with respect to the conveying direction (F). The pliability of the adjusting element (24) can make use possible even in curved regions of the conveying device (12). The adjusting element (24) can also be designed in a simple and cost-effective manner, for example in the form of a cable. (FIG. 4)

Apparatus for unscrambling articles, in particular containers (100) fed randomly to an inlet of said apparatus, comprising: a transport system (20) for transporting the articles fed to the inlet; devices (31;32) for picking and releasing the articles (100), configured to pick up the articles arranged randomly on the transport system (20) and release them to an extraction system (50) with a predefined orientation and/or position; a detection system (60) designed to detect the position and the arrangement of the articles (100) in transit on the transport system and to provide the information for controlling the pick and release devices (30); a unit (500) for processing and controlling the components and the drives of the apparatus; wherein the extraction system comprises: a plane (40;140) for supporting the containers (100); means (50;150) for extracting the articles (100), designed to pick up the articles and transport them on the plane (40) towards the outlet (O) of the apparatus; said extraction means comprise a plurality of grippers (50;150), each comprising a pair of jaws (51;151), each gripper (50;150) being displaceable along a fixed guide (55) independently of one or more of the other grippers (50;150).

A conveying and sorting apparatus has a plurality of tilting conveyor units in the conveying direction. Each tilting conveyor unit is able to swing to the left and right about a support shaft, between a horizontal conveying orientation and a tilted orientation for ejecting objects being conveyed by means of gravity. Both side edges in the left and right swinging direction are provided with side guides which restrict the width of the conveying path, and at least the side guide on the side to which the conveyor unit swings in the tilted orientation, is supported so as to be able to open in the swinging direction towards the tilted orientation with respect to the structure of the tilting conveyor unit, and is held in a standing orientation by the orientation holding means until a certain load or more is applied in to said side guide in the opening direction.