An article metering system is generally provided. The system is primarily comprised of a conveyor section, for receipt of a bulk flow of articles and conveyance of spaced apart metered article groups downstream of an ingress portion thereof, and an article metering station characterized by an article metering apparatus characterized by a drive assembly and a driven member driven thereby. The driven member includes an end effector for select positioning between adjacent articles of articles of the bulk flow of articles received by the conveyor section in furtherance of delimiting a downstream spaced apart metered article group characterized by a select number of columns. The drive assembly includes cooperatively driven servo drives to effectuate travel of the end effector in either of a downstream article flow direction or an upstream article flow direction, and an up/down direction in relation to articles of the bulk flow of articles received by the conveyor section.

An automated storing and picking system for packaged goods is provided. The system includes storage shelves with storage areas, at least one storage and retrieval apparatus, and at least one conveyor belt. At least one blocking device having a barrier is arranged downstream of a receiving section of the conveyor belt. A control device controls the storage and retrieval apparatus and the conveyor belt such that the packaged goods belonging to a first pack are transported to a first dispensing location and the packaged goods belonging to a subsequent pack are transported to a second dispensing location and/or are subsequently transported to the first dispensing location, such that the first pack lies downstream of the subsequent pack on the conveyor belt. The control device controls the blocking device to accumulate the first pack behind the barrier, release the first pack for transport, and to then accumulate the subsequent pack behind the barrier.

An automated storing and picking system for packaged goods is provided. The system includes storage shelves with storage areas, at least one storage and retrieval apparatus, and at least one conveyor belt. At least one blocking device having a barrier is arranged downstream of a receiving section of the conveyor belt. A control device controls the storage and retrieval apparatus and the conveyor belt such that the packaged goods belonging to a first pack are transported to a first dispensing location and the packaged goods belonging to a subsequent pack are transported to a second dispensing location and/or are subsequently transported to the first dispensing location, such that the first pack lies downstream of the subsequent pack on the conveyor belt. The control device controls the blocking device to accumulate the first pack behind the barrier, release the first pack for transport, and to then accumulate the subsequent pack behind the barrier.

A collecting device for collecting discrete items that are delivered from a conveyor to a delivery location. The collecting device includes a collecting region with a collecting device, in which collecting region the discrete items are collected, a delay region with a discrete items support, and a feed region having a feed device. The delay region is prior to the collecting region and is the region in which the discrete items delivered from the conveyor are held up. The feed region is prior to the delay region and is the region through which the discrete items are fed from conveyor to the delay region. The delay region has a conveying mechanism that is capable of conveying the held-up discrete item from the delay region into the collecting region by way of a conveying-active movement.

Elongate workpieces are transported in a transport direction and assembled to a string in the transport direction. A leading elongate workpiece is removed from the string and accelerated in a downstream discharge device such that a gap is formed between the leading elongate workpiece and a following elongate workpiece of the string. A stop is moved into the gap and prevents the following elongate workpiece of the string from being transported farther. The stop is removed when the leading elongate workpiece has left the discharge device and then the following elongate workpiece is removed from the string.

A separating device for profiles (6) comprises transfer means (8) between supporting surfaces (13) of successive transverse conveyors (1, 2, 3) that have receptacles (11) for a plurality of profiles (6). The receptacles are displaceable in rotary steps of a shaft (9) between a pick-up position and a handover position and form a driver surface (12) that, in the pick-up position, engages under only one profile (6). Stop cams (14) for the profiles (6) are associated with the receptacles (11), and stop points (16) determining the contour (15) of the stop cams (14) define an angle of rotation (a) of the stop cams (14) and a distance (h) from the bearing surface (13) of the transverse conveyor (1, 2, 3). The rear boundary edge (18) of the bearing surface (17), which is determined by the stop points (16) as a function of the cross-sectional shape and size of the profiles (6), is at least at the same distance from the shaft (9) as the outer end (19) of the driver surface (12). The transverse conveyors (1, 2, 3) can be controlled as a function of the stop of the profiles (6) at a stop cam (14) rotated into the rotational position for the cross-sectional shape and size of the profiles (6) to be separated.

Device for controlling a flow of cardboard tubular cores (1) adapted to produce logs of paper material and intended to be stored in a collection point (2) placed downstream of the same device, comprising more conveyors (5; 7) each of which is adapted for carrying the said tubular cores (1) up to the entry point (6D) of a respective guide channel (6) having an entry point (6D) and an exit point (6F), interception means (8) adapted for intercepting the tubular cores (1), said interception means being arranged and acting on each of said channels (6) to adjust the flow of the tubular cores through the respective exit points (6F), and programmable means (UE) adapted for activating and deactivating said interception means (8). The interception means (8) are adapted to selectively form two nips (N1, N2) inside the guide channel (6), the nips (N1, N2) being selectively formed at a predetermined distance from each other.

An apparatus for conveying electronic devices comprises a track for conveying a plurality of electronic devices in a row towards a pick-up position on the track where the electronic devices are removed by a pick-up device. A guiding portion located over the track has a first restraining mechanism formed in the guiding portion that is operative to restrain and secure a first electronic device at a first position next to the pick-up position and a second restraining mechanism formed in the guiding portion that is operative to restrain and secure a second electronic device at a second position away from the pick-up position which is immediately subsequent to the first position. The first and second electronic devices are configured to be released and conveyed towards the pick-up position when the first and second restraining mechanisms respectively are deactivated. A corresponding method is also provided.

A point-of-sale system is provided including a conveyor that moves an item downstream and/or upstream, a shelf positioned above the conveyor, a defined zone below the shelf and a shield positioned between the conveyor and the shelf. The shield deters the item from moving to the defined zone when the conveyor is moving the item upstream. A method of conveying an item and methods of retrofitting a point-of-sale system are also provided.

A point-of-sale system is provided including a conveyor that moves an item downstream and/or upstream, a shelf positioned above the conveyor, a defined zone below the shelf and a shield positioned between the conveyor and the shelf. The shield deters the item from moving to the defined zone when the conveyor is moving the item upstream. A method of conveying an item and methods of retrofitting a point-of-sale system are also provided.