A conveying device has an accumulation area for accumulating objects, and an operating method operates the conveying device. Using a measuring device, the object rear edge of a first object and the object front edge of a second object which follows the first object are detected. The position of the objects is determined using rotation signals from the drives of conveyor elements. For the second object, a continuous curve of a speed reduction of a target speed is calculated, wherein the calculated stop position of the object front edge of the second object is located at the position of the object rear edge of the stopped first object, or between the object front edge of the stopped first object and the object rear edge of the stopped first object. Subsequently, the second object is moved and stopped using the conveyor elements on the basis of the calculated speed reduction.

A conveying device has an accumulation area for accumulating objects, and an operating method operates the conveying device. Using a measuring device, the object rear edge of a first object and the object front edge of a second object which follows the first object are detected. The position of the objects is determined using rotation signals from the drives of conveyor elements. For the second object, a continuous curve of a speed reduction of a target speed is calculated, wherein the calculated stop position of the object front edge of the second object is located at the position of the object rear edge of the stopped first object, or between the object front edge of the stopped first object and the object rear edge of the stopped first object. Subsequently, the second object is moved and stopped using the conveyor elements on the basis of the calculated speed reduction.

According to an embodiment, an information processing device includes a first communication unit, second communication unit, and processor. The first communication unit transmits/receives data to/from a measurement device measuring, in a first transport mechanism transporting articles to an external device, a distance to each part in a predetermined region including the articles transported by the first transport mechanism. The second communication unit transmits/receives data to/from a speed control mechanism controlling a transport speed of a second transport mechanism transporting the articles to the first transport mechanism. The processor acquires distance information indicating the distance to each part in the predetermined region from the measurement device, sets a transport speed of the second transport mechanism based on the acquired distance information, and transmits speed information indicating the set transport speed of the second transport mechanism to the speed control mechanism.

Additional automation in the form of a profile singulator for singulating profiles is proposed which includes: a first conveying device for feeding the profiles in a disorderly state over a first conveying section, a conveyor roller for unraveling the large quantity of fed profiles into individual profiles, wherein the conveyor roller is situated downstream from the first conveying device in the direction of transport. The profiles can be limp, flexible, or semi-flexible; moreover, they can have or not have a carrier.

Additional automation in the form of a profile singulator for singulating profiles is proposed which includes: a first conveying device for feeding the profiles in a disorderly state over a first conveying section, a conveyor roller for unraveling the large quantity of fed profiles into individual profiles, wherein the conveyor roller is situated downstream from the first conveying device in the direction of transport. The profiles can be limp, flexible, or semi-flexible; moreover, they can have or not have a carrier.

An accumulation device (100) for placement within a stream of articles upstream of an independent article handling device, including an infeed conveyor (102) for receiving articles and an outfeed conveyor (104) for returning articles. A transfer device (108) movable along the infeed conveyor (102) and the outfeed conveyor (104) is included. Each of an infeed drive (110) and an outfeed drive (112) drives the conveyors. A speed of the outfeed drive (112) is controlled at least in part by the independent article handling device; an infeed sensor (114) detects an article flow rate upstream of the infeed conveyor and generates an infeed signal based on the article flow rate. A controller (16) is included for controlling a speed of the infeed drive (110) based at least in part on the infeed signal.

An accumulation device (100) for placement within a stream of articles upstream of an independent article handling device, including an infeed conveyor (102) for receiving articles and an outfeed conveyor (104) for returning articles. A transfer device (108) movable along the infeed conveyor (102) and the outfeed conveyor (104) is included. Each of an infeed drive (110) and an outfeed drive (112) drives the conveyors. A speed of the outfeed drive (112) is controlled at least in part by the independent article handling device; an infeed sensor (114) detects an article flow rate upstream of the infeed conveyor and generates an infeed signal based on the article flow rate. A controller (16) is included for controlling a speed of the infeed drive (110) based at least in part on the infeed signal.

A packaging apparatus and method is provided. The packaging apparatus comprises: a support platform for supporting packaging containers positioned thereon; and a packaging container positioning apparatus for positioning packaging containers on the support platform. The packaging container positioning apparatus comprises: one or more rails that each form a path for conveying devices; a plurality of individually controllable conveying devices comprising at least a first conveying device and a second conveying device, each conveying device mounted on a rail for moving along the path; and a control system configured to control the conveying devices. The control system is configured to control each conveying device to engage: a packaging container, move along the path in a first conveying direction, and release the packaging container, to position the packaging container on the support platform.

A packaging apparatus and method is provided. The packaging apparatus comprises: a support platform for supporting packaging containers positioned thereon; and a packaging container positioning apparatus for positioning packaging containers on the support platform. The packaging container positioning apparatus comprises: one or more rails that each form a path for conveying devices; a plurality of individually controllable conveying devices comprising at least a first conveying device and a second conveying device, each conveying device mounted on a rail for moving along the path; and a control system configured to control the conveying devices. The control system is configured to control each conveying device to engage: a packaging container, move along the path in a first conveying direction, and release the packaging container, to position the packaging container on the support platform.

This disclosure concerns methods for processing and grading food articles including x-raying the food articles a first time and taking a 3D image of the food articles.