An article supplying device is provided. The article supplying device has a conveyance portion for conveying conveyed objects, and a movable block. The movable block includes a housing portion capable of housing one conveyed object at a receiving position in which the housing portion communicates with a downstream end of the conveyance portion. The movable block is capable of a reciprocal movement in a direction intersecting a receiving direction of the conveyed objects. Moreover, the movable block includes a biting preventing portion for pushing back a subsequent conveyed object entered into the housing portion after the conveyed object having been housed in the housing portion toward the conveyance portion.

Singulation system may utilize various features to singulate items, e.g., which may be different sizes from one another. For example, a conveyor may advance items along the length of the conveyor, and paddles arranged for protruding over respective portions of the conveyor may be selectively positionable based on conditions (such as a size or a jammed state) of items detected as present on a relevant part of the conveyor. Additionally or alternatively, a first conveyor may advance items at a first speed and in a first direction to sequentially drop the items onto a second conveyor positioned below the first conveyor, and the second conveyor may advance the received items at a second speed higher than the first speed and in a second direction different from the first direction, e.g., to increase space between items.

A modular conveying assembly that includes a plurality of roller bodies, a driving member, a positive stop body, and a positive stop actuator. Each roller body includes a top surface, a driven axle mounted to the roller body for conveyance therewith, a roller fixed to the driven axle, and a driven surface fixed to the driven axle. The rollers define a support plane. The driving member selectively engages the driven surfaces to affect rotation of the driven axle. The positive stop body is coupled to the plurality of roller bodies and includes a positive stop that is movable relative to the positive stop body between a first position and a second position. The positive stop extends above the support plane in the second position. The positive stop actuator selectively engages the positive stop to move the positive stop between the first position and the second position.

A release device may include a lifting and pre-stopping element having an upper sliding surface, the part coupled to a drive such that the sliding surface is movable over the sliding plane into an enabled position and at the level of the sliding plane into a blocked position, the part having a stop which in the enabled position protrudes beyond the sliding plane. A blocking element, behind the part in the sliding direction, has an upper blocking element sliding surface, a blocking edge protruding beyond the sliding plane, and an extendable/retractable block coupled to the drive such that the block is movable below the blocking element sliding surface into an enabled position and above the blocking element sliding surface into a blocked position. The blocking edge may be in front of the block in the sliding direction, preventing contact between the piece good and the block in the blocked position.

An article supplying device is provided. The article supplying device has a conveyance portion for conveying conveyed objects, and a movable block. The movable block includes a housing portion capable of housing one conveyed object at a receiving position in which the housing portion communicates with a downstream end of the conveyance portion. The movable block is capable of a reciprocal movement in a direction intersecting a receiving direction of the conveyed objects. Moreover, the movable block includes a biting preventing portion for pushing back a subsequent conveyed object entered into the housing portion after the conveyed object having been housed in the housing portion toward the conveyance portion.

Various embodiments are directed to a tote stop assembly configured for a conveyor assembly and methods of operating the same. In various embodiments, the tote stop assembly comprises a cam assembly comprising a cam element secured relative to an outer surface of a drive roller, the drive roller being configured to cause motor-driven rotation of the cam element about a central axis of the drive roller; and a tote stop component comprising a cam follower configured for physical engagement with the cam element such that the motor-driven rotation of the cam element causes vertical movement of the tote stop component between raised and lowered positions; the tote stop assembly being configurable in an actuated configuration to selectively obstruct an object from moving along a conveyor path based on an operation of the drive roller, the actuated configuration being defined by the tote stop component being arranged in the raised position.

The invention relates to a method for switching the operation of a container treatment system (100) from a first operating mode to a second operating mode. Containers (130) are treated at least in a container treatment machine (101) comprising a heater, a pasteurizer, or a heat exchanger in the first operating mode. According to the method, the containers (130) to be treated in the first operating mode are transported into the container treatment machine (101). The containers are treated in the container treatment machine and are transported to the outlet (103) of the container treatment machine (101). Information indicating that the operation will be switched is stored in the controller of the container treatment system (100). At least one sensor (106) detects the last treated container (130) or the last container to be treated in the first operating mode and outputs a signal indicating same, and a transferring device (105) transports all the containers (130) which have been treated in the first operating mode from the outlet (103) of the container treatment machine to a transport device (104) at the outlet of the container treatment machine on the basis of the indicative signal. The invention also relates to a container treatment system for carrying out the method.

A packaged integrated circuit transfer track with a stopper arm that is constrained to vertical motion. A packaged integrated circuit transfer track with a cam follower that engages a cam causing a stopper arm to raise or lower vertically. A packaged integrated circuit transfer track with an actuator that engages a switch causing a motor or solenoid to raise or lower the stopper arm vertically.

A modular conveying assembly that includes a plurality of roller bodies, a driving member, a positive stop body, and a positive stop actuator. Each roller body includes a top surface, a driven axle mounted to the roller body for conveyance therewith, a roller fixed to the driven axle, and a driven surface fixed to the driven axle. The rollers define a support plane. The driving member selectively engages the driven surfaces to affect rotation of the driven axle. The positive stop body is coupled to the plurality of roller bodies and includes a positive stop that is movable relative to the positive stop body between a first position and a second position. The positive stop extends above the support plane in the second position. The positive stop actuator selectively engages the positive stop to move the positive stop between the first position and the second position.

An apparatus and method for separating piece goods to be stored in an automated storage facility are provided. At least two bearing surfaces for receiving piece goods are engaged with a conveying system for filling the bearing surfaces with piece goods, the conveying system having transfer surfaces dedicated to the bearing surfaces. The bearing surfaces may be filled with piece goods separately from one another. A control unit is coupled to the conveying system and a detection device is coupled to the control unit for detecting the position, orientation, and package data of the piece goods. A handling mechanism is also coupled to the control unit for gripping piece goods from the bearing surfaces and depositing the piece goods on a transfer device.