An apparatus for forming and sorting informational items comprises a folding unit, a conveyor belt, a camera, a controller, and a diverter assembly. The folding unit forms a folded article from a sheet of paper. The conveyor belt transports the folded article. The camera captures an image of the folded article as it passes by the camera. The controller receives and processes the image, and the diverter assembly causes the folded article to move off of the conveyor belt when the controller determines that the folded article fails to satisfy at least one predetermined criteria.

The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for uncut material detection while lifting from an automated cutting table select pieces of thin, flexible material. The apparatus comprises a structured energy source and a structured energy sensor. The structured energy can be used to detect undesired lifting of a peripheral portion of the flexible material resulting from the presence of uncut material.

A method and apparatus for depositing discrete elements on a support element. The discrete elements may be separated from each other or joined to form a continuous web. The discrete elements are fed into a pick-up station defined at a rotor which includes circumferentially adjacent pick-up members. Each discrete element is associated with a respective pick-up member having a first orientation with respect to a respective second axis of rotation. Each pick-up member is moved along the rotation direction towards a release position downstream with an at least partially accelerated or decelerated motion. Each pick-up member is rotated about the respective second axis of rotation until it takes, at the release position, a second orientation. Each discrete element is released on a support element at the release position. Each pick-up member is subsequently moved towards the pick-up station with an at least partially decelerated or accelerated motion.

A method and apparatus for depositing discrete elements on a support element. The discrete elements may be separated from each other or joined to form a continuous web. The discrete elements are fed into a pick-up station defined at a rotor which includes circumferentially adjacent pick-up members. Each discrete element is associated with a respective pick-up member having a first orientation with respect to a respective second axis of rotation. Each pick-up member is moved along the rotation direction towards a release position downstream with an at least partially accelerated or decelerated motion. Each pick-up member is rotated about the respective second axis of rotation until it takes, at the release position, a second orientation. Each discrete element is released on a support element at the release position. Each pick-up member is subsequently moved towards the pick-up station with an at least partially decelerated or accelerated motion.

A pick-up device for picking up packages that may include a frame to which a first and a second retaining element are mounted. Each retaining element may comprise a retaining side that is adapted to hold a package or a package section. The first and the second retaining elements may be adapted to be arranged in a starting position, such that the first and the second retaining sides are oriented one next to the other in an aligned manner. Both the first and the second retaining elements are pivotable about a common pivot axis, so that in at least one pivoted position, both the first and the second retaining elements are arranged pivoted by a first and a second angle respectively, wherein the retaining element are pivoted relative to the starting position. In one embodiment, both the first and the second angles are greater than zero.

A glove stacking apparatus for forming a stack of gloves for packing into a box comprises a packing recess for receiving gloves to be stacked and for containing the stack as the stack is being formed, and a glove placement means for moving and depositing gloves at the recess one of top of another for forming the stack of gloves. The recess has a pair of opposite side edges. A movable floor within the recess is lowered as the stack of gloves grows whereby the stack of gloves continues to be retained within the recess as gloves are added to the stack. The glove placement means is arranged to deposit gloves with a portion of each glove overlapping alternately one or the other of the opposite side edges of the recess as subsequent gloves are deposited. The apparatus also comprises a pair of movable flaps adjacent the opposite side edges of the recess for folding alternately inwards towards the recess the portions of that gloves that overlap alternately one or another of the opposite side edges of the recess.

A glove stacking apparatus for forming a stack of gloves for packing into a box comprises a packing recess for receiving gloves to be stacked and for containing the stack as the stack is being formed, and a glove placement means for moving and depositing gloves at the recess one of top of another for forming the stack of gloves. The recess has a pair of opposite side edges. A movable floor within the recess is lowered as the stack of gloves grows whereby the stack of gloves continues to be retained within the recess as gloves are added to the stack. The glove placement means is arranged to deposit gloves with a portion of each glove overlapping alternately one or the other of the opposite side edges of the recess as subsequent gloves are deposited. The apparatus also comprises a pair of movable flaps adjacent the opposite side edges of the recess for folding alternately inwards towards the recess the portions of that gloves that overlap alternately one or another of the opposite side edges of the recess.

In a conveyance device, first and second travel members that hold pads are arranged alternately and travel along the outer peripheral surface of a stationary drum in conjunction with the rotation of a drive member. One or both of the first and second travel members have a rotatably supported shaft member having an engaging section that engages with a guide section formed in the outer peripheral surface of the stationary drum. The rotation of the shaft member is transmitted to the pads and the pads rotate. When conveyance articles are released from pads that have received conveyance articles having the same orientation, the orientation of conveyance articles released from first pads held by the first travel member is different from the orientation of the conveyance articles released from the second pads held by the second travel member.

In a conveyance device, first and second travel members that hold pads are arranged alternately and travel along the outer peripheral surface of a stationary drum in conjunction with the rotation of a drive member. One or both of the first and second travel members have a rotatably supported shaft member having an engaging section that engages with a guide section formed in the outer peripheral surface of the stationary drum. The rotation of the shaft member is transmitted to the pads and the pads rotate. When conveyance articles are released from pads that have received conveyance articles having the same orientation, the orientation of conveyance articles released from first pads held by the first travel member is different from the orientation of the conveyance articles released from the second pads held by the second travel member.

The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus that separates and efficiently captures from an automated cutting table select pieces of thin, flexible material in an orderly manner which prevents damage to the selected piece while preventing the undesired lifting or movement of the surrounding material. The apparatus comprises a pick head assembly including a cylinder with a plurality of orifices that communicates with the selected piece to maintain contact between the selected piece and the cylindrical surface while the selected piece is being removed.