A feed unit, for example for feeding components to smoking article assembly apparatus, has a guide member (14) and a plurality of pushers (21) arranged to push components (2) along a path defined by the guide member (14) for output from the feed unit. The guide member (14) is arranged to separate the components (2) into separate streams (63, 64) according to their orientation. The stream (63) of non-correctly oriented components (2) comprises a channel that is helically rotated to orientate correctly said components (2). Both streams (63, 64) converge downstream said helical section to achieve a single flow of components (2) of similar orientation.

Articles are continuously supplied to a robot by control circulation speed. In a supply control device for controlling a circulation device that causes an article to circulate in a system that includes the circulation device, and a robot that retrieves the article during circulation with the circulation device, the supply control device includes: a detection unit that detects the article circulating with the circulation device, and a position of the article; a measurement unit that measures a number of the articles in a predetermined region on the circulation device, based on detection results of the detection unit; and a control unit that controls a speed of circulation of the circulation device according to the number of the articles in the predetermined region measured by the measurement unit.

A feed unit, for example for feeding components to smoking article assembly apparatus. The feed unit has a rotary device having a supply region (4) and one or more channels (7) adapted to receive components from the supply region (4) such that the components are stacked one on top of another within each channel (7). Each channel (7) has an inlet (5) and an outlet through which components pass for output from the feed unit. One of the inlet (5) and the supply region (4) is configured to reciprocate relative to the other to agitate the components in the supply region (4) so that components pass into the channel (7).

A feed unit, for example for feeding components (2) to smoking article assembly apparatus, having a stationary guide member (14) and a dispensing unit configured to dispense components (2) into the stationary guide member (14). The dispensing unit has one or more channels (7) to receive components (2) one on top of the other, and each channel (7) has a control gate (12) to apply suction/gaseous flow to control output of components (2) from the channel (7) for onward conveyance through the stationary guide member (14).

The invention relates to a rotary hopper feeder (10) for conveying and separating elements (20) which have at least one shaft, comprising a rotary feeder (18) with radially oriented conveyor cells (22) for conveying the elements (20), said rotary feeder (18) being at least partially surrounded by a hopper wall (14). The invention is characterized in that said conveyor cells (22) have holes (23) at the cell edges (18) and below the rotary feeders (18), near the holes (23), a rolling surface (28) is provided on which at least parts of the shafts of the elements (20) with shafts are supported and made to roll as they are conveyed.

An article feed system for aligning and singulating incoming articles includes a rotatable upper rim surface and an article delivery device that delivers articles received by the article delivery device to the upper rim surface. A drive system is operatively connected to the disk assembly that rotates the bowl assembly and the assemblies rotate at different speeds but in the same direction. A guide wall extends upwardly above the upper rim surface that guides the articles travelling along the upper rim surface toward an exit opening in the guide wall. A vertically oriented article engaging-type conveyor is at the exit opening in the guide wall. The vertically oriented article engaging-type conveyor includes a moving article engaging surface that is exposed to the exit opening in the guide wall for receiving the articles when they exit the exit opening.

[Problem] To enhancing possibility for dispensing a medicine to a dispensing port one by one.

[Means for Solving Problem] A carrier part (13) included in a medicine dispensing cassette (1) comprises a first carrier part (133), a second carrier part (134) and a guiding part (132). The first carrier part and the second carrier part can carry the medicine such that a first speed of the medicine guided to the first carrier part to the dispensing port (18) becomes larger than a second speed of the medicine guided from the second carrier part to the first carrier part.

A feed unit, for example for feeding components to smoking article assembly apparatus, includes a rotary device having one or more channels (7) adapted to receive components, one on top of another, and one or more pushers (21) associated with each channel. The feed unit also has a track (14) to receive components from outlets of the one or more channels (7) and the rotary device is configured to rotate with respect to the track (14) so that components pass through the channels (7) and are pushed along the track by the pushers (21) for output from the feed unit.

A tablet inspection apparatus includes a supply unit including a rotary plate inclinedly disposed, and a transfer plate having a downwardly inclined surface, inclined outwardly on the same level as top dead center of the rotary plate while rotating with the rotary plate around the rotary plate, a first rotary unit inclinedly disposed with respect to the supply unit, and formed such that suction force is applied in a certain section in a circumferential direction, and a second rotary unit installed on one side of the first rotary unit, and formed such that suction force is applied in a certain section in a circumferential direction.

A device (1) for orienting capsules (C) is described. The device comprises a container (9) for receiving randomly oriented capsules (C), which has bottom wall (11), provided with at least two apertures (17A, 17B). A rotor (13) is rotatingly arranged in the container and above the bottom wall (11). The rotor is provided with capsule receiving pockets (15). Under the apertures of the bottom wall (11), a capsule collector (19) is arranged, for receiving capsules discharged from the capsule receiving pockets (15) through either one or the other of the two apertures (17A, 17B). The capsule receiving pocket (15), the two apertures (17A, 17B) and the capsule collector (19) are shaped and arranged such that the capsules (C) randomly contained in the container (9) exit the capsule collector (19) with a pre-determined orientation.