A transfer device, for transferring components at high speed and inspecting the components, includes a first transfer mechanism including a first transfer section including a first transfer surface that moves along a first transfer path connecting a loading position to a delivery position, and a second transfer mechanism including a second transfer section that moves along a second transfer path connecting a receiving position spaced from the delivery position by a first distance to a discharging position. The second transfer section includes a second transfer surface that continuously rotates about a rotation axis along the second transfer path. A moving direction of the first transfer surface at the delivery position intersects a moving direction of the second transfer surface at the receiving position in a plan view of the first transfer surface. The second transfer mechanism includes a generator that generates an attraction force toward the second transfer surface.

The invention relates to a method and a device for buffering containers in a container treatment plant. According thereto, containers are put into storage in a grouped manner in single file on at least one input conveyor belt, are moved in single file on a transversely adjoining buffering surface of shuttles, guided and driven individually on rails, having row pushers, in a buffering direction extending transversely to the input direction, and are taken out of storage on at least one output conveyor belt. Since, furthermore, containers are taken out of storage from the buffering surface by means of branching conveyor belts integrated in the buffering surface, transversely to the buffering direction and independently of the input conveyor belt and output conveyor belt, and/or are put into storage on the buffering surface, it is possible for container flows to be distributed flexibly and combined on the buffering surface.

The invention relates to a method and to a device for feeding products (2) from a first process to a second process in a packaging plant, wherein a buffer device (3) is provided between the first process and the second process, wherein the buffer device (3) has a closed conveying section (32) having a receiving position (30) for receiving products (2) from the first process, and having a transfer position (31) for transferring products (2) to the second process, and a plurality of conveying units (33) which at least in portions along the conveying section (32) can be driven in a mutually independent manner, and wherein the products (2) from the first process are in each case provided in groups with a variable first placing pattern, the method comprising the following steps: a) detecting the first placing pattern of a group (21, 23) of products (2) to be relocated, b) providing a number of conveying units (33), disposed in the detected first placing pattern, at the receiving position (30) of the buffer device (3), and c) collectively relocating the group (21, 23) of products with the detected placing pattern into the conveying units (33) of the buffer device (3) that are provided at the receiving position (30).

A transport device for transferring rod-like articles, the device comprising: a first conveyor configured to transfer the rod-like articles as a multilayer stream in a first transferring direction; a second conveyor configured to transfer the rod-like articles as the multilayer stream in a second transferring direction opposite to the first transferring direction; wherein the first conveyor is located at least partially above the second conveyor; a transferring channel for transferring the rod-like articles from the first conveyor to the second conveyor in a third transferring direction, the transferring channel being formed by a first wall located at the end of the first conveyor and a second wall distanced from the first wall by a distance equal to a width of the multilayer stream of the rod-like articles, wherein the second wall is located above the second conveyor; wherein at least the first conveyor and the transferring channel are movable in a first conveyor displacing direction corresponding to the first transferring direction or to the second transferring direction. The first wall forms a cover of the first conveyor; and the first wall is shaped such that there is a variable distance between the first wall and the second wall in a transverse direction that is transverse with respect to the third transferring direction of the rod-like articles in the transferring channel.

A transport device for transferring rod-like articles, the device comprising: a first conveyor configured to transfer the rod-like articles as a multilayer stream in a first transferring direction; a second conveyor configured to transfer the rod-like articles as the multilayer stream in a second transferring direction opposite to the first transferring direction; wherein the first conveyor is located at least partially above the second conveyor; a transferring channel for transferring the rod-like articles from the first conveyor to the second conveyor in a third transferring direction, the transferring channel being formed by a first wall located at the end of the first conveyor and a second wall distanced from the first wall by a distance equal to a width of the multilayer stream of the rod-like articles, wherein the second wall is located above the second conveyor; wherein at least the first conveyor and the transferring channel are movable in a first conveyor displacing direction corresponding to the first transferring direction or to the second transferring direction. The first wall forms a cover of the first conveyor; and the first wall is shaped such that there is a variable distance between the first wall and the second wall in a transverse direction that is transverse with respect to the third transferring direction of the rod-like articles in the transferring channel.

A food article loading system including a shuttle conveyor mounted for reciprocal movement having a first paddle belt for receiving food articles, and upper and lower drives engaging the upper and lower passes of the first paddle belt; a loading head having a second paddle belt for receiving the food articles from the first paddle belt lower pass; a slide gate for receiving groupings of food articles from the loading head; and a control for independently actuating the upper and lower drives to operate at selected speeds, to cause rotation of the first belt and the shuttle conveyor to reciprocate longitudinally to receive and retain a first predetermined number of the food articles, deposit a second predetermined number of the elongate food articles onto the second belt at a selected frequency, and selectively open the slide gate to allow groupings of food articles to fall into receptacles.

A transfer device, for transferring components at high speed and inspecting the components, includes a first transfer mechanism including a first transfer section including a first transfer surface that moves along a first transfer path connecting a loading position to a delivery position, and a second transfer mechanism including a second transfer section that moves along a second transfer path connecting a receiving position spaced from the delivery position by a first distance to a discharging position. The second transfer section includes a second transfer surface that continuously rotates about a rotation axis along the second transfer path. A moving direction of the first transfer surface at the delivery position intersects a moving direction of the second transfer surface at the receiving position in a plan view of the first transfer surface. The second transfer mechanism includes a generator that generates an attraction force toward the second transfer surface.

A buffer (1) for paper cores comprises: a structure (2); a plurality of planes (5), arranged one over the other for accumulating cores; a mechanism (6) for feeding the cores associated with the planes (5) to provide the cores being fed; a first device (11) for transferring cores by the mechanism (6) to one of the planes (5), the first device (11) being interposed between the mechanism (6) and the planes (5) and being movable from one plane (5) to another in order to transfer the cores to the latter; a mechanism (16) associated with the planes (5) in order to discharge the accumulated cores; a second transferring device (21), interposed between the planes (5) and the mechanism (16), for transferring cores from the planes (5) to the mechanism (16), the second device (21) being movable from one plane (5) to another in order to empty the planes (5).

An apparatus for transferring and accumulating objects. The apparatus includes a plurality of accumulation channels and a single-row conveyor belt for conveying objects arranged upstream of the accumulation channels, in which the objects advance one after the other in a single row. The apparatus further includes at least a first and a second transfer device arranged upstream of the accumulation channels for transferring the objects from the conveyor belt to the accumulation channels. Each transfer device is arranged and shaped so as to communicate with one of the accumulation channels, the first and the second transfer device comprises respectively a first and a second movable portion which are movable along two parallel sliding directions so as to be arranged at different accumulation channels. The apparatus also includes an alternative divider configured to enable in turn the communication between the single-row conveyor belt and one of the transfer devices.

A food article loading system including a shuttle conveyor mounted for reciprocal movement having a first paddle belt for receiving food articles, and upper and lower drives engaging the upper and lower passes of the first paddle belt; a loading head having a second paddle belt for receiving the food articles from the first paddle belt lower pass; a slide gate for receiving groupings of food articles from the loading head; and a control for independently actuating the upper and lower drives to operate at selected speeds, to cause rotation of the first belt and the shuttle conveyor to reciprocate longitudinally to receive and retain a first predetermined number of the food articles, deposit a second predetermined number of the elongate food articles onto the second belt at a selected frequency, and selectively open the slide gate to allow groupings of food articles to fall into receptacles.