There is provided a computer implemented method comprising obtaining image data representing a platform, processing the image data using an algorithm, the algorithm configured to determine a property of the platform, obtaining, from the algorithm, data indicating a property of the platform and determining, based on the data indicating the property of the platform, a location to which the platform is to be transported.

A container screening device (200) including: a star wheel (60) arranged on or above a conveyance surface (201) on which inspection objects (101) are conveyed and having an outer periphery formed with plural housing portions (110) configured to house the inspection objects (101); a rotation shaft (220) arranged under the conveyance surface (201) and configured to rotate with the star wheel (60); a bearing portion (230) rotatably supporting the rotation shaft (220); air holes (60a, 60b, 220a, 220b) extending through interiors of the star wheel (60) and the rotation shaft (220) and communicating with the rotation shaft (220) and the housing portions (110); and an air coupling (240) fixed to a periphery of the rotation shaft (220) and configured to generate suction force in the air holes (60a, 60b, 220a, 220b) to suck the inspection objects (101) to the housing portions (110).

An apparatus for treating containers with a first treatment device configured to treat the containers in a predetermined first manner, with a transport device which transports the containers in a predetermined transport direction, wherein the transport device transports the containers in a transport stream extending in the transport direction, and with a reject device arranged after the first treatment device, which is configured to reject a plurality of containers arranged one after the other in the transport direction from the transport stream, wherein the apparatus has a second treatment device which is arranged before the first treatment device in the transport direction of the containers. The apparatus has a gap generating device which is arranged in front of the first treatment device in the transport direction of the containers and which generates at least one gap in the transport stream of the containers.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for automated shuttles for rapid replacement of full containers. In one embodiment, an example system may include a shuttle configured to move adjacent to an array of containers arranged in a first row and a second row, the array of containers having a first container in the first row and a second container in the second row, a first container receptacle portion configured to receive containers, the first container receptacle portion having a first conveyor, and a second container receptacle portion configured to receive containers, the second container receptacle portion having a second conveyor. The system may include a motor configured to cause the shuttle to move laterally adjacent to the array of containers.

A device is for sorting a container for a conveyor. The container includes an electronic chip storing at least one data item relating to the container or to the chip. The conveyor is capable of driving the container and has a first and a second path. The sorting device includes a chip reader configured to read the stored data, which can be referred to as read data. The device also has an arm, which is movable between a first position and at least one guiding position. In the guiding position, the arm is configured to force the container of the first path to follow the second path. The device further includes a calculator adapted to output a control law for the arm, which controls the position of the arm and depends on the read data.

An apparatus for checking the tightness of a closure of a container, in particular a pharmaceutical or cosmetic container, the closure comprising a closure cap for closing the container and an elastic sealing member arranged between the closure cap and a mouth edge of the container, comprising: a turntable movable relatively against the closure of the container for exerting a compressive force on the elastic sealing member to effect compression of the elastic sealing member, wherein the turntable is connected to an axially displaceable drive shaft of a drive unit, and wherein the turntable is configured to be set in rotation with the container coupled thereto; a crimping device for crimping the closure cap; a control unit for controlling the drive unit; and a position encoder for providing a value representing a stroke position of the turntable.

A method and system for forming a packaged product (100) and ensuring that the packaged product (100) is adequately filled. In one aspect, the method includes forming a product (101); introducing the product (101) into a package (103), thereby forming a packaged product (100); obtaining an x-ray image (201) of the packaged product (100); analyzing the x-ray image (201) utilizing a processor (118) to identify whether bounded contours (200) exist in the x-ray image (201) for each of the bounded contours (200), the processor (118) determining whether the bounded contour (200) is a threshold defect based at least in part on bounded area (208) of the bounded contour (200) for each of the threshold defects, the processor (118) classifying the threshold defect as one of a plurality of pre-determined defect types; and determining a source of at least one of the threshold defects in the packaged product (100) based at least in part on the classification of the at least one of the threshold defects.

This invention relates to a container wall thickness inspection device 1 for inspecting a container 10A in which regions with a relatively greater wall thickness (flat portion Rf) and regions with a relatively smaller wall thickness (corner portion Rc) are distributed in the circumferential direction, the container wall thickness inspection device 1 comprising: a wall thickness measurement device (electrostatic capacity detector 4) with a sensor unit 5 for measuring a wall thickness of a site facing the sensor unit 5 on the outer peripheral surface of the container 10A; a rotary drive mechanism for axially rotating the container 10A around the central axis of the container in order to measure a wall thickness of the container over the entire circumference by the wall thickness measurement device; a region detection device (photoelectric sensor 8) for detecting which region of the container 10A corresponds to the site being measured for its wall thickness by the wall thickness measurement device; and a determination device for making a pass/fail determination with respect to the wall thickness of the container 10A based on measured wall thickness values over the entire circumference of the container 10a, which are obtained from outputs of the wall thickness measurement device. The determination device comprises a storage unit for storing a pass/fail determination standard value with respect to the wall thickness for each region, and a comparison unit for comparing each measured wall thickness value obtained from the outputs of the wall thickness measurement device with a pass/fail determination standard value stored in the storage unit corresponding to the region detected by the region detection device.

A mobile sorter for sorting materials, such as from a waste landfill. The mobile sorter includes a mobile platform with a mechanism configured to transport the mobile platform over ground. A sorting system mounted onto the mobile platform is configured to identify a specific type of material piece from different types of material pieces and sort that specific type of material piece from the different types of material pieces as the different types of material pieces are conveyed via a first conveyor system through the sorting system from a heap of the different types of material pieces. An apparatus is configured to collect the different types of material pieces from the heap and feed the different types of material pieces onto the first conveyor system.

A singulating system for parcels comprises: an inner wall; a first section comprised of a series of driven rollers, which are skewed relative to a longitudinal direction of travel, so that the parcels are conveyed not only in the longitudinal direction of travel, but also toward the inner wall; a second section for receiving the parcels from the first section, and then identifying and moving parcels in a side-by-side arrangement and/or parcels with an irregular shape; and a third section for receiving the parcels from the second section. In some embodiments, the singulating system also includes a visioning subsystem, including a camera for acquiring image data of the parcels as the parcels move toward or into the second section, and a computer to receive and analyze the image data from the camera to identify parcels in a side-by-side arrangement and/or parcels with an irregular shape.