An automated machine for organizing and feeding cylindrical products includes a conveyor to space apart the cylindrical products. A pair of elongated rollers is disposed downstream from the conveyor to orient the cylindrical products in the same direction. A miter wheel disposed downstream of the pair of elongated rollers transfers the cylindrical products from the pair of rollers to a vertical accumulation chamber while changing the orientation of the cylindrical products from a vertical alignment to a horizontal alignment. The cylindrical products are discharged from the vertical accumulation chamber to a take away conveyance. Operation of the components of the automated machine can be controlled by a computer. Optical sensors can be employed to monitor flow of the cylindrical products through the automated machine during operation.

A transporting device for transporting a laboratory diagnostic vessel carrier from a first line portion to a second line portion of a conveying line is disclosed. The first line portion is above the second line portion with respect to gravity. The transporting device comprises first and second transporting portions. The first transporting portion is connected to the first line portion and the second transporting portion is connected to the second line portion. The first transporting portion extends in a first direction and the second transporting portion extends in a second direction different from the first direction. The first and second transporting portions transport the laboratory diagnostic vessel carrier by gravity. The first direction comprises at least a first component and the second direction comprises at least a second component. The second component is opposite to the first component. Further, a conveying line comprising such a transporting device is disclosed.

A bolt supply device includes a slide plate inclined to a vertical direction; and a groove portion formed in the slide plate and having a width that allows passing of a screw portion of a bolt and prevents passing of a flange portion of the bolt. The groove portion includes a first groove configured such that an angle formed between a line extending in an up-down direction along the slide plate and the first groove is a first angle; and a second groove connected to a lower end of the first groove and configured such that an angle formed between the line extending in the up-down direction along the slide plate and the second groove is a second angle smaller than the first angle. The bolt take-out portion is set in the groove portion at a lower end or below the lower end of the second groove.

A bolt supply device includes a slide plate inclined to a vertical direction; and a groove portion formed in the slide plate and having a width that allows passing of a screw portion of a bolt and prevents passing of a flange portion of the bolt. The groove portion includes a first groove configured such that an angle formed between a line extending in an up-down direction along the slide plate and the first groove is a first angle; and a second groove connected to a lower end of the first groove and configured such that an angle formed between the line extending in the up-down direction along the slide plate and the second groove is a second angle smaller than the first angle. The bolt take-out portion is set in the groove portion at a lower end or below the lower end of the second groove.

An automated machine for organizing and feeding cylindrical products includes a conveyor to space apart the cylindrical products. A pair of elongated rollers is disposed downstream from the conveyor to orient the cylindrical products in the same direction. A miter wheel disposed downstream of the pair of elongated rollers transfers the cylindrical products from the pair of rollers to a vertical accumulation chamber while changing the orientation of the cylindrical products from a vertical alignment to a horizontal alignment. The cylindrical products are discharged from the vertical accumulation chamber to a take away conveyance. Operation of the components of the automated machine can be controlled by a computer. Optical sensors can be employed to monitor flow of the cylindrical products through the automated machine during operation.

An apparatus for transporting a plurality of bars having an axial direction is disclosed. The apparatus includes a storage device and a conveying device. The storage device includes an accommodating area configured to accommodate the plurality of bars side by side along a first direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction; a first ramp having a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end is adjacent to the accommodating area and receives the plurality of bars sequentially, and the received plurality of bars roll from the front end to the rear end on the first ramp in a second direction; and a counting device adjacent to the rear end and operable to allow a predetermined quantity of the plurality of bars to exit the storage device in the second direction. The conveying device includes a receiving end, an output end and a second ramp.

Embodiments herein describe a decline station for moving items between two structures at different heights. In one embodiment, the decline station includes a receiving ramp which receives an item from the first, upper structure. The receiving ramp is aligned with a pivot ramp so that items can be transferred from the receiving ramp onto the pivot ramp. The pivot ramp includes at least two positions: a receiving position where the pivot ramp is coplanar with the receiving ramp and a discharge position where the pivot ramp is aligned with another, lower ramp in the statione.g., another pivot ramp or a discharge ramp. The item is transferred between ramps until it is eventually discharged onto a second, lower structure.

A multi-level sorting system may include a multi-level structure comprising: a plurality of chutes; a plurality of distribution floors, to deliver items for distribution to any of a plurality of unique address bins, each of the distribution floors located at a different level and comprising a network of lanes for independently operating a plurality of transporter carts on the network of lanes. The network of lanes of each of the floors includes a feeding lane to transport the items for distribution to at least one loading lane; a plurality of automated inductors along said at least one loading lane, to pick one of the items and load that item onto one of the transport carts; and a plurality of unloading lanes with unique unloading positions arranged so that unique unloading positions that are located at different floors and that are assigned to a single unique address bin, are each substantially aligned with an inlet of a shared chute of the plurality of chutes.

A transporting device for transporting a laboratory diagnostic vessel carrier from a first line portion to a second line portion of a conveying line is disclosed. The first line portion is above the second line portion with respect to gravity. The transporting device comprises first and second transporting portions. The first transporting portion is connected to the first line portion and the second transporting portion is connected to the second line portion. The first transporting portion extends in a first direction and the second transporting portion extends in a second direction different from the first direction. The first and second transporting portions transport the laboratory diagnostic vessel carrier by gravity. The first direction comprises at least a first component and the second direction comprises at least a second component. The second component is opposite to the first component. Further, a conveying line comprising such a transporting device is disclosed.

A transport chute includes an upper slide defining an opening, a lower slide coupled to the upper slide, a pivoting plate pivotably coupled to the upper slide, and a resilient member coupled between the pivoting plate and the lower slide. The pivoting plate is configured to open and close the opening. The resilient member is configured to drive the pivoting plate to close the opening after the opening is opened. A workpiece is transported from the upper slide to the lower slide through the opening.