A thermal processing apparatus (20) includes a spiral conveyor system (22) configured into an ascending spiral stack (26). An inner mezzanine (40) is disposed within the circular interior of the stack (26) and an exterior mezzanine (42) encircles the spiral stack. The mezzanines divide the processing chamber (32) into a plurality of processing zones. A sealing system (90) seals the interior mezzanine (40) relative to the spiral stack (26). A sealing system (130) seals the outer mezzanine (42) relative to the exterior of the spiral stack, and a seal system (132) seals the outer mezzanine relative to the walls (56, 58) of the housing, thereby to limit the leakage of the processing fluid between the mezzanines and the spiral stack (26) and housing walls so that as much as the thermal processing medium is possible is forced through the spiral stack for processing work products carried on the conveyor system (22).

A thermal processing apparatus (20) includes a spiral conveyor system (22) configured into an ascending spiral stack (26). An inner mezzanine (40) is disposed within the circular interior of the stack (26) and an exterior mezzanine (42) encircles the spiral stack. The mezzanines divide the processing chamber (32) into a plurality of processing zones. A sealing system (90) seals the interior mezzanine (40) relative to the spiral stack (26). A sealing system (130) seals the outer mezzanine (42) relative to the exterior of the spiral stack, and a seal system (132) seals the outer mezzanine relative to the walls (56, 58) of the housing, thereby to limit the leakage of the processing fluid between the mezzanines and the spiral stack (26) and housing walls so that as much as the thermal processing medium is possible is forced through the spiral stack for processing work products carried on the conveyor system (22).

The present disclosure provides for radio frequency identification in self-checkout via a first product pathway; a single Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID) antenna, having a first scanning zone aligned with the first product pathway; wherein the first product pathway is configured to: position a first set of objects within the first scanning zone at a first position relative to the single RFID antenna at a first time; and position the first set of object within the first scanning zone at a second position relative to the single RFID, different than the first position, at a second time; and wherein the single RFID antenna is configured to: receive, at the first time, a first set of identifier signals associated with at least some of the first set of objects; and receive, at the second time, a second set of identifier signals associated with at least some of the first set of objects.

The present disclosure provides for radio frequency identification in self-checkout via a first product pathway; a single Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID) antenna, having a first scanning zone aligned with the first product pathway; wherein the first product pathway is configured to: position a first set of objects within the first scanning zone at a first position relative to the single RFID antenna at a first time; and position the first set of object within the first scanning zone at a second position relative to the single RFID, different than the first position, at a second time; and wherein the single RFID antenna is configured to: receive, at the first time, a first set of identifier signals associated with at least some of the first set of objects; and receive, at the second time, a second set of identifier signals associated with at least some of the first set of objects.

A conveyor belt (36) is arranged in tiers at spiral stack conveyor unit (32) and/or (34). A ceiling or top sheet (58) is positioned over the spiral stack(s). A circulation fan (60, 62) draws thermal processing medium laterally from the tiers of the spiral stack, up the exterior of the stack and across the top of the stack above the ceiling or top sheet and through a heat exchanger (64). The treated thermal processing medium is then routed across the remainder of the diameter of the spiral stack and then down the side of the spiral stack diametrically opposite to the circulating fan thereby to enter the spiral stack in a lateral direction diametrically toward the circulating fan. At least one opening (70) is formed in the ceiling downstream of the heat exchanger and into the interior of the conveyor drive hub. The outer wall of the drive hub is partially open thereby to provide an alternative flow path for the thermal processing medium to enter the spiral stack from the interior of the drive hub.

A conveyor belt (36) is arranged in tiers at spiral stack conveyor unit (32) and/or (34). A ceiling or top sheet (58) is positioned over the spiral stack(s). A circulation fan (60, 62) draws thermal processing medium laterally from the tiers of the spiral stack, up the exterior of the stack and across the top of the stack above the ceiling or top sheet and through a heat exchanger (64). The treated thermal processing medium is then routed across the remainder of the diameter of the spiral stack and then down the side of the spiral stack diametrically opposite to the circulating fan thereby to enter the spiral stack in a lateral direction diametrically toward the circulating fan. At least one opening (70) is formed in the ceiling downstream of the heat exchanger and into the interior of the conveyor drive hub. The outer wall of the drive hub is partially open thereby to provide an alternative flow path for the thermal processing medium to enter the spiral stack from the interior of the drive hub.

A lamination device that laminates a plurality of types of workpieces includes supply mechanisms that supply the workpiece to each of supply positions, a movement mechanism including a stator of a linear motor having a predetermined traveling track and a mover of a linear motor that is movable between a plurality of the supply positions along a traveling track, and a controller that controls at least the mover. The mover includes a holding unit that holds the workpiece supplied to the supply positions, and a lamination stage for lamination the workpiece. The controller corrects a relative position of the workpiece with respect to the lamination stage and controls the mover to laminate the workpiece whose relative position is corrected on the lamination stage while the holding unit holds the workpiece supplied to the supply positions and moves to and stops at a next one of the supply positions.

A lamination device that laminates a plurality of types of workpieces includes supply mechanisms that supply the workpiece to each of supply positions, a movement mechanism including a stator of a linear motor having a predetermined traveling track and a mover of a linear motor that is movable between a plurality of the supply positions along a traveling track, and a controller that controls at least the mover. The mover includes a holding unit that holds the workpiece supplied to the supply positions, and a lamination stage for lamination the workpiece. The controller corrects a relative position of the workpiece with respect to the lamination stage and controls the mover to laminate the workpiece whose relative position is corrected on the lamination stage while the holding unit holds the workpiece supplied to the supply positions and moves to and stops at a next one of the supply positions.

The invention relates to an accumulator device comprising an infeed conveyor with an endless conveying belt arranged for moving products in a first conveying direction, a substantially parallel outfeed conveyor with an endless conveying belt arranged for moving products in a second, opposing conveying direction, a transfer device provided in-between the infeed and outfeed conveyors, configured for transferring products from the infeed conveyor to the outfeed conveyor, the transfer device being moveable along the infeed and outfeed conveyors, wherein the transfer device comprises a first transfer element with first gripping means for horizontally engaging the products, a second transfer element, spaced-apart from the first transfer element, provided with second gripping means for horizontally engaging the products in cooperation with the first gripping means, wherein between the first and second circumference a transfer trajectory is defined, along which a distance between the first and second circumference, perpendicular to the transfer trajectory, is substantially constant and along which the first and second gripping means are arranged to be driven in a same transfer direction, such that a product can be gripped by the first and second gripping means at a gripping location on the infeed conveyor and transported along the transfer trajectory to a release location on the outfeed conveyor.

The invention relates to an accumulator device comprising an infeed conveyor with an endless conveying belt arranged for moving products in a first conveying direction, a substantially parallel outfeed conveyor with an endless conveying belt arranged for moving products in a second, opposing conveying direction, a transfer device provided in-between the infeed and outfeed conveyors, configured for transferring products from the infeed conveyor to the outfeed conveyor, the transfer device being moveable along the infeed and outfeed conveyors, wherein the transfer device comprises a first transfer element with first gripping means for horizontally engaging the products, a second transfer element, spaced-apart from the first transfer element, provided with second gripping means for horizontally engaging the products in cooperation with the first gripping means, wherein between the first and second circumference a transfer trajectory is defined, along which a distance between the first and second circumference, perpendicular to the transfer trajectory, is substantially constant and along which the first and second gripping means are arranged to be driven in a same transfer direction, such that a product can be gripped by the first and second gripping means at a gripping location on the infeed conveyor and transported along the transfer trajectory to a release location on the outfeed conveyor.