A reverse vending machine includes a transport device for lifting an object in the reverse vending machine. The transport device includes a conveyor device for lifting the object from a lower level position to a higher level position in the reverse vending machine, and an object supporting device. The object supporting device is arranged substantially parallel to the conveyor device and arranged in such a way as to allow the object to be held between the conveyor device and the object supporting device during the lifting of the object.

A device for inhibiting rotational motion of an article to be processed comprises a pressure plate assembly including a generally ring-shaped guide assembly. The guide assembly has and at least two guide pins extending from a first side in a transverse direction. The guide assembly further includes at least two resilient devices positioned over a respective one of the at least two guide pins and a container guide having an aperture for receiving an open end of a container moving in a first direction and for aligning the open end with a processing device. The container guide is positioned adjacent to the first side of the pressure plate assembly. At least two resilient devices are configured to be compressed in response to movement of the container guide in a first direction and are configured to decompress in response to movement of the container guide in a second, generally opposite direction.

The invention relates to a dispenser for transferring layers of goods from a pallet onto a receiving surface and then down a discharge conveyor. The dispenser incorporates a vertically movable platform capable of bringing a first tier of goods in alignment with a rotary table. Sweeper arm moves the goods on to the table as it rotates. Goods accumulate on the rotary table and then become guided down a discharge conveyor for further processing.

The present invention relates to a device for transferring products, comprising a means for fetching the products in a line in a first direction, at least one output conveyor, in a transverse direction with respect to said first direction, and a tool for transferring said products in groups. The transfer tool has only two degrees of freedom of movement in a horizontal plane, in said first direction and in said transverse direction. The invention relates also to a corresponding method for transferring products.

A method of changing article pitch. The method can comprise receiving a series of articles arranged at a first pitch, engaging the articles of the series of articles sequentially with a gripper wheel, moving the articles along a path of travel with the gripper wheel, and moving the articles relative to one another from the first pitch to a second pitch during the moving the articles along the path of travel with the gripper wheel.

A container indexing assembly is provided, including an indexing wheel; a conveyor chain; and a series of container indexing arms arranged having a fixed spatial relation ship to one another other at linear and non-linear speeds. A rotary container starwheel is further provided including one or more grabber arms. Each of said grabber arms includes a spring configured to actuate the grabber arm to a closed position; and a fixed mechanical cam configured to actuate opening of the grabber arms. A rotary multi-feed can lid assembly is also provided including multiple can lid silos supported on an upper rotating indexing plate; one or more spring loaded ball detents affixed to rotate with the upper rotating indexing plate and a fixed lower indexing plate. The fixed lower indexing plate is formed with a series of indents to allow extension of the spring loaded ball de tents as the ball detents rotate with the upper rotating indexing plate. A universal closing turret is finally provided including multiple, varying closure applicators for different types of containers, removably connectable to the turret to allow rearrangement of an order of closure applicators based on an order of types of containers to be closed.

A conveyor system for containers including a conveyor module configured to convey and meter a stream of containers, including a first star wheel configured to move a plurality of first containers along a first travel path, wherein the first containers each have a first geometric center, and wherein the first travel path is defined by the geometric center of the first containers, and a second star wheel configured to move a plurality of second containers along a second travel path, wherein the second containers each have a second geometric center, and wherein the second travel path is defined by the geometric center of the second containers.

A comb for spacing apart articles. The comb includes protrusions defining recesses therebetween. At least one of the protrusion is longer than the protrusion located just in front of it. Also, a method of spacing apart articles.

An orientation module including a base configured to support at least one container, a camera positioned to scan the at least one container, a processor operatively connected to the camera configured to analyze an initial orientation of the container and determine a secondary orientation of the container, and a turning member positioned above the base configured to turn the corresponding container according to a command from the processor to rotate the container to the secondary orientation.

An apparatus for sorting containers, in particular, beverage containers, may comprise at least one conveyor belt for transporting a multitude of containers, an identification device for identifying a decor on each container conveyed on the conveyor belt, wherein selection data can be generated by the identification device depending on the respective decor present on a specifically detected container, and a selection device for repositioning individual containers on the conveyor belt depending on the respectively identified decor. The selection device forms a continuous track and has shifting means for shifting the identified containers. The continuous track extends along the conveyor belt in a selection region, and the individual shifting means in the selection region can be accelerated to the same speed as the conveyor belt by means of a transport device, thereby being adjacent to a specific and previously identified container.