A ball launcher for launching a plurality of balls into a well, including an endless conveyor belt, the conveyor belt forming a plurality of ball retainers, each operable to contain one of the plurality of balls, a drive motor for selectively driving the conveyor belt, and a brake for braking the conveyor belt.

An adjustable pitch unscrambler that can adjust the pitch to accommodate boards having different widths, and method of using the adjustable pitch unscrambler to singulate boards in a lumber processing facility.

A device and method of adjusting a spacing of holders located on first and second endless loop includes releasing a clutch to allow the endless loops to be adjusted and operating an adjustment assembly to simultaneously move the first endless loop a distance in a first direction and the second endless loop an equal distance in a second direction opposite the first direction. After the adjustment the timing and pitch of the center of articles gripped by the holders is unchanged relative to the system in which the device is located.

A device and method of adjusting a spacing of holders located on first and second endless loop includes releasing a clutch to allow the endless loops to be adjusted and operating an adjustment assembly to simultaneously move the first endless loop a distance in a first direction and the second endless loop an equal distance in a second direction opposite the first direction. After the adjustment the timing and pitch of the center of articles gripped by the holders is unchanged relative to the system in which the device is located.

The present invention relates to a transportation system for transporting products in a transportation direction. The transportation system comprises a conveyor unit for transporting the products in the transportation direction from a first end of the conveyor unit towards a second end of the conveyor unit, and a drive unit for driving the conveyor unit. The drive unit comprises a drive means and a first magnetic clutch component for transmitting torque to the conveyor unit. The conveyor unit comprises a second magnetic clutch component for receiving torque from the drive unit. The transportation system further comprises supporting means which includes first and second supporting elements with the first supporting elements arranged at the drive unit and the second support elements arranged at the conveyor unit, for supporting the conveyor unit such that at least the first magnetic clutch component and the second magnetic clutch component are aligned to each other, and for supporting torque transmitted from the drive unit to the conveyor unit. The present invention further relates to a drive unit as well as a conveyor unit, both adapted for use in a transportation system.

The present invention relates to a transportation system for transporting products in a transportation direction. The transportation system comprises a conveyor unit for transporting the products in the transportation direction from a first end of the conveyor unit towards a second end of the conveyor unit, and a drive unit for driving the conveyor unit. The drive unit comprises a drive means and a first magnetic clutch component for transmitting torque to the conveyor unit. The conveyor unit comprises a second magnetic clutch component for receiving torque from the drive unit. The transportation system further comprises supporting means which includes first and second supporting elements with the first supporting elements arranged at the drive unit and the second support elements arranged at the conveyor unit, for supporting the conveyor unit such that at least the first magnetic clutch component and the second magnetic clutch component are aligned to each other, and for supporting torque transmitted from the drive unit to the conveyor unit. The present invention further relates to a drive unit as well as a conveyor unit, both adapted for use in a transportation system.

A return stop device with a freewheel having an internal ring, an external ring, and retaining elements arranged in an annular gap therebetween. A flange is provided at the attachment side and a housing part, between which the external ring is clamped, and a clamping device by which the external ring is pressed with its face between the flange and the housing part against a friction area, in order to generate a friction-fitting connection between the flange and the external ring. A release device is provided to at least partially overcome the contact pressure, in order to reduce or remove the friction-fitting connection. The release device includes an actuating organ, which acts upon a first gliding element, displaceable in an operating direction, to act upon a second gliding element, arranged displaceable perpendicular to the operating direction, that acts via a second wedge against the contact pressure upon the housing part.

A return stop device with a freewheel having an internal ring, an external ring, and retaining elements arranged in an annular gap therebetween. A flange is provided at the attachment side and a housing part, between which the external ring is clamped, and a clamping device by which the external ring is pressed with its face between the flange and the housing part against a friction area, in order to generate a friction-fitting connection between the flange and the external ring. A release device is provided to at least partially overcome the contact pressure, in order to reduce or remove the friction-fitting connection. The release device includes an actuating organ, which acts upon a first gliding element, displaceable in an operating direction, to act upon a second gliding element, arranged displaceable perpendicular to the operating direction, that acts via a second wedge against the contact pressure upon the housing part.

An accumulation device (100) for placement within a stream of articles upstream of an independent article handling device, including an infeed conveyor (102) for receiving articles and an outfeed conveyor (104) for returning articles. A transfer device (108) movable along the infeed conveyor (102) and the outfeed conveyor (104) is included. Each of an infeed drive (110) and an outfeed drive (112) drives the conveyors. A speed of the outfeed drive (112) is controlled at least in part by the independent article handling device; an infeed sensor (114) detects an article flow rate upstream of the infeed conveyor and generates an infeed signal based on the article flow rate. A controller (16) is included for controlling a speed of the infeed drive (110) based at least in part on the infeed signal.

An accumulation device (100) for placement within a stream of articles upstream of an independent article handling device, including an infeed conveyor (102) for receiving articles and an outfeed conveyor (104) for returning articles. A transfer device (108) movable along the infeed conveyor (102) and the outfeed conveyor (104) is included. Each of an infeed drive (110) and an outfeed drive (112) drives the conveyors. A speed of the outfeed drive (112) is controlled at least in part by the independent article handling device; an infeed sensor (114) detects an article flow rate upstream of the infeed conveyor and generates an infeed signal based on the article flow rate. A controller (16) is included for controlling a speed of the infeed drive (110) based at least in part on the infeed signal.