A feeder that feeds objects to be picked up by a robot, includes an object container unit having a first planar portion including a first planar surface in which the objects are thrown, and a groove portion including a plurality of grooves extending in a first direction from the first planar portion as seen from a normal direction in which a normal of the first planar surface extends, and a vibrator unit that applies vibration to the object container unit, wherein the vibrator unit has a first vibration mode in which the objects are moved in the first direction.

A vibratory feeder having a feeder plate comprising a layered structure of a solid material and a material containing voids, such as a metal foam, sintered metal or glass, a ceramic, a foamed polymer, an aerogel or an arrangement of spacers. Scarf plates are particularly described.

A vibratory feeder having a feeder plate comprising a layered structure of a solid material and a material containing voids, such as a metal foam, sintered metal or glass, a ceramic, a foamed polymer, an aerogel or an arrangement of spacers. Scarf plates are particularly described.

A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes at least one bracket and at least one vibrator. The at least one bracket is configured to be mounted to a pallet adjacent to a stack of panels disposed on the pallet. The at least one vibrator is attached to the at least one bracket and configured to induce vibration on the stack of panels to disrupt an adhesive bond between adjacent panels in the stack of panels.

A drug packaging unit is disclosed. The drug packaging unit includes a storage portion separately discharging a plurality of units of a drug, a supply portion supplying the drug to a drug packaging member, a detection portion detecting a drug supply error by detecting the drug passing through the supply portion, an adjustment portion adjusting the number of units of drug discharged out of the supply portion, and a driver/controller individually driving the storage portion and the supply portion, thereby putting the drug on standby to be discharged. With this structure, it is possible to reduce a drug packaging time and it is easy to control drug supply.

An unloader for a shipping container includes a supporter having a frame structure and a pallet base supported by the frame structure and configured to receive the pallet and support the shipping container in an elevated position. A gate moving mechanism is supported by the pallet base and configured to engage the moveable gate assembly when the full shipping container is positioned onto the pallet base. A material director has a first end located beneath the pallet base subjacent of the gate moving mechanism. The material director extends downwardly from the pallet base and terminates at a second end opposite the first end. Bulk material is dispensed from the shipping container into the first end and is discharged from the second end of the material director. Shipping containers may be positioned onto and removed from the pallet base without disassembly of the unloader.

An unloader for a shipping container includes a supporter having a frame structure and a pallet base supported by the frame structure and configured to receive the pallet and support the shipping container in an elevated position. A gate moving mechanism is supported by the pallet base and configured to engage the moveable gate assembly when the full shipping container is positioned onto the pallet base. A material director has a first end located beneath the pallet base subjacent of the gate moving mechanism. The material director extends downwardly from the pallet base and terminates at a second end opposite the first end. Bulk material is dispensed from the shipping container into the first end and is discharged from the second end of the material director. Shipping containers may be positioned onto and removed from the pallet base without disassembly of the unloader.

A vibratory conveying apparatus (10) comprises a trough (20) for conveying articles from an upstream side to a downstream side, a vibrator (30) for vibrating the trough (20), and an attachment/detachment mechanism (40) for attaching and detaching the trough (20) and the vibrator (30). The attachment/detachment mechanism (40) has a trough-side attachment/detachment member (50), a vibrator-side attachment/detachment member (70), and a lever (65). The trough-side attachment/detachment member (50), which is secured to a trough bottom plate (21), has a protruding part (55) disposed on the upstream side and an eccentric cam (66) disposed on the downstream side. The vibrator-side attachment/detachment member (70), which is secured to the vibrator (30), has a protruding part (72) disposed on the upstream side and a bent part (73) disposed on the downstream side. The lever (65) is configured to be moved up and down to switch between a fixed state in which the trough-side attachment/detachment member (50) and the vibrator-side attachment/detachment member (70) are fixed to each other, and a separated state in which the two members are separated from each other.

A vibratory conveying apparatus (10) comprises a trough (20) for conveying articles from an upstream side to a downstream side, a vibrator (30) for vibrating the trough (20), and an attachment/detachment mechanism (40) for attaching and detaching the trough (20) and the vibrator (30). The attachment/detachment mechanism (40) has a trough-side attachment/detachment member (50), a vibrator-side attachment/detachment member (70), and a lever (65). The trough-side attachment/detachment member (50), which is secured to a trough bottom plate (21), has a protruding part (55) disposed on the upstream side and an eccentric cam (66) disposed on the downstream side. The vibrator-side attachment/detachment member (70), which is secured to the vibrator (30), has a protruding part (72) disposed on the upstream side and a bent part (73) disposed on the downstream side. The lever (65) is configured to be moved up and down to switch between a fixed state in which the trough-side attachment/detachment member (50) and the vibrator-side attachment/detachment member (70) are fixed to each other, and a separated state in which the two members are separated from each other.

This invention discloses methods for producing modified cellulose, modified nanocellulose, modified nanocellulose functionalized with other functional species, and derivatives thereof. The present invention also provides cellulose, nanocellulose, and their derivatives that are safe to use inside an animal or human body and are biocompatible without costly purification. These cellulose or nanocellulose materials can be used in many different applications, including carrier for pharmaceutical active agents and other medical devices.