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 system for grouping and rotating packages (101) includes a first conveyor (102) configured to drive a stream of packages from a first end (102A) to a second end (102B) at a predefined first speed, an actuation section (104) situated at the second end (102B) of the first conveyor (102) configured to receive the stream of packages from the first conveyor (102) and actuate the stream of packages to an orienting section (108) at a predefined second speed, wherein the second speed is less than the first speed, and a plurality of lugs (106) adjacent to the actuation section (104) configured to actuate forward packages in the stream of packages forming groups (105) of two or more packages (101).

A system for grouping and rotating packages (101) includes a first conveyor (102) configured to drive a stream of packages from a first end (102A) to a second end (102B) at a predefined first speed, an actuation section (104) situated at the second end (102B) of the first conveyor (102) configured to receive the stream of packages from the first conveyor (102) and actuate the stream of packages to an orienting section (108) at a predefined second speed, wherein the second speed is less than the first speed, and a plurality of lugs (106) adjacent to the actuation section (104) configured to actuate forward packages in the stream of packages forming groups (105) of two or more packages (101).

An object centering device configured to center a conveyed food container includes a restricting guide member having a pair of guide surfaces facing the food container and configured to be respectively in contact with at least a pair of opposed contact portions. The pair of guide surfaces of the restricting guide member includes front end portions that extend away from each other toward a downstream side of a conveyance direction of the food container. The front end portions are configured such that an angle formed by the pair of guide surfaces is changeable.

An object centering device configured to center a conveyed food container includes a restricting guide member having a pair of guide surfaces facing the food container and configured to be respectively in contact with at least a pair of opposed contact portions. The pair of guide surfaces of the restricting guide member includes front end portions that extend away from each other toward a downstream side of a conveyance direction of the food container. The front end portions are configured such that an angle formed by the pair of guide surfaces is changeable.

A system and method for optimizing flow of a plurality of products along a conveyor includes a conveyor drive connected with the respect to the conveyor, the conveyor drive configured to modulate the speed of the conveyor. A camera positioned relative to the products on the conveyor. A processing unit is connected with respect to the camera and the conveyor drive, the processing unit defining a zone along the conveyor having a virtual longitudinal and lateral boundary within a section of the conveyor, the processing unit further determining relative product position metrics of the products within the zone and communicating with the conveyor drive to modulate the speed of the conveyor thereby optimizing a relative position of the products within the zone. In addition, the subject system may be used for inspection of conveyed products.

A system and method for optimizing flow of a plurality of products along a conveyor includes a conveyor drive connected with the respect to the conveyor, the conveyor drive configured to modulate the speed of the conveyor. A camera positioned relative to the products on the conveyor. A processing unit is connected with respect to the camera and the conveyor drive, the processing unit defining a zone along the conveyor having a virtual longitudinal and lateral boundary within a section of the conveyor, the processing unit further determining relative product position metrics of the products within the zone and communicating with the conveyor drive to modulate the speed of the conveyor thereby optimizing a relative position of the products within the zone. In addition, the subject system may be used for inspection of conveyed products.

A method of collating packages that includes receiving a plurality of packages in a main channel of a collation module, conveying the packages in the main channel along parallel grooves having a first portion arranged perpendicularly to the main channel, and conveying the packages in the main channel along a second portion of the parallel grooves angled towards a first side of the collation module, where each package passes through first and second portions of a single groove.

A container guiding device has a railing with two guide elements that are spaced from one another, that extend in the transport direction of a container transport device, and that guide containers or packages. At least one guide element can be adjusted transversely to the transport direction relative to the other guide element by an adjusting device. The adjusting device has a drive body which can be rotated about a rotational axis and a coupling element which is connected to the at least one guide element and to the drive body such that a rotation of the drive body produces a translation of the coupling element transversely to the transport direction. The drive body has a control element which is in engagement with the coupling element and which runs in a spiral shape about the rotational axis of the drive body, at least along some sections.

A container guiding device has a railing with two guide elements that are spaced from one another, that extend in the transport direction of a container transport device, and that guide containers or packages. At least one guide element can be adjusted transversely to the transport direction relative to the other guide element by an adjusting device. The adjusting device has a drive body which can be rotated about a rotational axis and a coupling element which is connected to the at least one guide element and to the drive body such that a rotation of the drive body produces a translation of the coupling element transversely to the transport direction. The drive body has a control element which is in engagement with the coupling element and which runs in a spiral shape about the rotational axis of the drive body, at least along some sections.