In order to keep the overall length of an insertion feed unit small despite high variability, a vertical paternoster buffer is used as a buffer therein.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for retractable rail components for container shuttle rails. In one embodiment, an example system for a shuttle may include a linear rail segment, and a first retractable rail segment assembly disposed adjacent to the linear rail segment. The first retractable rail segment assembly may include a first rail segment configured to move vertically from a first position aligned with the linear rail segment to a second position that is retracted with respect to the linear rail segment, and a first actuator configured to push the first rail segment from the second position to the first position.

A device and a method for providing a product stream with mutually aligned food products on product substrates are described According thereto, a first conveyor belt for the supply transport and mutual transverse alignment of the food products to each other, a second conveyor belt that adjoins in the direction of transport at a gap-shaped belt transition and can be controlled separately for the discharge transport and mutual longitudinal alignment of the food products to each other, and a substrate placement device for supplying the product substrates from below through the belt transition in front of/under the food products that are respectively transported across the belt transition. This enables the alignment and substrate placement in a particularly compact and reliable configuration at a single belt transition.

A turnout for use with two transport sections includes a turnout arm rotatably supported with respect to a first axis of rotation, guided in a linearly movably in the direction of the first axis, and movable between two end positions. The turnout arm has a deflection surface configured such that, when the turnout arm is in a first end position, a transported item can be transferred between the first and second transport sections via the deflection surface, and the turnout arm is located beneath the transport level in a second end position such that the transported item is movable along the first transport section beyond the turnout. The turnout arm is connected for driving, via a transmission, to a single electric motor such that it is movable back and forth between the first and second end positions solely by being driven by the electric motor in two degrees of freedom.

A system and method for rail management of an overhead transport (“OHT”) system of an associated automated material handing system (“AMHS”) that includes a controller in communication with the OHT system, including vehicles traveling on rails of the OHT. The rail management system also includes a turntable located on a portion of the OHT and equipped with a set of fixed rails. Upon receipt of a request to rotate the turntable from a first run-through direction to a second run-through direction, the controller engages at least one stopper sensor located near the turntable. The controller then directs the turntable to rotate from the first run-through direction to the second run-through direction. After completion, the controller disengages the at least one stopper to enable vehicles to travel directly in the second run-through direction.

An article carousel may be configured for use with a track system. The article carousel may include a frame and a plate configured for movement with respect to the frame. The plate may include one or more carriers configured to receive one or more trolleys. Movement of the plate may enable each carrier to be aligned with the track system. During alignment, one or more trolleys may be transferred between each carrier and the track system.

Conveyor assembly for in a lying position, in X-direction from an inlet to an outlet, conveying products serially supplied in transverse series comprising: —an inlet conveyor situated on the inlet side; —a drive for driving the inlet conveyor for in X-direction conveying the transverse series of products lying thereon; —a first recording device for recording the position of the products within a transverse series, in a Y-direction that is horizontally transverse to the X-direction; —a first correction device for influencing the positions in Y-direction of the products within a transverse series; —a programmable control unit which is configured for receiving and processing the recording data from the first recording device and for controlling the first correction device, if the products within the recorded transverse series are not in the wanted position in Y-direction, —wherein the first correction device comprises a first conveyor and a first drive for it for conveying the products in X-direction, —wherein the first conveyor comprises a number of first sub-conveyors positioned next to each other for respective conveyance in X-direction of the products situated in a transverse series, according to paths that are situated next to each other, —wherein the first correction device further comprises first sub-drives for individually from each other setting the upstream ends of the first sub-conveyors in position in Y-direction, which first sub-drives can be controlled for that purpose by the control unit in response to the recording data received from the first recording device relating to the positions of the products in a transverse series in Y-direction, —wherein the first conveyor is situated downstream of the inlet conveyor.

The invention relates to an apparatus for the single-track or multi-track conveying of objects along a conveying path extending in a conveying direction, wherein the conveying path for at least one track comprises at least one conveying device that takes over objects at the input side from a functional unit connected upstream and that transfers objects at the output side to a functional unit connected downstream; and wherein the conveying device as a whole and/or in an output-side end region is adjustable transversely to the conveying direction by means of an adjustment device such that the transverse position of objects to be transferred is changed within the respective track.

Various embodiments are directed to a diverter apparatus and method of using the same. In various embodiments, the diverter apparatus is configured to selectively direct an exemplary object traveling along a conveyor travel path to one of a plurality of adjacent conveyor locations. In various embodiments, the diverter apparatus may comprise a diverter conveyor surface, a cam follower, and a cam comprising a rotational range of motion about a cam shaft axis, the cam being physically engaged with the cam follower. Various embodiments are directed to a diverter apparatus configured to utilize a plurality of forces generated by the rotational motion of the cam to facilitate the transition of the directional configuration of the diverter conveyor surface from the first directional configuration to the second directional configuration, and, subsequently, from the second directional configuration back to the first directional configuration, again using the rotational motion of the cam.

Apparatus and method for transferring an object are disclosed. The apparatus includes a transfer track comprising a plurality of conveyors for transferring an object, an upper scheduler creating a transfer path for transferring the object and creating transfer information for controlling operations of conveyors constituting the transfer path, and a plurality of lower schedulers each receiving the transfer information from the upper scheduler and each controlling the operations of the conveyors based on the transfer information.