A sorting/handling system for sorting/handling parcels or packets comprises a primary conveyor for conveying the packets in series around a looped path, at least one platform secondary conveyor fed by the primary conveyor and having a throughput rate lower than that of the primary conveyor, and a transfer unit for transfer between the primary conveyor and the secondary conveyor, which transfer unit comprises n chutes into which the packets coming from the primary conveyor fall by gravity so as to be received at the outlets on n parallel channels of an accumulation zone having movable barriers. Downstream from the accumulation zone, the system further comprises mechanical members for putting the packets into series by spacing them apart at a constant pitch, and then for transferring them to free platforms of the secondary conveyor at a rate of one packet per platform.

A brake device for a conveyor system where pallets are conveyed on a transport plane, comprising a body having a first section and a second section, where the first section is provided with a pivot element comprising an inclined landing zone with a second nose, and where the second section comprises an inclined contact surface with a first nose, where the brake device is pivotably suspended on an axle, where the brake device is adapted to hold a first position in which the first nose extends over the transport plane, where the brake device is adapted to hold a second position in which the second nose extends over the transport plane, and where the brake device comprises a damper element arranged between the pivot element and the first section of the body of the brake device.

Clinical analyzers including cuvette loading assemblies are described. A clinical analyzer includes a first location and a second location. A chute extends between the first location and the second location, wherein the chute is configured to enable cuvettes to slide from the first location to the second location. The clinical analyzer includes a loading assembly including two gates, each moveable between a first position where cuvettes are enabled to slide along the chute and a second position where cuvettes are blocked from sliding along the chute. Methods of transporting cuvettes in a clinical analyzer are also disclosed.

Provided is an apparatus of automatically supplying blood collection tubes for a labeling machine, includes: a holding unit including a plurality of holding grooves in which a plurality of blood collection tubes are inserted and supported; a discharge unit configured to supply the blood collection tubes to the labeling machine; a supply unit having supply pins and configured to maintain or release positions of the blood collection tubes to be transferred to the discharge unit; a standby unit having stop pins and configured to control movements of blood collection tubes positioned next to the foremost blood collection tubes held by the supply unit; an operation unit configured to select a type and the number of blood collection tubes; and a controller configured to receive signals from the operation unit and control the supply unit and the standby unit, thus to transfer the blood collection tubes to the discharge unit.

Provided is an apparatus of automatically supplying blood collection tubes for a labeling machine, includes: a holding unit including a plurality of holding grooves in which a plurality of blood collection tubes are inserted and supported; a discharge unit configured to supply the blood collection tubes to the labeling machine; a supply unit having supply pins and configured to maintain or release positions of the blood collection tubes to be transferred to the discharge unit; a standby unit having stop pins and configured to control movements of blood collection tubes positioned next to the foremost blood collection tubes held by the supply unit; an operation unit configured to select a type and the number of blood collection tubes; and a controller configured to receive signals from the operation unit and control the supply unit and the standby unit, thus to transfer the blood collection tubes to the discharge unit.

A brake device for a conveyor system where pallets are conveyed on a transport plane, comprising a body having a first section and a second section, where the first section is provided with a pivot element comprising an inclined landing zone with a second nose, and where the second section comprises an inclined contact surface with a first nose, where the brake device is pivotably suspended on an axle, where the brake device is adapted to hold a first position in which the first nose extends over the transport plane, where the brake device is adapted to hold a second position in which the second nose extends over the transport plane, and where the brake device comprises a damper element arranged between the pivot element and the first section of the body of the brake device.

A sorting/handling system for sorting/handling parcels or packets comprises a primary conveyor for conveying the packets in series around a looped path, at least one platform secondary conveyor fed by the primary conveyor and having a throughput rate lower than that of the primary conveyor, and a transfer unit for transfer between the primary conveyor and the secondary conveyor, which transfer unit comprises n chutes into which the packets coming from the primary conveyor fall by gravity so as to be received at the outlets on n parallel channels of an accumulation zone having movable barriers. Downstream from the accumulation zone, the system further comprises mechanical members for putting the packets into series by spacing them apart at a constant pitch, and then for transferring them to free platforms of the secondary conveyor at a rate of one packet per platform.

A temporary storage and separation device for the wheels on the track line includes a main body bracket, a rotating mechanism, a turntable, a first connection rod, a second connection rod, a third connection rod, a fourth connection rod, a first blocking lever, a second blocking lever, a third blocking lever and a fourth blocking lever. The temporary storage and separation device for the wheels makes use of the turntable to drive the four blocking levers disposed at different positions to be extended or contracted to realize separation and temporary storage of the wheels in a transfer process; and meanwhile, photoelectric switches, reversible motors and a control unit cooperate with the temporary storage and separation device for the wheels to realize reversible transfer on the wheel transfer track line.

Systems and methods for providing gaps in article or package processing. In some embodiments, the system can include a conveying path along which a first advanced article and a second advanced article can be advanced. The system can further include a first stop location and a second stop location. The first stop location can include movable fingers that are configured to raise to stop the advance of the articles and then lower at specific times to allow the articles to advance with specific distances between the articles. Additionally, the system can include a paddle that also raises and lowers. The paddle lowers to stop an advancing article again, and in doing so, front-end registers the article. Then the paddle can raise to allow the package to advance again along the conveyor.

A loading device is provided for portioning food products into trays, including a feeder belt for receiving and conveying food products into a transfer zone; a conveyor belt for conveying the trays in conveying direction into a loading zone below the transfer zone; and a portioning unit for portioning the food products into the trays. The portioning unit has a first and a second constraining mechanism which are configured to be driven, in each case parallel to the conveying direction and orthogonally to the conveying direction, so as to come sequentially into contact with a tray being moved into the loading zone, in such a way that the movement of the tray is constrained at at least one position in the loading zone. A portioning unit and a method of operating a loading device are also provided.