Abstract:
A warehousing system includes a container for storing at least one item, a first electronic (e.g. radio frequency identification (RFID)) module associated with the first container, and a controller which wirelessly communicates with first electronic module, for directing a transfer of said at least one item to and/or from said first container. The inventive system may include, for example, a hybrid retail/warehouse system which includes a facility having a shelving area, and a picking area adjacent to the shelving area, and a layout so as to minimize a picking area and a walking distance between a picking area and a shelving area.
Abstract:
A two-axis robot includes a vertical tubular post mounted for rotation about its vertical axis, with a vertically slidable shaft extending through the post. An arm on the upper end of the post projects radially outward and has a gripper assembly thereon with operable jaws for gripping a specimen tube. The robot is positioned between two reference locations, for retrieving a specimen tube from one reference location and transferring it to the other. The reference locations are located along a circle circumscribed by a central vertical axis of the gripper jaws as they swing about the rotational axis of the post.
Abstract:
A machine for loading a load carrier (20) such as a pallet with packing units (cardboard boxes, collis etc.), which form a load stack (21) on the load carrier, comprises handling and support means (52-57), by means of which a packing unit (15) to be loaded is supported from below throughout the operation of loading from a feed device (51) onto the load stack. By virtue of the handling and support means the packing unit may be deposited at any selectable spatial position on the load stack. According to the invention it is therefore possible to form an optimized load stack on the load carrier, wherein the packing units are always supported from below, with the result that the loading is not dependent upon the material quality of the packaging of the packing unit.
Abstract:
A two-axis robot includes a vertical tubular post mounted for rotation about its vertical axis, with a vertically slidable shaft extending through the post. An arm on the upper end of the post projects radially outward and has a gripper assembly thereon with operable jaws for gripping a specimen tube. The robot is positioned between two reference locations, for retrieving a specimen tube from one reference location and transferring it to the other. The reference locations are located along a circle circumscribed by a central vertical axis of the gripper jaws as they swing about the rotational axis of the post.
Abstract:
The passage of a container along a conveyor is lubricated by applying to the container or conveyor a lubricating coating that is thermally cured at less than 200null C. or radiation-cured. The mixture can be applied in relatively low amounts and with relatively low or no water content, to provide thin, substantially non-dripping, renewable lubricating films. In contrast to dilute aqueous lubricants, the lubricants of the invention provide dry lubrication of the conveyors and containers, a cleaner conveyor line and reduced lubricant usage, thereby reducing waste, cleanup and disposal problems.
Abstract:
A magnetic sample rack adapted to support liquid containers is urged along a surface by means of a magnetic conveyor system located beneath the surface. The magnetic conveyor system comprises a plurality of magnetic housings driven by a belt, the magnetic housings including a magnet slideably contained in a closed upper cavity. Magnetic forces emanating from the magnet overcome frictional resistive forces between the sample racks and the operating surface and move the sample racks along input and output lanes defined in the operating surface. Abrupt movements of the sample racks are eliminated because the housing magnet slides smoothly towards the sample rack, secures the sample rack, and pulls the rack along the operating surface as the housings are moved at a steady rate by the belt.
Abstract:
An automated packaging line has capability of filling large and small orders, of one or more bottles, each bottle filled with a respective one of a plurality of different pharmaceutical tablets, in a single run. Structure is provided for filling orders for an individual consumer, for a pharmacist, and for a wholesaler, simultaneously, using differently sized bottles, and providing customized labels for each bottle. A flexible filler station simultaneously fills plural bottles with respective tablets. An intelligent data carrying puck carries each bottle, including therein information describing, among others, the bottle, the customer, the order, the pharmaceutical, the bottle size and label information. Puck handling stations (PHS) are dispersed throughout the line, to verify a number of operations implemented on the line and to reject a puck at the earliest opportunity, while permitting subsequent rejection by a subsequent PHS. The PHS units are substantially identical, with DIP switch modifying operation of the controlling software thereof to implement different features at different points on the line. The pucks are recycled after each pass along the line. An initializing PHS wipes clean the puck data storage and, in a fail safe operation, marks it as a reject. The flexible filler station must mark the puck acceptable. Each subsequent PHS, following the flexible filler station, following a capper and following a label printer, may reject the puck if marked as a reject or if failing to meet various criteria
Abstract:
A system for transferring supports for objects which can be stacked and unstacked between a conveyor and a machine for printing the objects, characterized in that it includes: a mobile transfer table which has two locations each adapted to receive an object support and which is adapted to occupy a plurality of positions, first drive elements adapted to drive the transfer table vertically up and down, and second drive elements adapted to advance or withdraw the transfer table horizontally and simultaneously to transfer a support containing objects and an empty support or to withdraw the empty transfer table to a position awaiting a new support.
Abstract:
A transport system for spinning bobbins and bobbin tubes comprises a transport path with two essentially vertical sections and an essentially horizontal section connected therebetween. The spinning bobbins and bobbin tubes are transported on pallets whose foot portion comprises an element consisting of magnetizable material. A conveyor belt runs along the transport path at the back side of which belt stationarily arranged permanent magnets are arranged to exert magnetic forces to hold the pallets on the conveyor belt.
Abstract:
In order to facilitate production of cans (3,103,103'), in particular of aerosol cans, magnetic conveyors (6,8) and magnetizable pallets (7,107,107') are provided, instead of chain conveyors including mandrels, in plants for producing containers. The cans (3,103,103') are fixed to the magnetizable pallets (7,107,107') and are passed to or through processing stations, for example, by magnetic belt conveyors (6,8). The pallets (7,107,107') are connected to a connecting portion (132) projecting from the can bottom (130) which may be inserted into a connection opening (117) of the pallet (7,107,107') by a riveting operation. By appropriately arranging the conveying surface (8) of the magnetic conveyor (6,8), the cans (3,103,103') may be oriented at will on the pallets (7,107,107') which are magnetically supported. The can opening is always freely accessible during conveying. In order to compensate for variations of through-put of the plant by simple means, belt conveyors having accumulation zones (46) are provided.