An automated machine for organizing and feeding cylindrical products includes a conveyor to space apart the cylindrical products. A pair of elongated rollers is disposed downstream from the conveyor to orient the cylindrical products in the same direction. A miter wheel disposed downstream of the pair of elongated rollers transfers the cylindrical products from the pair of rollers to a vertical accumulation chamber while changing the orientation of the cylindrical products from a vertical alignment to a horizontal alignment. The cylindrical products are discharged from the vertical accumulation chamber to a take away conveyance. Operation of the components of the automated machine can be controlled by a computer. Optical sensors can be employed to monitor flow of the cylindrical products through the automated machine during operation.
B65G 47/244 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors orientating the articles by turning them about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying plane
F41A 9/02 - Feeding of unbelted ammunition using wheel conveyors, e.g. star-wheel-shaped conveyors
An automated machine for organizing and feeding cylindrical products includes a conveyor to space apart the cylindrical products. A pair of elongated rollers is disposed downstream from the conveyor to orient the cylindrical products in the same direction. A miter wheel disposed downstream of the pair of elongated rollers transfers the cylindrical products from the pair of rollers to a vertical accumulation chamber while changing the orientation of the cylindrical products from a vertical alignment to a horizontal alignment. The cylindrical products are discharged from the vertical accumulation chamber to a take away conveyance. Operation of the components of the automated machine can be controlled by a computer. Optical sensors can be employed to monitor flow of the cylindrical products through the automated machine during operation.
Lighting elements are disposed within the enclosure doors surrounding an automated material handling machine such as a packaging machine. The clear panels in the door are edge-lit so that the entire door window corresponding to the location of the maintenance notice is illuminated a contrasting color to call the operator's quick attention to that portion of the machine.
G08B 21/00 - Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
B65B 57/18 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices causing operation of audible or visible alarm signals
F21V 33/00 - Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
G08B 5/38 - Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmissionVisible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources using flashing light
F21W 131/403 - Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use for machines
F21Y 103/10 - Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
F21Y 113/13 - Combination of light sources of different colours comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
Lighting elements are disposed within the enclosure doors surrounding an automated material handling machine such as a packaging machine. The clear panels in the door are edge-lit so that the entire door window corresponding to the location of the maintenance notice is illuminated a contrasting color to call the operator's quick attention to that portion of the machine. A method of notifying the operator of a maintenance issue in a particular portion of the machine is provided by illuminating a window panel in a door of the machine enclosure.
G08B 21/00 - Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
B65B 57/18 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices causing operation of audible or visible alarm signals
F21V 33/00 - Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
G08B 5/38 - Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmissionVisible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources using flashing light
F21W 131/403 - Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use for machines
F21Y 103/10 - Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
F21Y 113/13 - Combination of light sources of different colours comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
An end effector is configured to grasp articles that have deviated from their original shape. The end effector can return the article to its expected condition. The end effector can include a main platform, a first sub-platform and a second sub-platform. A first suction cup extends vertically below the main platform. Each of the sub-platforms includes one or more suction cups, respectively, that protrude vertically below the sub-platforms. Each sub-platform is connected to the main platform via a bellows actuator that can be extended and retracted via positive and negative pressures. The main platform can include fittings to allow the end effector to be attached to a wide variety of robotic arms, such as a delta robot.
B66C 1/02 - Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting, lowering, or hauling gear of cranes, or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting forces to articles or groups of articles by suction means
B25J 15/06 - Gripping heads with vacuum or magnetic holding means
Disclosed is a friction feeder configured to allow for the removal and replacement of wear parts such as friction belts, drive belts and friction meter wheels without the need to significantly disassemble the machine and without the need for tools. The rollers are mounted only on one end in a cantilever manner to aid in the access to the friction belts. The rollers are releasably held in tension with a hand-actuatable piston. The roller ball assembly can be rotated clear of the product holding position without the use of tools. The friction meter wheel assembly can then be accessed and replaced. A piston also releasably holds the drive belt pulleys in tension so that the drive belts can be replaced.
B65G 15/12 - Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration comprising two or more co-operating endless surfaces with parallel longitudinal axes, or a multiplicity of parallel elements, e.g. ropes defining an endless surface with two or more endless belts
B65G 47/88 - Separating or stopping elements, e.g. fingers
8.
System to singulate and sort bulk articles into a single stream
A conveyor system to singulate and sort bulk articles. The system comprises a first counter-current conveyor belt with a first machine direction, a second counter-current conveyor belt with a second machine direction and a transverse width, a first guide means, and a second guide means. The first counter-current conveyor belt slopes upward in the first machine direction relative to the second conveyor belt. The second counter-current conveyor belt slopes downward in a transverse direction away from the first conveyor belt. The first guide means urges articles conveyed on the first conveyor belt onto the second conveyor belt. The second guide means is along the second machine direction of the second conveyor belt and urges articles on the second conveyor belt toward the first conveyor belt until the transverse width of the second conveyor belt between an inside edge of the second conveyor belt and the second guide means is less than twice a minor horizontal dimension of the article being conveyed when in a stable rest position.
B65G 47/12 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles
