WO2017060710A1

WO2017060710A1 - Object delivery system

Info

Publication number: WO2017060710A1
Application number: PCT/GB2016/053113
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Lawrence Watt; David Geoffrey MANBY
Original assignee: Aylesbury Automation Limited
Priority date: 2015-10-06
Filing date: 2016-10-06
Publication date: 2017-04-13
Also published as: GB201517654D0; GB2543066A

Abstract

An object delivery system comprising a conveyance system, the conveyance system comprising a plurality of carriages mounted on a carrier for movement along a track, the track comprising a straight portion and a curved portion, in which the carriages are shaped and mounted on the carrier so that, as carriages traverse the curved portion, the carriages traversing the curved portion of the track together present a curved surface with one or more receiving formations for at least partially receiving objects.

Description

OBJECT DELIVERY SYSTEM

The present invention relates to an object delivery system and parts thereof. In the manufacture and/or assembly of products, an object delivery system may be used to automatically deliver objects, e.g. components, at a desired time and a desired place within a manufacturing or assembly line, thereby facilitating the manufacture and/or assembly of the product. The object, e.g. component, delivered by the object delivery system may be added to the product manually or automatically by a machine or a robot.

It is known for the manufacture and/or assembly of some products to be at least partially automated or substantially fully automated. In such a case, the object delivery system works in concert with, and may be integral to, the machinery of the manufacturing or assembly line.

In the manufacture and assembly of powdered food products, it is known to provide a measuring scoop with the powdered food product. The powdered food product is placed in a container, which is not filled to the top. The powdered food product is covered with a removable seal. The removable seal and the side wall(s) of the container then define an upper cavity, within which the measuring scoop is placed, before a lid is placed on the container.

In an example of a known automated measuring scoop delivery system, measuring scoops are delivered to a vertically-oriented wheel with a plurality of indents around its circumference, each indent being arranged to receive a measuring scoop. The measuring scoops are delivered along a feed chute which is inclined downwardly towards the wheel. The measuring scoops are delivered to the wheel, and received by the indents as the wheel rotates, at a point above the axis of rotation of the wheel. The wheel rotates and drops the measuring scoops through an outlet located at the lowermost point of rotation such that each measuring scoop falls into the upper cavity of a container passing along a conveyor belt below the wheel. A lid is subsequently placed on the container. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a conveyance system, comprising a plurality of carriages mounted on a carrier for movement along a track, the track comprising a straight portion and a curved portion, in which the carriages are shaped and mounted on the carrier so that, as carriages traverse the curved portion, the carriages traversing the curved portion of the track together present a curved surface with one or more receiving formations for at least partially receiving objects.

In an embodiment, the track may be endless. In an embodiment, each carriage may comprise an at least partially curved upper surface and the curved surface presented by the carriages traversing the curved portion of the track may comprise at least a portion of the at least partially curved upper surfaces of the carriages traversing the curved portion of the track. In an embodiment, other than the receiving formation(s), the curved surface presented by the carriages traversing the curved portion of the track may be substantially free of gaps that may be large enough to receive objects.

In an embodiment, the curved surface presented by the carriages traversing the curved portion of the track may be substantially concentric with the curved portion of the track.

In an embodiment, the curved surface presented by the carriages traversing the curved portion of the track may be offset from the curved portion of the track.

In an embodiment, the curved portion of the track may be of a constant radius of curvature .

Each carriage may comprise an upper surface with at least one receiving formation located thereon or therein.

In an embodiment, the track may comprise a guide rail.

In an embodiment, the carrier may comprise a motorised belt. The carrier, e .g. motorised belt, may extend around substantially the whole of the track. In an embodiment, the carrier may extend around substantially the whole of the track. The carrier may be endless.

Carriages may be mounted on the carrier at regular intervals along at least a portion of the length of the carrier. In an embodiment, carriages may be mounted on the carrier at regular intervals along substantially the entire length of the carrier.

In an embodiment, a given carriage may overlap with the carriage in front and/or the carriage behind. A front portion of a given carriage may mesh with a rear portion of the carriage in front.

In an embodiment, each receiving formation may comprise an indent.

In an embodiment, each receiving formation may comprise a guide surface arranged to guide an object or a part thereof towards and/or into a desired location within the receiving formation.

In an embodiment, each receiving formation may be formed in or on a single carriage . In an embodiment, each carriage may comprise one or more receiving formations. For instance, each carriage may comprise one, two or three receiving formations.

In an embodiment, each carriage may comprise a ledge, on which, in use, a portion of the object received in a receiving formation can rest. The ledge may extend backwards and/or forwards from the receiving formation.

In an embodiment, each carriage may be fixed to a mount, the mount being fixed to the carrier. Alternatively, each carriage may be fixed directly to the carrier.

In an embodiment, the conveyance system may comprise a drive means operable to drive the carrier along the track. In use, the carrier may move along the track in a clockwise and/or anticlockwise direction.

In an embodiment, the objects may be scoops, e.g. measuring scoops.

A second aspect of the invention provides an object removal machine, the object removal machine comprising at least one arm with a plurality of clasping means arranged on the arm(s), wherein, in use, each of the plurality of clasping means is operable to remove an object from a conveyance system.

In an embodiment, the plurality of clasping means may be operable to remove simultaneously a plurality of objects from the conveyance system.

The conveyance system may be a conveyance system according to the first aspect of the invention. In an embodiment, the plurality of clasping means may be operable to remove, preferably simultaneously, a plurality of objects from receiving formations on or in one or more carriages traversing the straight portion of the track.

The arm may be movable in at least two directions.

Any number of clasping means may be arranged on the arm. For instance, at least two clasping means and/or up to 10 clasping means may be arranged on the arm.

The clasping means may be electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically actuated. Each clasping means may be independently actuatable and/or controllable .

Each clasping means may comprise a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, the movable jaw being movable relative to the fixed jaw to hold and/or release an object. The objects may be scoops, e.g. measuring scoops. The clasping means may be adapted to hold a given scoop by a particular part of the scoop, e .g. by a scoop handle, by a scoop portion such as a scoop bowl or by a side wall of a scoop portion.

The object removal machine may comprise more than one arm having clasping means arranged thereon. A third aspect of the invention provides an object feeding machine for feeding objects to a conveyance system, the object feeding machine comprising a feed chute for delivering objections to the conveyance system, wherein the feed chute is configured such that the objects are delivered to the conveyance system in a desired, predetermined orientation.

The object feeding machine may comprise at least one object transportation means operable to cause objects to move along the feed chute . The object transportation means may comprise, for example, one or more of a vibrating means, a conveyor or a movable rail.

The object feeding machine may comprise a dispensing means operable to urge the objects towards the conveyance system. The dispensing means may comprise a compressed air jet.

The object feeding machine may comprise an object store in communication with the feed chute.

The conveyance system may be a conveyance system according to the first aspect of the invention. In an embodiment, the object feeding machine may be arranged to feed objects in to the receiving formations in or on the carriages, preferably as the carriages traverse the curved portion of the track.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides an object delivery system comprising a conveyance system according to the first aspect of the invention and/or an object removal system according to the second aspect of the invention and/or an object feeding machine according to the third aspect of the invention.

In an embodiment, the object delivery system may comprise a conveyance system according to the first aspect of the invention and an object removal system according to the second aspect of the invention, wherein the object removal system is arranged to remove objects, preferably simultaneously, from a plurality of the receiving formations, preferably as the carriages traverse the straight portion of the track. Additionally or alternatively, the object delivery system may comprise an object feeding machine, which is arranged to feed objects to the receiving formation(s) as the carriages traverse the curved portion of the track of the conveyance system. In an embodiment, the objects delivered by the object delivery system may be scoops, e.g. measuring scoops.

A fifth aspect of the invention provides a manufacturing or assembly line comprising: an object delivery system according to the fourth aspect of the invention; or a conveyance system according to the first aspect of the invention and/or an object removal machine of the second aspect of the invention and/or an object feeding machine according to the third aspect of the invention.

A sixth aspect of the invention provides a carriage for a conveyance system according to the first aspect of the invention, an object delivery system according to the fourth aspect of the invention or a manufacturing or assembly line according to the fifth aspect of the invention, wherein the carriage comprises an at least partially curved upper surface with at least one receiving formation located thereon or therein. In an embodiment, the carriage may comprise a front end portion and a rear end portion, wherein the front end portion and the rear end portion are shaped complementarily such that in a series or succession of carriages, e.g. substantially identical carriages, successive carriages can overlap with each other and move in a radial direction relative to each other as the successive carriages traverse the curved portion of the track.

A seventh aspect of the invention provides the use of a conveyance system according to the first aspect of the invention, an object removal machine according to the second aspect of the invention, an object feeding machine of the third aspect of the invention, an object delivery system according to the fourth aspect of the invention or a manufacturing or assembly line according to the fifth aspect of the invention in manufacturing or assembly a packaged product.

The packaged product may contain a product and at least one object for use with the product. For example, the product may be a powdered food product and the object may be a scoop, e.g. a measuring scoop.

In order that the invention may be well understood, it will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a scoop delivery system according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows in more detail a portion of the scoop delivery system shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a carriage and a mount comprised in the scoop delivery system of Figure 1 ; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the carriage and the mount shown in Figure 3 ; and

Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the mount shown in Figures 3 and 4 arranged on a guide rail.

Figure 1 shows a scoop delivery system 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The scoop delivery system 1 comprises a scoop feeding machine 2, which is operable to feed scoops (not shown) to a conveyance system 3. The conveyance system 3 comprises an endless track 8 with two straight portions (i.e. an upper straight portion 10 and a lower straight portion 1 1) connected to each other by two curved end portions 12, 13. The endless track 8 comprises a guide rail. The scoop delivery system 1 further comprises a robotic scoop removal machine 4, which is operable to remove scoops from the conveyance system 3 and transport the removed scoops to another location.

The scoop feeding machine 2 comprises a frame on which is arranged a scoop store 6 for storing a plurality of scoops and a feed chute 7, which descends from the scoop storage means 6 towards the conveyance system 3. In use, scoops are delivered via the feed chute 7 from the scoop store 6 to the conveyance system 3. The conveyance system 3 comprises a plurality of carriages 9 mounted on a carrier for movement along and around the track 8. Typically, the carrier may comprise a motorised belt. Movement of the carrier, e .g. motorised belt, causes the carriages 9 to move around the track 8.

The track 8, which comprises a guide rail, is endless and comprises the upper straight portion 10, the lower straight portion 1 1 and two curved end portions 12, 13, which end portions 12, 13 connect the upper straight portion 10 and the lower straight portion 1 1.

The conveyance system 3 is configured such that, in use, the carriages 9 mounted on the carrier move along and around the track 8 in an anticlockwise direction. Each carriage 9 is adapted to receive a scoop. Fourteen carriages are shown in Figure 1 . For clarity, only one of the carriages 9 is labelled in Figure 1.

The carriages 9 are mounted on the carrier in series. The carrier with the plurality of carriages 9 mounted thereon extends all the way around the track 8. Carriages 9 are mounted on the carrier at regular intervals along substantially the whole length of the carrier.

The robotic scoop removal machine 4 comprises an arm 14 with three clasping means 15a, 15b, 15c arranged thereon. The clasping means 15a, 15b, 15c are each operable to remove a scoop from a carriage 9, as the carriage 9 moves along the upper straight portion 10 of the track 8. The clasping means 15a, 15b, 15c may be electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically actuated. The clasping means 15a, 15b, 15c are arranged on the arm 14 such that, in use, the clasping means 15a, 15b, 15c can simultaneously remove a scoop from three carriages 9 traversing the upper straight portion 10 of the track 8. The arm 14 is movable in at least two dimensions such that, in use, scoops held by the clasping means 15a, 15b, 15c can be removed from carriages 9 traversing the upper straight portion 10 of the track 8, moved to and released at another location, e.g. another section of a manufacturing or assembly line .

The clasping means 15a, 15b, 15c, may each comprise a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, the movable jaw being movable relative to the fixed jaw to hold and/or release an object. In an embodiment, the system 1 may be configured such that the clasping means 15a, 15b, 15c remove the scoops from the carriages 9 by taking hold of a particular part of the scoop, e.g. a scoop handle, a scoop portion such as a scoop bowl or a side wall of a scoop portion. The arm 14 may have any number of clasping means arranged thereon, e.g. one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten clasping means. For instance, the arm may have at least one clasping means and/or up to five clasping means or up to 10 clasping means arranged thereon. Figure 2 shows in more detail a portion indicated by circle 5 of the scoop delivery system 1 shown in Figure 1. Three carriages 9 are shown traversing curved end portion 13 of the track 8. As will be described later in more detail, successive carriages 9 overlap with each other and the carriages 9 are shaped such that as they traverse the curved end portion 13 of the track 8, the carriages 9 together present a curved surface with receiving formations for receiving scoops.

The outline of a scoop 16 is shown within the feed chute 7. The scoop 16 comprises a scoop portion having a cylindrical side wall and a concave base. A scoop handle extends radially outwards from the top of the cylindrical side wall. Alternatively, the scoop portion could be bowl-shaped, i.e. the scoop portion could comprise a scoop bowl.

The feed chute 7 comprises a rail extending a distance along the length of the feed chute 7. The rail is configured such that the scoop portion rests on the rail and the scoop handle hangs downwards from the rail. In use, a series of scoops pass downwards along the feed chute . At the lower end of the feed chute 7, the scoop at the front of the series of scoops is fed into the receiving formation of a carriage 9 moving around the curved end portion 13 of the track 8. The way in which the scoop 16 rests on the rail ensures that the scoop 16 is correctly oriented for being received in the receiving formation of the carriage .

The scoops may pass along the feed chute 7, due to gravity alone. Additionally or alternatively, the scoops may be caused to move, e.g. carried, pushed or pulled, along the feed chute 7 by at least one scoop transportation means. The scoop transportation means could, for example, comprise one or more of a vibration means, a conveyor or a movable rail. In embodiments comprising the scoop transportation means, the feed chute 7 need not descend as steeply from the scoop store 6 towards the conveyance system 3, as compared with a feed chute 7, along which scoops pass, in use, due to gravity alone. Indeed, in embodiments comprising the scoop transportation means, the feed chute 7 need not descend from the scoop store 6 towards the conveyance system 3.

The feed chute 7 may be substantially straight or may comprise one or more bends. The scoops may be fed into the receiving formations in the carriages by gravity. Alternatively or additionally, a dispensing means may be provided to urge the scoops into the receiving formations. In an embodiment, the dispensing means may comprise a compressed air jet.

Figures 3 and 4 show a carriage 9 of the scoop delivery system 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the carriage 9 and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the carriage 9. The carriage 9 comprises a flat base 25, a rounded front end portion 17, a curved top surface 19 and a rounded rear end portion 18. The flat base 25, the rounded front end portion 17, the curved top surface 19 and the rounded rear end portion 18 together give the carriage 9 a generally hump-like shape in profile.

A receiving formation in the form of an indent 20 for receiving, in use, a scoop or a part thereof, extends across the width of the curved top surface 19 at, or close to, halfway along the length of the carriage 9. The indent 20 further comprises, in a forward part thereof, a guide surface 26 arranged to guide the scoop or the part thereof towards and/or into a desired location within the indent 20.

The carriage 9 is fixed to a mount 23 such that the orientation of the carriage 9 relative to the mount 23 is fixed. The mount 23 is located alongside the carriage 9. The mount comprises a first upright wall member 28, a second upright wall member 30 and a cross member 29 joining the top of the first upright wall member 28 to the top of the second upright wall member 30. The second upright wall member 30 is shorter than the first upright wall member 28. The carriage 9 is fixed to the second upright wall member 30 of the mount 23. The first upright wall member 28 comprises a pair of lower connecting points 24 and a pair of upper connecting points (not shown) . A spacer 22 is located in the indent 20. The spacer 22 extends from the end of the indent adjacent the mount 23 for a distance along the indent 20. The spacer 22 is held in place with a sprung latch 27.

On the side of the carriage 9 distal from the mount 23, there is a ledge 21 , which extends backwards from the indent 20. In use, the scoop portion of a scoop is received by the indent 20 with the scoop handle resting on the ledge 21.

In some embodiments, a spacer 22 may not be located in the indent 20. By using spacers of different lengths (or no spacer at all), the indent may be adapted to receive scoops with scoop portions of different lengths (i.e. scoops of different capacities) . The appropriate size, shape and dimensions of any spacer 22 used will depend on the size and shape of the scoop being received in the indent 20.

The size and shape of the receiving formation, e .g. indent, may be selected to conform to the size and shape of the scoop (or other object) being received.

The carriage 9 extends forwards and backwards of the mount 23 to which it is fixed. Forward of the mount 23, the rounded front end portion 17 of the carriage 9 has two slits, extending a distance along the length of the carriage 9. Rearward of the mount 23, the rounded rear end portion 18 of the carriage 9 has a single slit, extending a distance along the length of the carriage 9.

In use, the slits in the rounded front end portion 17 of a given carriage 9 mesh with the slits in the rounded rear end portion 18 of the carriage 9 in front. Consequently, there is an overlap between successive carriages. The front and rear end portions of the carriages may have any number of slits.

The front and rear end portions may not comprise any slits. What is important is that the front end portion and the rear end portion are shaped complementarily such that in a succession or series of carriages, e.g. substantially identical carriages, successive carriages can overlap with each other and move in a radial direction relative to each other as the successive carriages traverse the curved portion of the track.

Figure 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the mount 23 arranged on a guide rail 34.

To the inner face of the first upright wall member 28 is fixed an upper securing block 3 1 and a lower securing block 32. The upper securing block 3 1 is fixed to the first upright wall member 28 at the pair of upper connecting points. The lower securing block 32 is fixed to the first upright wall member 28 at the pair of lower connecting points 24. The upper securing block 3 1 and the lower securing block 32 are secured to a motorised belt 33, thereby securing the mount 23 to the motorised belt 33. A plurality of mounts 23 are similarly secured at intervals along the length of the motorised belt 33. The motorised belt extends around the track.

The mount 23 forms a hook over the guide rail 34 such that the guide rail 34 is adjacent a portion of the underside of the cross member 29 and the second upright wall member 30. A carriage (not shown) would be attached, in use, to the second upright wall member 30 on the opposite side from the guide rail 34.

In use, the motorised belt 33 is driven by operation of a drive means and the plurality of carriages 9 mounted on the motorised belt 33 thereby move along a track comprising the guide rail 34. Each carriage is fixed to a mount, which is secured to the motorised belt. The orientation of each carriage relative to its mount is fixed and the orientation of each carriage relative to the portion of the motorised belt to which the mount is secured is fixed. As carriages 9 traverse the curved end portion 13 of the track 8 (e.g. as shown in Figure 2), the orientation of successive carriages relative to each other changes. As a result, the carriages traversing the curved end portion 13 of the track 8 together present a curved surface with receiving formations (e.g. indents) for receiving objects (e.g. scoops). The curved surface comprises the curved top surfaces 19 of the carriages 9 traversing the curved end portion 13 of the track 8. The presentation of the curved surface is, for a curved portion of track of a given radius, achieved by selecting appropriately shaped, sized and dimensioned carriages and mounting the carriages on the carrier at an appropriate interval along the length of the carrier.

Preferably, other than the receiving formations, there may not be any other gaps in the curved surface that are large enough to receive an object.

It will be appreciated that the motorised belt is an example of a carrier and that the plurality of carriages could be mounted on a carrier other than a motorised belt. It will also be appreciated that the carriages could be mounted directly on to a carrier such as a motorised belt.

The carriages may be removeably mounted on the carrier or removeably fixed to the mounts. Similarly, the mounts may be removeably fixed to the carrier. Thus, the carriages and/or the mounts may be readily removed for cleaning and/or maintenance and/or replaced.

An example mode of operation of the scoop delivery system 1 will now be described. In an example embodiment, the scoop delivery system 1 can be used to place scoops 16 securely in the lids of containers for a powdered food product, e .g. baby food.

The carrier (motorised belt) with the carriages 9 mounted thereon moves around the track 8 in an anticlockwise direction. The carrier with the carriages mounted thereon may move continuously or intermittently around the track 8.

As carriages 9 traverse the curved end portion 13 , the carriages 9 pass the lower end of the feed chute 7. A scoop 16 arranged and appropriately oriented within the feed chute 7 is dispensed into the indent 20 in each carriage 9, as the carriage 9 passes the end of the feed chute 7. The scoop 16 may be dispensed from the feed chute 7 with the assistance of a compressed air jet.

The guide surface 26 acts to guide the scoop 16 into the indent 20. The scoop portion of the scoop 16 is located at least partially within the indent 20 and the scoop handle of the scoop 16 rests on the ledge 21. Carriages 9 carrying scoops 16 proceed on to the upper straight portion 10 of the track 8. As carriages 9 carrying scoops 16 move along the upper straight portion 10, the robotic scoop removal machine 4 operates such that each of the three clasping means 15a, 15b, 15c removes a scoop 16 from a carriage 9. Scoops 16 are removed simultaneously from three successive carriages 9 moving around and along the track. The carriages 9 may be moving or stationary when the scoops are removed from the carriages. The clasping means 15a, 15b, 15c typically may be adapted to hold the scoops 16 by the side wall of the scoop portion. The arm 14 of the robotic scoop removal machine 4 is then operated to move the scoops 16 to another location, e.g. a nearby conveyor belt carrying upturned lids for containers for a powdered food product. The underside of each lid on the nearby conveyor belt is provided with a scoop holding means. The arm 14 of the robotic scoop removal machine 4 positions itself directly above three successive upturned lids on the nearby conveyor belt, moves down, presses the scoop into the scoop holding means and then releases the scoop. The arm 14 then returns to pick up three more scoops 16 from the carriages 9.

The scoop holding means may hold the scoop by a snap-fit engagement. The scoop may be held by the scoop holding means in a sideways orientation.

The lids may then be attached to containers containing the powdered food product.

An advantage of securing the scoop to the underside of the lid of the container is that the scoop will not move around during transportation.

Also, the scoop may be easier for a consumer to find within the container.

Furthermore, there may be no need to provide an upper cavity or other compartment within the container to house the scoop. Accordingly, the size of the container relative to the amount of product contained therein may be reduced. As a result, packaging, transportation and storage costs may be reduced.

While the invention has been described in relation to the delivery of measuring scoops for powdered food products, e.g. powdered food products for infants (powdered baby food), it will be appreciated that the invention may have utility in the delivery of objects other than such measuring scoops.

The invention may also have utility in relation to other commercial or industrial products, e.g. food and beverage products, medicinal products, pharmaceutical products, homecare products, laundry products, cosmetics products, cleaning products, motoring products, gardening products etc. The product may comprise or consist essentially of a powder, tablets or capsules, a liquid or a gel.

Claims

1. A conveyance system, comprising a plurality of carriages mounted on a carrier for movement along a track, the track comprising a straight portion and a curved portion, in which the carriages are shaped and mounted on the carrier so that, as carriages traverse the curved portion, the carriages traversing the curved portion of the track together present a curved surface with one or more receiving formations for at least partially receiving objects.

2. A conveyance system according to claim 1 , in which each carriage comprises an at least partially curved upper surface and the curved surface presented by the carriages traversing the curved portion of the track comprises at least a portion of the at least partially curved upper surfaces of the carriages traversing the curved portion of the track.

3. A conveyance system according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which, other than the receiving formation(s), the curved surface presented by the carriages traversing the curved portion of the track is substantially free of gaps that are large enough to receive objects.

4. A conveyance system according to claim 1 , claim 2 or claim 3, in which each carriage comprises an upper surface with at least one receiving formation located thereon or therein.

5. A conveyance system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the track comprises a guide rail.

6. A conveyance system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the carrier comprises a motorised belt.

7. A conveyance system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which carriages are mounted on the carrier at regular intervals along at least a portion of the length of the carrier.

8. A conveyance system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a given carriage overlaps with the carriage in front and/or the carriage behind.

9. A conveyance system according to claim 8, in which a front portion of a given carriage meshes with a rear portion of the carriage in front.

10. A conveyance system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each receiving formation comprises an indent.

1 1. A conveyance system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each receiving formation comprises a guide surface arranged to guide an object or a part thereof towards and/or into a desired location within the receiving formation.

12. A conveyance system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each carriage comprises one or more receiving formations.

13. A conveyance system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each receiving formation is formed in or on a single carriage.

14. A conveyance system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each carriage comprises a ledge, on which, in use, a portion of the object received in a receiving formation can rest.

15. A conveyance system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which: each carriage is fixed to a mount, the mount being fixed to the carrier; or each carriage is fixed directly to the carrier.

16. A conveyance system according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a drive means operable to drive the carrier along the track.

17. An object delivery system comprising a conveyance system according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. An object delivery system according to claim 17 further comprising an object removal machine, wherein the object removal system is arranged to remove objects from a plurality of the receiving formations as the carriages traverse the track.

19. An object delivery system according to claim 18, wherein the object removal machine comprises at least one arm with a plurality of clasping means arranged on the arm(s), wherein, in use, each of the plurality of clasping means is operable to remove an object from a receiving formation.

20. An object delivery system according to claim 19, in which each clasping means comprises a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, the movable jaw being movable relative to the fixed jaw to hold and/or release an object.

21. An object delivery system according to any one of claims 17 to 20 further comprising an object feeding machine, which is arranged to feed objects to the receiving formation(s) in or on the carriages.

22. An object delivery system according to claim 21 , in which the object feeding machine comprises a feed chute for delivering objects to the conveyance system, the feed chute being configured such that the objects are fed to the receiving formation(s) in or on the carriages in a desired, predetermined orientation.

23. An object delivery system according to claim 22, in which the object feeding machine comprises at least one object transportation means operable to cause objects to move along the feed chute .

24. An object delivery system according to claim 23, in which the object transportation means comprises one or more of a vibration means, a conveyor or a movable rail.

25. An object delivery system according to any one of claims 21 to 24, in which the object feeding machine comprises a dispensing means operable to urge the objects towards the conveyance system.

26. A manufacturing or assembly line comprising a conveyance system according to any one of claims 1 to 16 or an object delivery system according to any one of claims 17 to 25.

27. Use of a conveyance system according to any one of claims 1 to 16, an object delivery system according to any one of claims 17 to 25 or a manufacturing or assembly line according to claim 26 in manufacturing or assembly a packaged product.

28. A use according to claim 27, in which the packaged product contains a product and at least one object for use with the product.

29. A use according to claim 28, in which the product comprises or consists essentially of a powder, tablets or capsules, a liquid or a gel.

30. A use according to claim 28 or claim 29, in which the object is a scoop.