Compliant vacuum transfer starwheel

A transfer starwheel assembly for transporting articles, comprising:

• one or more recesses, each recess being configured to receive an article, and each recess including a vacuum port and at least one insert formed from a compliant material, the at least one insert at least partially defining a shape of the recess, the shape of the recess corresponding to an aspect of the article,
• wherein the transfer starwheel assembly is configured to be mounted on a mounting hub assembly, the mounting hub assembly including a plurality of circumferential sets of vacuum openings, each circumferential set being spaced axially along the mounting hub assembly from an adjacent circumferential set, the circumferential sets of vacuum openings configured to be coupled to a vacuum source, the transfer starwheel assembly being positioned on the mounting hub assembly to align the vacuum ports of the transfer starwheel assembly with one of the sets of vacuum openings on the mounting hub assembly, the transfer starwheel assembly rotating with the mounting hub assembly so that the transfer starwheel assembly receives the article into one of the recesses at a first position and rotates with the mounting hub assembly to a second position, the article being held in the recess between the first position and the second position by the shape of the recess and the vacuum at the vacuum port in the recess.

A mounting hub assembly for receiving a transfer starwheel assembly, the mounting hub assembly comprising:

• a rotating body including a plurality of circumferential sets of vacuum openings, each circumferential set being spaced axially along the mounting hub assembly from an adjacent circumferential set, the circumferential sets of vacuum openings configured to be coupled to a vacuum source,
• wherein the rotating body is configured to receive a transfer starwheel assembly, the transfer starwheel assembly being positioned on the mounting hub assembly to align vacuum ports of the transfer starwheel assembly with one of the sets of vacuum openings on the mounting hub assembly, the mounting hub assembly rotating so that the transfer starwheel assembly receives an article at a first position and rotates with the mounting hub assembly to a second position, the article being held in the recess between the first position and the second position by the shape of the recess and the vacuum at the vacuum port in the recess.