Abstract: A handling system for ISO containers having a gantry crane and a loading and unloading area, in which transport vehicles can be driven in and out. The crane comprises a first traveling crane having a first crane boom on which a first crane trolley having a first toad receiving means can travel between a section on the water side and a section on the land side of the first crane boom, and a second traveling crane having a second crane boom disposed below the section on the land side of the first crane boom, on which a second crane trolley having a second load receiving means can travel, wherein containers can be transferred between the first and second traveling cranes. A passive transfer station is disposed on the second crane boom and the container can be transferred between the transfer station and a transport vehicle located in a loading and unloading area.

Abstract: A palletizing device including a lower surface which restingly receives a pallet, and an upper platform which is provided with a variably-configurable first support, cyclically between a closed configuration in which the first support supports a layer of products and an open configuration in which the layer of products is released downwardly; an intermediate platform between the lower surface and the upper platform, which move between a raised position and a lowered position and vice versa, comprising a variably-configurable second support which, maintain the second support in a closed configuration, thus forming a stack, and which release the stack of products towards the underlying lower surface in an open configuration.

Abstract: A pitch conversion device and pitch conversion method is directed to convert the pitch of a plurality of partition members arranged parallel to each other along an X-direction and include a plurality of entry members arranged parallel to each other in the X-direction and configured to enter between neighboring partition members, and a pushing member to push the plurality of entry members in turn and allow them to enter neighboring partition members while moving in the X direction. The entry members are biased in an exiting direction from between the neighboring partition members.

Abstract: Pipe handling apparatus and methods intended to facilitate the transportation of pipe between a rig floor and a rack of pipe. The pipe handling apparatus comprise in general a loading mechanism, which transports pipe between the pipe handler and a rig, and a racking mechanism, which transport pipe between a rack and the loader. The racking mechanism is adapted to selectively transport pipe from and deliver it to various levels in a rack of pipe. The racker comprises a pair of elevators, each of which has a pipe rest which is moveable between a hold position, in which pipe may be received therein and is restricted from rolling out of the pipe rest, and a release position, in which release position pipe may roll out of the pipe rest.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for unloading articles from a container of items for use in an automatic stack feeder are disclosed. The automatic stack feeder may comprise a belt, a moveable lower paddle, and a moveable upper paddle, wherein the lower paddle is configured to partially extend through a belt of the automatic stack feeder. The movement of the belt, the lower paddle, and the upper paddle are coordinated such that there is no need to interrupt the operation of the automatic stack feeder to unload the container.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of rotating a metallic structure for construction in an X axis. The method of present invention allows rotating structures such as rebar or metallic structures like containers to create habitable structures such that each of the walls of the container or the rebar structure, are all at some point facing the floor. That is, each of the walls have a downwardly facing direction at some point of the rotation. The structures disclosed are mated to a bar with an arm, the bar being fastened to the container from an upper end of a first corner of the container to a lower end of a second corner opposite to the first corner.

Abstract: In some aspects, an unloading device for a pipe processing system includes a depositing carriage having a depositing surface for depositing a pipe during and/or after a pipe processing operation, the depositing carriage being configured to move in a longitudinal direction of the pipe, and a supporting carriage having a supporting member for the pipe, the supporting member having a wall for radially supporting the pipe, and the supporting carriage being configured to move in a longitudinal direction of the pipe, where the depositing surface of the depositing carriage and/or the supporting member of the supporting carriage is configured to move in at least one other direction in addition to the longitudinal direction of the pipe so that the depositing carriage and the supporting carriage can be at least partially moved past each other along the longitudinal direction of the pipe.

Abstract: The invention provides for a pallet turntable (1). The turntable (1) comprises a stationary bottom part (2) and a movable top part (3) comprising a platform (4) suitable for receiving a pallet (5), wherein the movable top part (3) is arranged linearly displaceable in a vertical direction with respect to the stationary bottom part (2). The turntable (1) further comprises guide means (6) for guiding an angular displacement around a direction of the vertical linear displacement in dependency of the linear displacement, at least when the movable top part (3) is being vertically linearly displaced in a direction towards the stationary bottom part (2). The invention further provides for a method for turning a pallet (5) and use of a pallet turntable (1).

Abstract: A handling unit for relocating parts, comprises a base part and a handling arm, wherein the handling arm is guided in a linear direction along a first axis of movement and along a second axis of movement which extends transversely with respect to the first axis of movement such that it can be adjusted with respect to the base part, and wherein for guiding the handling arm, a guiding cam is provided on the base part and at least one cam follower is provided on the handling arm, wherein a first drive is provided for adjusting the handling arm along the first axis of movement and a second drive is provided for adjusting the handling arm along the second axis of movement.

Abstract: A device and a method for turning stacks of sheet-shaped material include a device for transporting the stacks into a pivot fork. The pivot fork is part of a turning unit and includes upper grippers, lower grippers and a stack stop. The pivot fork is open on one side to receive the stacks. The pivot fork is supported at its other end to pivot on a horizontal pivot shaft that extends in a direction transverse to a direction of introduction of the stacks and is disposed off-center relative to the pivot fork.

Abstract: A system for delivering a downhole tubular from a rack at an oilfield surface to a rig floor thereat. The system includes a trough for accommodating the tubular that is slidably engaged with a lift frame in a sledded fashion. Thus, for delivery of the tubular, the trough may be sleddingly extended from the lift frame. That is, as opposed to a roller type of coupling between the trough and tubular, a sledded coupling is utilized that may require comparatively less maintenance and mobilization time. This may be particularly the case where lighter weight tubulars of less than about 1,000 lbs., preferably under about 500 lbs., are being delivered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tubular handling system (1) comprising:—a tower (10) comprising a tubular lift device for lowering and/or raising a tubular in an essentially vertical orientation,—a support (20) for supporting the tubular-laying tower—a tubulars supply system, preferably provided on the support, for supplying tubulars to an essentially horizontal supply position in the vicinity of the tower,—a tubular handling apparatus (2) for transporting a tubular between the essentially horizontal supply position and the tubular lift device in the tower, wherein the tubular handling apparatus comprises: a gripper (4a, 4b) adapted for gripping the tubular, a base (6), and a boom (5) to which the one or more grippers are attached, which boom is pivotable with respect to the base in a boom.

Abstract: A product group stacking arrangement having a conveying arrangement that can continuously move in a substantially horizontal transport direction, and having a gripping and lifting device for gripping and lifting product groups. In operation, the gripping and lifting device grips a first product group being moved by the conveying arrangement at a stacking position, and then raises the first product group substantially solely in a vertical direction away from the conveying arrangement, and then lowers the first product group substantially solely in the vertical direction onto a subsequent, second product group being continuously moved by the conveying arrangement through the stacking position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for aligning substrates (2) in an XY-plane. A polygonal, flat substrate (2), the substrate plane of which is parallel to the XY-plane or lies in the XY-plane, is aligned with respect to reference coordinates and a reference angular position in the XY-plane. A corner (12) of the substrate (2) is detected using image detecting means (9). In addition, the position coordinates of the substrate (2) are determined. Using evaluating means (10), the angular position of the corner (12) of the substrate (2) in the XY-plane is determined, and the position differences between the reference coordinates and the position coordinates as well as the angle difference between the reference angular position and the angular position of the substrate corner (12) are calculated. The substrate (2) is moved and/or rotated in the XY-plane according to the determined position difference or the angle difference.

Abstract: Automated systems and apparatus for transferring tubulars (tubulars used in wellbore and derrick operations, such as casing, tubing, drill pipe, etc.) or stands of pipe from one location to another in a derrick, e.g. from a fingerboard to a well center are described. The system includes a fully automated drill pipe handling system to move and position the drill pipe through all the steps of the drilling process.

Abstract: A lifting block and a method of using it for supporting a load from a first lifting device or sharing the load between the first lifting device and a second lifting device, particularly for use on a vessel and deep water applications, are disclosed. The lifting block, with at least one sheave, has first and second connection elements associated with it. In one arrangement (single fall) a lifting wire or rope is fed around the sheave and terminated in an end stop which also provides the first connection element. When the first lifting device is operated alone, the end stop rests on the block. When the second connection element, secured to the lifting wire or rope of a second lifting device, is joined to the first connection element the load is snared between the two lifting devices which can then be operated in unison to position the load at a required, deeper position.

Abstract: A device for stacking veneer sheets (1, 2) while substantially horizontal, the device including a supporting element, that escapes in the advancement direction at a release area from beneath the veneer (2) to be stacked, the supporting element being moved by a conveyor (7), and a controlled element for stopping the veneer to be stacked in a corrected position at a release point. An element for stopping the veneer to be stacked is a gripper (10) that grips the trailing edge of the veneer (2) from below and moves up and down, in the advancement direction of the veneer, and transversely to it, the gripper having a gripping point to the veneer at the trailing edge in the veneer's advancement direction, extended at a distance in the advancement direction from the gripper's transverse travel path.

Abstract: A vertical pipe handler with pivoting arms for a drilling rig can include a central support and a central support center line. The vertical pipe hander can grab a tubular with top and bottom pipe grabbers, and lift the tubular using a bottom non-rotating collar and a bottom rack and bottom pinion lift mechanism. The tubular can be vertically positioned before being moved downward; thereby allowing for a next tubular in a series to be positioned and inserted.

Abstract: An automated, high volume container manipulator and process useful with an agricultural seed box. In an exemplary application, the manipulator removes an upper ring of a seed box, rotates the ring 180 degrees and places the ring over the lower seed box base in a nested condition. Container lid removal, transport and replacement devices and processes are also included.

Abstract: A lifting assembly for use on vehicles of a variety of types, including recreational vehicles, vans, trucks and the like, and includes one or more lifting structures that will support a deck structure. The lifting assembly will be removably mounted to the vehicle frame so that the whole assembly can be removed from the vehicle, and the deck structure is pivotally mounted to the lift assembly so that it can be moved between a stored position when not in use, or a transport position when loads are to be carried. When in the transport position the deck will be movable between lowered and raised positions so that items can be placed on the deck in the lowered position and then transported once the deck is raised to a desired height.