Abstract: A battery movement, storage, and charging system for large size batteries used in lift trucks includes spaced, parallel storage racks, each of which have multiple storage and charging bays. A battery transport tower is positioned in an aisle between the storage racks and is moveable horizontally between the two rows of racks. The tower includes an extendable fork lift mounted which may rotate around the axis of the tower as well as move vertically upwardly or downwardly on the tower. A battery exchanger loads a discharged battery from a lift truck, places it on a pallet and then transfers the pallet and battery to a transfer bay in a storage rack where the tower forklift moves a pallet and battery to a selected charging bay.

Abstract: A conveyor includes a conveyor belt, a plurality of rollers, and a flight. The rollers have lower surfaces configured to engage a roller-engagement surface, and upper surfaces that substantially form a plane, such that the rollers engage the roller-engagement surface and rotate to move an object supported by the rollers over the plane. The flight includes a cam configured to engage a cam surface below the conveyor belt to impart a moment on the flight, and a projection that responds to the moment by rotating from a retracted position to an extended position.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a conveyor system includes a conveyor belt having a plurality of conveyor belt rollers configured to divert objects on the conveyor belt, and a drive mechanism that engages the conveyor belt rollers, the drive mechanism being configured to drive the conveyor belt rollers, the drive mechanism being adjustable such that the conveyor belt rollers can be selectively driven in a first angular direction and a second, opposite angular direction so that objects can be selectively diverted to either side of the conveyor belt at a desired diverting angle.

Abstract: Disclosed are conveyors and methods for making the conveyors. In one embodiment, a conveyor comprises a modular conveyor belt that includes a plurality of mat-top chains having a plurality of cavities and a plurality of first rollers disposed in the cavities of the mat-top chains. The conveyor further includes at least one second roller that operatively couples to the first rollers such that the first rollers rotate as the conveyor belt travels along the second roller. The invention can also be construed as providing the method for conveying objects. The method can comprise the steps of driving a modular conveyor belt in a direction of belt travel; rotating a plurality of first rollers disposed into the modular conveyor belt in a manner in which slippage of the first rollers is reduced; and conveying objects on the modular conveyor belt using the rotating first rollers.

Abstract: A container opening machine is disclosed. In one embodiment, the machine comprises a clamping mechanism that is configured to firmly clamp at least one container, the clamping mechanism being positionable in open and closed positions, and a cutting mechanism that is configured to cut the at least one container open while the at least one container is clamped by the clamping mechanism.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for separating objects. The apparatus typically includes a separation conveyor that forms a shallow peak within a pitched region upon which an object can be temporarily balanced, and at least two guide rails extending along the separation conveyor in a laterally spaced relationship. Upstream from the pitched region, the guide rails laterally support objects travelling along the separation conveyor. Within the pitched region, the guide rails are laterally spaced so as to permit lateral tipping of the objects when within the pitched region. At least one nozzle is positioned at a lateral position within the pitched region of the separation conveyor and is oriented so as to be capable of selectively ejecting a gentle burst of gas transversely across the separation conveyor to laterally tip an object balanced on the shallow peak to cause the object to slide under its own weight in a desired direction.

Abstract: A container turning device comprising a conveyor section equipped with a turning ramp. The conveyor section is typically curved and powered by drive means including a drive motor, drive chains, and an internal drive conveyor. Wrapped about the drive conveyor is a frusto-conical conveyor belt that is preferably smooth-surfaced and composed of vulcanized rubber. The container turning ramp is substantially thin and is mounted to the curved conveyor section along an inner side of the section adjacent its entrance end. In a preferred arrangement, the turning ramp is provided with a substantially circular stop bumper that is rotatably mounted to the turning ramp adjacent its rear edge. The ramp is secured to the conveyor section such that the front edge of the turning ramp is positioned adjacent the entrance end of the conveyor section and just below the surface of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A method for extending the shelf life of harvested produce against decay and premature ripening includes initial cooling of the produce, and thereafter maintaining the produce at the reduced temperature and at high humidity during processing and storage and packaging to final shipment for consumption. Cooled water with preservative chemicals rinse the produce at initial processing to suppress the ripening process significantly. Subsequent temporary storage between processes and processing steps occur substantially at the reduced temperature and high humidity to maintain the produce in a state of reduced ripening activity. The harvested produce is cut up and sized for volume collection and temporary storage as infeed to combining and packaging processes as required. Prescribed amounts of selected produce are individually packaged and crated for shipment in cooled and humid cargo carriers to remote locations where shelf life against decay and premature ripening is significantly extended.

Abstract: Two sets of fork units are dependingly supported from a suspension frame for engagement with a stack of cargo units, such as bags. The ends of the fork units are articulated so as to be positioned in either a perpendicular position relative to the upper portion of the fork unit or a longitudinally aligned position. End plates on the suspension frame cooperate with a special pallet to vertically and horizontally align the tip ends of the forks with openings in the special pallet.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting a load within a preselected bin of an automatic storage rack has a transducer for directing an ultrasonic beam into the bin and for detecting an echo reflected from a load struck by the beam; a digital counter adapted to generate plural bit binary pulses which is started upon initial transmission of the ultrasonic beam; and a programmable memory coupled to the counter and programmed to generate a given bin-ful output signal upon initial transmission of the beam and to subsequently generate the opposite binary bin-empty output signal if no echo has been detected when the pulses from the counter stored in the memory indicate that sufficient time has elapsed after initial transmission for the beam to travel a predetermined distance into the bin and for an echo from a load struck by the beam to return to the transducer.

Abstract: Material handling apparatus for the controlled movement of goods on pallets having wheels for engaging intersecting rails, movable track sections in the intersecting rails underlying the wheels to selectively permit movement of the pallets in two angular directions, and a drive engaging the pallets for selective movement along either of the two intersecting rails. The drive includes a direction control for orienting a pinion to drive the pallet along either of the intersecting rails and a direction control locking device for locking the pinion in position to drive the pallets along either of the two intersecting rails.

Abstract: Transporter or material handling apparatus for the controlled movement of goods includes two pairs of intersecting rails, a pallet for supporting the goods, a first group of wheels mounted on the pallet for rolling on one pair of intersecting rails, a second group of wheels mounted on the pallet for rolling on the other pair of intersecting rails, and a directional interchange in each of the intersecting rails permitting movement of the pallet in two angularly disposed directions therefrom. The movement of the pallet may be effected by a drive which engages the pallet for selectively propelling it in either of the two directions.

Abstract: A reversible valve for selectively delivering a pressurized gaseous mixture to and exhausting it from a reversible air motor or other pressure operated device. The valve has a perforate piston actuated by introducing the pressurized gas to a through flow position closing off lateral exhaust ports and actuated by the pressurized gas and a spring to a position fully opening the exhaust ports when flow to the valve is reversed.

Abstract: A manually operated dump truck is provided with front wheels which are located and mounted on the bottom of the truck, as for example, on swivels, so that they are selectively movable from a forward position substantially in advance of the center of gravity of the truck, which is the position selected when the truck is being loaded or used as a conveyance, to a position more closely adjacent the center of gravity when the truck is to be dumped thus reducing the amount of energy required to tip the truck forwardly in a dumping action. Manually controlled latching means is provided to maintain the wheels in the forward position.