Abstract: A truck body designed for transporting hard rock mined ore. The truck body includes a body floor having a first material forming a floor structure and a liner structure including a second material covering at least a portion of the floor structure. The second material has a hardness that is greater than a hardness of the first material and prevents wear of the truck body floor by the hard rock ore. The truck body includes a front wall and two opposing body sidewalls that taper outwardly from front to rear of the truck body such that a width between the body sidewalls at a rear of the truck body is at least 10% greater than a width at the front of the truck body. The outward tapering of the body sidewalls promotes movement of the load away from the body sidewalls as the load is released from the truck body.

Abstract: There is disclosed a self-contained cart-tipping system for residential applications that can be installed on a variety of refuse collection truck types, including front loading, side loading and rear loading models. The cart tipper system of the invention includes independent hydraulic and electrical systems and needs only to be served by a source of electric power.

Abstract: A bypass route is provided in order to transfer a substrate without passing through the atmospheric pressure transfer chamber, that is, a loader module, from a load lock chamber to a storage. In the bypass route, a sub-transfer unit for transferring the processed substrate from the load lock chamber to the storage is provided. The sub-transfer unit transfers the processed substrate from the load lock chamber to the storage, and a main transfer unit of the loader module returns the processed substrate from the storage to a transport container on holding stage.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure describes an apparatus comprising an auger section having an auger and a drive unit containing a motor for driving the auger. A collector ring housing containing a collector ring is positioned between the auger section and the drive unit. In another aspect, the disclosure describes an apparatus for attachment to a floor grate. The apparatus includes a pivot stand attached to a top surface of the floor grate, the pivot stand defining a vertical pivot axis. A collector ring has a first stationary portion and a second rotatable portion, with the stationary portion attached to the pivot stand. A housing surrounds the collector ring, and the housing and second rotatable portion of the collector ring rotate together about the pivot axis.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure describes an apparatus comprising an auger section having an auger and a drive unit containing a motor for driving the auger. A collector ring housing containing a collector ring is positioned between the auger section and the drive unit. In another aspect, the disclosure describes an apparatus for attachment to a floor grate. The apparatus includes a pivot stand attached to a top surface of the floor grate, the pivot stand defining a vertical pivot axis. A collector ring has a first stationary portion and a second rotatable portion, with the stationary portion attached to the pivot stand. A housing surrounds the collector ring, and the housing and second rotatable portion of the collector ring rotate together about the pivot axis.

Abstract: A multiplicity of wafer-type workpieces are buffer stored in a device having, a frame, at least two transport elements which each circulate in a vertical direction around an upper and a lower deflection device connected to the frame and are provided, at uniform intervals, with a multiplicity of bearing areas for the horizontal mounting of workpieces, wherein at least one of the deflection devices of each transport element is driven and a free space is situated between the transport elements, a loading position between the upper deflection devices at which a workpiece can be placed onto corresponding bearing areas, and a stationary removal device below the loading position, comprising a horizontal transport device, the first end of which lies within the free space between the transport elements. The invention also relates to a method for buffer-storing a multiplicity of wafer-type workpieces using the abovementioned device.

Abstract: An apparatus to facilitate the handling of multi-wall bags containing powdered or particular material or product, more specifically but not limited to the emptying of ex factory bags containing milk powder for further processing in a sterile manner. The apparatus includes an outer bag slitting station, an outer and inner bag separating device and an inner bag slitting station incorporating a tilting table to convey the slit inner bag to a powder receiving hopper.

Abstract: An automatic vehicle storage system includes an adjustable, self-guided vehicle satellite for moving a vehicle between a pick-up and drop-off bay, a vehicle carriage, and a storage bay. The vehicle carriage is typically movable along and by a vehicle crane, which carries the vehicle to a desired storage bay, where the vehicle satellite then moves the vehicle. Once the vehicle is in the storage bay, the satellite and returns back to the carriage at the vehicle crane. The vehicle storage system is also capable of rotating the vehicle, such that the vehicle is forward-facing in the pick-up and drop-off bay when it is retrieved by the user, and to facilitate the simultaneous operation of side-by-side cranes within a storage facility.

Abstract: The invention concerns a motor vehicle (1), preferably a truck or a lorry, comprising a battery exchange station (2), the battery exchange station (2) comprising at least one battery (3), an actuator element (4) and a connecting element (5) arranged between the battery (3) and the actuator element (4), the actuator element (4) being movable from a first to a second position, such that in the first position the at least one battery (3) is arranged completely under the motor vehicle (1), while in the second position the at least one battery (3) is arranged completely outside, preferably behind, the motor vehicle (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to an industrial truck (10; 15) comprising a truck body (20) and a load supporting member (30). The load supporting member (30) is movable in a vertical direction (40) and in a horizontal direction (50; 80) in relation to the truck body (20). According to the invention, the industrial truck (10; 15) is adapted to reduce the maximum allowed acceleration of the load supporting member (30) in the vertical direction (40) when the load supporting member is located at specific horizontal positions in relation to the truck body (20). The invention also pertains to a corresponding method and a computer program.

Abstract: An automatic case loader for loading product in a trailer is disclosed. A mobile base structure provides a support framework for a drive subassembly, conveyance subassembly, an industrial robot, a distance measurement sensor, and a control subassembly. Under the operation of the control subassembly, product advances through a powered transportation path to an industrial robot which places the product within the trailer. The control subassembly coordinates the selective articulated movement of the industrial robot and the activation of the drive subassembly based upon the distance measurement sensor detecting objects within a detection space, dimensions of the trailer provided to the control subassembly, and dimensions of the product provided to the control subassembly.

Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus includes a first fork which is disposed to be movable in a forward/backward direction to a substrate holding part to transport a stacked member to or receive the stacked member from the substrate holding part. A second fork is arranged to be reversible and disposed above the first fork to be movable in a forward/backward direction to an accommodating part that accommodates substrates and spacer members to transport a substrate or a spacer member between the accommodating part and the first fork. A first grip module is disposed on a first surface of the second fork to hold and support the substrate from an upward direction. A second grip module is disposed on the first surface of the second fork on the same side as the first grip module to hold and support the spacer member from an upward direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detachably attachable moving headboard trailer ejector and floor cleaning apparatus for use with a self-unloading trailer having a front end, a rear end, side walls, and either a reciprocating slat conveyor floor or a conveyor belt floor. The invention comprises, in one embodiment, a base, a panel sweeper, one or more panel sweeper support members, a means for traversing the panel sweeper, a tether bar, side flanges, and a base flange. In use, the invention is placed in the front end of a self-unloading trailer and the trailer is loaded with material; when material is ejected from the trailer, the invention transverses or “travels” along the top of the moving floor and pushes the material out of the trailer's back end. The rubber flanges ensure a snug fit within the trailer and keep post ejection residual material at a minimum.

Abstract: A method for moving a reel of packaging material from a storage station to a supply station of a packaging unit involves clamping a peripheral edge of reel by using a pair of clamping elements of a clamping unit, rotating clamping elements relative to the reel, and supporting the reel on the pair of clamping elements by interacting with a portion of reel radially inner with respect to circumferential edge.

Abstract: A material handling system has a shuttle car attached by an extension element either directly to a supply car or to a staging car attached to a supply car. An object manipulator moves an object into place for acquisition by the shuttle car which is brought into position by retraction of the extension element. The extension element extends and moves the shuttle car away to draw the object most of the way from the staging car. A second object manipulator opposite to the shuttle engages the object before the object is pulled completely from the supply car. The shuttle car and the second manipulator lower the object. Objects may also be retrieved and placed on the supply car. In some embodiments, a track on the staging and supply cars may allow a manipulator to travel along the cars to acquire objects.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing wheelchair access to a vehicle, including a deployable wheelchair access assembly coupled to the vehicle and deployable to a position in which one end of the assembly is in contact with the ground. The wheelchair access assembly can include multiple panels. Some embodiments include a control system for adjusting the angular relationship of one panel relative to another panel. Yet other embodiments include a sensor for measuring the inclination of the deployed assembly relative to earth's gravity. In yet other embodiments the vehicle includes a sensor for measuring the inclination of the vehicle relative to earth's gravity, and a plurality of suspension actuators for changing the inclination of the vehicle.

Abstract: A high-throughput auger includes a receiving end auger portion that has a first shaft. The receiving end auger portion also includes a first screw having a first pitch and a first diameter, and a first housing portion of a second diameter. The auger also includes a main auger portion coupled to a discharge end of the receiving end auger portion. The main auger portion includes a second shaft, a second screw having a second pitch and a third diameter, and a second housing of a fourth diameter. The first diameter is greater than the third diameter and the second pitch is greater than the first pitch.

Abstract: A tray carrier system having a tray loading position, a tray off-loading position, and four parallel rails extending from the tray loading position to the tray off-loading position. A tray carrier platform is disposed on each rail, where each tray carrier platform is configured to move along the rail on which it is disposed between the tray loading position and the tray off-loading position. Each tray carrier platform includes a carriage for engaging the rail, swing arms attached to the carriage, retaining pieces attached to the swing arms for selectively retaining and releasing a tray, and means for moving the swing arms between an open position and a closed position. The retaining pieces retain the tray at a tray level when the swing arms are in the closed position, and release the tray and are disposed entirely below the tray level when the swing arms are in the open position.

Abstract: Vehicle restraints are disclosed herein. An example vehicle restraint disclosed herein includes a deck installable at the loading dock and a lip extending from the deck where the deck and lip are movable between a stored configuration and an operative configuration such that the deck and lip in the operative configuration provide a bridge between a vehicle bed and a platform when the deck is installed at a loading dock and the vehicle is at the loading dock. A blocking member is selectively attachable to the lip to selectively engage and disengage a restraint feature of the vehicle bed. The blocking member restricts forward movement of the vehicle relative to the loading dock when the blocking is engaged with the restrain feature and the blocking member allows forward movement of the vehicle relative to the loading dock when the blocking is disengaged from the restraint.

Abstract: A liftgate apparatus may include a plurality of vertical tracks attached to a rear of a trailer, each of the plurality of vertical tracks including a vertical roller chain. Tops of the plurality of vertical tracks intersect horizontal hollow structural tubes which include hydraulic cylinders. The apparatus may also include at least one bar attached to a bottom of each vertical roller chain and attached to sets of rolling wheels configured to move the at least one bar vertically inside the plurality of vertical tracks and a plurality of hinges attached to a lower end of the at least one bar and attached to a base of a liftgate, wherein the vertical roller chain lifts the at least one bar and the liftgate at hinged points.