Abstract: Method for aligning single elements (4) arranged in receiving pockets (3) of a transfer means (2), wherein the receiving pockets (3) are arranged in rows and are moved stepwise from one station into a following station, comprising the following steps: determining in which receiving pockets (3) incorrectly aligned single elements (4) are present, ejecting the single elements (4) determined as incorrectly aligned from the associated receiving pockets (3), turning the ejected single elements (4) by 180°, and re-inserting the turned single elements (4) into the associated receiving pockets (3).

Abstract: A bale mover with self-adjusting spinners for loading/unloading bales and unrolling bales. The bale mover includes a cross member and a pair of opposing arms that extend generally orthogonally to the cross member. The cross member is pivotable about an axis extending transverse to the bale mover to move the arms to extend away from the bale mover. The arms are moveable toward one another to pinch a bale between distal ends thereof. A spinner is provided at the distal end of each arm. The spinners include axles secured to the arms and spinner bodies which are rotatable about the respective axles to facilitate rotation of a bale engaged by the spinners. The spinners are also pivotable relative to the axles to enable alignment of the spinners with surfaces of the bale.

Abstract: Systems and methods for vertical pipe handling include telescopic arm structures that move between retracted and extended positions in a horizontal plane, a cross arm structure connected to each telescopic arm structure, and a gripper head connected to the cross arm structure. The gripper head may be positioned at a desired location to receive, grip, position, and release a vertically oriented drill pipe or other tubular, and may include jaws that can be positioned to accommodate different sizes of drill pipe or tubulars. Means for raising and lower the gripper head, extending or retracting the gripper head in a horizontal plane, and tilting or pivoting the gripper head may also be provided. The vertical pipe handler may be housed below the drill floor and attached to the drill floor support structure.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring people and/or goods to or from a vessel (10), comprising a movable platform (1) connected to a movement assembly (4;2), said movement assembly (4;2) being arranged on a support base (3) which is coupled to said vessel (10), said platform (1) being maintained at an inclination substantially parallel to the water line of the vessel (10) by suitable means (301, 301?; 214, 334; 722, 822), the position of said platform (1) being able to be adjusted and controlled.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transfer device for transferring preformed layers of products between an external conveyor and a pallet on which layers can form a stack, the transfer device including a support structure including at least one vertical guide column, a tray, mounted on the at least one guide column and receiving the pre-formed layer, a tool, mounted on the support structure, for transferring a layer between the tray and the pallet or the stack. This transfer device includes an object detector with a wide detection angle, for detecting products at the same vertical level in a wide horizontal field of observation, the detector being movable in the vertical direction along the support structure. Also disclosed is a corresponding method.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for producing stacks of large square bales. Bales are received from the baler via a bale accumulator and formed into a stack, a plurality of bales high. The resulting bale stacks may be dropped in the field for pickup later.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and related methods for holding and maneuvering an industrial vehicle spare tire include a tire support positioned on an industrial vehicle. An industrial vehicle tire is removably securable to the tire support, wherein the tire support has at least two independently adjustable threaded members for controlling engagement of the tire support and the industrial vehicle tire. A winch is positioned proximate to the gate of the industrial vehicle. At least one pulley is positioned above the tire support, wherein at least one winch cable is connected between the winch and the at least one pulley.

Abstract: A system for overturning plate-shaped bodies, in particular slabs and sheets, having at least one overturn arm pivotally arranged about a pivot axis and can be brought into physical contact with a flat side of a plate-shaped body to be overturned, and at least one other overturn arm pivotally arranged about another pivot axis and can be brought into physical contact with another flat side of the plate-shaped body to be overturned. The two pivot axes are parallel to each other and mutually spaced. A permanent system is provided for overturning plate-shaped bodies with different dimensions, wherein noise generation associated with the overturning process is greatly reduced using the system. The system has at least one drivable eccentric arrangement with which a position of one of the pivot axes can be adjusted before and/or during an overturning process.

Abstract: A magazine extraction system includes a carrier, an extractor, and a catch element. The carrier is disposed below the magazine. The extractor is configured to move an article out of the magazine and along the carrier. The catch element is configured to move the article away from the magazine and along a platform. The extractor is configured to move at a first velocity, which is less than a velocity of the catch element. The extractor is also configured to move at a second velocity, which is greater than the first velocity.

Abstract: Sod harvester stacking head and stacking conveyor configurations can increase the rate at which sod can be harvested. The movement of the stacking head and/or the stacking conveyor can be controlled to maximize the rate at which the stacking head can remove sod from the stacking conveyor. A stacking head can employ multiple pick up positions. A stacking conveyor may also advance sod for pick up at varying rates. A stacking head may include a pivoting connection to allow the stacking head to rotate around a pivot during a pick up operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a container transfer installation (2, 102) for placing containers into and removing containers from or transferring containers (1) in high-rack or block storage arcs (3, 15) of a seaport or inland port within a container transfer installation (2, 102) having an integrated, fully automatic container transport system.

Abstract: A pipe handling apparatus and method for using the pipe handling apparatus is described. The pipe handling apparatus can be used by putting a boom of the pipe handling apparatus in a nesting position. The boom of the pipe handling apparatus is pivotally mounted to a base and at least one arm. In the nesting position, a pivot point between the at least one arms and the boom is moved within an elongated slot of the boom and the length of the at least one arm is simultaneously adjusted.

Abstract: Offloading cargo from a cargo vessel and delivering the cargo to a cargo recipient, or loading cargo onto the cargo vessel from a cargo supplier, may be performed using a cargo vessel which is spread moored at sea to a plurality of mooring points for mooring the cargo vessel in a desired orientation. Alternatively, the cargo vessel may be rotatably moored. Tubing may be provided and configured to be connected to the vessel for fluid communication between the vessel and the cargo recipient or the cargo supplier, and may comprise a first portion configured to be connected to the cargo vessel and a second portion configured to be connected to the cargo recipient or the cargo supplier. A semi-submersible unit may be operable to travel across the sea and carry part of the tubing from a stand-by location to a position adjacent to the cargo vessel, so as to allow an end of the first portion of the tubing to be connected the cargo vessel for offloading or loading the cargo.

Abstract: A rod and casing handler according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a boom mount that is configured to be coupled to a boom. A clamp mounting structure is coupled to the boom mount and has a central portion, a first arm, and a second arm, where each arm extends from the central portion. A first clamp is coupled to the first arm and includes a first set of actuatable tongs and a first removable saddle plate. A second clamp is coupled to the second arm, and it includes a second set of actuatable tongs and a second removable saddle plate. The first removable saddle plate has a first arcuate surface sized and shaped to correspond to a cylindrical body having a first diameter, and the second saddle plate has a second arcuate surface sized and shaped to correspond to a cylindrical body having a second diameter.

Abstract: A system for forming and moving an article array including a consolidation area having a support surface for receiving and arranging rows of articles to form an article array from an article row delivery device while the consolidation area continuously stabilizingly supports the periphery of the article rows positioned on the support surface as the article rows are arranged to form the article array.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for transferring an object from or to a marine transport vessel to or from a construction or vessel.

Abstract: A mobile service rig with an integrated pipe handling assembly is provided. The rig includes an elongate frame, an attached elongate mast, and an attached a pipe handling assembly. The mast base is pivotally attached to the frame for moving the mast between horizontal and vertical orientations. The pipe handling assembly includes a pipe trough and a trough lifting arm pivotally attached to frame and pipe trough to move a pipe between a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation collinear with the mast in the vertical orientation. The pipe handling assembly may also include a pair of pipe racks pivotally attached to the frame to extend transversely away from the frame.

Abstract: A de-stacking device for layer de-stacking stacking layers from standard transport pallets which include a multi-layer stack of stacking layers arranged on top of each other, wherein an optional bending stiff spacer is arranged under each of the stacking layers, wherein the stacking layers are formed by a plurality of stable standing transport goods that are stackable and arranged adjacent to each other, the de-stacking device including a placement and separation table for a respective stacking layer that is removed from the stack of the transport pallet and includes or does not include the optional spacer; a transfer device for transferring the respective stacking layer that includes or does not include the optional spacer from the stack of the transport pallet onto the placement and separation table, wherein the placement and separation table includes a fixation device for the optional spacer.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for singulating articles in an automatic stack feeder are disclosed. The automatic stack feeder may comprise a pressure sensor on a perforated drive belt assembly configured to sense the pressure exerted by a stack of articles. The sensed pressure may be used to control various portions of the automatic stack feeder, such as a belt or a paddle.

Abstract: A robotic carton unloader for automatic unloading of canons from a carton pile. In various embodiments, a robotic carton unloader may comprise a mobile body, a movable robotic arm attached to the mobile body and comprising an end effector configured to unload a row of cartons in a side-by-side orientation from the carton pile, and a conveyor system mounted on the mobile body and configured to receive the row of cartons from the end effector in the side-by-side orientation. In various embodiments the conveyor system may comprise a front-end descrambler and a central descrambler coupled to the front-end descrambler. In various embodiments, the robotic arm may be configured to straddle at least a portion of the mobile body and at least a portion of the conveyor system such that the conveyor system conveys cartons from the carton pile through the robotic arm.