Abstract: A storage system comprises a first grid structure of storage cells, each cell being arranged to accommodate a vertical stack of storage bins, the first grid structure having a top level. The system further comprises a first vehicle, arranged to move horizontally at the top level of the first grid structure, and a bin lift device, arranged to convey a bin in a vertical direction between the top level of the grid structure and a delivery station. The first vehicle is further arranged to receive a storage bin from a storage cell at the top level of the first grid structure and to deliver the storage bin to the bin lift device. The bin lift device is arranged to receive a bin from the vehicle at the top level of the first grid structure and to convey the bin to the delivery station.

Abstract: A refuse collection vehicle includes a refuse grabber assembly, a lift arm coupled to the refuse grabber assembly, and a hopper configured to receive refuse from the refuse container. The lift arm is operable to position the refuse grabber assembly. The refuse grabber assembly includes a first grabber arm and a second grabber arm that are configured to cooperate to engage the refuse container. The first grabber arm includes a first gripper and a first support arm coupled to the first gripper. The first gripper includes a first deformable structure configured to contact a first surface of a refuse container. The second grabber arm includes a second gripper and a second support arm coupled to the second gripper. The second gripper includes a second deformable structure configured to contact a second surface of the refuse container.

Abstract: A trailer having a deck and a flip-over ramp. The deck and one side of the flip-over ramp are convertible from a flat position to a position with cradles that are configured to hold one or more round hay bales. The deck may tilt, and side rails may cooperate to form the cradle region. The flip over ramp may also pivot about a horizontal axis to form a pathway from a ground surface to the deck. Side rails may pivot both about a horizontal axis, and about a vertical axis near the flip-over ramp to allow clearance when the ramp is deployed.

Abstract: A vehicle, cargo transfer device of the vehicle and a method of transferring a package between a vehicle to a delivery platform. A lift platform is extended from a floor of the vehicle via a support structure. The package is moved to the lift platform from one of the floor and the delivery platform. The lift platform is rotated via a turntable through a rotation angle. The support structure supports the turntable and the lift platform. The package is moved from the lift platform to the other of the floor and the delivery platform.

Abstract: A load platform configured for use as part of a tail lift on a vehicle is described, which includes a protector device in the form of a flexible sheet that is configurable, when the load platform is attached to a vehicle, to cover a gap between the tail lift and the vehicle. The protector device at a first end is anchored to the load platform by an elasticated fixing arrangement and at a second end is configured for attachment to a supporting structure of the tail lift or to a part of the vehicle to which the tail lift is attached. The protector device is oriented to cover a gap between the rear of the tail lift and the vehicle in a first position, and to occupy a plane substantially parallel to a main plane of the load platform in a second position.

Abstract: Techniques involve utilizing a multi-track cargo handling assembly to guide individual cargo items in parallel tracks to an aft end of a deck of an amphibious air cushion vehicle when unloading from the aft end. Such a multi-track cargo handling assembly includes a framework constructed and arranged to couple with the deck of the amphibious air cushion vehicle, and a set of guide rails coupled with the framework. The set of guide rails defines the parallel tracks and is constructed and arranged to constrain movement of the cargo items along the parallel tracks.

Abstract: A remotely-operated vehicle assembly for picking up storage bins from a storage system and a method for changing vehicle direction includes a body displaying a cavity, a lifting device connected to the body for lifting the bin into the cavity, a displacement arrangement including a displacement motor which provides power to displace one or both of first and second sets of vehicle wheels between a displaced state where the relevant vehicle wheels are displaced away from the underlying system during use, and a non-displaced state where the relevant vehicle wheels are in contact with the underlying system during use, and driving wheels coupled to the displacement arrangement. The driving wheels further includes first and second sets of vehicle wheels connected to the body allowing movement of the vehicle along first and second directions, respectively, within the system. The first and second directions are perpendicular.

Abstract: A load handling device is disclosed for retrieving, transporting, and delivering containers in a storage system having a grid structure formed of two substantially perpendicular sets of rails or tracks located above stacks of containers. An exemplary load handling device can include a wheel assembly, a container receiving space, and a plurality of vehicle modules. The wheel assembly can include a first set of wheels to guide movement of the load handing device in a first direction and a second set of wheels to guide movement of the load handing device in a second direction. Each of the vehicle modules can include a container lifting means arranged to lift a container into the container receiving space and each of the vehicle modules can be moveable to adjust the spacing of the containers in the load handling device.

Abstract: A content collection system and method for curbside collecting of multiple segregated recycled material streams stored in a product storage container. The product storage container can include a compartment and a door associated with the compartment. A product collection interface is associated with a product collection vehicle, and is configured to engage with any configuration of product storage container. A product transfer module is associated with the product collection interface and is configured to receive content from the product storage container. The product transfer module includes weight sensors to calculate the weight of content in the product transfer module. A release mechanism is configured to discharge the content from the product transfer module to a bulk product holding unit associated with the vehicle. Software application can be utilized to request collection and/to receive collection data. Computer systems can be utilized to control operations of the system.

Abstract: Package sorting systems and methods of use are disclosed herein. An example system includes a platform of a vehicle, where the platform is arranged as a grid having a plurality of slots (including an open slot and a target slot). A plurality of slabs can be placed into the grid except for in the open slot. A slab moving assembly is used to move the slabs in order to place a selected slab into the target slot on the platform.

Abstract: A highway work basket apparatus includes a vertically movable lift platform that can be selectively mounted on either side of the work basket. The frame of the work basket supports a pair of lift mechanisms mounted on opposing sides at the forward end of the work basket. A detachable lift platform is provided for selective attachment to one of the opposing lift mechanism to enable movement of highway markers between the levels of the truck bed and the surface of the highway. The floor of the lift platform has conveyors embedded therein and powered by the hydraulics of the highway truck on which the work basket is mounted to facilitate the movement of the highway markers onto or off of the surface of the highway. The frame of the work basket also supports a hitch receiver to permit a trailing attachment of a directional sign.

Abstract: A modular robot system which may be configured to accommodate packages of varying sizes is provided. The modular robot may include a base having omni-directional wheels and cameras and sensors, one or more modular containers, and a lid, which may be releasably linked together to form a small, medium or larger units. The base may include a lifting mechanism to vertically raise the robot to a desired height in alignment with a delivery vehicle. Moreover, retractable loading arms of the vehicle may be extended from the vehicle to engage with the robot to facilitate self-loading of the robot into the delivery vehicle.

Abstract: An Automated Guided Robot (AGV) system designed for carrying, storing and retrieving inventory items to and from storage shelves. The AGV (100) can move between warehouse shelves and reach to the inside of a shelf without turning. The AGV (100) is equipped with a material handling device (130). The material handling device (130) comprises a lateral device that is configured to move in a lateral direction either to the right side or to the left side. The movement of the lateral device can be either rotational or translational. The material handling device (130) further comprises a retractable device that retracts or extends in a direction perpendicular to the lateral direction. The retractable device allows the material handling device (130) to extend into the storage shelf to fetch or place an inventory item.

Abstract: A robotic object handling system and robotic load handling device for operation thereon is disclosed. The object handling system includes a number of robotic load handling devices operational on a grid-like structure, the structure having sets of parallel tracks, disposed above a hive of stacked bins. The bins contain inventory items to be picked by the system. Load handling devices capable of carrying multiple bins of a single grid-spacing size or single bins of a multiple grid spacings are operational on the grid and retrieve and transport bins under the control of a computerised order picking utility.

Abstract: A sweep auger system having a driveshaft with auger flighting and a backboard extending a length from an inward end to an outward end. An input of a gearbox is connected to an outward end of the drive shaft and a sweep wheel having a plurality of notches, arms and feet is connected to an output of the gearbox. A drive shield is placed around a rearward side of the sweep wheel that forms a channel that is configured to capture grain agitated by the drive wheel. A guide plate is connected to the gearbox and covers a portion of the gearbox. The guide plate angles from an upper outward edge downward and forward to a lower inward edge that is configured to urge the grain captured within the channel of the drive shield to move in front of the sweep auger system reducing grain left in the grain bin.

Abstract: A lift assist device employs a striker mounting assembly having a case with a receiving chamber having a top channel and a lower channel. A striker housing is removably insertable in the receiving chamber and has a receiver adapted to be inserted over a striker on a door of a vehicle. The striker housing has a top flange with an upper alignment aperture and a bottom flange with a lower alignment aperture, the upper alignment aperture and lower alignment aperture aligned with the top channel and lower channel with the striker housing inserted in the receiving chamber. A striker pin assembly is adapted for removable insertion through the top channel, upper alignment aperture into a striker on a door of a vehicle and through the lower aperture into the lower channel. A pivot assembly is engaged to the case with a pivot pin. A lift assembly has a mounting structure engaged to the pivot assembly with a telescoping support arm depending from the mounting structure.

Abstract: A grain cart and foldable auger assembly having an upper auger assembly portion with a discharge portion, a lower auger assembly portion with an intake portion, and a joint that allows the upper auger assembly portion to be moved between operating and transport positions. When in an operating position, the upper auger portion and the lower auger portion are offset from each other by an operating offset angle. The grain cart also has a hitch for allowing the grain cart to be towed. The discharge portion is forward of the hitch when in the operating position. Embodiments of the present invention provide, for example, increased forward and side reach, additional storage capacity of the hopper, increased discharge rate from the hopper, and a more compact transport position.

Abstract: A fully-electric lift assembly for a refuse vehicle includes a track, a carrier, and a push chain. The track includes multiple channels that extend along an entire length of a path of the track. The carrier is configured to translate along the path of the track. The carrier includes multiple slidable members, each slidable member configured to engage the track at a corresponding one of the channels. The push chain is configured to couple with the carrier at a first end and be driven by an electric motor. The push chain is configured to exert a pushing force on the carrier to drive the carrier to ascend along the track.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for using different truck types for deliveries. A package is initially loaded into a specially configured cargo container that can be transported either on a primary truck or a secondary truck. A secondary truck is smaller than a primary truck and is configured to transport fewer cargo containers than the primary truck. An initial leg of the overall delivery (e.g., from a warehouse to a transfer point) is performed using a primary truck. The cargo container is then transferred to a secondary truck, which completes the delivery. Empty cargo containers can be transferred back to a primary truck, e.g., in a stacked or folded manner, for transporting back to the warehouse. The configurations of primary and secondary trucks are such that these transfers can occur at any location (e.g., a parking lot) with minimal human involvement.

Abstract: A litter distribution apparatus provides for even distribution of a bedding material to an animal containment area for animal husbandry operations. The distribution apparatus has vertically adjustable skid legs that support the apparatus at a desired elevation as it is drawn across a ground surface of the containment area. A frame and litter containment skirt allow for the accumulation of the bedding material and even disposition along the ground surface based on the selected elevation of the skid legs. The skid legs may be vertically adjustable via an actuator.