Abstract: A pallet detection assembly for a material handling vehicle is provided. The pallet detection assembly includes a body defining a cavity and having a proximity sensor housed at least partially within the cavity. The pallet detection assembly further includes an actuation plate having a tab coupled thereto and extending in a direction toward the body, and an actuator having a cylinder coupled to the body and a plunger slidably received within the cylinder and coupled to the actuation plate. The actuator is configured to movably couple the actuation plate to the body so that the actuation plate is configured to non-pivotally displace relative to the body.

Abstract: A wheel grid includes a crossbar configured to be coupled to a boom of a tow vehicle and including a distal tip. The wheel grid further includes an L-arm rotatably coupled to the crossbar at a proximal end of the L-arm and configured to rotate from an engaged position to a stowed position. As the L-arm rotates from the engaged position to the stowed position, a distal portion of the L-arm intersects with a vertical line passing through the respective left or right distal tip of the crossbar. In the stowed position, the distal portion of the L-arm is positioned laterally inward relative to the distal tip of the crossbar.

Abstract: A system and method for operating robotic pallet transportation carts and providing uniform spacing between pallets of goods, to improve the vertical alignment of the gaps between the pallets of a multilevel commercial warehouse rack. Indicators are positioned along a storage lane, such as on side walls of cart support rail structures, on the left and/or right sides with respect to the pallet transportation cart. The cart has one or more sensors (optical, magnetic and otherwise), such as on a side of the cart to detect the indicators on the side of the lane. The cart is programmed to count the indicators and lower the pallet of goods after sensing a selected indicator number. By spacing the indicators an appropriate distance apart, the pallets can be arranged to have vertically aligned gaps, even if there are minor variations in the length of pallets of goods.

Abstract: A vertical manipulator for large size tyres which includes a platform and mechanisms for holding, raising, and rotating tyres, for the safe working of maintenance workers. The vertical manipulator works on all types of terrain and its movements include those of conventional manipulators, in addition to others specific to the invention, rendering its features superior. The vertical manipulator includes a main transverse body from which are suspended two sets of parallel arms that open and close according to the size of the tyre. To each set of parallel arms is added a support arm, which holds a pivoting arm, equipped with a gripping plate, securing side rollers and a lower roller, the pivoting arm operating supported by a lifting jack, and a work platform being disposed on the parallel arms and supported by the main body.

Abstract: A carrier body of a lift carrier includes: a pair of wheel support mechanisms that supports a first wheel of a vehicle to be transported; a frame-shaped structure connected to the wheel support mechanisms; and one or more lifting units that lift or lower the pair of wheel support mechanisms. The frame-shaped structure includes a frame portion and an upper plate and is open on a lower side of the carrier body. Each of the lifting units includes a wheel support and an air spring. The air spring is interposed between the wheel support and an upper plate. As the air spring expands, the wheel support is rotated about one end of the wheel support rotatably supported by the frame portion, and is deployed out of the frame-shaped structure.

Abstract: A transportation apparatus (30), includes a bracket (31), a telescopic apparatus (32) and a manipulator (33), where the bracket is mounted to a storage shelf (20), the telescopic apparatus is mounted to the bracket, the manipulator is mounted to the telescopic apparatus, and the telescopic apparatus is used for driving the manipulator to move along a horizontal first reference line (S5) or a horizontal second reference line (S6). The manipulator is driven to move on the first reference line and second reference line that are disposed orthogonally, and thereby the manipulator is able to load or unload goods at any position on the first reference line or second reference line, so as to avoid time being wasted on adjusting an angle of a transportation robot (100). The transportation apparatus has a high transportation efficiency.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for moving and securing articles in a pickup truck cargo bed. The pickup truck cargo bed may have opposing sidewalls, cab wall, tailgate, and floor. The apparatus comprises a plurality of tracks configured to connect to the pickup truck cargo bed, the plurality of tracks extending substantially along a longitudinal length of the pickup truck cab and defining a channel. A push plate slidably is mounted to the plurality of tracks with a movement member, and the push plate configured to stand perpendicular to the floor. The apparatus also comprises an actuator in mechanical communication with the push plate, the actuator configured to move the push plate to a desired position in the pickup truck cargo bed. An adjustable enclosed area is defined by the push plate, opposing side walls, and tail gate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for efficiently managing bulk material are provided. The disclosure is directed to a portable support structure used to receive one or more portable containers of bulk material and output bulk material from the containers directly into the blender hopper. The portable support structure may include a frame for receiving and holding the one or more portable bulk material containers in an elevated position proximate the blender hopper, as well as one or more gravity feed outlets for routing the bulk material from the containers directly into the blender hopper. In some embodiments, the portable support structure may be transported to the well site on a trailer, unloaded from the trailer, and positioned proximate the blender unit. In other embodiments, the portable support structure may be a mobile support structure that is integrated into a trailer unit.

Abstract: A collapsible cargo slide assembly that protects a cargo area from damage during loading and unloading of cargo. The assembly includes a plurality of panels with each panel including a generally planar slider having a surface smoothed for sliding on the cargo area, a block of compressible material for contact with the cargo. The assembly further includes a connector that joins a panel and an adjacent panel. In embodiments, the connector is a layer of flexible material that substantially spans across at least the panel and the adjacent panel. In embodiments, each panel includes a protruding lip having one or more apertures configured to receive a securing device for fastening cargo to the panel.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods associated with powered vehicles are disclosed herein. In examples, a system for controlling a vehicle may include sensors and a processor coupled to the sensors. The processor may identify one or more values received from the one or more sensors, wherein the one or more values are associated with one or more conditions of the vehicle and/or the vehicle's environment, and determine, based on the one or more values, a net resultant force vector of one or more forces acting on a center of mass of the vehicle. The processor may further determine a relationship between the net resultant force vector and a stability polygon that is superimposed at a base of the vehicle, and determine whether to limit one or more of a speed, rate of change, and/or travel amount for one or more of the operational systems controlled by the processor based on the relationship between the net resultant force vector and the stability polygon. Other examples may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: The application relates to a carrying robot including a fork. The fork includes a telescopic arm and a temporary storage tray. The telescopic arm includes a fixed arm and a movable arm connected to the fixed arm. The movable arm is telescopically movable relative to the fixed arm. The temporary storage tray is mounted to the fixed arm and is configured to temporarily store goods. The temporary storage tray is able to extend relative to the fixed arm. An extending direction of the temporary storage tray is consistent with an extending direction of the movable arm. When the fork pulls in or pushes out the goods, containers can be stably transferred between a stationary rack and the temporary storage tray.

Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment a clamping device comprising a first clamping device frame element coupled with a portion of a work tool coupled with the utility vehicle, a second clamping device frame element pivotally coupled with the first clamping device frame element, where the second clamping device frame element includes a first section and a second section, where the first section and the second section are positioned at an angle of approximately 90 degrees relative to each other, and a first movement actuator that movably couples the first clamping device frame element and the second clamping device frame element.

Abstract: A bale loading apparatus has a base frame mounted to a loader vehicle operative to move the base frame up and down. Right and left fork frames are connected to right and left portions of the base frame by corresponding right and left linkages, and right and left fork pairs extend away from the loader end of the base frame. A right actuator is operative to pivot the right fork pair with respect to the base frame upward and outward to the right of a path of the loader vehicle from a lowered right position to a raised right position, and a left actuator is operative to pivot the left fork pair with respect to the base frame upward and outward to the left of the path of the loader vehicle from a lowered left position to a raised left position.

Abstract: A vending-tote adapted to be moved by a lift-robot across a shelving-unit to rendezvous with a second tote carried by a second robot, the vending-tote comprising: a container designed to contain a plurality of items; and a dispensing mechanism integrated within the container, wherein the dispensing mechanism is configured to be activated by the lift-robot, the second robot, or both for dispensing at least one item of the plurality of items into the second tote.

Abstract: In the context of service and maintenance of heavy road vehicles, apparatus is provided that is configured to engage and support a rack and manoeuvre it into position relative to the vehicle to facilitate removal and installation of the wheels. The rack has a frame with a base and a pair of arms, each arm being pivotally attached to opposite sides of the base to pivot between an open configuration and a folded configuration. The apparatus may be expanded and contracted between an expanded configuration, where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the open configuration, and a contracted configuration where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the folded configuration.

Abstract: A trailer configured to transport a load including a lower surface and a pin socket includes a bed including an upper surface configured to support the load, a first rotation pin extending above the upper surface of the bed, and a winch assembly coupled to a first lateral side of the trailer. The winch assembly includes a first winch and a boom, wherein the boom is configured to extend outward from the first lateral side of the trailer, and the first winch is configured to be connected to the load and to rotate the load about the first rotation pin. When the load is positioned on the bed, a distance from the lower surface of the load to an upper surface of the pin socket is greater than a distance from the lower surface of the load to an upper surface of the rotation pin.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a robot being in communication with a control center communication module of a control center, an instruction to relocate a cart to a location where a set of items are stored. The method further includes moving, by the robot, to a second location where the cart is positioned; (2) activating, by the robot, a motor of a latch fastening system to cause movement of a latch arm resulting in a latch being exposed; (3) removably engaging, by the robot and using the latch, the cart via a latching feature of the cart; (4) moving, by the robot, the cart from the second location to the location where the set of items are stored; and (5) transitioning, by the robot, a subset of the set of items to the cart in accordance with the instruction.

Abstract: A device includes a plurality of support elements pivotably attached to a base. The support elements are pivotably attached to support arms. The support arms support a platform configured to hold a vehicle. The device is capable of moving between stacked and unstacked configurations, where the platform is elevated above a ground-level parking space when the device is in a stacked configuration and the platform is positioned behind or beside a ground-level parking space when the device is in an unstacked configuration. When changing between a stacked configuration and an unstacked configuration, the support elements and the support arms pivot such that the platform does not contact any vehicle parked underneath the platform.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for transition components for gaps in shuttle rails. An example system configured to transport items may include a shuttle configured to support an item, where the shuttle includes a first wheel. The first wheel may have a first side surface, a second side surface, and a middle portion that together form a v-groove. The system may include a first rail configured to engage the first side surface and the second side surface, a second rail configured to engage the first side surface and the second side surface, where the second rail is separated from the first rail, and a first transition block coupled to the first rail. The first transition block may be configured to transfer a load of the shuttle from the first side surface and the second side surface to the middle portion of the wheel.

Abstract: A system for storing and transporting storage containers includes an automated storage and retrieval grid including vertical members defining multiple storage columns for storing storage containers on top of each other in vertical stacks. The vertical members are interconnected at their upper ends by a container handling vehicle rail system arranged to guide at least one container handling vehicle being configured to raise storage containers from, and lower storage containers into, the storage columns, and to transport the storage containers above the storage columns.