Abstract: The invention described refers to an equipment and corresponding method that enables side sliding load transfer between one vehicle/structure acting as loader, and another vehicle/structure acting as receptor. Both loaders and receptors can be vehicles or piers using a side sliding loading system that includes lifting and lateral displacement equipment. The great innovation of this system is the appearing of carriages consisting of 2 chassis, one inferior and one superior, both mobile and independent, that are coupled to form a single carriage. One of the equipment developed, automatically auto-load/unload standard containers to/from railway wagons and fixed platforms. This equipment can be loaded directly by the pier crane and move autonomously to the loading areas of railway wagons, trucks or buffer areas, where the containers are organized on leaving the port.

Abstract: Systems and methods of distributing freight between freight containers are provided. In one aspect, the method includes receiving loading/unloading openings of three freight containers at three openings in a moveable cross-dock having a plurality of surface road wheels, a body defining an interior storage area, and at least three openings in the body through which freight may be moved into and out of the interior storage area. Freight is redistributed between the first freight container, the second freight container, and the third freight container via the at least three openings in the body of the moveable cross-dock.

Abstract: A tool cart having a frame, a lifting device for lifting the frame, a locking device to lock the tool cart horizontally relative to a work station or a packaging machine (collectively referred to below as the “packaging machine”), and a stop element that may engage with an underside of the packaging machine when lifted. The lifting device and locking device operate independently. A method for transferring a tool component including one or more of the steps of: aligning the tool cart relative to the packaging machine; locking the tool cart in position relative to the packaging machine; lifting a frame of the tool cart by way of a lifting device until the stop element engages an underside of the packaging machine; and transferring the tool component between the tool cart and the packaging machine may be included.

Abstract: Parcel loaders and methods. A parcel loader includes a control system and a conveyor under the control of the control system that is configured to receive a plurality of parcels to be loaded into a container. The parcel loader includes a vertically-adjustable positioning conveyor under the control of the control system and configured to receive the plurality of parcels from the conveyor. The parcel loader includes a plurality of finger conveyors under the control of the control system and configured to place the plurality of parcels in a parcel stack in the container. The finger conveyors can independently extend and retract from the positioning conveyor. The parcel loader can also include upper or lower stack constraints.

Abstract: Method and system for transferring standard cargo holders, especially ISO containers and swap bodies, between railways and roads. The standard cargo holders are loaded onto driverless transport vehicles by means of handling equipment or are received by said transport vehicles, and the driverless transport vehicles transport the standard cargo holders between the handling equipment and a loading and unloading zone. Alternatively, a driving zone for driverless transport vehicles for transporting standard cargo holders to or from the handling equipment adjoins the handling equipment, and a loading and unloading zone for transporting standard cargo holders adjoins the driving zone.

Abstract: A method for loading and unloading rail cars includes at least one car, having a frame and a superstructure, moved into loading and unloading positions. During unloading the car superstructure is lifted off from the frame with lifting devices to an unloading level, and after the lifting operation the superstructure is moved at the unloading level in a transverse direction with respect to a longitudinal plane of the car until the superstructure is seated completely on a loading and unloading face. During loading the superstructure is moved from the loading and unloading face in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal plane of the car to above the frame and the superstructure is lowered, by lifting devices, onto the frame located in the loading and unloading positions. The lifting and lowering of the superstructures is carried out by lifting devices that are anchored to the track bed or secured to a platform.

Abstract: A distribution system (100), which includes the steps of: transporting (102) a container (110) on a chassis (112) of a tractor trailer (114) to and aligning it with a buffer (116); raising (104) the container (110) with a support structure (118) a predetermined height; entering (106) a containment cavity (122) of the buffer (116); and lowering (108) the container (110) on a container stand (124) of the buffer (116), to allow the chassis (112) to exit while allowing the container (110) to remain. The system is simple in construction, robust and provides for efficiencies in the transportation and logistics industry, by allowing drivers and distribution personnel to work independently, and allowing drivers to drop off containers at off peak hours to frees them up to go to their next destination.

Abstract: The invention concerns an installation and a method for automatically processing individual hand-held bags between two storage areas, the bags respectively having a base surmounted by two opposed lateral flanks, said bags being adapted to rest in equilibrium on their base, said bags being transferred from one storage area to the other via a longitudinal transfer platform, as claimed in the invention, the installation comprises: means for forming rows of bags resting on their base on one of said storage areas; means for driving each of said rows in translation in a first direction over said longitudinal transfer platform; and means for driving each of said rows of bags supported by said platform in translation in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction to transfer said row of bags to the other storage area.

Abstract: The invention relates to the cargo area of an airport, having transporting paths which connect the land side and the air side of the airport and are intended for the standard loading units (ULDs), and also having interim stores for the buffer storage of the loading units prior to the cargo being assembled. In order to create storage and sorting opportunities in the immediate vicinity of the transporting paths, while being simultaneously independent of the main store, and in order to achieve flexible supply of the loading units, it is proposed for the transporting paths to be assigned vertical stores each with a plurality of storage levels which are arranged one above the other, are set up above or alongside the transporting paths and in which, with the aid of lifting means, the loading units, which can be lifted off from the transporting paths, can be stored.

Abstract: The cargo transport system according to this invention employs a tow vehicle that can automatically follow and run upon guide lines. The tow vehicle can tow cargo laden equipment such as container dollies to thereby automatically transport the air cargo. The air cargo is conveyed by an underground air cargo conveyor mechanism which has the conveyor line including the guide line installed underground to link the air cargo holding area in the airport terminal building and the aircraft parking area. Further, the system connects the loading/unloading cargo door of the aircraft and the underground loading/unloading position for the underground air cargo conveyor mechanism by an air cargo elevator.

Abstract: This is a cargo container overhead hoist operated by a highway truck to load or unload the container from the bed of the truck to an overhead hoist for holding the container. The hoist has parallel swing links that lift the container, and a latch to hold it lifted so the truck can be driven out from under, or released to be lowered onto the truck bed by movement of the truck.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for centralized transfer of cargo to and from rail cars comprising a first railway to accommodate the rail cars; a staging area; and a second railway positioned between the first railway and the staging area to accommodate a movable transfer dock; wherein the cargo is transferred between the staging area and the rail cars via the movable transfer dock. Also disclosed is a movable transfer dock for facilitating the transfer of cargo between a staging area and a rail car, comprising: a movable platform having a plurality of wheels thereunder to support the platform on a plurality of rails; a mechanism to allow for facile movement of cargo; and a pressurized air source mounted to the platform. Also disclosed is a cargo container for use with embodiments of the present system.

Abstract: A device has lift arms (42) with links (46,46D) connected to ends of a loadspreader (40) or the links (46,46D) are swivelly connected to the lift arms (42) and aligned to hook special containers (20D). The lift arms (42) are pivotally connected to a hub (44,44B) to swing vertically. Each hub is mounted to rotate on a vertical support shaft (38) central between the ends of the loadspreader (40) or hooking and lifting links (46,46D) for each end of a load. A hydraulic cylinder (48) or ropes (168) connects each lift arm to its hub to lift and lower the arms (42) together to lift and lower the loadspreader (40) substantially level or oppositely to end dump special containers. The hubs (44,44B) can be rotated relatively horizontally to move the loadspreader (40) sidewise parallel and/or turn it to align a load.

Abstract: An airport loading system which utilizes various conveyor and elevated configurations to load aircraft rapidly while requiring significantly less processing area. The aircraft loading/unloading turn around time is significantly reduced because the pallets in which the freight is loaded are not lowered to the freight ramp but instead transferred to the system platform.

Abstract: A system for handling and transporting cargo includes a container supported by wheels mounted on detachable casterboards fitted within casterboard holders provided on the bottom wall of the container. The system also includes an apparatus that elevates the container body so that the casterboards are free to slide into and out of the casterboard holders and thus the casterboards may be attached to and detached from the container.

Abstract: This is a top lift rotary-crane transfer device and system especially suited for transferring cargo containers between a railway car and one or more conveyors or other vehicles or storage spots. It has a revolving loadspreader on the end of a revolving crane connected by chain and sprockets or gearing to cancel to hold the loadspreader in parallel positions while translating around a supporting column. Improved alignment columns on the loadspreader are carried above the ground and swing up to clear over containers set on a conveyor. The alignment columns align the loadspreader transversely over a container, well car, flat-bed trailer, or along a conveyor. The alignment of the loadspreader can be turned if desired to engage one end first and help clear an adjacent car.

Abstract: Freight is transferred between a car of a train riding on rails extending in a travel direction and a stationary street vehicle while the train is moving slowly in the travel direction by displacing a grab into a position above the rails, identifying the piece of freight and moving the grab in the travel direction synchronously with the train above the piece of freight on the train, and then engaging the grab with the piece of freight while the grab moves synchronously with the train. The piece of freight is then lifted with the grab off the train and the grab are displaced in a transfer direction transverse to the travel direction while the grab moves synchronously with the train until the piece of freight is clear of the train. Movement of the grab in the travel direction is then arrested and the grab and the piece of freight are moved in the transverse transfer direction and the piece of freight is deposited on a stationary support. The piece of freight is then moved from the support to the street vehicle.

Abstract: A gantry crane has first and second side support frames spaced by a pair of trolley beams. A lifting mechanism is connected to the trolley beams and includes a lift frame for engaging a load to be lifted. An operator cab is mounted on the first side support frame and is vertically moveable between a lowermost position and an uppermost position in an operational plane defined by the first side support frame. A cab lift cable has a length and a first end fixed to the operator cab and a second end fixed to the side support frame. A hydraulic cylinder urges the cable between its fixed first and second ends in a direction transverse to a portion of its length.

Abstract: This is a top-lifting rotary loader and system for cargo containers and is especially suited for loading and unloading double-stacking container well cars and single level railway cars, semitrailers, etc. This loader has a vertical pivot post about which turns a parallelogram linkage connecting a mast vertically supported on one or more wheels to revolve about the post and a second parallelogram linkage extending from the mast out to support a depending parallelepiped linkage frame pivotally supporting a loadspreader having depending aligning columns adjustable to align transversely both a railway and a highway vehicle, and cylinder or cam track means for lifting or lowering the the second parallelogram linkage arms to transfer a load. The loader can be automated to various degrees with cam tracks.

Abstract: For the transloading of loaded goods units (82), such as containers, interchangeable containers, semi-trailers or the like by means of transloading lifting gear (18) from or onto a slowly travelling train (6) formed by container cars (48), there is initially associated with each container car (48) to be unloaded and/or loaded a reference-point (R) the position of which, is continuously measured in relation to a fixed measuring section (40). Subsequently there is measured, in relation to the fixed measuring section (40)in the case of a unit (82) to be unloaded, the position, of at least one load attack point (81 ), andin the case of a unit (82) to be loaded, the position of locating elements (93) of the container car (48).

Abstract: A device and method for unloading frozen or congealed crude oil, oil product, or chemical cargo from a railway or highway tank car. A brief heating step uses the high thermal conductivity of metal tank walls, and the low thermal conductivity of oil or chemical cargos, to thaw a relatively thin band of cargo adjacent to the longitudinal tank wall. This thin band of thawed liquid lubricates the remainder of the plug, which remains solid, so that the plug can be mechanically ejected into a receiving trough positioned at the same height as the emerging plug; this avoids the requirement of completely thawing the frozen cargo before it can be pumped out. A tank car is disclosed having at least one end wall that can be opened, allowing a frozen or congealed mass to be physically ejected from the tank as a solidified plug.

Abstract: Apparatus for the installation for transferring piece goods between road and railborne vehicles includes a receiving and an issuing store, the outer sides of which remote from the railway line adjoin a loading roadway for the unloading or/and loading of road vehicles, each of the stores is provided with a plurality of loading lifting gears adapted to travel longitudinally for transporting load units beyond the railway lines between the roadway and at least the store, a plurality of train transfer lifting devices are provided to travel longitudinally, their operating radii extending laterally beyond the railway line in the direction towards the stores, and additional transport devices are provided which bridge the mutually separated ranges of the lifting gears and the train transfer lifting devices for transporting load units transversely to the railway line.

Abstract: A web roll transferring apparatus consisting of a roll stand, a couple of bogies which run on the rails disposed on each side of the roll stand and a turntable disposed in a roll transferring station locating in front of the roll stand so as to be rotatable horizontally; transference of a web roll being designed to be carried out between the turntable and the bogies stopping at the predetermined positions provided on each side of the turntable; characterized in that at least one jack disposed beneath the turntable, which can be operated by a fluid pressure and the like so as to tilt the turntable to one of the bogies or to the side opposite to the roll stand to a predetermined angle, and that jacks for tilting the bogies toward the turntable may be disposed at the positions by the turntable where the bogies are to stop.

Abstract: A load rotator assembly rotates and positions loads which are transferred between vehicles which move along aisles. The load rotator assembly includes a carriage which sequentially receives loads from one of the vehicles. A carriage drive assembly rotates the carriage about a vertical axis while maintaining the load on the carriage offset to one side of a vertical plane through the ends of loads at storage locations to eliminate any possibility of interference between the load and a stacker crane which transfers the load to one of the storage locations. The carriage drive assembly is operable to move the carriage toward the vertical plane. By positioning a load on the carriage with its end in the vertical plane, the stacker crane can pick up the load from the carriage and move the load to a storage location. The carriage drive assembly includes a double geneva drive mechanism having upper and lower geneva plates.

Abstract: A vertical conveying apparatus for vertically conveying an article between at least two horizontal surfaces having different vertical positions, includes a plurality of vertical tracks, vertical conveying trucks, horizontal conveying trucks, and coupling units. The vertical tracks couple the horizontal surfaces to each other. The vertical conveying trucks are capable of vertically moving along the vertical tracks. The horizontal conveying trucks are capable of moving on the horizontal surfaces. The coupling units are respectively arranged on the horizontal surfaces, and transfer the article between the vertical and horizontal conveying trucks. Each vertical track serves, throughout the entire length, as a primary side of a linear motor. The primary side is vertically divided into a plurality of sections. The sections are connected to power sources which can be independently controlled in units of sections. The vertical conveying truck serves as a secondary side of the linear motor.

Abstract: A driveway for tractor-trailers is elevated along one side having a side coupling runner mounted to roll on wheels in a track along the side of the driveway facing a single-arm rotary loader. The runner is longer than the tractor-trailer and has a lift push gate at one or both ends for lowering in front of the tractor to push the runner along its track and has recesses for vertical coupling rods or tubes on the loader's trailer-lifting turntable to engage in to move the loader with the tractor to rotate the loader into alignment under the trailer and lift for transfer. Then the tractor driver can release the fifth-wheel and lift the gate and drive away. The loader is further rotated or driven and disengaged from the runner before the runner is returned by motor drive. The loader can load the trailer removed from the tractor onto a railway car as in my earlier U.S. Pat. No.

Abstract: Garbage can be collected and fowarded in an economical manner by garbage trucks on which containers are detachably mounted. The containers can be lifted and removed from the garbage trucks and transferred to forwarding trucks in a simple operation. This is accomplished by the provision of a conveyor for transversely conveying the containers the conveyor having a receiving end which is dispsoed approximately on the level of the load platforms of the garbage trucks and which is provided at that end with tine-like arms, which are adapted to be moved under the containers when they have been unlocked. The arms are adapted to be lifted and lowered and to be extended from and to be retracted into the receiving end of the conveyor.

Abstract: The arrangement conveys cans which deliver and receive textile material, between machines delivering such material and machines which are substantially of the same type but use such material, along a closed transport or conveying path. The conveying path is of a structure comprising sections which extend parallel to each other including a siphon-shaped stand-by section containing parallel legs. Using such sections there is rendered possible a space-saving arrangement and simultaneously ready accessibility to the different sections of the conveying path and the machines for operating the machines and eliminating faults and malfunctions at the machines and the sections of the conveying path.

Abstract: The invention is a produce handling system with a self-unloading trailer and a free-standing conveyor. The trailer has an unloading conveyor in its bottom covered by removable doors. The free-standing conveyor has an infeed section that receives the produce from the trailer unloading conveyor pivoted to an out feed section which delivers the produce from the infeed section to a stacking position such as a truck.