A nip guard (10) for use with a conveyor system which includes a pulley (84) and a flexible conveyor belt (88) which is engaged with and which passes over the pulley (84), the conveyor belt (88) including an outer load-carrying surface (82) and an inner surface (86), wherein the nip guard (10) includes supporting structure (64, 66, 60) and, mounted to the supporting structure (60, 64, 66), at least one belt scraping element (46) configured to be in scraping contact with the inner surface (86) of the belt (88).

A nip guard (10) for use with a conveyor system which includes a pulley (84) and a flexible conveyor belt (88) which is engaged with and which passes over the pulley (84), the conveyor belt (88) including an outer load-carrying surface (82) and an inner surface (86), wherein the nip guard (10) includes supporting structure (64, 66, 60) and, mounted to the supporting structure (60, 64, 66), at least one belt scraping element (46) configured to be in scraping contact with the inner surface (86) of the belt (88).

A conveyor system is configured to prevent objects from getting caught or pinched between rollers and belts. The system includes a base, frames on opposite sides of the base, a plurality of rollers each having a bearing, an attachment axle, a drive shaft, a drive belt connecting the draft shaft to one of the bearings, and connecting belts connecting the bearings. The bearings may be disposed between the frames such that the drive belt and connecting belts are protected between the frames or may be disposed within the frames such that the drive belt and connecting belts are protected within the frame when a cover is attached to the frame.

A conveyor system is configured to prevent objects from getting caught or pinched between rollers and belts. The system includes a base, frames on opposite sides of the base, a plurality of rollers each having a bearing, an attachment axle, a drive shaft, a drive belt connecting the draft shaft to one of the bearings, and connecting belts connecting the bearings. The bearings may be disposed between the frames such that the drive belt and connecting belts are protected between the frames or may be disposed within the frames such that the drive belt and connecting belts are protected within the frame when a cover is attached to the frame.

A transport system can include a first chamber having a body that is configured to fully enclose a biodegradable container placed within the first chamber, the biodegradable container having food waste therein, and the biodegradable container being sealed from the ambient environment, and a disinfection system being configured to disinfect an object placed within the body. The transport system can include a second chamber having a composting system, the composting system being configured to begin to compost an object placed within the second chamber, and an enclosure that houses the first chamber and the second chamber. The first chamber, and the second chamber can be configured to be placed within a cargo space of a vehicle.

A transport system can include a first chamber having a body that is configured to fully enclose a biodegradable container placed within the first chamber, the biodegradable container having food waste therein, and the biodegradable container being sealed from the ambient environment, and a disinfection system being configured to disinfect an object placed within the body. The transport system can include a second chamber having a composting system, the composting system being configured to begin to compost an object placed within the second chamber, and an enclosure that houses the first chamber and the second chamber. The first chamber, and the second chamber can be configured to be placed within a cargo space of a vehicle.

Systems and methods of dynamically charging coal in coke ovens related to the operation and output of coke plants including methods of automatically charging a coke oven using a charging ram in communication with a control system to increase the coke output and coke quality from coke plants. In some embodiments, the control system is capable of moving the charging ram in a horizontal first direction, a horizontal second direction and a vertical third direction while charging coal into the oven. In some embodiments, the coal charging system also includes a scanning system configured to scan an oven floor to generate an oven floor profile and/or oven capacity. The scanning system used in combination with the control system allows for dynamic leveling of the charging ram throughout the charging process. In some embodiments, the charging ram includes stiffener plates and support members to increase the mechanical strength of the charging ram and decrease the sag of the charging ram at a distal end.

The invention relates to an expansion joint (10) for connecting regions of a rail-based grid storage system (50, 50′, 50″; 104, 104′, 104″), the expansion joint (10) comprising: a first rail element (12) and a second rail element (11), the rail elements (12, 11) being elongate and configured to slide relative to one another in a longitudinal direction in a junction area where they overlap, the expansion joint (10) having a profiled upper surface that defines one or more tracks (27′, 27″) for supporting container handling vehicles (200, 300, 400), the tracks (27′, 27″) extending from the first rail element (12) through the junction area to the second rail element (11), wherein in the junction area, each rail element (11, 12) provides a portion of the or each track (27′, 27″) of the profiled upper surface so that there is a transition extending along the expansion joint (10) from the first rail element (12) to the second rail element (10) for the or each track (27′, 27″). The invention further relates to an automated storage and retrieval system comprising said expansion joint (10) and a method of connecting regions (50, 50′, 50″; 104, 104′, 104″) of a rail-based grid storage system and/or delivery rail system using one or more of the expansion joints (10).

The invention relates to an expansion joint (10) for connecting regions of a rail-based grid storage system (50, 50′, 50″; 104, 104′, 104″), the expansion joint (10) comprising: a first rail element (12) and a second rail element (11), the rail elements (12, 11) being elongate and configured to slide relative to one another in a longitudinal direction in a junction area where they overlap, the expansion joint (10) having a profiled upper surface that defines one or more tracks (27′, 27″) for supporting container handling vehicles (200, 300, 400), the tracks (27′, 27″) extending from the first rail element (12) through the junction area to the second rail element (11), wherein in the junction area, each rail element (11, 12) provides a portion of the or each track (27′, 27″) of the profiled upper surface so that there is a transition extending along the expansion joint (10) from the first rail element (12) to the second rail element (10) for the or each track (27′, 27″). The invention further relates to an automated storage and retrieval system comprising said expansion joint (10) and a method of connecting regions (50, 50′, 50″; 104, 104′, 104″) of a rail-based grid storage system and/or delivery rail system using one or more of the expansion joints (10).

Various embodiments are directed to conveyor apparatuses and methods of using the same. In various embodiments, a conveyor apparatus comprises a conveyor frame including a plurality of opposing sidewalls extending in a length direction and a bottom panel comprising a hinged configuration relative to the opposing sidewalls such that the bottom panel is configured for movement throughout a range of rotational motion between a closed position and an open position; and a bottom panel positioning assembly comprising: a mounting bracket secured to one of the opposing sidewalls; a positioning element slidably engaged relative to the mounting bracket and configurable between a nominal position and an engaged position; and a retention element configured to bias the positioning element towards the nominal position; wherein the bottom panel positioning assembly is configured to facilitate selective arrangement of the bottom panel based at least in part on an arrangement of the positioning element.