A conveying apparatus for conveying transporting structures with at least one conveying element, in particular transportation skids with a conveying runner in the automotive industry. A conveying route has at least one route unit with at least one longitudinal profile which defines a transporting direction. A drive system for the transporting structures has at least one drive device which is arranged on the at least one longitudinal profile and has at least one drive wheel which can be rotated about an axis of rotation and can be pressed, in the form of a friction wheel, against the conveying element. A bearing structure which bears the drive wheel, is mounted such that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis, and therefore the drive wheel can be moved relative to the longitudinal profile. The pivot axis of the bearing structure runs at an angle to the axis of rotation of the drive wheel.

Conveyor system for the transporting of goods items, with one or more transport units, each of which comprises a load carrying means for accommodating a transport container, the transport units being movable along a conveyor track in or opposite to a direction of conveying, with at least one discharge facility for discharging an empty transport container or one laden with a goods item onto the load carrying means of a transport unit, and at least one retrieval facility for retrieving an empty transport container or one laden with a goods item from a load carrying means of a transport unit, where the transport containers comprise first, or small, transport containers with a first length and a first width, which is smaller than the first length, at least two of which may in each case be accommodated next to one another on a load carrying means of a transport unit with their longitudinal extension transverse to the direction of conveying, and where each transport unit is provided with a first retaining means and each small transport container is provided with a second retaining means, the first retaining means being designed to interact with the second retaining means of one or more small transport containers accommodated transversely to the direction of conveying, and to restrict movement of a small transport container in or transversely to the direction of conveying relative to the load carrying means in a predetermined measure; and method for the transporting of goods items using the conveyor system.

Conveyor system for the transporting of goods items, with one or more transport units, each of which comprises a load carrying means for accommodating a transport container, the transport units being movable along a conveyor track in or opposite to a direction of conveying, with at least one discharge facility for discharging an empty transport container or one laden with a goods item onto the load carrying means of a transport unit, and at least one retrieval facility for retrieving an empty transport container or one laden with a goods item from a load carrying means of a transport unit, where the transport containers comprise first, or small, transport containers with a first length and a first width, which is smaller than the first length, at least two of which may in each case be accommodated next to one another on a load carrying means of a transport unit with their longitudinal extension transverse to the direction of conveying, and where each transport unit is provided with a first retaining means and each small transport container is provided with a second retaining means, the first retaining means being designed to interact with the second retaining means of one or more small transport containers accommodated transversely to the direction of conveying, and to restrict movement of a small transport container in or transversely to the direction of conveying relative to the load carrying means in a predetermined measure; and method for the transporting of goods items using the conveyor system.

A slide rail assembly for moving an object on a transfer path, includes a rail, a slide arm, and a finger. The rail extends in a transfer direction of the transfer path. The slide arm is slidably connected to the rail. The slide arm is moveable in the transfer direction between a retracted position and an extended position. The finger is connected to the slide arm. The finger is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position upon movement of the slide arm between the retracted position and the extended position. In the engaged position the finger is engaged with the object such that upon movement of the slide arm from the retracted position towards the extended position the object is moved in the transfer direction along the transfer path.

A slide rail assembly for moving an object on a transfer path, includes a rail, a slide arm, and a finger. The rail extends in a transfer direction of the transfer path. The slide arm is slidably connected to the rail. The slide arm is moveable in the transfer direction between a retracted position and an extended position. The finger is connected to the slide arm. The finger is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position upon movement of the slide arm between the retracted position and the extended position. In the engaged position the finger is engaged with the object such that upon movement of the slide arm from the retracted position towards the extended position the object is moved in the transfer direction along the transfer path.

A ship or other large and heavy load may be supported on a fluid cushion comprising a two dimensional array of airbags constrained within elastic mesh compartments (81) and inflated by individual valve assemblies (188, 189, 231 . . . ) which are connected by a grid of airlines and distributed over a flexible web (60) separating respective horizontal layers of the assembly. The ship rests on an upper layer while the compartments of a lower layer are inflated and deflated in sequence to generate a travelling contraction which moves through the fluid cushion to translate its base surface over the ground in any desired direction of travel, with the load gradually moving by fluid pressure in the same direction. The deflated cushion assembly can be stored and deployed on a spool (see FIG. 1-3) rotated by a hydraulic motor. Independent claims are included to the cushion assembly including an elastic or other tension force generating means, the compartmentalized structure, the layered structure, the deployment spool, the distributed valve assemblies, and corresponding methods of operation.

Provided herein are various apparatuses, systems, and methods for improving the efficiency of medication distribution within a healthcare facility. In particular, embodiments may provide for dispensing medications needed and medications anticipated to be needed to an authorized medical person for administration to a patient in a healthcare facility. Methods may include receiving an indication of one or more unit dose medications anticipated to be needed by a patient; retrieving the one or more unit dose medications from a unit storage device; loading the one or more unit dose medications onto a transport device; transporting the one or more unit dose medications from the unit storage device to a location proximate the patient; and transferring the one or more unit dose medications from the transport device to a staging area at the location proximate the patient.

Provided herein are various apparatuses, systems, and methods for improving the efficiency of medication distribution within a healthcare facility. In particular, embodiments may provide for dispensing medications needed and medications anticipated to be needed to an authorized medical person for administration to a patient in a healthcare facility. Methods may include receiving an indication of one or more unit dose medications anticipated to be needed by a patient; retrieving the one or more unit dose medications from a unit storage device; loading the one or more unit dose medications onto a transport device; transporting the one or more unit dose medications from the unit storage device to a location proximate the patient; and transferring the one or more unit dose medications from the transport device to a staging area at the location proximate the patient.

A power wheel including a positioning device, a wireless communication module, and a controller is provided, where the controller is configured to operate in an active mode or a passive mode. When operating in the passive mode, the controller is configured to: acquire route information and moving information from the power wheel operating in the active mode by the wireless communication module, and acquire relative position information with the other power wheels by the positioning device; and determine a rotation strategy of the power wheel according to the route information, the moving information and the relative position information. When operating in the active mode, the controller is configured to: acquire the route information, and transmit the route information to the other power wheels; and determine the rotation strategy of the power wheel according to the route information. In addition, a cooperative carrying method of the power wheel is also provided.

A power wheel including a positioning device, a wireless communication module, and a controller is provided, where the controller is configured to operate in an active mode or a passive mode. When operating in the passive mode, the controller is configured to: acquire route information and moving information from the power wheel operating in the active mode by the wireless communication module, and acquire relative position information with the other power wheels by the positioning device; and determine a rotation strategy of the power wheel according to the route information, the moving information and the relative position information. When operating in the active mode, the controller is configured to: acquire the route information, and transmit the route information to the other power wheels; and determine the rotation strategy of the power wheel according to the route information. In addition, a cooperative carrying method of the power wheel is also provided.