A sheet of flexible material can be deployed or stored by unfurling or furling the sheet using one or more inflatables. After the sheet is deployed to, for example, cover a load on a flatbed trailer, the inflatable can be deflated for storage. A sheet that has been removed from the load can be stored by placing an inflatable along an edge of the sheet. The inflatable is pressurized, and the sheet is furled onto the inflatable by rolling the inflatable. The inflatable is deflated and rolled up with the sheet for storage.

A moving system comprising a master controller for monitoring and controlling a master operation comprising one or more individual movers such that each mover arrives at predefined end point at selected times. Each mover includes a mover control system that interacts with the master controller and has a predefined virtual vector path with one or more defined end points. The predefined virtual vector path comprises a plurality of discrete points, wherein each discrete point has a vector axis for use by the master controller and the mover control system to direct the mover to move such that it arrives at each defined end point at a selected time. In operation, the master controller functions to modify the predefined virtual path and sends commands to the mover control system in response to changes in the master operations.

A moving system comprising a master controller for monitoring and controlling a master operation comprising one or more individual movers such that each mover arrives at predefined end point at selected times. Each mover includes a mover control system that interacts with the master controller and has a predefined virtual vector path with one or more defined end points. The predefined virtual vector path comprises a plurality of discrete points, wherein each discrete point has a vector axis for use by the master controller and the mover control system to direct the mover to move such that it arrives at each defined end point at a selected time. In operation, the master controller functions to modify the predefined virtual path and sends commands to the mover control system in response to changes in the master operations.

A controller for use with a machine includes a machine body, and a load handling apparatus coupled to the machine body and moveable by an actuator, wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal representative of the orientation of the load handling apparatus with respect to a reference orientation and a signal representative of a moment of tilt of the machine, wherein the controller is further configured to issue a signal for use by an element of the machine including the movement actuator, which in response to the signal issued by the controller, is configured to restrict or substantially prevent a movement of the load handling apparatus when a value of the signal representative of the moment of tilt reaches a threshold value, the threshold value being dependent on the signal representative of the orientation of the load handling apparatus with respect to the reference orientation.

A colony basket and method of using the same for handling poultry from DOC through the growing process and on to a production facility comprising a harvesting system, a loading system, a transport system, an unloading and storing system, hanging system and cleaning system. The system and method performs the steps of harvesting and colonizing live poultry into a singly stackable and transportable colony basket, stacking and loading the trays on a transport, unloading and temporarily storing the poultry for subsequent processing.

A colony basket and method of using the same for handling poultry from DOC through the growing process and on to a production facility comprising a harvesting system, a loading system, a transport system, an unloading and storing system, hanging system and cleaning system. The system and method performs the steps of harvesting and colonizing live poultry into a singly stackable and transportable colony basket, stacking and loading the trays on a transport, unloading and temporarily storing the poultry for subsequent processing.

A collision detection system (1) for detecting and assessing the state of a crash guard (2), comprising at least one crash guard (2), which is provided with a sensor for detecting a collision onto or against the said crash guard (2), wherein the said system comprises a processing unit, which is provided to assess, on the basis of the signals generated by the sensor, the effect of a collision on the crash guard (2) and, if necessary, to initiate an alarm signal.

A housing for a hydraulic actuator unit of a pallet truck is disclosed. The housing includes a lift motor mount for mounting a lift motor to the housing and a pump mount for mounting a hydraulic pump to the housing, and couples the pump to the lift motor when each are mounted. The housing includes a hydraulic cylinder with a cylinder rod, which is positioned based on the fluid level in the hydraulic cylinder; a reservoir to store fluid for actuation of the cylinder rod; and one or more fluid galleries that extend, internal to the housing, among the fluid reservoir, the pump mount, and the hydraulic cylinder. A traction motor mount mounts the traction motor, which is coupled to a steering unit of the pallet truck and controls actuation of a traction wheel of the pallet truck when the traction motor is mounted to the traction motor mount.

A retention mechanism for retaining an agricultural machine in engagement with a fork assembly. The mechanism may be provided on the fork assembly, agricultural machine or split between them. The retention mechanism may be actuated by a foot associated with either the fork assembly or the agricultural machine. The retention mechanism may employ pivoting latches or a clamping mechanism that clamps upon the forks or tines.

A retention mechanism for retaining an agricultural machine in engagement with a fork assembly. The mechanism may be provided on the fork assembly, agricultural machine or split between them. The retention mechanism may be actuated by a foot associated with either the fork assembly or the agricultural machine. The retention mechanism may employ pivoting latches or a clamping mechanism that clamps upon the forks or tines.