A two-way horticulture trolley includes a frame, track-wheels for driving the trolley forward or backwards in a first direction over tracks that extend in the first direction along plant growing paths, floor-wheels for driving the trolley sideways in a second direction over a corridor that extends in the second direction along ends of the tracks, driving motors configured to rotate the track-wheels and/or floor-wheels around their horizontal center axis for driving the trolley forward or backwards respectively sideways, and a control unit for controlling the driving motors. The floor-wheels are each individually turnable around an own vertical axis relative to the frame between at least the first and second direction, where one or more turning actuators are provided for controlling the floor-wheels to turn individually around their own vertical axis between at least the first and second direction and vice versa.

A ropeway or cable system is disclosed having at least two cable loops (1,20) that form a track, a first loop extending directly between two end station embarking or disembarking stations of the track, and a second loop extending between the two end stations via intermediate embarking or disembarking stations) or turning towers on the track. A vehicle (2) is carried from a loop, the vehicle (2) having a cable gripping mechanism (37, 38, 43, 44), the cable gripping mechanism being capable of switching attachment of the vehicle between two or more cable loops (1,20), so as to change the loop that carries the vehicle (2).

A method of constructing a conveyor system includes decommissioning an existing conveyor system by removing electrification or a powered chain from a conveyor rail. Carriers of the existing conveyor system are removed from the rail. An automated conveyor carrier (ACC) is installed onto the rail so that a drive wheel of a self-driving trolley of the ACC is put into contact with the rail. A battery is installed on the ACC. Electrical connection is established from the battery to the self-driving trolley.

Provided is a transfer cart that that has a simple structure, facilitates operation in front and back spaces of a moving direction, and does not take up a redundant transfer space in a locations where operation is not performed. The transfer cart includes a running frame, a main carrier capable of carrying thereon an object to be transferred, and moving-direction operation decks disposed at front and back of the moving direction on the main carrier and running frame. The moving-direction operation decks are configured to change angle with the main carrier in accordance with the radius of curvature of a track, and configured to have a variable height mechanism to be able to change height thereof in the up and down direction.

A conveyor system includes a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path. An automated conveyor carrier (ACC) is supported by the rail and drivable along the rail by an on-board motor in a self-driving trolley of the ACC, the motor powering a drive wheel. The rail defines a first section and a second section separate from the first section. The conveyor system is adapted to provide a first amount of traction for the ACC on the rail in the first section and a second amount of traction, greater than the first amount of traction, in the second section.

Among other things, a connection assembly for motion along a rail is disclosed. The connection assembly can include a first plate assembly, a second plate assembly, and a release assembly. The first plate assembly can include a first stop mounted to a first base. The second plate assembly can include a second stop mounted to a second base and a post mounted to the second base. The release assembly can include a rod and a spring. The rod can include an outward extension. The spring can be disposed between the extension and the second stop. The release assembly can be configured to occupy: a first state such that the spring pushes the extension against the first stop and thereby biases the first base away from the second base; and a second state such that the spring pushes the extension against the post.

A method of operating a conveyor system includes providing a fixed, non-powered first rail supporting first and second trolleys of a first carrier, at least one of which is self-driving. The first and second trolley are conveyed in line along the first rail with a load bar therebetween. The first carrier defines a length measured along the first rail and a width measured transverse. The first carrier is conveyed to a branch point where a second rail branches from the first rail. The second trolley is conveyed along the second the rail to turn the first carrier so that it is conveyed with the load bar traversing between the first and second rails. The width is substantially less than the length such that the turning of the first carrier reduces an occupancy of the first carrier along the first rail.

Conveying equipment with utilization of a conveying traveling body includes a conveying traveling body which includes a plurality of trolleys in a traveling direction and a load bar connecting these trolleys and a friction drive section which is provided in the traveling path of the conveying traveling body. The load bar is provided immediately below a pair of left and right guide rails for supporting and guiding the conveying traveling body, and a friction drive wheel which is pressure-contacted with a side surface of the load bar to propel the conveying traveling body in the friction drive section is arranged below the guide rails.

A conveyor installation for the transportation of articles along a predefined path includes a running rail, at least one running carriage which is freely movable along the running rail, and a driven engagement device which extends at least in sections along the running rail and which includes a multiplicity of engagement elements movable along the running rail. Reliable and quiet operation is achieved in that the engagement elements are movable back and forth between two stable positions, wherein, in the first stable position, the engagement elements can be moved relative to the at least one running carriage past the running carriage without entering into engagement with the running carriage (non-engagement position), and wherein, in the second stable position, the engagement elements, during a movement relative to the at least one running carriage past the running carriage, compulsorily enter into engagement with the at least one running carriage (engagement position).

An assembly for use with a power and free conveyor comprises a track member adapted to be slidingly received by a receiver portion of a power and free conveyor power track. The track member is slidingly moveable from a first position to a second position such that, when in the first position, the proximal end is retained within the receiver portion and the distal end is proximate to a connection portion. When in the second position, the proximal end is retained within the receiver portion and there is a gap between the distal end and the connection portion. A power and free conveyor comprising the assembly is also provided. A method of servicing a power and free conveyor comprising a sliding track member is also provided.