A method and apparatus are provided for sorting or retrieving items to/from a plurality of destinations areas. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles follow a track that guides the delivery vehicles to/from the destination areas, which are positioned along the track. Once at the appropriate destination area, an item is transferred between the delivery vehicle and the destination area.

Vessel transfer systems are provide herein. The systems include bogies, including a pivoting bogie and a rack and pinion bogie, as well as associated cradles, carriages, and power and control units. The pivoting bogie includes a first side frame, a second side frame, at least one wheel coupled with each of the first and second side frames, and a lift member coupled with each of the first and second side frames. The lift member is pivotably coupled to the first side frame. The rack and pinion bogie includes a frame and pinion gears coupled with the frame. The pinion gears can be selectively coupled with a gear rack, such as at a shipyard. Also provided herein are methods of use of one or both of the bogies and associated equipment, such as for moving vessels within a shipyard.

Vessel transfer systems are provide herein. The systems include bogies, including a pivoting bogie and a rack and pinion bogie, as well as associated cradles, carriages, and power and control units. The pivoting bogie includes a first side frame, a second side frame, at least one wheel coupled with each of the first and second side frames, and a lift member coupled with each of the first and second side frames. The lift member is pivotably coupled to the first side frame. The rack and pinion bogie includes a frame and pinion gears coupled with the frame. The pinion gears can be selectively coupled with a gear rack, such as at a shipyard. Also provided herein are methods of use of one or both of the bogies and associated equipment, such as for moving vessels within a shipyard.

A connect and disconnect assembly may have a first rotatable shaft and a second rotatable shaft aligned along a rotational axis. The assembly may also have a connect and disconnect device including one or more cams for selectively connecting and disconnecting the first rotatable shaft to and from the second rotatable shaft. A ship-lift bogie may include the connect and disconnect assembly.

An anchor for a support member of a track system may include an anchor body and a toothed anchor portion. The anchor body may be connectable to said support member. The toothed anchor portion may include a plurality of anchor teeth configured to engage a plurality of track teeth of a toothed portion of a track assembly. The anchor body and the toothed anchor portion may be connected to one another to collectively form a hook portion configured to engage said toothed portion of said track assembly. At least a subset of anchor teeth of the plurality of anchor teeth may be disposed one after another in a curved or angled configuration to define a curved or angled row of anchor teeth.

An anchor for a support member of a track system may include an anchor body and a toothed anchor portion. The anchor body may be connectable to said support member. The toothed anchor portion may include a plurality of anchor teeth configured to engage a plurality of track teeth of a toothed portion of a track assembly. The anchor body and the toothed anchor portion may be connected to one another to collectively form a hook portion configured to engage said toothed portion of said track assembly. At least a subset of anchor teeth of the plurality of anchor teeth may be disposed one after another in a curved or angled configuration to define a curved or angled row of anchor teeth.

Warehouse automation and methods of automatically sorting and sequencing items can be implemented to streamline and expedite order fulfillment and store replenishment processes in a cost-effective manner. Some embodiments described herein include: (i) picking or retrieving items from an inventory storage area, (ii) decanting individual items and placing them on carriers of a high-speed sorting and conveyance system, and (iii) final sortation as per customer orders. In some embodiments, the high-speed sorting and conveyance system includes multiple shuttles that each carry an individual item to a designated final order sortation system.

A speed reducer, a power system, a straddle-type rail train, and a rail transport system are disclosed. The speed reducer includes: a box body; a speed-reducing mechanism, disposed in the box body; and a support shaft, a first end of the support shaft being supported on the box body, and a second end of the support shaft being connected to a high-speed end of the speed-reducing mechanism. The speed reducer according to the present disclosure achieves a more stable connection between a drive shaft and a speed-reducing mechanism and a more stable power transmission.

Disclosed is a guide module and a driving device having the guide module. The driving device includes a moving unit mounted on a pinion interacting with a rack and moving with the pinion along a trajectory of the rack, and a guide module arranged at at least any one side of the rack, connected to the moving unit, and guiding a movement of the moving unit that moves with the pinion along the trajectory of the rack.

A method and apparatus are provided for sorting or retrieving items to/from a plurality of destinations areas. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles follow a path to/from the destination areas, which are positioned along the path. Once at the appropriate destination area, an item is transferred between the delivery vehicle and the destination area.