A conveyor system including a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path, and a plurality of automated conveyor carriers supported on the rail. Each carrier includes an on-board motor and electrical power source selectively powering the motor to drive the carrier along the rail. Each of the plurality of ACCs operates to power the on-board motor from the on-board electrical power source under the direction of instructions programmed to a local controller on the respective ACC. Wherein each of the local controllers of the respective ACCs is programmed to carry out independent power level management for its own on-board electrical power source and configured to selectively operate an adaptive low power indicator to communicate a low power status based only in part on the power level of the on-board electrical power source and further based on one or more parameters of a current work cycle.

A rail transport system 10 has at least two load carrying bodies 12 which are arranged end to end. Mutually adjacent bodies 12 are coupled together by respective coupling systems 14. The rail transport system 10 further includes a plurality of axles 16 each provided at opposite ends with respective rail wheels 18 which support the bodies 12. A flexible liner 20 is supported by the bodies 12. The liner 20 is configured to span respective coupling systems 14. In this way the bodies 12 and the flexible liner 20 form a continuous load carrying structure 22. The continuous load carrying structure 22 is arranged so as to be able to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the axles 16 to facilitate unloading of cargo from the bodies 12.

A rail transport system 10 has at least two load carrying bodies 12 which are arranged end to end. Mutually adjacent bodies 12 are coupled together by respective coupling systems 14. The rail transport system 10 further includes a plurality of axles 16 each provided at opposite ends with respective rail wheels 18 which support the bodies 12. A flexible liner 20 is supported by the bodies 12. The liner 20 is configured to span respective coupling systems 14. In this way the bodies 12 and the flexible liner 20 form a continuous load carrying structure 22. The continuous load carrying structure 22 is arranged so as to be able to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the axles 16 to facilitate unloading of cargo from the bodies 12.

A carriage (11) has a carriage body (12) to extend across the top face of a track. A fixed bearing arrangement (14) includes a bearing (15a, 15b) to engage a first side of the track and having a rotational axis located in a fixed position on the carriage body. A self-adjusting bearing arrangement (19) includes a movable bearing (20) to engage a second side of the track and mounted on a pivot arm (21) having a pivotal connection (24, 25) with the carriage body. A bias spring is arranged to act on the pivot arm such as to maintain contact between the movable bearing and the second side of the track. The movable bearing (20) is not driven. The movable bearing (20) and the pivotal connection (24, 25) of the pivot arm (21) are both located at a first end of the pivot arm. The bias spring is spaced from the pivotal connection (24, 25) in a first direction. The movable bearing (20) rotates about an axis which is offset from the pivot axis of the pivot arm in a second direction which is transverse to the first direction. Such spacing in the first direction is between five and twenty times the spacing in the second direction.

A carriage (11) has a carriage body (12) to extend across the top face of a track. A fixed bearing arrangement (14) includes a bearing (15a, 15b) to engage a first side of the track and having a rotational axis located in a fixed position on the carriage body. A self-adjusting bearing arrangement (19) includes a movable bearing (20) to engage a second side of the track and mounted on a pivot arm (21) having a pivotal connection (24, 25) with the carriage body. A bias spring is arranged to act on the pivot arm such as to maintain contact between the movable bearing and the second side of the track. The movable bearing (20) is not driven. The movable bearing (20) and the pivotal connection (24, 25) of the pivot arm (21) are both located at a first end of the pivot arm. The bias spring is spaced from the pivotal connection (24, 25) in a first direction. The movable bearing (20) rotates about an axis which is offset from the pivot axis of the pivot arm in a second direction which is transverse to the first direction. Such spacing in the first direction is between five and twenty times the spacing in the second direction.

A conveyorized industrial system includes at least one work station including a heated oven chamber. A fixed, non-powered rail defines a conveyor path including an oven zone in which the rail extends through or over the heated oven chamber. An automated conveyor carrier (ACC) is suspended from the rail by a self-driving trolley having an on-board motor for driving the ACC along the rail, and by at least one additional free-rolling trolley. The ACC further comprises an enclosure containing one or both of an inverter and a battery, the enclosure having a wall defining an interior space of the enclosure. A heat protection system is provided in addition to the wall, the heat protection system operating to limit an internal temperature of the enclosure during transport along the oven zone.

A conveyor system including a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path, and a plurality of automated conveyor carriers supported on the rail. Each carrier includes an on-board motor, at least one wheel forming an interface with the rail, and an on-board power source selectively powering the on-board motor to drive the ACC along the rail. Each of the plurality of carriers operates to power the on-board motor from the on-board power source under the direction of instructions programmed to a local controller. Each of the local controllers is programmed with an algorithm for independent wear monitoring of the at least one wheel and further programmed to take at least one responsive action based on an identification of the at least one wheel being worn.

A conveyor system including a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path, and a plurality of automated conveyor carriers supported on the rail. Each carrier includes an on-board motor, at least one wheel forming an interface with the rail, and an on-board power source selectively powering the on-board motor to drive the ACC along the rail. Each of the plurality of carriers operates to power the on-board motor from the on-board power source under the direction of instructions programmed to a local controller. Each of the local controllers is programmed with an algorithm for independent wear monitoring of the at least one wheel and further programmed to take at least one responsive action based on an identification of the at least one wheel being worn.

A service vehicle operates on a rail system of a storage and retrieval grid. The service vehicle is configured for retrieving a remotely operated vehicle for service. The service vehicle includes a first vehicle area in which the remotely operated vehicle can be received by the service vehicle while the remotely operated vehicle is still on the rail system, and a second vehicle area in which the remotely operated vehicle can be supported by the service vehicle for servicing. The first vehicle area is configured as a vehicle pen for holding the remotely operated vehicle before entry to the second vehicle area. The first vehicle area is linked to the second vehicle area for passage of the remotely operated vehicle via the vehicle pen. The vehicle pen includes an entry barrier to regulate entry of the remotely operated vehicle into the service vehicle and the vehicle pen, and an exit barrier on exit from the vehicle pen into the second vehicle area to regulate the passage of the remotely operated vehicle through the first vehicle area and into the second vehicle area.

A service vehicle operates on a rail system of a storage and retrieval grid. The service vehicle is configured for retrieving a remotely operated vehicle for service. The service vehicle includes a first vehicle area in which the remotely operated vehicle can be received by the service vehicle while the remotely operated vehicle is still on the rail system, and a second vehicle area in which the remotely operated vehicle can be supported by the service vehicle for servicing. The first vehicle area is configured as a vehicle pen for holding the remotely operated vehicle before entry to the second vehicle area. The first vehicle area is linked to the second vehicle area for passage of the remotely operated vehicle via the vehicle pen. The vehicle pen includes an entry barrier to regulate entry of the remotely operated vehicle into the service vehicle and the vehicle pen, and an exit barrier on exit from the vehicle pen into the second vehicle area to regulate the passage of the remotely operated vehicle through the first vehicle area and into the second vehicle area.