A method and apparatus are provided for processing plant material to remove leaves from a plant stalk. The apparatus comprises a conveyor for transporting a plant with leaves hanging down from the stalk; and a defoliator mechanism having two opposing surfaces, the opposing surfaces being movable between (i) a disengaged position for receiving leaves hanging down from the conveyor, and (ii) an engaged position in which the opposing surfaces are configured to grip leaves received by the defoliator mechanism; wherein the opposed surfaces act in the engaged position to apply a force on the gripped leaves to separate them from the stalk.

A method and apparatus are provided for processing plant material to remove leaves from a plant stalk. The apparatus comprises a conveyor for transporting a plant with leaves hanging down from the stalk; and a defoliator mechanism having two opposing surfaces, the opposing surfaces being movable between (i) a disengaged position for receiving leaves hanging down from the conveyor, and (ii) an engaged position in which the opposing surfaces are configured to grip leaves received by the defoliator mechanism; wherein the opposed surfaces act in the engaged position to apply a force on the gripped leaves to separate them from the stalk.

A conveyance device includes a slider, and a conveyor including a linear motor and a plurality of guide rails over which the slider is transferable, and being configured to convey the slider. The conveyance device further includes a controller configured or programmed to acquire, based on a vibration in a connecting portion between the plurality of guide rails or driving electric power of the linear motor in the connecting portion between the plurality of guide rails, a transfer state of the slider between the guide rails.

A conveyance device includes a slider, and a conveyor including a linear motor and a plurality of guide rails over which the slider is transferable, and being configured to convey the slider. The conveyance device further includes a controller configured or programmed to acquire, based on a vibration in a connecting portion between the plurality of guide rails or driving electric power of the linear motor in the connecting portion between the plurality of guide rails, a transfer state of the slider between the guide rails.

A system is provided. The system includes a conveyor apparatus configured for conveying a material and a water content measurement system positioned about the conveyor apparatus for determining water content in the material. A dimension characteristic measurement system for detecting one or more dimension characteristics of the material is provided and a computer device is configured to manipulate data received from the water content measurement system and the dimension characteristic measurement system to determine a water content of the material.

A system is provided. The system includes a conveyor apparatus configured for conveying a material and a water content measurement system positioned about the conveyor apparatus for determining water content in the material. A dimension characteristic measurement system for detecting one or more dimension characteristics of the material is provided and a computer device is configured to manipulate data received from the water content measurement system and the dimension characteristic measurement system to determine a water content of the material.

A control system for a device for continuously conveying material is provided for at least one conveyor belt device adapted for continuously conveying the material and having at least one conveyor belt. The conveyor belt device can be operated by one or more drives in working processes to provide a predeterminable setpoint conveyor flow. The control system is configured to register at least one value of a power and/or energy consumed by at least one of the drives during a working process and to determine an energy efficiency for the respective working process and for the predetermined setpoint conveyor flow with the aid of the at least one value of the consumed power and/or energy. The control system also configured to provide control data relating to drive speed for the at least one drive as a function of the energy efficiency.

A control system for a device for continuously conveying material is provided for at least one conveyor belt device adapted for continuously conveying the material and having at least one conveyor belt. The conveyor belt device can be operated by one or more drives in working processes to provide a predeterminable setpoint conveyor flow. The control system is configured to register at least one value of a power and/or energy consumed by at least one of the drives during a working process and to determine an energy efficiency for the respective working process and for the predetermined setpoint conveyor flow with the aid of the at least one value of the consumed power and/or energy. The control system also configured to provide control data relating to drive speed for the at least one drive as a function of the energy efficiency.

A projection instruction device includes a processor and a memory that specifies each of a plurality of packages and store package specifying information including information related to a destination of each of the packages in a factory. The projection instruction device generates a first projection image for instructing conveyance of the received package to a first destination that is a storage place based on the package specifying information for each package, instructs the image projection device to project the first projection image, in a case that the package specifying information for each package stored in the memory indicates a second destination, generates a second projection image for instructing conveyance of the package to the second destination, and instructs the image projection device to project the second projection image.

A projection instruction device includes a processor and a memory that specifies each of a plurality of packages and store package specifying information including information related to a destination of each of the packages in a factory. The projection instruction device generates a first projection image for instructing conveyance of the received package to a first destination that is a storage place based on the package specifying information for each package, instructs the image projection device to project the first projection image, in a case that the package specifying information for each package stored in the memory indicates a second destination, generates a second projection image for instructing conveyance of the package to the second destination, and instructs the image projection device to project the second projection image.