Systems, methods, and apparatuses for controlling objects being loaded or unloaded from a storage structure or vehicle, such as a trailer. In example embodiments, a plurality of parcels may be stored in or on a trailer that is attached to a cab of a delivery vehicle. Upon arrival at a deposit location, the trailer loaded with the one or more parcels may be removably secured to a an adjustable platform designed to be raised to a predetermined angle for unloading of the one or more parcels. Once the adjustable platform is raised to the predetermined angle, a plurality of adjustable dividing mechanisms may be configured to pivot, allowing for the movement of a controlled volume of the one or more parcels onto the receiving platform.

A sorting facility (1) for sorting parcels (2), has a sorting conveyor (3), sorting outlets (4) distributed along said conveyor, and a monitoring and control unit (7) for controlling the conveyor so as to sort the parcels into the outlets as a function of their destination addresses. Each outlet is arranged to store a plurality of receptacles (6), each of which is associated with a parcel destination address in a memory of the unit. At each outlet, the facility has a swap-over device (8) for swapping the receptacles over. The unit controls the swap-over device so that a receptacle for which the destination address associated with it in the memory of the monitoring and control unit corresponds to the destination address of a current parcel to be sorted is held stationary in a filling position in which the receptacle is positioned under the sorting outlet so as to receive a parcel.

Provided is a method of controlling a conveyor for item transportation and an electronic apparatus therefor, the method including acquiring information associated with a plurality of destinations, identifying a weight for each of the plurality of destinations based on the acquired information, determining, in response to an item being identified, a destination among the plurality of destinations based on the identified weight, wherein the item is placed in the determined destination, and controlling the conveyor to transport the item to the determined destination.

The present disclosure provides various apparatus and methods for novel cleanspace fabricator designs. In some examples, a cleanspace fabricator may be comprised of vertically stacked tools wherein the product and the processing tools are conveyed through the cleanspace. The fabricator may comprise a processor performing cognitive computing algorithms. In some examples, the processor may be located at a remote location and communication with the cleanspace fabricator. Product may be comprised of or processed upon substrates in some examples. In other examples product may be comprised of materials contained within vessels. In some examples the product within vessels may be in liquid or powder form.

An article support device has a pair of support platforms arranged symmetrically and opposite to each other. Each of the support platforms includes a support frame, a support plate disposed on a top of the support frame and having a horizontal support top surface, and at least one positioning block installed on the horizontal support top surface. The horizontal support top surfaces of the support plates are located at a same height position. The article is supported on the horizontal support top surfaces and positioned between the positioning blocks on the support plates. An accommodation space is defined between the support plates and the support frames, and an automated guided vehicle moves into the accommodation space. An article carried on the article support device is loadable onto the automatic guided vehicle or the article carried on the automatic guided vehicle is unloadable onto the article support device.

A stacking storage arrangement having multiple container receiving spaces that are arranged in multiple rows and columns, wherein a loading space in which loading vehicles can be moved is arranged below the container receiving spaces. The operation of a stacking storage arrangement of this type is configured to be economical. For this purpose, each row is assigned a separate loading vehicle stopping position that is arranged outside of the container receiving spaces.

A maintenance system is disclosed for assisting in maintaining an automated carrier system for moving objects to be processed. The maintenance system includes a plurality of automated carriers that are adapted to move on an array of discontinuous standard track sections, each said automated carrier including a carrier body that is no larger in either a length or width direction that a standard track section, and an automated maintenance carrier that is adapted to move on the array of discontinuous track sections, said automated maintenance system including a maintenance body that is larger in at least one of a length or width direction than the standard track section.

A measurement system used in conjunction with a conveyor includes a first sensor with a first transceiver and a second sensor with a second transceiver. The transceivers transmit a first light beam and a second light beam towards a movable portion of the conveyor. A control unit communicably coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor, wherein the control unit calculates a first distance between the first sensor and the movable portion based on the first sensor and a second distance between the second sensor and the movable portion based on the second sensor. The control unit determines a difference value between the first distance and the second distance; and stops the unloader in response to the difference value being above a predefined threshold value.

A loading/unloading unit (100) for loading/unloading profiles (1) having a longitudinal main axis (A-A) of extension, at least one predefined section (Sp) being defined on said profile (1) transverse to said longitudinal axis (A-A), said unit loading/unloading unit (100) comprising a platform (10) extending longitudinally along a first axis (X-X) and transversely along a second axis (Y-Y) perpendicular to the first axis (X-X), said platform (10) being configured to receive one or more profiles (1) along said first axis (X-X), said platform (10) having a loading area (11) configured to receive one or more profiles (1) to be machined, an unloading area (12) and a pick-up area (13) spaced apart from said loading area (11) and from said unloading area (12) along the second axis (Y-Y); handling means (20) associated with said platform (10) and configured to carry said profiles (1) between the loading area (11) and the unloading area (12). The loading/unloading unit (100) comprises one or more orientation devices (30) that can be pulled up from said platform (10) along a third axis (Z-Z) perpendicular to the first axis (X-X) and the second axis (Y-Y) and are configured to rotate a profile (1) about its respective longitudinal axis (A-A).

A support apparatus includes a frame assembly with an elevated load surface for supporting a modular proppant container in a position above a ground level. A chute assembly is supported by the frame assembly beneath the elevated load surface. A gate actuator has a coupling configured to engage with a gate assembly of the modular proppant container supported on the elevated load surface and a drive mechanism extending between the frame assembly and the coupling to selectively position the coupling for adjusting the gate assembly. The support apparatus may include a base frame section having a recessed region beneath the elevated load surface providing a feed station, an on-board subsystem attached to the frame assembly for operating the support apparatus in a stand-alone mode or an in-situ weigh station configured to measure the weight of the modular proppant container supported on an elevated surface in the rectangular container bay.