Aspects of the present disclosure provide an automatic self-unloading material handling system that replace conventional material handling unloading systems. The automatic material handling unloading comprising a container with a roller assembly floor; a moveable bulkhead; a control enclosure; gear drive guide track assemblies; gear drive assemblies; a power track; a battery; and a power collector. Particularly, an Automatic self-unloading material handling system constructed as set out herein, can be configured and programmed to satisfy user-specified dimensions and load ratings, dynamic loading, ect, while provide a material handling unloading system that is lighter than what is realized in conventional unloading systems at comparable dimensions and load ratings. The automatic self-unloading material handling system is programmable with automated features to unload cargo from a container autonomously.

An automated carrier system is disclosed for moving objects to be processed. The automated carrier system includes a discontinuous plurality of track sections on which an automated carrier may be directed to move, and the automated carrier includes a base structure on which an object may be supported, and at least two wheels assemblies being pivotally supported on the base structure for pivoting movement from a first position to a second position to effect a change in direction of movement of the carrier.

An automated carrier system is disclosed for moving objects to be processed. The automated carrier system includes a discontinuous plurality of track sections on which an automated carrier may be directed to move, and the automated carrier includes a base structure on which an object may be supported, and at least two wheels assemblies being pivotally supported on the base structure for pivoting movement from a first position to a second position to effect a change in direction of movement of the carrier.

A modular loading and unloading system wherein modular units can be simply added to a base unit, or main unit, in a desired configuration that fulfill capacity and footprint needs of a manufacturer at any moment, for example when the manufacturer's business expands, thus considerably reducing the time and cost of modifying existing manufacturing systems, such as a laser-based parts cutting system.

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 control unit performs first loading control that is to be performed when a target article that has been determined by a determination unit as being an article that is in an appropriate orientation is to be loaded onto a first supporting member in the appropriate orientation, and second loading control that is to be performed when a target article that has been determined by the determination unit as being an article that is in an inappropriate orientation is to be loaded onto the first supporting member in the appropriate orientation. The first loading control is performed to control a loading operation unit to suck and support a first sucking-target surface of a target article that is supported by the second supporting member, from above, then move a sucking portion, and thereafter release the target article from the state of being sucked by the sucking portion, and the second loading control is performed to control the loading operation unit to perform an orientation changing operation, and thereafter release the target article from the state of being sucked by the sucking portion when the target article is located immediately above the first supporting member and the first sucking-target surface faces upward.

An autonomously operated system is configured to load at least one unbound deformable article into a container. The system includes a refillable cartridge configured to receive therein the article, at least one extendable conveyor being configured to extend into the refillable cartridge and deposit the article within the refillable cartridge, a driven lifter configured to selectively lower and raise the refillable cartridge relative to the at least one extendable conveyor, one or more sensors configured output a signal indicative of a fill height of the refillable cartridge, and at least one controller configured to, in response a received signal form the one or more sensors, instruct the driven lifter to at least one of raise and lower the refillable cartridge to at least one of one or more loading heights for receiving the article, and lower the refillable cartridge to an unloading position within the container.

A method for automated unloading of items from a container includes moving a nose ramp of an unloader under a base belt, which is positioned over a floor of the container. A stack of items are located in the container over the base belt. The method includes removing items from a bottom of the stack of items via an extraction conveyor of the unloader. The method also includes measuring a density of items transitioning onto the extraction conveyor from the base belt. The method further includes controlling an unloader advance speed relative to the container in dependence of the measured density of items transitioning onto the extraction conveyor. Thereby, a bulk flow of items having a substantially steady density is delivered by an output conveyor of the unloader positioned downstream of the extraction conveyor.

The invention relates to a rock processing machine (10) having a feed hopper (40) and a process unit (20) downstream thereof, wherein a conveying device, in particular a hopper discharge belt (12), is assigned to the feed hopper (40), wherein the feed hopper (40) has a hopper side wall (42), and wherein a side-wall heightening (44) is assigned to the hopper side wall (42), which side wall heightening can be swiveled between a folded-down working position and a folded transport position. In such a rock processing machine, the requirements of occupational safety are effectively taken into account in a simple manner if provision is made that an operating unit (50) having a lever (51) for swiveling the side-wall heightening (44) is assigned to the side-wall heightening (44), wherein a transmission element (52) is used to couple the lever (51) to the side-wall heightening (44), and that the side-wall heightening (44) is secured in the folded-down working position using a movable locking element (60).

A weigh hopper assembly including a plurality of adjacently aligned weigh hoppers connected via a frame, and longitudinal conveyor mechanism extending along a top portion of the weigh hopper assembly. Each weigh hopper has independent load cells in order to individually weigh the material discharged into the weigh hopper. The conveyor mechanism includes a plurality of gates along a bottom surface of the conveyor mechanism, each gate being aligned with a corresponding weigh hopper of the plurality of weigh hoppers. The conveyor mechanism is in turn connected to a plurality of product bins. A top portion of the conveyor mechanism is in communication with a plurality of product bins via a series of inlet chutes and gates. The weigh hoppers are aligned adjacent to each other and spaced so that each weigh hopper aligns with the transport vehicle.