Disclosed is a transfer device and a method for transferring a plurality of first tire components from a first container and a plurality of second tire components from a second container to a servicer, wherein the transfer device includes a first station and a second station for receiving the first container and the second container, respectively, wherein the first station and the second station are arranged side-by-side in a lateral direction, wherein the transfer device further includes a base and a take-out member that is mounted to said base and that is movable with respect to the base towards the first station and the second station for picking-up and taking-out one of the first tire components from the first container at the first station and for picking-up and taking-out one of the second tire components from the second container at the second station, respectively.

A garment finisher that includes an endless conveyor that transports a plurality of garment forms mounted on respective carriages successively through a garment loading zone, a steam zone for applying steam to the garments, a hot air zone for applying hot air to the garments as they pass through the hot air zone, a cool down zone for exposing the garments to cooling air, and an unloading zone where the operator removes the garment from the garment form. A plurality of form rotating stations are positioned at predetermined locations relative to the zones that rotate the forms between a position aligned with the direction of travel of the conveyor and perpendicular with the direction of travel of the conveyor.

A vehicle having a chassis (5), having a drive device (30) and having a vehicle frame (10) which is arranged on the chassis (5) and which has a receiving component (7) for the placement of at least one payload unit (L) that is situated in an operating area, wherein the vehicle (1) has a vehicle system (S) having: a control function (50) which, on the basis of control setpoint specifications, determines control commands and transmits these to the drive device (30), a docking specification function (60), which generates a setpoint docking trajectory for the vehicle (1) to attain a setpoint docking state, wherein, in the setpoint docking state, the vehicle (1) is docked by way of a contact device of the vehicle frame (10) on a docking device (101) of a tool device (100), wherein the docking specification function (60) transmits the setpoint docking trajectory to the control function (50) as a control setpoint specification for the movement of the vehicle (1) along said setpoint docking trajectory, a manoeuver specification function (70) with a manoeuver trajectory generating function which, on the basis of a respective actual tool state, determines a reference point manoeuver trajectory and, in a manner dependent thereon, uses the tool movement model to determine a vehicle manoeuver trajectory into a setpoint receiving state of the vehicle (1), along which vehicle manoeuver trajectory the vehicle (1) manoeuvers the tool device (100) from the actual tool state into a setpoint tool state in which a reference point position of the reference point is situated within a setpoint difference in relation to a payload unit position of the payload unit (L), wherein, with regard to the vehicle manoeuver trajectory, the manoeuver specification function (70) transmits control setpoint specifications, for the movement of the vehicle (1) along the vehicle manoeuver trajectory, to the drive device.

A loading device for lifting an elongated object having an elongate axis includes a frame having a first fulcrum surface and a second fulcrum surface, a first effector arm that pivots about the first fulcrum surface, a second effector arm that pivots about the second fulcrum surface, and an actuator moving the first effector arm and the second effector arm between a retracted position and a deployed position.

A loading device for lifting an elongated object having an elongate axis includes a frame having a first fulcrum surface and a second fulcrum surface, a first effector arm that pivots about the first fulcrum surface, a second effector arm that pivots about the second fulcrum surface, and an actuator moving the first effector arm and the second effector arm between a retracted position and a deployed position.

A battery cast-on-strap machine unloading apparatus includes a first and a second unit. Each unit includes a rotary drive mechanism; and, a pinion co-axial with and directly driveable by the rotary drive mechanism. The apparatus further includes an elongate rack. The rack includes teeth along a first side and an opposing second side. The first and second units are mounted adjacent to each other on the rack. Operation of each drive mechanism causes rotation of the respective pinion to be converted into linear motion of the respective unit along the rack. Adjacent rotary drive mechanisms are located on opposing sides of the rack, such that the pinion of the first unit meshes with the teeth along the first side of the rack, and the pinion of the adjacent second unit meshes with the teeth along the opposing second side of the rack.

A battery cast-on-strap machine unloading apparatus includes a first and a second unit. Each unit includes a rotary drive mechanism; and, a pinion co-axial with and directly driveable by the rotary drive mechanism. The apparatus further includes an elongate rack. The rack includes teeth along a first side and an opposing second side. The first and second units are mounted adjacent to each other on the rack. Operation of each drive mechanism causes rotation of the respective pinion to be converted into linear motion of the respective unit along the rack. Adjacent rotary drive mechanisms are located on opposing sides of the rack, such that the pinion of the first unit meshes with the teeth along the first side of the rack, and the pinion of the adjacent second unit meshes with the teeth along the opposing second side of the rack.

A device and method for providing temporary storage of dirty washing in a store in front of the continuous washing machines to be loaded. The laundry reaches the store by a first non-constant conveyor, is taken from the store by a second non-constant conveyor and transported to the continuous washing machine which is then loaded with this laundry. In commercial laundries, for example, continuous washing machines are loaded with dirty washing from laundry bags. The laundry bags hang from a rail transport system and are partly transported to the continuous washing machines under force of gravity. The laundry bags in the rail transport system establish the order of loading of the continuous washing machine. The rail transport systems are extremely susceptible to fault, in particular in their downward sloping sections for transport under force of gravity, and require a great deal of space in the laundry.

A device and method for providing temporary storage of dirty washing in a store in front of the continuous washing machines to be loaded. The laundry reaches the store by a first non-constant conveyor, is taken from the store by a second non-constant conveyor and transported to the continuous washing machine which is then loaded with this laundry. In commercial laundries, for example, continuous washing machines are loaded with dirty washing from laundry bags. The laundry bags hang from a rail transport system and are partly transported to the continuous washing machines under force of gravity. The laundry bags in the rail transport system establish the order of loading of the continuous washing machine. The rail transport systems are extremely susceptible to fault, in particular in their downward sloping sections for transport under force of gravity, and require a great deal of space in the laundry.

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.