A system for transporting a proppant for fracking may include a transport vehicle, a proppant container, a container clutch part, and a floating clutch part. The transport vehicle may include a carriage having forks for engaging fork pockets of the proppant container. The proppant container may house proppant releasable using a release gate and actuator. The container clutch part may be connected to the proppant container and configured to transfer rotational movement to the actuator. The floating clutch part may be connected to the carriage of the transport vehicle and configured to engage and selectively rotate the container clutch part when the forks engage the fork pockets. The forks and fork pockets vary in size which leads to a potential for misalignment between the container and floating clutch parts. The floating clutch part is vertically and laterally positionable to compensate for misalignments between the container and floating clutch parts.

The operation of container handling vehicles and remotely operated specialized container handling vehicles are controlled by a method such that total elapsed time or waiting time cost for transferring specified storage containers between them is minimal or optimal. The specialized container handling vehicles are operating at a level below an automated storage and retrieval system having a framework structure defining a storage grid for storing storage containers in grid cells. The storage containers are stored and retrieved by container handling vehicles running on top of the storage grid. At least one operational controller, which is in communication with a first type of controller in each container handling vehicle and a second type of controller in each specialized container handling vehicle, performs the followings steps: when a specified storage container is to be transferred from a storage column and its corresponding grid cell to a specialized container handling vehicle: assigning and instructing a container handling vehicle to pick up the storage container from the grid cell and lower it to a selected port, located at the lower end of an identified free delivery column by transmitting instructions to the first type of controller of the assigned container handling vehicle, where the port selected is included as a variable in a weighting function together with time and waiting cost to derive a trade-off of the container handling vehicle and the specialized container handling vehicle having the best matching travel time to the port; moving the container handling vehicle to the grid cell, picking up the storage container and transporting it to a grid cell of the delivery column where the port is; transmitting a signal to the specialized container handling vehicles comprising information of the selected port at a first location and when the storage container will be available at the port; based on responses from the specialized container handling vehicles, assigning and instructing a specialized container handling vehicle to retrieve the specified storage container at the selected port; moving the assigned specialized container handling vehicle to the selected port at the first location, picking up the storage container and bringing it to a second location; and/or, when a specified storage container is to be transferred to a grid cell, for storage in its corresponding storage column, by a specialized container handling vehicle: determining which port at a first location that is to be used, where the port selected is included as a variable in a weighting function together with time and waiting cost to derive a trade-off of the container handling vehicle

A remotely operated delivery vehicle for transport of a storage container between an automated storage and retrieval grid configured to store a plurality of stacks of storage containers, and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator, the remotely operated delivery vehicle comprising: rolling devices configured to move the remotely operated delivery vehicle in a horizontal plane along tracks of a delivery rail system comprising a first set of parallel rails arranged in a first direction and a second set of parallel rails arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, rolling device motors for driving the rolling devices, and a power source configured to provide propulsion power to the rolling device motors. The remotely operated delivery vehicle further comprises a container carrier configured to receive the storage container from above and onto or at least partly into the container carrier so that contents of the storage container are accessible by the at least one of the robotic operator and the human operator.

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.

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 discharging device for a vinasse tank, including a flipping component and a lifting component. The flipping component includes convex rods externally connected with opposite side surfaces of the tank, and a frame matched with the tank; the frame includes an outer frame and an inner frame; opposite inner supporting rods of the inner frame are provided with C-shaped grooves having openings downward and matched with the convex rods; respective C-shaped grooves include a through hole penetrating through lower parts of groove walls on both sides; a gear lever matched with the through hole and a first driving mechanism for driving the gear lever to move left and right axially along the through hole are arranged in the inner supporting rod; and a second driving mechanism for driving the inner frame to flip is arranged at a joint between the inner supporting rod and an outer supporting rod.

A discharging device for a vinasse tank, including a flipping component and a lifting component. The flipping component includes convex rods externally connected with opposite side surfaces of the tank, and a frame matched with the tank; the frame includes an outer frame and an inner frame; opposite inner supporting rods of the inner frame are provided with C-shaped grooves having openings downward and matched with the convex rods; respective C-shaped grooves include a through hole penetrating through lower parts of groove walls on both sides; a gear lever matched with the through hole and a first driving mechanism for driving the gear lever to move left and right axially along the through hole are arranged in the inner supporting rod; and a second driving mechanism for driving the inner frame to flip is arranged at a joint between the inner supporting rod and an outer supporting rod.

Example embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to food preparation systems and associated automated gantry systems. An example automated food preparation system may include a housing that supports one or more baskets therein and a gantry system. The gantry system may include a retrieval arm and a drive system operably coupled with the retrieval arm. The drive system may cause movement of the retrieval arm in at least two directions relative to the housing. In operation, the retrieval arm may engage a basket and cause movement of the basket about the housing. In some instances, an ejection mechanism is provided that receives the basket from the retrieval arm and causes removal of the contents of the basket.

Example embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to food preparation systems and associated automated gantry systems. An example automated food preparation system may include a housing that supports one or more baskets therein and a gantry system. The gantry system may include a retrieval arm and a drive system operably coupled with the retrieval arm. The drive system may cause movement of the retrieval arm in at least two directions relative to the housing. In operation, the retrieval arm may engage a basket and cause movement of the basket about the housing. In some instances, an ejection mechanism is provided that receives the basket from the retrieval arm and causes removal of the contents of the basket.