This invention quickly supplies a predetermined amount of powder from a hopper to a recoater. A powder supply apparatus includes, as its feature, a hopper, a powder spreader, a powder replenisher, and a pivoting unit. The hopper of the powder supply apparatus stores a powder. The powder spreader spreads the powder on a shaping surface. The powder replenisher of the powder supply apparatus is provided between the hopper and the powder spreader, and replenishes the powder spreader with a predetermined amount of powder. The pivoting unit of the powder supply apparatus causes the powder replenisher to pivot.

A hopper includes a main body having a first opening to which articles are thrown in and a second opening from which the articles are discharged, a gate capable of being opened and closed with respect to the second opening, a restricting portion configured to restrict an opening and closing operation of the gate with respect to the second opening, and an attaching portion capable of being attached and detached with respect to an attached portion provided on a weighing apparatus. The restricting portion starts restricting the opening and closing operation in a state where the gate is closed with respect to the second opening in conjunction with an operation of detaching the attaching portion from the attached portion.

A hopper includes a main body having a first opening to which articles are thrown in and a second opening from which the articles are discharged, a gate capable of being opened and closed with respect to the second opening, a restricting portion configured to restrict an opening and closing operation of the gate with respect to the second opening, and an attaching portion capable of being attached and detached with respect to an attached portion provided on a weighing apparatus. The restricting portion starts restricting the opening and closing operation in a state where the gate is closed with respect to the second opening in conjunction with an operation of detaching the attaching portion from the attached portion.

A load planning platform generates a preliminary packing solution based on loading constraints for a three-dimensional container and parameters for a set of items to be loaded into the three-dimensional container, wherein the preliminary packing solution simulates placing unpacked items into the three-dimensional container according to one or more loading rules based on a sequence in which the set of items are to be unloaded from the three-dimensional container. The load planning platform generates a set of packing solutions by applying one or more available moves changing a simulated placement for one or more items in the set of items. The load planning platform selects a final packing solution from the set of packing solutions based on one or more optimization criteria and provides access to a three-dimensional rendering of the final packing solution and instructions for implementing the final packing solution.

A load planning platform generates a preliminary packing solution based on loading constraints for a three-dimensional container and parameters for a set of items to be loaded into the three-dimensional container, wherein the preliminary packing solution simulates placing unpacked items into the three-dimensional container according to one or more loading rules based on a sequence in which the set of items are to be unloaded from the three-dimensional container. The load planning platform generates a set of packing solutions by applying one or more available moves changing a simulated placement for one or more items in the set of items. The load planning platform selects a final packing solution from the set of packing solutions based on one or more optimization criteria and provides access to a three-dimensional rendering of the final packing solution and instructions for implementing the final packing solution.

A grain facility has a grain receiving station and a grain transport line with a grain elevator, a distributor with at least one input spout, and at least one grain bin. The grain transport line moves grain from the grain receiving station to one of the at least one grain bins and the distributor directs the grain to a selected bin of the at least one grain bin. The grain facility further includes an optical sensing system having at least one optical sensor positioned in the grain transport line at or before the distributor, wherein the optical sensing system senses the type of grain in the grain transport line. A control system determines if the grain passing through the grain transport line is suitable for the selected grain bin and produces an alarm if the grain in the grain transport line is not suitable for the selected grain bin.

In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for sequencing portable containers of bulk material to provide continuous bulk material usage at an outlet are provided. The disclosed sequencing techniques may involve identifying a sequence for opening different portable containers of bulk material (or identifying the next portable container to open) and automatically actuating the discharge gates of the portable containers in the desired sequence to provide a continuous flow of bulk material to the outlet (e.g., blender unit). The identified sequence may be executed through a control system communicatively coupled to actuators used to open/close the discharge gates of the portable bulk material containers. A GUI may be communicatively coupled to the control system to allow an operator to select the desired sequence for execution by the control system and to display information regarding the portable bulk material containers.

In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for sequencing portable containers of bulk material to provide continuous bulk material usage at an outlet are provided. The disclosed sequencing techniques may involve identifying a sequence for opening different portable containers of bulk material (or identifying the next portable container to open) and automatically actuating the discharge gates of the portable containers in the desired sequence to provide a continuous flow of bulk material to the outlet (e.g., blender unit). The identified sequence may be executed through a control system communicatively coupled to actuators used to open/close the discharge gates of the portable bulk material containers. A GUI may be communicatively coupled to the control system to allow an operator to select the desired sequence for execution by the control system and to display information regarding the portable bulk material containers.

Disclosed is a method for unpacking a component 16 manufactured by means of a generative manufacturing process, from a particulate material fill 18. In the method, an auxiliary frame 20 having a vertical circumferential wall structure 22, open downward, is arranged above a vertical circumferential wall structure 12 of a construction box 10. In addition, a construction platform 14 of the construction box 10 is displaced upward, so that the particulate material fill 18 containing the component 16 is transferred from the construction box 10 to the auxiliary frame 20. In addition, the auxiliary frame 20 with the particulate material fill 18 containing the component, and the construction box 10 are moved away from each other, and the component 16 is unpacked from the particulate material fill 18 at least in part and is removed from the auxiliary frame 20.

Disclosed is a method for unpacking a component 16 manufactured by means of a generative manufacturing process, from a particulate material fill 18. In the method, an auxiliary frame 20 having a vertical circumferential wall structure 22, open downward, is arranged above a vertical circumferential wall structure 12 of a construction box 10. In addition, a construction platform 14 of the construction box 10 is displaced upward, so that the particulate material fill 18 containing the component 16 is transferred from the construction box 10 to the auxiliary frame 20. In addition, the auxiliary frame 20 with the particulate material fill 18 containing the component, and the construction box 10 are moved away from each other, and the component 16 is unpacked from the particulate material fill 18 at least in part and is removed from the auxiliary frame 20.