Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously packing folded laundry articles into a container are described. A packing system includes a refillable cartridge, a queue conveyor having one or more folded laundry articles and stacks of folded laundry articles disposed thereon, at least one retractable conveyor loading end between the refillable cartridge and the queue conveyor for loading the folded laundry articles into the refillable cartridge, a driven lifter for selectively raising and lowering the into and out of the container, and a controller in operative configuration with processors and drives of all of the foregoing and one or more sensors detecting a fill height of the refillable cartridge. The refillable cartridge includes a removable receiving surface that moves from a closed position to an open position during loading of the folded laundry by the retractable conveyor and unloading of the folded laundry into the container.

A compacting system compacts particulate matter in open-top railroad gondola cars rolling on rails. The compacting system comprises a compacting station adjacent the rails and a scanning system that scans the gondola cars as they move along the rails toward the compacting station. The scanning system transmits data of the gondola car to an electronic control system. The compacting station has at least one compaction member, e.g., a plate structure or a roller, configured to contact an upper surface of the particulate matter in the gondola cars. The electronic control system controls the compacting station so that the compaction member engages with and applies force to the upper surface of the particulate matter in the gondola car so as to compress the particulate matter in the gondola. A method for compacting particulate matter in a gondola car is also shown.

A compacting system compacts particulate matter in open-top railroad gondola cars rolling on rails. The compacting system comprises a compacting station adjacent the rails and a scanning system that scans the gondola cars as they move along the rails toward the compacting station. The scanning system transmits data of the gondola car to an electronic control system. The compacting station has at least one compaction member, e.g., a plate structure or a roller, configured to contact an upper surface of the particulate matter in the gondola cars. The electronic control system controls the compacting station so that the compaction member engages with and applies force to the upper surface of the particulate matter in the gondola car so as to compress the particulate matter in the gondola. A method for compacting particulate matter in a gondola car is also shown.

A compacting system compacts particulate matter in open-top railroad gondola cars rolling on rails. The compacting system comprises a compacting station adjacent the rails and a scanning system that scans the gondola cars as they move along the rails toward the compacting station. The scanning system transmits data of the gondola car to an electronic control system. The compacting station has at least one compaction member, e.g., a plate structure or a roller, configured to contact an upper surface of the particulate matter in the gondola cars. The electronic control system controls the compacting station so that the compaction member engages with and applies force to the upper surface of the particulate matter in the gondola car so as to compress the particulate matter in the gondola. A method for compacting particulate matter in a gondola car is also shown.

A compacting system compacts particulate matter in open-top railroad gondola cars rolling on rails. The compacting system comprises a compacting station adjacent the rails and a scanning system that scans the gondola cars as they move along the rails toward the compacting station. The scanning system transmits data of the gondola car to an electronic control system. The compacting station has at least one compaction member, e.g., a plate structure or a roller, configured to contact an upper surface of the particulate matter in the gondola cars. The electronic control system controls the compacting station so that the compaction member engages with and applies force to the upper surface of the particulate matter in the gondola car so as to compress the particulate matter in the gondola. A method for compacting particulate matter in a gondola car is also shown.

Devices and methods for compaction of an asymmetric load are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a movable upper structure is connected to a stationary base structure through front end pivot linkages and rear end pivot linkages. One or more actuators impart motion to the upper structure. The motion of the upper structure is controlled by adjusting the length and position of the pivot linkages. In other embodiments, the pivot linkages are attached to a pull arm that is attached to an actuator, and the pull arm imparts motion to the upper structure.

Devices and methods for compaction of an asymmetric load are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a movable upper structure is connected to a stationary base structure through front end pivot linkages and rear end pivot linkages. One or more actuators impart motion to the upper structure. The motion of the upper structure is controlled by adjusting the length and position of the pivot linkages. In other embodiments, the pivot linkages are attached to a pull arm that is attached to an actuator, and the pull arm imparts motion to the upper structure.

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.

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 and apparatus for increasing the specific weight of a dry particulate bulk commodity while said commodity is within a transportation vessel, using an array of pokers, these pokers equipped with the means of emitting lateral vibrations into the surrounding commodity and simultaneously creating an air flow through that dry commodity towards the nearest poker of the array.