Disclosed is a blast furnace apparatus includes: a rotating chute; a profile measurement device configured to measure surface profiles of a burden charged into the furnace; and a tilt angle controller configured to control a tilt angle of the chute, in which the device includes a radio wave distance meter installed on the furnace top and configured to measure the distance to the surface of the burden, derives the profiles on a basis of distance data for the entire furnace obtained by scanning a detection wave of the distance meter in the furnace in a circumferential direction, and includes at least one of arithmetic units configured to command during rotation, on a basis of the surface profiles obtained, the controller to change the tilt angle of the chute, or a controller to change a rotational speed of the chute or a feed speed of the burden fed to the chute.

An auto loading feeder has a tape guide main body and a peeling blade extending in the conveyance direction with an cutting edge directed towards an upstream side configured to peel off the cover tape from the base tape of the carrier tape which is guided by the tape guide main body. An inspection device for the auto loading feeder includes a height detection sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to a height position of the peeling blade with respect to a reference point on the tape guide main body, and a height discrimination section configured to discriminate whether a height position of the peeling blade with respect to the carrier tape which is being guided by the tape guide main body stays within a predetermined range based on an output signal of the height detection sensor.

In one embodiment, a pneumatic distribution system configured to distribute a granular product to an agricultural implement includes a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, and a controller. The first pressure sensor is configured to be fluidly coupled to a storage tank configured to store the granular product and positioned upstream of the meter roller. The first pressure sensor is configured to output a first signal indicative of a first static pressure in the storage tank. The second pressure sensor is configured to be fluidly coupled to a component of the pneumatic distribution system, downstream of the meter roller. The second pressure sensor is configured to output a second signal indicative of a second static pressure downstream of the meter roller. The controller is communicatively coupled to the first pressure sensor and to the second pressure sensor. The controller is configured to determine a pressure differential, wherein the pressure differential is the difference between the first static pressure and the second static pressure. The controller may also be configured to generate a first warning when the first static pressure is below a threshold value and output the first warning to an operator interface, generate a second warning when the pressure differential is below a desired range and output the second warning to the operator interface, and generate a third warning when the pressure differential is above the desired range and output the third warning to the operator interface.

In one embodiment, a pneumatic distribution system configured to distribute a granular product to an agricultural implement includes a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, and a controller. The first pressure sensor is configured to be fluidly coupled to a storage tank configured to store the granular product and positioned upstream of the meter roller. The first pressure sensor is configured to output a first signal indicative of a first static pressure in the storage tank. The second pressure sensor is configured to be fluidly coupled to a component of the pneumatic distribution system, downstream of the meter roller. The second pressure sensor is configured to output a second signal indicative of a second static pressure downstream of the meter roller. The controller is communicatively coupled to the first pressure sensor and to the second pressure sensor. The controller is configured to determine a pressure differential, wherein the pressure differential is the difference between the first static pressure and the second static pressure. The controller may also be configured to generate a first warning when the first static pressure is below a threshold value and output the first warning to an operator interface, generate a second warning when the pressure differential is below a desired range and output the second warning to the operator interface, and generate a third warning when the pressure differential is above the desired range and output the third warning to the operator interface.

To reduce mechanical loading due to guidance of the transport unit of a conveyor installation in the form of a long stator linear motor and nevertheless ensure safe retention of the transport unit on the conveyor track of the conveyor installation in all operating conditions, the normal force (F.sub.Nn) is controlled with a controller (Rk) for controlling the normal force (F.sub.Nn). The controller (Rk) determines a normal-force-forming current component (i.sub.And) of the drive current (i.sub.An) of the drive coils interacting with the transport unit (Tn) so that a resulting normal force (F.sub.Nn) acting on the transport unit (Tn) as the sum of the normal force (F.sub.Nn), a magnetic force (F.sub.Mn) in the normal direction (N) caused by the drive magnets, and an external force (F.sub.En) in the normal direction (N) acting on the transport unit (Tn) corresponds at least to a specified retaining force (F.sub.Nnmin) in the normal direction (N).

A method of monitoring an operation in a material handling environment is described. The method can include obtaining a data stream representative of a 3D-scan of a target area based on an output from a LiDAR based sensor. Further, the method can include obtaining operational specification data. The operational specification data can include, data related to a standard operating procedure (SOP) and a pre-defined heuristic. The pre-defined heuristics can be associated with an operation to be performed by at least one of: a machine and an operator, in the material handling environment. Furthermore, the method can include generating a machine learning model. The data stream and the operational specification data can be provided as inputs to train the machine learning model. Furthermore, the method can include determining, by using the machine learning model, a performance status associated an efficiency of the execution of the operation.

A method may comprise: receiving, via a controller and through a camera, visual data corresponding to a row of latch assemblies in a cargo handling system; and determining, via the controller, whether each latch assembly in the row of latch assemblies is in a properly securing state.

A conveyor sensor arrangement is disclosed. The conveyor sensor arrangement includes a conveyor configured to move a product from a first conveyor end to a second conveyor end in a conveying direction. A plurality of fingers are pivotally arranged on a support that is positioned above the conveyor and that is arranged perpendicular to the conveying direction. Each finger of the plurality of fingers includes a first finger end and a second finger end, and the first finger end extends toward a surface of the conveyor. A single sensor is arranged above the conveyor. Contact between a leading edge of a product moving along the conveyor and at least one of the first finger ends causes a corresponding one of the second finger ends to trigger the sensor.

A supply apparatus (10) includes: a blocker (13) disposed at a fork (12) between a main conveyance path (11), a first conveyance path (12A), and a second conveyance path (12B), the blocker (13) making a switch between a first state where supply of articles from the main conveyance path (11) to the first conveyance path (12A) is blocked and a second state where supply of the articles from the main conveyance path (11) to the second conveyance path (12B) is blocked; and a controller (20) that transitions, based on respective conditions of supply of the articles to two adjacent combination weighing mechanisms (1A, 1B), the blocker (13) into at least either the first state or the second state to switch a route of conveyance of the articles.

A material handling system includes a belted conveyor that longitudinally transports low profile articles. An actuating mechanism selectively positions a counter rotating cylindrical roller brush diagonal across the conveyor surface to divert the low profile articles to a lateral destination off a side of the belted conveyor and can position the cylindrical roller brush away the belted conveyor to allow the low profile articles to transport to a longitudinal destination at a terminal end of the belted conveyor.