A transport system includes a plurality of coils; and a carriage that has a magnet and is movable in a first direction along the plurality of coils in accordance with electromagnetic force to which the magnet is subjected from the plurality of coils, and the carriage has a movable mechanism that is provided so as to be able to interlock with the magnet and is driven by electromagnetic force to which the magnet is subjected in a second direction intersecting with the first direction from the plurality of coils.

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 and apparatus are provided for sorting or retrieving items to/from a plurality of destinations areas. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles follow a path to/from the destination areas that are positioned along the path. Along the path, the vehicles are scanned to determine if any item on the vehicles extends beyond a dimensional constraint. If it is determined that an item on a vehicle extends above the pre-determined threshold, the vehicle is controlled, such as by stopping or re-directing the vehicle. Once at the appropriate destination area, an item is transferred between the delivery vehicle and the destination area.

A container packer system includes a transfer base, which receives a container packer adapted for movement longitudinally between retracted and extended positions with respect to the transfer base. The transfer base includes a power subsystem with a motor or engine driving a hydraulic pump for powering hydraulic piston-and-cylinder units of the system, including a container packer piston-and-cylinder unit for hydraulically extending and retracting the container packer. The container packer generally encloses an interior adapted for receiving bulk material for transfer to a transport container, which can comprise a standard shipping container, a trailer or some other bulk material receptacle. The container packer includes a push blade assembly longitudinally movably mounted in its interior and actuated by a push blade piston-and-cylinder unit.

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.

A sorting device operates to shorten or lengthen a length of an upper portion of a travel path for a conveyor belt by reciprocating movement of sliding support surfaces at least partially supporting the conveyor belt. The reciprocating movement of the sliding support surfaces caused by rotational movement of a connected pivoting mechanism, which may be operated by an actuator located outside of an area defined by the travel path for the conveyor belt.

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.

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.

An article transport facility comprises a travel rail installed along a travel path, and a travel vehicle which is guided along the travel path with a travel wheel rolling on a travel surface of the travel rail. The travel vehicle has a distance measuring device for measuring a distance to the travel surface. And the distance measuring device includes a pair of distance sensors spaced apart from each other along a travel direction of the travel vehicle.