An unloading device includes a loading assembly, an unloading assembly, and an alignment assembly. The loading assembly includes a loading rack and a loading tray. The unloading assembly includes a conveyor belt and a movable rod. The movable rod pushes the loading tray toward the conveyor belt. The alignment assembly includes a sensing member, a processor, and a driving member. The sensing member senses a first distance between different positions of the loading tray and the sensing member. A second distance is defined between the sensing member and the loading rack. The processor calculates a position deviation of the loading tray relative to the conveyor belt and controls the driving member to drive the loading rack to move to compensate for the position deviation.

A robot comprises an auger-based drive system, a memory, and a processor coupled with the memory and configured to control movement of the robot, via the auger-based drive system, relative to grain in a flat storage bulk store. The processor is further configured to direct traversal, by the robot, of a portion of a pile of the grain in the flat storage bulk store. The traversal is performed to incite sediment gravity flow in the portion of pile of grain system to walk-down the grain in the portion. The sediment gravity flow is incited by disruption of viscosity of the portion of the pile of grain through agitation of the portion of the pile of grain by auger rotation of the auger-based drive.

A method and system for metering proppant discharged from a storage container is disclosed. In certain embodiments, a method may comprise loading a known amount of a first proppant type into a storage container, detecting proppant at or adjacent to a discharge outlet of the storage container via one or more sensors coupled to the storage container, operating a metering device at a predetermined speed, wherein the metering device may be coupled to the discharge outlet of the storage container, and wherein the metering device may comprise one or more pockets for receiving the first proppant type. In certain embodiments, the method may further comprise dispensing a known amount of the first proppant type from the storage container via the metering device, wherein an encoder coupled to the metering device may emit pulses during the dispensing. In certain embodiments, the method may further comprise determining an amount of the first proppant type dispensed by at least one pocket of the one or more pockets of the metering device based at least in part on the pulses and determining a relationship between the known amount of the first proppant type dispensed by each pocket and a speed of the metering device.

A method and system for metering proppant discharged from a storage container is disclosed. In certain embodiments, a method may comprise loading a known amount of a first proppant type into a storage container, detecting proppant at or adjacent to a discharge outlet of the storage container via one or more sensors coupled to the storage container, operating a metering device at a predetermined speed, wherein the metering device may be coupled to the discharge outlet of the storage container, and wherein the metering device may comprise one or more pockets for receiving the first proppant type. In certain embodiments, the method may further comprise dispensing a known amount of the first proppant type from the storage container via the metering device, wherein an encoder coupled to the metering device may emit pulses during the dispensing. In certain embodiments, the method may further comprise determining an amount of the first proppant type dispensed by at least one pocket of the one or more pockets of the metering device based at least in part on the pulses and determining a relationship between the known amount of the first proppant type dispensed by each pocket and a speed of the metering device.

A seed containing and dispensing system may include a mobile base, a primary hopper on the mobile base with an interior to hold particulate material and having a dispensing opening, and a conveyor to transfer particulate material received by the conveyor from the hopper. The conveyor may rotatable with respect to the primary hopper about a rotation axis to at least two positions. The system also including a dispensing apparatus configured to dispense a substance into the particulate material conveyed by the conveyor, and the dispensing apparatus may be configured to move with the conveyor as the conveyor rotates with respect to the primary hopper to permit dispensing of the substance at each of the at least two positions.

A seed containing and dispensing system may include a mobile base, a primary hopper on the mobile base with an interior to hold particulate material and having a dispensing opening, and a conveyor to transfer particulate material received by the conveyor from the hopper. The conveyor may rotatable with respect to the primary hopper about a rotation axis to at least two positions. The system also including a dispensing apparatus configured to dispense a substance into the particulate material conveyed by the conveyor, and the dispensing apparatus may be configured to move with the conveyor as the conveyor rotates with respect to the primary hopper to permit dispensing of the substance at each of the at least two positions.

There is provided a powder feeder (10, 10′) comprising a main chamber (12, 12′) with a gas inlet (14, 14′) and a powder outlet (16), at least one secondary chamber (20, 20′) configured to receive powder and a shaver element (22, 40, 50), wherein the shaver element (22, 40, 50) is positioned directly above an opening (26, 26′) in the at least one secondary chamber (20, 20′). The secondary chamber (20, 20′) further comprises a piston (28, 28′) movable towards the shaver element (22, 40, 50) so as to urge powder upwards. Examples of a shaver element include a rotatable screw (22), a conveyor belt (40) and a rotating disc (50) with protrusions (54).

Aspects of the present disclosure provide an automatic self-unloading material handling system that replace conventional material handling unloading systems. The automatic material handling unloading comprising a container with a roller assembly floor; a moveable bulkhead; a control enclosure; gear drive guide track assemblies; gear drive assemblies; a power track; a battery; and a power collector. Particularly, an Automatic self-unloading material handling system constructed as set out herein, can be configured and programmed to satisfy user-specified dimensions and load ratings, dynamic loading, ect, while provide a material handling unloading system that is lighter than what is realized in conventional unloading systems at comparable dimensions and load ratings. The automatic self-unloading material handling system is programmable with automated features to unload cargo from a container autonomously.

Features for loading, transporting and unloading of items are disclosed. Systems, devices and methods for such operations using a tray are described. In some embodiments, a tray having a moveable bottom allows for switching between a configuration for loading and unloading items in and out of the tray and a configuration for transportation of items inside the tray. The trays may also be stacked, for transportation of multiple trays at once, and nested, for saving space when storing the trays. In some embodiments, the trays may be used in conjunction with loading and unloading systems.

A grain storehouse includes a granary, a grain loading system, and a grain unloading system. The granary includes multiple storages arranged in a network format. The bottom of each storage is a tapered structure with a tapered surface downward, and the bottom of the tapered structure provides a switchable blanking exit. The grain loading system includes a lattice girder structure, a plurality of conveyors and multiple hoppers. The grain unloading system includes at least one conveyor that is located under the blanking exit. The present invention improves the automaticity and efficiency of grain loading and unloading of the grain storehouse, so that the grain can be transferred quickly.