A load-handling device for lifting and moving containers stacked in stacks in a storage structure, the storage structure including, above the stacks of containers, a first set of tracks extending in a first direction and a second set of tracks extending in a second direction which is transverse to the first direction, the load-handling device being configured to move on the tracks above the stacks, the load-handling device including at least one wheel which is provided by a combined wheel and wheel-control unit having the at least one wheel and a controller configured to control rotation of the at least one wheel.

A plant cultivation system. The system utilizes a trolley conveyor for transport of plants in plant containers. The trolley conveyor uses straight runs of track connected by curved track portions. The straight runs of track of the trolley conveyor are spaced closely together. The trolley conveyor is used to move plant containers to a workshop for planting, fertilization, watering, cultivation, and harvesting of plants or portions thereof, and for packaging of plants or portions thereof for shipment.

Method and plant for producing tyres for vehicle wheels in which: each vulcanizer (30) of a plurality of vulcanizers (30) is associated with a respective pick-up logic of green tyres from at least one storage area (20) of green tyres; upon each request to vulcanize a green tyre in a vulcanizer (30) of the plurality of vulcanizers (30), the pick-up logic associated with said vulcanizer (30) is applied to select and pick up a green tyre from the storage area (20); the respective pick-up logic associated with each vulcanizer (30) comprises a first pick-up rule of green tyres from the storage area (20) and, for at least one of the plurality of vulcanizers (30), the first pick-up rule is changed into at least one second pick-up rule at least once during the production in the plant (1) of at least one lot of tyres.

A non-contact support platform with open-loop control, including: a surface, to support a workpiece by fluid-bearing of fluid flowing through a plurality of nozzles, a supply system, connected to the surface and configured to maintain the fluid-bearing by applying pressure to cause flow of the fluid out of a subset of the plurality of nozzles, and a controller, to control fluid flow in the supply system with an open-loop circuit to support the workpiece while it moves over the non-contact support platform, wherein the fluid flow is controlled based on at least parameter of a group of workpiece parameters consisting of a position of the workpiece, dimensions of the workpiece and a velocity of the workpiece while supported by the surface.

An industrial transportation system includes one or more movers and a robot system. The robot system is configured to load one or more items on the surface of respective movers and unload the one or more items from the surface of respective movers. Each of the one or more movers includes a first surface configured to provide reversible adhesion between the mover and an item loaded on the mover. The reversible adhesion of the surface is activated at loading and deactivated at unloading.

A linear motor/generator/transmission system includes a guideway with rails and a plurality of stator cores and coils evenly disposed along the length and in the center of the guideway. The system also includes a carriage configured to travel along the guideway having at least two magnet bars with alternating pole magnets, each successive magnet of each magnet bar mounted in front of the other in a direction of travel of the carriage. In embodiments, the magnet bars are mounted parallel to and on either side of a longitudinal centerline of the carriage such that, when adjacent to the center line and each other, the at least two magnet bars are positioned over the stator coils and are configured to be slidably translated away from the center line of the carriage to a position where the at least two magnet bars are not over the stator coils.

A system and method can change location pins on a pallet for an assembly line. The system may include a plurality of pallets, each pallet including at least a first and second sockets configured to receive a location pin. The system may include a pin changing unit located between a top assembly line and a lower return line. The pin changing unit may include a pin grabber configured to engage the location pin within the first socket. The pin changing unit may include a horizontal linear actuator configured to move the pin grabber and the engaged location pin into alignment with the second socket. The pin changing unit may include a vertical linear actuator configured to extend the pin grabber into engagement with the location pin and retract the pin grabber away from the location pin.

Systems and methods for controlling a conveyor in a mining system. The conveyor includes a sprocket, a chain, a hydraulic cylinder, one or more sensors, and a controller. In one implementation, the method includes sensing a characteristic associated with the conveyor, generating a signal based on the characteristic, determining a tension associated with the chain based on the signal, determining an amount of chain stretch based on the tension, and modifying a position of the hydraulic cylinder based on the amount of chain stretch.

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to automatically balance and buffer the return of empty containers or other totes to a plurality of areas. In some embodiments, a control circuit employs a logic system in which empty totes are directed along primary, secondary, or tertiary paths depending on information gathered from sensors regarding the availability of space for empty totes at a plurality of potential destinations. In this way, the return of empty totes to one or more points of origin may be buffered to balance the number of empty totes in one or more areas.

A trolley conveyor. The trolley conveyor includes: a tubular rail track having a slotted opening at the top. A trolley chain installed to move in the rail track. A hanger is provided for suspending therebelow objects to be transported. The hanger includes a connector at the upper end thereof which extends downward to toward the center of the trolley chain. The trolley chain includes vertical and horizontal rollers in chain units, with vertical rollers in one chain unit and horizontal rollers in an adjacent chain unit. The chain units are pivotally connected for up and down and side to side motion within the track. While the trolley chain moves, the connector avoids contact with the ends of the slot in the track. Thus, the trolley conveyor prevents the generation of noise and foreign substances. Also, the trolley conveyor prevents transfer of dirt, oil, and debris to an object being transported.