A conveying device conveys a container including a magnetic body to a target position along a conveyance path and includes a conveyance surface configured by arranging a plurality of magnetic poles including a core and a coil, and including a conveyance path, a drive unit supplying a current to the coil, and a position detection unit estimating the position of the container. The position detection unit excites a first magnetic pole to detect the position of the container and applies a voltage to at least one second magnetic pole that is peripheral in a predetermined range from the first magnetic pole and is different from the first magnetic pole in a direction in which the polarity becomes opposite to the exciting current of the first magnetic pole, and a process of estimating the position of the container based on the current value of the first magnetic pole.

A temperature monitor is provided for use on a conveyor belt. The temperature monitor includes a first wall and a second wall. The first wall and the second wall are generally parallel to one another. The temperature monitor also includes a first anchor and a second anchor. The first wall is attached to the first anchor at a first end and the first wall is attached to the second anchor at a second end. The second wall is attached to the first anchor at a first end and the second wall is attached to the second anchor at a second end. The temperature monitor further includes a temperature deformation mechanism defined between the first wall and the second wall. The temperature deformation mechanism is altered in an instance in which a predetermined temperature is reached. A method of manufacturing a temperature monitor and a temperature monitor system are also provided.

A storage system as disclosed can maximize storage capacity whilst remaining scalable. A transporting device is arranged to form a cluster with a reconfigurable physical topology. A transporting device can cooperate with a portion of a surface, and with at least one other transporting device in a cluster with a reconfigurable physical topology. An item receiving space and a relocating unit permit relocation of the transporting device within the cluster by way of interaction with the portion of the surface.

A control unit is disclosed to control an imaging unit to perform imaging of a tray/container. The control unit can cause the performance of actions on the container using automated machines and/or directing humans to perform an action. For example, the presence of contamination in a container can be detected based on an image of the container captured by an imaging unit. The control unit can receive an image of the container from the imaging unit, determine whether the container is contaminated, and direct the container to a cleaning unit. Moreover, the control unit can detect a product based on an image of the product, determine an identity of the product based on the received image, and command an indicating unit to indicate a failure to determine the identity of the product.

A transport system (1) for transporting workpieces (2) which preferably consist at least in sections of wood, wood-based materials, plastic or the like, comprising at least one circulating transport means (15); a guide arrangement (4) for guiding the at least one circulating transport means (15); at least one sensor (10, 11, 12) for detecting at least one condition variable, in particular the preload force and/or instantaneous load on the at least one circulating transport means (15) and/or the dynamic behavior of at least one section (6, 8) of the transport system (1); and at least one actuator (13, 20) for influencing at least one condition variable of the transport system (1).

In an aspect there is disclosed examples of a clamp (10, 110) for measuring a tension of a conveyor belt (12). The clamp (10, 110) including a clamping portion (18, 118) arranged to engage with opposing faces of the conveyor belt (12) in a clamped condition to hold the conveyor belt (12) relative to an anchor, and a load sensing arrangement (22, 122) associated with the clamping portion (18, 118) configured to provide a signal indicative of the tension in the conveyor belt (12) in the clamped condition. A system and related method are also disclosed.

A system and a method for gently loading, transporting and unloading frangible products using totes is provided. The system includes a loading station at a first location, an unloading station at a second location and a plurality of totes for use in storing the frangible products for transportation from the first location to the second location. The totes include an interior space that is upwardly curved for gently receiving the frangible products therein as they are laterally discharged off of a lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor. Two or more totes can be sequentially loaded along the lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor using backpressure caused by accumulation of frangible product along the edge of the lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor to redirect incoming frangible products towards a downstream section of the lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor.

A voice control interactive system and method to provide a hands-free operation for the operator to monitor and control multiple conveyors in a warehouse. The system comprises a first computing device and a second computing device. The first computing device receives an audio signal generated by a second computing device and generates a control signal and a response signal in response to the audio signal. The audio signal comprises information relating to a verbal command spoken by an operator associated with the second computing device. The response signal comprises information relating to a response for the verbal command, wherein the information is generated based on a location of the second computing device. The control signal comprises information to control a conveyor.

A transporting system and method for a linear motor conveyor system, wherein the conveyor system includes at least one moving element and at least one track on which the moving element moves, the transporting system including: a rotatable element; a motor for rotating the rotatable element; a coupler connected to the rotatable element, wherein the coupler is configured to engage with the moving element when the coupler is positioned in a predetermined relationship with the moving element; and a controller configured to: operatively connect with the linear motor conveyor system; and control at least one of the moving element and the rotatable element so that the coupler is positioned in the predetermined relationship with the moving element on the track such that the coupler strips the moving element off the track.

The present invention discloses a drive system of a scraper conveyor and a control method. The drive system includes a nose sprocket, a tail sprocket, a nose sprocket drive mechanism, and a tail sprocket drive mechanism, where the nose sprocket drive mechanism is a hydraulic motor I, and the tail sprocket drive mechanism is a hydraulic motor II; and a hydraulic system that drives the hydraulic motor I and a hydraulic system that drives the hydraulic motor II include same hydraulic elements, and both include a three-position four-way solenoid directional valve, a two-position two-way solenoid directional valve, a two-position three-way solenoid directional valve, an accumulator, and an oil supplement valve group. The present invention is applicable to rapid starting and stopping of the scraper conveyor in a heavy load status while adjusting chain tension in real time, thereby resolving a power imbalance problem in a dual-drive system, and has a simple structure and a long service life.