Embodiments of a mobile carrier monitoring apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes one or more mobile carriers configured to receive items being manufactured in its interior and configured be moved by a transport system to multiple positions within a manufacturing facility. A mobile carrier control system is positioned in the interior or on the exterior of each mobile carrier, as are one or more sensors that are coupled to the mobile carrier control system. A communication system is positioned in the interior or on the exterior of each mobile carrier and communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor and to the mobile carrier control system, and an electrical power system positioned in the interior or on the exterior of each mobile carrier and coupled to deliver electrical power to the mobile carrier control system, to the one or more sensors, and to the communication system. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

A carrier basket support and stabilizing system for a carrier basket having increased weight carrying capacity is provided. The system includes a plurality of cars configured to travel along a pathway, with at least some support groups including two of the cars having a carrier basket support connected thereto. The carrier basket support has a support plate connected to the first car via a pivoting connection and connected to the second car by a pivoting and sliding connection such that the cars can pivot relative to the support plate and a distance between the first and second cars can change during traversal of curves along the pathway. A support connection on the support plate is configured for connection to a mating connection on a back support of the carrier basket to allow pivoting of the carrier basket so its support surface can remain generally horizontal during movement on the pathway.

A self-damping carrier basket pivot connection for a carrier basket transporter system having cars configured to travel along a pathway, at least some of which have a carrier basket pivotally connected thereto. The pivot connection includes a support connection configured for attachment a car. The support connection has at least three connection rollers that define a circular envelope and a mating connection configured to be attached to a back support of the carrier basket. The mating connection includes a housing with a part circular track that generally corresponds to or is larger than the circular envelope such that the rollers can be located within the part circular track. The part circular track includes at least one inwardly directed protrusion. The connection rollers engage in the part circular track such that the carrier basket is adapted to be pivotable by gravity so a product support surface of the carrier basket is maintained generally horizontal during movement of the carrier basket along the pathway, and the at least one inwardly directed protrusion provides an increased resistance to relative movement between the housing and a roller that contacts the protrusion.

A system and method are provided for processing a backhalve of a slaughtered poultry carcass, comprising a back portion and legs, and transported by a conveyor in a suspended manner. The system comprises a back turning device, having a stationary frame and a receiving element movably connected to the frame and configured to receive at least a part of the back portion and configured to be moved in the conveying direction with at least said part of the back portion received in the receiving element during continued movement of the backhalve so as to turn the back portion upside-down; and a separation device for separating the legs from the back portion with the back portion in said upside-down orientation.

A conveying unit (10) for the suspended transport of transport elements (40) in a conveyor system, in particular a rail-guided (86) conveyor system or a conveyor-chain system, includes a support hook (21) attached to a conveying element (20), in particular a carriage or a conveyor-chain link, a transport element (40), and a suspension hook (41) attached to the transport element, wherein the suspension hook is mounted in a suspended manner in the support hook. The support hook is configured such that the suspension hook can take up two stable positions (61, 62) in the support hook. The suspension hook (41) in a first stable position (61) has been turned through an angle with respect to the suspension hook in a second stable position (62).

A conveyor system comprising a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path and an automated conveyor carrier (ACC) supported on the rail to be movable along the conveyor path. The ACC includes an on-board motor and an on-board electrical power source selectively powering the on-board motor to drive the ACC along the rail. The ACC may include a wireless sleep mode module operable to selectively shut off power to an on-board ACC controller.

An order fulfillment system and method includes a data base that is adapted to store data defining a plurality of customer orders. Each of the customer orders is a single item order having only one particular inventory item assigned to that order or a multiple item order having multiple particular inventory items assigned to that order. An inventory area stores inventory items that are available for fulfilling customer orders, and is responsive to said data base to retrieve particular inventory items from said inventory area that are assigned to customer orders in order to fulfill those orders. A sortation system combines particular inventory items together that make up an order. The sortation system has an automated induct subsystem and a sorter. The induct subsystem receives inventory items from the inventory area and forwards, in responsive to the data base, particular inventory items assigned to multiple-items orders to the sorter to be combined together to make up the multiple-item orders, but not particular inventory items assigned to single item orders. The sorter includes a pouch sorter having individual pouches and an overhead conveyor with tracts that route individual pouches to various destinations. The induct subsystem places a particular inventory item assigned to a multiple item order in an individual pouch and doesn't place a particular inventory items assigned to a single item order in a pouch. In this manner, handling of the particular inventory items for single items orders is separate from the pouch sorter thus reducing handling of inventory items and increasing system through-put.

An order fulfillment system and method includes storing a plurality of inventory items in a warehouse and a plurality of customer orders in a data base, wherein the inventory items make up the customer orders. Some of the orders being a single item order having only one inventory item assigned to that order and other of the orders being multiple item orders having multiple inventory items assigned to that order. Inventory items withdrawn from the warehouse are identified with an identifier and the identity of each withdrawn inventory item applied to the data base and matched item with a customer order. Inventory items are combined together that make up an order with a sortation system. The sortation system has an induct subsystem and the induction subsystem has an input. Inventory items are transported from the warehouse to the induction subsystem input with a transportation system. Inventory items assigned to multiple-item orders are forwarded to the sortation system with the induct subsystem responsive to the data base. Inventory items assigned to single item orders are forwarded to a packing station bypassing the sortation system responsive to the data base.

A system for automatic delivery of an order in bags to a pick-up location outside a building. Such a system includes: a device for signalling and/or detecting presence of a customer in the vicinity of the pick-up location; and a height-mounted transport module, which includes: a plurality of elements for suspending the bags from a track; an automatic displacement device for automatically moving the suspension elements on said track; and an actuator for actuating said automatic displacement device to displace the bags in which the various parts of said order have been deposited, to said pick-up location when said signalling and/or detection device emits a signal confirming the presence of said user in the vicinity of said pick-up location.

A cargo carousel system for shipping containers is provided that can include a frame configured to fit within a shipping container and a cargo carousel mechanism in the frame that can move cargo pod platforms, configured for holding cargo pods, in a continuous loop path in the frame. The system can further include two frames side-by-side in the shipping, each frame with its own cargo carousel system.