A determination section determines that a transport vehicle entered a curved zone from a straight zone based on a front-rear rotation speed difference between the rotation speed of a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel and the rotation speed of at least either a first or second front wheel. A measurement section measures a distance-to-curve, which is the distance that the transport vehicle travels from when a detector detects a detection target until when the determination section determines that the transport vehicle entered the curved zone from the straight zone. If the detector detects a curve ahead detection target while curve ahead information is stored in a storage section, a travel control section executes speed change control before or when the transport vehicle enters the curved zone.

A system and an apparatus capable of independently driving movers are described herein. The system and apparatus includes: a track that forms a path for movers; a plurality of movers movably mounted on the track for moving along the path; and a plurality of drive elements fixedly arranged along the track. The drive elements each have a surface that is oriented to contact a driven member of the movers. The drive elements are configured to sequentially engage the driven member of a plurality of the movers to provide controlled independent motion of the movers along the track. The drive elements may be driven by rotary motors. A method of independently driving movers is also described herein.

A system and method for measuring the elongation, or stretch, of a modular plastic conveyor belt. The belt-stretch measuring system measures stretch as the ratio less one of an actual belt travel distance or actual belt speed to an expected belt travel distance or expected belt speed for a new, unstretched belt. The actual belt travel distances or actual belt speeds are measured by sensors. The expected belt travel distances or expected belt speeds are calculated from the pulse outputs of encoders measuring the rotation of sprockets engaging the conveyor belt and from the known number of teeth on the sprockets. Actual belt pitch and catenary sag are also calculated.

The present invention discloses A vehicle dragging system, comprising a first dragging means and a second dragging means, which are sequentially arranged along a vehicle dragging direction, wherein in the vehicle dragging direction, the first dragging means is arranged at the upstream of the second dragging means, and a separating section is arranged between the first dragging means and the second dragging means, so that the first dragging means is separated from the second dragging means by a preset distance in the vehicle dragging direction, wherein the first dragging means comprises a first supporting plate, a first elongated traction element and a first pushing element connected with the first elongated traction element, and the first pushing element is adapted to move around the first supporting plate for pushing wheels to move along the first supporting plate, in order to drive a vehicle to advance; the second dragging means comprises a second supporting plate, a second elongated traction element and a second pushing element connected with the second elongated traction element, and the second pushing element is adapted to move along the second supporting plate for pushing wheels to move along the second supporting plate, in order to drive the vehicle to advance.

In order to improve control of a long-stator linear motor, a first measured value is ascertained in a first measurement section and a second measured value is ascertained in a second measurement section, in each case along a transport path in a movement direction. The first measurement section overlaps, in the movement direction, the second measurement section in an overlap region, and the first measured value and the second measured value represent the same actual value of a physical quantity. An operating parameter of the long-stator linear motor determined based on a deviation occurring between the first measured value and the second measured value.

Conveyor idler monitoring apparatus, systems and methods are provided. In some embodiments, one or more sensors (e.g., temperature sensors, load sensors, etc.) are supported by the shaft of a conveyor idler. In some embodiments, one or more sensors are in data communication with a wireless transmitter. In some embodiments, a power generator driven by rotation of the idler is in electrical communication with one or more sensors and/or a wireless transmitter. In some embodiments, a plurality of idlers monitoring systems are in data communication with a conveyor monitoring system and/or operational monitoring system.

The belt conveyor comprises: a conveyance belt (3) having at least one longitudinal segment (17) tensioned between first and second tension members; a device (21) for assessing the tension of said segment (17), laid out for assessing, in a determined measurement point located longitudinally between the first and second tension members, a deviation of the segment (17) relatively to a reference value, the deviation being taken along a determined measurement direction forming a non-zero angle with the longitudinal direction.

This conveyance system (190) comprises: a main control device (150) that receives a conveyance request for a workpiece (W) from a plurality of processing machines (1A, 1B); and a conveyance device (100) that conveys the workpiece (W) between a storage shelf (2) and the plurality of processing machines (1A, 1B). The main control device (150) transmits a standby signal indicating whether or not a plurality of conveyance requests are held in the main control device (150). A local control device (70) of the conveyance device (100) moves a carriage (10) with a first travel control parameter when the standby signal indicates that the plurality of conveyance requests are held in the main control device (150), and moves the carriage (10) with a second travel control parameter when the standby signal indicates that the plurality of conveyance requests are not held in the main control device.

The present invention relates to an anti-skid speed measurement and material flow detection device for a belt conveyor, include a base symmetrically arranged on the intermediate frame of the belt conveyor and arranged between two groups of slotted roller supports, sliding supports arranged on the base, a speed measurement roller and a sensor arranged on the two groups of sliding supports, and a control system connected with the sensor, a speed measurement disk is sleeved on an end face of one end of a barrel of the speed measurement roller, a circular hole is formed on the circumference of the speed measurement disk, the circular hole is arranged corresponding to the position of the senso. Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the advantages of dramatically reduced production cost and maintenance cost, simple structure and high reliability.

Provided are an abnormality detection system, an abnormality detection device, an abnormality detection method, a computer program, and a chain that enable detecting of an abnormality not only in a chain but also in equipment using the chain while distinguishing the location at which the abnormality occurs. The abnormality detecting system comprises a sensor unit comprising a sensor, to be fixed to a chain that is to be attached to equipment, and transmitting an output from the sensor, a detection section which detects an abnormality of the chain or the equipment based on the output, and a determining section which determines a location of the abnormality in the equipment, based on a position of a part fixed with the sensor unit in the equipment, the position changes in each time point with moving of the chain.