A control device (1) for a goods transport conveyor (100) has a processor (10) that generates control signals for at least one drive motor (350) of a transport section (110; 120; 130) of the goods transport conveyor (100). The motor operates in stop-and-go mode. The processor (10) is configured to control the drive motor (350) by means of a forward phase and/or reverse phase when the transport section (110; 120; 130) of the goods transport conveyor (100) stops such that the torque (M(t)) produced by the drive motor (350) is reduced according to an adjustable stopping function. The processor (10) sets the stopping function depending on detected process data of the transport section (110; 120; 130).

The invention relates to a conveyor device (100) for transporting an in particular plate-like workpiece (W), in particular in a processing machine. Such a conveyor device (100) for transporting an in particular plate-like workpiece (W) comprises a revolving conveyor element (110) which is guided by means of running rollers (112) and/or guide rollers, and a sensor device (140) for detecting measurement values for monitoring the operation of the conveyor element (110).

A transport vehicle control system restricts a travel speed of an article transport vehicle to less than or equal to a restrictive speed prescribed in advance, in a case where a temperature sensor detects that the temperature of a regenerative resistor is greater than or equal to a first temperature set to a higher temperature than a steady temperature range which is a temperature range of a steady state prescribed in advance, and disconnects the connection between a power supply unit and a travel motor with a switch, in a case where the temperature sensor detects that the temperature of the regenerative resistor is greater than or equal to a second temperature set to a higher temperature than the first temperature.

An apparatus for multi-axial transfer of objects in assembly line includes a first conveyor assembly, a second conveyor assembly, a first drive assembly, and a pivot point arrangement. The first conveyor assembly includes a plurality of rollers in a horizontal plane. The second conveyor assembly includes a plurality of geared chain arrangements mounted on at least one drive shaft. At least one of the plurality of rollers and the at least one drive shaft are coupled to the bevel gear arrangement. The first drive assembly includes a first motor coupled to the bevel gear arrangement to cause movement of an object in contact with the first conveyor assembly and the second conveyor assembly along a first axis and a second axis in the horizontal plane, respectively. The plurality of geared chain arrangements are movable along a third axis in a vertical plane using the pivot point arrangement.

A laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The laboratory sample distribution system comprises a number of container carriers. The container carriers each comprise at least one magnetically active device such as, for example, at least one permanent magnet, and carry a sample container. The system further comprises a transport plane to carry the container carriers and a number of electro-magnetic actuators being stationary arranged below the transport plane. The electro-magnetic actuators move a container carrier on top of the transport plane by applying a magnetic force to the container carrier.

An apparatus for multi-axial transfer of objects in assembly line includes a first conveyor assembly, a second conveyor assembly, a first drive assembly, and a pivot point arrangement. The first conveyor assembly includes a plurality of rollers in a horizontal plane. The second conveyor assembly includes a plurality of geared chain arrangements mounted on at least one drive shaft. At least one of the plurality of rollers and the at least one drive shaft are coupled to the bevel gear arrangement. The first drive assembly includes a first motor coupled to the bevel gear arrangement to cause movement of an object in contact with the first conveyor assembly and the second conveyor assembly along a first axis and a second axis in the horizontal plane, respectively. The plurality of geared chain arrangements are movable along a third axis in a vertical plane using the pivot point arrangement.

An assembly and method for moving bulk items from a first location to a second location is disclosed. The items are moved from the first location to the second location through a pick-up head. Vacuum pressure is supplied to the head to pick-up an item at the first location and carry the item to the second location. A detector is located between the first location and the second location to detect if an item has been picked up by the head. If no item is detected, the head is closed to the vacuum pressure through a control mechanism or closure element.

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, idler monitoring systems are in data communication with a conveyor monitoring system and/or operational monitoring system.

Method of stacking refrigerated shipping containers (10) including categorizing a plurality of refrigerated shipping containers (10) as a low temperature container (L) or a high temperature container (H), each of the refrigerated shipping containers (10) having a condenser (16). The method also includes disposing the plurality of refrigerated shipping containers (10) relative to each other based on the temperature categorization of the refrigerated shipping containers (10).

A method of sorting articles with a sorter apparatus and a sorter apparatus having a conveying surface that is adapted to transport articles in a direction of conveyance and a mechanism adapted to displace articles on the conveying surface, the sorter apparatus having an endless web of bodies travelling in an endless loop defining the conveying surface includes a distributed drive system having at least one drive that is adapted to produce to provide force with at least one of the bodies to propel the endless web. A diagnostic device traveling with the web and positioned at one of the bodies of the endless web. The diagnostic device is adapted to monitor operation of the sorter apparatus and includes at least one sensor that is adapted to detect at least one parameter of a proximate drive that is proximate to the at least one sensor, and a controller adapted to receive the at least one parameter from the at least one sensor. A stationary thermal sensor may also monitor the endless loop via another controller including receiving thermal data from the stationary thermal sensor and the another controller correlates the thermal images with a portion of the endless loop.