A parts feeding apparatus includes: a parts feeder disposed on one side of a worktable where work is performed and having a plurality of feeder slots each for loading at least one parts box; a position mover adapted to load the parts boxes onto the parts feeder or unload the parts boxes loaded on the plurality of slots to move the parts boxes horizontally or vertically; a parts storage unit located to face the parts feeder and having a plurality of storage unit slots for loading at least one or more parts boxes to store the parts boxes to be fed to the parts feeder therein; and a control unit adapted to control the parts feeder and the position mover so that the parts boxes are changed in position and aligned.

A storage station includes a housing defining an inner space, and having a top and side passage for passage of a container. One or more funnels are provided at the top passage for guiding the passage of containers therethrough, and an actuator system is provided for, selectively, engaging a container with a suspension system and disengaging a container from a suspension system. Also provided is a transfer system that is inclusive of the storage station, a UAV, a reusable container; and methods of transferring reusable containers between UAVs, the storage station, and other transport stations.

Examples provide a system for a temperature-controlled receiving tunnel. A main body includes an interior compartment and a set of adjustable bulkheads configured to create a set of temperature-controlled zones within the interior compartment. A set of cooling devices are configured to adjust an internal temperature of the set of temperature-controlled zones within the interior compartment. A control device analyzes dynamic truck delivery data and ambient temperature data to generate a predicted cooling time and a cooling initiation time. The predicted cooling time comprises an estimated quantity of time after the cooling initiation time to reach a target temperature within a selected zone in the set of temperature-controlled zones.

A parts feeding apparatus includes: a parts feeder disposed on one side of a worktable where work is performed and having a plurality of feeder slots each for loading at least one parts box; a position mover adapted to load the parts boxes onto the parts feeder or unload the parts boxes loaded on the plurality of slots to move the parts boxes horizontally or vertically; a parts storage unit located to face the parts feeder and having a plurality of storage unit slots for loading at least one or more parts boxes to store the parts boxes to be fed to the parts feeder therein; and a control unit adapted to control the parts feeder and the position mover so that the parts boxes are changed in position and aligned.

An apparatus (100) for loading a shipping container (101), comprising a transfer plate (103) having a series of holes (201, 202) therein and configured to slide, together with an article thereon, into and out of the shipping container (101), and a transfer means (104) positioned underneath the transfer plate (103) and configured to engage with the holes in the transfer plate and to retract or extend after engagement with the holes to pull the transfer plate into and out of the shipping container.

An ambulance cot and cot loading and unloading system for an emergency vehicle comprises a cot having a head end, a base for mounting to a deck of an emergency vehicle, a track mounted for linear movement along said base, and an arm mounted for linear movement along said track from a retracted position to an extended position. The arm is and configured to engage the cot, and wherein when the track is extended along the base and the arm is extended along the track the arm is extended from the base in an extended position and is configured for lifting the cot and providing cantilevered support to the cot while in the extended position.

A bulk material dispensing system comprising a portable support structure with portable containers with wet bulk material. Locating each portable container onto the portable support structure couples a transfer member on each portable container to a vibration device on the support structure. Vibration energy is transferred from vibration device to the portable container via the transfer member. The material dispensing system is configured to route the wet bulk material from the portable container to a blender hopper via a material routing path in response to activating the vibration device.

An automated analyzer with an on-board fridge for long-term cooling of reagents, and a method for isolating and analyzing an analyte comprising long-term cooling of reagents.

An automated analyzer with an on-board fridge for long-term cooling of reagents, and a method for isolating and analyzing an analyte comprising long-term cooling of reagents.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a rail system comprising a first set of parallel rails arranged to guide movement of a container handling vehicle in a first direction across the top of a framework structure, and a second set of parallel rails arranged perpendicular to the first set of rails to guide movement of the container handling vehicle in a second direction. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The first and second sets of parallel rails divide the rail system into a plurality of grid cells. The framework structure includes upright members and horizontal members. At least one container handling vehicle is configured to operate on the rail system. The at least one container handling vehicle is provided with at least one orientation sensor configured to measure at least one orientation parameter of the sensor in a three-dimensional cartesian reference system. A central control unit is configured to receive, transmit and process data signals of the container handling vehicle and to receive and process data signals of the sensor. At least one container is comprised of four side walls and a bottom creating an open box structure. The container is transported to an unloading station where the content of the container is emptied by gravity. The unloading station includes a container rotating device that rotate the container around at least one axis, emptying the required amount of content, and the container rotating device includes a guide surface which guides the container along a helical path.