The present invention teaches a method for quickly and easily nesting and un-nesting bulk seed boxed. A first lower box is engaged with forks extending from a forklift truck, and the stacked boxes are elevated to a target height. Next, the forklift truck is advanced forward until the stacked boxes are in position in a box inverter apparatus, wherein the stacked boxes are positioned between opposing box engaging surfaces of rotary clamp pads. The rotary clamp pads engage the stacked boxes at a clamping location below the center of mass of the second, upper box unit. The forks of the fork truck carrying the first, lower box unit are then lowered until the first lower box unit is separated from the second, upper box unit, thereby affecting rotation of the second, upper box unit and rotary clamp pads until the second, upper box unit rotates a full 180 degrees to an inverted position. The forks carrying the lower box unit are raised upwardly such that the lower box unit nests inside the now inverted upper box unit. The rotary clamp pads are released from engagement with the outer surfaces of the upper box unit. Lastly, the nested first and second box units are removed from the box inverter apparatus.

The present invention teaches a method for quickly and easily nesting and un-nesting bulk seed boxed. A first lower box is engaged with forks extending from a forklift truck, and the stacked boxes are elevated to a target height. Next, the forklift truck is advanced forward until the stacked boxes are in position in a box inverter apparatus, wherein the stacked boxes are positioned between opposing box engaging surfaces of rotary clamp pads. The rotary clamp pads engage the stacked boxes at a clamping location below the center of mass of the second, upper box unit. The forks of the fork truck carrying the first, lower box unit are then lowered until the first lower box unit is separated from the second, upper box unit, thereby affecting rotation of the second, upper box unit and rotary clamp pads until the second, upper box unit rotates a full 180 degrees to an inverted position. The forks carrying the lower box unit are raised upwardly such that the lower box unit nests inside the now inverted upper box unit. The rotary clamp pads are released from engagement with the outer surfaces of the upper box unit. Lastly, the nested first and second box units are removed from the box inverter apparatus.

A loading/unloading system for an associated truck bed includes first and second laterally spaced rails configured for re) receipt in the associated truck bed. First and second support leg assemblies are operatively associated with the first and second rails, respectively. First and second motors are received on the first and second leg assemblies, respectively, and are configured to selectively raise and lower the first and second rails. A sensor assembly is mounted on the rails to monitor the position of the first rail relative to the second rail. The sensor assembly is interconnected to the first and second motors for maintaining the rails at the same height relative to one another.

A loading/unloading system for an associated truck bed includes first and second laterally spaced rails configured for re) receipt in the associated truck bed. First and second support leg assemblies are operatively associated with the first and second rails, respectively. First and second motors are received on the first and second leg assemblies, respectively, and are configured to selectively raise and lower the first and second rails. A sensor assembly is mounted on the rails to monitor the position of the first rail relative to the second rail. The sensor assembly is interconnected to the first and second motors for maintaining the rails at the same height relative to one another.

A rotatable release mechanism mounted to an output shaft of a servo/mechanical device and connected to a transport device. The mechanism has at least one wheel with at least one opening that is in communication with a slot that extends to an outer perimeter of the wheel. The opening receives and retains a connecting device during transport and releases the connecting device upon rotation of the release mechanism.

A rotatable release mechanism mounted to an output shaft of a servo/mechanical device and connected to a transport device. The mechanism has at least one wheel with at least one opening that is in communication with a slot that extends to an outer perimeter of the wheel. The opening receives and retains a connecting device during transport and releases the connecting device upon rotation of the release mechanism.

A pallet wedge for slidingly displacing a loaded pallet located on top of the pallet holder through ground engagement of ground runners on the pallet wedge as the pallet holder moves forward until the loaded pallet slides off the pallet wedge.

A remotely operated delivery vehicle for transport of a storage container between an automated storage and retrieval grid, which is configured to store a plurality of stacks of storage containers, and an access station for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and human operator. The remotely operated delivery vehicle comprising; a vehicle body comprising a motor for driving a plurality of rolling devices for moving the remotely operated delivery vehicle in a horizontal plane; a control unit for controlling the remotely operated delivery vehicle; anda container carrier (35) provided above the motorized vehicle body for carrying a storage container. The remotely operated delivery vehicle comprises a safety device which transmits a signal to the control unit such that it performs an action of operating the remotely operated delivery vehicle, in the event that a collision is detected. The collision is caused by a force (F) acting on the remotely operated delivery vehicle (30) and is detected by a collision mechanism (60) of the safety device and the collision mechanism is a container carrier displacement device (60) arranged such that it trips the safety device upon displacement of the container carrier (35) relative to the motorized vehicle body (31), which first position is the undisplaced position and the second position is the displaced position.

A high visibility push-pull handler configured to be mounted on a lift truck. The handler comprising a frame assembly, a pantograph mechanism coupled to the frame assembly, and a faceplate assembly coupled to the pantograph mechanism. The hander is configured with a view window extending through the handler, the view window not obstructed by parts of the handler when the handler is in any normal operating configuration, including a fully extended configuration, a fully retracted configuration, and any configuration in between the full extended and fully retracted positions.

A vehicle tilting device for tilting a delivery vehicle for increasing access to items from a storage container transported on the delivery vehicle includes a base structure and a tiltable platform connected to the base structure. The tiltable platform includes guiding features adapted to guide the delivery vehicle onto the tiltable platform, and a tilting actuator arranged for lifting the tiltable platform at a second platform side which is opposite to a first platform side, such that the tiltable platform is tilted towards the first platform side.