The present invention provides a rain-guard device for shipping that can prevent water from seeping into a hatch opening. A rain-guard device for shipping 20, includes a rail 19, which is placed on a sliding hatch cover 11, an on-board chute 22, which is provided in the rail 19 in a travelable manner, which covers part of a hatch opening 13, and which, furthermore, supplies cargo from a shiploader 1 into the hold 7, a lid member 23 to cover the rest of the hatch opening 13, and a water-blocking part 100, which prevents water from seeping into the hatch opening 13, through a gap between the lid member 23 and the sliding hatch cover 11.

The present invention provides a rain-guard device for shipping that can prevent water from seeping into a hatch opening. A rain-guard device for shipping 20, includes a rail 19, which is placed on a sliding hatch cover 11, an on-board chute 22, which is provided in the rail 19 in a travelable manner, which covers part of a hatch opening 13, and which, furthermore, supplies cargo from a shiploader 1 into the hold 7, a lid member 23 to cover the rest of the hatch opening 13, and a water-blocking part 100, which prevents water from seeping into the hatch opening 13, through a gap between the lid member 23 and the sliding hatch cover 11.

This application provides a method for controlling a planar drive system, where the planar drive system comprises at least a controller, a stator module having a stator surface, and a rotor that may is positionable and movable on the stator surface. The method comprises positioning an object on a rotor in a first arrangement state of the object in a positioning step, carrying out an accelerating movement of a defined movement pattern of the rotor; and, by the accelerating movement, arranging the object positioned on the rotor in the first arrangement state in a second arrangement state relative to the rotor, in an arranging step. The application further provides a planar drive system.

Systems and method for retaining a downspout onto a spout are disclosed. The downspout may be retained on the spout using hook and loop fasteners. In some implementations, a portion of a spout may include a first portion of a hook and loop fastener and the downspout may include a second portion of the first hook and loop faster. The first and second portions of the hook and loop faster are complimentary such that the first and second portions of the hook and loop fastener combine to interlocking secure the downspout and the spout together.

There is herein described an apparatus and method for feeding bulk material. More particularly, there is described an apparatus and method for feeding bulk material such as bulk solids which provides a constant and reliable feed of material.

The present invention provides devices, systems and methods for reliably inserting packing trays into packing crates. Thus, the present invention solves the problems of conventional packaging lines by providing a positioning device for depositing packing trays into packing crates. Particularly, the present invention can be incorporated into existing fruit and vegetable packing lines.

Coordinated conveyors in an automated system. In an embodiment, the system comprises transport conveyor(s) and storage conveyors, wherein each storage conveyor comprises a plurality of segments configured to hold at least one item, and a portion that is aligned with a portion of a transport conveyor, such that items are moveable from the storage conveyor to the transport conveyor. Software module(s), executed by a processor, receive an instruction to collect item(s) at a single destination location, and, for each of the item(s), identify a segment on a storage conveyor on which the item is held, control that storage conveyor to align the segment with the transport conveyor, move the item from the segment onto the transport conveyor, control the transport conveyor to align the item with the destination location, and move the item from the transport conveyor to the destination location.

A loading device for loading a container with packages, comprising a transport channel for transport of the packages in the direction of the container. The transport channel has an upper inlet to supply packages into the transport channel and a lower outlet to supply packages into the container. At least one upper, and at least one lower, finger position each with at least one finger element are provided in the transport channel. The at least one of the finger elements of the upper and lower finger positions in each case have at least two flexible flank elements extending from one end to the opposing end of the finger element. In each case, the at least two flexible flank elements are flexibly connected via a plurality of webs. The finger elements in each case may be adjusted from at least one curved position into at least one extended position and back.

A method of sorting cargo using an automated guided vehicle is provided. The method of sorting cargo includes: recognizing the pieces of cargo; assigning a location of a carrier pocket into which the recognized cargo is loaded among the plurality of carrier pockets in the automated guided vehicle and a location of the destination chute from which the carrier pocket discharges the cargo; loading the cargo into the location of the assigned carrier pocket; for consecutively supplied pieces of cargo thereafter, repeatedly performing identifier information recognition of the cargo, location assignment, and cargo loading sequentially; sequentially discharging the pieces of cargo to the locations of the assigned destination chutes by allowing the automated guided vehicle into which all pieces of cargo are loaded to start and move along a movement path; and returning the automated guided vehicle after the automated guided vehicle has finished discharging.

Coordinated conveyors in an automated system. In an embodiment, the system comprises transport conveyor(s) and storage conveyors, wherein each storage conveyor comprises a plurality of segments configured to hold at least one item, and a portion that is aligned with a portion of a transport conveyor, such that items are moveable from the storage conveyor to the transport conveyor. Software module(s), executed by a processor, receive an instruction to collect item(s) at a single destination location, and, for each of the item(s), identify a segment on a storage conveyor on which the item is held, control that storage conveyor to align the segment with the transport conveyor, move the item from the segment onto the transport conveyor, control the transport conveyor to align the item with the destination location, and move the item from the transport conveyor to the destination location.