An automated lumber handling method for transferring various size boards from multiples board storage stations to a common board-receiving area uses a trolley that carries at least two board pickers that can operate independently. The method provides several operating modes. In a first mode, a first board picker retrieves single boards from various stations, while a second board picker is inactive. In a second mode, two board pickers retrieve two individual boards from a single station. In a third mode, one board picker retrieves one size board from a first station, and s second board picker retrieves a different size board from a second station. The two different boards can be released simultaneously at the board-receiving area. In some examples, the lumber at each station is laser scanned to determine the number of boards at each station, and a worker is notified if a station needs to be restocked.

A horticultural container dispensing system has a gravity-fed pot supply source having a plurality of linearly spaced pot paths and supports a plurality of pot stacks along the pot paths in a nested configuration. A pot provisioning apparatus has retention members to selectively release an end-most one of the plurality of pots from each pot stack at a release location. A pot engagement apparatus has a plurality of pot gripper devices associated with the pot paths to selectively engage an internal surface of the end-most one of the pots in the respective pot stack at the release location. A carriage apparatus selectively translates the pot gripper devices between the release location and a dispense location. The pot gripper devices selectively disengage the internal surface of the end-most one of the pots, respectively, at the dispense location. Pot grippers and provisioning apparatuses are interchangeable to accommodate differing pot sizes and shapes.

A horticultural container dispensing system has a gravity-fed pot supply source having a plurality of linearly spaced pot paths and supports a plurality of pot stacks along the pot paths in a nested configuration. A pot provisioning apparatus has retention members to selectively release an end-most one of the plurality of pots from each pot stack at a release location. A pot engagement apparatus has a plurality of pot gripper devices associated with the pot paths to selectively engage an internal surface of the end-most one of the pots in the respective pot stack at the release location. A carriage apparatus selectively translates the pot gripper devices between the release location and a dispense location. The pot gripper devices selectively disengage the internal surface of the end-most one of the pots, respectively, at the dispense location. Pot grippers and provisioning apparatuses are interchangeable to accommodate differing pot sizes and shapes.

A method for unloading packages from a container, in particular a roller container. The method requires relatively little space, and the method involves a container guide and a conveyor belt, in which the containers are moved successively along a container path by the container guide. At least in some section or sections, the conveyor belt extends to the side of and at least substantially parallel to the container path. The containers are tipped sideways in the direction of the conveyor belt during the movement along the container guide and along the conveyor belt predetermined by the container path. The packages slide out of the tipped containers onto the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt conveys the packages that have slid out of the container onwards, and the emptied tipped containers are righted again during the movement along the container guide predetermined by the container path.

A method for unloading packages from a container, in particular a roller container. The method requires relatively little space, and the method involves a container guide and a conveyor belt, in which the containers are moved successively along a container path by the container guide. At least in some section or sections, the conveyor belt extends to the side of and at least substantially parallel to the container path. The containers are tipped sideways in the direction of the conveyor belt during the movement along the container guide and along the conveyor belt predetermined by the container path. The packages slide out of the tipped containers onto the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt conveys the packages that have slid out of the container onwards, and the emptied tipped containers are righted again during the movement along the container guide predetermined by the container path.

Systems, devices, methods and computer program products for extendable conveyors are provided. A system includes an extendable conveyor and a separation module. The extendable conveyor is operable to convey items from an upstream side of the extendable conveyor to a downstream side of the extendable conveyor. Further, it is configured to increase the distance from the upstream side to the downstream side. The separation module is operable for conveying items towards the extendable conveyor and configured to decelerate the conveying of the items on the separation module.

A positioning system for positioning a consumable rack in a diagnostic system is disclosed. The positioning system comprises a rack comprising an upper surface comprising holding positions and a receiving compartment comprising a rectangular chassis comprising front, rear, and two lateral sides. The receiving compartment comprises a holding structure coupled to the chassis to move between first and second positions. The rack comprises sidewalls. At least three sidewalls have a center alignment element. The chassis comprises three chassis alignment elements on the rear and two lateral sides. The holding structure comprises a corner push element between the chassis front and lateral sides to push against a side edge of the rack between two sidewalls when the holding structure is moved from the first position towards the second position forcing the three alignment elements against a chassis alignment element and laterally holding the rack in position by the chassis alignment elements.

The present disclosure provides embodiments of tilt hoists and lumber unstacking systems with a rotation table, a tier alignment system, or both. The rotation table may include a base and a tilt frame supported on the base. The tier alignment system may include an alignment beam and an actuator operable to raise and lower one end of the alignment beam relative to the opposite end to thereby adjust the lateral slope of the spill edge. Optionally, a control system may include distance sensors to detect tiers of lumber as they approach the spill edge and a computer system configured to determine a difference between the lateral slope of the tier and the lateral slope of the spill edge. The computer system may also be configured to automatically adjust the slope of the spill edge to match the slope of the tier before the tier is spilled over the spill edge.

The present disclosure provides embodiments of tilt hoists and lumber unstacking systems with a rotation table, a tier alignment system, or both. The rotation table may include a base and a tilt frame supported on the base. The tier alignment system may include an alignment beam and an actuator operable to raise and lower one end of the alignment beam relative to the opposite end to thereby adjust the lateral slope of the spill edge. Optionally, a control system may include distance sensors to detect tiers of lumber as they approach the spill edge and a computer system configured to determine a difference between the lateral slope of the tier and the lateral slope of the spill edge. The computer system may also be configured to automatically adjust the slope of the spill edge to match the slope of the tier before the tier is spilled over the spill edge.

A pallet stacker has a pivot frame which is pivotable to receive pallets in a loading position, and then to be released to rotate into an unload position where the pallets are presented in a stacked horizontal arrangement for removal by a lift or crane. A damping assembly moderates the speed of the transition of the pivot frame from the load position to the unload position and has a very small metering orifice which slows the passage of argon gas from one side of a piston head to the other within a cylinder housing when the piston is being extended, and a check valve arrangement which allows ready flow of gas from one side of the piston head to the other when the piston is being returned to the cylinder. The metering orifice and check valve may be entirely interior to the cylinder housing, or may be exterior.