A singling unit for articles stacked in a nested configuration includes at least two stacks of articles stacked in a nested configuration, an extractor group to extract single articles from each stack, and a conveyor to receive the articles singled by the extractor group and to transport them along an advance direction arranged in at least one row substantially parallel to the advance direction. The extractor group is configured to deposit on the conveyor the articles extracted from the stacks in a number of rows smaller than the number of the stacks.

A tote accumulator includes stack retaining latches that are configured to be acted on by a cam and follower mechanism and additionally by a holding mechanism. The cam and follower mechanism is configured to act on the stack retaining latches when the stack of totes is moved vertically by a lifting member, to move the stack retaining latches into an active dwell wherein the stack retaining latches are engaged with the stack of totes. The holding mechanism is configured to be activated to extend the active dwell after the cam and follower mechanism ceases to act on the stack retaining latches. The active dwell is extended even further by a mechanical interlocking feature between the latches and the totes. In various implementations, the design of the cam and follower arrangement and the activation timing of the holding mechanism may be adapted to execute a stacking or an unstacking operation.

The disclosure relates to a storage device system configured to carry cuttings from an offshore oil drilling rig to a vessel and then to shore for disposal. The system includes a set of nested boxes and lids designed to contain solids as well as some hydrocarbons. The ability to nest the boxes and lids leads to considerable reduction in space requirements relative to conventional systems. For example, according to an embodiment, each box is configured to only take up an additional 12″ in height for each nested box. As such, five nested boxes and lids only occupy a height equivalent to two stacked conventional boxes. Each box and lid is configured to serve as a closed container having hatches for filling the container with cuttings. The container is configured to withstanding pressures up to 5 psi while preventing fumes from escaping. Embodiments may have greater or fewer than five boxes.

The disclosure relates to a storage device system configured to carry cuttings from an offshore oil drilling rig to a vessel and then to shore for disposal. The system includes a set of nested boxes and lids designed to contain solids as well as some hydrocarbons. The ability to nest the boxes and lids leads to considerable reduction in space requirements relative to conventional systems. For example, according to an embodiment, each box is configured to only take up an additional 12″ in height for each nested box. As such, five nested boxes and lids only occupy a height equivalent to two stacked conventional boxes. Each box and lid is configured to serve as a closed container having hatches for filling the container with cuttings. The container is configured to withstanding pressures up to 5 psi while preventing fumes from escaping. Embodiments may have greater or fewer than five boxes.

A destacking device comprising at least two destacking screws for singulating and destacking trays from a tray stack. Each destacking screw comprises a helix that may be a helical recess in an outer surface of the screw. The two destacking screws may have an identical direction of rotation. In one embodiment, the helix of each of the at least two destacking screws may grip and guide a respective side of a tray flange of the tray at a first contact point at the outer edge of the helix's upper side, and a second contact point at the outer edge of the helix's lower side. The destacking device may include guiding devices positioned on opposing the non-gripped and/or the gripped sides of the tray to guide the path of the tray in a vertical direction.

A destacking device comprising at least two destacking screws for singulating and destacking trays from a tray stack. Each destacking screw comprises a helix that may be a helical recess in an outer surface of the screw. The two destacking screws may have an identical direction of rotation. In one embodiment, the helix of each of the at least two destacking screws may grip and guide a respective side of a tray flange of the tray at a first contact point at the outer edge of the helix's upper side, and a second contact point at the outer edge of the helix's lower side. The destacking device may include guiding devices positioned on opposing the non-gripped and/or the gripped sides of the tray to guide the path of the tray in a vertical direction.

A transport unit that comprises a de-stacking device which is configured to drop trays from a stack of trays individually or in groups into a drop area, and a transport belt unit with a transport surface passing through the drop area for receiving and transporting away the dropped trays. The transport surface may comprise at least one opening. A negative pressure device may be provided to generate a suction force in the drop area through one or more of the openings of the transport surface, wherein the suction force sucks the dropped trays in the drop area in a direction towards the transport surface. This configuration reduces the rebound of the trays when they impact the transport surface as they are dropped. The invention also relates to a corresponding method for transporting trays.

A transport unit that comprises a de-stacking device which is configured to drop trays from a stack of trays individually or in groups into a drop area, and a transport belt unit with a transport surface passing through the drop area for receiving and transporting away the dropped trays. The transport surface may comprise at least one opening. A negative pressure device may be provided to generate a suction force in the drop area through one or more of the openings of the transport surface, wherein the suction force sucks the dropped trays in the drop area in a direction towards the transport surface. This configuration reduces the rebound of the trays when they impact the transport surface as they are dropped. The invention also relates to a corresponding method for transporting trays.

Apparatus and methods for destacking objects are disclosed. An apparatus includes a robotic arm, and an end effector connected to the robotic arm. The end effector including a grasping element for grasping an object and means for clearing a surface of the object before the grasping element grasps the object at the surface. A method for mechanically destacking dishware involves moving an end effector near to a top dish in a stack of dishware, clearing an area on a surface of the top dish by sweeping a scraper bar of a scraper mechanism over the surface of the top dish in a first direction, wherein the scraper bar is mechanically connected to the end effector, and grasping, with a grasping element of the end effector, the top dish at the area on the surface of the top dish that has been cleared by the scraper.

A decorator assembly includes a cup holder assembly, a cup transfer assembly, and a decorator mandrel turret assembly. The cup holder assembly is structured to hold a number of cups in a nested, bottom leading configuration. The cup transfer assembly is structured to move cups from said cup holder assembly to a decorator mandrel turret assembly. The decorator mandrel turret assembly is structured to rotatably support a number of cups.