Automated systems and methods for deployment of mounting tubs that support photovoltaic modules are provided in which a feeder assembly includes a screw thread assembly and a pivot arm. The screw thread assembly has at least one rotatable threaded component, and two such components in exemplary embodiments, positioned within the feeder assembly. The rotatable threaded component supports the stack of mounting tubs and rotates to separate the individual mounting tub from the stack of mounting tubs and lower the individual mounting tub onto the pivot arm. The pivot arm is configured to interact with an individual mounting tub and pivots to dispense the individual mounting tub onto a mounting surface. A sensor may be provided to detect the positions of the individual mounting tubs as they are moved, and a control system communicates with the sensor and the feeder assembly. The feeder assembly and a hopper holding the stack of mounting tubs may be mounted on an autonomous cart.

Apparatus and methods for separating dishware are disclosed. In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a frame that defines an opening through which stacked dishware can pass, and a plurality of assemblies connected to the frame and positioned around the opening. Each assembly includes a base, and a plurality of fingers having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the plurality of fingers are rotatably coupled to the base and extend from the base towards the opening, wherein each finger tapers towards the distal end.

A dispensing device for dispensing lids from a stack of nested lids, including a magazine containing a stack; a denesting unit arranged at a bottom of the magazine to detach lids from the stack bottom; and denesting rollers each of which has a lower shelf, a first upper shelf above a bottom shelf, and a second upper shelf above the first upper shelf. Some of the rollers comprise a first separator, and other denesting rollers comprise at least a second separator. The rollers are rotatable between a rest position in which the stack rests on the lower shelves; a single release position in which the first separators engage the stack to detach the last item from the stack bottom; and said rest position and a multiple release position in which the second separators engage the stack to detach at least the last two items from the stack bottom.

Embodiments herein describe a tote dispenser that removes the bottom tote from as stack of totes which is then ejected by a conveyor belt. In one embodiment, the tote dispenser includes a first pair of support members which support all but the bottom tote in the stack, while a second pair of support members applies a force that removes the bottom tote from the stack. The first and second pairs of support members can be disengaged so that the stack of totes can be realigned relative to the support members so that the next tote at the bottom of the stack can be removed.

A dispensing device for dispensing lids from a stack of nested lids, including a magazine containing a stack; a denesting unit arranged at a bottom of the magazine to detach lids from the stack bottom; and denesting rollers each of which has a lower shelf, a first upper shelf above a bottom shelf, and a second upper shelf above the first upper shelf. Some of the rollers comprise a first separator, and other denesting rollers comprise at least a second separator. The rollers are rotatable between a rest position in which the stack rests on the lower shelves; a single release position in which the first separators engage the stack to detach the last item from the stack bottom; and said rest position and a multiple release position in which the second separators engage the stack to detach at least the last two items from the stack bottom.

This disclosure relates to a denesting element for a denesting apparatus for denesting a stack of objects in a predetermined denesting direction, comprising a base and a contact section, wherein the base is disposed between the contact section and a drive element of the denesting apparatus, wherein the drive element drives the base rotationally or translationally, and wherein the contact section, when the denesting element is mounted in the denesting apparatus, is capable of being biased towards and away from a stack of trays by being elastically displaceable between an extended position and a retracted position.

This disclosure relates to a denesting element for a denesting apparatus for denesting a stack of objects in a predetermined denesting direction, comprising a base and a contact section, wherein the base is disposed between the contact section and a drive element of the denesting apparatus, wherein the drive element drives the base rotationally or translationally, and wherein the contact section, when the denesting element is mounted in the denesting apparatus, is capable of being biased towards and away from a stack of trays by being elastically displaceable between an extended position and a retracted position.

A cup handling apparatus including a frame, a cup magazine assembly and a cup loader assembly. The cup magazine assembly includes a magazine frame and a cup dropper assembly. The magazine is configured to retain cups with the cup dropper assembly configured to controllably release cups from the magazine frame. The cup loader assembly includes a cup holding box, a cup release assembly and a box movement subassembly. The cup loader assembly is configured to fill the magazine frame with cups, and can be moved from a cup loading configuration to a magazine loading configuration.