Apparatus for installing a solar panel array in parallel rows on panel support structure, as for solar farms, including a lift-and-place vehicle with characterizing features for moving between and along rows of support structure. Such vehicle includes a driven ground-engaging base, a lifting mast extending upwardly and in a fore/aft direction to define a panel-loading space therebeneath, a liftable trolley beam secured to the mast over the panel-loading space and extending laterally between adjacent rows, a traversing trolley movable along the beam, and a panel-placing carrier suspended from the trolley for up/down and lateral movement of carried panels. A panel-pallet vehicle is hitched to the lift-and-place vehicle, extends under the panel-loading space, and has a pallet carrier adjacent to the panel-loading space. Preferred embodiments include telescoping, tilting and angle adjustment of the mast, and the panel-placing carrier has panel supports movable between panel supporting and releasing orientations, and wireless control.

The subject invention pertains to stowable, modular lift conversion systems configured for aftermarket or OEM application to a truck, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), or utility task vehicle (UTV). Lift systems provided include removable and mounted systems with power provided by a battery, a winch, or linear motion device either on the lift or on the vehicle. Modular implements and lift attachments are provided.

According to various example embodiments, a pallet clamp apparatus for clamping a pallet to a pair of forks provided in a forklift includes a housing disposed adjacent to each of the pair of forks, a locking member, at least a portion of the locking member protruding to the outside of the housing to fix the pallet, a spring member configured to elastically press the locking member toward the inner side of the fork in a lateral direction, and a release member configured to release fixing of the locking member by pressing the spring member.

A system includes a platform having an upper surface and defining a recess having a floor, the recess configured to seat a dish, and a movable securing frame that is movably connected with the platform, the frame including a lift support having an upper surface that is movable along a path from a first location that is beneath the floor of the recess, through the recess, to a second location that is coplanar with the upper surface of the platform. A motor configured to cause oscillation of the platform and the movable securing frame can be used. A method of using the system can include placing a dish above a recess defined by an upper surface of a platform, and lowering the frame with respect to the platform, thereby seating the dish within the recess.

The invention relates to a delivery system having a delivery goods vehicle for delivering inward goods, and having at least one automated transfer assembly which for transferring the goods in an automated manner from the delivery goods vehicle to a goods store comprises an object detection device. The delivery system moreover has a safety installation for securing a movement range of the transfer assembly when unloading the goods.

A method for operating a conveying system is provided. An overhead hoist transport (OHT) vehicle is provided, wherein the OHT vehicle includes a gripping member configured to grip and hold a carrier, and a receiver configured to receive a signal. The signal is transmitted to the receiver of the OHT vehicle. The OHT vehicle is moved toward the carrier, and the carrier is gripped by the gripping member of the OHT vehicle. A lifting force is determined based on a weight of a carrier, a number of workpieces in the carrier, or a vertical distance between the OHT vehicle and the carrier, and the lifting force is applied to the carrier.

A container-handling vehicle for picking up storage containers from a three-dimensional grid of an underlying storage system includes a first set of wheels arranged at opposite sides of a vehicle body, for moving the vehicle along a first direction on the grid; a second set of wheels arranged at opposite sides of the vehicle body, for moving the vehicle along a second direction on the grid, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction; and the first set of wheels displaceable in a vertical direction between a first position, wherein the first set of wheels allow movement of the vehicle along the first direction, and a second position, wherein the second set of wheels allow movement of the vehicle along the second direction. The vehicle body surrounds a cavity within which at least a first lifting device and a second lifting device are positioned adjacent to each other, each lifting device is arranged to lift a storage container from the grid and into the cavity, such that a bottom of the storage container is at a level above the lowest level of the second set of wheels.

A bale loading apparatus has a base frame mounted to a loader vehicle operative to move the base frame up and down. Right and left fork frames are connected to right and left portions of the base frame by corresponding right and left linkages, and right and left fork pairs extend away from the loader end of the base frame. A right actuator is operative to pivot the right fork pair with respect to the base frame upward and outward to the right of a path of the loader vehicle from a lowered right position to a raised right position, and a left actuator is operative to pivot the left fork pair with respect to the base frame upward and outward to the left of the path of the loader vehicle from a lowered left position to a raised left position.

A transfer device includes: a pusher configured to push a container during a delivery operation; a lockable portion lockable to the container during a pick-up operation; a transfer drive unit configured to cause the pusher and the lockable portion to reciprocate in the transfer direction; and a lock drive unit configured to drive the lockable portion separately from the pusher and causes the lockable portion to change in orientation. The transfer device performs a delivery operation by moving, toward a delivery side in the transfer direction, the pusher in contact with a container rear face portion with use of the transfer drive unit, and performs a pick-up operation by moving the lockable portion in the locking orientation toward a pick-up side in the transfer direction with use of the transfer drive unit.

A transfer device includes: a pusher configured to push a container during a delivery operation; a lockable portion lockable to the container during a pick-up operation; a transfer drive unit configured to cause the pusher and the lockable portion to reciprocate in the transfer direction; and a lock drive unit configured to drive the lockable portion separately from the pusher and causes the lockable portion to change in orientation. The transfer device performs a delivery operation by moving, toward a delivery side in the transfer direction, the pusher in contact with a container rear face portion with use of the transfer drive unit, and performs a pick-up operation by moving the lockable portion in the locking orientation toward a pick-up side in the transfer direction with use of the transfer drive unit.