https://opentechnical.org/feed/material-handling.xml 2026-09-15T11:13:28Z OpenTechnical Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-0000000102026-09-15T11:13:28Z2026-09-15T11:13:28Z

This disclosure describes a pallet dispensing system configured to handle pallets with damaged or non-standard stringer boards. The system employs a tine-and-fork transfer mechanism designed to engage with and lift individual pallets from a stack. It incorporates features for detecting stringer irregularities during engagement, allowing for selective rejection of non-conforming pallets. The system also includes provisions for accommodating stacks composed of pallets with varying overall heights, ensuring consistent dispensing operation. This arrangement mitigates jamming issues common in dispensers sensitive to precise pallet stringer geometry, enhancing operational reliability.

https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-0000000092026-09-15T11:12:36Z2026-09-15T11:12:36Z

This disclosure describes a hanger bearing arrangement for screw conveyors handling abrasive bulk materials. The design addresses premature wear and failure of intermediate support bearings, a common cause of conveyor downtime. It employs a non-contact, indirectly lubricated bearing system, optimized material selection, and a flushing mechanism to prevent abrasive ingress. Hanger spacing is determined by shaft deflection limits. An integrated sensing system monitors bearing condition, enabling proactive maintenance before catastrophic failure. This arrangement aims to extend service life and improve operational reliability in challenging abrasive environments without direct lubrication through the shaft.

https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-0000000082026-09-15T11:11:27Z2026-09-15T11:11:27Z

This disclosure describes a dock leveller lip control system designed to maintain continuous contact between the leveller lip and a trailer bed during loading or unloading operations. The system addresses the problem of trailer suspension settling, which causes the trailer bed height to decrease as its load increases, potentially leading to a loss of bearing for the leveller lip. It incorporates mechanisms for detecting lip contact loss and features an interlock with a vehicle restraint system to ensure operational safety and efficiency. The control system permits a designated settling range while actively managing lip position to ensure proper load transfer.

https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-0000000072026-09-15T11:09:45Z2026-09-15T11:09:45Z

A goods-to-person picking station integrates two presentation bays to minimize operator idle time during item retrieval. It addresses the problem where an operator waits for the next storage unit to arrive, reducing potential pick rate. The system employs a control logic that anticipates the completion of picking from one bay, initiating the retrieval of the next required storage unit to the alternative bay. This "shadowing" approach ensures a continuous supply of work to the operator, with visual cues guiding the picking process and managing situations where retrieval throughput is insufficient to maintain continuous operation.

https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-0000000062026-09-15T11:09:13Z2026-09-15T11:09:13Z

This disclosure describes an arrangement for suppressing dust at bulk material transfer points. It employs a staged enclosure around the material drop zone, paired with an induced air balance system. The enclosure design promotes staged particle settling while skirt seals minimize uncontrolled air ingress. An air extraction system maintains a net inward airflow, preventing dust escape. The induced air volume is determined by material flow characteristics and drop height, ensuring efficient capture of airborne particles. Adaptations for sticky materials are also detailed, addressing potential accumulation and flow issues within the system.

https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-0000000052026-09-15T11:08:36Z2026-09-15T11:08:36Z

An arrangement for a cross belt sorter synchronizes article induction with carrier movement. This system utilizes a high-resolution encoder to precisely track carrier positions on a continuous loop. Induction timing is dynamically calculated based on the detected pitch of carriers, ensuring articles are released only when a carrier is correctly aligned within an induction window. This mitigates issues of articles falling between carriers or spanning multiple carriers, thereby improving sortation accuracy and throughput. The system also includes mechanisms for detecting and reporting carriers that remain loaded after their designated discharge point, preventing recirculation of misdirected items.

https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-0000000042026-09-15T11:06:22Z2026-09-15T11:06:22Z

This disclosure describes an arrangement for singulating overlapping parcels on a conveyor system by employing differential roller speeds. Parcels arriving side-by-side or in an overlapped configuration, which prevents individual identification and sorting, are presented to a singulation zone. Within this zone, transport rollers are configured with a speed gradient across the conveying width. This gradient applies differential forces to overlapping parcels, causing them to rotate and separate. The system incorporates mechanisms for gap measurement, handling of excessively wide parcels, and recirculation of items that do not achieve singulation.

https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-0000000032026-09-15T11:05:46Z2026-09-15T11:05:46Z

This disclosure describes a layer transfer head designed to handle full layers of unstable packages, such as cartons or bags. The head incorporates independently retractable side clamps with compliant clamp faces and a layer height sensing mechanism. This configuration prevents layer collapse during transfer and release by ensuring even pressure application and a controlled, sequenced release of the outermost packages. The system addresses the common problem of load instability when rigid or unevenly releasing clamp heads are used, particularly with non-uniform or stacked products.

https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-0000000022026-09-15T11:05:15Z2026-09-15T11:05:15Z

A system for zero pressure accumulation on roller conveyors is described, addressing issues arising from variable article lengths. It dynamically adjusts accumulation zone behavior to prevent jams and maintain high density by measuring article length and coordinating zone release. The system handles articles that span multiple predefined zone lengths, ensuring continuous product flow without collisions or gaps that reduce throughput. Recovery from emergency stops is managed by re-evaluating article positions and zone states, enabling a safe restart of material flow. This arrangement improves efficiency in material handling operations with diverse article dimensions.

https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-0000000012026-09-15T11:03:55Z2026-09-15T11:03:55Z

This disclosure describes a self-correcting belt tracking system designed for conveyor applications. It addresses the problem of conveyor belts wandering off-center, which leads to premature wear, edge damage, and potential operational failure. The system employs a pivoting idler roller assembly, whose angular position is controlled by an actuator in response to the belt's lateral position. Belt edge location is detected using a non-contact sensing array. A control algorithm calculates the required idler angle to steer the belt back to its central path, preventing sustained off-tracking and reducing maintenance requirements.