Some embodiments provide a non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores a program executable by at least one processing unit of a device. The program receives data associated with a visual presentation that includes several visual elements. The program also identifies a first set of visual elements in the several visual elements having a first type and a second set of visual elements in the several visual elements having a second type. The program further renders the first set of visual elements in a first layer of the visual presentation using a first rendering engine. The program also renders the second set of visual elements in a second layer of the visual presentation using a second rendering engine.

The general field of the invention is that of the graphical representation of a synthetic three dimensional view of the exterior landscape in an onboard visualisation system for aircraft, said graphical representation being displayed on a visualisation screen comprising the piloting and navigation information of said aircraft superposed onto said three-dimensional synthetic representation of the exterior landscape, said synthetic representation being computed up to a first determined distance, characterised in that said three-dimensional synthetic representation is tilted at a tilt angle about an axiom positioned at the level of the terrain in a substantially horizontal plane, and substantially perpendicularly to an axis between the flight direction and the heading of the aircraft, said axis moving with the aircraft.

A display device includes: a zoom ratio determining unit configured to determine whether a zoom ratio different from a current zoom ratio is set for a first image; a data type determining unit configured to determine a type of the first image; state determining unit configured to determine an operating state of the display device; a display item acquiring unit configured to acquire an item to be displayed in a second image that indicates information on the display device in accordance with the type that has been determined and the operating state that has been determined; and a position adjusting unit configured to adjust a display position of the second image in accordance with the zoom ratio that is different from the current zoom ratio set for the first image, in response to the zoom ratio determining unit determining that the zoom ratio is set.

The present invention discloses a display unit, a display panel and a driving method thereof, wherein the display unit comprises a full color display subunit capable of displaying full color, and at least one black and white display subunit capable of displaying black and white, when the display unit operates in a first display mode, the full color display subunit and all the black and white display subunit(s) in the display unit display one pixel together; and when the display unit operates in a second display mode, the full color display subunit in the display unit displays one color pixel, and each black and white display subunit in the display unit displays one black/white pixel independently. According to the present invention, pixel display information at the boundaries can be increased, that is, display resolution of the display panel is improved, thereby improving display quality of the display panel.

A computer system for processing of data received from a remote device. The computer system includes a master device and at least one slave device. The master device is communicably coupled to the remote device and has a display and a memory. The master device partitions the data into one or more sub data. The at least one slave device is coupled to the master device. The master device delegates processing of the one or more sub data to one or more of the at least one slave device, and the one or more of the at least one slave device correspondingly to the one or more sub data generate processed sub data. The master device stores the processed sub data and outputs the processed sub data to the display.

A touch drive circuit and a driving method therefor, an array substrate and a touch display apparatus relate to a field of display. The driving method includes: during touch scanning time period in one frame, by each of output control unit (2), receiving a touch enable signal, a common voltage signal and a touch scanning signal, and receiving an output signal of an shift register unit connected with the output control unit; and outputting, by each of the output control units, the touch scanning signal to a touch drive electrode connected with the touch control unit in a first time period according to the touch enable signal and the output signal of the shift register unit connected with the output control unit, wherein the first time period is scanning time allocated to the touch drive electrode in one frame of time.

An OLED touch display panel capable of detecting and reacting to touches on the display includes a signal sending element emitting ultrasonic signals, a driving layer configured to provide display driving signals, a light-emitting element configured to receive the display driving signals and emit light, and a signal receiving element configured for receiving reflected ultrasonic signals. The light-emitting element includes a plurality of light-emitting units and a plurality of black matrixes. Every two adjacent light-emitting units are separated from each other by one of the black matrixes. The signal receiving element includes a plurality of thin film transistor units arranged in a matrix. Each thin film transistor unit is formed on one of the black matrixes.

A method for inputting a text and a display apparatus using the same are provided, the text input method including: transferring a message for requesting execution of a text input mode to an external device; receiving the text from the external device; and displaying the received text if it is determined that a situation in which a text is to be input occurs. Therefore, if a situation in which a text is to be input occurs, an external device automatically operates in a text input mode, and thus a user more conveniently inputs the text.

Herein is disclosed a positional content platform and related systems and methods. According to some embodiments, the platform includes a mobile processing and communication device and a service layer executing on a server. The mobile processing and communication device communicates with the service layer. By virtue of the communication, a user of the mobile device is able to locate and view digital content that has been created and stored on the platform. The aforementioned content is associated with a geographic location, and, according to some embodiments, the content is represented in a user interface by an icon that is superimposed over a field of view representative of a geographic region.

The application relates to freight loading systems for transporting freight items. Corresponding freight loading system comprises a freight deck having a plurality of freight handling devices, a control device which is communicatively connected to the freight handling devices in order to handle at least one freight item on the freight deck, and a remote control, which is communicatively connected to the control device in order to output control signals to the control device. The control device is intended to comprise a position determination unit for determining a remote control position on the freight deck and/or the orientation of the remote control, wherein the control unit is designed to select a number of freight handling devices and drive same depending on the control signals received and the remote control position and/or orientation of the remote control. This allows easier control of the freight items on the freight deck.

Coin processing apparatuses, such as consumer or commercial coin processing apparatuses for counting and/or sorting coins, are described herein. The apparatuses can include coin conveyors having a plurality of individual coin carriers linked together to form a chain. In some embodiments, each of the coin carriers includes a corresponding pocket that is configured to receive a coin from a coin hopper as the carrier chain passes through the coin hopper during its cycle. The coin carriers can carry the coins past one or more sensors for identification or “discrimination” of the coin denomination. After discrimination, the coins can be knocked from the carrier pockets and into, e.g., a selected coin chute for transfer to a collection bin.

Systems, computer program products, and methods useful for handling or managing microplates are provided.

A meat-processing system includes a production station for producing meat products, a processing station for processing the meat products, and a conveying system configured for conveying the meat products in a conveying direction along a conveying path from the production station to the processing station. The conveying system includes a supply conveyor and a discharge conveyor. The supply conveyor is configured for transferring the meat products to the discharge conveyor in such a manner that the discharge orientation with which the meat products are delivered by the production station differs from the orientation with which the meat products are supplied to the processing station.

A unit for transferring and up-ending at least one sealed package containing a pourable food product and having a first axis, comprising: at least one push member which cooperates with package to feed it along a first path from an in-feed station to an out-feed station; the path extending about a second axis; the unit further comprising a guide cooperating with a first side of package along first path to up-end it from an in-feed position, in which it is positioned with first axis oriented in a first direction, to an out-feed position, in which it is positioned with first axis oriented in a second direction crosswise to first direction; and an anti-rotating mechanism cooperating with package along path to prevent package from rotating about first axis; an anti-rotating mechanism comprising a pressure element rotatable about second axis and adapted to cooperate, in use, with package.

An infeed apparatus for the manufacture of containers such as can bodies, comprises a series of 3 or more infeed turrets (22, 30). The infeed turrets (22, 30) take a can body as linear pitch and convert this pitch to a circular pitch. By use of the series of turrets, the can passes to a machine such as a container processing machine not only at a desired linear pitch but also at the specified processing speed. The exchange ratio between individual turrets (22, 30) in the infeed turret series is variable and no greater than 2:1.

A buffer section for a conveying system in a high rack warehouse comprises a slide rod inclined relative to the horizontal for sliding conveyance along a conveying path in a conveying direction, which is parallel to a slide rod longitudinal axis, of a plurality of suspended conveyed goods, which are in each case suspended by means of a hook on the slide rod, and a stopper element in the conveying path at the end of at least one portion of the slide rod to stop the conveyed goods with the formation of a group of conveyed goods, wherein the stopper element has a contact face, which can be displaced between a stopper arrangement to stop the conveyed goods and a passing arrangement for allowing the conveyed goods through, for the conveyed goods, and wherein exclusively the stopper element is used to stop the conveyed goods.

A rotary conveyor apparatus, for collecting, transferring and releasing containers, includes: a platform (9) rotating according to a rotation axis (AA);trolleys (3), supported by the platform, and slidable in a corresponding slit extending from the periphery (9B) to the center of rotation through an internal conduit (6), within the trolleys a certain degree of suction is created for a determined rotation angle of the platform through a suction box (4), arranged at the lower part and in contact with the platform, including a suction opening (7) extending along an angular section thereof. The trolleys are movable relative to the rotation of the platform, and are moved from the periphery to the center of rotation and vice versa during a complete rotation of the platform. The movement action is directed by a first guide closed loop-like on the box and a second radial guide integral with the platform.

A transport apparatus for transporting goods, wherein a moving truck arrangement having at least two moving truck elements can be displaced along a guide track, wherein great spatial freedom of design of the guide track is made possible. The moving truck arrangement can be moved both in a pulling and in a pushing manner by a drive mechanism and the goods can be transported by the individual moving truck elements.

“CONVEYOR SYSTEM WITH DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS AND ISOLATION OF THE CONVEYED PRODUCT IN RELATION TO THE DRIVE SYSTEM”, is a conveyor for grains, seeds, fruit, granulated and ground products and similar products. The conveyor has different applications and isolates the product conveyed from the drive system. There are two or more tubes, and in each set of tubes there is a swivel with a drive system using roller chain, chain, cable, belt, et cetera. In this manner, the drive system is isolated from the product, avoiding mechanical damages, contamination, and also increasing the performance of the system.

A device for changing a pallet car in a plant for the treatment of bulk materials where pallet cars that are continuously conveyed using a lifting wheel and a lowering wheel on an outer rail and an inner rail in an endless chain includes, in regions of a bottom and top strand of the lifting wheel, first and second outer curve links of the outer rail that are openable such that the pallet car is removable from the chain and another pallet car is insertable into the chain. A removal switch is disposed in the region of the bottom strand of the lifting wheel, via which the pallet car is movable out from the chain, and a supply switch is disposed in the region of the top strand of the lifting wheel, via which the pallet car is insertable into the chain.

A center loading assembly for a conveyor belt having a carriage support attached to a belt conveyor main frame and having a carriage within the carriage support. The carriage has a center member with side members extending at an angle therefrom, each having an upward extension. The upward extensions have side rollers and conveyor belt covering skirts and keep the conveyor belt centered between the conveyor belt covering skirts. The carriage support has vertical bearings to support the carriage and side bearings to hold the carriage on the vertical bearings. The carriage and conveyor belt covering skirts follow a trough angle of the conveyor belt as the conveyor belt shifts. Material deposited onto the conveyor belt is deflected to the center portion of the conveyor belt by the conveyor belt covering skirts.

This distributing device for absorbent articles is provided with a main conveyor path, a branch conveyor path that branches from the main conveyor path, a main conveyor path that conveys absorbent articles along the main conveyor path, a diverting mechanism that diverts absorbent articles in the main conveyor path from the main conveyor path to the branch conveyor path, and a branch conveyor mechanism that conveys the absorbent articles diverted by the diverting mechanism along the branch conveyor path. The diverting mechanism is provided with a diverting part for diverting the absorbent articles. The diverting part moves without stopping, entering the main conveyor path from a standby position outside the main conveyor path and then, after leaving the main conveyor path, returning to the standby position.

A specimen transport apparatus according to an aspect is provided with a holder which holds a cup-like specimen container accommodating a specimen in an upright position, a chain member disposed along a predetermined transport path, and a supporting portion provided in a predetermined position on the chain member and configured to support the holder.

An eyeglass lens supplying system for supplying an eyeglass lens to a plurality of eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes: a plurality of conveyer line units, each of which includes: at least one conveyer line conveying a tray; a tray moving unit separating at least two trays from the conveyer line to move the trays to standby positions, and put the tray on the conveyer line; and a control unit obtaining processing information from a host computer; a carrying-in conveyer line connected to the conveyer line of the conveyer line unit; a carrying-out conveyer line connected to the conveyer line of the conveyer line unit; a main control unit communicating with each of the control units, and determines the processing apparatus to process the lens in the tray on the carrying-in conveyer unit, or determines the conveyer line unit to convey the tray on the carrying-in conveyer unit.

A transferring mechanism for transferring a workpiece from a tray to a fixture is provided. The transferring mechanism includes a main bracket defining an uploading hole thereon, an uploading assembly, a pick-up assembly and a transferring assembly. The pick-up assembly is located under the uploading hole. The pick-up assembly is mounted on the main bracket above the uploading hole. The transferring assembly includes a fixing bracket and a first transferring subassembly and a blocking member. The fixing bracket is mounted on the main bracket and located under the pick-up assembly. The first transferring subassembly is mounted on the fixing bracket. The blocking member is mounted on the first transferring subassembly and includes a driving portion. The driving portion moves upward to block and position the fixture to enable the pick-up assembly to release the workpiece on the fixture.

A method and apparatus for preparing a cellulosic feedstock are disclosed. Embodiments of the method comprise passing the cellulosic feedstock out of at least one outlet of a vessel (such as a holding tank) and obtaining at least two streams of cellulosic feedstock wherein each stream may be fed different hydrolysis reactors. Embodiments of the apparatus comprise passing the cellulosic feedstock downwardly through the vessel and withdrawing the feedstock from the vessel in two different lateral directions.

A belt tracking system for adjusting displacement of a movable belt in an axial direction of a plurality of rollers about which the movable belt is entrained includes a slope member and a roller shaft support. The slope member is disposed at least at one end of at least one of the plurality of rollers in the axial direction, to tilt the roller due to movement of the belt. The roller shaft support rotates about a predetermined shaft and includes a shaft recovery member to recover a tilt of the slope member. The shaft recovery member is disposed within a shortest circumference of a closed curve among closed curves within which the slope member and the roller shaft support are disposed in a state in which the roller shaft support is rotated.

A tensioning assembly for a cable drag conveyor. The conveyor includes a head pulley mounted on a head pulley shaft positioned in a head pulley housing and a tail pulley mounted on a tail pulley shaft positioned in a tail pulley housing, infeed and discharge conveyor tubes interconnecting the head pulley housing and the tail pulley housing, and an endless rope having conveying disks attached to the rope positioned in the infeed and discharge conveyor tubes and around the head pulley and tail pulley. The tail pulley housing is positioned in a stationary position in relation to the head pulley and the head pulley housing. The tail pulley shaft and tail pulley is positioned on the tail pulley housing for movement in relation to the tail pulley housing, the head pulley and the head pulley housing. A tensioner moves the tail pulley to maintain the tail pulley at a distance in relation to the head pulley that results in correct tension on the rope during its travel through the cable drag conveyor.

A conveyor belt having opposing ends to be connected for endlessing the conveyor belt. The belt includes a belt member, and two planar connector parts provided one at each said end of the belt. Each connector part has, at an edge of the connector part, an edge coil extending over the width of the belt. The belt is configured to be endlessed by bringing the edge coils of the first and second end into a sideways engagement to obtain an overlapping coil area and by inserting a closing wire through the overlapping coil area. Each connector part has a set of splice fingers engaging in correspondingly shaped finger recesses formed in the belt member.

Rod belt for rod belt conveyors for agricultural machinery includes rods arranged transversely with respect to the running direction and parallel to one another. At least one of the rods has flattened and perforated end areas with which it rests on tensile stress-resistant, elastic, continuous belts which revolve in parallel to one another, and is connected by rivets or similar fastening elements which pass through the end areas and the belts. The rod belt may be produced with a rod division that differs from, and in particular is smaller than, the division of the fastening points on the belts. This is achieved by providing that at least one additional rod is fixedly connected to the at least one rod which is connected to the belts, and the at least one additional rod is free of contact with the belts.

Rod belt for rod belt conveyors for agricultural machinery, having rods arranged transversely with respect to the running direction and parallel to one another. Rods at their ends are each connected to a fastening piece which has a flattened and perforated support area with which fastening piece rests on tensile stress-resistant, elastic, continuous belts extending in parallel and is connected by rivets or similar fastening elements which pass through support area and belts, and support area is formed in one piece with a fastening area for rod ends. The rod belt includes fastening pieces which have a simple design and are cost-effectively manufactured. Fastening pieces are designed as bends having a fastening area which, in relation to the installed position, is bent from the plane of support area toward the bottom side of belt and situated parallel to the inner side of belt.

A chain link of a conveying chain, containing a base body with a first end region which comprises a first coupling section for the articulated connection to a coupling section of a first adjacent chain link, and with a second end region which comprises a second coupling section for the articulated connection to a coupling section of a second adjacent chain link. The base body comprises an intermediate region lying between the two end regions and includes a body section with bending-elastic characteristics, which is designed such that the first end region is elastically bendable relative to the second end region out of the longitudinal direction of the base body.

Sterilization and cleaning of an escalator hand rail are performed. A sterilization and cleaning device including a hand rail; a plasma source for irradiating the hand rails with ions or radicals or UV light; an enclosure for housing the plasma source; a power source for generating plasma; a fan for generating relatively negative pressure in the enclosure; filter units for removing removed bacteria, viruses, and organic matters such as hand marks; and filter plates located backward and forward of a moving direction of the hand rail in the enclosure along the hand rail is provided.

Machine (1) for packaging articles (2) inside containers (3), a conveyor (6) is provided with a longitudinally movable transporting section (7) for feeding the articles (2) in a given direction (D) and along a given conveying path (P); a robot (23), which is arranged along the conveying path (P) and controlled by an operating and control device depending on detection at least of the position of each article (2) on the transporting section (7), picks up single articles (2) from the transporting section (7) and transfers each picked-up article (2) inside a container (3); the transporting section (7) is delimited transversely by two side walls (18) stabilizing the position and direction of each article (2) with respect to the transporting section (7); on the latter the articles (2) are stably seated between the side walls (18), one behind another in a row, in the conveying direction (D).

The present invention provides a truss device for an escalator or moving walk comprising an outer panel and an inner panel facing the outer panel, characterized in that, the inner panel is formed from a single integral panel and comprises a body part and a plurality of connection parts extending from the body part toward the outer panel thus forming corresponding through openings in the inner panel, each connection part is connected to the outer panel so that the outer panel and the inner panel are fixed together, wherein the inner panel further comprises a support part formed on the body part of the inner panel and projecting in a direction away from the outer panel. The present invention also provides an escalator or moving walk having the above truss device.

An assembly line, wherein at least one operating branch of fixed length accommodates a number of platforms aligned with one another and with a given travelling direction; each platform being designed to receive a respective vehicle body, feed it in the travelling direction, and subject it to a succession of n assembly operations along the operating branch; each platform being designed for connection to at least one longitudinal extension to assume a total length, which depends on the length of the body carried, and ranges between a minimum length equal to the length of the platform with no extension, and a maximum length; and the length of the operating branch being equal to n times the maximum length.

A method for storing and transporting products in a low-pressure storage device and a low-pressure storage device therefore, to allow product storage in a simple manner, and to control the storage in a simple manner. The products transfer on a first storage path and on a second storage path that is arranged directly next to the first storage path, during the storage operation of the storage device.

A conveyor machine is provided. In another aspect, a singulator conveyor employs three-dimensionally obliquely skewed driven rollers angularly offset from a primary feeding and downstream direction, outboard of an adjacent driven conveyor having a top surface moving in the primary feeding and downstream direction. A further aspect provides a downstream moving conveyor belt or rollers which are vertically higher than the adjacent outboard skewed and converging driven rollers.

An arrangement including two conveyor screws which are arranged rotatably moveably relative to each other for processing a pasty material like a foodstuff product or the like, having a first conveyor screw and a second conveyor screw which have interengaging helical flights and which in particular are drivable in opposite relationship. The conveyor screws are of different size diameters and/or the conveyor screws have a different number of flights. In addition, the surfaces of the interengaging flights are so shaped and matched to each other that they are in contact with each other along a substantially continuous contact line extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of both conveyor screws to hinder, preferably prevent a return flow of the pasty material.

An egg chain gripper actuating device for use with an egg transfer device. The device has an egg conveyor with parallel egg chains movable in a transport direction, each chain supporting egg grippers, which can be individually actuated. The device further comprises an egg receiving unit with a receiving area for receiving eggs released by the egg grippers, and one group of one or more actuators for each egg chain for selectively actuating passing egg grippers. Multiple support frames are provided, each supporting one or more groups of actuators. At least one frame is adjustable parallel to the transport direction and relative to another frame, such that the position of the actuators of the one or more groups supported by the frame can be adjusted relative to the position of the one of more actuators of the one or more groups supported by the other frame.

A device for transporting vehicle bodies, on which standardized holding components are provided. A guide device is provided for at least one continuous drive train which having a driving side and a slack side, and having a first return element and at least one second return element around which the at least one continuous drive train circulates. The at least one continuous drive train supports a plurality of coupling elements which are arranged and aligned in such a manner that they can work together with the standardized holding components provided on the vehicle body.

An agricultural combine unloader assembly includes an unloader tube having an internal passage in fluid communication with a discharge outlet at an end of the unloader tube. A door is mounted adjacent the discharge outlet for covering the discharge outlet. The door is moveable between an open position uncovering the discharge outlet and a closed position at least partially covering the discharge outlet. In the open position, the door is positioned below a flow path of grain to be discharged through the discharge outlet. A catch is mounted adjacent the door. The catch includes a housing having an open end adjacent a first end of the door and a closed end adjacent a second end of the door opposite the first end. The catch is operatively connected to the door and movable between a first position and a second position.

An article sorting and conveying device that conveys articles by the vibrations of a movable body provided through an elastic support unit, includes a first vibration unit that imparts a periodic vibration force to the movable body in a direction inclined from a vertical direction; a second vibration unit that imparts a periodic vibration force in a direction crossing the periodic vibration force by the first vibration unit; and a vibration control unit that causes a periodic vibration force imparted by each vibration unit to have a phase difference and occur simultaneously at the same frequency, and that creates an elliptical vibration trajectory in the movable body. The articles are sorted and conveyed on the movable body by setting the vibration trajectory of the movable body by the vibration control unit such that articles having a different coefficient of friction are conveyed in different directions.

A medicine counting device including a rotary container broadening radially in an upward direction and configured to rotate around an axis of the rotary container; a guide member fixed with a predetermined gap on a top surface side of the rotary container, spirally extending from the central portion towards an outer circumference of the rotary container, and configured to guide a medicine moved by a rotation of the rotary container from the central portion towards the outer circumference of the rotary container. The medicine counting device further includes a detector provided outside of the rotary container and a regulator configured to feed a medicine having been moved to the outer circumference and being in contact with the guide member towards the detector but returns the medicines which are not being in contact with the guide member to the central portion side of the rotary container by overpassing the guide member.

In some embodiments, apparatus useful for assisting in controlling the discharge of material onto a conveyor from a material dispenser includes a carrier, first and second side restrictors extending downwardly from the carrier and at least one wiper extending downwardly from the carrier and transverse to the side restrictors. The side restrictors are configured to assist in preventing at least some material from overflowing off the sides of the conveyor, while the wiper is configured to level the top of at least some of the material dispensed on the conveyor.

A door transportation method in a vehicle body assembly line, in which the vehicle body is placed and transported on a vehicle body transportation carriage of a floor conveyer, and thereby components are assembled to the vehicle body, includes: placing and transporting the door, which is detached from the vehicle body, on a door placing section arranged on a base stand of the vehicle body transportation carriage.

In a method for manufacturing an element (8) of a modular scaffolding system, an at least partly galvanized pipe part (10) having a first end (12) and a second end is provided, together with an at least partly galvanized first connection head (40) which is designed to be connected to the first end (12) of the pipe part (10). A weld (24), which connects the first end (12) of the pipe part (10) to the first connection head (40), has an internal weld surface (24b) and an external weld surface (24a). The internal weld surface is proximal to the pipe part (10) and/or the connection head (40), and the external weld surface is proximal to an outside environment (60) of the pipe part (10) and the connecting head (40). A protective layer covers the external weld surface, such that it is screened off from the outside environment (60).

A system is provided with a controller and a device configured to receive and output network data from a communication network to the controller. Accordingly, the controller is configured to (i) receive the network data from the device, (ii) conduct heuristic analysis on the network data, (iii) identify at least a portion of the network data as suspicious upon determining by the heuristic analysis of a likelihood that at least the portion of the network data including malware, (iv) simulate transmission of the suspicious network data to at least one virtual machine of a plurality of virtual machines that is selected or configured using at least one software profile, and (v) analyze effects of the suspicious network data on the at least one virtual machine.

A portable folding support structure for safely tethering an individual comprises a portable cart sized to fit through a residential doorway, having wheels and a motor that actuates at least one of the wheels. A hand-operated throttle and steering device control the cart. The cart comprises an extendable anchoring plate to prevent rolling. A substantially horizontal jib with the cart comprises a harness point for receiving a safety cable to which an individual is attached to allow safe cleaning practices and to minimize fall risk. A foldable outrigger provides stability to the cart and an anchoring pad attaches to a distal region of the outrigger to promote stability. A textile liquid-absorbing surface is positionable about an outer surface of a glass balcony to inhibit cleaning liquids from spilling below the level of the liquid-absorbing surface.

A mobile platform has a separate and independent linear actuator pivotally connected near each opposite end of the platform where there is a contact limit switch that when triggered by contact with the side of a flatbed, stops movement of the actuator, and thus stops movement of the platform, toward the side of the flatbed. Because each of the two actuators is pivotally connected to its respective end of the platform and moves independently of the other, each end of the platform can stop moving toward the flatbed before or after, depending on how the flatbed is misaligned, the other end of the platform stops moving toward the flatbed. In this way the platform self-aligns to the alignment of the flatbed and avoids the need to reposition a flatbed that is not precisely aligned parallel to the central axis of the loading bay.