Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080201012 | Library apparatus and position controlling method - A library apparatus includes a cell unit having a plurality of cells arrayed in a matrix, a holder to insert the storage medium to one of the cells or extract the storage medium from the cell, and a position controller to move the holder over the cell unit in X-axis and Y-axis directions to position the holder at a desired position. The holder has a reading unit configured to acquire data of the edges on both sides of each cell. The position controller determines each position of the cells on the basis of the data of the edges acquired at a plurality of positions while moving the holder in a predetermined direction from a predetermined position of the cell unit. | 08-21-2008 |
20080294283 | BATTERY EXCHANGE STATION AND A METHOD OF CHANGING THEREIN - An exchange station and method of changing is provided. The battery exchange station includes a controlled area, a receiving bay, a storage bay, a generating system, a mechanical positioning device, and a control system. The controlled area is comprised of an exchange opening. The storage bay is comprised of a charging storage rack and first and second replacement batteries. The mechanical positioning device is comprised of a base, a first and second connecting arms and a battery support connector. The control system is comprised of a stationary communication system and a mobile communication control system. The stationary communication system is comprised of a central processing unit, a plurality of sensors, and a plurality of guidance components. | 11-27-2008 |
20080319573 | Method and System For Optimizing Containers in a Block - A method for optimizing the position of a plurality of containers in a block, including at least one crane configured to move the containers is provided. A crane control unit (CCU) is provided in which the following steps are performed: identifying a selected container to be moved from a current position CP within a sub-section of said block to a new position NP within the sub-section; calculating a number of container moves required facilitating the move of the selected container in previous step; arranging the required number of container moves in a queue for each crane; and performing the container moves as arranged in the queue by controlling said at least one crane. Also provided is a computer program, a computer-readable medium encoded with the computer program, and a system for optimizing the position of a plurality of containers in a block. | 12-25-2008 |
20090030547 | CALIBRATION OF HIGH SPEED LOADER TO SUBSTRATE TRANSPORT SYSTEM - In one aspect, a system is disclosed having a substrate carrier loader adapted to load substrate carriers onto a moving conveyor; and a controller coupled to the substrate carrier loader, the controller adapted to assist in at least one of alignment of the substrate carrier loader to the moving conveyor and calibration of the substrate carrier loader to the moving conveyor or a storage location. Numerous other aspects are provided. | 01-29-2009 |
20090082903 | Automated stacking system for wood products - Provided is a system for cutting and sorting of engineered wood products. Using appropriate software, a designer may model an entire house's structural frame. The dimensions and labeling for individual members of the structure are extracted from the model and captured by the software. The software may batch and optimize the products to be cut on the saw and develop sawing control instructions. The instructions are used by the saw to process the parts according to the house structure design. As the parts are processed by the saw, they are discharged and sent to an outfeed system that will stack the engineered wood products according to the parameters defined by the workstation operator. The system can handle the multiple lengths and widths of engineered wood parts from the saw and stack them in the order the software may specify. | 03-26-2009 |
20090177314 | Automated Data Storage Library with Target of Opportunity Recognition - A system and computer program product are provided for utilizing target of opportunity to perform at least one special operation while a removable storage medium is mounted within a data storage drive for another purpose. The system comprises a tape library and a tape drive coupled to the tape library. The tape library receives a command to mount a tape cartridge in the tape drive. If it is determined by the tape library that at least one special operation may be performed, then tape library has recognized that a target of opportunity exists. In response to determining that at least one special operation may be performed, the tape library sends a first notification that the tape drive is to remain in a not ready state. The tape library mounts the tape cartridge in the tape drive after determining that at least one special operation may be performed. In response to the tape drive performing the at least one special operation, the tape library sends a second notification that the tape drive is in a ready state or an error state. | 07-09-2009 |
20090248196 | Automatic modular store - An automatic store comprises a main support structure, at least one storage unit with a stowage member which extends along an endless path, and storage elements mounted on the stowage member and movable along the endless path as a result of an activation of the storage unit in order selectively to reach a collection position in which collecting means can collect products stored on predetermined storage elements. The storage elements define stowage locations which are identified by a set of at least three coordinates and are movable along at least one predetermined path. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248197 | ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR LOADING VEHICLE BODIES - An arrangement is provided for loading vehicle bodies in which assembled vehicle bodies are continuously made available from a production process for loading and are prepared for the loading. Several different stations of the loading arrangement are mutually coordinated and monitored by a control unit. A drive operated fork lift is utilized to handle empty cargo carriers and to stack a pair of vehicle body loaded cargo carriers to form a loading unit which is subsequently transferred to a transport train freight car. | 10-01-2009 |
20090265032 | Transferring Storage Devices Within Storage Device Testing Systems - A method of transferring storage devices within a storage device testing system includes actuating an automated transporter to substantially simultaneously retrieve multiple storage devices presented for testing, and actuating the automated transporter to substantially simultaneously deliver each retrieved storage device to a respective test slot of the storage device testing system and substantially simultaneously insert each storage device in the respective test slot. | 10-22-2009 |
20090306813 | Shipping Equipment - Disclosed is an apparatus for transferring products packaged and stacked in a factory or manufacturing spots, the apparatus including a packaged product for stacking frame stacking packaged products in a multiple stage, a packaged product extracting device for extracting the packaged products stacked in the packaged product stacking frame, a conveyor device for transferring the packaged product extracted by the packaged product extracting device to a certain position and a control device for actuating the packaged product extracting device, wherein the packaged products transfer apparatus first pushes a lowest-stage placed product among packaged products stacked in a certain height to a conveyor device, thereby firstly transferring and shipping a packaged product stacked in the lower stage of the product stacking rack that are manufactured formerly. | 12-10-2009 |
20100042250 | COIN ACCOMMODATING AND DISPENSING DEVICE - A cyclic transporting unit is provided. The transporting unit transports coins one by one in reverse directions in depositing and dispensing. A plurality of accommodating and dispensing portions are arranged along the transporting unit. Since coins enter and exit the transporting unit through a single coin inlet/outlet of the accommodating and dispensing portion, a depositing and transporting route and a dispensing and transporting route of the transporting unit can be made common to each other. The accommodating and dispensing portion accommodates coins with the coins not aligned, and dispenses accommodated coins one by one to the transporting unit by a rotary disc and a delivering disc. | 02-18-2010 |
20100049359 | ARTICLE STACKING APPARATUS HAVING AT LEAST ONE SAFETY SENSOR AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME - A stacking apparatus includes a base, a main conveyor pivotably supported on the base that is pivotable between a first, lowered, position and a second, raised, position, an accumulator section downstream of a discharge end of the main conveyor for receiving articles from the main conveyor, where the accumulator section includes a support for supporting a stack of items fed to the accumulator section by the main conveyor. Also, at least one optical sensor detecting the presence of an object in the main conveyor travel path and at least one controller operatively connected to the main conveyor and the optical sensor, the at least one controller receiving signals from the optical sensor and controlling the main conveyor based on the signals and on the direction of movement of the main conveyor. | 02-25-2010 |
20100076592 | Method for Inserting a Part into a Storage Section of a Storage Container and Insertion Tool Arrangement - The invention refers to a Method ( | 03-25-2010 |
20100106287 | Article Storage Facility and Operation Method Thereof - An article storage facility having an article storage shelf including a plurality of storage sections arranged in a vertical direction and parallel to a width direction of the shelf a stacker crane for conveying an article between the storage sections and an article carrying-in/carrying-out portion, and a controller for controlling the operation of the stacker crane, wherein the stacker crane includes an article transfer device movable relative to a lift in the width direction of the shelf between a first position adjacent to a first support column and a second position adjacent to a second support column. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106288 | DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY SORTING GLASS PLATES - The invention relates to a device and a method for sorting and stacking glass plates of different thicknesses and/or different formats over a divided transport line, characterised by the following: 1) an aligning device ( | 04-29-2010 |
20100114362 | Horizontal Circuit Storage System - The invention relates to a horizontal circuit storage system (1) for storing storage goods carried by load-carriers. The horizontal circuit storage system has a storage zone (2) with a plurality of stacked horizontal storage planes (5). A plurality of load-carriers (6) are arranged in a row in each of the storage planes. The storage zone (2) is located between two vertical conveyers (3, 4) which interconnect the storage planes vertically in each case. The load-carriers (6) can be moved horizontally in the storage planes (5) to the vertical conveyers (3, 4) by horizontal conveyers (8) which are associated each with a storage plane (5). According to the invention, a control unit is provided in order to permit faster access to individual load-carriers and, depending on a control signal from the control unit, the storage system can be brought into a condition in which a horizontal circuit is formed for the load-carriers (6). The invention also relates to a method for accessing a particular load-carrier (6) which receives a storage good in a horizontal circuit storage system (1) in which such a horizontal circuit (65) is formed. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114363 | Method And A Device For Recognizing, Collecting and Repositioning Objects - A method for recognizing, collecting and repositioning objects ( | 05-06-2010 |
20100121483 | BEVERAGE BOTTLING PLANT, IN WHICH BEVERAGE BOTTLES ARE FILLED, CLOSED, PACKED, AND TRANSPORTED ON DOLLIES AND PALLETS, AN ARRANGEMENT FOR TRANSPORTING DOLLIES, AND A METHOD THEREFOR - A beverage bottling plant, in which beverage bottles are filled, closed, packed, and transported on dollies and pallets, an arrangement for transporting dollies, and a method therefor. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner. | 05-13-2010 |
20100138033 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR INSERTING, COLLECTING OR COLLATING A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE, PLANAR PRODUCTS - The invention relates to a device for inserting, collecting or collating a plurality of flexible, planar products, preferably printed products, wherein the device ( | 06-03-2010 |
20100138034 | APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE COUNTING, SORTING AND CLASSIFYING SYSTEM - An apparatus is provided for transporting textile items into sorting bins with reduced energy consumption and improved load measuring accuracy and which provides textile item counting and sorting for a commercial laundry using vacuum air systems to move textiles into sorting bins and using a variable frequency drive to increase on/off response time of vacuum in the system. | 06-03-2010 |
20100145501 | CONTAINER VESSEL STOWAGE PLANNING - A computer-implemented method of determining an allocation plan for a cargo stowage problem of allocating a set of cargo items to a set of cargo item positions of a vessel, each cargo item position being suitable for receiving a cargo item. The method comprises constructing an expression indicative of one or more constraints to be satisfied by said allocation plan, constructing a cost function indicative of a cost of an updated allocation plan relative to a current allocation plan of said cargo stowage problem, iteratively updating a current allocation plan from an initial allocation plan to an updated allocation plan so as to decrease said cost function under said one or more constraints. | 06-10-2010 |
20100145502 | LOADING AND UNLOADING ITEMS OF FLIGHT LUGGAGE - The invention relates to the loading and unloading of items of flight luggage in an airport. | 06-10-2010 |
20100145503 | Apparatus and Method for Conveying Products from a Stack to an Output - An apparatus for conveying products from a stack to an output includes a stack area configured for receiving a stack of a plurality of products, a guiding element extending to the output, and a transport mechanism configured for acting on at least part of the products in the stack for conveying the products in the direction of the output such that edges of the products abut on the guiding element. | 06-10-2010 |
20100168905 | Banknote Storage Apparatus and Method of Removing Banknotes Therefrom - A banknote storage apparatus for easily removing banknotes stored therein includes a push bar, placed in an input port into which a banknote is inputted in a perpendicular direction, for providing stroke-operating toward a target storage part into which the banknote is determined to be stored; a driving motor for driving the stroke operation of the push bar; a pair of push plates for applying a pressure toward the input port in order to hold the banknotes perpendicularly stored according to the stroke operation of the push bar; and a detecting part for detecting an opening status of the door so that the driving motor is controlled to make the push bar move into a removing position for either one of the storage parts when detecting the opening status of the door. | 07-01-2010 |
20100168906 | Transferring Storage Devices Within Storage Device Testing Systems - A method of transferring storage devices within a storage device testing system includes actuating an automated transporter to substantially simultaneously retrieve multiple storage devices presented for testing, and actuating the automated transporter to substantially simultaneously deliver each retrieved storage device to a respective test slot of the storage device testing system and substantially simultaneously insert each storage device in the respective test slot. | 07-01-2010 |
20100174405 | Automated Material Handling System for Semiconductor Manufacturing Based on a Combination of Vertical Carousels and Overhead Hoists - A highly efficient Automated Material Handling System (AMHS) that allows an overhead hoist transport vehicle to load and unload Work-In-Process (WIP) parts directly to/from one or more WIP storage units included in the system. The AMHS includes an overhead hoist transport subsystem and at least one vertical carousel stocker having a plurality of storage bins. The overhead hoist transport subsystem includes an overhead hoist transport vehicle traveling along a suspended track defining a predetermined route, which runs adjacent to the carousel stocker, thereby allowing the overhead hoist transport vehicle to access a WIP part directly from one of the storage bins. At least one of the storage bins includes a movable shelf operative to move laterally from a first position along the carousel path to a second position near the overhead hoist transport vehicle. The storage unit is at least partially open to allow the movable shelf to move to the second position, thereby allowing the overhead hoist to access a material unit directly from the movable shelf for subsequent transport along the track between various locations within a product manufacturing facility. | 07-08-2010 |
20100179683 | METHODS, SYSTEMS AND APPARATUS FOR RAPID EXCHANGE OF WORK MATERIAL - Systems, apparatus and methods for the rapid exchange of work material in a facility processing substrates (e.g., LCD panels, solar panels, semiconductor wafers, or the like) are disclosed. The system may include load ports associated with a process tool, local storage units, and a work material exchange apparatus adapted to rapidly exchange work material at the ports, units, or other exchange locations. The work material exchange apparatus may include two or more end effectors coupled to one or more actuator members and which may be adapted to rapidly exchange two or more carriers containing work material at an exchange location. | 07-15-2010 |
20100185318 | Machine for sorting flats - A sorting machine at least for flat postal items comprises a stacking module having a plurality of stacking stations, which define respective channels along which the postal products are carried and a first plurality of rollers for handling the postal products along the stacking stations, a first carrying assembly defining a second channel configured for carrying the postal products towards the stacking module and comprising a second plurality of rollers for carrying the postal products, a plurality of deviating assemblies, each of which comprises a first device selectively mobile for deviating a flat into the channel of the desired stacking station, and a second carrying assembly delimiting an outlet channel communicating with the plurality of stacking stations, wherein at least one of the first and second rollers is mobile transversely with respect to the direction of conveyance of the postal products on the machine. | 07-22-2010 |
20100198394 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GROUPING UNITS - Apparatus for grouping a number of units, such as packaging units, when palleting the units, comprising a feed belt for conveying the units ( | 08-05-2010 |
20100198395 | ALIGNMENT ADJUSTING APPARATUS, LIBRARY APPARATUS, AND ALIGNMENT ADJUSTING METHOD - An alignment adjusting apparatus of a robot to execute conveying operations of putting and taking an object to be conveyed in and out of an accommodating shelf includes at least two reference flags to be installed in the accommodating shelf; a flag measuring unit to measure the reference flags on the robot positioned at the reference flags; and an alignment adjusting unit to adjust an alignment shift of the robot corresponding to an inclination of the robot, the inclination being obtained from a variation of a measured value of each of the reference flags by the flag measuring unit. | 08-05-2010 |
20100204821 | Substrate treatment apparatus - The invention controls a carrier moving and mounting device such that at normal time, the device moves and mounts carriers in sequence to a delivery mounting units according to a carry-in order, and when a priority carrier is carried into the carry-in mounting unit and if all of the delivery mounting units are occupied by the carriers, the device moves and mounts one of the carriers on the retreat mounting unit, and mounts the priority carrier on the delivery mounting unit which has become vacant by the movement; and controls a delivery device such that at normal time, the delivery device carries the substrates out of the carriers according to the carry-in order of the carriers mounted on the delivery mounting units, and when the priority carrier is mounted, the delivery device carries out the substrates in the priority carrier before the substrates in the other carriers. | 08-12-2010 |
20100204822 | AUTOMATIC WAREHOUSE - An automatic warehouse comprises: a support structure ( | 08-12-2010 |
20100204823 | AUTOMATED BIKE PARKING SYSTEM - System, device and method for providing public, high-density bicycle storage and protection from elements and theft. System includes overhead conveyors from which bicycles are hung in a near side/far side arrangement where handlebars of only every other bicycle are aligned. Bicycles are rolled into a loading station on their back wheels by user and secured, from the front wheel, to a hook that is removably coupled to a load hoist. Access to loading station is controlled by an access control panel. Load hoist lifts the hook to place the bicycle in a hanging position. Robotic arm of a robotic elevator grasps, retracts and lowers (or raises) the bicycle into a multilevel storage area and onto overhead conveyors. Users may be bike-share users or storage users who store the particular bicycle they own. | 08-12-2010 |
20100211211 | DRUG DISCOVERY SCREENING APPARATUS - The invention is to provide a drug discovery screening apparatus capable of improving a testing operation efficiency. The drug discovery screening apparatus comprises an image measurement unit, an incubator unit integrally connected to the image measurement unit, a fixed stage disposed at the incubator unit, first conveyance means for taking out one of plates stored in a carousel of the incubator unit and conveying the plate onto the fixed stage, second conveyance means for taking out the plate conveyed onto the fixed stage and conveying the plate onto an XY stage disposed at the image measurement unit, and a control unit, wherein the second conveyance means comprises first and second conveyance arms, respectively supported horizontally by a conveyance unit support section, which convey the plates onto the fixed stage and XY stage so as to allow the respective plates to cross each other. | 08-19-2010 |
20100228386 | Method and System for Enabling Automated Receiving and Retrieving of Cargo for Storing Purposes - The invention relates to a system of enabling automated receiving/retrieving of stocks of cargo for storing purposes. The system uses at least one service level and one or more storage levels. The service level is operated and organized in such a way that it is able to receive, interchange cargo, and extract cargo simultaneously and batch way. The system is redundant and allows continued operation even if some of its components malfunction. The service area comprising (a) a plurality of pallets for conveying said cargo; (b) a matrix of blocks of predetermined shape upon which said cargo and said pallets located; (c) at least one elevator block for transporting said pallet to different areas of said system; (d) at least one box; (e) at least two buffer for allowing transport of said pallets in at least two orthogonal directions in each of said areas. | 09-09-2010 |
20100234984 | GRAIN BIN FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE OF GRAIN - A grain for the storage of grain millions of bushels of grain comprises a floor, a peripheral wall and a flexible covering. The grain bin includes an unloading system which enables the grain to be unloaded from the grain bin without the need to remove the covering and which substantially reduces the dust typically produced during unloading of currently used temporary grain bins. | 09-16-2010 |
20100241271 | WAFER STORING CABINET AND STORAGE CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - The wafer storing cabinet has a storing cabinet main body | 09-23-2010 |
20100249990 | AUTOMATIC SHELF STOCKING APPARATUS AND RESTOCKING METHOD THEREOF - An automatic shelf stocking apparatus, which restocks goods onto a product shelf, includes a detection device, a communication device and a restocking device. The detection device determines whether a current stock of goods on the product shelf is less than a predetermined preferred stock value. The communication device outputs a restock instruction if the current stock is less than the preferred stock value. The restocking device prepares goods for restock following receipt of the restock instruction, and delivers the prepared restock goods to the product shelf. | 09-30-2010 |
20100249991 | PART SUPPLY APPARATUS - A bolt supply apparatus ( | 09-30-2010 |
20100262278 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ORDER PICKING - An order-picking installation, a method for order picking and an order-picking system for the purpose of fully automated repacking of stock-keeping units from an inbound unit having a plurality of identical stock-keeping units into an outbound unit having a plurality of different stock-keeping units. The installation, method and system includes a separating station for separating the stock-keeping units, which are delivered in an inbound unit composed of a plurality of identical items, into stock-keeping units and/or sub-units of several stock-keeping units, a small-parts store including a storage location for each type of stock-keeping unit, with an item-storing position and an item-retrieval position, and a stacking and/or packaging station for assembling different stock-keeping units and/or sub-units in an outbound unit. | 10-14-2010 |
20100268374 | STOCKER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANAGING STOCKER - A stocker system and a method of managing a stocker, the stocker system including a stocker, a rack master, and a sensor to easily examine a shelf of the stocker. The stocker includes the shelf on which a product is loaded. The rack master includes a body part and an arm part connected to the body part to move the product toward or away from the stocker. The sensor unit faces the shelf when the arm part is moved above or below the shelf and the sensor unit is disposed on the arm part. The sensor unit includes a facing surface that is not in contact with the arm part. A plurality of displacement sensors is disposed on the facing surface of the sensor unit to measure relative positions between the sensor unit and the shelf at a plurality of positions. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268375 | Method and apparatus for distributing articles in a storage compartment - A method for distributing articles ( | 10-21-2010 |
20100280652 | COMPLIANT CONVEYANCE SYSTEM FOR MAILPIECE TRANSPORT ALONG AN ARCUATE FEED PATH - A compliant conveyance system including a diverter having at least one sidewall structure defining an internal chamber in fluid communication with a pressure source. The sidewall structure includes a compliant interface surface for conveying sheet material along the feed path and a plurality of orifices effecting fluid communication between the compliant interface surface and the internal chamber. A means is provided for developing a pressure differential across the sheet material through the orifices to urge an interface surface of the sheet material against the compliant interface surface of the diverter such that the compliant interface surface conforms to the sheet material interface surface. The system employs a means for driving the diverter about a rotational axis from a first to a second rotational position and a controller for controlling the pressure differential such that, in the first rotation position, the sheet material is secured against the compliant interface surface and, in the second rotational position, the sheet material is released therefrom. | 11-04-2010 |
20100298972 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING SHEETS - A method and apparatus are provided for processing sets of sheets. The apparatus includes a frame, a hopper for moving a stack of sheets, a pre-singulator for separating a portion of a sheet from the stack, a sheet peeler for peeling part of a pre-singulated sheet from the stack, a sheet picker for gathering peeled sheets into a set, and a sheet discharger for clearing the set of sheets. The sheet peeler may include at least one rotating drum. The sheet picker may include one or more augers. | 11-25-2010 |
20100318216 | Method of Sorting Mailpieces by Using a Process for Dynamically Allocating Sorting Outlets - The invention relates to a method for sorting postal items for N sorting destinations using a sorting machine that comprises an item conveyor ( | 12-16-2010 |
20100318217 | Method and Gripping Device For Automatically Transferring a Sample Container from a Storing Location to an Analysis Location, And Use o Said Device - The present invention relates to a method and gripping device for automatically transferring from a storing location to an analysis location a sample container having first and second opposite ends and containing the sample adjacent said second end, and to a use of such a gripping device for submitting this sample to X-ray beams in a diffractometer. The method of the invention comprises gripping in said storing location the container ( | 12-16-2010 |
20110054669 | AUTOMATED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISASSEMBLING, HANDLING AND REASSEMBLING DEVICES FOR CONTAINING ANIMALS IN A LAB ANIMAL ROOM - The present invention concerns a system for the disassembly, handling and reassembly of animal containment cages for use in a lab animal room, comprising automated means for handling and moving the cages ( | 03-03-2011 |
20110054670 | SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SHEET PROCESSING METHOD - A sheet processing machine transmits information indicating a degree of contamination or damage for each sheet detected by a discrimination unit to a teller PC as a discrimination result. The teller PC saves the discrimination result received from the sheet processing machine in a data storage unit. A CPU of the teller PC decides reference levels that can attain good bill ratio designated by the user for respective items required to discriminate good/bad states of a sheet based on the previous discrimination results saved in the data storage unit. The CPU of the teller PC sets the reference levels that can attain the good bill ratio designated by the user in the discrimination unit of the sheet processing machine. The discrimination unit set with such reference levels discriminates good/bad states of sheets based on the reference levels set by the teller PC. | 03-03-2011 |
20110060449 | System and Method for Transporting Inventory Items - A method for transporting inventory items includes moving a mobile drive unit to a first point within a workspace. The first point is a location of an inventory holder. The method further includes docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to a second point within the workspace. The second point is associated with conveyance equipment. The method further includes moving the inventory holder to a third point within the workspace using the conveyance equipment. | 03-10-2011 |
20110066279 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING PRODUCE OVER A VERTICAL DISTANCE - The invention provides a device for transporting produce. The device comprises a chute, and a flexible panel that is positioned within tracks of the chute and defines a movable “front” wall of the chute. The flexible panel has a lower section that terminates in a platform section. The flexible panel is operatively connected to a motor or other actuator which allows the flexible panel to be raised and lowered within the tracks of the chute. The platform section of the chute is connected to an actuator which can move the platform from a closed position to an open position. When the platform is in the closed position, the platform defines the bottom of the chute and collects and holds the produce delivered into the chute. When the platform is moved into the open position, the produce is allowed to flow out of the bottom of the chute into the container the chute is positioned in. The device can also comprise a fill sensor indicating when the chute is full. A central processing unit (CPU) and/or control relays are operatively connected to the fill sensors as well as to the motor and the actuator, such that the CPU can determine when to raise and lower the flexible panel and open and close the platform based on the sensor signals to coordinate transporting produce from the top of the chute to the bottom of the chute. | 03-17-2011 |
20110077770 | Banknote handling machine - A banknote handling machine according to the present invention efficiently utilizes stacking units so as to efficiently process banknotes by returning odd banknotes of a first predetermined type in every transaction whereas keeping odd banknotes of a second predetermined type in a stacking unit, and performing subsequent transaction when banknote processing including depositing, taking-in, recognizing, sorting/stacking, and bundling of banknotes and confirming the deposit amount for one transaction is sequentially performed for a plurality of transactions. | 03-31-2011 |
20110106297 | Bag top registration apparatus - Bag top registration apparatus includes infeed mechanism that feeds bags, which may be of different lengths, from a magazine to positioner assemblies which have back lights and bag clamps that are operable for moving the bags, if necessary, to have their bag top edges over the back lights at registration positions and pick-up mechanism for transferring the bags at registration positions to a conveyor assembly with their top edges at the same elevation. Cameras take images of the bags on the positioner assemblies extending in part over the back lights. The programmable logic controller in comparing the images with the parameters imparted by a human machine interface controls the operation of the clamps to move the bags to the registration positions and the mechanism for removing the bags from the magazine, the clamps, the pick-up mechanism and the conveyor assembly. | 05-05-2011 |
20110106298 | Transferring Storage Devices Within Storage Device Testing Systems - A method of transferring storage devices within a storage device testing system includes actuating an automated transporter to retrieve multiple storage devices presented for testing, and actuating the automated transporter to deliver each retrieved storage device to a respective test slot of the storage device testing system and insert each storage device in the respective test slot. | 05-05-2011 |
20110112683 | PROCESS FOR MANAGING URGENT SAMPLES IN AN AUTOMATION INSTALLATION - A process for prioritizing urgent test tubes in a test tubes ( | 05-12-2011 |
20110118869 | Methods and Systems for Transporting Parts from a Primary Process to a Secondary Process in a First In, First Out Fashion - A method for management of first in, first out stores is provided. The method includes producing parts at a primary process. The parts are processed at a secondary process. A storage region is provided that includes at least one store lane pair including a first store lane and a second store lane. The first store lane includes a pick side, a drop side and a plurality of receiving volumes extending from the pick side to the drop side. The second store lane includes a pick side, a drop side and a plurality of receiving volumes extending from the pick side to the drop side. The receiving volumes of the first store lane are filled with the parts in the order they are produced at the primary process in a first in, first out fashion from the pick side of the first store lane to the drop side of the first store lane using an automated guided vehicle sized and configured to pass through each of the plurality of receiving volumes. After a last receiving volume nearest the drop side of the first store lane is filled, the receiving volumes of the second store lane are filled using the automated guided vehicle. | 05-19-2011 |
20110130869 | Sorting Installation and Method for Sorting - A sorting installation comprising a sorting area for sorting articles from source containers into target containers by a sorting person in a sorting area, a plurality of source container revolving conveyer devices adjacent to the sorting area, each of which being provided such that it supplies a plurality of source containers along a source container conveying circuit in a source container conveying circuit to the sorting person in the sorting area in a repeated and revolving manner until a predetermined number of articles are sorted from the respective source container into the respective target container, wherein the conveying circuit plane of the source container conveying circuit of the respective source container revolving conveyer device extends vertically and crosses the sorting area, a source container conveyer installation for automatically conveying source containers from an article storage to the source container revolving conveyer devices and for automatically conveying back source containers from the source container revolving conveyer devices to the article storage, and a target container conveyer system for supplying and removing target containers to and from the sorting area, wherein the target container conveyer system comprises a target container transport path which extends along the sorting area and adjacent to as well as at the front end side in front of the source container conveying circuits. | 06-02-2011 |
20110130870 | BILL HANDLING APPARATUS - A bill handling apparatus includes: a first loop-like conveying path that includes a bill discriminating unit, is connected to a bill receiving and dispensing port and a temporary storage unit, and connected to a plurality of loading boxes to convey bills in two directions; a second conveying path connected to the loading box to convey bills in two directions; a first gate that connects the first conveying path with the second conveying path and switches a conveying direction of the conveying path that conveys bills; and a controller that controls switching of the first gate and conveyance of the conveying path. The controller controls the bills conveyed to the first conveying path in one of the two directions to be conveyed to the loading box through the second conveying path via the first gate, and the bills conveyed from the loading box through the second conveying path to be conveyed to the first conveying path in one of the two directions via the first gate. | 06-02-2011 |
20110144798 | PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR COMMISSIONING INDIVIDUALLY PACKAGED PRODUCTS WITH AN AUTOMATIC COMMISSIONING UNIT AND A CO-ORDINATE FLOW SHELF - A method and an apparatus for the order picking of items in an order-picking installation ( | 06-16-2011 |
20110153060 | DEDICATED SELF-SERVICE RETURN TERMINAL AND METHOD OF OPERATING A DEDICATED SELF-SERVICE RETURN TERMINAL FOR RECEIVING RETURNED MEDIA ON WHICH ENTERTAINMENT DATA IS STORED - A dedicated self-service return terminal is provided for receiving returned media on which entertainment data is stored. The dedicated self-service return terminal comprises a media transporter having a media return slot through which returned media can be received from a customer returning the media, a removable media storage bin for storing returned media which has been received through the slot, a container having a chamber in which the media storage bin is installed when the media storage bin is in use, a sliding mechanism arranged to support the container for vertical sliding movement between a top position in which the media storage bin can receive returned media received through the slot and a bottom position in which the media storage bin can be removed from the container, and a controller arranged to control the sliding mechanism to effect movement of the container between the top and bottom positions during operation of the dedicated self-service return terminal. | 06-23-2011 |
20110153061 | Master Teaching Jig - A disk carrier for teaching disk positioning in a substrate changing system. The disk carrier composed of a panel having a disk opening configured to receive a disk and a plurality of beam sensors disposed around the disk opening to project beams parallel to a surface of the disk when secured within the disk opening. The plurality of beam sensors may be composed of at least one beam sensor on each of a front side and rear side of the panel. | 06-23-2011 |
20110153062 | SUBSTRATE-PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF TRANSFERRING SUBSTRATE IN THE SAME - Provided is a substrate-processing apparatus including a storage member, a transfer member, and a control unit. The transfer member includes a plurality of transfer arms that load or pick up a substrate to or from the storage member. The control unit controls velocity of the transfer arms such that the simultaneously driven transfer arms simultaneously arrive at target points. Accordingly, the transfer member loads or takes out a plurality of wafers at once to or from the storage member, so that the substrate-processing apparatus reduces transfer time and improves productivity. | 06-23-2011 |
20110153063 | System and Method for Processing Waste Material - A method for processing waste in a material handling system includes detecting an occurrence of a trigger event associated with a waste holder located at a first location and, in response to detecting the trigger event, moving a mobile drive unit to the first location. The method also includes loading waste material onto the mobile drive unit at the first location and transporting the waste material to a waste station using the mobile drive unit. | 06-23-2011 |
20110153064 | Automated Will Call System - A will call system for automating the management of storage and retrieval of items, preferably medical prescriptions. The automated system provides informational control of all items in the system. The automated will call monitors the length of time an item remains in the system, and into which location an item is placed. An article sensor provides absolute confirmation that an item has been placed or removed from a designated location in the storage unites. The automated will call system uses a controller to permit users to monitor and optimize the storage and retrieval procedures. | 06-23-2011 |
20110160898 | Automatic modular store - An automatic store comprises a main support structure, at least one storage unit with a stowage member which extends along an endless path, and storage elements mounted on the stowage member and movable along the endless path as a result of an activation of the storage unit in order selectively to reach a collection position in which collecting means can collect products stored on predetermined storage elements. The storage elements define stowage locations which are identified by a set of at least three coordinates and are movable along at least one predetermined path. | 06-30-2011 |
20110160899 | SAMPLE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SAMPLE RACK TRANSPORTING METHOD - A sample processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of sample processing units, each processing a sample contained in a sample container; a transport apparatus that transports a sample rack holding a sample container to at least any one of the plurality of sample processing units; a rack feeding section that receives a sample rack and feeds the received sample rack to a transport line of the transport apparatus; and a controller configured to instruct the transport apparatus, according to a quantity of sample racks received by the rack feeding section, to transport a sample rack fed by the rack feeding section to either (a) a sample processing unit which can accept a subsequent sample rack more rapidly than any other sample processing unit or (b) a sample processing unit having a lower processing load than any other sample processing unit. Also, a sample rack transporting method. | 06-30-2011 |
20110172809 | METHOD AND CONFIGURATION FOR HANDLING OBJECTS - A method and a configuration for handling objects, wherein a multiplicity of objects are stored in a storage container and one or more objects to be processed are divided from objects to remain in storage. Depending on the number of objects to be processed or depending on a differential value between the total number of objects in the storage container and the number of objects to be processed, a decision is made whether the division of the object or objects to be processed from the objects to remain in storage takes place in the storage container by the object or objects to be processed being removed directly from the storage container, the objects to remain in storage remaining in the storage container during said removal operation, or whether the division of the object or the objects to be processed from the objects to remain in storage takes place outside the storage container by all of the objects being removed from the storage container and the division of the objects to be processed from the objects to remain in storage taking place separately from the storage container. | 07-14-2011 |
20110178631 | DELIVERY POSITION ALIGNING METHOD FOR USE IN VACUUM PROCESSING APPARATUS, VACUUM PROCESSING APPARATUS AND COMPUTER STORAGE MEDIUM - In a vacuum transfer chamber, a position detecting mechanism for detecting the positions of semiconductor wafers is arranged. The semiconductor wafers disposed at predetermined positions in a load lock chamber and vacuum processing chambers are transferred to the position detecting mechanism by a vacuum transfer mechanism and the positions of the wafers are detected. Then, based on the detection results, aligning between the load lock chamber and the vacuum processing chambers is performed. | 07-21-2011 |
20110196530 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY LOADING DRUMS INTO DRUM CONTAINER - An apparatus and method for automatically loading drums into a drum container, in which, when the drums filled with radioactive waste are loaded into the drum container, the drums are fed to a designated position, and placed at a fixed position, reducing loading time and manpower as well as minimizing radiation exposure risk associated with radioactive waste treatment. The apparatus includes a drum feeder having conveyor modules transferring the drums and a turntable rotating a drum transferred to an orientation where the drum can be gripped, for sequentially loading the drums, a support frame on which a lid of the drum container is placed when the drums are being loaded, and a crane that grips and transfers the drum or the drum container lid. | 08-11-2011 |
20110213493 | Entrance Gate For An Automatic Parking Garage Having Mechanism For Centering A Vehicle On The Entrance Gate - An entrance gate and an automatic parking garage having such an entrance gate are provided. The entrance gate includes a stationary ground plate; two trace plates thereabove, movable in the plane in any direction in a gliding manner, each for receiving thereon a front and rear wheel of a car; a stationary top plate above the trace plates, having two opposing cut-out windows, with each trace plate exposed through one window; and two centering plates above the top plate, on outer sides of the cut-out windows. The centering plates connect with and are driven by two drive units to affect synchronous counter-movements. When being driven toward each other, the centering plates touch outer sides of tires of a car resting on the trace plates and move the car toward a centerline of the entrance gate, until the centerline of the car is aligned with the centerline of the entrance gate. | 09-01-2011 |
20110224820 | STACKER, STACKING SYSTEM OR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR STACKING - A stacking system and method that utilizes a device control for precisely controlling the downward movement of at least one printed material support at a first speed, while substantially simultaneously permitting upward movement of the at least one support at a second speed which is greater than the first speed. | 09-15-2011 |
20110231007 | AUTOMATED LIBRARY - An automated library including a housing unit containing a plurality of shelves containing slots to hold digital and print media; a programmable robot contained within the housing unit; a patron interface panel including a touch screen, a library card reader, and receipt printer secured to a wall of the housing unit for entering data; and a media receipt and distribution system secured to a wall of the housing unit that determines the size and/or shape of media being received or distributed through the media receipt and distribution system and controls the ingress and egress of the media. | 09-22-2011 |
20110238208 | METHOD FOR HANDLING LOADS IN A WAREHOUSE FOR CONTAINERS, PARTICULARLY STANDARD CONTAINERS - A method is provided for handling loads in a warehouse for containers that may be automatically stored and removed from storage by a container stacking crane, between a storage area and a truck or other vehicle parked in a parking space of a loading and unloading area To optimize the throughput performance and safety of handling loads in a warehouse for containers, it is proposed that after the truck drives into the parking space and after the driver of the truck leaves the parking space, the parking space is secured against the presence of persons including the driver, before a release signal is given to the container stacking crane for the automatic loading or unloading process. | 09-29-2011 |
20110245960 | MANAGEMENT APPARATUS AND MANAGEMENT METHOD - A management apparatus is for managing a storage medium. The apparatus includes a rack including a cell which has a first opening and a second opening, a robot for inserting or ejecting the storage medium with respect to the cell through the first opening, and a controller for executing a process. The process includes driving the robot to start inserting or ejecting the storage medium with respect to the cell, detecting a failure in inserting or ejecting the storage medium, stopping the robot from inserting or ejecting the storage medium for a given time upon detecting the failure, and driving the robot to restart inserting or ejecting the storage medium with respect to the cell after the stopping the robot from inserting or ejecting the storage medium for the given time. | 10-06-2011 |
20110245961 | LIBRARY APPARATUS AND INVENTORY CONTROL METHOD - A library apparatus includes, a cell storage unit to store recording media, a drive unit to read and write information recorded on the media, a transport apparatus configured to transport the media between the cell storage unit and the drive unit, an imaging apparatus to record footage of portable recording media stored in the cell storage unit, an image processor configured to image process footage recorded by the imaging apparatus before entering a low-power mode as first image data, and to image process footage recorded by the imaging apparatus after restoration from a low-power mode as second image data, an image determining unit to determine image difference between the first image data and the second image data, and an inventory processor to conduct an inventory process on the media stored in regions of the cell storage unit that correspond to image difference determined by the image determining unit. | 10-06-2011 |
20110245962 | SHEETS PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SHEETS PROCESSING METHOD - A sheet processing apparatus including a table to be loaded a first and a second banknote group partitioned by a header card recording the bar code number in the piling direction of the banknotes, a take-in portion to take in the banknotes of the first and second banknote groups loaded on the table and the header card, a discrimination portion to count the banknotes taken in by the take-in portion and discriminate the kind thereof, a plurality of stackers to sort and stack the banknotes discriminated by the discrimination portion on the basis of the kink thereof, and a sensor to detect the header card taken in by the take-in portion. The sheet processing apparatus additionally includes a controller to control so as to stop the taking-in of the second banknote group on the basis of detection of the header card by the sensor and after a lapse of a predetermined time, to start the taking-in of the second banknote group. | 10-06-2011 |
20110264259 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING PRODUCT DELIVERY SYSTEMS - A control system for and methods of controlling a product delivery system are provided. | 10-27-2011 |
20110264260 | SUBSTRATE-PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF TRANSFERRING SUBSTRATE IN THE SAME - Provided is a substrate-processing apparatus including a transfer member loading and taking out a substrate to and from a storage member, and a control unit controlling the transfer member. The transfer member includes a plurality of transfer arms and an arm-driving part moving the respective transfer arms horizontally, and substrates are loaded on the respective transfer arms. The control unit controls a movement velocity and a position of the transfer member and compares movement velocity profiles of the transfer arms, so as to control movement velocities of the respective transfer arms. Accordingly, the simultaneously driven transfer arms simultaneously arrive at target points, and thus the substrate-processing apparatus reduces transfer time and improves productivity. | 10-27-2011 |
20110270439 | AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR SELECTING, DISPENSING AND COLLECTING RE-USABLE ITEMS - The present invention relates to an automatic apparatus for selecting, dispensing and collecting re-usable items comprising at least one user interface comprising a computer for selecting re-usable items and at least one device for dispensing and/or collecting re-usable items, a storage system for storing the re-usable items, a transportation system for transferring the re-usable items between the storage system and the at least one device for dispensing and/or collecting re-usable items, wherein the re-usable items are stored and transferred within the apparatus by means of carriers but dispensed and/or collected carrier-less. | 11-03-2011 |
20110276175 | Article Storage Facility and Method of Operation Therefor - Disclosed is an article storage facility which can be downsized by minimizing the width of the travel path for a pair of stacker cranes, in which its configuration is simplified as much as possible, and in which its throughput can be efficiently improved. The control device is configured to perform a mutual avoidance vertical movement process in which a pair of vertically movable bodies are raised or lowered by a vertical movement operation for avoiding interference, which is different from the vertical movement operation in the article transporting operation to raise and lower the pair of vertically movable bodies, to the vertical positions for passing each other which are spaced apart in the vertical movement direction by a distance greater than or equal to the required separating distance which is defined as a separating distance which allows the pair of stacker cranes to pass each other without interfering. | 11-10-2011 |
20110276176 | LOADING STATION FOR A STORAGE FRAME - The present invention relates to a loading station for a storage frame. In the loading station, the storage frame serves for temporarily holding and transporting rod-like elements, in particular smoking rods, on which sausage-shaped products, like sausages, are stored, and comprises two side parts, wherein each side part has two supports being substantially parallel to each other and wherein the side parts are connected with each other by at least one cross beam, and horizontally arranged trays for accommodating rod-like elements. The loading station comprises at least one position defining device for defining a predetermined position of the storage frame. Moreover, at least one locking device is provided for releasably locking of the storage frame in its predetermined position. | 11-10-2011 |
20110313565 | Substrate Processing Apparatus And Method For Loading And Unloading Substrates - Provided is a substrate processing apparatus for loading substrates such as solar cell substrates on a tray in substrate processing equipment for processing a large number of substrates. The substrate processing apparatus includes: a tray carrying unit configured to receive and carry a tray; a substrate loading conveyor unit on which substrates to be loaded on a tray are arranged in a line; a substrate unloading conveyor unit on which substrates unloaded from a tray are arranged in a line; a first substrate carrying robot configured to pick up substrates from the substrate loading conveyor unit and carry the substrates to a tray placed on the tray carrying unit; and a second substrate carrying robot configured to pick up substrates from a tray placed on the tray carrying unit and carry the substrates to the substrate unloading conveyor unit. | 12-22-2011 |
20110320035 | MODULAR STORAGE SYSTEM - A modular system for storage of cargo units, comprises: a plurality of pallets; a plurality of interconnected active cell units; each cell unit comprises an cell transporting mechanism; at least one active shuttle unit moveable between the plurality of cell units; each shuttle unit comprises a shuttle transporting mechanism adapted to transport at least one pallet of the plurality of pallets to and from one of the plurality of cell units and to and from the at least one shuttle unit; a central controller adapted to control the operation of the cell and the shuttle transporting mechanisms, the operation of which is performed in an independent manner via the central controller such that a construction of any arrangement of the cell units is performed to effectively exploit a designated space. | 12-29-2011 |
20120016516 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND SUBSTRATE TRANSPORT METHOD - By a first transport robot, n substrates are unloaded from a first retaining portion, then simultaneously transported, and respectively loaded into n substrate holders consecutively arranged from one side defined with respect to an arrangement direction. Thereafter, a rotation mechanism rotates n+m substrate holders so as to perform a substrate inverting operation and so as to arrange the n+m substrate holders along the arrangement direction in an arrangement sequence reverse to a pre-rotation arrangement sequence. Thereafter, the n substrates loaded into the n substrate holders are unloaded in a group of m in a sequence from the one side, and loaded into a second retaining unit by a second transport robot. After the substrate inverting operation, n substrates are unloaded from the first retaining unit, and loaded again into n substrate holders consecutively arranged from the one side by the first transport robot. | 01-19-2012 |
20120029686 | WORKPIECE REMOVING DEVICE AND METHOD - A workpiece removing device including a camera for imaging a workpiece loading area including a plurality of workpieces loaded in bulk; a workpiece detection section for detecting a workpiece, based on a camera image taken with the camera; a workpiece selection section for selecting a workpiece adapted to be removed, based on a detection result by the workpiece detection section; a robot for removing the workpiece selected by the workpiece selection section; a loading state determination section for determining whether a loading state of the workpieces in the workpiece loading area has changed due to a operation of the robot; and an area setting section for setting a workpiece detection area where the workpiece detection section detects a workpiece. If the loading state determination section determines that the loading state of the workpieces has changed, the area setting section sets the workpiece detection area in a peripheral area of a changing position of the loading state, i.e., in a portion of the workpiece loading area. | 02-02-2012 |
20120029687 | ROBOTIC STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS - A robotic storage and retrieval system is provided. The robotic storage and retrieval system may include a three-dimensional storage rack, a set of article holders, and a robot. In one embodiment, the storage rack has a plurality of rows, a plurality of columns, and one or more support members at each unique row and column position. Each set of article holders is located at one of the unique row and column positions, and each article holder within a set is vertically supported by the one or more support members. The robot is configured to store the article holders to the storage rack and to retrieve the article holders from the storage rack. | 02-02-2012 |
20120136477 | Storage Device Transport, Clamping And Testing - A storage device transporter ( | 05-31-2012 |
20120185082 | AUTOMATED BOT TRANSFER ARM DRIVE SYSTEM - An autonomous transport vehicle including a transfer arm including at least one finger and a movable finger support member, at least one sensor configured to detect movement of the at least one finger, the at least one sensor having a registration member and a detection member where one of the registration member and detection member is mounted to each of the at least one finger so as to be movable with a respective one of the at least one finger and the other one of the registration member and detection member is stationary relative to the at least one finger, and a controller in communication with the at least one sensor, the controller being configured to determine a position of the at least one finger along the second direction based on a proximity of the registration member relative to the detection member. | 07-19-2012 |
20120209420 | Apparatus and Method for Inventory Management and Automated Discharge of Treated Sewage Sludge to Trucks - A method and apparatus is provided for the automated discharge of treated sewage sludge to trucks, via inventory management by tracking the flow of sludge from bins in which it is located to trucks, on a first-in/first-out basis, including automated truck positioning, automated precision truck loading and monitoring and controlling the various interrelated components via a PLC computer program. | 08-16-2012 |
20120253507 | HIGH THROUGHPUT PARCEL HANDLING - A high throughput parcel unloading system includes a robotic arm arrangement, including a cluster of robotic arms having grouping mechanisms. A conveyor system is also provided onto which parcels are placed by the robotic arm system. An image recognition system determines the position and arrangement of parcels within a container, and a control system is configured to receive image information from the image recognition system and control operation of the robotic arm system and conveyor system. | 10-04-2012 |
20120259453 | PASS-THROUGH MECHANISM FOR LINEAR TAPE LIBRARY - A pass-through mechanism that couples a first linear tape library string to a second linear tape library string is maintained. A first robotic assembly associated with the first linear tape library string places a tape from the first linear tape library string into the pass-through mechanism. The pass-through mechanism moves the tape to a position where the tape can be removed by a second robotic assembly associated with the second linear tape library string. The second robotic assembly removes the tape from the pass-through mechanism and places the tape into the second linear tape library string. | 10-11-2012 |
20120259454 | PASS-THROUGH MECHANISM FOR LINEAR TAPE LIBRARY - A pass-through mechanism that couples a first linear tape library string to a second linear tape library string is maintained. A first robotic assembly associated with the first linear tape library string places a tape from the first linear tape library string into the pass-through mechanism. The pass-through mechanism moves the tape to a position where the tape can be removed by a second robotic assembly associated with the second linear tape library string. The second robotic assembly removes the tape from the pass-through mechanism and places the tape into the second linear tape library string. | 10-11-2012 |
20120265333 | Automated Storage System - An automated storage system is presented, in which a stacker crane can properly operate even in a high temperature environment, while simplifying the construction of the system facility. | 10-18-2012 |
20120265334 | PASS-THROUGH MECHANISM FOR LINEAR TAPE LIBRARY - A pass-through mechanism that couples a first linear tape library string to a second linear tape library string is maintained. A first robotic assembly associated with the first linear tape library string places a tape from the first linear tape library string into the pass-through mechanism. The pass-through mechanism moves the tape to a position where the tape can be removed by a second robotic assembly associated with the second linear tape library string. The second robotic assembly removes the tape from the pass-through mechanism and places the tape into the second linear tape library string. | 10-18-2012 |
20120290124 | ROBOT SYSTEM - A robot system includes a robot hand for transferring substrates stored within a storage unit in multiple stages along a vertical direction, and a position detecting unit for detecting storage positions of the substrates stored within the storage unit. The robot system further includes a clearance calculating unit for calculating a clearance between the adjoining substrates on the basis of the storage positions of the substrates detected by the position detecting unit, and an entry permission/prohibition determining unit for determining permission or prohibition of entry of the robot hand into a space between the substrates on the basis of the clearance calculated by the clearance calculating unit. | 11-15-2012 |
20120290125 | METHOD OF TRANSFERRING CONTAINERS AND STORAGE SYSTEM FOR CONTAINERS - A method of transferring a plurality of containers to storage is provided, the method comprises providing at least one multi-level structure ( | 11-15-2012 |
20120296469 | SUCKING-CONVEYING DEVICE HAVING VISION SENSOR AND SUCTION UNIT - A sucking-conveying device capable of sequentially and efficiently taking out and conveying a workpiece one-by-one, even when a taking-out means attached to the robot is not correctly positioned relative to a workpiece to be taken out. The sucking-conveying device includes a robot and a vision sensor capable of detecting a plurality of workpieces randomly located in a container. A suction nozzle, configured to suck and take out the workpieces one-by-one, is mounted on the robot. By attaching the nozzle to a robot arm, the position and orientation of the nozzle may be changed. The suction nozzle is fluidly connected to a suction unit via a blow member. The suction unit sucks air through the nozzle, and generates suction force at the nozzle for sucking a target workpiece to be taken out toward the nozzle, whereby the nozzle can suck and hold the target workpiece. | 11-22-2012 |
20130006412 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL GOODS STORAGE ARRANGEMENT IN WHICH THE SPACE TAKEN UP BY THE GOODS IS REDUCED IN RELATION TO THE GOODS STORAGE CAPACITY - The invention relates to a three-dimensional goods storage arrangement ( | 01-03-2013 |
20130013100 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING WEAR OF AND REPAIRING SHAKER SCREENS - The invention is an apparatus for cleansing and monitoring wear of screen cloths ( | 01-10-2013 |
20130054006 | FAST-ACCESS SELF-REPAIRING TAPE LIBRARY USING MOBILE ROBOTS - In some embodiments, a system includes a plurality of tape reels positioned on a lower surface, a tape drive for reading data from a tape on one of the plurality of tape reels, and at least one mobile robot configured for selectively retrieving at least one of the plurality of tape reels and transporting the at least one retrieved tape reel to the tape drive. | 02-28-2013 |
20130054007 | FAST-ACCESS SELF-REPAIRING TAPE LIBRARY USING MOBILE ROBOTS - In some embodiments, a system includes a plurality of tape reels positioned on a lower surface; and a tape drive for reading data from a tape on one of the plurality of tape reels. At least one mobile robot is configured for: selectively retrieving at least one of the plurality of tape reels; and transporting the at least one retrieved tape reel to the tape drive. The at least one mobile robot moves unconstrained along an upper surface that overlies the plurality of tape reels. A controller directs movement of the at least one mobile robot. | 02-28-2013 |
20130060375 | Paper Sheet Handling Apparatus - According to one embodiment, paper sheet handling apparatus includes inspecting module configured to detect denominations and directions of paper sheets, accumulating modules configured to accumulate paper sheets, storing module configured to store setting information in which accumulating modules are associated with denominations and directions of paper sheets, sorting module configured to specify accumulating module which accumulates paper sheets based on denomination and direction and setting information and to convey paper sheets to specified accumulating module, controlling module configured to display setting screen by displaying module based on setting information and to update setting information based on operation input to operating module. | 03-07-2013 |
20130060376 | Control device and method for controlling the speed of a conveyor - An object of the present invention is to propose a computerized control device and a computer-implemented method for speed regulation during delivery of printed products to stacking devices which do not have at least some of the disadvantages of the known systems. It is in particular an object of the present invention to propose a computerized control device and a computer-implemented method for regulating the speed of a conveyor for delivering printed products to stacking devices which enable flexible production of stacks of different sizes. | 03-07-2013 |
20130066460 | AUTOMATED DESTACKING DEVICE AND METHOD - An automated destacking device is used to remove a single flat item or sheet from the top of a stack, and to then transport the item from the stack so that it may be used in an assembly line, manufacturing process, or the like. The stacked items are placed into a hopper, and an elevator drives the hopper upwardly until the top item in the stack contacts the underside of a horizontally movable carriage. The underside of the carriage includes an adhesive element, which engages the top item, and then the carriage moves in a horizontal direction away from the stack, carrying the top item from the stack to a position separately from the stack. | 03-14-2013 |
20130079917 | AUTOMATED SMALL OBJECT SORTING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - In various embodiments, a small object sorting system includes an object tray cart docking station configured to dock an object tray cart here within. The system additionally includes an automated tray removal and positioning subsystem configured to remove an object tray from the object tray cart, selectively position the tray such that selected small objects can be extracted therefrom, and replace the object tray into the object tray cart. Furthermore, the system includes an automated collection assembly positioning subsystem configured to selectively position a collection assembly such that the selected extracted small objects can be deposited into selected object receptacles, and an automated object extraction subsystem configured to extract the selected small objects and deposit each extracted small object into the selected object receptacles. | 03-28-2013 |
20130085597 | Method and laboratory system for handling sample tube racks - A method and laboratory system for handling sample tube racks are disclosed. The laboratory system includes a storage section ( | 04-04-2013 |
20130144428 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING ITEM DELIVERY TO AN ELECTRONIC PARCEL LOCKER - A system, apparatus, and method for use in delivery of items to a storage unit. The storage unit can include one or several storage receptacles and a control unit that controls and monitors the status of the one or several storage receptacles. The storage unit can be included in a storage unit system that can include one or several storage units and a central control unit. The central control unit can communicate with the one or several storage units, and can receive status and availability updates from the one or several storage units. | 06-06-2013 |
20130151004 | Rack Robot - A rack robot lifts and transfers sample tube storage racks or plates with a refrigerated enclosure maintained, e.g., at −20° C. The samples are normally held in ultra-low temperature, e.g., −80° C., or cryogenic freezers. From time to time, the racks or plates need to be roved from the ultra-low temperature or cryogenic freezers for processing and the rack robot transfers the racks or plates to the various processing stations within the refrigerated enclosure, such as tube picking, barcode reading, or frost removal stations. | 06-13-2013 |
20130211580 | COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR AUTOMATED CLIPPING PACKAGING APPARATUS - Computer program products that operate packaging systems with an automated product pusher and clipper for attaching at least one closure clip to a product held in a covering such as netting. | 08-15-2013 |
20130226332 | STACKER, STACKING SYSTEM OR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR STACKING - A stacking system and method that utilizes a device control for precisely controlling the downward movement of at least one printed material support at a first speed, while substantially simultaneously permitting upward movement of the at least one support at a second speed which is greater than the first speed. | 08-29-2013 |
20130226333 | FAST-ACCESS SELF-REPAIRING TAPE LIBRARY USING MOBILE ROBOTS - In some embodiments, a system includes a plurality of tape reels positioned on a lower surface, a tape drive for reading data from a tape on one of the plurality of tape reels, and at least one mobile robot configured for selectively retrieving at least one of the plurality of tape reels and transporting the at least one retrieved tape reel to the tape drive. | 08-29-2013 |
20130245813 | FAST-ACCESS SELF-REPAIRING TAPE LIBRARY USING MOBILE ROBOTS - A method according to one embodiment includes causing, using a controller, a mobile robot having a volume of less than about 1000 cubic inches to selectively retrieve one or more of a plurality of tape reels; and causing the mobile robot to transport the one or more retrieved tape reels to a tape drive that is configured for reading data from tape stored on at least one of the plurality of tape reels. A method according to another embodiment includes causing, using a controller, at least one mobile robot to selectively retrieve at least one of a plurality of tape reels positioned on a lower surface; and causing the mobile robot(s) to transport the retrieved tape reels to a tape drive. Preferably, the mobile robot(s) in either embodiment move unconstrained, e.g., along an upper surface that overlies the plurality of tape reels. | 09-19-2013 |
20130317643 | STORAGE MAGAZINE WITH INTEGRATED TARGETING - Embodiments include systems and methods for targeting using storage magazines. Some embodiments operate in context of a data storage environment, in which the magazines are used to hold data cartridges, and the data cartridges are installed in, removed from, and ferried between the magazines by a robotic mechanism. Magazine implementations include integrated targeting features in the magazine base structure. For example, some side walls of the magazine slots are shaped for optical targeting, while other side walls of the magazine slots are shaped for lead-in (i.e., to minimize undesirable collisions or interference between the cartridges and the magazine slot walls). Some embodiments describe novel locating functionality in context of magazines with integrated targeting features. Other embodiments include other geometric magazine features. | 11-28-2013 |
20140025197 | Apparatus for the automated Handling of workpieces - An apparatus for the automated handling of workpieces comprising an object recognition device for detecting the workpiece and a gripper arranged at a gripping arm for picking the workpieces and a control for evaluating the data of the object recognition device, for track planning and for controlling the gripping arm and the gripper and comprising a compensation unit which allows an evasion movement of the gripper, wherein the compensation unit only allows an evasion movement of the gripper on the exceeding of a predefined first load of the gripping arm and remains rigid below the first load, wherein the first load is larger than a load exerted on the gripping arm solely by the gripper and/or the picked workpiece. | 01-23-2014 |
20140031973 | Moving Cartridges Between Library Strings - The present description is directed to moving a cartridge including a storage medium between library strings (LS) using a car able to move within a shuttle connection in a shuffle complex system in which, in one embodiment, a first cartridge is to be moved from a first LS to a second LS, a car located in the LS nearest to the first LS due to movement of a second cartridge is used to move the second cartridge to the first LS , and the empty car is used to move the first cartridge from the first LS to the second LS. In one aspect, movement of empty cars may be reduced, and cartridges may be moved between library strings more efficiently in less time. Other features and aspects are described. | 01-30-2014 |
20140039669 | METHOD OF TRANSPORTING AND SORTING AND SYSTEM FOR EXERCISING THE METHOD - The invention relates to a method of handling a variety of objects of different size, shape and weight, where each object is to be transported to a specific destination, where the transportation involves transportation on a conveyor system ( | 02-06-2014 |
20140094961 | UNLOADING SYSTEM - A unloading system for unloading a first workpiece and a second workpiece hanged on different sides of a rack from the rack, the unloading system includes a transferring mechanism, a sliding rod, a rotating assembly, at least two robot arms, at least two unloading mechanisms, and a controller. The transferring mechanism includes a worktable, a transferring assembly mounted on the worktable; and a clamping assembly movably mounted on the transferring assembly. The sliding rod is arranged parallel to a transferring direction of the transferring assembly. The rotating assembly is slidably hanged on the sliding rod and connected to the rack. The at least two robot arms are separately arranged adjacent to the worktable and equipped with sensors. The at least two unloading mechanisms are respectively assembled to the at least two robot arms. | 04-03-2014 |
20140100689 | SYSTEM FOR AUTO-EXCHANGING OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY - A system for automatically exchanging a battery of an electric vehicle, the system including a horizontal frame of a predetermined area formed at a location higher than the electric vehicle; a plurality of battery stands formed on a bottom surface of the horizontal frame at a predetermined interval; a pair of fixed guide rails arranged and installed on front and rear sides or left and right sides of the horizontal frame, respectively; a variable guide rail adapted to move horizontally along X-axis or Y-axis along the fixed guide rails; a movable rail adapted to move horizontally along Y-axis or X-axis along the variable guide rail and ascend/descend vertically; and a grasping means installed on a lower end of the movable rail and adapted to pick up a battery of the electric vehicle or a battery seated on the battery stand and exchange each other. | 04-10-2014 |
20140163722 | Apparatus and Method to Store Information - A data storage facility comprising a plurality of data storage media, an automated data storage library comprising a first plurality of storage cells, one or more data storage devices in communication with the controller, and a controller in communication with one or more host computers, a vault comprising a second plurality of storage cells, wherein the vault does not comprise any data storage devices, and a robotic accessor in communication with the controller, wherein the accessor comprises a gripper mechanism, and wherein the robotic accessor can bidirectionally transport each of the plurality of portable data storage media between the first plurality of storage cells and the one or more data storage devices. | 06-12-2014 |
20140180469 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN AUTOMATED TOOL HANDLING SYSTEM FOR A MULTILEVEL CLEANSPACE FABRICATOR - The present invention provides methods and apparatus capable of routine placement and replacement of fabricator tools in a designated tool location. The tool location can be selected from multiple tool locations arranged in a matrix with horizontal and vertical designations. The operation may be fully automated. In another aspect, the invention describes Cleanspace fabricators which use devices to routinely remove and place tooling. | 06-26-2014 |
20140222190 | MAINTENANCE ACCESS ZONES FOR STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS - A maintenance access system for a storage and retrieval system having a storage and retrieval space and automated transport vehicles disposed in the space. The system includes at least one maintenance access control unit associated with a portion of the space, at least one barrier in the space and defining a boundary of the portion of the space and configured to substantially prevent the passage of the vehicles past the at least one barrier, and a controller connected to the control unit, the controller being configured to receive a signal from the at least one control unit for isolating the portion of the space associated with the at least one control unit, where the controller in response to the signal closes the at least one barrier isolating the portion of the space and effects the removal from or shutting down of vehicles within the portion of the space. | 08-07-2014 |
20140222191 | ROBOTIC STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The present invention is directed to a system and method for storage and retrieval of items including a control server and a database. The database receives the shelving configuration information of a particular user environment and the control server is operable to issue travel control signals to a robotic carriage within configuration parameters retrieved from the database. An alternate configuration includes a robotic carriage. The robotic carriage further comprises a base, at least one arm, and a motor. The arm is secured to the base and presents a resting surface for the items. The motor is cooperatively secured to the robotic carriage, enabling controlled travel by the robotic carriage. | 08-07-2014 |
20140236344 | MEDIA ALIGNMENT - A media alignment device is described. The device comprises: a media drive turret including a drive member; and a controller. The controller is operable to: receive information about a lateral position of a media item as the media item is transported longitudinally along a transport path, rotate the media drive turret to an angular position required to drive the media item to an aligned position, and activate the drive member to move the media item in a direction transverse to the transport path. | 08-21-2014 |
20140277693 | STORAGE, RETRIEVAL AND SORTATION SYSTEM - A material handling systems provides efficient storage, retrieval and sortation of articles, utilizing a plurality of carts capable of traveling under storage areas with a three dimensional warehouse system and on multiple levels. The carts may convey items from storage to a goods to operator user interface. The carts may function as decoupled sortation units capable of providing sortation at multiple mobile sortation locations, providing vertical sortation. Carts may include conveying surfaces, and sort articles from between carts. Carts may transport more than one article and a plurality of carts may transport a single article. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277694 | ROBOT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING TO-BE-PROCESSED MATERIAL - A robot system includes a robot. The robot includes a holder to hold a first workpiece from among workpieces stored in a stocker. A sensor performs shape recognition of the workpieces stored in the stocker and detects a holding state of the first workpiece held by the robot. A controller controls the sensor to perform the shape recognition of the workpieces stored in the stocker, controls the robot to hold the first workpiece based on the shape recognition and transfer the first workpiece to a particular position in a sensor area of the sensor, controls the sensor to detect the holding state of the first workpiece held by the robot, and controls the robot to place the first workpiece at a predetermined position or in a predetermined posture based on the detected holding state. | 09-18-2014 |
20140288697 | SORTING MECHANISM WITH DYNAMIC DISCHARGE - The invention provides a sorting mechanism arranged to empty or discharge a container for carrying a load, e.g. totes in a luggage handling system. The sorting mechanism has a plurality of tilting elements T | 09-25-2014 |
20140336815 | VARIABLE OFFSET POSITIONING ANTENNA ARRAY FOR ENHANCED GUIDANCE OF AUTOMATED GUIDED VEHICLES (AGVS) - An automated storage system for storing a plurality of objects in storage locations, the automated storage system comprising a master control computer, a guidance network, a plurality of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) each having an onboard microprocessor for providing a position of each AGV relative to the guidance network to the master control computer and a receiver for receiving control commands from the master control computer, and a plurality of trays for engagement with the plurality of AGVs for transportation and storage of the objects. | 11-13-2014 |
20140371902 | FAST-ACCESS SELF-REPAIRING TAPE LIBRARY USING MOBILE ROBOTS - Various methods for threading a tape on the one or more reels onto the tape drive. A method according to one embodiment uses a mobile robot to thread a tape on the one or more reels onto the tape drive. A method according to another embodiment includes threading a tape across a tape drive by moving at least one of a tape reel and a take up reel coupled to the tape. A method according to yet another embodiment includes threading the tape across a tape drive using at least one of rollers and cylinders. | 12-18-2014 |
20150032252 | System and method for piece-picking or put-away with a mobile manipulation robot - A method and system for piece-picking or piece put-away within a logistics facility. The system includes a central server and at least one mobile manipulation robot. The central server is configured to communicate with the robots to send and receive piece-picking data which includes a unique identification for each piece to be picked, a location within the logistics facility of the pieces to be picked, and a route for the robot to take within the logistics facility. The robots can then autonomously navigate and position themselves within the logistics facility by recognition of landmarks by at least one of a plurality of sensors. The sensors also provide signals related to detection, identification, and location of a piece to be picked or put-away, and processors on the robots analyze the sensor information to generate movements of a unique articulated arm and end effector on the robot to pick or put-away the piece. | 01-29-2015 |
20150066199 | ROBOT HAND, ROBOT SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR DEPALLETIZING ARTICLE - A robot hand of a first robot that handles an article includes a baseplate; an attraction pad that is disposed at the baseplate and that is configured to hold the article; and first to third proximity sensors to that are disposed at the baseplate, each of the proximity sensors being configured to detect whether or not the article exists at a side of the attraction pad. | 03-05-2015 |
20150073589 | AUTONOMOUS MOBILE PICKING - An order-picking method includes autonomously routing a plurality of mobile robotic units in an order fulfillment facility and picking articles to or putting articles from the robotic units in the order fulfillment facility. A material-handling robotic unit that is adapted for use in an order fulfillment facility includes an autonomous mobile vehicle base and a plurality of article receptacles positioned on the base. A visual indicator associated with the receptacle facilitates picking articles to or putting articles from the robotic unit. | 03-12-2015 |
20150081089 | AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM - An autonomous transport vehicle including a frame forming a payload area, telescoping arms movably mounted to the frame, each telescoping arm being configured for extension and retraction relative to the frame along an extension axis to effect transfer of at least one pickface to and from the payload area, and traversal, relative to the frame, in at least one direction that is angled to the extension axis, and at least one tab extending from each telescoping arm where the at least one tab extends in a direction transverse to the direction of extension and retraction, and the at least one tab on one of the telescoping arms opposes the at least one tab on another of the telescoping arms. | 03-19-2015 |
20150127143 | STORAGE SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RETRIEVING UNITS FROM A STORAGE SYSTEM - A system and method suitable for storing multiple product lines in an automated warehouse environment are disclosed. The storage system includes a frame containing a plurality of stacks of containers, a first handling device capable of lifting a plurality of containers from a stack in a single operation, and a second independently moveable handling device capable of lifting a single container and moving the container laterally. The first and second handling devices can work together to remove a target container quickly and with minimum use of resources. | 05-07-2015 |
20150134106 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING PRODUCT DELIVERY SYSTEMS - A control system for and methods of controlling a product delivery system are provided. | 05-14-2015 |
20150148940 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATING AND HANDLING CARDBOARD SHEETS - System and methods of treating or handling cardboard sheets. | 05-28-2015 |
20150307276 | ROBOT FOR TRANSPORTING STORAGE BINS - A remotely operated vehicle or robot for picking up storage bins from a storage system includes a vehicle body, which includes a first section for storing vehicle driving means and a second section for receiving any storage bin stored in a storage column within the storage system, a vehicle lifting device in order to lift the storage bin into the second section, a first and a second set of vehicle rolling means allowing movement of the vehicle along a first and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, respectively, within the storage system. The second section includes a cavity arranged centrally within the vehicle body. This cavity has at least one bin receiving opening facing towards the underlying storage columns At least one of the two sets of vehicle rolling means is arranged fully within the vehicle body. | 10-29-2015 |
20150375398 | ROBOTIC LOGISTICS SYSTEM - A robotic logistics system is disclosed. The system includes multiple robots each having an image capture unit and a server communicatively coupled to the multiple robots. The server is configured to transmit a location of a first item to a first robot and the location of a second item to a second robot; track the positions of the first robot and the second robot; transmit a first image of the first item captured by the first robot to an operator device; receive first verification signal from the operator device in response to the first image; transmit a second image of the second item captured by the second robot to the operator device; and receive a second verification signal from the operator device in response to the second image. | 12-31-2015 |
20160075521 | STORAGE AND ORDER-PICKING SYSTEM FOR THE FULLY-AUTOMATED IDENTIFICATION AND PICKING OF ARTICLES - The invention relates to a storage and order-picking system ( | 03-17-2016 |
20160090017 | BICYCLE STORAGE IN A VEHICLE - A bicycle stowage mechanism is configured to be mounted on a vehicle. At least one first connector is included in the stowage mechanism and is configured to be communicatively coupled to a computer wherein the at least one first connector is mateable to a respective at least one second connector that is associated with a bicycle. The memory of the computer stores instructions to cause the processor to receive an indication that the at least one first connector is mated to at least one second connector associated with a bicycle and, upon receiving the indication, initiate a bicycle stowage operation. | 03-31-2016 |
20160101937 | MATERIAL HANDLING METHOD - The present disclosure relates to a material handling method of performing by means of an automatic mechanical material handling equipment controlled by a control system at least a first and a second access task for accessing respectively at least a first and at least a second article stored in a material handling storage system, the first and second access tasks having been assigned a first and a second execution priority respectively. The method comprises a) controlling the automatic mechanical material handling equipment to perform the first access task having the highest priority; and in parallel to performing the first access task a1) evaluating data indicative of the material handling storage system for determining that a first intermediate task is to be performed, wherein the first intermediate task is required in order to perform by the automatic mechanical material handling equipment the second access task; and a2) assigning an execution priority to the first intermediate task higher than the second execution priority; b) controlling the automatic mechanical material handling equipment to perform at least the first intermediate task and the second access task according to the order of execution priorities. | 04-14-2016 |
20160101938 | RACK STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT PATH OF A STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL DEVICE IN A RACK STORAGE SYSTEM - A rack storage system | 04-14-2016 |
20160101939 | SECURE REPAIR KIOSK SYSTEM AND METHOD - A secure repair kiosk system is provided for receiving items/devices for repair. The secure repair kiosk system includes a kiosk that receives items for repair. The kiosk includes multiple holding slots that each contains a transfer box used as a secure and traceable means for transferring devices to and from a remote repair site. A customer interacts with a user interface of the Kiosk to generate repair drop-off request and gain access to an empty transfer box. An empty particular transfer box is presented to a user during drop-off of the device that will typically accompany the device during transfer to the repair site, during repair of the device, during transfer back to the Kiosk, and delivery to the user. The customer interacts with the user interface of the Kiosk to generate repair pick-off request and gain access to a transfer box that contains that customers repaired device. | 04-14-2016 |
20160129587 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ORDER PROCESSING | 05-12-2016 |
20160130084 | Article Storage Facility - An article storage facility includes a measuring jig for measuring an amount of tilt of a support body. A controller for controlling operation of an article transport device performs a tilt measurement control for controlling operation of the article transport device to transport the measuring jig sequentially to each of a plurality of measurement target storage sections which is all or part of the plurality of storage sections. | 05-12-2016 |
20160145050 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING PACKAGES OF STACKED MATERIALS - The device for producing packages of stacked materials consisting of a plurality of individual signatures comprises a first conveying unit, which defines a signature path. The first conveying unit moves the signatures along the signature path into a vertical position. The device also comprises a stacking table with a support surface for supporting the signatures, which are arriving with a vertical orientation. The stacking table comprises a second conveying unit, which moves the stacked signatures in a conveying direction of the stack. A control unit switches a tilting device between an active state, in which the tilting device tilts or compresses an upper area of the stacked signatures, and an inactive state, in which the tilting device exerts no effect on the stacked signatures. | 05-26-2016 |
20160145058 | A SYSTEM OR METHOD FOR STACKING CONTAINERS - Systems, methods, and machine-executable coded instruction sets are disclosed for fully- and/or partly automated handling of goods. For example, the disclosure provides improvements in storage and retrieval of containers in systems such as order processing systems. | 05-26-2016 |
20160167228 | GENERATING ROBOTIC GRASPING INSTRUCTIONS FOR INVENTORY ITEMS | 06-16-2016 |
20160184992 | Method for Robot-Supported Stacking of Objects - The invention relates to a method for positioning, in particular for palletizing, objects. The method is carried out using a manipulator having an additional actuator which is arranged between the manipulator and the object to be positioned. According to one example of the invention, the method comprises the gripping of the object and the moving of the object, using the manipulator, at a start position in the proximity of a storage surface on which the object is to be positioned and deposited. The method furthermore comprises the moving of the object using the manipulator to the storage surface, wherein the actuator is actuated such that the actuating force compensates for the weight of the object, or wherein the actuator force is regulated such that an adjustable, minimal net actuator force acts on an end stop of the actuator (which can be zero in the limiting case). Furthermore, the excursion of the actuator is monitored and a change to the excursion is detected. The movement of the manipulator is stopped upon detecting a change to the excursion of the actuator, whereupon the object can be released. | 06-30-2016 |
20160185527 | APPARATUSES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR TRANSPORTING MEDICATIONS FROM A CENTRAL PHARMACY TO A PATIENT IN A HEALTHCARE FACILITY - Provided herein are various apparatuses, systems, and methods for improving the efficiency of medication distribution within a healthcare facility. In particular, embodiments may provide for dispensing medications needed and medications anticipated to be needed to an authorized medical person for administration to a patient in a healthcare facility. Methods may include receiving an indication of one or more unit dose medications anticipated to be needed by a patient; retrieving the one or more unit dose medications from a unit storage device; loading the one or more unit dose medications onto a transport device; transporting the one or more unit dose medications from the unit storage device to a location proximate the patient; and transferring the one or more unit dose medications from the transport device to a staging area at the location proximate the patient. | 06-30-2016 |
20160379161 | MATERIAL HANDLING METHOD - The present disclosure relates to a material handling method of performing by means of an automatic mechanical material handling equipment controlled by a control system at least a first and a second access task for accessing respectively at least a first and at least a second article stored in a material handling storage system, the first and second access tasks having been assigned a first and a second execution priority respectively. The method comprises W controlling the automatic mechanical material handling equipment to perform the first access task having the highest priority; and in parallel to performing the first access task a1) evaluating data indicative of the material handling storage system for determining that a first intermediate task is to be performed, wherein the first intermediate task is required in order to perform by the automatic mechanical material handling equipment the second access task; and a | 12-29-2016 |
20180022550 | AUTOMATED SMART STORAGE OF TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE PRODUCTS | 01-25-2018 |
20190143542 | PACKING ROBOT | 05-16-2019 |
20190144211 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING PIECE GOODS MOVED ONE AFTER THE OTHER IN AT LEAST ONE ROW | 05-16-2019 |
20190148198 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATED WAFER HANDLING | 05-16-2019 |
20220135325 | INTERNET OF THINGS-BASED SMART STORAGE UNITS - Embodiments relate to a system, computer program product, and method for smart storage units using Internet of things (IoT) technology, and, more specifically, for substantially end-to-end autonomous management of consumable commodities. The system includes a robot including one or more external lighting devices and a storage unit comprising a cap and a container portion, the cap is coupled to the container portion and is communicatively coupled to the robot. The cap includes one or more external energy collection devices configured to receive light energy from the one or more external lighting devices. The cap also includes a first processing device electrically coupled to the one or more external energy collection devices. The first processing device is configured to collect data associated with an inventory of the contents of the container portion and transmit the inventory data to the robot. | 05-05-2022 |
20220135333 | WAREHOUSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Warehouse automation and methods of controlling material flow can be used to enhance the efficiencies of warehouse operations. For example, automation systems and methods can be used to efficiently optimize the storage density of items in warehouses. In some examples, warehouse workers are automatically provided with instructions for how to assemble pallet loads of incoming items to a height that is determined based on the goal of fully utilizing open warehouse storage rack spaces. In some examples, a plan for optimizing the build-height of pallet loads of an incoming shipment is determined in advance of receiving the shipment. | 05-05-2022 |