Abstract: A pantograph assembly may include a mast carriage assembly comprising a trunnion cross-member and a trunnion shaft coupled to the trunnion cross-member, and a pantograph mechanism coupled to the trunnion shaft.

Abstract: The mobile work station with versatile tool handler arm is a mobile work station that carries a tool handler arm that can manipulate a tool in multiple global degrees of freedom. The work station has a base housing mounted on a plurality of wheels. A vertical post is mounted on top of the base housing, the vertical post having relative rotation to the base housing. An elongate tool handler arm is pivotally mounted medially at the top of the vertical post, the tool handler arm being defined by a 4-bar linkage including an upper link, a lower link, and front and rear crank blocks pin-jointed together. An elongate handlebar connected to the rear end of the tool provides control of the tool handler, and a tool carrier attached to the front end allows selective attachment of any one of a variety of tools.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an inventory storage system has at least one storage module having a shelving system, a conveyor, and a robotic transport system. The shelving system has a plurality of shelves that are spaced from one another along a vertical direction and that define a plurality of inventory storage locations. The conveyor is positioned alongside the shelving system and is configured to convey inventory items along a longitudinal direction. The robotic transport system is positioned alongside the shelving system and spaced above the conveyor along the vertical direction. The robotic transport system has a track, and a trolley that translates along the track and that includes a robotic manipulator. The trolley moves the robotic manipulator along the track to a position that is adjacent a select one of the inventory storage locations so as to stow an inventory item to, or retrieve the item from, the select storage location.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an equipment front end module (EFEM) including: a transfer chamber; a load port module on which a wafer receiving container is seated; a wafer transfer robot positioned in the transfer chamber and configured to transfer a wafer in the wafer receiving container seated on the load port module toward a process equipment side; and a buffer module configured to store the wafer receiving container before or after the seating of the wafer receiving container on the load port module and inject an inert gas into the FOUP to purge the wafer.

Abstract: The present disclosure of the Improved Trailer Bed Load Plow concerns a highly customizable, legacy trailer compatible, removable, system for unloading trailer loads and/or flat bed loads. The system, generally speaking, comprises a sled, a plow, a controllable puller such as a winch, guide rails, detents, and an attachment point on the trailer. In some implementations, the plow and puller are attached to the sled, and the combined unit travels the length of the trailer bed, constrained by the guide rails to lateral travel, via the force created by the puller acting against the attachment point which is effectively positioned on an end of the trailer.

Abstract: A grain tank includes a generally flat bottom that is oriented at a position that is less than the angle of repose of the grain. A conveyor mechanism conveys grain along the bottom to a cross auger for unloading. One or more sensors may be placed in the grain tank to determine a state of the grain to further determine if the conveyor mechanism should be operated to unload grain from the grain tank.

Abstract: A data-center-module relocation device may include a plurality of interchangeable end effectors, including at least one module relocation effector that is dimensioned to hold data-center modules. The device may also include a robotic arm with a distal end adapted to switch between the plurality of interchangeable end effectors and select the module relocation effector as an active end effector for the robotic arm. In addition, the device may include an actuator that moves the robotic arm to cause the robotic arm to relocate, from one location in a data center to another location in the data center, a data-center module held by the module relocation effector. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of emptying trays filled with rod-shaped articles produced in the tobacco industry, which consist of the following stages: the trays designated for emptying are conveyed to the input area of a hopper containing adjacent channels separated by dividers; the rod-shaped articles are transferred from the tray to the channels of the hopper using support plates; the channels of the hopper are filled with the rod-shaped articles; the support plates are retracted from the channels of the hopper; the channels of the hopper are successively emptied into a chute adapted to move between channel outlets of the hopper; finally, the rod-shaped articles are transferred from the channels of the hopper and through the chute to the discharge conveyor moving towards the receiving device.

Abstract: A vacuum transfer module, to which a load-lock module and a plurality of processing modules for processing substrate in a vacuum atmosphere are connected, has therein a substrate transfer unit for transferring the substrate between the load-lock module and the plurality of processing modules. The vacuum transfer module includes: a housing in which a vacuum atmosphere is generated; and a plurality of adaptor attaching portions to which one of a first adaptor for connecting the load-lock module and a second adaptor for connecting the plurality of processing modules is attached, provided at a sidewall of the housing. The adaptor attaching portions are common for the first adaptor and the second adaptor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that reduce release of dust generated during rotary dumping of rail cars in a dumping facility. The method includes removing dust laden air from a space bounded by a backside airflow diverter, a rotational frame, a first baffle and a second baffle while the rotational frame is rotating with a rail car by drawing the dust laden air through a secondary air intake that passes through the backside airflow diverter into a backside hood. A dust control apparatus includes a diverter, overlying a backside hood having a concave curved upper surface; and at least one secondary air intake positioned to pass through the diverter being located approximately where pressure in the backside hood remains neutral or negative relative to a pressure even there is a transient increase in air pressure in a lower portion of the backside hood.

Abstract: A shield for a compartment opening of a refuse truck body, comprising an upper segment hinged to the truck body and a lower segment hinged to the upper segment. A source of power selectively pivots the lower segment relative to the upper segment. This enables a first angle of articulation whereby the upper segment covers an upper region of the compartment opening and the lower segment covers a lower region of the compartment opening whereby the shield covers the entire opening of the compartment; a second angle whereby the upper segment covers the upper region of the opening and the lower segment is positioned such that refuse can be swept beneath the lower segment into the lower region of the opening; and a third angle whereby the upper and lower segments fully uncover the compartment opening, whereby refuse can be freely dumped out of the compartment.

Abstract: A multi-use garbage truck has an ability to not only to front load containers of garbage into a hopper in a refuse collection body, but also an ability to swap out the forks, if not arm connection assemblies, or even entire frame arms, to be replaced with one of a plurality of attachments which connect to at least one, if not both frame arms with attachments for various uses such as snow plow, leaf blower, street sweeper, bucket, grapple, etc. Furthermore, an ability to independently operate the left frame arm relative to the right frame arm can now be provided so that the left frame arm can utilize and perform one function and the right frame arm provide another or at least be independently operable from one another.

Abstract: A lifting vehicle comprises a mobile chassis with a tiltable mast (3) and a lifting device (4,5). Alerting means (15,16) are provided for the purpose of monitoring a load on the lifting device as a result of a cargo being carried thereby. The alerting means comprise a first electronic sensor 11), which records a cargo weight, and a second electronic sensor (12) which records a cargo moment. The alerting means (15,16) are provided with automatic calibration means which, when an output signal below a predetermined threshold value is generated by the one sensor (11), sets to zero an output signal differing therefrom from the other sensor (12).

Abstract: A buffer station for automatic material handling system can provide throughput improvement. Further, by storing to-be-accessed workpieces the buffer stations of an equipment, the operation of the facility is not interrupted when the equipment is down. The buffer station can be incorporated in a stocker, such as bare wafer stocker.

Abstract: A container packer system includes a transfer base, which receives a container packer adapted for movement longitudinally between retracted and extended positions with respect to the transfer base. The transfer base includes a power subsystem with a motor or engine driving a hydraulic pump for powering hydraulic piston-and-cylinder units of the system, including a container packer piston-and-cylinder unit for hydraulically extending and retracting the container packer. The container packer generally encloses an interior adapted for receiving bulk material for transfer to a transport container, which can comprise a standard shipping container, a trailer or some other bulk material receptacle. The container packer includes a push blade assembly longitudinally movably mounted in its interior and actuated by a push blade piston-and-cylinder unit.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical order filling system receives pharmaceutical orders and uses an accumulation device to accumulate bottles of pharmaceuticals corresponding to the pharmaceutical orders. The accumulation device is configured with a table assembly that includes a plurality of holding tubes configured to accumulate multiple bottles corresponding to pharmaceutical orders. The accumulation device also includes a bottle pick and place assembly configured to place bottles into holding tubes and an unload assembly configured to empty accumulated bottles from holding tubes into an unload assembly tube. The accumulation device may be further configured to receive and temporarily store a single bottle of a prescription order. The accumulation device may be configured to release accumulated bottles onto a conveyor in an upright position.

Abstract: A sample measurement system includes: a measurement unit that measures a sample stored in a sample container; a transport unit that transports a rack capable of holding sample containers via the measurement unit; a first transport-in/transport-out unit and a second transport-in/transport-out unit in each of which racks can be set alongside in a first direction, and that send the set racks to be transported to the measurement unit and receive the racks transported from the measurement unit; and a controller that controls the first transport-in/transport-out unit and the second transport-in/transport-out unit so that the racks are sequentially sent from the first transport-in/transport-out unit and the second transport-in/transport-out unit. The first transport-in/transport-out unit and the second transport-in/transport-out unit are disposed alongside in a second direction crossing the first direction, and each send the racks from one side in the first direction, and receive the racks from the other side.

Abstract: An adapter to allow a sideloading refuse collection body to empty a rear loading container having trunnions. The adapter has a pair of spaced apart trunnion pockets to receive opposing trunnions of the container. A pair of lock arms on the adapter can be lowered against the tops of opposing sides of the container to lock the container in the trunnion pockets and against a stabilizer which engages the front wall of the container. The adapter includes a guide plate aligned with and extending from the front wall of the container. Lift arms on the collection body are joined to opposing sides of the adapter.

Abstract: A bin sweep system for moving particulate matter across a floor surface of a bin may include a sweep assembly positionable on the floor surface of the bin and movable across the floor surface. The sweep assembly has an inboard end for locating toward to a central area of the bin and an outboard end for locating toward a peripheral area of the bin, and a forward side oriented toward a direction of movement for orienting toward particulate matter to be moved. The system may also include a particle agglomeration breakup assembly configured to expel a fluid adjacent to the sweep assembly to impact particulate matter located adjacent to the forward side of the sweep assembly and facilitate breakup of any particle agglomerations positioned forwardly of the sweep assembly.

Abstract: A system for moving payloads is described. It uses one or more mobile robots. Each mobile robot comprises a payload bearing platform, and a payload release latch. The system includes one or more stack exchangers having a set of alignment rails, a payload transfer ramp, and a latch engagement bar. The mobile robots pass through the stack exchanger and pick up a payload or drop off a payload without fully stopping motion.