Abstract: The end effector has a first hand and a second hand which can be driven independently from each other. The first hand has a hand body which can be inserted between vertically adjacent substrates stored in a substrate storing portion, holding a substrate immediately above or immediately below the hand body. The second hand has a hand base portion which at least partially advances below a lowermost substrate or above an uppermost substrate of a plurality of substrates stored in a substrate storing portion and a substrate holding means provided to the hand base portion so as to hold two or more substrates including the lowermost substrate or the uppermost substrate. By the end effector, substrates can be conveyed without any problem even when use of a batch conveying type hand is restricted due to the condition on the substrate storing portion side.

Abstract: An electronic device manufacturing system is disclosed. The system includes a processing tool having one or more processing chambers each adapted to perform an electronic device manufacturing process on one or more substrates; a substrate carrier adapted to couple to the system and carry one or more substrates; and a component adapted to create a sealed environment relative to at least a portion of the substrate carrier and to substantially equalize the sealed environment with an environment within the substrate carrier. Methods of the invention are described as are numerous other aspects.

Abstract: A weight transfer apparatus for use in combination with a vehicle includes a hoist bar connected to a pair of spaced-apart frames. The hoist bar being responsive to actuation of a motor to vertically to be removable between a downward position and upward into a retracted position. The structure further includes a pair of opposed frame members including longitudinally extending beams. The assembly further includes means for moving the rectangular frame member between a retracted position entirely in the vehicle and an extended position partially outside of the vehicle.

Abstract: A support portion on which an object of paying of respects transported by the transport device is placed is provided at the support position. The support portion includes one or more restriction members configured to restrict movement of an object of paying of respects toward the first side by contacting the object of paying of respects from the first side, and one or more guide portions configured to move an object of paying of respects toward the first side to a contact position at which the object of paying of respects contacts the one or more restriction members or to a position located more toward the second side relative to the contact position.

Abstract: A hand truck includes a main frame mechanism and a clamping mechanism. The main frame mechanism includes a main frame unit configured to carry an article, and a wheel unit connected to the main frame unit for moving the main frame unit. The clamping mechanism includes two clamping frame units disposed movably and respectively on left and right sides of the main frame unit. The clamping frame units are driven to move relative to the main frame unit between a clamped state and an unclamped state, in which the clamping frame units are moved close to and away from each other to clamp and release therebetween the article, respectively.

Abstract: An auger assembly for a farm implement, in which the auger assembly includes a first auger section having a first auger shaft that rotates in a conveying direction about a longitudinal axis of the first auger section and a second auger section having a second auger shaft that rotates about a longitudinal axis of the second auger section. The auger assembly includes a first auger coupling portion that includes a drive hub and a lobe. The auger assembly includes a second auger coupling portion that includes a sleeve, which receives the drive hub such that the drive hub is rotatably engaged with the sleeve. The auger assembly includes a drive pin secured to the second auger coupling portion and a latch arm that pivots in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second auger section between an engaged position and a disengaged position.

Abstract: A crane system includes a skid assembly having an operator base and plurality of outrigger assemblies coupled to the operator base that support and lift the base from a first elevation to a second elevation. The crane system also includes a jib crane coupled to the skid assembly. The jib crane includes a pillar assembly coupled to the skid assembly and a boom assembly coupled to the pillar assembly.

Abstract: A horizontal storage module (HSM) includes a body defining a plurality of compartments configured for receiving canisters, wherein the compartments are arranged in a first row at a first elevation and a second row at a second elevation higher than the first elevation, and wherein at least a portion of one compartment in the first row is in the same horizontal axis location as at least a portion of one compartment in the second row. A method of manufacturing the HSM includes positioning adjacent segments. A carriage assembly for the HSM includes a frame and an actuation means for lifting a cask containing a canister. A method of lifting includes receiving a cask and lifting a cask for delivery of the canister to the HSM.

Abstract: Provided is an article storage apparatus capable of effectively utilizing the capacity of a building. The article storage apparatus includes an article moving device 3. The article moving device 3 includes an X-direction travel wheel 38, a Y-direction travel wheel 48, a travel wheel lifting and lowering unit that lifts and lowers the travel wheels, and an article lifting and lowering unit that lifts and lowers an article. It is possible to lower the X-direction travel wheel 38 or the Y-direction travel wheel 48 so as to be set down on a travel passage by the travel wheel lifting and lowering unit and rotate the set-down travel wheel to cause the article moving device to travel in an X direction or a Y direction. It is possible to lift the article lifting and lowering unit to pick up an article on an article supporting member or lower the article lifting and lowering unit to transfer the article previously lifted by the article lifting and lowering unit onto the article supporting member.

Abstract: Of the type capable of being combined side by side with other similar units and compose an installation for storage, movement and dispatching of several volumes which can be packaged in boxes which are stacked on each module, each base comprising a structural module (1) with three functional sections that constitute real pavements, one lower (2) referred as ground floor, one intermediate defined as first floor (3) and one upper defined as support level (4), the latter has support locks (5) for the stacked boxes (6); each one of the two pavements (2 and 3) are equally provide with four rails segments (7) and (8), on which work at least one movement robot (10) and one lifting robot (9); all this set is combined with other equal units fitted on all or any of its four sides, this combination also coincides with the alignment between all the rails (7) and (8) by configuring paths in the four directions of each structural module and which constitutes routes for the robots (9 and 10); said robots combine to remove t

Abstract: A system for mounting vacuum robot arms in horizontally elongate vacuum transfer modules is provided. The system provides mechanical isolation to the vacuum robot arm against deflections in the housing of the vacuum transfer module due to depressurization of the interior of the vacuum transfer module while the exterior of the vacuum transfer module is subjected to atmospheric pressure. Such systems may prevent undesirable, larger displacements of the end effector of such vacuum robot arms due to the deflection.

Abstract: A trailer has a main frame with a neck portion on its forward end. A pivot fifth wheel is rotatably affixed to the forward end of the neck portion. The pivot fifth wheel releasably attaches to the fifth wheel of a towing vehicle. An axle frame is rotatably affixed to the rearward end of the main frame, and rotates with respect to the main frame. The pivot fifth wheel and the axle frame are configured to pivot and move the main frame upwardly a vertical distance.

Abstract: A transportable drive-over conveyor system comprising a drive-over hopper for receiving grain or other material and having a belted conveyor for conveying the grain or other material, a transition section pivotally connected at an upstream end to the drive-over hopper, an auger mounted at a downstream end of the transition section, wherein the transition section transfers the grain or other material from the belted conveyor to the auger.

Abstract: A proppant discharge system has a container with an outlet formed at a bottom thereof and a gate slidably affixed at the outlet so as to be movable between a first position covering the outlet to a second position opening the outlet, and a support structure having an actuator thereon. The container is removably positioned on the top surface of the support structure. The actuator is engageable with gate so as to move the gate from the first position to the second position. A conveyor underlies the container so as to receive proppant as discharged from the container through the outlet. The container is a ten foot ISO container.

Abstract: An egg grasp device is provided. Such a device includes a body and a plurality of elongated members extending from the body. The elongated members are interlaced to form a sheath capable of retaining an egg. The sheath has a distal end and a proximal end at which the elongated members are operably engaged with the body. The elongated members cooperate to define an opening at the distal end through which an egg is received when the elongated members engage and deflect about an egg such that the egg is seated within the sheath. Associated systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A transport cart for transporting a ballast block upon a ground surface by a user. The ballast block has a front, rear, top, bottom, and has a plurality of fastening openings on the top. The transport cart has a main frame having a pair of parallel side members, a wheel assembly, a pair of overhead frames attached between the side members, and a cross member attaching the overhead frames. A lifting mechanism is attached to the cross member and includes a lifting arm extending parallel to the side members, and a pair of engagement plates attached to the lifting arm. The engagement plates fasten to the fastening openings on the top of the ballast block. The lifting arm is raised by rotating a handle to raise the block above the ground surface, whereupon the ballast block may be moved along the ground surface using the wheel assembly.

Abstract: An arrangement for loading a cargo space includes a transfer element as part of the transfer apparatus, which is arranged to move, together with load units to be arranged on top of it, into a cargo space and back out of there leaving the load units in the cargo space and means for forming a protective wall between the structure defining the cargo space and the load units. The forming of the protective wall is synchronized with the movement of the transfer element. In addition, an apparatus is disclosed for forming a protective wall in a cargo space and a method for loading a cargo space.

Abstract: A substrate accommodating and processing apparatus is provided with a cassette mounting table, a processing part, a substrate transfer mechanism, a partition wall, a cassette stage, and a lid attaching/detaching mechanism. The lid attaching/detaching mechanism is provided with a key configured to be engaged with a key hole installed in the lid, and configured to switch a latch between locking and unlocking positions. The mechanism is also provided with a lid abnormality detecting sensor, a lid attaching/detaching mechanism closing sensor, a lid attaching/detaching mechanism opening sensor, a pressure sensor and a control part.

Abstract: A workpiece handling module including a first housing member and a second housing member pivotally movable relative to the first member forming a housing having an access side and a second side opposite the access side and side walls, a first portion of the side walls is carried by the first member and a second portion of the side walls is carried by the second member, and at least one of the first and second housing members includes at least one sealable opening for allowing ingress and egress of workpieces to and from an interior chamber formed by the first and second housing members in a closed configuration, and the second portion of the side walls adjacent the access side and carried by the second member is greater than the first portion of the side walls adjacent the access side and carried by the first member.

Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle including a frame having a longitudinal axis extending from a front of the frame to a back of the frame, at least one first guide member mounted on one side of the frame and having a first guide member frame of reference, and at least one second guide member mounted to an opposite side of the frame than the at least one first guide member and having a second guide member frame of reference, wherein the first and second guide members are asymmetrically compliant guide members so that a stiffness of the at least one first guide member in response to a force in a predetermined direction relative to the first guide member frame of reference is different than a stiffness of the at least second guide member in response to the force in the predetermined direction relative to the second guide member frame of reference.