Abstract: A latching system associated with a dipper door of a dipper includes a latch bar that engages with a body of the dipper. The latch bar defines a longitudinal axis. The latch bar includes a housing, one or more shims, and a wear member removably coupled to the housing. The wear member defines a wear surface and a wear axis extending parallel to the wear surface. An angle defined between the wear axis and the longitudinal axis is less than 45 degrees. The latching system also includes an arm member pivotally coupled to the dipper door such that the arm member is pivotable along a first pivot plane. The arm member contacts a portion of the latch bar for moving the latch bar along the longitudinal axis. The latching system includes a guide assembly having a guide pulley and an actuation member that causes pivoting of the arm member.

Abstract: A wheelchair lift system for a vehicle comprises: a platform for accommodating a wheelchair; a lifting arm; a hydraulic circuit including a hydraulic actuator arranged to act on the lifting arm to raise and lower the platform; a barrier mounted on the platform and pivotable between a raised position and a lowered position; a plurality of sensors each arranged to generate a sensor output; a user input device arranged to generate control signals to control operation of the lift; and a control unit. The control unit is arranged to receive the control signals and to receive the sensor output from each of the sensors and to control the hydraulic circuit thereby to control of the lift to perform a number of different operations. The control unit is also operable in a fully operational mode and a safety mode and is arranged to perform a plurality of checks on the sensor outputs, and to record a result of each of the checks, and to switch between the fully operational mode and the safety mode based on the results.

Abstract: A conveyor carriage movable on a guide rail. The conveyor carriage includes a conveyor frame; a pair of side rails spaced apart from each other; and a load carrying portion coupled to the pair of side rails. A drop-down plate hingedly mounted to the conveyor frame and positioned in between the pair of side rails. The drop-down plate is pivotable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the drop-down plate encloses a component of the conveyor carriage in the closed position. The conveyor carriage to pick up and deposit loads from and to a load handling station. The load handling station including a control box with a pivotable lid to enclose one or more components of the load handling station in the closed position.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method of autonomous Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) comprising a fully autonomous growing environment. More specifically, disclosed herein is an apparatus and method in which a plurality of frame assembly may be stored and manipulated within a track assembly that is configured within a rack through the motivational input a carriage-mounted manipulators. Each frame assembly is configured to be coupled to an adjacent frame assembly supported by the track assembly by at least one coupler disposed on a forward end and a rearward end of each frame assembly. With the frame assembly including a low friction bearing surface to orient within a track assembly, it may be configured to satisfy various utilities necessary within the farm, such as but not limited to the housing grow media for the cultivation or the housing of electromechanical systems.

Abstract: A vehicle for receiving and delivering granular material, such as agricultural seeds, includes a frame supporting a container defining an open top chamber having a bottom outlet. An elongated conveyor is supported by a system which includes a first support arm having one end pivotally connected to a side wall of the container for multiple directional movements and a second support arm pivotably connected to the opposite end of the first support arm. The opposite end of the second support arm supports an intermediate portion of the conveyor near its center of gravity and in suspended relation for tilting and rotating the conveyor. Power actuators are connected to rotate and pivot the first support arm to position the conveyor in many selected positions including the conveyor inlet under the outlet of the chamber, a storage position and a position between horizontal and substantially inclined for filling other containers.

Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a plurality of storage container handling vehicles. Each vehicle includes a vehicle body, a thereto connected wheel assembly configured to guide the vehicle along the track system, a container picking device for releasably attaching to a storage container, which include one or more arms. The configuration of the container picking device is such that it is movable between a first lifting position enabling the container picking device to lift at least one storage container from a position outside the horizontal extent of the vehicle body and a second transport position enabling the container picking device to hold the at least one storage container at least partly inside the horizontal extent of the vehicle body.

Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a three-dimensional grid and a plurality of container handling vehicles. The three-dimensional grid includes multiple storage columns, in which containers may be stored on top of one another in vertical stacks. Each container handling vehicle includes a container lifting device having a lifting frame for releasably connecting to a container. Each container handling vehicle is operated on rails at a top level of the grid for retrieving containers from, and storing containers in, the storage columns, and for transporting the containers horizontally across the grid. The automated storage system includes multiple floor elements. Each floor element arrangeable at a top end of a storage column on top of a vertical stack of containers, such that an operator may stand on top of the storage column. Each of the floor elements includes rail-connecting elements at a horizontal periphery thereof.

Abstract: A workstation for a material handling system is provided. The system may include a plurality of vehicles for retrieving items from a plurality of storage locations located in one or more racks. The workstation is configured to accommodate the vehicles so that the vehicles drive into the workstation and drive upwardly along a track in the workstation. In one configuration, the track is configured to tilt the vehicle at a predetermined angle relative to the horizon as the vehicle is driven upwardly. After the vehicle is tilted to the predetermined angle the vehicle continues to drive upwardly while maintaining the predetermined angle.

Abstract: The present application relates to a substrate transfer device, comprising a horizontally arranged cross beam, and support beams longitudinally arranged at two ends of the cross beam, wherein a substrate carrier is suspended on the cross beam, the substrate carrier is located between the two support beams, and the substrate carrier is parallel to a plane where the two support beams are located, the substrate carrier comprises two side walls oppositely arranged in a horizontal direction, and each of the support beams is provided with an auxiliary clamping structure for clamping the substrate carrier during transferring of the substrate carrier.

Abstract: A substrate storage apparatus includes a stage on which a cassette that has a lid detachably mounted to an opening is disposed, a lid attaching/detaching plate that performs attaching/detaching of the lid to/from the opening of the cassette disposed on the stage, and is provided to be movable between a mounting position in contact with the lid disposed at a position of the opening and a retracted position not in contact with the lid disposed at the position of the opening, a lid holding sensor that detects whether the lid is being held by the lid attaching/detaching plate, and a controller that determines presence/absence of abnormality related to attachment/detachment of the lid based on a detection result of the lid holding sensor.

Abstract: The front pillar disposed on the second side face of the cab is located behind the front pillar disposed on the first side face of the cab. The boom mounting bracket and the front pillar overlap each other in a side view.

Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a grid-based rail structure and a plurality of remotely operated vehicles arranged to operate on the grid-based rail structure. The automated storage and retrieval system includes a locking device arranged in a zone of the grid-based rail structure where a human and/or a robotic operator is permitted to interact with the remotely operated vehicle or contents of a storage container that the remotely operated vehicle is carrying. The locking device is arranged to lock the remotely operated vehicle against accidental displacement prior to interaction with the human and/or robotic operator, and wherein the locking device being arranged to unlock the remotely operated vehicle once interaction with the human and/or robotic operator is no longer required.

Abstract: A moving system and method of moving an item, for example a construction component. The moving system includes a first guide cable mounted between first and second mounting points, a first member arranged for movement along the first guide cable between a first position and a second position, the first member arranged for connection to an item to be craned into position, a second guide cable mounted between first and second mounting points, a second member arranged for movement along the second guide cable between a first position and a second position, the second member arranged for connection to the item to be craned into position, and a lifting support arranged for connection to a moving device and to provide support for the item during moving of the item.

Abstract: A workpiece conveying system for a transfer press machine includes: a beam provided to extend in a feed direction of a workpiece; and a plurality of workpiece conveying apparatus supported by the beam. The workpiece conveying apparatus each include: a feed device including a first carrier that is movable relative to the beam in the feed direction; a raising and lowering device including a second carrier that is movable relative to the first carrier in a raising and lowering direction; a clamp device including a third carrier that is movable relative to the second carrier in a clamp direction of the workpiece; and a workpiece holding tool, which is supported at a distal end of the third carrier, and is configured to hold and release the workpiece.

Abstract: A railway wagon for moving sleepers including: a base structure having a platform and at least one carriage, a first conveyor carried by the platform and configured to move the sleepers along a feed direction, a second conveyor distinct from the first conveyor and also carried by the platform. The second conveyor has: a first portion extended above the platform within a lateral size of the latter, and a second portion extending outside lateral size of the platform and configured to move the sleepers outside the platform.

Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a chassis and a body assembly. The body assembly includes a series of panels configured to contain a volume of refuse therein and an ejector. The panels define a hopper volume and a storage volume. The ejector is configured to fully eject refuse from the storage volume. The ejector includes a wall at least partially defining an opening and a coupling pivotally and fixedly coupling a panel to the wall. The wall is movable within the storage volume. The panel is repositionable relative to the wall between a closed position and an open position. The panel extends at least partially across the opening when in the closed position and is angularly offset relative to the closed position when in the open position.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for container transporters and related item manipulation devices. In one embodiment, an example item manipulation device may include a support platform, and a conveyance surface attached to the support platform and configured to convey a container at least a portion of a distance from a first side of the support platform to a second side of the support platform, where the conveyance surface defines at least a portion of a container passage through which a container can be conveyed. The item manipulation device may include a manipulator comprising a first arm disposed along a longitudinal axis of the item manipulation device and a second arm disposed along the longitudinal axis of the item manipulation device, where the manipulator is engageable with the container to move the container at least partially onto the conveyance surface.

Abstract: A distribution site and a distribution method are provided. The distribution site includes: a building having a storage space configured to store goods and a distribution interface area configured to park an unmanned ground distribution vehicle that is capable of performing goods distribution; and a goods sorting device arranged in the building and configured to load the goods in the storage space onto the unmanned ground distribution vehicle.

Abstract: Robotic systems are provided for flexibility in assembly operations. A robotic system includes a suction module having a front side with a face shaped to match a mating component and a rear side with a coupling for a suction line. Openings extend through the face. The suction module defines internal passages connecting the coupling with the at least one opening through the face. An end-effector has a base plate, a mounting plate selectively moveable relative to the base plate, and a clamp. The suction module is selectively mounted to the mounting plate and releasably secured by the clamp. An actuator is mounted to selectively move the mounting plate and the suction module relative to the base plate.

Abstract: A wafer carrier that exhibits a thin, low-profile includes a bottom support plate upon which a thinned semiconductor wafer may be positioned, with a holding ring disposed to surround the periphery of the wafer and engage with the bottom support plate to hold the wafer in a fixed position between the two components. The bottom support plate is formed to include a plurality of apertures for pulling a vacuum through the carrier, as well as features that engage with the holding ring and alignment fiducials for properly registering the orientation of the wafer's surface with respect to the wafer carrier and other testing equipment using the wafer carrier.