Abstract: An automated rack loading system for loading trays of products, especially bakery products, into racks for transport by delivery trucks. An empty transport rack is brought to the loader, and its shelf structure is scanned on each side to locate shelf brackets and to detect any left-over trays still residing on the supposedly empty rack. The precise height of each bracket on each side is noted, and pairs of brackets are compared to determine vertical height differentials, missing brackets, and damaged brackets. Filled trays are advanced on a conveyor to the loader station, where individual trays are loaded into a lift mechanism having lift brackets capable of carrying trays from the lowermost rack shelf position to the uppermost. A loading program, based on the original scan of the transport rack, moves flights of the lift mechanism, filled with trays, to the nearest available open rack position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing conical yarn bobbins, particularly in relation to withdrawing them from a conveyor belt which receives and moves said conical bobbins after they have been doffed and discharged from the units of a bobbin producing textile machine, and depositing them in an ordered arrangement on a peg trolley.

Abstract: For the conveying and storing of paper rolls in a lying position in a high ay racking store and for removing them from the same, the high bay racking store (10) is provided with a plurality of shelf compartments disposed in rows above each other and in side-by-side arrangement, to which the individual paper rolls are supplied by means of relocation cars (50) and a paper roll trolley (70) mounted on the latter and traveling transversely to the longitudinal direction of the relocation car, in which the paper roll trolley (70) is moved with the paper roll in a raised position into the shelf compartment between paper roll supports (80) extending in the longitudinal direction of the shelf, the paper roll being subsequently deposited on said support.

Abstract: A shuttle control for a storage and retrieval machine has a supervisory control mounted on the base of the storage and retrieval machine and a shuttle control mounted on the carriage of the storage and retrieval machine. The supervisory control receives shuttle operating commands and information signals and provides operating instruction signals for the shuttle to the shuttle control. The shuttle control receives the operating instruction signals from the supervisory control, produces operating information signals to the supervisory control, and controls the operation of a shuttle motor drive. A circuit having sliding contactors moving with the carriage on vertical slide bars mounted on the mast transmits operating instruction signals and information signals between the supervisory control and the shuttle control at a maximum transmission rate limited by the problems of transmitting the signals through the sliding contactors.

Abstract: Process for feeding paper rolls for supplying web-fed rotary presses with paper rolls and for disposing of remnants from web-fed rotary presses, comprising a control system, which stores data on the location and the type of all paper rolls and disposal containers at any point in time. The system is designed to be so redundant such that partially manual or completely manual operation is possible in the case of failure of one or several components, as a result of which printing of the jeopardized publication is possible even in case of emergency, and the safety and ergonomic aspects are also not neglected even in an emergency situation.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus includes a central tower having an elevated pivot point, a movable base, a support track that rests at its upper end on the central tower pivot and at its lower end on the movable base, and a trolley with hoist that moves along the support track. The apparatus can lift articles within the span of the support track and move them to other locations, by a combination of movement of the trolley and the movable base, and operation of the hoist. The crane is particularly well suited for the handling of articles and containers within domed structures.

Abstract: An object placement method and apparatus which obtains efficiency and optimized placement by providing a library of object placement patterns, each pattern in said library representing a plurality of objects filling a pattern line or series of pattern lines of a three-dimensional space. For each pattern line, a first type object (for example, a first size object) to be placed is selected and the pattern which minimizes the portion of the three-dimensional space used to place a number of first type objects, subject to at least one constraint factor, is determined. A representation of the objects in the rows according to the determined pattern may be provided. According to another aspect of the invention, linking restrictions between the objects of differing sizes may be provided. The linking restrictions are patterns from the library which may not be employed with objects of differing types in a line of the three-dimensional space.

Abstract: A control system for a storage and retrieval machine is disclosed in which a supervisory control is responsive to operating commands from a remote source to provide operating instructions for the control of the base, carriage and shuttle of the storage and retrieval machine. Separate controls for the base, the carriage and the shuttle respectively contain base, carriage and shuttle operating parameters. The base, carriage and shuttle controls are responsive to operating instructions from the supervisory control to respectively control movement of the base, carriage and shuttle in accord with the associated base, carriage and shuttle operating instructions and parameters. A base drive, carriage drive and a shuttle drive are also provided and each include a drive control which produces drive control instructions.

Abstract: The device has a column-shaped housing (1) in which there is located a storage magazine (7) for goods (8) offered, a goods chute (2) for dispensing and depositing the goods, electromechanical means (9a-9c) for transporting the goods between storage magazine and goods chute, as well as a control device (10) formed by a computer. There are provided on the housing, accessible from the outside, an operating panel with a keypad (3) and a display (4) and also a magnetic card reader/recorder (6). Implemented by means of software in the computer are a user access control and registration system, a goods storage management system and a customer accounting system. The device is designed so that it can both dispense goods selected via the operating panel and take back corresponding goods again, the movements of goods being automatically registered in a user-specific manner. The device can thus be employed as a goods rental machine, especially for videocassettes or the like.

Abstract: A wafer transferring method for transferring wafers between a cassette and a boat having grooves to hold the wafers, comprises the steps of providing an identification mechanism for positional alignment on the boat in advance, detecting the identification mechanism, and aligning the boat to a predetermined position based on a detection result and transferring the wafers from the cassette to the boat. A wafer transferring apparatus comprises a loading device for extracting wafers from a cassette and transferring the wafers onto a boat, a detection device for detecting an identification section provided on the boat in order to identify a wafer transferring position on the boat, and a control device for acquiring the wafer transferring position on the boat based on a detection result attained from the detection device and controlling a mutual position between the boat and the cassette to come to a predetermined position.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing multiple component assemblies utilizing semi-automatic computer-assisted material handling. The system comprises a plurality of component selection cells each having an alphanumeric display to display a selected assembly model description and a plurality of component bins wherein each bin has an associated bin numeric display or backlight pushbutton switch for displaying the quantity of components from that bin required for a selected assembly model. Each numeric display pushbutton switch has a means for clearing the display after the required quantity of components has been selected and for generating a control signal in response to a completion of a selected collection of parts for that cell relating to the selected assembly model.

Abstract: A continuous semiconductor substrate processing system is operated by a system control structure in accordance with a predetermined processing program. A wafer conveying mechanism conveys wafers to and from each of plural process stations, each of which performs a corresponding process step on semiconductor wafers, to and from a stocker and to and from an inspection unit. Carriers, movable by manual or mechanical structure other than the wafer conveying mechanism, provide for alternative conveying of wafers to and from each of the process stations, the stocker and the inspection station.

Abstract: A goods handling apparatus for carrying in or carrying out goods with respect to storage facilities having multirow and multistage storing spaces. The apparatus includes a goods inlet apparatus or a goods outlet apparatus. The goods inlet apparatus or the goods outlet apparatus travels in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction along the storing spaces of the goods storage facilities, conveying the goods within a plane parallel to a travelling plane of the goods inlet or the goods outlet apparatus, and transferring the goods, in a consecutive manner, from the goods conveying step to the goods inlet step, or from the goods outlet step to the goods conveying step by absorbing a difference between a goods inlet height or a goods outlet height in the goods inlet step or the goods outlet step and a goods conveyance height in the goods conveying step.

Abstract: An article handling method and system for an article handing machine operable by users having identification (ID) cards bearing user identifying codes for vending and/or receiving articles which bear article identifying codes and are stored within storage bins in the machine. The article handling system includes a novel article transport and a novel user and article code reading arrangement. The article transport is selectively operable in a vending mode to transport user-selected articles from their storage bins to a position accessible to machine users for removal of the selected articles from the later return of the articles to the machine and in a return mode to transport returned articles from the user accessible position to their storage bins. The user and article code reading arrangement embodies a single common code reader for reading both the user code on user ID cards inserted into the machine and the article codes on articles vended to and returned by machine users.

Abstract: A method for assembling and storing goods has a carousel equipped with a plurality of goods storing portions for storing goods which are to be assembled and stored, and a device for supplying goods, which are to be transferred to the goods storing portions from which goods have been taken out, to adjacent the goods storing portions. The method being characterized in that when a supplement of goods becomes necessary due to the goods having been taken out of the goods storing portions so as to be subjected to an assembling and storing operation, goods which are already supplied to the above-mentioned somewhere near the goods storing portions by the device for supplying, are transferred to the goods storing portions which are required to be supplemented with goods.

Abstract: A transport system for use in a hospital. When patients visit the hospital, data items representing their ID numbers and the ID codes of their doctors are input to a minicomputer. In accordance with these data items, the covers containing the patients' medical cards are automatically withdrawn from three card storages installed in the hospital, in groups each consisting of cards which are to be transported to the same destination. The covers of each group are inserted into a case by way of the card-ejecting device provided for each card storage. The case containing the covers, which are to be transported to the same destination, is automatically transported to the destination via a case transfer apparatus.

Abstract: A device for indicating the height of the fork of a fork lift truck relative to a home position is set forth. The device includes a controller which compares programmed store and retrieve heights for various shelves in a warehouse with the current height of the fork. A display visible to the operator includes a first display device which indicates the fork is adjacent a particular shelf and is within a predetermined range encompassing the store and retrieve heights of that shelf. A second display device indicates when the fork is at or within a predetermined range of the store or retrieve height for the shelf.

Abstract: A physical distribution system having a shelf storage unit for storing at least one article; a conveying unit having a terminal unit for conveying an article to and from the shelf; a memory unit for storing and retrieving data from the terminal unit, data relating to the article and data relating to the shelf address; and a data processing unit for transferring data relating to the storage/removal of article(s) to and from the terminal unit of the conveying unit; wherein the memory unit is mounted on the article(s) or is mounted on an article carrying unit which is used for carrying the article(s).

Abstract: Inner pickers (6) are provided for respective stages of racks (4) of storage areas (2, 3) to be movable on rails (7). Operations of the inner pickers (6) are independently controlled in the respective rack stages by optical communication through optical communication units (9).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a storage structure for yarn bobbins and it comprises a plurality of storage units having support devices of the bobbin. Such storage units are distributed in a plurality of stationary deposit equipments. The storage units contained within each stationary deposit equipment are movable along an annular path. The stationary deposit equipments are vertically superimposed in groups. The groups of deposits are arranged in lateral, side-by-side relationship, thus defining a vertical surface of loading and a vertical surface of unloading, which are accessible from devices of loading and unloading, respectively.

Abstract: A vending machine having an access port through which articles are delivered and returned in connection with keypad selected transactions performed by a robotic transporter programmed through a computer control system, is provided with an emergency storing bin within which articles are accepted for return only during transaction shutdowns caused by those malfunctions of the robotic transporter which persist after it undergoes a recovery process. Those transactions of the transporter, aborted by failure of a scanner to read identification data on returned articles placed in the access port, may be resumed by selective input of such identification data to the computer control system through the keypad.

Abstract: A control system for industrial use vehicles such as battery powered fork lifts in which regenerative energy is saved when the direction of travel is reversed. The control system functions to moderate the current drain on the battery. The control system comprising: a travel signal input means for generating an output signal from a travel accelerator, a cargo-handling signal input means for generating a cargo-handling signal, a monitor voltage input means for detecting a voltage at each of a plurality of monitor points and for outputting a detected signal, a sensor input means for generating an output signal from each sensor, monitor input means for generating an output signal from each monitor, and a microprocessor controller for receiving the output signals of the respective means and for outputting predetermined control signals.

Abstract: A green tire feed system provided between the forming process and the vulcanizing process in a tire manufacturing installation. This green tire feed system comprises pallets, each adapted to be charged with green tires, pallet loading tables disposed respectively in front of the respective vulcanizing machines installed in a row, shelves disposed in opposition to the pallet loading tables, a stacker crane adapted to travel through a passageway formed between a row of the pallet loading tables and a row of the shelves, a station for receiving pallets sent from forming machines and from the pallet loading tables, and control devices for controlling the stacker crane. The stacker crane is controlled by the control means to transport a pallet charged with green tires form the station to the shelves and from the shelves to the pallet loading table, and to transport an empty pallet from the pallet loading table to the station.

Abstract: A storage facility is provided for integration with a material distribution facility that includes as storage carousel for receiving and storing containers adapted to carry material goods. The carousel includes a multiplicity of connecting rack arrays arranged in side-by-side fashion. Each of the rack arrays includes a plurality of vertically spaced container racks for supporting selected containers, with the container racks from various rack arrays being arranged in a plurality of tiers. The carousel is adapted to rotate about a continuous track. Insertion and extraction assemblies are provided for each carousel tier that are adapted to load and unload containers from the various racks while the carousel remains in continuous motion. A novel lift arrangement is provided for carrying containers between a conveyor network and the various inserter and extractor assemblies. In an alternative aspects of the invention, a novel control system for a storage facility is described as well.

Abstract: An automated magnetic tape cartridge library system includes a cabinet (24) having a door (26) removably and pivotally connected thereto. The cabinet (24) houses a plurality of tape drives (56A-56E) and a plurality of racks (70) wherein magnetic tape cartridges are stored. A cartridge transport assembly (100) serves to retrieve a cartridge from a rack (70) and to load the cartridge into a target tape drive (56), and vice versa. Movement of the cartridge transport assembly (100) along X, Y and Z rectangular coordinate axes is effected by X, Y, and Z displacement systems (104, 106, 108). The cartridge transport assembly (100) and the X, Y and Z displacement systems (104, 106, 108) are all mounted on the removable, pivotal door (26). The cartridge transport assembly (100) includes a pair of engagement fingers (402A, 402B) which engage a selected cartridge upon contact with the cartridge.

Abstract: A catridge changer for carrying a cartridge to a utilization position and returning it to its initial position after the utilization thereof has a cartridge containing chamber for containing a number of cartridges therein, a hand member for gripping a selected cartridge, a hand moving device for moving the hand member gripping the selected cartridge to the cartridge containing chamber and the utilization position to carry the cartridge, and a correcting device for correcting the posture of the cartridge gripped by the hand member to a regular posture.

Abstract: A mechanized storage facility according to the present invention has a size which enables it to be moved from one place to another. The storage facility includes a box-shaped casing, an elevator device coupled to the casing, a plurality of storage units accommodated in the casing, a conveying car that travels within the casing to convey the storage unit between the casing and the elevator device, and a control device for controlling the operation of the conveying car and that of the elevator device. The interior of the storage unit is divided into a plurality of stages so as to form a plurality of accommodating portions each of which accommodates a storage box such as a strongbox. The elevator device includes an elevator tower and a lift provided in the elevator tower in such a manner that it can rise and fall. The elevator tower has an opening having a size equivalent to that of one of the plurality of accommodating portions.

Abstract: A system for storing transporting and processing articles includes a plurality of transportable containers, each transportable container having an interior region adapted to receive a plurality of articles and data processing device provided on the transportable container for receiving, storing, transmitting and displaying information related to the articles received by the corresponding transportable container. A plurality of workstations are adapted to receive one of the transportable containers and to process selected ones of the articles. The workstation also verifies that at least one of the articles in the transportable container has arrived at the appropriate workstation and communicates with a central processing unit to receive and transmit status information and processing information, and to transmit information stored by the data processing device provided on the transportable container.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide, for use on a limited site, an integrated architectural structure comprising particular personal occupancy space, particular automotive vehicle parking space, and particular access space communicating therebetween, all intimately juxtaposed. The personal occupancy space contains a plurality of personal occupancy units, i.e. apartments or offices, and at least one personal occupancy elevator and stairwell. The vehicle parking space contains one or more elevator lifts of specific design, namely, a lift that is movable only vertically and that includes a vertical array of levels, each level of which includes a horizontal array of automotive vehicle locations. Movement of this parking lift to selected vertical positions is such that selected levels of the vertical array communicate with the access level at selected times for vehicle storage or vehicle retrieval.

Abstract: The invention relates to the provision of an automated material handling system for a cargo trailer which is integrated with an automated material handling system provided for a manufacturing assembly plant. The system for the cargo trailer includes a protective guard rail for bar-coded targets provided within the cargo trailer, modification of an automated lift truck which permits shifting of parts racks as they are loaded or unloaded from a cargo trailer and also exact positionment of parts racks with respect to an automated lift truck.

Abstract: A control system for a storage and retrieval machine is disclosed in which a supervisory control is responsive to operating commands from a remote source to provide operating instructions for the control of the base, carriage and shuttle of the storage and retrieval machine. Control for the base contains base operating parameters and is responsive to base operating instructions from the supervisory control to control movement of the base in accord with the base operating instructions and the base parameters. Control for the carriage, which is movably mounted on a vertical mast of the storage and retrieval machine, contains carriage operating parameters and is responsive to the operating instructions to control movement of the carriage in accord with carriage operating instructions and the carriage operating parameters.

Abstract: When the center of gravity of the load put on the two prongs of a forklift is located to the right or left of the central position, the prongs are tilted. The invention is intended to prevent the prongs from tilting in this situation. Tilt sensors are mounted on the prongs. A computer calculates the tilt angles of the prongs, based on the output signals from the sensors. A driving device receives the output signals from the computer and brings the prongs into the horizontal.

Abstract: There are defined a lift space (E) and multi-storied housing spaces (X, Y) provided on at least one side out of the left side, right side, front side, and rear side of the lift space (E). A three dimensional housing apparatus comprises a liftable fork unit composed of a pair of liftable forks (5a, 5b) movable up and down in the lift space (E), and a plurality of traversable housing forks (20) each reciprocatingly movable between a corresponding housing space (X, Y) and the lift space (E). An object (C) to be housed can speedily and safely be warehoused in and delivered from a respective housing space (X, Y) by the liftable fork unit (5a, 5b) and a respective traversable housing fork (20).

Abstract: This data security arrangement provides a significant level of data security in an automatic magnetic tape cartridge library by isolating the actual data from the control of the data retrieval process. This isolation is accomplished by the use of a plurality of architectural devices that dissociate control and data. The data written on the magnetic tape cartridges cannot be accessed by the library modules. The library modules are not electrically connected to the tape drives or the data bus that connects the tape drives to the host computer. In addition, library software on the host computer emulates an operator's console and intercepts all tape mount commands generated by the host computer. The library software translates these commands into control signals to activate the library module to retrieve a designated magnetic tape cartridge and load this cartridge into a tape drive. Thus, the data retrieval apparatus is separate from the library control apparatus.

Abstract: An automatic article feeding system which includes a conveyor for conveying pallets each of which contains an article or articles such as parts to be assembled and has a mark indicating the kind of article or articles contained therein, having a feeder for feeding each of the conveyed pallets into one of the shelves of the stocker according to empty shelf information supplied by an information processing unit; a memory for storing the address of the shelf in which the pallet has been stocked and further storing information of the kinds of articles on the pallet; a searcher for searching the memory according to the instruction received from the automatic assembling machine to detect the existence or non-existence of the article required by the automatic assembling machine and, if in existence, detect the address of the shelf in which the required article is stocked; a system for withdrawing the pallet from the stocker according to such detection; a feeder for feeding the pallet to a position for supplying the

Abstract: By providing a wireless communication between a main control unit of an article picking apparatus, a main control device for supply devices and a route setting device and attaching a data carrier having a writable/erasable memory to a mobile article picking container, information concerning kind, number, etc. of articles to be supplied to the picking container is transmitted from the main control device to the data carrier to be stored therein. During transportation of the picking container, the data carrier transmits stored picking information in response to a calling signal from the route setting device, while the route setting device sets a transport route for the picking container based on the received picking information.

Abstract: A load carrying attachment has a supporting frame mounted on an elevationally movable carriage assembly mounted uprights of a lift mast and a load engaging frame having a load engaging device. A connecting device connects the load engaging frame to the supporting frame and guides the load engaging frame for movement in a preselected plane in directions transverse the uprights. The load engaging frame is freely transversely movable in the plane in response to an external force being applied to the load engaging frame and alleviates damage to the load engaging frame or a carried load due to misalignment with a transporter. A sensing device is provided for sensing the position of the load engaging frame and delivering a vehicle braking signal in response to the load engaging frame being at either a first or a second preselected transverse position. The load carrying attachment is particularly suited for use on an automatic guided vehicle.

Abstract: An article gripper is moved by a robotic transporter in two perpendicular directions within a transport plane between a reference location and ID code reading locations aligned with an access port and storage cells of storage assemblies mounted in doors closing a transport compartment of an automatic vending machine. The gripper is also moved by the robotic transporter in a direction intersecting the transport plane to insert or withdraw articles carried by the gripper after displacement by incremental amounts from the aligned reading locations to gripping or releasing positions. The foregoing movements of the gripper as well as other related operations are under programmed control of a computer and inputted data from a keypad and card reader to perform merchandising transactions with respect to manufactured articles stored in the doors of the machine as well as to accommodate servicing operations.

Abstract: A monitoring device for determining the presence or absence of wafer-like objects in a carrier having a plurality of shelves, each shelf being constructed to support one such object in an orientation normal to a carrier axis. The monitoring device may advantageously be used in an apparatus for handling wafer-like objects in a self-contained environment. The monitoring device includes a first detector capable of detecting movement of a body past the detector and generating a corresponding first signal. A translation member is physically coupled to the carrier, such that movement of the translation member results in movement of the carrier. The translation member is moved such that the carrier, and any objects such as wafers supported in the carrier, move along the carrier axis past the first detector. As the translation member moves, a position signal is generated, such that the position signal encodes the position of the translation member.

Abstract: An article storage and delivery system comprising a rack having vertical rows of article storage compartments, and a storage and retrieval machine movable along one side of the rack for selectively placing articles in and removing them from the compartments. An indexable turntable, having a plurality of circumferentially spaced article supports, is arranged at the opposite side of and partially within the rack so that each support is indexable into a machine accessible position, thereby enabling articles to be transferred by the machine between the storage compartments and the turntable supports. By dedicating each turntable support to a particular article type, different articles on the turntable are selectively deliverable by indexing movements thereof to a station on the turntable periphery externally of the rack.

Abstract: A handling apparatus for handling boxes stored in shelving compartments of storage shelving systems comprises a main body structure (11) which is adapted to be carried by a lifting device (12) and which is adjustable positionally thereby to a given level to be in registration with a respective shelf compartment (35). The body structure incorporates a plate-like support table (17) for supporting boxes (23), and a box dogging device (20) for dogging the boxes between the support table and respective shelf compartments. The box dogging device includes a vacuum device (21) which includes a plurality of suction cups (22) and which is movable along both the body structure and the support table. The dogging device and the support table are connected together so that the support table will move together with the dogging device during the initial and the final part of the movement of the dogging device.

Abstract: The installation comprises a delivery conveyor (4) for delivering unit items in buckets (5). A station (3) injects unit items onto the delivery conveyor. A sorting conveyor (6) carries packs (8) corresponding to respective batches to be made up. The sorting conveyor is disposed relative to the delivery conveyor so as to establish at least one item transfer zone therebetween. A central control unit (10) ensure that desired coincidences occur between item-containing buckets (5) and packs (8) for receiving the items, with the control units controlling the transfer of items form the buckets to the packs. The invention is particularly applicable to making up batches of items in response to orders therefor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compensating method applicable to vehicles having a lifting device made up of a mast (4) and vertically adjustable load carrier (5) provided on the mast. The method is for compensating departures in the position of loads (8, 9), preferably goods on loading stools or pallets, on the load carrier (5) relative to a frame (2) of a wheel driver vehicle (1). Loads (8, 9) of different weight when lifted to various heights deflect the mast (4) outwards in various degrees from an unloaded position. The vehicle (1) is adapted to repeatedly deliver loads (8, 9) on the load carrier (5) at different levels (12, 13, 14) in a storage system (11) and in predetermined delivering positions (P3) on each such level (12, 13, 14). A drive-up length (L.sub.o) corresponding to moving the vehicle (1) without a load (8, 9) from a reference point (R2) to a delivering position (P2) has been determined. In order to provide quick and safe compensation of deflections, the invention determines the size (.

Abstract: An article dispensing system comprising a plurality of bins disposed in generally parallel spaced relationship and angulated for facilitating storage and discharge of at least one article contained therein. The system includes an x-y-z positioning mechanism adapted for being disposed adjacent the end of the angulated storage bins. The mechanism is adapted for both loading and retrieving individual ones of the articles into and out of the storage bins. By utilizing a gravity feed system, the mechanical complexity of the x-y-z positioning mechanism is greatly reduced as is the overall cost of the system. Each storage bin is constructed with a lip formed on the lower end thereof for retaining stored articles therein, which retaining lip is inexpensive to fabricate and facilitates simplicity in the mechanical loading and retrieving operation.

Abstract: A system and method for alloying a customer to purchase or rent items from a locked cabinet without the intervention of store personnel. The authorized customer first inputs a membership card and a secret number. If these are correct, the system unlocks the locked cabinets, and the customer is allowed to examine all of the contents in the unlocked cabinet at his or her leisure. The computer continuously monitors the removal of all items from the unlocked cabinet. The customer reads in identifying information from each of the selected items. When the number of items that have been removed equals the number of items that have been read in by the customer, the computer allows the doors of the cabinet to be relocked, and the customer is provided with a customer slip indicating the items that have been selected. The system utilizes a similar method for the return of previously rented items. In the rental context, return of rental items can be performed in parallel with rental of items.

Abstract: The tape cartridge movement management apparatus for an automated tape cartridge library system includes a database that identifies each tape cartridge stored in the library system and its physical location, whether in its home position or in transit. In addition, a path selection apparatus is used to regulate the movement of the tape cartridges between their home positions and the designated destinations. This apparatus selects a path between two end points, reserves the apparatus to transport the designated tape cartridge between these two end points and maintains the apparatus reservations until the movement of the tape cartridge is successfully completed. In this fashion, if the movement of the tape cartridge is blocked somewhere along the path, the apparatus remains reserved to return the designated tape cartridge back to its original or home position.

Abstract: The circuit includes a master control circuit and individual control circuits for each storage location which are linked in such a manner that organized transport of freight is made possible in both directions; a manual control override disables the automated transport to permit manual transport of containers without impediment by the control circuit.

Abstract: A load push-pull slipsheet handler is disclosed having automatic features adapting it particularly for use with driverless, automatically-guided vehicles. These features include proximity sensors which sense the distance between the slipsheet handler and a vertically-oriented external surface so as to deposit a load in a predetermined relationship to the surface either on the floor or atop another load. Load contact sensors also are provided for enabling the device to gauge the distance to a load to be picked up so as to control the approach thereto. Further sensors sense the transversely-opposite extremities of a load prior to engagement, and transversely center the push-pull assembly relative to the load. Other features include a system associated with the slipsheet clamp for sensing the presence or absence of a slipsheet tab prior to clamping, and means for permanently deforming the tab to facilitate subsequent regrasping after the load has been deposited.

Abstract: A system to assemble a large number of component parts that are located in various positions and brought together to an assembly position. The system contemplates a pair of intermediate stations located adjacent to the assembly position to which a supply of components are brought prior to being moved to the assembly position.

Abstract: A piling planning method for cargoes in which an operator can designate a piling position of each of the various cargoes, and by displaying the piling result graphically on a graphic terminal, a piling patern is determined so that vacant space is reduced, and by using a final piling pattern, a piling position and a piling order of each cargo, and a piling operation sequence of the palletizing robot are determined. A piling system is provided in which cargoes supplied thereto are piled on a pallet in accordance with piling planning data prepared by a piling planning device which executes the above piling planning method.