Abstract: A method and equipment to stack palletless and as to their size variable packages (1) on warehouse rack (15) and to retrieve them from the rack and to control the logistics of packages, in which the warehouse rack is furnished with an automatic packages stacking and retrieving robot, and in which the control of warehouse data and logistics takes place by a data system. Equipment (5) receives package (1), for instance, onto conveyor belt (2), equipment (5) carries out weighing of package (1), determination for the necessary space requirement, reading of remote code connected to package (1), as RFID code (20) in order to choose the rack space determined for it on basis of previous functions, and package (1) is retrieved from the rack steered either by the order of the user or of the data system, and the data from above mentioned stacking and retrieving functions are transmitted to the data system.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle for transferring case units to and from predefined storage areas in an automated case unit storage system, the automated case unit storage system including an array of multilevel storage racks with picking aisles passing therebetween and at least one multilevel vertical conveyor having movable shelves, the autonomous transport vehicle including a frame configured to traverse the picking aisles and a transfer deck connecting the picking aisles to the at least one multilevel vertical conveyor for transferring case units between the predefined storage areas and the at least one multilevel vertical conveyor, and a controller connected to the frame, the controller being configured to effect movement of the autonomous transport vehicle through the picking aisles for accessing each storage area within a respective level of the array of multilevel storage racks and each shelf of the at least one multilevel vertical conveyor.

Abstract: An article processing facility includes an article carrier movable along a track and having an article gripper, and a pair of article racks for temporarily supporting articles. Each of the article racks is configured to be shiftable between an extended position and a retracted position. When an article for loading gripped by the article gripper is to be delivered to an article loading and unloading station but an article for unloading is present at the article loading and unloading station, the article for loading is stored temporarily on one of the article racks, and thereafter the article for unloading at the article loading and unloading station is temporarily stored on the other article rack.

Abstract: System and method for sortation of picked inventory into individual orders in an order fulfillment process, for example order fulfillment processes in materials handling facilities. Collections of items picked from inventory for multiple orders are stowed to locations at a stow and sortation station. The items for a particular order may be stowed to two or more different locations, and items for two or more orders may be stowed to one location; no particular location is assigned to or reserved for each order. Thus, no space is allocated or reserved for incomplete orders at the station. When all items for a particular order are stowed to locations at the station, the order may be picked from the various locations at the station and placed into order receptacles. The order receptacles may be shipping containers.

Abstract: The article storage facility comprises an article transporter configured to move along a path via an article transfer location with respect to an article storage rack; an article loader for bringing articles into and taking articles out of the article storage rack, provided to the article storage rack so as to project and retract between a protruding position for article receipt that projects to an outside of the article storage rack, and a retracted position for retracting toward the article storage rack; and a protrusion and retraction operating device provided to the article transporter, for causing the article loader to protrude and retract between the protruding position and the retracted position when the article transporter is at the article transfer location.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coverslipping module for mounting coverslips onto specimen slides (12) for microscopic investigations, having a transport apparatus (9) for transporting a specimen slide (12) out of a rack (3) or a specimen slide holder to a coverslipping position (13) in which the specimen slide (12) is equipped with a coverslip, and having alignment means for aligning the specimen slide (12) in the coverslipping position (13) for mounting the coverslip. In order to allow the specimen slide (12) to be reliably and quickly aligned for mounting of the coverslips, thereby ensuring a high level of process dependability with a short processing time, the alignment means are constituted by multiple movable orientation jaws (18) which are arranged so that by closure of the orientation jaws (18), the specimen slide (12) becomes aligned in the coverslipping position (13).

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for storage, which includes a warehouse rack containing shelves (14) located on columns, a handling machine movable to the designated shelf of the warehouse rack, and a handling device capable of placing goods or a storing device (30) for storing goods on the shelves (14) or taking them down from the shelves (14) and moving them to a designated location. A passive lifting device (240) is associated with the warehouse rack (10) and the handling machine (100) is formed as a locomotive handling machine capable of moving on a designated path, and the handling device (130) is located on the handling machine (100), and on the handling machine (100), there is an active lifting device (200), which can be coupled with the passive lifting device (240) and forward the handling machine (100) to the designated shelf in cooperation with the passive lifting device (240).

Abstract: An automated order-picking system for conveying article units towards a workstation, including at least one storage rack having a plurality of storage locations for receiving load supports, on which or in which article units are stored, preferably by one sort only, wherein the storage rack is divided into rack regions, wherein each of the rack region comprises a plurality of rack planes which respectively comprise a plurality of storage locations being arranged side-by-side, one endlessly rotating central conveyor, particularly a conveyor belt, being arranged along a longitudinal side of the storage rack and preferably between two storage racks, and which is divided into a plurality of windows, a number of vertical elevators being arranged one behind the other along the longitudinal side of the storage rack, and which respectively comprise one load suspension device for receiving and delivering of at least one of the storage units.

Abstract: A storage apparatus has an rack of storage bins, a a pick head drive unit to drive a pick head to an access location for a selected bin, and a platform drive unit to drive a platform forming part of the pick head into and out of the rack to pick or load packages at a selected bin of the rack. The platform has a cam formation which, in the course of entry of the platform into the rack acting to lift a desired package until the platform reaches a clearance position at which the cam formation clears the package. Subsequent withdrawal of the platform from the rack acts to drag the desired package from the selected bin.

Abstract: A line feed system of the invention comprises a framework having a first end and a second end. At least one conveyor is carried on the framework. The conveyor comprises a drive system and a cart configured to engage the drive system. In one embodiment, the cart has a base that engages the drive system and a carriage that is movable, e.g., extensible and retractable, with respect to the base. In another embodiment, the drive system is extensible and retractable. The cart can also include one or more lift devices that can be raised and lowered with respect to the carriage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for introducing loading auxiliary means (8) with a transport device (7) into a shelf compartment (9) with storage spaces (11a to 11d) arranged one behind the other. The loading auxiliary means (8) is conveyed by the transport device (7) into the shelf compartment (9) to the front storage space (11a to 11d) in the direction of introduction (10), after which a further loading means (8) is moved by the transport device (7) into the shelf compartment (9) to the front storage space (11a to 11d) and in this way the preceding loading auxiliary means (8) conveyed to the front storage space (11a to 11d) in introduction direction (10) is moved to the storage space (11a to 11d) that is behind and the additional loading auxiliary means (8) is moved into the front storage space (11a to 11d).

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A rack module for, in particular, rod or plate-shaped storage goods accepted in transportation cases as well as a method for repositioning storage goods in a rack module is provided. The rack module is provided with several shelf spaces serving to receive the transportation cases as well as a storage and retrieval unit with a gripping device that can be displaced in reference to the storage and retrieval unit for repositioning the transportation cases. The transportation cases comprise pallets, with at least one lift truck for moving under and repositioning the pallets being provided, and a lifting device for raising and/or lowering one or more pallets, which can be operated by the gripping device of the storage and retrieval unit.

Abstract: A library apparatus includes cells. A positioning mechanism serves to position a carriage relative to the cells within an operating region adjacent to a standby region. A transporting mechanism drives the carriage toward the standby region. A swaying mechanism allows grasping fingers on the carriage to go around an object lying on the movement path of the grasping fingers when the transporting mechanism carries the carriage to the standby region. The grasping fingers acts to hold an object within the cell. If the positioning mechanism malfunctions, the transporting mechanism transfers the carriage to the standby region. Even if an object exits on the movement path of the grasping finger, the carriage is allowed to keep moving because the swaying mechanism allows the grasping finger or fingers to sway around the object on the movement path. The carriage thus reliably reaches the standby region.

Abstract: A cassette insertion control method, wherein when a cassette (1) is sent to the storage part (41) of a garage (8a), the cassette (1) is tilted without positioning the garage (8a) and the cassette (1) to oppose to each other, and sent to the front opening part (40) of the garage (8a) from a tip corner part (45) of the cassette (1), thereby to securely store the cassette (1) in the garage (8a). Thus, even if the accuracy of the stop position of a picker running in a direction parallel with the arranged direction of the garage is not so high, the cassette can be securely stored in the garage.

Abstract: A warehousing system for palletized cargo, and an automated loading/unloading system for use with the same. The warehousing system includes a feed conveyer and a plurality of storage racks. A traveling conveyor carries the cargo from the feed conveyor to the individual racks, and from the racks to a loading/unloading conveyor which carries the cargo to the loading/unloading docks. The traveling conveyor rides on a wheeled chassis that is guided between the receiving and discharge locations on tracks. The storage racks are stackable in tiers, and the traveling conveyor has a deck that raises and lowers to be level therewith. The automated loading/unloading dock includes a rigid, extensible plate having an upper surface for supporting a load of palletized cargo, with a drive mechanism being mounted to the inner end of the plate to translate it in and out of the transport vehicle. The plate carries a load of palletized cargo into or out of the transport vehicle en masse.

Abstract: A suspended type transporting carriage (16) is provided with: a gripping mechanism (22) for gripping a transported object (17); a hoisting mechanism (21) for hoisting the gripping mechanism; and a traveling mechanism (60), on which the hoisting mechanism is mounted in a suspended condition, for traveling on a rail (20) installed on or near a ceiling. The gripping mechanism is provided with (i) an elongating and contracting device (23) capable of horizontally elongating and contracting and (ii) a gripping device (24) disposed at a tip portion of the elongating and contracting device for selectively gripping the transported object.

Abstract: A rack and conveyor shuttle system for placing and retrieving articles of various sizes including a rack system having a shelving framework of at least two tubes spaced apart from one another at a distance, wherein the distance between the tubes is sufficient to support the article in a single stack and a motorized, conveyor shuttle system having at least two finger-like conveyors spaced apart from one another at a distance, wherein the distance between the finger-like conveyors is sufficient to move in between the two tubes so as to engage the article wherein the conveyor shuttle system is adapted to interlace in between the rack system for both placing and retrieving the article.

Abstract: A method and a storage and manipulation system for manipulating and transferring cassettes used for storage. The system includes a rack for storing cassettes. The rack includes supports on which the cassette rests. A transfer device includes a slide, onto which the cassette can be transferred. The slide includes a lifting and lowering movement. The transfer device also includes grippers that grip the cassette and moving it onto or off the slide. The slide can be placed underneath the front part of the cassette and, by a lifting movement, elevate the front part of the cassette such that the cassette can be transferred along the support onto the slide. A rear part of the cassette is simultaneously supported by the support. The slide can also lower the front part of the cassette onto the support when the rear part of the cassette is transferred onto the support of the rack.

Abstract: A system for singling and transferring objects comprises an inlet area and an outlet area for objects from the system, transfer means for transferring such objects comprising containment members, and retrieval means for retrieving and depositing such objects in the containment members. The transfer means may be actuated, in use, independently of the retrieval means so as to transfer one or more objects to the outlet area.

Abstract: An automated storage system for storing large quantities of samples in trays includes a storage compartment, a tray shuttle compartment abutting the storage compartment on one side and a plurality of independent modules on the other side. The modules perform processing of samples that are retrieved from the storage compartment by a tray shuttle, including extraction of selected samples from retrieved source trays and transfer of the selected samples into a separate, destination tray that can be further processed or removed from the system for use. The independent operation of the modules permits handling and processing to be performed simultaneously by different modules while the tray shuttle accesses additional samples within the storage compartment. In one embodiment, a vertical carousel is used to vertically align a desired tray with the tray shuttle, while the tray shuttle operates within a horizontal plane.

Abstract: A transporting rail unit includes a first driving mechanism driving the object to a first position on a rail. A second driving mechanism includes a member designed to displace in response to reception of a force from the object when the object moves forward to the first position from a second position in front of the first position on the rail. The second driving mechanism allows accumulation of an elastic repulsive force based on displacement of the member. The transporting rail unit allows the object to keep moving forward based on the elastic repulsive force even after the object is released from engagement with the first driving mechanism. If the second driving mechanism is interposed between the first driving mechanisms, the object can be transferred between the first driving mechanisms. A single transporting rail unit can be utilized in common. This results in reduction in the production and management costs.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting and combining items in an outbound container through the use of autonomous vehicles, each of which includes means for automatically loading and unloading a payload, to perform both transfer and transport functions in moving containers of items within a workspace via a network of roadways. Under computer control, said autonomous vehicles transfer and transport case containers of item units between incoming receiving stations, intermediate storage locations, and outgoing order-assembly stations where entire containers or individual item units are combined in the outbound container.

Abstract: A container handling apparatus for use in loading and transporting a container from a first location to a second location is provided. The container handling apparatus includes a mast and support structure for supporting the container thereon. The support structure is vertically positionable relative to the mast. The container handling apparatus also includes a container interlocking member including an engaging portion for use in releasably engaging a container. The container interlocking member is horizontally positionable relative to the support structure and configured to provide a pivot axis about which the container can pivot relative to the interlocking member when engaged with the container.

Abstract: A method for sorting mail to a case having a plurality of slots is described, wherein each slot corresponds to a destination. The method includes steps of loading a mail piece to be sorted into a delivery robot, determining for the mail piece a destination slot the mail piece is to be delivered to, moving the delivery robot along a rail disposed at the front of the case near the slots into proximity with an open end of the destination slot, inserting the mail piece from the delivery robot into the associated slot, and returning the delivery robot to a loading station whereby the cycle may be repeated. Such a method, when using a large number of robots moving along a common rail system, can sort a large volume of mail in carrier delivery order.

Abstract: A plate and method for positioning functional elements in a system for working with fluid-containing samples includes a horizontal work field having a lengthwise dimension and a perpendicularly extending transverse dimension, as well as a robot arm with a functional element, aligned essentially perpendicularly to the work field in a Z direction. The robot arm can move the functional element in at least a partial region of the work field in the X and/or Y direction. The plate includes two light barriers which intersect inside the partial region, each having a transmitter and receiver whose scanning or detection beams each extend in a direction deviating from the X direction and/or from the Y direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and dispensing of a plurality of items of stock (34) such as pharmaceuticals comprises a plurality of storage regions (20), e.g. shelves (26) and a dispensing station (48). The storage regions (20) are arranged to circulate around a continuous path (10) such that each storage region (20) is periodically brought into alignment with the dispensing station (48) so as to allow items to be removed from the storage region (20) at the dispensing station (48).

Abstract: A large rectangular rotary table includes a fabricated tubular metal frame having top plates for supporting fixtures and large motor vehicle parts. A center portion of the table frame is supported by an annular turret bearing mounted on a base plate spaced above a floor plate by adjustable leveling screws. A drive unit is also supported by the base plate within the bearing and the center portion of the table frame and includes a planocentric gear reducer driven by an electric servo motor projecting above the table. A laterally projecting torque arm is mounted on the output of the gear reducer and is connected to the table frame by a sliding drive pin assembly which prevents radial loads on the gear reducer when the table is indexed. A fluid actuated table locating pin alternately engages a locating seat on each end of the table after the table is indexed.

Abstract: A side buffer 40 is provided on a side of a traveling rail 6 of an overhead traveling vehicle 8. Multiple levels of racks 41, 42 are provided. The overhead traveling means 8 has elevating and lowering means including components such as a linear guide 32 and a ball screw 26 for elevating and lowering a lateral movement unit 16.

Abstract: A storage and retrieval unit (1) and a method for transporting goods (2) from or to a shelf (3) in a commissioning unit are provided. The storage and retrieval unit includes a vertical mast (4) and a longitudinal drive (5), linked with the mast, for longitudinally displacing and longitudinally positioning the storage and retrieval unit on a site of operation of the shelf on the shelf front or the shelf rear. A height-adjustable goods receiver (7) is provided on the vertical mast. The is configured as an articulated mast (4) having at least one joint (8) which enables a deflection (A) of the articulated mast in the direction of longitudinal displacement (L). A guide/readjusting device (9) having articulated rods, especially an articulated oscillating crank (9?), is provided on the articulated longitudinal end of the articulated mast for the purpose of stability.

Abstract: Storage library systems and methods of operating and assembling library systems are provided. The storage library system may include a stationary support member having a first axis and a cartridge transport assembly. The cartridge transport assembly includes a cartridge retrieving mechanism configured to retrieve a removable media cartridge, said cartridge transport assembly being coupled to the support member, wherein the cartridge retrieving mechanism is positionable in four degrees of freedom. The method of operating a tape library may include transmitting instruction signals to a robotics controller disposed on a cartridge transport assembly, translating the cartridge transport assembly along a stationary support member, and positioning the cartridge retrieving mechanism in four degrees of freedom relative to the stationary support member.

Abstract: A pair of carousels are provided in an automated storage and retrieval system. A mast, a pair of elevation frame, and a pair of scara arms are provided between the carousels. One of the scara arms includes a plurality of arms stacked from lower to upper arms such that a hand of the scara arm takes a high position. The other of the scara arms includes a plurality of arms stacked from upper to lower arms such that a hand of the scara arm takes a low position.

Abstract: Stations (8,9) of an automatic warehouse (2) are provided with transfer devices (10) for transferring an article one by one between a tray and a bucket, and hands (11, 12) of the transfer devices are provided with an ID tag reader and writer. The ID of the article stored in the bucket can be grasped and delivering products can be inspected, and further, data corresponding to each article can be written in the ID tag.

Abstract: An ergonomic mechanism is provided for storage facilities eliminating the need to reach into a storage shelf, or tier, to access rear situated packages. The mechanism of the invention comprises a manually movable pusher/puller that engages items/packages disposed at the back of the storage shelf. The pusher/puller is manually pulled forward by flexible connectors, causing the rear packages to move forward upon the flow tracks until they reach the front area of the tier and engage a picking shelf. At the front, packages can be picked from the tier with ergonomic ease due to the flexible connectors that allow movement of a gripping handle in any direction with respect to the shelf.

Abstract: Various types of recording cartridges, each of which has a case which rotatably accommodates a reel on which a recording tape is wound, are provided with grasped portions with concave portions at side walls of the case and which a grasping device of a same, external library with accommodating chambers can grasp from both sides. A height from a floor surface of the accommodating chamber to the grasped portions when the cartridge is accommodated in the accommodating chamber of the library is made to be the same regardless of a type of the recording tape cartridge, and an interval between a pair of corner portions of the grasped portions, which corner portions are near a removal opening of the library, are made to be the same regardless of the cartridge type. A pair of corner portions of the grasped portions, which corner portions are deeper in the library, are chamfered.

Abstract: A storage and retrieval unit (1) is provided for operating a product storage shelving (2), which has at least one shelf, on which essentially cubic products (4, 5, 6) are arranged and held. The products can be removed and fed to a driven, essentially horizontal continuous belt (8) of a height-adjustable storage and retrieval unit that is movable along the product storage shelving. The products removed are centered by a centering device with a lateral product centering element (9), which is arranged on a transverse side of the continuous belt (8) in the area of at least one longitudinal end of the continuous belt. The lateral product centering element centers a product removed from the product storage shelving (2) against a lateral longitudinal stop (10) of the continuous belt (8). Differently configured cubic products may be handled by the storage and retrieval unit in an easy, fast and reliable manner.

Abstract: For replacing a cassette 9 in an automatic loader section 4, an operation of retracting the cassette 9 to a cassette accommodation section 3 is performed in parallel with an operation of inserting a new cassette 9 from the cassette accommodation section 3 to the automatic loader section 4. Accordingly, the time required by the automatic loader section 4 for the cassette replacement operation is the same as the longer time among the time for retracting the cassette and the time for inserting the cassette. Thus, the time in which the automatic loader section 4 must stop the transportation of the image recording materials can be shortened.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shelf stacking machine for stocking and removing paper reels, especially in the printing industry. The shelf stacking machine can be driven in a lane with storage places at both sides. Said storage places receive paper reels which are stacked one on top of the other or behind each other in the direction of the lane. The shelf stacking machine is provided with a receptacle for a paper reel. Said receptacle is formed by a fork which can be height-adjustably pivoted around a horizontal axle. The fork is provided with measuring devices which detect the load of the received paper reel. The measuring devices supply the detected measured data via a control device to an actuator which is coupled to the fork movement-wise and which height-adjustably pivots the fork into the horizontal position according to the measured data. The actuator holds the fork in said horizontal position during paper reel transport.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving a battery relative to a shelf unit includes: (a) a motion generating unit presenting a first force in a first motion type at a first output locus; (b) a motion translating unit receiving the first force and translating the first force to present a second force related to the first force in a second motion type at a second output locus; (c) a battery engaging structure coupled with the second output locus for applying the second force to the battery; and (d) a substantially rigid frame supporting the motion generating unit and the motion translating unit and cooperating with the shelf unit to substantially fixedly situate the frame during the moving. The moving is effected in a generally vertical axis in response to the second force.

Abstract: A storage lift has at least one chain drive (14, 15) used for loading and unloading storage goods carriers (4). Each chain drive has two chains (16, 17) that are laterally and vertically offset from each other and are interconnected by coupling members (22, 23). The chains propel drivers (27) fixed to extension arms (24, 25) of the coupling members (22, 23) and are used to transfer the storage goods carriers (4) to a vertical conveyor (1) and to hold them in a position in which the vertical conveyor is movable upwardly and downwardly. The chains (16, 17) of the chain drive or drives (14, 15) are located between the front edges of the storage goods carriers (4), which lie opposite one another in storage columns (2, 3), to enable the vertical conveyor (1) to have a relatively narrow construction.

Abstract: A telescopic arm of a load-handling system for transferring storage units into and out of a rack stage of a racking system is displaceably supported on a support frame and has a plate-shaped middle slide and a plate shaped top side displaceable relative to the support frame and to each other. The support frame is in the form of a hollow section and has first and second upright longitudinal side walls and a bottom and a top side wall. Lateral guide tracks and a vertical guide track are arranged on the first upright longitudinal side wall. The top slide has lateral guide tracks and a vertical guide track as well as movable drivers for pushing a front or rear face of the storage unit. The middle slide is slidably guided between the support frame and top slide.

Abstract: The commissioning device comprises a transport device which conveys storage containers (1) from a warehouse (4) to a commissioning work station (3) (3) and returns them thereto (4). The storage containers to be commissioned (1) are presented on a displaceable table (9). The transport device comprises at least one vehicle (2) which transports the storage containers (1) from the warehouse (4) to the table (9) and which transports them back to the warehouse (4).

Abstract: A system and method for minimizing electromagnetic radiation emissions from a data cartridge handling library employs intermittent operation of the video camera to ascertain correct bin locations and verify automated access between bin locations. This intermittent operation is utilized when an error is suspected or upon a predetermined routine to verify manipulation accuracy.

Abstract: At least one vertical structure is constituted by plurality of planes, set one upon another, each of which can house at least one container. A lift truck is able to transport at least one of the containers and can move in a vertical direction in a vertical work space parallel to the vertical surface on which the planes are aligned. The lift truck on command can be positioned facing one of the planes, and can interact with the planes in order to remove or insert a single container. The invention comprises a plurality of the vertical structures which are arranged parallel and afford a plurality of the work spaces for movement of the lift truck and are conformed to enable transfer of the lift truck at least from one of the work spaces to another of the work spaces. Means are provided to operate a transfer of the lift truck from one of the work spaces to another as well as to displace of the lift truck at least in a vertical direction along a single work space.

Abstract: A storage racking includes a plurality of stacked, spaced tote supports arranged in pairs on opposing sidewalls for receiving platform-type totes for storage items. A storage/retrieval system is provided for moving the totes in and out of bays in said storage racking via a bayway. This bayway includes rollers arranged in the deck of the bayway for horizontal shifting of the totes. To reduce the noise developed in moving the totes in the bayway the tread of the rollers includes a noise-deadening insert.

Abstract: An extendable arm for placing and moving items includes a base and an arm unit movably mounted to the base. The arm unit is configured for linear movement in a first direction relative to the arm unit for extending beyond the base in the first direction and for linear movement in a second direction relative to the arm unit which is opposite to the first direction for extending beyond the base in the second direction.

Abstract: A storage lift has at least one chain drive (14, 15) used for loading and unloading storage goods carriers (4). Each chain drive has two chains (16, 17) that are laterally and vertically offset from each other and are interconnected by coupling members (22, 23). The chains propel drivers (27) fixed to extension arms (24, 25) of the coupling members (22, 23) and are used to transfer the storage goods carriers (4) to a vertical conveyor (1) and to hold them in a position in which the vertical conveyor is iovable upwardly and downwardly. The chains (16, 17) of the chain drive or drives (14, 15) are located between the front edges of the storage goods carriers (4), which lie opposite one another in storage columns (2, 3), to enable the vertical conveyor (1) to have a relatively narrow construction.

Abstract: A picker/placer is provided with the capability to handle multiple media types while also dealing with drives having various load profiles, all within the same data storage library. This is accomplished by providing the picker/placer with a picker assembly that has slider attached to the driving mechanism to allow lateral movement. Attached to the slider are a pair of picker fingers which are thus also compliant relative to the driving mechanisms of the picker/placer. This arrangement allows the picker fingers to deflect during advancement, whenever an interfering structure is encountered. Further, a compliant pusher assembly is included which provides over travel to deal with hard-stop loading drives, as well as auto-loading drives. Further, the floating picker fingers allows the picker assembly to work with various media types within the same library.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a removable media handling system in a data storage system are provided. Briefly described, in one of many possible embodiments the data storage system comprises a plurality of housings, a media handling system, and a lift system. The plurality of housings are arranged in vertical stacks and each of the plurality of housings is configured to receive one or more media storage devices that are configured to receive a plurality of data media. The media handling system is configured to access the plurality of data media received by the media storage device. The lift assembly is configured to move the media handling system vertically between the plurality of housings. The media handling system and the lift assembly are configured such that the media handling system is removably attached to the lift assembly.