Abstract: A refuse collection system having a maximum power point tracker includes a DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter is electrically connected at a first output thereof to one or more photovoltaic panels of the system, and at second output thereof to one or more batteries for being charged by the photovoltaic panels. The maximum power point tracker is configured to increase the power output of the photovoltaic panels towards, e.g. to set this power output to, the maximum power point thereof, therein adjusting a current at which the batteries are charged. A control unit of the system, programmed to control electrically powered functional parts of the system, is preferably furthermore programmed to control the DC-DC converter.

Abstract: A method for filling an ink cartridge for a printer in an ink-filling station. The type of cartridge to be filled is determined and information associated with the cartridge to be filled is sought in a database. The cartridge is placed in the station. The cartridge includes a wall separating a reservoir of the cartridge from the outside. An opening passing through the wall from the outside to the reservoir is pierced, the position of the opening depends on the information. The cartridge is filled by injecting ink through the opening under ink-injection conditions dependent on the information. The opening is sealed by cooling a deposit of molten plastics material in the opening under sealing conditions dependent on the information. An internal reservoir is taken to a set pressure by blowing or sucking air to pressurize or depressurize the internal reservoir.

Abstract: A machine tool includes: a machine frame; at least a first working spindle which is pivoted about a first spindle axis; at least a second working spindle which is pivoted about a second spindle axis; a workpiece clamping device which is configured to receive at least a first workpiece and a second workpiece. The first working spindle and the second working spindle are arranged vertically one above the other.

Abstract: In an expanding device for expanding an expandable particle foam material with an expansion furnace which has an interior space for receiving the expandable particle foam material, a radiator is formed which is arranged in the interior space of the expansion furnace, and a conveying device with a conveying surface is formed, which serves to guide a particle foam material received on the conveying surface in a conveying direction through the interior space of the expansion furnace.

Abstract: A receiving and handling mechanism includes: an insert opening; a supply channel for passing the container to a handling device of the mechanism which is driven by a drive and is configured to handle the container; and an outlet. A rechargeable battery powers at least the drive of the handling device. The battery is powered by an external energy source, e.g. a renewable energy source. The method includes: predicting an availability of the external energy source, e.g. a source of solar energy; and adapting the operation of the device based on the predicted energy availability, so as to decrease the energy use of the device in case of a lower predicted energy availability and to increase the energy use of the device in case of a higher predicted energy availability.

Abstract: A method and a device for measuring a physical object, wherein image data of uniquely identifiable points on the object is captured from different perspectives by means of at least one camera, and a spatial position of the uniquely identifiable points are ascertained from this image data, and at least one three-dimensional point cloud of the uniquely identifiable points is created as a global map of the object. To detect a surface quality of the object, light beam bundles are reflected on a surface of the object and are captured as image data. The image data obtained from the light beam bundles reflected on the surface of the object comprises at least some of the uniquely identifiable points as well as surface regions located between the uniquely identifiable points.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus and method of fabricating a molded part are provided. The apparatus may include a barrel, a nozzle enclosing an end of the barrel and defining an opening in fluid communication with an inside of the barrel, and an extrusion screw positioned at least partially inside the barrel and rotatable relative to the barrel. The extrusion screw may include a screw tip. Relative axial movement between the barrel and the extrusion screw may open or close the opening of the nozzle to permit or prevent, respectively, material flow through the opening of the nozzle. The method may include clamping a mold, opening a nozzle, rotating the extrusion screw to pump a molten material into the mold until the mold is filled, closing the nozzle, and unclamping the mold to release a molded part.

Abstract: A method for casting a melt uses a melt container in which a melt receiving space is formed. The melt container has a spout in the form of a lance on the bottom on the melt container. The method includes the following steps: filling the melt container with melt, wherein the melt is introduced into the melt receiving space of the melt container from a crucible using a spout orifice of the lance; casting at least one cast workpiece with melt; filling the melt container with melt again. When filling the melt container with melt, more melt is received in the melt receiving space than is needed for casting the cast workpiece. Directly before the renewed filling of the melt container, a remainder of melt having an oxide skin formed at the melt surface is present in the melt receiving space of the melt container.

Abstract: A repair device for repairing a defect in a wooden workpiece includes: a setting punch for inserting a repair patch into a recess formed in a wooden workpiece; a feed device for feeding the repair patches to the setting punch; and a detector for detecting the orientation of the repair patch with the aid of a marking arranged on the repair patch. A rotary device may be used for rotating the repair patch about a rotational axis. The detector may include a first sensor and a second sensor, which are arranged at the repair device in such a way that they are used for detecting the marking of detection regions disposed at a distance from one another, the marking being arranged on the repair patch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for storing real data of a real body contour (11) of a body (8). The method comprises the method steps: creating a model surface grid (6) with multiple grid points (7), said model surface grid (6) representing a model body contour (5); manufacturing the body (8) based on the model body contour (5) of the CAD data; determining real data of the manufactured body (8); creating a memory surface grid (15) of the real body contour (11) by means of the computer (3); storing the memory surface grid (15) on a data carrier (19) for further processing of the data.

Abstract: A method for casting a melt uses a melt container in which a melt receiving space is formed. The melt container has a spout in the form of a lance on the bottom on the melt container. The method includes the following steps: filling the melt container with melt, wherein the melt is introduced into the melt receiving space of the melt container from a crucible using a spout orifice of the lance; casting at least one cast workpiece with melt; filling the melt container with melt again. When filling the melt container with melt, more melt is received in the melt receiving space than is needed for casting the cast workpiece. Directly before the renewed filling of the melt container, a remainder of melt having an oxide skin formed at the melt surface is present in the melt receiving space of the melt container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for casting a melt 4 of a metallic material by means of a furnace 2 of a low pressure casting device, which furnace 2 has a receiving space 3 and a riser tube protruding into said receiving space 3. By pressurizing the receiving space 3 with compressed air, the melt 4 in the riser tube 12 of the furnace 2 is pressed into a mold cavity 10 of a mold 7, wherein simultaneously, a magnetic field acting against the conveying direction 23 of the melt 4 is applied to the melt 4 of the metallic material by means of a magnetic element 16 arranged in the region of the riser tube 12.

Abstract: A top loading refuse distributing and compacting device for mounting above or in the top of a refuse collection container is operable to receive, compact and distribute refuse collected with the container. The device includes a pivotal handling member, which is pivotal between a leftward and rightward guiding position, in which left and right opposed inclined surfaces of the handling member alternatingly guide refuse into the right and left side of the container such as to distribute it evenly over said sides, while with the other surface compacting refuse already present in the container. The handling member includes a weight sensor. The device may be operated based on the signals of weight sensor and preferably other sensors, for instance to indicate a living organism being received. The handling member may be one single unit, combining the functions of weighing, distributing and compacting.

Abstract: The invention relates to a processing plant (1) comprising: at least one first working spindle (2); a tool magazine (6) for storing different processing tools (4), wherein at least one storage plane (10) having several tool receiving spaces (11) arranged next to one another is provided in the tool magazine (6); a tool change device (5) comprising at least one first gripper device (13) for exchanging the processing tool (4) held in the working spindle (2), wherein the gripper device (13) comprises at least one first gripper unit (15) and one second gripper unit (16) which are positioned at a gripper-unit distance (17) from one another. The gripper units (15, 16) can be displaced between the working spindle (2) and the tool magazine (6).

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus and method of fabricating a molded part are provided. The apparatus may include a barrel, a nozzle enclosing an end of the barrel and defining an opening in fluid communication with an inside of the barrel, and an extrusion screw positioned at least partially inside the barrel and rotatable relative to the barrel. The extrusion screw may include a screw tip. Relative axial movement between the barrel and the extrusion screw may open or close the opening of the nozzle to permit or prevent, respectively, material flow through the opening of the nozzle. The method may include clamping a mold, opening a nozzle, rotating the extrusion screw to pump a molten material into the mold until the mold is filled, closing the nozzle, and unclamping the mold to release a molded part.

Abstract: An articulated-arm robot and a method for machining a workpiece by means of the articulated-arm robot includes a base; a working head holder; several lever arms, which are arranged between the base and the working head holder, the lever arms being coupled to one another by means of revolute joints; a working head which is arranged on the working head holder, the working head comprising a working spindle which is arranged in a spindle housing and is mounted in the spindle housing at least at a first bearing point and a second bearing point. At least one sensor for sensing a radial force is formed at each of the first bearing point and the second bearing point. At least one sensor for sensing an axial force is formed at least one of the two bearing points.

Abstract: A decoring hammer for decoring cast workpieces, includes: —a housing; —a striker which is coupled to the housing and which includes a contact surface serving for contact on the cast workpiece to be decored. Moreover, a downholder is formed which is coupled to the housing and which includes a downholder surface serving for contact on the cast workpiece to be decored, wherein the striker is displaceable relative to the downholder.

Abstract: A method for producing a cast workpiece includes the following method steps: providing a mold having at least one mold core arranged in the mold; inserting a metal melt into the mold; waiting for a period of time until at least the outer contour of the metal melt has solidified and the workpiece has been formed from the metal melt; removing the workpiece from the mold; shattering the mold core, wherein this method step is carried out before the workpiece has entirely cooled down from the casting process. For shattering the mold core, a hammer head is applied on a defined energy transmission surface of the workpiece and the energy transmission surface is acted on, in particular hit on, by the hammer head.

Abstract: The invention relates to a panel saw (1) for cutting plate-shaped workpieces (2) into multiple sections, comprising: a machine base frame (3); a workpiece support (4) with a sawing slot (5); a saw aggregate (7), which is arranged below the workpiece support (4), wherein a circular saw blade (6) is arranged on the saw aggregate (7), which circular saw blade (6) in a sawing position (34) protrudes through the sawing slot (5) and is displaceable in a sawing direction (8); a holding-down device (9) for clamping the workpiece (2) on the workpiece support (4); a positioning device (12) for positioning the workpiece (2).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for storing real data of a real body contour (11) of a body (8). The method comprises the method steps: creating a model surface grid (6) with multiple grid points (7), said model surface grid (6) representing a model body contour (5); manufacturing the body (8) based on the model body contour (5) of the CAD data; determining real data of the manufactured body (8); creating a memory surface grid (15) of the real body contour (11) by means of the computer (3); storing the memory surface grid (15) on a data carrier (19) for further processing of the data.