Abstract: A method for operating a material handling system including an overhead rack defining a plurality of storage positions, first and second side rails disposed above the overhead rack, a first cross rail movably coupled to the first and second side rails, and a first transport vehicle movably coupled to the first cross rail includes positioning the first transport vehicle above at least one interior window defined in the overhead rack. At least a portion of the first transport vehicle is descended through the interior window to interface with a first load port of a first tool disposed below the overhead rack. The first transport vehicle is positioned above at least one periphery window defined in the overhead rack. At least a portion of the first transport vehicle is descended through the periphery window to interface with a second load port of a second tool disposed below the overhead rack.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for extracting pills from a blister pack provided with a push-through foil, comprising: an at least partially curved extracting surface for stationary placing of the blister pack, wherein the push-through foil lies against the extracting surface and wherein the extracting surface is provided on the underside with drop openings corresponding to positions of the pills in the blister pack, one or more rotatable pressure rollers, wherein each pressure roller is rollable with predetermined rolling pressure over at least a part of the surface of the blister pack during operation for the purpose of pressing the pills out of the blister pack through the push-through foil and through the drop openings, and a collecting means placed under the extracting surface for collecting pills which have dropped through the drop openings.

Abstract: An article storage and dispensing apparatus and method in which articles made by series production are distributed from an article supplier into a storage compartment of predetermined dimensions for storage of articles in front and rear rows of article storage positions. An article distributor in an upper portion of the storage compartment has a carriage, a carriage drive which is configured to drive the carriage in a reversible horizontal carriage drive direction across at least part of the width of the storage compartment, and an article support mounted on the carriage and configured to receive articles from the article supplier above the support when the carriage is in a start position. An article dispenser is associated with the article support to dispense articles selectively in opposite horizontal dispensing directions transverse to the carriage drive direction off the front and rear ends of the support to drop into front and rear article rows.

Abstract: A conveying system for injecting material at a convey line pressure is disclosed. Material is injected into the convey line through a feed device from a pressurized vessel pressurized at the convey line pressure. In illustrated embodiments, the vessel is pressurized at the convey line pressure through connection to the convey line. As described, the vessel is connected to the convey line through a pressurization line to pressurize the vessel at the convey line pressure. In illustrated embodiments described the pressurization line is opened and closed via a valve to control pressurization of the vessel at the convey line pressure. In illustrated embodiments, convey line pressure is applied to multiple vessels of a conveying system through one or more pressurization lines to inject material into the convey line.

Abstract: A side shifter configured for use on a lift truck with an actuator of the side shifter embedded in and almost completely surrounded by the weight bearing components of the side shifter, particularly the fork base top bar and back carriage top bar. This arrangement provides additional protection to the actuator. Embedding the actuator in the weight bearing components of the side shifter also provides for a larger unobstructed view through the middle side shifter.

Abstract: A transshipment implement for agricultural products, comprising a wheeled cart of the kind towable by a tractor; a complementary structure assembled over the cart; a dumper supported over the cart which has the ends of the upper edge of one of its side walls hinged to the corresponding points of the complementary structure, wherein it is tilted at an angle slightly greater than 90°; and an unloading and cleaning transshipment belt with an edge hinged in adjacent alignment to the same hinging edge of the dumper. The transshipment belt moves from a vertical position to a horizontal position, wherein, in the first position, the belt remains juxtaposed to the corresponding wall of the dumper, being embedded for the transport of the implement, while the second position is an unloading position for movement of the product received in the dumper to another receptacle, such as the compartment of a larger transportation vehicle.

Abstract: A ceiling transport vehicle includes an obstacle detecting portion fixed to a main body portion at a location that is above an article supported by a vertically movable member located at a transport purpose position. The obstacle detection portion is within an area in which the article exists in plan view such that a direction in which detection light, etc., is emitted is tilted outward of the article. When vertically moving the vertically movable member between the transport purpose position and the transfer purpose position, the controller is configured not to determine presence of an obstacle based on detected information from the obstacle detecting portion while the vertically movable member is located in a subject range, and is configured to determine presence of an obstacle while it is not located in the subject range.

Abstract: A drag winch assembly for a tow vehicle, such as a wrecker, that includes a slidable boom assembly. The drag winch assembly comprises a slidable support connected to the slidable boom assembly in slidable engagement with the main frame of the wrecker and a drag winch mounted on the slidable support. With this configuration, the slidable support is slidable between a first position corresponding to the frontmost position of the slidable boom assembly and a second position corresponding to the rearmost position of the slidable boom assembly, providing advantages existing winch assembly configurations.

Abstract: A bale trailer has two parallel bale cradles that are adjustable to accommodate different shapes and sizes of bales. Each cradle is balanced toward an unloading position and each is automatically returned to the carry position after unloading by the action of a spring.

Abstract: A picking device for piece goods is disclosed, in which cleaning of the picking device is facilitated. The picking device may include a shelf row having shelf bases, each including a plurality of storage chutes, and a retrieving device, via which piece goods can be retrieved. A shelf base may include a frame structure, chute partitions, chute bases, and blocking devices, which are coupled to a control device. Two chute partitions and one chute base may define one elongate storage chute, assigned to each chute base is a support device, on which the chute base rests and which is designed such that another chute base can be slid between the resting chute base and the support device. Assigned to each chute base is a holding means, which prevents the chute base from sliding in the longitudinal direction of the storage chute when the chute base is on the support device.

Abstract: A produce loading and unloading device and system. The device and system has structures for lifting an entire stack of flats loaded with produce such as berries, moving the stack of flats to a conveyor, and dumping the produce off each flat of the stack, one flat at a time. During the process, the operator of the device doesn't have to lift a single flat of produce. The dumping operation operates continuously, with no pauses to load stacks of flats. Throughput and safety are greatly improved.

Abstract: An equipment platform system and a wafer transfer method used to a wafer processing is provided. The equipment platform system comprises: a working platform, each side of the working platform is used to mount process chamber; a top-loading wafer device fixed on the top surface of working platform, the top-loading wafer device includes: a cassette or FOUP loading unit, a wafer loading unit installed disposed opposite the cassette or FOUP loading unit, the wafer loading unit has an inside cavity; a central robot, located between the cassette or FOUP loading unit and the wafer loading unit; a loading gate used to open or close the inside cavity; a wafer tray, which is in the inside cavity; a shutoff gate, which is at the bottom of the inside cavity, used to open or close the internal of the working platform; there is an opening at the top of the working platform, the opening is located at the lower part of the inside cavity, and disposed opposite the shutoff gate, the shutoff gate can seal the opening.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to methods of storing and using biosamples with a cartridge that includes slots for storing biosample capillary tubes. The methods include providing access to a holder inside an enclosure of the cartridge, the enclosure having a same form factor as a data tape cartridge used in an automated tape library. The holder is configured to receive a plurality of capillary tubes in the holder, the capillary tubes including one or more biosamples. Exemplary methods may also include receiving capillary tubes in the cartridge, withdrawing capillary tubes from the cartridge, scanning and/or analyzing the capillary tubes and/or biosamples. Exemplary methods may additionally or alternatively include retrieving the cartridge from a storage slot of the automated tape library, loading the cartridge onto a drive of the automated tape library, and/or receiving and/or exporting a cartridge to/from the automated tape library via a mail slot.

Abstract: An industrial truck is proposed comprising: a lifting frame; an operator compartment which can be moved upwards and downwards; a lateral push frame, arranged on the operator compartment, in the front thereof, and which can be moved upwards and downwards together with the operator compartment and carries a load-receiving device, which can be moved back and forth; and a vibration-damping means, which can be moved upwards and downwards, for damping vibrations. The vibration-damping means being arranged between the operator compartment and the load-receiving device, is designed to make vibration compensation movements of the load-receiving device relative to the operator compartment possible.

Abstract: An automatic taking-out device is configured by providing a package holding unit that holds the package; a cutting unit that cuts the two packaging sheet materials of the package in a held state in two cutting spots that are respectively present between the joining portions and the contents and that face each other with the contents therebetween; a pair of suction units that respectively suction and hold the two packaging sheet materials inside the two cutting spots; a driving unit that moves at least one of the suction units in a direction separated from the contents; and an inclining unit that inclines the two packaging sheet materials inside the two cutting spots and the contents in a state where a positional deviation in an up-down direction occurs with respect to the two cutting spots, and drops the contents out of the two packaging sheet materials.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure describes an apparatus comprising an auger section having an auger and a drive unit containing a motor for driving the auger. A collector ring housing containing a collector ring is positioned between the auger section and the drive unit. In another aspect, the disclosure describes an apparatus for attachment to a floor grate. The apparatus includes a pivot stand attached to a top surface of the floor grate, the pivot stand defining a vertical pivot axis. A collector ring has a first stationary portion and a second rotatable portion, with the stationary portion attached to the pivot stand. A housing surrounds the collector ring, and the housing and second rotatable portion of the collector ring rotate together about the pivot axis.

Abstract: A wafer transport assembly includes first and second wafer transport modules, and a buffer module coupled between the first and second wafer transport modules. The first and second wafer transport modules and the buffer module are aligned in a single directional axis. The buffer module includes a first buffer stack positioned at a first lateral end of the buffer module, and a second buffer stack positioned at a second lateral end of the buffer module. The first lateral end of the buffer module defines a first side protrusion nested between the first and second wafer transport modules and first and second process modules. The second lateral end of the buffer module defines a second side protrusion that is nested between the first and second wafer transport modules and third and fourth process modules. The first and second wafer transport modules and the buffer module define a continuous controlled environment.

Abstract: A system for allowing a vehicle or trailer to be secured to a loading dock is provided. The system is capable of being stowed away into the vehicle or trailer when not in use, and moveable to a locking position for interfacing with the dock's restraining system when the vehicle or trailer is to be secured to the loading dock.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a process chamber, and a loadlock connected to the process chamber. The loadlock is configured to have a wafer holder disposed therein. The wafer holder is configured to store a plurality of wafers, and is configured to transport the plurality of wafers away from the loadlock.

Abstract: A truck body designed for transporting hard rock mined ore. The truck body includes a body floor having a first material forming a floor structure and a liner structure including a second material covering at least a portion of the floor structure. The second material has a hardness that is greater than a hardness of the first material and prevents wear of the truck body floor by the hard rock ore. The truck body includes a front wall and two opposing body sidewalls that taper outwardly from front to rear of the truck body such that a width between the body sidewalls at a rear of the truck body is at least 10% greater than a width at the front of the truck body. The outward tapering of the body sidewalls promotes movement of the load away from the body sidewalls as the load is released from the truck body.