Abstract: This disclosure describes a system for managing inventory as it transitions into a materials handling facility, as it transitions between locations within a materials handling facility and/or as it transitions out of a materials handling facility. In some instances, a user (e.g., picker or picking agent) may retrieve an item from an inventory location and place the item into a tote. The systems described herein detect the item when it is added to or removed from the tote.

Abstract: A user may move a specimen holder from one specimen rack to another specimen rack. A database automatically tracks the movement of the specimen holder from a rack slot of one specimen rack to a rack slot of the other specimen rack. To track movement of the specimen holder, the user places a specimen rack on a specimen reader that determines the location of any specimen holders in slots of the specimen rack. The user removes a particular specimen holder from a particular rack slot of the specimen rack and the database is updated to reflect removal of the particular specimen holder from the specimen rack. The user places another specimen rack on the reader and inserts the newly removed specimen holder in a slot of the another specimen rack. The database is updated to reflect insertion of the specimen holder in a particular slot of the another rack.

Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle including a transfer arm including at least one finger and a movable finger support member, at least one sensor configured to detect movement of the at least one finger, the at least one sensor having a registration member and a detection member where one of the registration member and detection member is mounted to each of the at least one finger so as to be movable with a respective one of the at least one finger and the other one of the registration member and detection member is stationary relative to the at least one finger, and a controller in communication with the at least one sensor, the controller being configured to determine a position of the at least one finger along the second direction based on a proximity of the registration member relative to the detection member.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a cargo handling apparatus includes a first mechanism, a second mechanism, a holding unit, a third mechanism, a fourth mechanism and a conveyor. The first mechanism is movable in a first direction. The second mechanism is connected to the first mechanism and is movable on a first horizontal plane intersecting the first direction. The holding unit is connected to the second mechanism and holds an object to be picked up. The third mechanism is arranged below the first mechanism, the second mechanism and the holding unit, and is movable in the first direction. The fourth mechanism is connected to the third mechanism and is movable on a second horizontal plane opposed to the first horizontal plane. The conveyor is connected to the fourth mechanism, and loads and conveys the object held by the holding unit.

Abstract: A nozzle managing system in which suction nozzles can be suitably transferred is provided. A nozzle managing machine includes a tray holding section that holds a tray, a palette accommodation device as a nozzle stocker, and a nozzle transfer device that transfers the suction nozzles between the tray and the palette accommodation device. In addition, the nozzle managing machine acquires tray information that is information indicating the tray T held in the tray holding section, acquires nozzle information corresponding to the tray T on the basis of the tray information and JOB information stored in a memory section of a host PC, and controls the nozzle transfer device on the basis of the nozzle information.

Abstract: The invention provides a sorting mechanism arranged to empty or discharge a container for carrying a load, e.g. totes in a luggage handling system. The sorting mechanism has a plurality of tilting elements T1-T11 for receiving and transporting the container in a transport direction. The tilting elements T1-T11 are arranged neighboring each other, and they are individually tiltable by controllable tilting actuators, e.g. servo motors. The tilting elements T1-T11 are controlled in response to at least one position signal such that a group of at least two tilting elements T1-T11 perform a coordinated tilting motion, when the container passes the sorting mechanism. Each tilting element T1-T11 has a length of 30-50% of the container. The tilting elements T1-T11 are stationary, and the container is driven forward by belts on each of the tilting elements T1-T11.

Abstract: A specimen transportation system is configured from linear modules, turn modules, and connection modules. The modules can freely combine with one another. Moreover, the modules form multiple paths through which specimen racks outputted from one specimen output device are transported to multiple analysis devices. When transporting a specimen rack from an upstream side to a downstream side, each module attaches a destination signal associated with the specimen rack to the specimen rack and transfers the destination signal to the downstream side. As a consequence of each module transporting the specimen rack from the upstream side to the downstream side that corresponds to the destination signal, the specimen rack becomes transported along a path that corresponds to the destination signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments that may facilitate retrieval of items from a storage location. A robotic drive unit transports a receptacle to be proximate to a target storage unit that comprises an item. The robotic drive unit moves an item mover to transfer the item from the target storage unit to the receptacle. The robotic drive unit transports the item in the receptacle to a destination.

Abstract: A power assist robot apparatus is disclosed which is capable of assisting heavy-object lifting action and walking movement with fewer driving sources, and a method is disclosed for controlling the power assist robot apparatus. Two power-assist electric motors are located near opposite lateral sides in a right-left direction of the wearer's waist, respectively. Each lower-limb assist arm has one end fixed to a rotary shaft of the power-assist electric motor and the other end to which a lateral side of the thigh is attached. An upper-body assist arm placed at the wearer's chest and a main frame that holds the two power-assist electric motors at both ends thereof and is placed at the wearer's waist are connected by a driven rotary shaft which is rotatable about a vertical axis and a driven rotary shaft which is rotatable about a right-left axis.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus including a frame, a first SCARA arm connected to the frame, including an end effector, configured to extend and retract along a first radial axis; a second SCARA arm connected to the frame, including an end effector, configured to extend and retract along a second radial axis, the SCARA arms having a common shoulder axis of rotation; and a drive section coupled to the SCARA arms is configured to independently extend each SCARA arm along a respective radial axis and rotate each SCARA arm about the common shoulder axis of rotation where the first radial axis is angled relative to the second radial axis and the end effector of a respective arm is aligned with a respective radial axis, wherein each end effector is configured to hold at least one substrate and the end effectors are located on a common transfer plane.

Abstract: Provided is an operation command generation device including: an execution order determination unit configured to determine, based on respective arrangement positions of a plurality of process symbols each representing a process for a process subject on a protocol chart including the plurality of process symbols, an execution order of the plurality of process symbols; and a process symbol conversion unit configured to respectively convert the plurality of process symbols into jobs for a process system including at least a robot so that processes represented by the plurality of process symbols are executed in the execution order determined by the execution order determination unit.

Abstract: An automatic tire loader/unloader for stacking/unstacking tires in a trailer is disclosed. In one embodiment, a mobile base structure provides a support framework for a drive subassembly, conveyance subassembly, an industrial robot, a distance measurement subassembly, and a control subassembly. Under the operation of the control subassembly, tires advance through a powered transportation path to an industrial robot which places the tires within the trailer in a vertical stacking pattern or a rick-stacking pattern, for example. The control subassembly coordinates the selective articulated movement of the industrial robot and the activation of the drive subassembly based upon the distance measurement subassembly detecting objects, including tires, within a detection space, dimensions of the trailer provided to the control subassembly, and dimensions of the tires provided to the control subassembly.

Abstract: A method for the automated dispensing of medication portions is disclosed. Medication packs are automatically retrieved by a control unit from an automated storage facility, and medication portions are automatically removed from the packs and dispensed into a dispensing pack. A determination is made as to whether any medication portions are remaining within the retrieved medication packs, and those medication packs having remaining medication portions are returned to the automated storage facility by the control unit.

Abstract: A source fluid inlet for an automated filling device. The source fluid inlet may comprise features that limit engagement and/or disengagement of a source fluid tubing set from a port in the source fluid inlet except when the port is disposed in a predetermined load position. In turn, engagement and/or disengagement of the source fluid tubing may be selectively allowed to assist in reduction of interconnection errors of one or more source fluid sources. The source fluid inlet may selectively position a source fluid tubing set in a fill position to facilitate fluid communication with a receptacle to be filled (e.g., a syringe). The source fluid inlet further comprises one or more mechanisms for engagement and/or retention of a cap disposed on a syringe.

Abstract: A method, device and system for picking items in a warehouse a method of controlling picking of items in a warehouse is provided. The method comprises: receiving, at processor of a mobile device, using a communication interface of the mobile device, location sensitive data associated with at least one item to be picked within the warehouse, the mobile device comprising the processor, the communication interface and a display; and, rendering, at the display using the processor, instructions for picking the at least one item in the warehouse, the instructions including the location sensitive data, the instructions updated to emphasize different subsets of the location sensitive data based on a current location of the mobile device relative to a location of the at least one item in the warehouse.

Abstract: An automated warehouse (1) comprises a plurality of drawers (2), each drawer comprising a plurality of housing zones (3) each adapted to receive an item (A). The warehouse also comprises moving means configured for moving a drawer (2) between a rest position in which it is stored in a respective housing seat (5) and an access portion (6), and vice versa. The access portion (6) comprises a laser targeting system (8) configured to generate at least one point-like beam (9) and at least a linear beam (10) defining a localization track to locate an item or a housing zone in the drawer (2) disposed in the access portion (6). The automated warehouse (1) comprises a control unit operatively connected at least to the laser targeting system (8) and programmed for receiving information on at least one item to be taken/stored, and controlling the laser targeting system (8) so as to position the localization track according to the item to be taken/stored.

Abstract: An automatic truck unloader for unloading/unpacking product, such as boxes or cases, from trailers and containers is disclosed. In one embodiment, a mobile base structure provides a support framework for a drive subassembly, conveyance subassembly, an industrial robot, a distance measurement subassembly, and a control subassembly. Under the operation of the control subassembly, an industrial robot having a suction cup-based gripper arm selectively removes boxes from the trailer and places the boxes on a powered transportation path. The control subassembly coordinates the selective articulated movement of the industrial robot and the activation of the drive subassembly based upon the distance measurement subassembly detecting objects, including boxes, within a detection space, and dimensions of the trailer provided to the control subassembly.

Abstract: The method involves a pipe bundle arrangement, each bundle having a length, a width and a depth and being a shape bundle having a rectangular or a round bundle having a hexagonal cross-section. Each bundle has a type, each type having predetermined ranges of length and width, the bundle being assigned to that type in respect of which the length and width falls within the predetermined ranges. In the arrangement: no stack exceeds a predetermined height; no round bundle has stacked thereupon a shape bundle nor a round bundle of another type; the predetermined length range of each bundle in a stack is common; the predetermined width range of each shape bundle in a stack is common; and in no stack is a round bundle stacked upon a shape bundle wherein the predetermined width range of the round bundle is greater than the predetermined width range of the shape bundle.

Abstract: A remotely operated vehicle assembly for picking up storage bins from a storage system includes a vehicle body that displays a cavity for receiving a storage bin situated somewhere within the storage system, a vehicle lifting device at least indirectly connected to the vehicle body for lifting the storage bin into the cavity, driving mechanisms or components connected to the vehicle body allowing remotely controlled movements of the vehicle assembly within the storage system, a wireless communication link that provides wireless communication between the vehicle assembly and a remote control unit such as a computer, one or more main power sources supplying electrical power to the driving mechanisms or components and vehicle coupling means for operational and releasable coupling of the main power source to the vehicle body.

Abstract: A storage and picking system including racks having a multiplicity of rack locations; vertical conveyors adjacent laterally to longitudinal sides of corresponding racks or arranged within the corresponding racks; transfer locations arranged for material-flow-related uncoupling between the vertical conveyors and storage-and-retrieval units; storage-and-retrieval units in aisles between the racks; and a conveying level free of rack locations. The vertical conveyors are assigned respective transfer locations in the conveying-means level. A material-flow computer (MFR), which has access to a topology made up of a multiplicity of waypoints and segments, provides article-specific, sequence- or distribution-weighted transport orders to transport the articles between the rack locations and starting points/destinations.