Abstract: A method for arranging different articles in an order-oriented manner from a long-term warehouse in accordance with a plurality of orders, comprising a) defining an analysis quantity; b) quasi-continuously transferring stored articles in an article-pure manner from the long-term warehouse to the short-term warehouse by selecting an arbitrary one of the article types contained in the analysis quantity, analyzing each of the orders of the analysis quantity in dependence on the selected article type, determining total requirements of the selected article type, and transferring the total requirements of the selected article type from the long-term warehouse to the short-term warehouse; c) determining at least one complete order; d) discharging a subset of the transferred articles from the short-term warehouse; and e) repeating the steps c) and d) until each of the orders of the analysis quantity has become complete.

Abstract: A system for verifying whether an item retracted into a self-service terminal is the same item that was output from the self-service terminal, wherein the signature data sets generated prior to output and following retraction of the item are compared. A method of verifying whether an item retracted into a self-service terminal is the same item that was output from the self-service terminal is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cargo loading system for a cargo compartment of a means of transport, for example a cargo aircraft or a passenger aircraft, is provided. The system includes at least one power drive unit for transporting cargo of the means of transport. The power drive unit and a control module are coupled to a BUS system. The control module generates control signals for the power drive unit and maintenance data of the power drive unit for the control and maintenance of the power drive unit. The BUS system transmits the control signals and maintenance data of the power drive unit between the control module and the power drive unit. In this manner an existing hardware platform of the means of transport can be used, and weight and cabling as well as the number of control boxes of the means of transport can be reduced.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for operating a cluster tool including receiving recipe time data; receiving transfer time data; receiving process programs and associated substrate lots wherein the process programs include a plurality of sequences; determining cluster tool chambers associated with sequences that are bottleneck sequences; setting equipment constant values for components of the cluster tool to implement transfer priorities wherein the chambers associated with bottleneck sequences are given highest priority; executing a next sequence based on the transfer priorities; and repeating the determining, setting and executing for each remaining sequence. Numerous additional aspects are disclosed.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to propose a computerized control device and a computer-implemented method for speed regulation during delivery of printed products to stacking devices which do not have at least some of the disadvantages of the known systems. It is in particular an object of the present invention to propose a computerized control device and a computer-implemented method for regulating the speed of a conveyor for delivering printed products to stacking devices which enable flexible production of stacks of different sizes.

Abstract: A system includes a station and a management module. The station includes a queue having a first row and a second row. The management module is operable to instruct a first mobile drive unit to move a first group of connected item holders from the second row to the first row, instruct the first mobile drive unit to move the first group of connected item holders along the station such that one or more items stored by the first group of connected item holders are processed at the station, and after the one or more items from the first group of items are processed, instruct a second mobile drive unit to move a second group of connected item holders from the second row to the first row.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments that may facilitate items being retrieved from a storage location. A robotic drive unit transports a carrier storage unit to be proximate to a target storage unit that comprises a container in which an item is located. The robotic drive unit aligns a receptacle in the carrier storage unit with the container in the target storage unit. The container is transferred from the target storage unit to the carrier storage unit. The robotic drive unit transports the carrier storage unit with the container to a destination.

Abstract: A work hanging apparatus includes a hanger line continuously conveying hangers each having a hook, a robot that has a hand with which a work having a hole is held and transfers the held work to a hanging location set in the hanger line, a controller controlling a movement of the hand to catch the hook of one of the hangers with the hole of the held work at the hanging location, a hole deviation detector that detects a positional deviation of the hole of the work, an attitude deviation detector that detects an attitudinal deviation of the hanger, and a corrector that corrects the movement of the hand according to the positional and attitudinal deviations.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling a conveyor system including a conveyor zone having a plurality of conveyor regions. A zone controller is configured to track the position of one or more articles within a controlled zone. The zone controller may be operatively coupled to controllers of adjacent zones, and may receive and transmit data relating to the position of articles in the controlled zone and whether the zone is accepting articles from the other controllers. Articles are moved within the controlled zone by selectively activating the zone based on determined positions of articles within the controlled zone, the positions of articles within adjacent zones, and/or the operating mode of the zone. The zone controller may thereby operate cooperatively with adjacent zones to manage spacing between articles by selectively positioning multiple articles within the zone, and may accumulate or discharge articles from the conveyor system in a desired arrangement.

Abstract: A modular system for storage of cargo units in a designated space. The modular system includes: a plurality of interconnected active cell units, each cell unit including a cell transporting mechanism with at least one active shuttle unit moveable between the plurality of cell units. Each shuttle unit includes a shuttle transporting mechanism adapted to transport at least one pallet of the plurality of pallets to and from one of the plurality of cell units and also to and from at least one shuttle unit. The system also includes a central controller adapted to control the operation of the cell and the shuttle transporting mechanisms, the operation of which is performed in an independent manner via the central controller such that a construction of any arrangement of the cell units is performed to effectively exploit a designated space.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for crane control and stock management, the method includes attaching to the goods to be stored an identifier associated with a code, such as number or name, given to the goods in stock accounting or the like; reading the identifier with a reader, when the goods are being transferred by a crane; transmitting the identifier information from the reader to the memory of the crane control; transferring the goods with the crane to a selected location in the warehouse; and storing the coordinates of the goods to the memory of the crane control so that they are associated with the identifier; and when the goods are removed from the warehouse, reading with the reader from a work order or the like the identifier information associated with the goods; and transmitting the identifier information from the reader to the memory of the crane control; and activating the crane control with the identifier information, whereby the crane moves to the location of the earlier stored goods.

Abstract: A method for compensating for a perturbation external to a platform having a plurality of mechanical arms in accordance with an embodiment of the technology includes detecting a normal positional and/or orientational measurement of the platform using a sensor. A perturbed positional and/or orientational measurement of the platform can also be detected using the sensor. The normal positional and/or orientational measurement and the perturbed positional and/or orientational measurement can be compared to determine a positional and/or orientational difference. A position and/or orientation of a mechanical arm can be adjusted to compensate for the perturbation based on the positional and/or orientational difference.

Abstract: Processing and tracking of individual mail items processed through a document processing system such as a sorter or inserter utilize a mail item identifier that is unique with respect to each individual mail item. A mail item may have a postal authority approved code representing or containing its associated unique identifier. If not, an identifier is generated and a corresponding postal authority approved code is applied to the mail item. Processing entails associating the unique mail item identifier for each respective mail item with collected metadata for the respective mail item and storing the identifier and associated the metadata. In a sorter example, each mail item is sorted into a postal sort group, and the processing entails identifying the sort group to which each item is sorted and storing the identified sort in association with the unique mail item identifier.

Abstract: A method for controlling an automated sample test system includes a samples conveyance line for conveying samples racks, each holding samples, to a plurality of processing units, and an empty-rack stock section in which to stock samples racks not holding a sample. The control method is designed to collect information on whether the processing units are in need of a supply of empty samples racks, and then supply empty samples racks from the empty-rack stock section to the processing units based on the information. Decreases in throughput can be prevented by leveling the number of empty samples racks supplied to the processing units that require empty samples racks.

Abstract: An inventory system has mobile drive units that freely and independently move about a facility to transport inventory holders. The mobile drive units may operate through communications with other drive units, or under a more centralized control of a management module. For various operating scenarios, the mobile drive units are directed to shuffle the inventory holders in a manner that minimizes travel of the mobile drive units, thereby improving overall system efficiency. One or more single mobile drive units may be used to transport inventory holders to and from a region, and to sequentially reposition or slide each of the inventory holders within the region according to a priority ordering.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention comprises associating a marker with at least some of the seeds containing a genetic element of interest of the bulk sample, exciting the seeds using an photonic emitting device, evaluating at least some of the seeds of the bulk sample for the presence or absence of the marker, and sorting the seeds containing a genetic element of interest based on the presence or absence of the marker. In various other embodiments, the method may comprise associating a red fluorescent protein marker with at least some of the seeds containing a genetic element of interest of the bulk sample, evaluating at least some of the seeds of the bulk sample for the presence of the red fluorescent protein marker using an evaluating device, and sorting the seeds containing a genetic element of interest based on the presence of the red fluorescent protein marker.

Abstract: A feed station has a pre-separation region, a separation region and a transport region in succession along a transport path. A first sensor is at the start of the separation region and a second sensor is at the start of the transport region. A control unit processes signals from the sensors and encoders to determine the position of the flat item, and is connected with a separation motor to drive the separation device, so that a flat item is separated from a stack with a predetermined separation velocity. If unacceptably small gaps exist between the flat items, the separation process is stopped when the leading edge of a subsequent flat item reaches the second sensor and is continued when the preceding separated flat item achieves a predetermined clearance from the leading edge of the aforementioned flat item due to its transport.

Abstract: A method of analyzing minerals received within a mining shovel bucket includes collecting data associated with ore received in the bucket, where the bucket includes at least one active sensor, where the ore includes one or more mineral, and where the ore is within a field of the active sensor. The method further includes determining a content of the minerals using the data, transmitting information relating to the content of the minerals to a decision support system, and sorting or processing the ore based on an output of the decision support system. Collecting data associated with the ores may include generating source signals, applying the source signals to the active sensor, collecting a response from the active sensor, and comparing the response with a reference or threshold. Other features are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for improving process awareness, safety, security, efficiency, and other aspects of industrial and non-industrial processes for participants associated with the processes. The system includes a control device associated with the process, and for each participant, a mobile client device and participant profile. The system improves safety, security, and efficiency by the control device enabling remote monitoring of participants and the process, implementing participant profile limitations, and authorizing participants to remotely monitor and control aspects of the process. The control device incorporates social network features to validate compliance and/or consent of all designated participants in order for control aspects of the process to be enabled.

Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system including a storage structure with storage racks having a seating surface configured to support case units where a position of each case unit is non-deterministic for each storage location on the storage racks, each case unit has a predetermined storage position and a controller is configured to determine the predetermined storage position, a picking aisle configured to provide access to the case units within the storage structure, and a seismic disturbance restorative system including seismic disturbance motions sensors disposed on the storage racks, a seismic disturbance control module in communication with the seismic disturbance sensors and configured to identify a seismic disturbance, and an automated case mapper configured to traverse the picking aisle, the automated case mapper being in communication with and initialized by the seismic disturbance control module to identify a seated position of at least one case unit within the storage structure.