Abstract: A workstation for a material handling system is provided. The system may include a plurality of vehicles for retrieving items from a plurality of storage locations located in one or more racks. The workstation is configured to accommodate the vehicles so that the vehicles drive into the workstation and drive upwardly along a track in the workstation. In one configuration, the track is configured to tilt the vehicle at a predetermined angle relative to the horizon as the vehicle is driven upwardly. After the vehicle is tilted to the predetermined angle the vehicle continues to drive upwardly while maintaining the predetermined angle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 30, 2022
Date of Patent:
November 21, 2023
Assignee:
OPEX Corporation
Inventors:
Joseph Valinsky, Alexander Stevens, Nathan Bloch, George Muttathil, David Baines
Abstract: The invention relates to a robot (100) for performing a process of picking rubber blocks arranged in a container toward a target location. The invention also relates to a process of picking rubber blocks arranged in a container, performed by the disclosed robot (100).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 30, 2021
Date of Patent:
November 21, 2023
Assignee:
COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
Inventors:
Gwenael Favro, Gregory Marcet, Maxime Tarrit
Abstract: Methods for aligning a processing chamber using a centering ring and processing chambers having the centering ring are describes. The method includes determining an average central position for the centering ring based on the concentricity of the centering with the support surfaces and adjusting average position of centering ring to a final position based on the average central position.
Abstract: A truck ramp including a first ramp element, second ramp element and pivoting structure located between the first and second ramp elements. The first ramp element is coupled to the truck at one end and at the other end, a hinge. The second ramp element is hinged at one end and at the other end interfaces with the ground or other surface. Between the first and second ramp elements is a pivoting structure comprised of a first component that is mechanically coupled to the first ramp element at the first hinged end and a second component that is mechanically coupled to the second ramp element at the hinged end. The first component and the second component are rotatable about an axis orthogonal to the first and second ramp element hinges.
Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of vertical automatic storage cabinets and provides a vertical automatic storage cabinet that comprises: a cabinet body; a storage rack provided on an inner wall of the cabinet body; a storage box, detachably provided on the storage rack; a manipulator assembly provided in the transportation space and being configured to grasp the storage box. In this vertical automatic storage cabinet, storage racks are arranged on both sides in the cabinet body, and the manipulator assembly is located in the area between the two storage racks, the storage boxes on both sides can be taken out of the cabinet body by the manipulator assembly in the middle.
Abstract: An overhead material handling system is provided. The system comprises a leveler having a cover defining an interior, and a screw having a shaft and a screw portion positioned within the cover interior. The system further comprises a lift structure comprising a plurality of hydraulic stabilizing legs, the lift structure being connected to the leveler wherein the plurality of hydraulic legs extend and retract to raise and lower the lift structure, at least one sensor, and a safety mechanism comprising at least one extension off of an end of the leveler.
Abstract: A bin exchange system is disclosed that includes a plurality of automated carriers, each of which is adapted to be remotely movable on an array of track sections, at least one input station by which bins may be introduced to the array of track sections, at least one processing station in communication with the array of track sections wherein objects may be moved between bins, and at least one output station by which bins may be removed from the array of track sections.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 6, 2021
Date of Patent:
November 14, 2023
Assignee:
Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc.
Inventors:
Thomas Wagner, Kevin Ahearn, John Richard Amend, Jr., Benjamin Cohen, Michael Dawson-Haggerty, William Hartman Fort, Christopher Geyer, Jennifer Eileen King, Thomas Koletschka, Michael Cap Koval, Kyle Maroney, Matthew T. Mason, William Chu-Hyon McMahan, Gene Temple Price, Joseph Romano, Daniel Smith, Siddhartha Srinivasa, Prasanna Velagapudi, Thomas Allen
Abstract: A boom working device has a boom, mounted on and extending from a boom support, on which an end effector mounting interface is formed. The boom is equipped with two linear output structures, each in engagement with one of two drive wheels of the boom support. With respect to the boom support, the boom is both pivotable around a main axis and also capable of linear movement at right-angles to the main axis. Through harmonised rotary actuation of the drive wheels an operating movement of the boom may be generated, consisting either of a pivoting movement alone or of a linear movement alone or of the pivoting movement with simultaneously superimposed linear movement.
Abstract: The invention concerns an automated storage and retrieval system (1), a storage container handling vehicle (3) and a method for operating such a system. The system (1) comprises one or more vehicle (3) configured to lift and move storage containers (106) stacked in the system (1). Each vehicle (3) comprises a storage container lifting device (16), a drive system (18) with a wheel arrangement (19, 20) configured to drive and maneuver the vehicle (3) along the track system (108), abase (31) onto which the wheel arrangement (19, 20) is connected, a rotational part (30) rotationally connected via a swivel device (32) to the base (31) and a rotational drive system (34) for rotating the rotational part (30) relative to the base (31).
Abstract: A stacking storage arrangement includes multiple container receiving spaces, a loading space arranged below the container receiving spaces, in which the container receiving spaces are held at a first height above the loading space; and a loading vehicle movable between the loading space and a transfer region. The loading vehicle includes a container seat with a container contact surface, and the container seat is movable in a lifting direction. In the container contact surface, the container seat further includes at least two notches opening to at least one side, and at least one transfer device includes transfer fingers configured to match the notches in the container contact surface.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 20, 2020
Date of Patent:
November 7, 2023
Assignee:
JUNGHEINRICH AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Inventors:
Volker Rollwa, Jörg Cavelius, Michael Becker, Markus Liebhaber
Abstract: An object handling and retrieving system and method are described. A storage system is described suitable for storing multiple product lines in an automated warehouse environment. The storage system includes a plurality of load handling devices disposed above a frame and independently moveable to access different stacks. The load handling device can retrieve and transport a target container to a sequencing and temporary storage portion having a sorting frame for taking delivery of the target container and moving it to an output port of the sorting frame.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 16, 2020
Date of Patent:
November 7, 2023
Assignee:
OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
Inventors:
Andrew John Ingram-Tedd, Lars Sverker Ture Lindbo, Pawel Karolinczak
Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for collecting and distributing material. In one embodiment, a collection system comprises at least one storage compartment comprising a plurality of regions. A bin is provided for transporting material from a first environment towards the storage compartment. The system comprises a diverter, wherein the diverter is dimensioned to distribute material among the plurality of regions within the storage compartment. The diverter has a first position during use in which at least a portion of the diverter is positioned below the bin when the bin is in a raised position for emptying material, and at least a portion of the diverter is positioned above the plurality of regions in the first position during use.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 15, 2022
Date of Patent:
October 31, 2023
Assignee:
SHRED-TECH CORPORATION
Inventors:
David Ken Yamamoto, Jerrett Timothy Bellamy, Matthew Allen Lambert
Abstract: A fleet for delivering packages comprising a first number of containers, each container comprising at least one compartment for receiving packages at a main distribution center. The container comprises a first attachment member on an outer surface and a second attachment member on an outer surface. The fleet comprises a second number of long-range transports, each long-range transport is configured to carry multiple containers from the main distribution center to an intermediate distribution center, each long-range transport comprising multiple first attachment receivers, whereby the multiple containers are attached to the long-range transports during transport from the main distribution center to the intermediate distribution center.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 15, 2021
Date of Patent:
October 31, 2023
Assignee:
Hall Labs LLC
Inventors:
Stephen Hall, David R. Hall, Jeff Duncan, Nathan Davis
Abstract: A container handling vehicle for picking up storage containers from a three-dimensional grid of an underlying storage system includes: a first set of wheels, arranged at opposite portions of a vehicle body of the container handling vehicle, for moving the vehicle along a first direction on a rail system of the grid; and a second set of wheels for moving the vehicle along a second direction on the rail system of the grid. The container handling vehicle further comprises a first section and a second section arranged side-by-side such that a centre point of a footprint of the first section (F1) is arranged off centre relative a centre point of the footprint of the vehicle body (FV), and a size ratio of the footprint of the first section (F1) relative a footprint of the second section (F2) is at least 2:1.
Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus including a frame, a drive section connected to the frame and including at least one independently controllable motor, at least two substrate transport arms connected to the frame and comprising arm links arranged for supporting and transporting substrates, and a mechanical motion switch coupled to the at least one independently controllable motor and the at least two substrate transport arms for effecting the extension and retraction of one of the at least two substrate transport arms while the other one of the at least two substrate transport arms remains in a substantially retracted configuration.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 2, 2019
Date of Patent:
October 31, 2023
Assignee:
Brooks Automation US, LLC
Inventors:
Christopher Hofmeister, Alexander G. Krupyshev, Krysztof A. Majczak, Martin Hosek, Jay Krishnasamy
Abstract: According to various aspects of the disclosure, a method may comprise: varying a drive force, by which a chamber valve of a vacuum chamber is held closed, when the vacuum chamber has been evacuated; and aerating the vacuum chamber after the variation of the drive force; transporting a substrate through the chamber valve when the chamber valve has been opened.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 11, 2020
Date of Patent:
October 31, 2023
Assignee:
VON ARDENNE ASSET GMBH & CO. KG
Inventors:
Mirko Loehnert, Christin Kretzschmar, Christoph Haeusler
Abstract: The present invention provides a method for handling the content of a catch from a fishing boat comprising the steps of providing a sorting table having crate handling platforms and installing crates on these platforms. The method also has the step of replacing a full crate with an empty crate and placing the full crates on a crate handling frame which frame can be secured within vertical storage containers.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 20, 2019
Date of Patent:
October 31, 2023
Inventors:
Roch Chiasson, Marius Duguay, Louis DeGrace, Wesley Stewart
Abstract: Methods and systems for improving the efficiency of an automated material handling system (AMHS) include providing an apparatus operatively coupled to a load port of a processing apparatus, where the apparatus is configured to remove a first work-in-process from the load port and to move the first work-in-process along a first direction to displace the first work-in-progress from the load port while a second work-in-progress is transferred to the load port from an AMHS vehicle along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, and transferring the first work-in-progress to an AMHS vehicle along the second direction. The methods and systems may be used for loading and unloading wafer storage containers, such as front opening unified pods (FOUPs), in a semiconductor fabrication facility.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 30, 2021
Date of Patent:
October 31, 2023
Assignee:
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
Abstract: According to embodiments disclosed herein, there is provided a delivery box system to deliver a commodity material. In various instances, a single auger configuration, a dual auger configuration, a vertical auger configuration and/or further configurations or combinations of configurations are contemplated as described. One or more auger facilitates the metered release of the commodity material and ameliorates jamming of the commodity material against aspects of the delivery box system.
Abstract: A system and method for picking items is disclosed. The system includes a grid-based storage area and an order assembly area. The system includes an array of presentation positions, the presentation positions being configured and adapted so as to present storage containers delivered to the presentation positions so as to enable picking of items contained therein.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 22, 2019
Date of Patent:
October 24, 2023
Assignee:
OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
Inventors:
Lars Sverker Ture Lindbo, Andrew John Ingram-Tedd