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, arranged at opposite portions of the vehicle body, for moving the vehicle along a second direction on the rail system of the grid. The second direction is being perpendicular to the first direction. The vehicle body includes walls on all sides forming a footprint defined by horizontal peripheries in the first and second directions of the vehicle body.

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 for moving the vehicle along an X direction on a rail system of the grid; and a second set of wheels for moving the vehicle along a Y direction on the rail system of the grid. The Y direction is perpendicular to the X direction. The container handling vehicle includes vehicle body including sides. The vehicle body has a vehicle body footprint defined by horizontal peripheries in the X and Y directions of the vehicle body and includes a first section and a second section. The first section has a first footprint and the second section has a second footprint. The first and second footprints are defined by horizontal peripheries in the X and Y directions of the first and second sections respectively.

Abstract: A vehicle restraint system that includes a carriage and a hook that is moveable relative to the carriage. The hook is moveable between an engaged or extended position wherein the hook interferes with translation of vehicle relative to the vehicle restraint system and a disengaged or retracted position wherein the vehicle can be associated with or removed from interaction with the vehicle restraint system. The hook is secured to the carriage via an eccentric pivot assembly such that translation of the hook relative to the carriage includes an least partially lateral translation of the hook relative to the carriage thereby improving the repeatability associated with operation of the restraint system to securely engage and disengage respective vehicles from the restraint system without independent manipulation of the position of the vehicle relative to the restraint system.

Abstract: The invention concerns an automated storage and retrieval system, a storage container handling vehicle and a method for operating such a system. The system comprises a plurality of vehicles, where each vehicle comprises a vehicle body (30), a thereto connected wheel assembly configured to guide the vehicle along the track system, a container picking device (4) for releasably attaching to a storage container, comprising one or more pivot arms (5) having a first end pivotally connected to the vehicle body at pivot point (PP). The configuration of the container picking device is such that it is movable in a pivoting motion of the pivot arm about the pivot point between a first, lifting position enabling the container picking device to lift at least one storage container from a position outside the horizontal extent of the vehicle body and a second, transport position enabling the container picking device to hold the at least one storage container at least partly inside the horizontal extent of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A storage system includes a bin storing grid for storing storage bins in columns of the grid, a base with rails provided on top of the grid, and a vehicle configured to move vertically along the rails in a vehicle operating space. The system includes a charging station assembly for charging the rechargeable power sources of the vehicle. The charging station assembly includes a plurality of charging stations located above each other. Each charging station includes a power source carrier for carrying one of the respective power sources. A charging station support is supporting the charging stations in relation to the base. A transportation device is connected to the base for vertical displacement of the charging stations in relation to the base. A holding device is configured to selectively hold one of the charging stations at an exchange location in which the power source carrier of the one charging station is a predetermined height above the base.

Abstract: Goods storage and retrieval systems and materials handling vehicles are provided. The goods storage and retrieval system includes a multilevel warehouse racking system; a materials handling vehicle comprising a mast assembly, a picking attachment, and vehicle-based cart engagement hardware; a mobile storage cart; and a transporter comprising transporter-based engagement hardware. The transporter-based engagement hardware enables the transporter to engage, transport, and disengage the mobile storage cart. The vehicle-based cart engagement hardware is coupled to the mast assembly to (i) engage and disengage the mobile storage cart and (ii) transport the mobile storage cart to multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The mast assembly and the picking attachment are configured to access multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The picking attachment is configured to transfer totes between the multilevel warehouse racking system and the mobile storage cart.

Abstract: A lifting system for a vehicle including a powered winch, a telescopic hoist, jib, or arm and an attachment means on the vehicle for allowing the hoist arm to be pivotally adjusted. The attachment means is provided as a mounting plate which is mounted beneath the vehicle. The mounting plate includes receiving sections that receive a bottom distal end of the telescopic hoist arm. The hoist arm then upwardly extends from the bottom of the mounting plate and is supported to the vehicle using straps. Furthermore, the winch is provided as an integral part of the vehicle which is then fed through to the hoist arm an received by a pulley member located on a distal top end of the hoist arm. The winch is then secured to an anchor which is adapted to receive a load to be transported by the lifting system.

Abstract: Component-mounting system includes multiple component mounting machines disposed along a board conveyance direction; feeder storage container for storing multiples of feeders, which are capable of being attached/detached to and from component mounting machines, in each stage among multiple stages; first feeder moving robot capable of exchanging feeder between the lowest stage among multiple stages of feeder storage container and component mounting machine; and second feeder moving robot capable of exchanging feeder between the lowest stage among multiple stages of feeder storage container and the other stages.

Abstract: A vehicle on which a container (1) is mounted for transporting materials, said container comprising a movable partition (10) extending transversely inside the container. The vehicle comprises a motor (16) pulling on a pair of cables (14a, 14b), the front ends of which are connected to the partition (10) on either side, in order to pull the partition (10) towards the rear of the container so as to unload the materials. The cables run along the side walls (4a, 4b) of the container, at a distance from a bottom of the container. The side walls (4a, 4b) of the container have projections (24a, 24b) each extending towards the inside of the container and overhanging the cables so that said cables are protected from falling materials during loading of the container from above.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for storing items is provided which may be applied, for example, in the storage of postal packages and the like. The size of an item to be stored is detected and the item is placed inside a storage structure in sufficient, but not excessive, space. In the arrangement and method, at least two, preferably three, dimensions of the item in directions perpendicular to each other are considered to determine the space in which to store it. Correspondingly, the storage structure of the arrangement comprises a plurality of vertical racks in which rack groups are present in which compartments of different width, and possibly of different depth, can be defined. The racks can possibly be mounted on rotatable platforms to further increase the capacity of the storage structure.

Abstract: An intelligent automatic mold-exchanging system and an intelligent automatic mold-exchanging method are provided. The system include a mold storage unit, a mold assembly and disassembly unit, a mold temporary storage unit, a temporary storage mold pick-and-place unit, a plurality of processing machines, a plurality of mold position preparation units, an exchange mold pick-and-place unit, and a central control unit. The central control unit is electrically connected to the mold storage unit, the mold assembly and disassembly unit, the mold temporary storage unit, the temporary storage mold pick-and-place unit, the processing machines, the mold position preparation units, and the exchange mold pick-and-place unit. The mold storage unit, the mold assembly and disassembly unit, the mold temporary storage unit, the temporary storage mold pick-and-place unit, the processing machines, the mold position preparation units, and the exchange mold pick-and-place unit are disposed on a same production line.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a handler device for handling substrates during semiconductor production, comprising a handling unit having a substrate facing side to be directed to the substrate to be handled, said handling unit being provided with at least three substrate edge grippers protruding from the substrate facing side of the handling unit. The substrate edge grippers are configured to grip the edge of a substrate to be handled, wherein the at least three substrate edge grippers comprise: at least two controlled moveable positioning grippers for gripping the edge of the substrate at two controlled positions and at least one clamping gripper for exerting a controlled clamping force onto the edge of the substrate at least partially directed towards the positioning grippers. The handler further comprises individually controllable actuators connected to the handling unit for independent control of each of the controlled moveable positioning grippers.

Abstract: A pizza transfer tool incorporating a vertical shaft; an upper member mounted to the vertical shaft for upward and downward motions; a lower member mounted to the vertical shaft for upward and downward motions; a circumferential array of upper pivot arms having proximal ends pivotally mounted to the upper member; a circumferential array of lower pivot arms having proximal ends pivotally mounted to the lower member; a circumferential array of linking members having inner ends and outer ends, wherein each outer end is pivotally mounted to a distal end of one of the upper pivot arms, and wherein each inner end is pivotally mounted to a distal end of one of the lower pivot arms; and a circumferential array of spatulas attached to the linking member's inner ends.

Abstract: A container-handling vehicle includes a vehicle body and a lifting device for lifting a storage container from a grid. The lifting device includes a lifting band drive assembly connected to the vehicle body, a horizontal lifting frame for releasable connection to a storage container, and four lifting bands connecting the lifting band drive assembly to the lifting frame. The lifting band drive assembly includes a lifting shaft assembly having a lifting shaft and at least one motor for rotating the lifting shaft. The lifting shaft includes a first end section and a second end section. Two of the lifting bands are connected at each of the first and second end sections. The lifting shaft assembly includes at least one electrical insulating element arranged such that the lifting bands connected at the first end section is electrically insulated from the lifting bands connected at the second end section.

Abstract: In a picking mechanism for picking four or more columnar objects, when the plurality of objects have been picked, the objects are respectively held by holding member and supported by guide members while arranged on a base member in a plurality of rows, wherein a total sectional area of the guide members provided in regions of the base member that are each surrounded by circumferences of four circles serving as projections of four objects is smaller than a total sectional area of the guide members provided in regions of the base member that are each surrounded by one or two sides of a virtual rectangle, the virtual rectangle being formed so as to surround all of a plurality of circles serving as the projections of all of the plurality of objects while contacting the circumferences of the plurality of circles, and two or one of the projections.

Abstract: A cargo handling system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the cargo handling system includes a first rail defining an upward facing surface and a downward facing surface and a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction; a platform configured for rolling engagement with the first rail; and a first tug configured to propel the platform along the first rail in the longitudinal direction, the first tug comprising a power drive unit having a first drive wheel and a guide unit having a first guide wheel.

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.

Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus having a frame, a drive section and an articulated arm. The drive section has at least one motor module that is selectable for placement in the drive section from a number of different interchangeable motor modules. Each having a different predetermined characteristic. The articulated arm has articulated joints. The arm is connected to the drive section for articulation. The arm has a selectable configuration selectable from a number of different arm configurations each having a predetermined configuration characteristic. The selection of the arm configuration is effected by selection of the at least one motor module for placement in the drive section.

Abstract: A transport device is for carrying and moving objects from one location to another. In an embodiment, the transport device includes a chassis and at least four motor-driven omnidirectional wheels arranged on the chassis. The chassis is configured to adapt the wheelbase and the track gauge of the omnidirectional wheels according to the size of the object. A corresponding method for operating such transport device is further specified in an embodiment. The embodiments of the application lie in the universal usage of the transport device for nearly all sizes and shapes of an object.

Abstract: A cradle and guide system for a refuse vehicle has at least one track member mounted on a bumper of a refuse vehicle. The at least one track member is able to deflect horizontally to compensate for misalignment. At least one guide member is mounted to a front loading fork of the refuse vehicle. The at least one guide member contacts the at least one track member to limit horizontal movement of the front loading fork with respect to the refuse vehicle during misalignment. The at least one track member returns to its original position to align the front loading forks.