Abstract: A method for transporting a blister strip of ophthalmic lenses: only one single blister strip is provided at a start location and one magazine compartment of two magazine compartments contains n blister strips while the other magazine compartment contains n+1 blister strips, the single buster strip is picked up at the start location by one of the gripper units of a first gripper and is transported into that magazine compartment containing the n blister strips, by moving the first gripper to that magazine compartment containing the n blister strips and releasing the single blister strip from the first gripper into that magazine compartment, or by moving the first gripper to a hand-over station and releasing the single blister strip from the first gripper into the hand-over station, transporting the single blister strip from the hand-over station into that magazine compartment containing the n blister strips using a second gripper.

Abstract: Disclosed are a substrate treating apparatus and a substrate transporting method. The substrate treating apparatus includes a first transport mechanism. The first transport mechanism includes a hand. A hand includes a base, a suction portion, a first receiver, a second receiver, and a receiver driving unit. The suction portion is attached to the base. The suction portion flows gas along a top face of a substrate, and sucks the substrate upward without contacting the substrate. The first receiver and the second receiver are supported on the base. The first receiver and the second receiver are disposed below the substrate sucked by the suction portion. The first receiver and the second receiver can receive a back face of the substrate. The receiver driving unit moves the second receiver with respect to the base. The receiver driving unit causes the second receiver to access the first receiver and to move away from the first receiver.

Abstract: A material handling vehicle. The material handling vehicle including a vehicle body, an operator compartment, and a mast. The mast has a mounting platform, a first support member coupled to the mounting platform, a second support member coupled to the mounting platform, and a detection system coupled to the mast. The mast is coupled to the vehicle body at a frontward location relative to the operator compartment. The position of the mast on the vehicle body prevents the mast from impeding a field of view of an operator positioned in the operator compartment.

Abstract: Autonomous vehicle (AV) systems are disclosed that may be deployed as a single vehicular unit or multiple units that operate synchronously. An AV system may deploy a flexible and scalable number of autonomous vehicles of different sizes, capacities, and propulsion systems that either transport smaller or lighter goods alone or connect with other vehicular units to form a larger, higher capacity vehicle. Each of these units is configured to navigate independently, as well as synchronously with companion units. For example, a unit may be paired with one, two, or three or more other units to provide greater capacity in which to carry goods.

Abstract: An extendable lift assembly, comprising a sliding rail assembly, including a plate and a knuckle arm pivotably connected to the plate, and a first platform pivotably connected to the knuckle arm.

Abstract: An order fulfillment and delivery system for autonomously fulfilling orders while en route to a delivery location. The system includes a delivery vehicle having a storage area, a robotic system at least partially disposed within the storage area and one or more processors. The one or more processors being configured to receive an order of one or more inventory items, generate container retrieval instructions for the robotic system to perform based on the received order and transmit to the robotic system the container retrieval instructions to perform. The robot system includes a container retrieval device movable in at least two dimensions to engage and move a container, based upon the container retrieval instructions, from a first location within the delivery vehicle to a second location within the delivery vehicle.

Abstract: Aspects of unbinding apparatus, methods, and systems are disclosed. One aspect disclosed herein is an apparatus for unbinding a stacked load of logs. For example, the apparatus may comprise: a plurality of support arms movable toward a plurality of side surfaces of the stacked load, each support arm of the plurality of support arms comprising a guide surface and being: adjustable to abut against one or more side surfaces of the plurality of side surfaces; and independently movable relative to the plurality of support arms in one or more directions responsive to a physical shape of the one or more side surfaces to establish a formfitting abutment between the plurality of support arms and the plurality of side surfaces. In this example, once the formfitting abutment is established, the guide surfaces of the plurality of support arms may be positioned and operative to guide a log released from the stacked load along an escape path over and away from an unbinding area adjacent the stacked load.

Abstract: A loading system includes one or more adjusting mechanisms configured to adjust a position of the container held by the container holder, a controller configured to control operation of the one or more adjusting mechanisms, a transfer mechanism configured to move a loadable object into a holding space of the container with the container held by the container holder to transfer the loadable object to the container, and one or more position detectors. The one or more position detectors are located to detect a relative position of a loadable object when the loadable object is held by the transfer mechanism and is in the holding space.

Abstract: A transportation container is provided with a container body constructed of a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, and two sidewalls forming a front opening for loading or unloading a reticle pod into or out of the container body; a lid for opening and closing the front opening; and a lift plate above the container body configured to connect to a carrier of an overhead hoist transfer (OHT) system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing debris from job sites are disclosed. Carts for receiving the debris are also disclosed. Each cart has a base, a plurality of wheels extending downwardly from the base relative to a vertical axis, and a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the base. The walls and the base of each cart cooperate to define a debris-receiving space. The carts can be engaged by a lifting apparatus that rotates along an arcuate path to position the carts in an unloading position.

Abstract: Various carrier ring designs and configurations to control an amount of deposition at a wafer's front side and bevel edge are provided. The carrier ring designs can control the amount of deposition at various locations of the wafer while deposition is performed on the wafer's back side, with no deposition desired on the front side of the wafer. These locations include front side, edge, and back side of bevel; and front and back side of the wafer. Edge profiles of the carrier rings are designed to control flow of process gases, flow of front side purge gas, and plasma effects. In some designs, through holes are added to the carrier rings to control gas flows. The edge profiles and added features can reduce or eliminate deposition at the wafer's front side and bevel edge.

Abstract: A side storage pod includes an outer enclosure having a sealing surface configured to couple to an EFEM and a side storage pod chamber having a body coupled to vertically-spaced storage members. Each of the vertically-spaced storage members is configured to support a corresponding substrate within the body. The side storage pod further includes a removable door. The removable door and the body are to seal relative to each other responsive to the removable door being in a closed position. A load-unload robot of the EFEM is to access the vertically-spaced storage members responsive to the removable door being in an open position. An environment within the side storage pod chamber is to be controlled to be one or more of: at first environmental conditions responsive to the removable door being in the closed position; or at second environmental conditions responsive to the removable door being in the open position.

Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes an automated storage and retrieval grid, a container accessing station, a delivery rail system, and a delivery vehicle operating on the delivery rail system.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus are provided for retrieving an object from a multi-depth object storage. The method includes retrieving, via a shuttle, at least a first object from a first depth of a storage location and a second object from a second depth of the storage location. The first depth is less than the second depth, such that the first object positioned at the first depth interferes with retrieval of the second object positioned at the second depth. The method also includes manipulating the first object and the second object, such that the first object is positioned to be disposed into the storage location while the second object remains disposed on the shuttle. The method further includes disposing the first object into the storage location while the second object remains on the shuttle. A corresponding apparatus is also provided.

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.

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).

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.