Abstract: A manipulator configured for transferring a block having a core, the manipulator includes an end effector including an elongated member including a tip; and a resilient member configured for assuming a first state in which the resilient member has a first hardness and first size and a second state in which the resilient member is configured for assuming a second state in which the resilient member has a second hardness and second size, the resilient member is disposed on the tip, wherein the elongated member is configured to be disposed such that the tip is disposed within the core and the resilient member is disposed in the first state before the resilient member is disposed in the second state to engage the core and the elongated member is moved to transfer the block.

Abstract: A control unit is provided to improve positioning of transporting devices to thereby allow transporting devices to be driven at faster speeds and/or accelerations with minimal positional errors allowing for a reduction in the spacing between transporting devices. A control unit is arranged to control movement of at least one transporting device for containers stored in a facility having a plurality of pathways arranged in cells so as to form a grid-like structure above the stacks which extends in a first direction and in a second direction. The control unit includes a receiving unit arranged to receive information from a first sensor mounted on the at least one transporting device, and a calculating unit arranged to calculate a position of the at least one transporting device based on the received information.

Abstract: A transporter includes a frame supported on wheels, a cab mounted on a front portion of the frame, and a bed mounted on the rear portion of the frame. The bed includes deck plates and supports mounting the deck plates on the frame. At least a rear end portion of the bed is raiseable and lowerable relative to the frame. The bed is sufficiently lightweight that the transporter has a hauling capacity of at least 10,000 lbs. and a fully loaded gross vehicle weight of no more than 26,000 lbs. At least portions of the bed may be made from high strength steel (HSS) such as ASTM A1011/1011M steel having a grade of 80 or higher. A ramp, which may also be made of HSS, may be attachable to the rear of the bed and may have longitudinally extending supports and slats that may be arranged in a herringbone pattern.

Abstract: The invention concerns a service vehicle (2) for movement on a rail system (108). The service vehicle (2) comprises a container vehicle handling part (8) for mechanical interacting with a container handling vehicle (300) operating on the rail system (108), an operational part (3) for controlling operations of the service vehicle (2) and caterpillar tracks (6) for allowing movement of the service vehicle (2) on the rail system (108) during operation.

Abstract: A system for connecting an implement to a machine. A universal adapter to connect implements with machines. A frame with brackets on one side to couple to lift arms and tilt operators on a machine such as an earthmoving vehicle. Brackets on the other side of the frame to detachably couple to the implement. A locking mechanism on the frame with operative handles to engage locking pins on the adapter with the implement between a release and locked position.

Abstract: The invention concerns a displacement mechanism (16) for a remotely operated vehicle (400,500,600,700), the displacement mechanism (16) being for raising and lowering wheels (25) onto a rail system (108) that the remotely operated vehicle (400,500,600,700) runs on. Furthermore, the invention concerns a remotely operated vehicle (400,500,600,700) comprising such a displacement mechanism (16), a method for raising and lowering the wheels of a remotely operated vehicle (400,500,600,700) comprising such a displacement mechanism (16) and an automated storage and retrieval system (1) comprising at least one remotely operated vehicle (400,500,600,700) comprising such a displacement mechanism (16).

Abstract: End effectors and methods for gripping a curvilinear sheet of material are disclosed herein. The curvilinear sheet of material defines a first sheet side having a curvilinear first side topography and a second sheet side having a curvilinear second side topography. The end effector includes a negative mating shaped first sheet-engaging surface configured to operatively support the first sheet side and having a curvilinear first sheet-engaging surface topography that corresponds to the curvilinear first side topography. The end effector also includes a second sheet-engaging surface configured to operatively support the second sheet side and having a curvilinear appropriately mating negative shaped second sheet-engaging surface topography that corresponds to the curvilinear second side topography. The end effector further includes an actuation mechanism configured to selectively transition the end effector between an open orientation and a gripping (converging) orientation.

Abstract: A barrier transfer machine includes a moveable chassis, an entry snout, an exit snout, a conveyor system, and a control system that aligns the entry snout with road barriers before the road barriers are picked up. The control system includes a barrier position sensor; an entry snout position sensor; and a processing system.

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 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.