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.

Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus including at least one load module including a load port on which a substrate container is located, a plurality of substrates being mountable on the substrate container; at least one loadlock module including a loadlock chamber directly connected to the substrate container, the loadlock chamber interchangeably having atmospheric pressure and vacuum pressure, a first transfer robot within the loadlock chamber, and a substrate stage within the loadlock chamber, the plurality of substrates being mountable on the substrate stage; a transfer module including a transfer chamber connected to the loadlock chamber, a second transfer robot within the transfer chamber, and a substrate aligner within the transfer chamber; and at least one process module including at least one process chamber connected to the transfer module.

Abstract: High density, robotic warehouse systems and processes may include one or more blocks of a storage system, each block including a plurality of floors, and each floor including a plurality of storage grid locations for respective totes. A plurality of first robotic drive units may transfer barges carrying totes between various processing stations and the storage system. A plurality of second robotic drive units may operate within the storage system and traverse the storage grid locations using a plurality of highway grids and elevators to move totes between barges and storage grid locations. The freely movable robotic drive units, barges, and totes enable high flexibility, modularity, scalability, and serviceability of the high density, robotic warehouse systems.

Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system comprises a rail system comprising a first set of parallel tracks arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel tracks arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of tracks form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane comprising a plurality of adjacent grid cells, each comprising a grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring tracks of the first set of tracks and a pair of neighboring tracks of the second set of tracks; and a plurality of stacks of storage containers arranged in storage columns located beneath the rail system. Each storage column is located vertically below a grid opening.

Abstract: A holding technology whereby an article, i.e., a subject to be held, can be stably held by increasing a contact area with respect to the article. An article holding device includes a holding main body, a suction mechanism, and a sandwiching mechanism. The sandwiching mechanism includes sandwiching arms, which come into contact with one side of the article, and a board-like sandwiching plate that comes into planar contact with the other side of the article.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to an assistive robot system. The assistive robot system includes a lifting mechanism, a movable arm assembly coupled to the lifting mechanism, a container tilting arm assembly, a processing device communicatively coupled to the lifting mechanism and the movable arm assembly, and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium in communication with the processing device. The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium causes the processing device to transmit a command to the lifting mechanism to cause the lifting mechanism to move the movable arm assembly such that the container tilting arm assembly makes contact with a container and transmits one or more signals to the movable arm assembly to cause the movable arm assembly to extend in a system longitudinal direction such that the container within the movable arm assembly is pivoted against the container tilting assembly to tilt the container within the movable arm assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a power-taking device for a rail guide vehicle. The rail guide vehicle includes a chassis travelling mechanism and a loading mechanism including a fixing plate, a power plate, an extension plate and a shifting fork, the fixing plate is fixed to the chassis travelling mechanism, the power plate and the extension plate can be translated, and the shifting fork is coupled to, can be translated in synchronization with, and can be rotated with respect to the extension plate. The power-taking device includes: a first conductive part, fixed to the fixing plate; a second conductive part, fixed to the power plate; and a third conductive part, fixed to the extension plate. When the first, second and third conductive parts are in contact, the power-taking device is turned on.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are multi-turn drive assemblies, systems and methods of use thereof. The multi-turn drive assemblies enable a robot link member to have a maximum rotation of at least 360 degrees about an axis. The multi-turn drive assemblies can be incorporated into a robot arm for enabling 360 degrees rotation of one or more link members about an axis. The robot arm may be located in a transfer chamber of an electronic device processing system. Also disclosed are methods of controlling the multi-turn drive assemblies and related robots.

Abstract: A vehicle for receiving and delivering granular material, such as agricultural seeds, includes a frame supporting a container defining an open top chamber having a bottom outlet. An elongated conveyor is supported by a system which includes a first support arm having one end pivotally connected to a side wall of the container for multiple directional movement and a second support arm pivotably connected to the opposite end of the first support arm. The opposite end of the second support arm supports an intermediate portion of the conveyor near its center of gravity and in suspended relation for tilting and rotating the conveyor. Power actuators are connected to rotate and pivot the first support arm to position the conveyor in many selected positions including the conveyor inlet under the outlet of the chamber, a storage position and a position between horizontal and substantially inclined for filling other containers.

Abstract: A housing for a hydraulic actuator unit of a pallet truck is disclosed. The housing includes a lift motor mount for mounting a lift motor to the housing and a pump mount for mounting a hydraulic pump to the housing, and couples the pump to the lift motor when each are mounted. The housing includes a hydraulic cylinder with a cylinder rod, which is positioned based on the fluid level in the hydraulic cylinder; a reservoir to store fluid for actuation of the cylinder rod; and one or more fluid galleries that extend, internal to the housing, among the fluid reservoir, the pump mount, and the hydraulic cylinder. A traction motor mount mounts the traction motor, which is coupled to a steering unit of the pallet truck and controls actuation of a traction wheel of the pallet truck when the traction motor is mounted to the traction motor mount.

Abstract: In a substrate transfer mechanism, a moving body moves horizontally, and a support body is provided at the moving body to rotate about a vertical shaft. A first rotary shaft and a second rotary shaft are disposed vertically. A first arm forms a first substrate support region for supporting a first substrate, the first arm having a base portion connected to the first rotary shaft and a tip portion rotating at an outer side of the support body. A second arm forms a second substrate support region for supporting a second substrate, the second arm having a base portion connected to the second rotary shaft and a tip portion rotating the outer side of the support body. Further, an elevating mechanism is configured to raise and lower the second rotary shaft depending on a direction of the second arm with respect to the support body.

Abstract: A work tool includes a bucket and a hydraulic actuator that pivots the bucket on a frame. The loaded bucket applies a maximum compressive force Fc against a resilient bump stop, which reacts a proportion of the applied force as a restoring force Fr against the actuator. A major proportion of the applied maximum compressive force Fc is reacted between the piston and cylinder, while the restoring force Fr is arranged to be greater than the force Fe applied by the self weight of the empty bucket, such that (Fc>2·Fr), and (Fr>Fe).