Abstract: A substrate processing device for processing a substrate, comprising: an image sensor for detecting positions of two corners on at least one diagonal line of a substrate when the substrate is moved to a predetermined position; an illuminating device that can be disposed so as to illuminate the two corners of the substrate on an opposite side of the substrate at the predetermined position to the image sensor; and a control device for determining the position of the substrate, based on the positions of the two corners detected by the image sensor.

Abstract: A pallet conveyor (70), in particular a people conveyor, comprises a plurality of pallets (8) interconnected to form an endless pallet band which is moveable in a conveying direction, and a pallet chain (50) drivingly coupled to the pallet band. The pallet chain (50) comprises a plurality of pallet chain links (42; 44); the pitch of the pallet band is larger than the pitch of the pallet chain (50); and each pallet is (8) non-rotatably connected to or integrally formed with at least one of the pallet chain links (42; 44).

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes transport mechanisms 121a to 127a, a sensor 40 for detecting whether a wafer W is held by the transport mechanisms 121a to 127a, a sensor controller 82 for controlling the sensor 40, a position information acquiring part 81 for acquiring position information of the substrate W in the transport passage, a detection result acquiring part 83 for acquiring a detection result from the sensor 40, and a determination processor 84 for determining whether the detection result of the sensor and the position information are consistent with each other. When it is determined that the detection result of the sensor 40 is inconsistent with the position information, the sensor controller 82 makes the sensor 40 retry to detect whether the substrate W is held.

Abstract: An automated warehousing system for use in a warehouse having a storage racks includes drawers partitioned into multiple compartments to contain different parcels, the drawers being at designated locations of individual cells in the storage racks and adapted to be opened and closed. The system also has a plurality of drones configured to identify a designated one of the drawers at a designated location and a designated one compartment of the designated one drawer. The drones have gripper heads translatable relative to opened drawers to retrieve parcels therefrom. The system further has a communication subsystem communicating with the drones to control their flying and also to control their gripper heads relative to opened drawers and communicating with individual cells for opening and closing drawers as drones approach and depart the selected individual cells.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an automated cross-dock management system configured to optimize moves on a cross-dock. The automated cross-dock management system uses inbound manifest data to calculate ordered move instructions for all inbound movable platforms, inbound modular decks, and inbound freight. The ordered move instructions can be assigned to be carried out by manual conveyance vehicles or by automated guided vehicles based upon a plurality of criteria. The automated cross-dock management system is also able to detect damaged freight on the cross-dock using a combination of streams from video cameras.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for individual feeding of fish into a processing line. Such method and device may, for instance, be used for receiving, gilling and gutting freshly caught fish in a processing line on board a fishing vessel. For instance, the in-feeding apparatus and method may be used to increase the value of the fish by speeding up the time until the fish is chilled for storing.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems for fulfilling consumer orders are provided. A stocking station includes at least one robotic stocking arm configured to unload a product from a first receptacle and to place the unloaded product onto a storage shelf, and a first picking station includes a first robotic picking arm configured to pick a first product from the storage shelf and to load the first product picked from the storage shelf into a second receptacle for delivery to a consumer. An empty receptacle placement station includes at least one robotic placing arm configured to place an empty second receptacle onto a packing conveyor configured to transport the empty second receptacle toward the first picking station for loading of the first product into the empty second receptacle. An electronic inventory management device transmits a signal the empty receptacle placement station and the first robotic picking arm.

Abstract: A system to select and reposition inventory items on one or more shelving units is disclosed. The system can include a robotic positioning system (RPS) to move inventory items on a shelf to the front of the shelf, or off the shelf, to facilitate selection, delivery, and restocking of the inventory item. The RPS can include a movement system to enable it to position itself behind a particular inventory item on a shelf. The RPS can also include a positioner to enable the RPS to move the inventory item backward and forward on the shelf. The RPS can be mounted on a free-standing frame to enable movement in two axes and repositioning of inventory items in a third axis. The RPS can also be centrally mounted in a shelving unit and can move vertically and rotate about a single axis to reposition inventory items radially.

Abstract: A chute system for a building including: an inlet, through which an item is received; a chute, coupled to the inlet, and an outlet, coupled to the chute. The outlet includes a sealing surface, configured to form a seal with an opening of a receptacle into which the item is to be received. The sealing surface is configured to enable a seal to be formed with different receptacles having different sized or shaped openings.

Abstract: Techniques are described that enable robotic picking systems to locate and pick boxes from an unstructured pallet using computer vision and/or one or more “exploratory picks” to determine the sizes and locations of boxes on the pallet.

Abstract: Various automated fiber placement systems and methods are disclosed. The system can determine steerable paths for the application of a composite material over highly contoured surfaces. The system can determine when a course trajectory would violate a steering limitation (e.g., a maximum bendability of the composite material) and can adjust the trajectory to avoid such violations. The adjustment can create gaps between adjacent courses, which can have a generally flared peripheral shape. The system can fill such gaps with subsequent courses of the composite material. Thus, the system can automatically apply composite material to highly contoured surfaces while also avoiding violation of the steering limitations.

Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage space with storage locations defined therein, an automated transport system connected to the storage space and configured to transport store units for storage in the storage locations and retrieval from the storage locations, and a control system disposed for managing throughput performance of the automated storage and retrieval system, the control system being operably coupled to the automated transport system and having more than one separate and distinct control sections each configured for managing throughput performance with respect to a common group of the storage locations, wherein at least one of the control sections manages aspects of throughput performance of the common group independent of another of the control sections.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system may include at least one optical sensor configured to capture optical data associated with a waste product and a processor coupled to the at least one optical sensor. The processor may be configured to determine information about the waste product based on the optical data and to selectively direct the waste product to a selected destination in response to determining the information.

Abstract: A structure installed at a station can include an interference member held above a mobile drive unit area of the station. The interference member can be positioned to allow an inventory holder and a mobile drive unit to pass underneath. The interference member can also be positioned to contact a topside of the inventory holder to prevent the inventory holder from tipping into a worker area of the station that is adjacent to the mobile drive unit area.

Abstract: Mailpiece manufacturing, distribution and communication system comprising at least one production center, a production software/server for generating and sending production orders to at least one processing equipment over a network for printing documents and assembling the printed documents in a mailpiece, a distribution center for delivering the mailpiece to a customer and a domain server for interactive customer communication, the mailpiece comprising a single barcode containing a web page link for accessing the domain server and comprising processing equipment control codes or a mailpiece identifier for controlling the at least one processing equipment and for interactive customer communication.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an inventory item management system, transporting robots and the method for transporting inventory holder, wherein the transporting robot comprises a lifting unit and a horizontal rotation unit, the lifting unit comprises a first power unit, a lifting shaft and a first supporting part, and the first power unit configured to drive the first supporting part to move along the lifting shaft; the horizontal rotation unit comprises a second supporting part and a second power unit which drives the second supporting part, and the second supporting part and the first supporting part are connected rotatably. The lifting unit has a hollow hole which is disposed in vertical direction internal to the lifting unit, and the lifting shaft is located on one side of the hollow hole.

Abstract: A control unit performs a first loading control and a second loading control. The first loading control is performed to control a loading operation unit to load a plurality of target articles onto a first supporting member according to arrangement information. The second loading control is performed to execute a second determination process based on at least one of: the arrangement information; detection information obtained by the detection unit; and information regarding a loading area, to determine whether or not the remaining articles are loadable onto the first supporting member, and to control the loading operation unit to load the remaining articles onto the first supporting member if the remaining articles are determined as being loadable in the second determination process.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for using nonwoven materials for evacuation slides, life rafts, life vests, and other life-saving inflatable devices. The nonwoven materials have a substrate layer with continuous filaments formed in various directions.

Abstract: A chamber conveyor belt machine having a machine frame, a chamber cover with two or more columns and a lifting device for lifting the chamber cover. The lifting device may include a safety system that includes a latching rail that cooperates with a latching hook disposed on at least one of the two columns. The safety system may include one or more sensors for determining whether the lifting device is working correctly or is in a failure condition. The safety system may prevent the chamber conveyor belt machine from operating if a failure condition is sensed.

Abstract: Technology for optimizing carton induction in an order fulfillment picking system is described. In an example embodiment, a method, implemented using one or more computing devices, may include receiving scan data reflecting status of cartons being conveyed by a conveying system, receiving confirmatory input reflecting pick completion for a subset of the cartons being conveyed by the conveying system, and generating an estimated time of arrival for one or more cartons not yet inducted into the conveying system based on the scan data and the confirmatory input. The method may further include generating a load forecast based on the estimated time of arrival and inducting one or more of the one or more cartons into the conveying system based on the load forecast.