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: 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: 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: 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 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: A hopper-in-frame for transporting granular proppant material, such as oil well sands subjected to fracturing, having a top loading through a hatch in the roof and lateral gravity discharge opening at the level of the hopper floor and not below the hopper through a lower side discharge opening where the load asymmetry is compensated for by the inclusion of an asymmetric roof that includes at least a portion of the roof asymmetrically lowered, such as a sloping roof or sloping to the side of the wall of download. The hopper-in-frame is supported and delimited by a frame that in turn is compatible to be incorporated in intermodal cargo containers.

Abstract: A component feeding device includes a tape lead-in mechanism that leads a component storage tape into a tape traveling path. A pair of tape holding portions are coupled to an operating lever such that the pair of tape holding portions are allowed to shift in posture between a holding posture in which the pair of tape holding portions are able to hold the component storage tape and a hold releasing posture in which the pair of tape holding portions release their hold on the component storage tape. As a result of turning together with the turned operating lever, the pair of tape holding portions shift in position between a send-off enabling position and a send-off disabling position at which the component storage tape is released from a state of being sent off. At the send-off disabling position, the pair of tape holding portions takes the hold releasing posture.

Abstract: A modular fork assembly for a pallet truck includes a discrete elongate body, a discrete load wheel module, and a discrete fork tip that may be detachably connected by the same or different types of interlocking mechanisms that are adapted to inhibit sheer forces. The load wheel module includes a frame and a load wheel assembly that includes a load wheel that is operatively connected to the frame.

Abstract: A device and method for alignment of a first contact surface of a first substrate with a second contact surface of a second substrate which can be held on a second platform includes first X-Y positions of first alignment keys located along the first contact surface, and second X-Y positions of second alignment keys which correspond to the first alignment keys and which are located along the second contact surface. The first contact surface can be aligned based on the first X-Y positions in the first alignment position and the second contact surface can be aligned based on the second X-Y positions in the second alignment position.

Abstract: A package lift assembly for a delivery vehicle includes a plurality of rods that define at least one shelf. The package lift assembly further includes upper and lower rails. An alteration assembly is operably coupled to the upper and lower rails. Vertical guides are operably coupled to the alteration assembly. A platform is operably coupled to the vertical guides and include a central receiving member. At least a portion of the plurality of rods are selectively disposed within the central receiving member. A motor assembly is operably coupled to the central receiving member and the vertical guides. The motor assembly and the alteration assembly cooperate to translate the platform along the vertical guides and translate the central receiving member between a retrieval position and a holding position.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of intelligent household appliances, and more particularly, to a method for controlling an article delivery device, the method including: detecting whether an article delivery device is in a wireless charging area, and charging the article delivery device according to a battery power of the article delivery device, controlling the article delivery device to be loaded according to a received user instruction and a target position after the battery power of the article delivery device reaches a set threshold value, and controlling the article delivery device to move to the target position after the article delivery device is loaded.

Abstract: A substrate processing system including at least two vertically stacked transport chambers, each of the vertically stacked transport chambers including a plurality of openings arranged to form vertical stacks of openings configured for coupling to vertically stacked process modules, at least one of the vertically stacked transport chambers includes at least one transport chamber module arranged for coupling to another transport chamber module to form a linear transport chamber and another of the at least two stacked transport chambers including at least one transport chamber module arranged for coupling to another transport chamber module to form another linear transport chamber, and a transport robot disposed in each of the transport chamber modules, where a joint of the transport robot is locationally fixed along a linear path formed by the respective linear transport chamber.

Abstract: A pallet truck according to the present application includes a front frame, a rear frame, a lifting component, two fork bodies, a guide bar, a transmission device, and a load-bearing wheel assembly. The distance between the fork bodies can be adjusted by using the side-shifting driving component, thereby providing different fork distances and significantly improving the adaptability. During the adjusting process, the transmission device can switch the load-bearing wheel assembly from the longitudinal rolling state to the lateral rolling state, thereby avoiding wear of the wheels, which is beneficial to improving the overall life of the device and reducing the maintenance cost. In addition, the transmission device is pushed out as the rear frame is lifted, and thus the operation process is simple and reliable.

Abstract: A control unit that controls a transport apparatus executes selection control to select one accommodation portion as a selected accommodation portion, movement control to control the transport apparatus so as to move a transport support portion to a corresponding position, determination control to determine whether or not a detection target portion is detected by a detecting portion, transfer control to control the transport apparatus so as to transfer an article from the transport support portion to an accommodation support member, and update setting control to set the selected accommodation portion and related accommodation portions as prohibited accommodation portions if it is determined, in the determination control, that the detection target portion is not detected, and after the update setting control, the control unit again executes the selection control to newly select a selected accommodation portion, and executes the movement control so as to move the transport support portion to a corresponding pos

Abstract: A stocker includes a transporter that travels through a traveling space within a stocker and transports an article, a pair of rails that flank the traveling space extend in parallel or substantially in parallel in a horizontal direction, platforms movable along the pair of rails, and a housing provided on a stocker outer side of a door that separates an inside and an outside of the stocker, and that houses the platforms. The pair of rails extend from the inside of the stocker to the housing through an opening directly under the door. At least one of the platforms includes a fence in an upright standing manner and an upper end of the fence is higher than an upper end of the opening. The platform that includes the fence extends across the inside of the stocker and the outside of the stocker via the opening while the fence is arranged on a stocker inner side.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a chassis, a body coupled to the chassis, and a lift assembly coupled to at least one of the chassis or the body. The lift assembly includes a first lift arm and a second lift arm. The first lift arm includes a first arm portion, a second arm portion interfacing with the first arm portion, a first actuator positioned to facilitate repositioning the second arm portion relative to the first arm portion, and a second actuator positioned to pivot the first arm portion. The second lift arm includes a third arm portion, a fourth arm portion interfacing with the third arm portion, a third actuator positioned to facilitate repositioning the fourth arm portion relative to the third arm portion, and a fourth actuator positioned to pivot the second arm portion.

Abstract: A grain spreader wherein grain received in the hopper is directed to spreader arms by a spreader cone. The spreader cone has a convergent cone and a divergent cone. The spreader cone has a center opening that allows a first portion of the grain collecting in the convergent cone to pass through and fall through the underside of the divergent cone. The grain spreader further includes support springs that lift the spreader cone upwards into the hopper when the spreader cone is lightly loaded. A center flow choke is configured to throttle the flow of grain through the center opening to partially close the center opening in low grain flow conditions, wherein the center flow choke is mounted to the hopper body such that up and down movement of the spreader cone moves the center opening into or out of engagement with the center flow choke.

Abstract: A cargo unloading system is described. It provides more efficient intermodal transportation by transferring cargo such as granulates, brans, powders or solids placed inside a shipping container through tubes with internal threads to the next transport mode automatically and in a very short period of time. The system is made up of the cargo container, a mechanical unloading system with motors actuated to move screws and an independent hydraulic/electric unit. The system can be mounted on a road-vehicle, ship, aircraft or stationary base, and it may also be self-propelled.

Abstract: A wafer processing system has a transport vacuum chamber for handling a frame assembly under vacuum conditions, at least one vacuum cassette elevator load lock for housing a cassette and adjusting a vertical position of the cassette under vacuum conditions, and at least one wafer processing module in vacuum communication with the transport vacuum chamber. An actuating assembly changes guide members from an expanded configuration to a contracted configuration to reduce a first cross-sectional dimension of a frame assembly receiving area and to reduce a second cross-sectional dimension of the frame assembly receiving area that is perpendicular to the first cross-sectional dimension.