Abstract: Mobile robots and methods for operating mobile robots are provided. One of these mobile robots autonomously transports a pharmaceutical item from a first location to a second location. The mobile robot autonomously delivers the pharmaceutical item at the second location.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a computer-controlled system for automatically transferring individual solid pharmaceutical products from bulk containers into a selected solid pharmaceutical product package from among a variety of different packaging solutions. Advantageously, in accordance with the preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a robotic pick and place arm incorporates a contact holding mechanisms such as a suction tube which selectively temporarily secures a solid pharmaceutical product for transfer from a bulk container into a desired solid pharmaceutical product package.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include methods and apparatus for picking products. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a machine-readable medium containing business rules for arranging at least one product of a physical stack having physical dimensions into a virtual stack, the virtual stack being a 3D representation of the at least one product, and also containing business rules for selecting the at least one product. The apparatus also includes a vision module including a sensor configured to identify indications of a condition of each product. The apparatus also includes a processor configured to perform an inspection of each product based on the condition of the product and the set of business rules for selecting the product. The apparatus further includes a robotic arm for selecting each product of that has passed the inspection and for arranging the product to form a physical stack based on the virtual stack.

Abstract: A packaging device includes a conveyance mechanism, a first guide portion, and a processor. The conveyance mechanism is configured to convey, along a conveyance path, a base on which an object is placed. The first guide portion is configured to guide a film and to move along a movement path. The processor is configured to cause the conveyance mechanism to convey the base toward a downstream side in a conveyance direction. The processor is further configured to cause the first guide portion to move along the movement path from above to below the conveyance path after the base is conveyed toward the downstream side to a first position. The processor is further configured to cause the conveyance mechanism to convey the base toward the upstream side to a second position after the first guide portion is moved to below the conveyance path.

Abstract: A system for processing core wheels and associated method are disclosed. A sorting station is configured to allow sorting of a source of wheels according to a first set of criteria. A first conveyor is configured to receive a plurality of wheels conforming to the first criteria and to a first inspection station, disposed along the first conveyor. The first inspection station is configured to allow examination of the wheels to determine whether the wheels conform to a second criteria. A diverter mechanism, downstream of the first inspection station, is configured to divert wheels conforming to the second criteria from the first conveyor. A second conveyor is configured to receive the diverted wheels and to direct the diverted wheels to a second inspection station, whereby the diverted wheels may be inspected at the second inspection station to confirm that the diverted wheels conform to the second criteria.

Abstract: Techniques that palletize bundles at high-speed. A robotic controller includes a vision system that determines a location and orientation of incoming bundles, a tracking system that communicates between the controller and a conveyor, and a robot that coordinates its movement with the bundles. The tracking system identifies the location and orientation of each bundle, informs the controller, and causes the robot to track its location and orientation with incoming bundles. The controller receives information on the location and orientation of each bundle. The controller instructs the robot to move in coordination with each incoming bundle, instructs the robot where and at what orientation to pick up the bundle, and instructs the robot how to move the bundle to a tier-and-stacking position. The controller can instruct the robot how to pick up each bundle on the fly as the bundle moves into range on the incoming conveyor.

Abstract: A system for processing core wheels and associated method are disclosed. A sorting station is configured to allow sorting of a source of wheels according to a first set of criteria. A first conveyor is configured to receive a plurality of wheels conforming to the first criteria and to a first inspection station, disposed along the first conveyor. The first inspection station is configured to allow examination of the wheels to determine whether the wheels conform to a second criteria. A diverter mechanism, downstream of the first inspection station, is configured to divert wheels conforming to the second criteria from the first conveyor. A second conveyor is configured to receive the diverted wheels and to direct the diverted wheels to a second inspection station, whereby the diverted wheels may be inspected at the second inspection station to confirm that the diverted wheels conform to the second criteria.

Abstract: A method, system, and/or computer program product dynamically configures a delivery system for delivering products to smart mats. A delivery coordination server determines a location of multiple smart mats. Each of the smart mats includes a positioning system and a transmitter that transmits a message describing the real-time geophysical location of the smart mats. The delivery coordination server receives a message describing a location of a first delivery vehicle that is transporting a first package addressed for delivery to a first smart mat. The delivery coordination server determines that the first smart mat has moved to a location that is within a predetermined distance of a second smart mat, to which a second delivery vehicle is scheduled to deliver a second package. The delivery coordination server directs the first delivery vehicle to transfer the first package to the second delivery vehicle for delivery to the first smart mat.

Abstract: An inventory system includes an inventory holder and a mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit includes sensors for detecting one or more load characteristics of the inventory holder and/or includes magnets and/or magnetic surfaces for securing the inventory holder to the mobile drive unit during lifting and/or moving.

Abstract: A maintenance access system for a storage and retrieval system having a storage and retrieval space and automated transport vehicles disposed in the space. The system includes at least one maintenance access control unit associated with a portion of the space, at least one barrier in the space and defining a boundary of the portion of the space and configured to substantially prevent the passage of the vehicles past the at least one barrier, and a controller connected to the control unit, the controller being configured to receive a signal from the at least one control unit for isolating the portion of the space associated with the at least one control unit, where the controller in response to the signal closes the at least one barrier isolating the portion of the space and effects the removal from or shutting down of vehicles within the portion of the space.

Abstract: Systems and apparatuses (e.g., mobile robots) including sensor systems, and methods involving sensor systems are provided. In one method, a region of an environment is surveyed using a sensor system to provide survey data. This survey data may be indicative of one or more items located within the surveyed region of the environment. One of more of the items located within the surveyed region may be inventoried based on the survey data.

Abstract: The invention concerns a laboratory product transport element for a laboratory transport system with an energy receiver and/or energy accumulator to provide drive power, at least one signal receiver to receive control signals, a control unit to generate drive signals as a function of at least one control signal obtained from the at least one signal receiver, movement devices for independent movement of the laboratory product transport element on a transfer path as a function of the drive signals of the control unit, in which the drive devices are driven by the drive power and at least one holder to hold a laboratory product being transported. The invention also concerns a laboratory transport system with at least one laboratory product transport element according to an embodiment of the invention and a transfer path arrangement. The invention also concerns methods for operation of laboratory transport systems according to an embodiment of the invention.

Abstract: The delivery system has a supply device having a supply port for supplying an article; a receiving device having a receiving port that is able to receive the article that is supplied from the supply port; and a detection unit that is capable of detecting: a first state in which the supply device and the receiving device are joined by the supply port engaging with the receiving port; a second state in which the supply device and the receiving device are close together and there is a space between the supply port and the receiving port; and a third state in which the supply device and the receiving device are separated and the space between the device is wider than in the second state.

Abstract: An improved pharmaceutical vial processing system and method groups vials on an automated dispensing line according to diverting needs. The improved pharmaceutical vial processing system and method allows vials to travel in close groups. A diversion algorithm determines when gaps between vials are needed to reduce the likelihood that a mechanical diverting device engages the wrong vial to a new location on the dispensing line. The diversion algorithm identifies each vial that needs to be diverted to a target location and employs a “neighbor analysis” to determine whether a gap between neighboring vials is needed before a vial destined for the target station encounters a diverter. Vials that are destined for locations beyond the target station remain grouped. Vials that are behind a vial destined for the target station are held to introduce a gap between the vial destined for the target station and the remaining vials.

Abstract: A height-aware item retrieval assignment system (“HIRS”) may facilitate height-aware assignment of mobile shelving units (“MSUs”) to operators during item retrieval. The HIRS may associate various operators with stations of varying heights on which the operators may stand or sit for item retrieval. Coverage may be based on effective item retrieval height zones, which may overlap such that possible shelving heights of MSUs may be reached by one or more of the operators at their associated stations. Upon receipt of an order of items to be retrieved from an MSU, the HIRS may assign the MSU based on the received height information. The HIRS may also adjust heights of the stations rather than relying on stations of fixed heights.

Abstract: The invention relates to a storage and order-picking system (1) for the fully-automated picking of articles that are stored in storage loading aids (2) and are picked according to an order, which includes an article store, a first conveyor system that conveys storage loading aids leaving the article store to a picking station that is operated unmanned, a fully-automated robotic gripping unit on said picking station, which removes articles to be picked from said storage loading aids and deposits them in accordance with the order, the articles deposited according to an order, particularly in an order loading aid, subsequently being conveyed away by means of a second conveyor system, an image identification device for determining possible gripping points for the gripping unit in order to grip articles from the storage loading aids, wherein the image identification device comprises at least one and preferably at least two cameras in the region of the robotic gripping unit (9) and, if at least two cameras are prov

Abstract: A system for setting a dump height of a material engaging work implement above a dump body includes a rotatable implement system, an implement system pose sensor, and a bed height sensor. A controller determines an initial bed height, determines an initial dump height, generates a command based upon the pose of the work implement, and determines a subsequent dump height higher than the initial dump height. The controller is further configured to position the work implement at the subsequent dump height, determine a further subsequent dump height higher than the subsequent dump height, and position the work implement at the further subsequent dump height over the dump body.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring receptacles between a plurality of receptacle-receiving structures disposed at different locations adjacent a transport track. The apparatus includes a receptacle carrier operatively engaged with the transport track and adapted to carry a receptacle and translate along the transport track. The receptacle carrier is further adapted to selectively stop at a transfer station with respect to any of the receptacles-receiving structures. The receptacle carrier includes a receptacle moving mechanism adapted to move a receptacle with respect to the receptacle carrier to move a receptacle into and/or out of the receptacle carrier. The apparatus further includes a transfer position locating system to automatically determine a location of a transfer position of the receptacle carrier with respect to each of the receptacle-receiving structures, thereby enabling the receptacle carrier to transfer a receptacle between the receptacle carrier and the receptacle-receiving structures.

Abstract: In an infrastructure that uses a mobile order fulfillment system, robotic drive units may be dispatched and instructed to bring inventory holders to a workstation where at least one of the inventory holders is packed and prepared for shipment. The robotic drive units are then instructed to move the prepared inventory holder to a transport vehicle such as a truck. Fiducial marks may be removably placed within the transport vehicle to aid navigation of the robotic drive units. At a destination facility, additional robotic drive units may be instructed to move the inventory holders from the truck and place the inventory holders at appropriate storage locations.

Abstract: Provided is a slow stopping apparatus for a working machine which can shorten a stopping time while suppressing a cargo swing. The slow stopping apparatus includes a first slow stopper 21 which calculates a cargo swing cycle T and takes a time T1 in a half of the cargo swing cycle T to stop an actuator 10 when a stop signal is input, a second slow stopper 22 which takes a shorter time T2 than the time T1 in the half of the cargo swing cycle T to stop the actuator 10, a cargo swing predictor 23 which predicts whether a load amplitude A would exceed an allowable value, and a switcher 24 which switches the first slow stopper 21 and the second slow stopper 22 in accordance with prediction of the cargo swing predictor 23. It is possible to suppress a cargo swing in stop of a motion of the working machine, thereby shortening a time required for stopping the motion of the working machine.