Abstract: An apparatus automatically packages wafer cassettes in a shipping box. The apparatus includes: a loading station configured to take the shipping box for semiconductor wafers; a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader/writer configured to read and write to an RFID tag affixed to the shipping box; a camera configured to optically examine attachments to the shipping box; an element configured for equipping the shipping box with a desiccant pouch; an element configured for sealing a bag that surrounds the shipping box with a weld seam; an element configured for checking the impermeability of a weld seam; an element configured for applying labels to the shipping box; a robot arm configured to automatically transport the shipping box; an element configured for storing packaging material; and an element configured to take the shipping box for semiconductor wafers and to store the shipping box for transportation.

Abstract: A cargo unit for storage in a cargo hold of an aircraft including a housing and a storage rack arrangement, the housing enclosing the storage rack arrangement and including a transport opening. The cargo unit is connectable to a transport arrangement operable for removing objects from the storage rack arrangement and placing objects in the storage rack arrangement through the transport opening when the cargo unit is arranged in an operating position. The cargo unit includes a transport cover movable between a closed position where the transport cover closes the transport opening and an opened position where the transport opening is not covered by the transport cover. The transport cover is adapted to be only movable from its closed position to its opened position after engagement with a transport arrangement. A lower deck catering system including a cargo unit and a transport arrangement is described.

Abstract: A wash unit for a cabin monument of an aircraft/spacecraft, having an adjustable basin which is adjustable between a stowage state of the wash unit, in which the basin is stowed in the cabin monument so as to be inaccessible to a user, and an operational state of the wash unit, in which the basin projects out of a wall of the cabin monument so as to be accessible to a user, a water inflow for conducting water into an internal volume of the basin in the operational state of the wash unit, and a water outflow for conducting water out of the internal volume of the basin in the operational state of the wash unit.

Abstract: A service box for storing in a storage rack arrangement of a cargo container of a vehicle, in particular an aircraft, including a rectangular bottom wall, a rectangular upper wall, side walls and narrow end walls and forms an interior space adapted to receive a trolley for catering goods. The service box is provided with a door at at least one of its narrow ends, the door forming at least the main part of the narrow wall and in the open state permits insertion and removal of the trolley and in the closed state provides for an essentially closed space for the trolley.

Abstract: A connecting means provides a connecting passage between a first compartment of a vehicle and a storage means located in a second compartment of the vehicle. The first and the second compartment are separated by a wall. A catering system for a vehicle includes the connecting means. A method provides a sealed connecting passage between a first compartment of a vehicle and a storage means located in second compartment of a vehicle. The connecting means includes a frame, a hatch arrangement for selectively closing and opening a frame aperture with a hatch cover and a bellows arrangement including a flexible bellows. The flexible bellows can be extended from the frame to a storage means located in the second compartment of the vehicle. A continuous passage defined by the flexible bellows and the frame provides a sealed connecting passage between the first compartment and the storage means.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger compartment and a cargo compartment separated by a floor structure, and a cargo unit including a storage rack arrangement and a transport arrangement operable for selectively transporting objects between the storage rack arrangement and a predetermined transfer position in a cavity of the cargo unit. The transport arrangement includes a conveying apparatus including a table unit movable along a vertical transport path, and the vehicle includes a mounting means adapted for securing the cargo unit in a predetermined operating position inside the cargo compartment, in which an access aperture in an upper cover of the cargo unit is disposed in alignment with a through hole in the floor structure. A lift apparatus including a gripping device is operable to convey objects from the transfer position through the access aperture and the through hole between the cargo compartment and the passenger compartment.

Abstract: An aircraft monument includes an elongate cavity having an open end and a lift apparatus mounted to the monument and adapted for lifting goods along the longitudinal axis of the cavity. The monument is adapted to be mounted on a floor structure of an aircraft separating two compartments of the aircraft from each other such that the open end of the cavity faces the floor structure. The lift apparatus includes a guide means including two straight guide members spaced apart, and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cavity, a conveying means including two conveying members each mounted to a different guide member, a moving means for linearly moving the two conveying members, a control means for controlling the moving means to synchronize the linear movement of the conveying members, and a gripping means secured to the conveying means and adapted for selectively gripping and releasing goods.

Abstract: A service box for storing in a storage rack arrangement of a cargo container of a vehicle, in particular an aircraft, including a rectangular bottom wall, a rectangular upper wall, side walls and narrow end walls and forms an interior space adapted to receive a trolley for catering goods. The service box is provided with a door at at least one of its narrow ends, the door forming at least the main part of the narrow wall and in the open state permits insertion and removal of the trolley and in the closed state provides for an essentially closed space for the trolley.

Abstract: A cargo unit for storage in a cargo hold of an aircraft including a housing and a storage rack arrangement, the housing enclosing the storage rack arrangement and including a transport opening. The cargo unit is connectable to a transport arrangement operable for removing objects from the storage rack arrangement and placing objects in the storage rack arrangement through the transport opening when the cargo unit is arranged in an operating position. The cargo unit includes a transport cover movable between a closed position where the transport cover closes the transport opening and an opened position where the transport opening is not covered by the transport cover. The transport cover is adapted to be only movable from its closed position to its opened position after engagement with a transport arrangement. A lower deck catering system including a cargo unit and a transport arrangement is described.

Abstract: A self-aligning connector for data and/or power transmission includes a base plate, a plurality of data and/or power contact elements arranged on the base plate, first and second positioning means attached to the base plate, a mounting means and a frame assembly connecting the base plate to the mounting means and comprising a plurality of frames. Each frame is directly connected to exactly two elements selected from a group consisting of the plurality of frames, the mounting means and the base plate. Each frame is tiltable at least about one axis and/or displaceable in at least one direction with respect to each element it is directly connected to. A connector assembly includes a first self-aligning connector and a second connector. A vehicle includes a first compartment and a second compartment separated by a wall, a bellows assembly and the connector assembly.

Abstract: A self-aligning connector for data and/or power transmission includes a base plate, a plurality of data and/or power contact elements arranged on the base plate, first and second positioning means attached to the base plate, a mounting means and a frame assembly connecting the base plate to the mounting means and comprising a plurality of frames. Each frame is directly connected to exactly two elements selected from a group consisting of the plurality of frames, the mounting means and the base plate. Each frame is tiltable at least about one axis and/or displaceable in at least one direction with respect to each element it is directly connected to. A connector assembly includes a first self-aligning connector and a second connector. A vehicle includes a first compartment and a second compartment separated by a wall, a bellows assembly and the connector assembly.

Abstract: A cargo container for storing goods and for loading into a cargo compartment of a vehicle includes a housing including a base plate and defining an interior cavity, a storage rack arrangement in the form of a storage rack module and adapted for storing a plurality of goods in the cavity, and a transport arrangement in the form of a transport module and including a conveying means and a control unit therefor, operable for selectively transporting goods stored in the storage rack arrangement from the storage rack arrangement to a predetermined location in the cavity. For each of the storage rack modules and transport modules removable from the container, the cargo container includes a releasable coupling mechanism for fastening the respective module and for locating it in a predetermined position with respect to the remainder of the container.

Abstract: An aircraft monument includes an elongate cavity having an open end and a lift apparatus mounted to the monument and adapted for lifting goods along the longitudinal axis of the cavity. The monument is adapted to be mounted on a floor structure of an aircraft separating two compartments of the aircraft from each other such that the open end of the cavity faces the floor structure. The lift apparatus includes a guide means including two straight guide members spaced apart, and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cavity, a conveying means including two conveying members each mounted to a different guide member, a moving means for linearly moving the two conveying members, a control means for controlling the moving means to synchronize the linear movement of the conveying members, and a gripping means secured to the conveying means and adapted for selectively gripping and releasing goods.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger compartment and a cargo compartment separated by a floor structure, and a cargo unit including a storage rack arrangement and a transport arrangement operable for selectively transporting objects between the storage rack arrangement and a predetermined transfer position in a cavity of the cargo unit. The transport arrangement includes a conveying apparatus including a table unit movable along a vertical transport path, and the vehicle includes a mounting means adapted for securing the cargo unit in a predetermined operating position inside the cargo compartment, in which an access aperture in an upper cover of the cargo unit is disposed in alignment with a through hole in the floor structure. A lift apparatus including a gripping device is operable to convey objects from the transfer position through the access aperture and the through hole between the cargo compartment and the passenger compartment.

Abstract: A connecting means provides a connecting passage between a first compartment of a vehicle and a storage means located in a second compartment of the vehicle. The first and the second compartment are separated by a wall. A catering system for a vehicle includes the connecting means. A method provides a sealed connecting passage between a first compartment of a vehicle and a storage means located in second compartment of a vehicle. The connecting means includes a frame, a hatch arrangement for selectively closing and opening a frame aperture with a hatch cover and a bellows arrangement including a flexible bellows. The flexible bellows can be extended from the frame to a storage means located in the second compartment of the vehicle. A continuous passage defined by the flexible bellows and the frame provides a sealed connecting passage between the first compartment and the storage means.

Abstract: The invention concerns the insulation of a duct 2, especially an air-conditioning or ventilation duct, which passes through a penetration in a wall 1 or ceiling or the like, and an insulating material 3 is provided all around the outside of the duct 2. In this regard, the insulating material 3 has an end face pointing at least partly in the direction of the penetration. Sections of the end face, at least, are provided with heat-resistant adhesive material 11.

Abstract: There is provided a heating element and an arrangement of heating elements, respectively, for heating crucibles, in particular for LEC devices for growing semiconductor single crystals, with a tulip-shaped bottom heater (20) being built such that the heater legs of the main heater (40) positioned thereabove can barely be guided towards the bottom. Such arrangement of bottom and main heater enables multi-heater arrangements without having to interfere with a lateral insulation (18) which, thus, need not be cut out or pierced.