Abstract: A robotic cleaner includes a housing, a suction conduit with an opening, and a leading roller mounted in front of a brush roll. An inter-roller air passageway may be defined between the leading roller and the brush roll wherein the lower portion of the leading roller is exposed to a flow path to the suction conduit and an upper portion of the leading roller is outside of the flow path. Optionally, a combing unit includes a plurality of combing protrusions extending into the leading roller and having leading edges not aligned with a center of the leading roller. Optionally, a sealing strip is located along a rear side of the opening and along a portion of left and right sides of the opening. The underside may define side edge vacuum passageways extending from the sides of the housing partially between the leading roller and the sealing strip towards the opening.

Abstract: Systems for repositioning objects, such as, for example, food items in a refrigerator, are provided. The systems may include a platform having a support surface upon which the objects are supported, an electromagnet positioned beneath the platform, a motion system coupled to electromagnet, and a control system electronically and/or communicatively coupled to the motion system and the electromagnet. The control system may be configured to controllably move the electromagnet beneath the support surface and to selectively activate and deactivate the electromagnet in coordination with said movement to reposition the objects. Related methods of repositioning objects are also provided.

Abstract: Systems for repositioning objects, such as, for example, food items in a refrigerator, are provided. The systems may include a platform having a support surface upon which the objects are supported, an electromagnet positioned beneath the platform, a motion system coupled to electromagnet, and a control system electronically and/or communicatively coupled to the motion system and the electromagnet. The control system may be configured to controllably move the electromagnet beneath the support surface and to selectively activate and deactivate the electromagnet in coordination with said movement to reposition the objects. Related methods of repositioning objects are also provided.

Abstract: Systems for repositioning objects, such as, for example, food items in a refrigerator, are provided. The systems may include a platform having a support surface upon which the objects are supported, an electromagnet positioned beneath the platform, a motion system coupled to electromagnet, and a control system electronically and/or communicatively coupled to the motion system and the electromagnet. The control system may be configured to controllably move the electromagnet beneath the support surface and to selectively activate and deactivate the electromagnet in coordination with said movement to reposition the objects. Related methods of repositioning objects are also provided.

Abstract: A sheathed electromechanical cable comprises an insulated core and a plurality of strain members in the form of wires or fibers of high tensile strength, sandwiched between the sheath and the core. The sheath is made of a formable material of high tensile strength and which, in combination with the strain members, directly resists tensile and flexion stresses on the cable. The strain members are supplied to the core along a predetermined, converging path and are disposed in uniformly spaced, annular relation relative to the core and brought into snug engagement therewith by drawing through a die, the latter being associated with an extruder device for applying the sheath material around the exposed surface of the strain members. The extrusion period is short and is followed by a quench. The insulated core is composed of a single or a plurality of discrete conductors, with or without individual insulation, and surrounded by a dielectric.

Abstract: An electromechanical cable is adapted for deployment along a generally straight path and when thus deployed to be substantially free of torsional reactions resulting from changes in tensile stress in the longitudinal direction of the cable. The cable includes a plurality of strain members arranged in an annular configuration. When the cable lies straight and untwisted the strain members are also straight, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable and parallel to each other. The strain members are loosely confined within the cable structure so that when the cable is subsequently twisted they are free to move into helical positions relative to the axis of the cable.The cable is first wound into a coil and concurrently pretwisted about its own axis by approximately 360.degree. for each loop of the coil. After being transported to the deployment site, the cable is pulled off the coil without relative rotation between the delivered end of the cable and the coil, so that the pretwist of the cable is relieved.