Abstract: An article transport vehicle (200) has: a carrier base (202) configured for movement along a guideway and a pair of gripping arms (216), each gripping arm (216) having a first end (216a) connected to the carrier base (202) and a second end (216b) protruding from the carrier base (202). The pair of gripping arms (216) is movable between a closed position configured for holding an article (302) and an open position configured for releasing the article (302). The article transport vehicle (200) further has a closure mechanism (238) for moving the pair of gripping arms (216) between the closed position and the open position. The closure mechanism (238) is configured for biasing the pair of gripping arms (216) to the closed position and moving the pair of gripping arms (216) to the open position when the carrier base (202) is positioned at a predetermined portion of the guideway.

Abstract: A curing apparatus (400) includes a housing (402) having a sidewall (404) with an inlet (408) spaced apart from an outlet (410) along an axis, the housing defining an interior chamber (406). At least one opening (419) extends through the sidewall of the housing, for example from the inlet to the outlet. At least one ultraviolet radiation source (426) is operative for transmitting ultraviolet radiation into the interior chamber. At least one nozzle (436) is in flow communication with the interior chamber. The at least one opening is an open slot configured to receive a portion of an article carrier moving along a guideway outside of the housing such that an article supported by the article carrier moves through the interior chamber from the inlet to the outlet on the portion of the article carrier extending through the slot.

Abstract: An article transport vehicle (200) has: a carrier base (202) configured for movement along a guideway and a pair of gripping arms (216), each gripping arm (216) having a first end (216a) connected to the carrier base (202) and a second end (216b) protruding from the carrier base (202). The pair of gripping arms (216) is movable between a closed position configured for holding an article (302) and an open position configured for releasing the article (302). The article transport vehicle (200) further has a closure mechanism (238) for moving the pair of gripping arms (216) between the closed position and the open position. The closure mechanism (238) is configured for biasing the pair of gripping arms (216) to the closed position and moving the pair of gripping arms (216) to the open position when the carrier base (202) is positioned at a predetermined portion of the guideway.

Abstract: A diagnostic station for inspecting an article transport vehicle movable along a guideway has a diagnostic module associated with the guideway and configured to receive the article transport vehicle when the article transport vehicle is in an inspection position along the guideway. The diagnostic module has at least one of the following: a grip testing substation having at least one force sensor configured for measuring a force exerted by a closure mechanism of the article transport vehicle in a closed position, a pressure testing substation in communication with a source of pressurized air and configured for pressurizing and depressurizing the closure mechanism, and an optical inspection substation having at least one camera configured for capturing image data of the article transport vehicle.