Abstract: An automated order fulfillment facility including one or more rows of storage locations for storing totes or other containers, mobile robots configured to move along and/or between rails to transfer the totes or other containers to and from the storage locations, and an energy absorbing mechanical guard mounted at a point along the rails to block or stop a runaway mobile robot. The energy absorbing mechanical guard may be configured to stop mobile robots traveling at a maximum rate of speed for the mobile robots, without damaging the mobile robots.

Abstract: The invention relates to a power inverter circuit for coupling a power station to a power supply system. The invention addresses the problem to reduce the risk of damages to components of the power station and the power supply system in the course of coupling action by providing a power inverter circuit for adjusting symmetry of the AC voltage before coupling the inverter output to a load, comprising: first switching means for selectively connecting a positive voltage to the inverter circuit output, second switching means for selectively connecting a negative voltage to the inverter output, and ohmic resistance means coupled in parallel to the inverter output, a controller for selectively switching the first and second switching means with a switching frequency to produce an AC voltage from the positive and negative voltage, wherein the controller is adapted to alter the duty ratio of the switching frequency to adjust the symmetry of the AC voltage produced by the inverter.

Abstract: LED compounds of the general structure: (B-S-)n-A-(- S-B)m (Structure 1); wherein the rod-like molecular nucleus A having the structure: —Ar(-T-Ar)p- (Structure 2); wherein T includes a diradical.

Abstract: A method for calibration is controlled using measurement technology of at least one device unit of a device system which includes a monitor for image processing and a standard light device. The monitor is calibrated, and the luminance is measured at the calibrated monitor and at a standard light device. The actual value of the luminance at the standard light device is compared with the value for the luminance of the monitor. If there is a difference, the standard light device receives a control signal to change the brightness or the contrast. This regulation is continued until no difference exists between the measured actual value at the standard light device and the reference value stored in the memory of the evaluation unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a power inverter circuit for coupling a power station to a power supply system. The invention addresses the problem to reduce the risk of damages to components of the power station and the power supply system in the course of coupling action by providing a power inverter circuit for adjusting symmetry of the AC voltage before coupling the inverter output to a load, comprising: first switching means for selectively connecting a positive voltage to the inverter circuit output, second switching means for selectively connecting a negative voltage to the inverter output, and ohmic resistance means coupled in parallel to the inverter output, a controller for selectively switching the first and second switching means with a switching frequency to produce an AC voltage from the positive and negative voltage, wherein the controller is adapted to alter the duty ratio of the switching frequency to adjust the symmetry of the AC voltage produced by the inverter.

Abstract: A method for calibration is controlled using measurement technology of at least one device unit of a device system which includes a monitor for image processing and a standard light device. The monitor is calibrated, and the luminance is measured at the calibrated monitor and at a standard light device. The actual value of the luminance at the standard light device is compared with the value for the luminance of the monitor. If there is a difference, the standard light device receives a control signal to change the brightness or the contrast. This regulation is continued until no difference exists between the measured actual value at the standard light device and the reference value stored in the memory of the evaluation unit.

Abstract: A method for producing a core sand and/or molding sand for casting purposes mixes a basic granular mineral molding material such as silica sand with an additive based on an organic or inorganic component, a binding agent being optionally added. The additive is coarsely ground prior to the mixing process, more than 50 percent by weight of the grains having a minimum size of approximately 0.05 mm.

Abstract: A method is for producing a moulding sand that is in particular recirculated, for foundry purposes. A mixture of a granular substance and aggregates, such as a binding agent and water, are added to a material that is not capable of swelling in water. The latter material has cavities with a specific surface area of more than 10 m2/g, in particular more than 50 m2/g and preferably more than 100 m2/g, for improving the characteristics of the moulding sand and/or for reducing the emission of harmful and/or odorous substances.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a core sand and/or molding sand for casting purposes. According to said method, a basic granular mineral molding material such as silica sand is mixed with an additive based on an organic or inorganic component, a binding agent being optionally added. According to the invention, the additive is coarsely ground prior to the mixing process, more than 50 percent by weight of the grains having a minimum size of approximately 0.05 mm.

Abstract: A magnetic photonic crystal for providing asymmetry of spatial frequencies in the propagation of light is provided. The crystal is formed from at least two materials having different indices of refraction which are aligned along the longitudinal axis of the crystal. And arranged in an array whose symmetry does not include a spatial inversion operator such that (x,y)==/=(?x,?y). One or more of the materials forming the array is magnetic such that the magnetic group representation of the array does not include time inversion as a symmetric operator. In operation, when the magnetic material forming the material is magnetized, the group velocity property of light propagated in one direction along the axis of the array is different from the group velocity property of light transmitted in an opposite direction through the array. The magnetic photonic crystal may be used, for example, as an optical memory device or a high speed modulator/demodulator.

Abstract: A method for producing a moulding sand that is in particular recirculated, for foundry purposes. According to the invention, a mixture of a granular substance and aggregates, such as a binding agent and water, are added to a material that is not capable of swelling in water. The latter material comprises cavities with a specific surface area of more than 10 m2/g, in particular more than 50 m2/g and preferably more than 100 m2/g, for improving the characteristics of the moulding sand and/or for reducing the emission of harmful and/or odorous substances.

Abstract: A plurality of active gain material (93) is disposed in an active interface portion (44) of a dielectric band-gap cladding confinement region (22) adjacent to a dielectric core (12) of a photonic band-gap crystal fiber (20), wherein during operation, the plurality of active gain material (93) absorbs the pump energy and stores the pump energy as a potential energy storage for stimulation by EM energy in a second guided mode at a second frequency in a second range of frequencies for overlapping with the first guided mode of the core (12) such that the surface defined by an interface between the photonic band-gap cladding (22) and the dielectric core (12) that supports at least one surface mode propagating at that interface (44) overlaps the active interface portion of the dielectric cladding confinement region and a state associated with the dielectric core (12).

Abstract: An isotopically-altered, silica based optical fiber is provided having lower losses, broader bandwidth, and broader Raman gain spectrum characteristics than conventional silica-based fiber. A heavier, less naturally abundant isotope of silicon or oxygen is substituted for a lighter, more naturally abundant isotope to shift the infrared absorption to a slightly longer wavelength. In one embodiment, oxygen-18 is substituted for the much more naturally abundant oxygen-16 at least in the core region of the fiber. The resulting isotopically-altered fiber has a minimum loss of 0.044 dB/km less than conventional fiber, and a bandwidth that is 17 percent broader for a loss range between 0.044-0.034 dB/km. The fiber may be easily manufactured with conventional fiber manufacturing equipment by way of a plasma chemical vapor deposition technique. When a 50 percent substitution of oxygen-18 for oxygen-16 is made in the core region of the fiber, the Raman gain spectrum is substantially broadened.

Abstract: A light portable tug including reversible wheels, a direct current motor device for driving the wheels and a drive train between such motor and wheels and including a control device for selectively rotating such wheels for controlling the direction of such Tug.

Abstract: A process for producing a multicolored print by employing a color scanner that is capable of being profiled and an electronic image processor. Color data pertaining to color fields are taken as the basis for determining an algorithm for the printable color range and the separation, the color data being generated by employing ceramic colors of a multicolor set that are compatible with one another. With a view to producing four-color prints and also, in particular, seven-color prints that are truer to the original, four-color and seven-color sets as claimed are employed such as were taken as the basis for the color fields for determination of the algorithm. By means of seven-color printing, the color space is extended.

Abstract: Modified ethylene/n-butyl acrylate copolymers obtained by grafting a half-ester of maleic acid onto a randomly copolymerized ethylene/n-butyl acrylate backbone are provided. The carboxylic functionalized polymers of the invention exhibit superior adhesion to non-polar substrates. They are particularly effective for adhering metals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing pressed parts from round stock such as steel wire wound on a reel, which comprises unwinding the wire from the reel, passing the wire through a straightening device, and then feeding the wire intermittently through a heater where it is heated to a temperature of between 600.degree. C. and 850.degree. C. and subsequently cut to the appropriate length and fed to a press where it is pressed to the appropriate shape.

Abstract: A fuel feed pump arrangement which includes a housing serving for accommodating both an electric motor and a feed pump system coupled to the electric motor. A diaphragm is provided in the housing with the diaphragm maintaining a system pressure for a predetermined period of time after the drive motor of the pump system has been turned off.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of hexagonal nuts by cold forming wherein a blank is shaped and formed to a hexagonal configuration wherein the distances across the flats of the hexagon are greater than in the finished nut, and thereafter the rough nut is forced into a shaping die and over a punch concentric therewith, whereby the punch forms the central opening in the nut and the shaping die reduces the distances across the flats of the hexagon to that of the final nut size.

Abstract: A multiple stage press of the type having a plurality of punches and dies mounted in substantially parallel planar die sets and including a tool changing mechanism comprising a magazine for holding the tools, a transfer mechanism movable for carrying tools from the magazine to the die sets and from the die sets to the magazine, the transfer mechanism including a gripper arm pivotable about an axis inclined relative to the planes of the die sets, the gripper arm being mounted on a slide so as to be rectilinearly movable parallel to the planes of the die sets, whereby a tool carried by the gripper arm may be positioned between the die sets.