Abstract: A palletizing elevator is provided that lowers gradually a pallet thereon from an upper level as it is filled with products, and by providing an empty pallet infeed system that moves empty pallets towards the palletizing elevator simultaneously to the palletizing of products thereon. The empty pallet infeed system includes an empty pallet elevator for raising empty pallets to the upper level and a conveying system between the empty pallet elevator and the palletizing elevator for moving the empty pallets of from the empty pallet elevator at the upper level to the palletizing elevator while a pallet is moved by the palletizing elevator during its filling.

Abstract: A vision-assisted robotized depalletizer receives at a pallet station a pallet loaded with products and outputs on a conveyor unitized products aligned in a desired orientation. Such depalletizers include a vision system having one or more image acquisition sensors that are positioned relative to the pallet station so as to have a field of view covering a top portion of the pallet. The sensors send to a controller one or more image of the top portion of the pallet that the controller uses along to determine the position of each product in the top portion of the pallet. The depalletizer further includes a robot equipped with a depalletizing tool that is coupled to the vision system controller for receiving information indicative of the position of each product from the top portion and uses that information to pick and position on the output conveyor each product from the top portion.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and system for executing commands. The method comprises configuring an input event topic subscriber and a command orchestrator process. The input event topic subscriber is invoked. The input event topic subscriber receives an event. The event comprises an event context and associated data. The event is transformed into a command. The command orchestrator is invoked. The command is input to the command orchestrator. The command orchestrator adds contextual information to the command. The command orchestrator schedules execution of the command. The execution of the command is tracked. A returned data object corresponding to the command is received and output.

Abstract: The problem of potentially damaging a pallet layer that is gripped by clamps of a depalletizing tool is solved i) by detecting the real position of the layer using a pad on the tool that is movable with the clamps towards the pallet layer and whose detected stopping position determines the real position of the layer, and ii) while the layer is gripped by the clamp, by inserting under the layer curtains; the pressure on the layer by the clamps being adapted to the ease to go underneath the layer.

Abstract: A search engine coupled to a database of product information is provided a search query having a datapoint and the search engine uses at least the datapoint to generate a search result. A vendor system associated with the search engine subsequently uses one or more interactions with the generated search result to update a conversion value that is linked within a datastore of the vendor system to the datapoint. When it is determined by the vendor system that the updated conversion value that is linked within the datastore to the datapoint was caused to exceed a predetermined threshold value, the vendor system causes a notification to be sent to one or more consumers that previously provided the datapoint for use in a search by the search engine.

Abstract: A vending system including a vending machine and a robot. The robot can be adapted to retrieve product from the vending machine for delivery to a user. When the vending machine is mobile, the robot can alternatively move the entirety of the vending machine to a product delivery location.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint comprises a male element having arms, a female element having a central axis and defining a pair of symmetrical tracks and an outer roller which can roll on one or other of the two tracks via a peripheral rolling surface. The female element comprises at least one bearing surface which limits the rotation of the outer roller around an axis perpendicular to the axis' of the female element and of the arm. With respect to each arm the cross-section profile of each track comprises either two circular arcs having centers of radii offset one from another, or one single circular arc extending over a female element median plane, and the rolling surface has a part spherical shape or a part torical shape. Each track and the rolling surface are capable of contacting each other at a first and second contact points spaced radially from one another.

Abstract: A process comprising separating from a biomass catalytic pyrolysis process effluent, a naphthalene-rich oil phase, a phenolic oil and a vapor phase containing off gas, water and BTX, whereby said vapor phase can be condensed to separate liquid water and liquid hydrocarbons from gaseous off gas and BTX.

Abstract: An aircraft includes a flight plan and contingency data including a plurality of contingency landing sites. An aircraft communication system communicates with a ground control station via a communication link and detects a lost communication scenario in response to degradation in the communication link. An aircraft flight control system controls the aircraft en route according to the flight plan. In response to detecting the lost communication scenario, the flight control system routes the aircraft back to a last known location in which the communication link was not degraded. In response to failure to re-establish the communication link, the flight control system selects a landing site based on a current aircraft location relative to a plurality of potential landing sites including an origin airport, a destination airport, and a first continency landing site. The flight control system controls the aircraft to approach and land at the selected landing site.

Abstract: An aircraft includes a display and an avoidance system. The avoidance system is configured to determine a first predicted trajectory of the aircraft, determine a second predicted trajectory of an additional aircraft, and determine a conflict zone volume based on an intersection between the first predicted trajectory and the second predicted trajectory. The conflict zone volume indicates a predicted volume of airspace in which the aircraft and the additional aircraft experience a loss of separation. The avoidance system is configured to render a conflict zone on the display based on the conflict zone volume. The rendered conflict zone graphically represents the conflict zone volume on the display.

Abstract: A computer vision system, which can accurately, quickly, and simultaneously identify multiple SKUs and SKU categories from multiple images taken at a customer's location and that will allow a customer and/or a sales representative to quickly create definitive lists of SKUs and SKU categories that a target vendor sells.

Abstract: A process comprising separating from a biomass catalytic pyrolysis process effluent, a naphthalene-rich oil phase, a phenolic oil and a vapor phase containing off gas, water and BTX, whereby said vapor phase can be condensed to separate liquid water and liquid hydrocarbons from gaseous off gas and BTX.

Abstract: A dynamic imbalanced force generator includes a pair of eccentric masses and a shaft frame. The generator further includes at least one support plate of a motor arranged radially with respect to the shaft frame, and a gear system. A second imbalance is arranged between a first imbalance and the shaft frame, and coaxially with respect to the first imbalance. At least one motor is supported by the plate and engaged with at least one of the first and second imbalances by the gear system. The support plate and the motor are arranged between the imbalances and the shaft frame.

Abstract: Provided is a dynamic force generator having a supporting shaft, a first rotor including an internal bore housing the supporting shaft and bearings arranged between the supporting shaft and the internal bore so that the first rotor is mounted rotatably in relation to the supporting shaft, an external bore having an inner face provided with a first set of permanent magnets. A first unbalanced mass is within the internal bore of the first rotor and mounted opposite an outer face of the external bore of the first rotor. A second rotor is mounted rotatably in relation to the first rotor, via an antifriction component provided between the first rotor and the second rotor, and includes an internal bore housing the internal bore of the first rotor so that the internal bores of the first and second rotors are concentric, and an external bore with a second set of permanent magnets.

Abstract: Provided is a dynamic force generator having a supporting shaft, a first rotor including an internal bore housing the supporting shaft and bearings arranged between the supporting shaft and the internal bore so that the first rotor is mounted rotatably in relation to the supporting shaft, an external bore having an inner face provided with a first set of permanent magnets. A first unbalanced mass is within the internal bore of the first rotor and mounted opposite an outer face of the external bore of the first rotor. A second rotor is mounted rotatably in relation to the first rotor, via an antifriction component provided between the first rotor and the second rotor, and includes an internal bore housing the internal bore of the first rotor so that the internal bores of the first and second rotors are concentric, and an external bore with a second set of permanent magnets.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for locally measuring strains within a measurement volume that comprises a test body formed from a homogeneous material of known mechanical properties and ellipsoidal in shape intended to be included in the measurement volume, at least one measurement optical fiber for measuring deformation embedded within said test body and means for linking the at least one measurement optical fiber to a system designed to stimulate the at least one measurement optical fiber, detect signals coming from the fibers and, by means of an electronic system capable of carrying out calculations, determine strains from at least one of the detected signals and known mechanical properties.