Abstract: A method and load-handling device for lifting and moving containers are disclosed, the load-handling device including: a body having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being configured to house one or more operation components, the lower portion being arranged beneath the upper portion, the lower portion including a container-receiving space for accommodating at least part of a container; and a container-lifting mechanism including a container-gripping assembly configured to releasably grip a container and a raising and lowering assembly configured to raise and lower the container-gripping assembly, wherein the raising and lowering assembly including a single motor configured to raise and lower the container-gripping assembly.

Abstract: A load-handling device is provided for lifting and moving containers stacked in stacks in a storage system. The load-handling device includes a body; a wheel assembly arranged to support the body; a container-lifting mechanism configured to lift a container into or out of the body; and a wheel-positioning mechanism with wheel-engaging functionality for selectively engaging either a first set of wheels of the wheel assembly with a first set of rails or tracks of the storage system, or a second set of wheels of the wheel assembly with a second set of rails or tracks of the storage system. A wheel-engaging device can include at least one non-vertically-orientated linear actuator and/or at least one eccentric-rotation-based wheel-engaging device.

Abstract: A system and method for heating a fluid for delivery of the fluid in the context of a particular medical, pharmaceutical, industrial or mechanical application. A cassette is associated with an application, such as, for example, a peritoneal dialysis machine. The cassette includes one or more outlet tubes for delivery of the fluid to, for example, a patient. A heating device is associated with the cassette, and heats a portion of the fluid prior to delivery of the fluid to the patient, thereby saving time and electrical power during delivery of the fluid to the patient. Additionally, a controller can be employed to control the heating range of the heating device and thereby provide a temperature of the fluid that is adaptable to the patient or a particular application.

Abstract: A flexible heater 200 includes at least one hot wire resistive element 215 and a thermally insulating and electrically insulating flex holding material (201, 202) surrounding the resistive element (215) for holding the resistive element (215). A temperature sensor (225) having at least a portion embedded in the holding material is operable for measuring a temperature of at least one location along a length of the resistive element (215). A monitored flexible heater system (600) includes a flexible heater (610) including at least one resistive element, a thermally insulating and electrically insulating flex holding material surrounding the resistive element and a temperature sensor (615) having at least a portion embedded in the holding material operable for measuring a temperature of at least one location along a length of the resistive element.

Abstract: A system and method for heating a fluid for delivery of the fluid in the context of a particular medical, pharmaceutical, industrial or mechanical application. A cassette is associated with an application, such as, for example, a peritoneal dialysis machine. The cassette includes one or more outlet tubes for delivery of the fluid to, for example, a patient. A heating device is associated with the cassette, and heats a portion of the fluid prior to delivery of the fluid to the patient, thereby saving time and electrical power during delivery of the fluid to the patient. Additionally, a controller can be employed to control the heating range of the heating device and thereby provide a temperature of the fluid that is adaptable to the patient or a particular application.

Abstract: A collision detecting device includes a damper which is a hollow member with a fluid sealed into the interior thereof, and is formed, on its side abutted against an object to which it is to be mounted, in a concave shape conforming to the shape of a corner of the object, and is formed, on its side opposite to the concave shape, in a convex shape conforming to the shape of the corner of the object; and a detecting section for detecting an internal pressure of the damper.