Abstract: A throttle valve device includes a body, a valve, a motor, and a cover. The body defines a passage, a motor space, and a connecting portion that connects the motor space to the passage. The motor includes a motor yoke made of a magnetic material, a plurality of magnets that are arranged on an inner circumferential surface of the motor yoke. The plurality of magnets are magnetized in a state where the motor yoke is disposed in the motor space of the body. The plurality of magnets are arranged in a circumferential direction in the motor yoke with a space. The connecting portion is aligned with the space between the plurality of magnets in a radial direction of the motor yoke.

Abstract: A throttle valve device includes a body, a valve, a motor, a speed reducer, and a cover. The body that defines a passage and a motor space therein. The motor includes a motor yoke, a magnet, a motor shaft, a pair of motor bearings, an armature core, a commutator, a brush, and a brush holder. The motor yoke is made of a magnetic material. The brush holder holds the brush. The motor yoke has an open end that is covered by the brush holder.

Abstract: A throttle valve device includes a body, a valve, a motor, a speed reducer, and a cover. The body that defines a passage and a motor space therein. The motor includes a motor yoke, a magnet, a motor shaft, a pair of motor bearings, an armature core, a commutator, a brush, and a brush holder. The motor yoke is made of a magnetic material. The brush holder holds the brush. The motor yoke has an open end that is covered by the brush holder.

Abstract: A throttle valve device includes a body, a valve, a motor, and a cover. The body defines a passage, a motor space, and a connecting portion that connects the motor space to the passage. The motor includes a motor yoke made of a magnetic material, a plurality of magnets that are arranged on an inner circumferential surface of the motor yoke. The plurality of magnets are magnetized in a state where the motor yoke is disposed in the motor space of the body. The plurality of magnets are arranged in a circumferential direction in the motor yoke with a space. The connecting portion is aligned with the space between the plurality of magnets in a radial direction of the motor yoke.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet winding molding method including winding a thermosetting prepreg around a substrate while heating the thermosetting prepreg, wherein the time taken to form a next layer of the thermosetting prepreg on a layer of the wound thermosetting prepreg is shorter than the gel time of the prepreg at the temperature of the wound thermosetting prepreg. The sheet winding molding method is advantageous not only in that the method has excellent productivity, but also in that a molded article having excellent physical properties, such as excellent interlaminar shear strength, can be obtained by the method.

Abstract: A surface of a bearing member on a flow passage forming chamber-side is disposed to be exposed to the chamber. The bearing member includes a contact part, with which a side surface of a butterfly valve that is opposed to the bearing member is in contact, on at least a part of the surface of the bearing member on the chamber-side. The bearing member is a radial ball bearing and includes an outer bearing ring that is fitted to an inner periphery of a shaft hole, so that its axial displacement relative to a body is restricted, an inner bearing ring that is fitted on an outer periphery of a rotation shaft radially inward of the outer bearing ring, and a rolling element disposed between the outer bearing ring and the inner bearing ring. The contact part is provided on a surface of the inner bearing ring on the chamber-side.

Abstract: A conveyor system is provided including a conveyor and a plurality of functional trays that are removably attachable to the conveyor. Each tray includes a plate having first and second dimensions that are orthogonal to each other, and the plate includes a coupler configured to be removably attached to the conveyor with the second dimension of the plate being in parallel with a moving direction of the conveyor. The plurality of functional trays include one or more of an envelope-opening mechanism, an item-pushing mechanism, an envelope-closing mechanism, an item-wrapping mechanism, and a tray-height-adjustment mechanism. For example, the item-pushing mechanism includes a pusher slidably coupled to the plate, and a linear actuator configured to move the pusher relative to the plate along the first dimension so as to push an item off the functional tray.

Abstract: A housing defines a bore in a tubular shape to draw intake air to an engine. A shaft is supported rotationally relative to the housing. A valve is located in the bore and affixed to the shaft. An electric actuator is configured to rotate one end of the shaft. A load generating unit is configured to apply a biasing load onto the shaft from the one end of the shaft toward the bore in a high-temperature state in which a temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A surface of a bearing member on a flow passage forming chamber-side is disposed to be exposed to the chamber. The bearing member includes a contact part, with which a side surface of a butterfly valve that is opposed to the bearing member is in contact, on at least a part of the surface of the bearing member on the chamber-side. The bearing member is a radial ball bearing and includes an outer bearing ring that is fitted to an inner periphery of a shaft hole, so that its axial displacement relative to a body is restricted, an inner bearing ring that is fitted on an outer periphery of a rotation shaft radially inward of the outer bearing ring, and a rolling element disposed between the outer bearing ring and the inner bearing ring. The contact part is provided on a surface of the inner bearing ring on the chamber-side.

Abstract: To provide a delivery management method that is based on resource conservation, energy conservation, ecology and the like. [Resolution Means] Host computers (10 and 20) that provide the steps of: selecting between a packaging mode using a cardboard box and a packaging mode using a return box that goes back and forth between a delivery destination and a product delivery center without the use of the cardboard box with regards to the packaging of a product when an order for a product is received from a terminal device (S103); assigning a return box and a pickup location of a delivery company in a zone that includes the delivery destination of the product when the packaging mode using the return box is selected using a selection screen (S111); stowing the product in the assigned return box at the product delivery center (S115); delivering the return box from the product delivery center (S116); and returning the return box to the product delivery center after the return box has been delivered (S119).

Abstract: Delivering bags, for example, for delivering items and products purchased bye-commerce in so-called “grocery” tote bags to the respective purchasing customers is described. In one embodiment, a system includes a box and a plurality of bag protectors, each made of material having sufficient rigidity to protect a bag contained therein. In one embodiment, the bag protector has a bottom panel configured to support a bottom of the bag, and two side panels that are configured to extend from two opposing edges of the boom panel away from the bottom panel to form a generally tapering profile so as to meet each other adjacent an opening portion of the bag. The box is configured to receive a plurality of bag protectors, each protectively containing a bag therein. For example, given the generally tapering profile of the bag protectors, they may be placed alternately facing opposite directions in the box.

Abstract: Systems and computer-implemented methods are provided for automatically picking up items or products in a materials handling facility. In one embodiment, a system includes a first sensor; a conveyor; a robotic hand including multiple digits, each digit having one or more suction cups attached thereto; a memory; and one or more processors, which are all coupled together. The memory includes program instructions executable by the one or more processors to implement a pick process component configured to: (i) receive sensed information of an item or product delivered on the conveyor from the first sensor; (ii) generate a pick plan comprising processor-executable instructions to control the robotic hand to pick up the item or product; and (iii) control the robotic hand to pick up the item or product from the conveyor by executing the generated pick plan, while selectively activating the one or more suction cups.

Abstract: A housing defines a bore in a tubular shape to draw intake air to an engine. A shaft is supported rotationally relative to the housing. A valve is located in the bore and affixed to the shaft. An electric actuator is configured to rotate one end of the shaft. A load generating unit is configured to apply a biasing load onto the shaft from the one end of the shaft toward the bore in a high-temperature state in which a temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: An automated warehouse system may require less space than conventional warehouse systems. The automated warehouse system is configured so that loads are stored in storage areas formed by vertically extending support pillars and horizontally extending beams. The loads are loaded into the storage areas, and the loads are unloaded from storage areas. The automated warehouse system comprises: vertical guide rails disposed on the support pillars; horizontal guide rails disposed on the beams; and a movable platform having a frame body and guide rollers, at least part of the frame body having the same rectangular shape as a shape of at least part of at least one of the storage areas and having vertical frame members and horizontal frame members, the guide rollers being disposed on the vertical frame members and engaging the vertical guide rails or disposed on the horizontal frame members and engaging the horizontal guide rails.

Abstract: A conveyor system is provided including a conveyor and a plurality of functional trays that are removably attachable to the conveyor. Each tray includes a plate having first and second dimensions that are orthogonal to each other, and the plate includes a coupler configured to be removably attached to the conveyor with the second dimension of the plate being in parallel with a moving direction of the conveyor. The plurality of functional trays include one or more of an envelope-opening mechanism, an item-pushing mechanism, an envelope-closing mechanism, an item-wrapping mechanism, and a tray-height-adjustment mechanism. For example, the item-pushing mechanism includes a pusher slidably coupled to the plate, and a linear actuator configured to move the pusher relative to the plate along the first dimension so as to push an item off the functional tray.

Abstract: Systems and computer-implemented methods are provided for automatically picking up items or products in a materials handling facility. In one embodiment, a system includes a first sensor; a conveyor; a robotic hand including multiple digits, each digit having one or more suction cups attached thereto; a memory; and one or more processors, which are all coupled together. The memory includes program instructions executable by the one or more processors to implement a pick process component configured to: (i) receive sensed information of an item or product delivered on the conveyor from the first sensor; (ii) generate a pick plan comprising processor-executable instructions to control the robotic hand to pick up the item or product; and (iii) control the robotic hand to pick up the item or product from the conveyor by executing the generated pick plan, while selectively activating the one or more suction cups.

Abstract: A method of controlling a mobile drive unit includes detecting, by a mobile drive unit at a first location, an active marker at the first location. The mobile drive unit is a self-powered robotic device configured to move independently in a workspace in response to instructions received from the active marker. A management module transmits an instruction to the active marker. The active marker emits a signal detectable by the mobile drive unit, the signal comprising the instruction. The mobile drive unit receives the instruction from the active marker for the mobile drive unit to perform a task.

Abstract: Delivering bags, for example, for delivering items and products purchased bye-commerce in so-called “grocery” tote bags to the respective purchasing customers is described. In one embodiment, a system includes a box and a plurality of bag protectors, each made of material having sufficient rigidity to protect a bag contained therein. In one embodiment, the bag protector has a bottom panel configured to support a bottom of the bag, and two side panels that are configured to extend from two opposing edges of the boom panel away from the bottom panel to form a generally tapering profile so as to meet each other adjacent an opening portion of the bag. The box is configured to receive a plurality of bag protectors, each protectively containing a bag therein. For example, given the generally tapering profile of the bag protectors, they may be placed alternately facing opposite directions in the box.

Abstract: To provide a delivery management method that is based on resource conservation, energy conservation, ecology and the like. [Resolution Means] Host computers (10 and 20) that provide the steps of: selecting between a packaging mode using a cardboard box and a packaging mode using a return box that goes back and forth between a delivery destination and a product delivery center without the use of the cardboard box with regards to the packaging of a product when an order for a product is received from a terminal device (S103); assigning a return box and a pickup location of a delivery company in a zone that includes the delivery destination of the product when the packaging mode using the return box is selected using a selection screen (S111); stowing the product in the assigned return box at the product delivery center (S115); delivering the return box from the product delivery center (S116); and returning the return box to the product delivery center after the return box has been delivered (S119).

Abstract: An automated warehouse system may require less space than conventional warehouse systems. The automated warehouse system is configured so that loads are stored in storage areas formed by vertically extending support pillars and horizontally extending beams. The loads are loaded into the storage areas, and the loads are unloaded from storage areas. The automated warehouse system comprises: vertical guide rails disposed on the support pillars; horizontal guide rails disposed on the beams; and a movable platform having a frame body and guide rollers, at least part of the frame body having the same rectangular shape as a shape of at least part of at least one of the storage areas and having vertical frame members and horizontal frame members, the guide rollers being disposed on the vertical frame members and engaging the vertical guide rails or disposed on the horizontal frame members and engaging the horizontal guide rails.