Abstract: A method of forming a vacuum insulated refrigerator cabinet, the method comprising providing first and second sheets of material. The first sheet of material is thermoformed over a first forming tool forming a first intermediate structure. The first intermediate structure is then thermoformed over a second forming mold to create a second intermediate structure. The second sheet of material is then sealing connected with the second intermediate structure forming an annular space. A vacuum is created in the annular space creating a vacuum insulated cabinet.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides vacuum insulated articles having two—or more—insulated volumes at reduced pressure. An article may include a first vent communicating with a first insulating space, a second vent communicating with a second insulating space, a first circular insulation seal sealing the first insulating space at the first vent; and a second circular insulation seal sealing the second insulating space at the second vent. Also provided are methods of fabricating vacuum insulated articles.

Abstract: A apparatus for delivering a predetermined quantity of content from a pressurized container includes a dispensing assembly which sits on the container and connects with an upper portion of a valve stem of the valve assembly, wherein the dispensing assembly includes a) an actuator cap having a discharge passage, which is open or obstructed and wherein the actuator cap acts as a metering chamber in combination with b) an adaptor which fits inside the cap and also snuggly engages the valve stem. The cap fits snuggly over the adjuster to define a metering chamber which depending on its position can close off the metered chamber or open it to the dispensing conduit\nozzle. When the cap is depressed it pushes down on the adjuster which depresses the valve. The chamber fills, but nothing is released until the upstroke.

Abstract: A container for storing and dispensing continuous lengths of chain includes a base having a hollow interior for storing the chain. The base has an open end defined by a top edge. The container also includes a lid that has a storage orientation and a dispensing orientation in which the lid is inverted relative to the storage orientation. The lid includes a first opening for dispensing the chain from the hollow interior. A coupling member of the lid is configured to attach the lid to the open end of the base in each of the storage and dispensing orientations. The coupling member can be configured to produce a releasable snap-fit between the lid and the base.

Abstract: A beverage cartridge system is adapted to brew a beverage through a brewer having a holder adapted to receive the cartridge system. The holder may have a deep well with one or more needles therewithin to pierce through the bottom of the cartridge system when inserted into the well. The cartridge system may include a short cup and a tall cup, where the tall cup is taller than the short cup to pack more beverage grind. The cartridge system may include a filter within an outer cup. The bottom of the filter may be deep enough to be juxtaposed to the bottom of the cup. The filter may be formed from a material that is substantially resistant to piercing by the needle within the holder such that when the outlet needle pierces through the bottom of the cup, the outlet needle raises the filter at a point of contact, and the filter substantially resists the outlet needle from piercing through the filter during a brewing process.

Abstract: An intermodal transport container comprising a rectangular frame having enclosed sides, a floor, a top-access roof cover including a retractable roof panel assembly, a first end closure, and an opposing end closure collectively forming an enclosed interior volume for transporting bulk material. The top-access hinged roof cover includes a robust roof panel hinge system that engages with the roof panel assembly. The roof panel opens in accordance with a two stage process: initially having a linear motion where a member of the roof panel hinge system engages with a support beam of the roof panel assembly and a second stage where the roof panel rotates in accordance with the pivotal motion of the hinge of the roof panel hinge system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plug for closing and isolating a pipe (9) having an inner wall forming a substantially cylindrical cavity with a so-called first diameter, the plug comprising: a main body (110) having substantially a shape of a cylinder with a so-called second diameter, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter to allow the plug to be inserted into the cavity; and sealing joint elements (120) that project around the side wall of the cylinder (110) defining the shape of the main body, so as to seal a free space formed between the main body (110) and the inner wall of the pipe (9), in which the main body (110) comprises several assembly elements forming the cylinder (110), each assembly element having a shape inscribed within a parallelepiped volume defined by three orthogonal dimensions, where at least two of the three dimensions have a length smaller than the second diameter, and the plug further comprising a position holding system comprising several non-slip pads (140; 340) de

Abstract: A unique eight-stacked-reinforced-handle eight-stacked-and-reinforced-latch biodegradable bag comprises top sections, body sections attached to the top sections, and bottom sections attached to the body sections, respectively. The bottom sections are attached together. The unique eight-stacked-reinforced-handle eight-stacked-and-reinforced-latch biodegradable bag has a plurality of openings mechanically punched in the top sections, to form eight handles and two locking braces next to the openings, to form eight locking latches and two locking doors inside the openings, and to form eight locking walls around the openings, respectively. The top sections are folded to stack and reinforce the eight handles, the eight locking latches, the two locking doors, the two locking braces, and the eight locking walls, respectively.

Abstract: A maintenance access system for a storage and retrieval system having a storage and retrieval space and automated transport vehicles disposed in the space. The system includes at least one maintenance access control unit associated with a portion of the space, at least one barrier in the space and defining a boundary of the portion of the space and configured to substantially prevent the passage of the vehicles past the at least one barrier, and a controller connected to the control unit, the controller being configured to receive a signal from the at least one control unit for isolating the portion of the space associated with the at least one control unit, where the controller in response to the signal closes the at least one barrier isolating the portion of the space and effects the removal from or shutting down of vehicles within the portion of the space.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automated storage cabinet for trolleys. It includes a device for automatically handling a single trolley with a handling basket including a vertical plate perpendicular to the waiting area, vertically movable between the floor of the waiting area and any one of the levels of the trolley storage cabinet, and two side flanks, connected to the vertical plate and provided with structure for supporting, on either side, two opposite sides of a trolley in the waiting area and for transferring the supported trolley through an opening of the predetermined compartment. The handling device can include structure for inserting the trolley into or extracting the trolley from the predetermined compartment.

Abstract: Mobile robots and methods involving mobile robots are provided. In one method, one or more items are manually loaded with one or more mobile robots. Operation of the mobile robots is coordinated, by a remote computer system and/or by one or more of the mobile robots, to sort and transport the items. The coordinated operation includes autonomously moving the mobile robots within their operating environment between respective locations.

Abstract: A belt conveyor with a machine head rib. At a machine head of the belt conveyor, two annular ribs (1, 2) are sleeved from two sides of an upper supporting roller (5) near the machine head to two sides of a machine head roller (4). A conveying belt (3) is pressed on horizontal edges (1-1, 1-2) and between the two ribs from the upper supporting roller (5) near the machine head to the lowest point of the machine head roller (4) through the machine head roller (4). Protruding vertical sides (1-1, 2-1) of the ribs are higher than the conveying belt. The belt conveyor with a machine head rib has a simple structure, is easy to be installed, has low costs and large conveying capacity and is widely used. In addition to conveying minerals, it can be applied to a belt conveyor with ribs and a trough-type belt conveyor currently.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flexible closed belt conveyor (1) optimized for the requirements in the food industry, the belt comprising a flexible plastic sheet and edge bands welded to the longitudinal edges of the plastic sheet, wherein said endless element is adapted to form a pouch for carrying goods and wherein the maximum thickness of the plastic sheet is less than 1 mm. The invention also deals with a device for balancing the tension between the two edge bands by separating the edge bands in a portion of its pathway.

Abstract: A conveyor belt includes a carrying-side cover plate and a running-side cover plate. The cover plates conjointly define a belt body having a plurality of reinforcement elements embedded therein. The belt body has edge zones and is closable so as to cause the edge zones to overlap and be in mutual contact engagement to form a tube conveyor belt or a pocket conveyor belt. The carrying-side cover plate has a chevron profile arrangement which includes a plurality of diagonal elements extending in both a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction of the conveyor belt. Each two of the diagonal elements conjointly defines a pair with multiple pairs defining a V-formation having a tip aligned in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the belt.

Abstract: An article-diverting modular conveyor belt employs a gear-driven article mover on a conveyor belt module for selectively moving a conveyed article towards a side of the module. The article mover may be a transversely-extending flexible band or helical blade for carrying articles across the belt towards a side of the module. A toothed wheel connected to the article mover is selectively driven by a gear to induce movement of the article mover.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus has a conveying traveling body traveling below a floor board and supporting a carriage main body by column portions penetrating a slit provided in the floor board. The conveying traveling body is composed of a plurality of trolleys. A load bar couples the trolleys, and a strip cover plate covers the load bar below the slit. The strip cover plate has a length longer than the conveying traveling body and has one end portion in the traveling direction provided with a movable plate portion higher than the other end portion. The movable plate is pivotally supported so as to be swingable upward from a horizontal posture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic drive system for a belt conveyor with a motor-driven primary pump which is arranged in a hydraulic primary circuit and is intended for conveying hydraulic fluid, a hydraulic motor which is supplied with hydraulic fluid via the primary circuit and is intended for driving the belt conveyor, and a control device which influences the flow of hydraulic fluid in the primary circuit and is intended for controlling the belt speed of the belt conveyor. In exemplary embodiments, the primary pump is a variable displacement pump and has a pump regulator for regulating the conveyed flow of hydraulic fluid, and the control device comprises a hydraulic control circuit, which is operated by means of an auxiliary pump, for subjecting the pump regulator to an adjustable actuating pressure.

Abstract: A carriage system including a carriage having a target; a winch; a position sensor configured to sense a position of the target; and a controller. The winch includes a cable, a motor, and a motor sensor. The cable couples the carriage to the winch. The motor sensor senses a motor characteristic. The controller is configured to receive the motor characteristic and the position of the target, calculate a characteristic of the system, and output the characteristic.

Abstract: A vibratory conveyor system particularly suitable for elongated foodstuffs and other products includes a rogue product removal pan which can only pass a single one of the items being processed, with the item having the desired alignment/orientation, through each of its product acceptance lanes at a given time. Items therefore leave the rogue product removal pan in orderly rows of single items, thereby easing their packaging. Misaligned items, and or items that were stacked atop other items, are culled by the rogue product removal pan, and can be “recycled” back to the entry of the rogue product removal pan. These “recycled” items are passed through the rogue product removal pan for packaging if they assume the desired orientation, or are again culled and “recycled” if they do not assume the desired orientation.

Abstract: A sorting system is provided with conveying section, distance detecting section, article detecting section, determining section, acquisition section, and sorting section. The conveying section conveys an article. The distance detecting section acquires distance data indicating a distance, from above the conveying section, from the distance detecting section to an object included in a detection area including an area through which the article conveyed by the conveying section passes. The article detecting section detects one or a plurality of the articles based on the distance data. The determining section determines, when a plurality of the articles are detected, whether a plurality of the articles are sortable. The acquisition section acquires sorting information of the article.

Abstract: A stand for storing and/or transporting glass panels of large dimensions including a horizontal support structure and at least one support frame provided to support the glass panels. The stand comprises at least one securing device for securing the stand to another stand.

Abstract: A substrate heat treatment device includes: a heating plate that mounts a wafer and performs a heat treatment on the wafer; a substrate transfer arm that transfers the wafer to the heating plate and is movable from and toward the heating plate; a transfer arm moving device that moves the substrate transfer arm between a position above the heating plate and a standby position of the substrate transfer arm apart from the heating plate; a substrate transfer device that transfers the wafer to and from the substrate transfer arm located at the standby position. The substrate heat treatment device further includes a cooling arm serving as a substrate holding unit configured to cool a previously heat-treated wafer by the heating plate and transfer a next wafer to the heating plate while the previously heat-treated wafer is transferred to the substrate transfer device.

Abstract: First imaging device collects first image data, whereas second imaging device collects second image data of a storage portion. A container identification module identifies a container perimeter of the storage portion in at least one of the collected first image data and the collected second image data. A spout identification module is adapted to identify a spout of the transferring vehicle in the collected image data. An image data evaluator determines whether to use the first image data, the second image data, or both based on an evaluation of the intensity of pixel data or ambient light conditions. An alignment module is adapted to determine the relative position of the spout and the container perimeter and to generate command data to the propelled portion to steer the storage portion in cooperative alignment such that the spout is aligned within a central zone or a target zone of the container perimeter.

Abstract: A method for producing a fiber preform by winding at least one thread in a groove of a mold. The method involves using a flexible element which is capable of becoming deformed by means of flexion, in a plane which contains the winding axis, in order to penetrate into the groove in order to push the sections of the thread(s) towards the base of the groove and/or towards zones which cannot be accessed directly by the thread(s). A set of tools for implementing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A sheet skew feeding correction device has a controller that performs a first mode in which the leading end of the sheet conveyed by the first conveying portion abuts the sheet stopping portion in the first posture, and the sheet is nipped by the second conveying portion operating to convey the sheet while the sheet moves the sheet stopping portion toward the second posture against the urging force of the urging portion and performs a second mode in which the leading end of the sheet conveyed by the first conveying portion abuts the sheet stopping portion in the first posture, the sheet moves the sheet stopping portion against the urging force of the urging portion, and the leading end of the sheet abuts the nip portion of the stopped second sheet conveying portion so that a loop shape is formed in the sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus may be used to control the cross-directional movement of a web advancing in a machine direction. The web defines a machine direction centerline. The apparatus may include a frame rotatable about a first axis of rotation and a guide member connected with the frame and configured to receive an advancing web. The apparatus may include a first rotation member connected with the frame and configured to rotate the frame by a first angle of rotation about the first axis of rotation to align a machine direction centerline of the advancing web with a target cross-directional position. The apparatus comprises a second rotation member connected with the frame and configured to rotate the frame about a second axis of rotation by a second angle of rotation to adjust the target cross-directional position, wherein the second angle of rotation is greater than the first angle of rotation.

Abstract: A transporting device which transports a belt-shaped base material by considering a longitudinal direction of the base material as a transporting direction, includes a first driving roller which transports the base material in the transporting direction; a second driving roller which is disposed to be closer to a downstream side of the transporting direction than the first driving roller, and transports the base material in the transporting direction; an inter-roller transporting path which is provided between the first driving roller and the second driving roller, and through which the base material is transported in a state where the base material is suspended in a direction of gravity and bent; and a tension applying portion which suctions a bent part of the base material from a lower side in the direction of gravity, and applies tension to the base material on the inter-roller transporting path.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a paper processing apparatus comprises a perforation unit configured to include a rotary blade for perforating conveyed paper in a direction parallel to a conveyance direction and be capable of moving the rotary blade in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance path of the paper; a skew detection section configured at the upstream side of the perforation unit to detect the skew of the paper; a skew correction mechanism configured to incline the perforation unit and the rotary blade according to the detected skew amount of the paper; and a control section configured to control the position of the rotary blade and move the rotary blade to a perforation processing position before the paper is conveyed to the perforation unit.

Abstract: According to exemplary systems and methods, signs are created using a document-processing device. The signs are removed from a processing path of the document-processing device using a transport device to move the signs to a compiler. Ordered stacks of the signs are compiled in the compiler. The signs are temporarily held in the compiler during a first operation of a collating system. Following actuation and reset of the collating system, the signs are moved to the collating system. The collating system includes a ramped collator that moves interim stacks of signs received from the compiler from the ramps of the ramped collator toward a final collated stack according to job-specific instructions.

Abstract: A system for collating a plurality of media including a first bin, a second bin arranged adjacent to the first bin, a collated stack receiver arranged proximate the second bin opposite the first bin, first, second and third guides, the first and second guides positioned on opposing sides of the first bin, and the second and third guides positioned on opposing sides of the second bin, and a pusher. When the first, second and third guides are positioned in non-retracted locations, a first set of the plurality of media is deposited in the first bin and a second set of the plurality of media is deposited in the second bin. When the first, second and third guides are positioned in retracted locations, the pusher moves the first set to the second bin vertically above the second set to form a first combined set and moves the first combined set to the collated stack receiver.

Abstract: A sheet discharging device includes a sheet discharge roller pair, a sheet discharge tray, a first actuator, a second actuator and a detector. The first actuator includes a first shaft portion and a first contact piece. The second actuator includes a second shaft portion, a second contact piece and a third contact piece. The detector detects the discharge of the sheet by the rotation of the second actuator about the second shaft portion. The leading end of a first sheet comes into contact with the first, second and third contact pieces to rotate the first and second actuators and the detector detects the discharge of the first sheet. The leading end of a second sheet comes into contact with only the third contact piece to rotate the second actuator without rotating the first actuator and the detector detects the discharge of the second sheet smaller than the first sheet.

Abstract: A method for sensing a position of a lead wire during winding of a wire on a coil form to form a precision coil is provided. The method includes acquiring data representative of at least a portion of the precision coil, identifying portions of the acquired data that represent the wire in the precision coil, and determining a position of the lead wire on the coil form from the identified portions of the acquired data.

Abstract: An easy-to-maneuver reel for carrying wound product is provided. The reel comprises at least one flange that can rotate independently of the drum.

Abstract: A tape holding wheel for a tape dispenser suitable for tape rolls of different size comprises a first engaging unit, and a second engaging unit. There are plurality of supporting ribs which protrudes from an external cambered surface of the tape holding wheel. A propping part is integrally and laterally formed and extended from a top end of each supporting rib, and a propping rib is axially extended on an external end of the propping part. The engaging units are disposed on the tape holding wheel for engaging with a sleeve of the tape dispenser firmly.

Abstract: A gas supply system includes a housing with an aperture, a spool, a one-way bearing, an interval locking device, a main keyed shaft, a spring housing, a spring torque spool and a pair of spring grounding tabs, a main base that stabilizes the housing, a rotating shaft where the main base is disposed on the distal end of the rotating shaft, a rotational bearing that is disposed on the proximal end of the rotating shaft and connects the rotating shaft to the main base. There is also a base clamp that has a pair of corresponding apertures and secures the gas supply system to a tubular shaped object and an adjustable clamp screw that has a handle and a threaded bolt wherein the proximal end of the threaded bolt is attached to and perpendicularly extends from the handle and the adjustable clamp screw.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a position of an elevator in a hoistway includes a fixed belt and a dynamic leveling control module adapted for attachment to the elevator and coupled to the fixed belt. The control module includes a position encoder coupled to the fixed belt, a processor electrically connected to the position encoder, and a communications interface electrically connected to the processor and adapted for communication with an elevator controller for the elevator. The control module determines a velocity, a position, and an acceleration of the elevator in response to a count signal output from the position encoder, and calculates a dynamic slowdown distance relative to an elevator landing for each elevator stop. The control module communicates the dynamic slowdown distance to the elevator controller to initiate slowdown of the elevator. The control module determines a new value of said dynamic slowdown distance for each elevator stop.

Abstract: A control system for elevators includes a capture apparatus, a processor and a storage apparatus. The capture apparatus captures images of each floor. The processor performs human detection on images of each floor to calculate the number of waiting passengers of each floor. The processor further calculates waiting time of each floor. The processor calculates weight of each floor based on the number of the waiting passengers and waiting time, and controls the elevator to the floor with maximum weight.

Abstract: A system and method for an access control system for an elevator system that overrides landing matrices that define the access to the floors in the elevator system. The system overrides the landing matrices of the access control system in response to conditions defined by security system operators, such as emergency situations, and sends the landing matrices to elevator controllers for controlling the access to the floors. In examples, the system supports configuration of vendor-neutral landing matrix objects sent to the access control system over a security network for creating new landing matrices, and overriding the contents of the existing landing matrices.

Abstract: An elevator activation system provides virtual activation of one or more buttons by passengers. An optical sensor or time-of-flight camera is positioned near buttons of the elevator and projects an optical curtain over buttons of the elevator. Disturbances in the optical curtain are detected and an exact location of a disturbance in the optical curtain is communicated to a sensor controller which then virtually activates a button correlated to the particular location of the disturbance. The sensor controller communicates with an elevator controller such that the elevator is controlled based on the particular function activated in response to virtual activation of the button. The elevator activation system may further include a user feedback feature configured to signify to a passenger that a button has been virtually activated without physically contacting the button.

Abstract: In a method for renewing a braking force of a hoisting machine, a brake pad of a brake of the hoisting machine is pressed against a braking surface of a rotating part of the hoisting machine, and the braking surface is moved in relation to the brake pad pressed against the braking surface by resisting the friction force between the braking surface and the brake pad.

Abstract: An elevator moving along an elevator shaft in a building, comprises a car for transport, a worm driving part moving together with the car, a rotating axis of which is parallel to a moving path of the car, and a worm support part including supporting teeth installed in the elevator shaft along the moving path of the car in accordance with worm teeth of the worm driving part. Using the worm driving part and the worm support part mutually interacting, the elevator can go up and down, and the worm driving part and the worm support part keep low frictional resistance to improve an efficiency of lifting.

Abstract: A chain has inner and outer links pivotally interconnected by transverse pins. In a straight configuration the links are substantially aligned in a linear direction. At least one resilient elongate flexible member is threaded along at least part of the length of the chain between the pins in alternate directions so as to force adjacent links of the chain to articulate out of the straight configuration. A chain in this form may be proof loaded before service by applying a tensile load and the elongate flexible member may be removed. A chain assembly comprises a plurality of said chains running between first and second connection brackets.

Abstract: A module lift assembly includes first and second multipoint adapter plates separated by a horizontal transverse spreader bar; a lift frame having first and second longitudinal lift beams separated by horizontal transverse bracing; a plurality of slings of adjustable length connecting the first multipoint adapter plate to the first lift beam and connecting the second multipoint adapter plate to the second lift beam; and a plurality of slider assemblies each slidingly affixed to the first and second lift beams, and a lift shackle for attaching to a module.

Abstract: A lifting hook includes a hook body with a hook stem; a tip; a safety latch with a fastening end and a free latch end, the fastening end being pivotally fastened close to the stem for movement between an open and a closed position, the safety latch being in the open position substantially against the inside of the hook body in a position that leaves the hook jaw open while in a closed position the latch end extends across the hook jaw to the tip of the hook, closing the jaw from the inside; and an actuator of the safety latch arranged between the safety latch and the hook stem, the actuator of the safety latch including a delay mechanism configured to return the safety latch from the open position to the closed position in a delayed manner. A safety latch of a lifting hook is also provided.

Abstract: A device for moving construction tables from under poured concrete is disclosed. A spreader bar is suspended from a crane and it incorporates two cables used to connect to the table to be moved at points between the center of the gravity of the table and it's captive end. A hoist is suspended from the spreader bar and it includes two additional cables or chains also used to connect to the table between the center of gravity and the free end of the table. The two sets of cables or cables and chains are kept separate from each other.

Abstract: A sensor system includes a mounting member, an actuator disposed adjacent the mounting member, and a sensor connected to the actuator for sensing movement of an object using a signal. The actuator moves the sensor from a first sensing position to a second sensing position if the sensor is unable to read the signal.

Abstract: A crane including an inner boom, an outer boom, a plurality of guide assemblies arranged along the length of the inner and outer boom and adapted for guiding a plurality of lines, and a multi-line material handling system including a first line having an outgoing portion extending to a sheave block, and an incoming portion returning from the sheave block to a supported anchor device, and a second line having an outgoing portion extending to the sheave block, and an incoming portion returning from the sheave block to the supported anchor device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for remotely controlling winch operation via a user interface of a remote. In one example, a user interface of a remote for a winch includes a menu display including a plurality of menu items, the menu items navigable and selectable with a series of buttons of the remote. The user interface further includes a plurality of control displays, each of the plurality of control displays generated upon selection of a corresponding menu item of the plurality of menu items, each of the plurality of control displays including selectable icons for controlling one of an operation of a winch, an operation of one or more auxiliary devices, or settings of the remote.

Abstract: A pulling tool is provided with a rotatable drum having a cable wound thereon. A motor is drivingly connected to the rotatable drum and the rotatable drum and motor are disposed within a unique housing structure. The rotatable drum is driven by a planetary gear system that is disposed within the rotatable drum to provide a compact assembly. A belt and pulley system is provided for delivering torque from the motor to the planetary gear system. The rotatable drum is provided with a two-piece stepped construction that allows the planetary gear system to be assembled within the drum and allows for the initial wraps of a cable around the smaller diameter portion of the stepped drum.

Abstract: A movable scissor-lift device for lifting small wheeled vehicles, including, but not limited to, wheelchairs, mowers, ATVs, and the like. The scissor-lift provides a secure platform that can be raised to different heights. It can be easily moved and used to service, assemble, or build equipment in manufacturing plants, service centers, labs, hospitals, and the like. Various access openings on the lifting platform allow for easier servicing of equipment on the lift. Likewise, since the wheels of the vehicles hang free without being blocked by the body of the lift, it is easier to access and service the wheels.