Abstract: A robot system includes a robot having a movable robot head with at least two suction grippers spaced apart from one another and a sensor system for detecting a gripping surface pose and a gripping surface size of a gripping surface of a good. Using a controller, a gripping pose for the movable robot head, in which a maximum number of suction grippers is in contact with the gripping surface of the good, is calculated based on the determined gripping surface pose and gripping surface size. Then, the robot head is moved into the calculated gripping pose where the suction grippers are activated so as to grip the good. Moreover, a method operates the robot system.

Abstract: Trough belt conveyor having a flexible conveyor belt loop (6) tensioned around end pulleys (3, 4). Trough forming surfaces (12) are provided under opposite side edge portions (11) of a transport section (7) of the belt (6) and are inclined upward from the transport deck (9) in a laterally outward direction transverse to the transport path (8). The transport section (7) of the belt (6) rests on the transport deck (9) and on the trough forming guide surfaces (12) so as to form a trough extending along the transport path (8). Passages (14) are provided at least in the trough forming guide surfaces (12) or in zones of the transport deck (9) along the trough forming guide surfaces (12), for allowing material caught between the conveyor belt (6) and the trough forming guide surfaces (12) to drop through the guide surfaces (12) or the transport deck (9).

Abstract: An article transport vehicle includes a shake prevention mechanism configured to prevent an article that is housed in a housing portion from shaking in a target direction. The shake prevention mechanism includes an abutting portion and an abutting support portion that is coupled to the housing portion and supports the abutting portion. The abutting support portion includes a second elastic support portion configured to elastically support the abutting portion in the vertical direction relative to the housing portion.

Abstract: A sensing device and system is configured for sensing the temperature, vibration or other characteristics of conveyor rollers and transmitting data pertaining to the condition of the rollers to a remote server to indicate maintenance requirements. The system is configured to only transmit data when an abnormal characteristic is sensed, so that power and data requirements of the monitoring system is minimized. Each sensing device is installed in the shaft of a conveyor roller with its transmission antenna positioned to protrude from an end of the roller. A central server receives the transmitted sensor data and a user interface provides maintenance information to a user so that any required maintenance of a roller can be initiated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for inspecting bundles, wherein receiving containers equipped with containers are transported by a first transport device and wherein the containers each have a marking in their bottom regions which unambiguously identifies the containers, wherein an image recording device records at least one image of the bottom regions of the containers located in the receiving container and at least one information is output which is characteristic of the markings arranged on the containers and/or of at least one property of the containers.

Abstract: Described is a device for inverting the base of a container, comprising means for inverting the base, and at least one tool for holding the container, each holding tool having a retaining member, characterized in that the retaining member has a bearing end that is brought to bear against a container, and in that each holding tool also comprises a centering member mounted inside the retaining member, the centering member being moveable inside the retaining member.

Abstract: An article transport facility of the present invention includes a transport device that is arranged below a traveling surface and transports articles below the traveling surface, door members that are provided in correspondence with openings and change in orientation between an open orientation in which the openings are open and a closed orientation in which the opening are closed, and a door control section that controls the door members. The transport device is configured to transport multiple articles synchronously and simultaneously in an article group, and the door control section opens all of the door members provided in a receiving section group synchronously and simultaneously.

Abstract: A middle guide is located between a first transporter and a second transporter in a width direction in an area of a conveyor device extending in a transportation direction including a joint connecting to a support conveying device to guide a bottom middle portion of a bottom surface, and the bottom middle portion is a portion of the bottom surface between a bottom first portion and a bottom second portion in the width direction. The middle guide has a middle guide surface to guide the bottom middle portion, and the middle guide surface is located in a reference plane at the joint and inclined further downward at a greater distance from the joint.

Abstract: A loading apparatus for use with tubular food articles. The loading apparatus comprises an input conveyor configured to convey the tubular food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the input conveyor and configured to operate in an intermittent motion, and a curved end member positioned in spaced arrangement to the input conveyor to permit the tubular food articles to pass between the input conveyor and the curved end member such that the curved end member retains the tubular food articles on the input conveyor. The input conveyor is configured to transfer the tubular food articles from the input conveyor directly to the indexing conveyor using gravity from a space between the input conveyor and the curved end member.

Abstract: A product order fulfillment system including a multi-level transport system and a lifting transport system. Each level of the multi-level transport system having a corresponding independent asynchronous level transport system separate and distinct from the asynchronous level transport system corresponding to each other level of the multi-level transport system. Each independent lift axis of the lifting transport system being configured to independently hold at least one case and being communicably coupled to each asynchronous level transport system so as to provide for exchange of the at least one case between each asynchronous level transport system and each independent lift axis. Each independent lift axis is communicably coupled to each other independent lift axis of the more than one lift axis and forms a common output of mixed cases so as to create an ordered sequence of mixed cases in accordance to a predetermined case out ordered sequence.

Abstract: A conveying system employs independently controlled flights. The flights are controlled separately from a conveying surface using a linear transport system. The linear transport system allow the position of the flights to be controlled based on a parameter, such as the length of a conveyed object. The flights are pivotally mounted to a mover of the linear transport system and can pivot relative to the conveying surface to allow the flights to fit in a space between an end of carryway and a receptacle.

Abstract: A stack of products is moved using a robot. The robot has an articulated arm and grippers on the articulated arm to grip the stack of products. The stack of products is selectively turned in the depositing scheme. Two grippers are used in the method and, upon the deposit, the grippers are removed from the stack of products in the horizontal and in two directions perpendicular to one another. It is possible to move and selectively deposit stacks of product in a turned or unturned orientation.

Abstract: A transport system includes: a mover that includes at least one magnetic body; a stator that includes a plurality of coils arranged in a first direction to be able to face the at least one magnetic body and applies force to the at least one magnetic body by the plurality of coils to which current is applied; and a control unit that controls the current applied to the plurality of coils to apply the force to the at least one magnetic body in the first direction, a second direction crossing the first direction, and a third direction crossing the first direction and the second directions.

Abstract: An article conveyance apparatus conveys containers with carriers moved by a linear driving apparatus. The article conveyance apparatus includes a first upper side linear conveyance rail, a second lower side linear conveyance rail, a first delivery unit that is inverted while holding the carriers to deliver the carriers from a downstream end of the first conveyance rail to an upstream end of the second conveyance rail. A second delivery unit that is inverted while holding the plurality of carriers, delivers the carriers from a downstream end of the second conveyance rail to an upstream end of the first conveyance rail. An interval between the first conveyance rail (forward path) and the second conveyance rail (return path) is reduced as compared with an existing article conveyance apparatus.

Abstract: A de-stacking device includes a de-stacking element, a supporting element for supporting a lid stack, and a groove for receiving and discharging a separated lid. The groove is arranged on the de-stacking element and the supporting element. The de-stacking device further includes a separating element, which is arranged on a first end of the groove such that the lid can be separated from the lid stack and can be received by the groove.

Abstract: A brake roller assembly may comprise: a shaft; a first roller bearing coupled to the shaft and disposed at a first axial end of the shaft a second roller bearing coupled to the shaft and disposed at a second axial end of the shaft; a roller cylinder disposed radially outward of the first roller bearing and the second roller bearing; and a braking arrangement, including a plurality of electrodes, and a plurality of rotor disks coupled to the roller cylinder, each rotor disk in the plurality of rotor disks disposed between an anode in the plurality of electrodes and a cathode in the plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: An unloading apparatus for unloading a load contained in a tray of a load carrying vehicle having a transporter adapted to releasably receive the tray, the unloading apparatus comprising a rotator having a support surface for parking of the load carrying vehicle according to the second aspect of the invention, and a plurality of frames arranged in a spaced apart relationship with respect to each other along the support surface, the frames being adapted to secure the tray to the rotator and lifting the tray from the transporter, and means for rotating the rotator about the longitudinal axis of the tray for unloading of the load. There is also provide a load carrying vehicle including a transporter and a tray releasably attached to the transporter as well as a system and method from loading load from a first location into the tray and unloading the load at a second location using the unloading apparatus.

Abstract: A material strip collection mechanism coiling fed material strip on a reel includes a vertically positioned reel bracket rotatable about a vertical axis between a first configuration and a second configuration. The mechanism further includes a first arm holding the reel and a second arm each rotatable to drive the reel and coil the material strip on the reel. With the reel bracket in the first configuration, the first arm is in a material strip collection position to allow the material strip to be coiled on each empty reel held by the first arm to form a full reel, while the second arm is in a standby position to allow the full reel held by the second arm to be replaced with a new empty reel.

Abstract: A magnetic ink reading device includes a housing having a slot through which a medium is inserted, a roller driven by a motor by which the medium is conveyed along a conveyance path, one or more sensors arranged along the conveyance path and configured to detect the medium at one or more respective positions, a magnetic head configured to read a magnetic pattern formed on the medium with magnetic ink, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the motor to convey the medium inserted through the slot, measure a length in a conveyance direction of the medium using outputs from the sensors, and control the magnetic head to read the magnetic pattern from the medium while controlling the motor to continuously convey the medium for a period corresponding to the measured length.

Abstract: A dump gate system having a pair of belts configured for rotation in opposite directions and spaced apart to define a gap between the belts. Fins extend outward from the belts. The fins may support an item in the gap when the belts are in a loading position. Each belt may have a tapered section extending from the top of the belt to a lower section of the belt. Each belt may taper toward the other belt in the tapered section to gradually reduce the width of a gap between the belts from the top of each belt to the lower section. The lower sections of the belts may be generally parallel to each other. A drive system may be configured to rotate the belts to move the fins from an initial loading position to a final loading position while items are fed into the gap for support by the fins.

Abstract: A postprocessing device includes a processing tray, a first transport roller, a second transport roller, a sidetrack, a sidetrack roller, and a controller. The controller shunts a preceding recording medium to the sidetrack by rotating the sidetrack roller, determines, on a basis of a length of the preceding recording medium in a transport direction, a timing to stop the rotation of the sidetrack roller such that, when the sidetrack roller is made to start rotating at a predetermined timing to start, a leading edge of a following recording medium transported by the second transport roller becomes aligned with a leading edge of the preceding recording medium, stops the rotation of the sidetrack roller at the determined timing, and transports the preceding recording medium with the following recording medium stacked thereon, to the processing tray, by rotating the second transport roller and the sidetrack roller at the reference timing to start.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing documents are provided. The apparatus includes a feeder for receiving a packet of a plurality of documents and separating the documents to serially feed the documents to a scanner. A drop feeder conveys the document packets to the feeder. A sensor provides information related to the thickness of the document packets and the drop feeder is controlled in response to the information related to the thickness of a packet in the feeder. The method includes the control of the drop feeder in response to information related to the thickness of a document packet at the feeder.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet stacking member, a feeding member provided above the sheet stacking member, and a lifting member to lift up and down the sheet stacking member. An accommodating unit for accommodating the sheet is provided with a supporting frame for supporting the sheet stacking member. A restricting member restricts a position of the sheet stacking member. Movement in a lifting down direction of the sheet stacking member is restricted by the restricting member when the restricting member is attached to the supporting frame in a state in which the sheet stacking member is lifted up to a predetermined position.

Abstract: A medium ejecting apparatus includes medium ejecting apparatus includes an ejection roller to eject a medium, a tray to load the medium ejected by the ejection roller, a medium regulating member provided with a load pressing portion on a front-end side thereof to apply a load to the medium ejected on the tray, and provided with an engaging portion on a base portion side opposite to the front-end portion, and a holding member provided with an engaged portion to engage with the engaging portion, to hold the medium regulating member in such a way that the medium regulating member can swing in a vertical direction with respect to an upper surface of the tray, and pivot along a rotation axis in a direction from the base side toward the front-end portion side, according to the ejection of the medium.

Abstract: A conveying system and a battery production system are provided. The conveying system is used for sheet conveying, and includes: a driving roller making contact with a sheet; and a press roller arranged correspondingly to the driving roller, the press roller abutting against at least part of the surface of the sheet facing away from the driving roller and pressing the sheet against the driving roller. The press roller includes: a main shaft with a central axis; at least one hollow rubber roller detachably sleeving the main shaft; and at least one pair of fixing clamp rings arranged on two sides of the hollow rubber roller along the central axis so as to fix the position of the hollow rubber roller on the main shaft along the central axis, where an outer diameter of the fixing clamp ring is less than that of the hollow rubber roller.

Abstract: A roll support device includes: a shaft portion that supports a center hole of a rolled medium in which a medium is wound; a first guide member with which one end surface of the rolled medium in an axial direction of the shaft portion is in contact; a second guide member that is provided on the shaft portion and regulates, in the axial direction, an inner peripheral side of another end surface of the rolled medium in the axial direction; and a third guide member that regulates, in the axial direction, an outer peripheral side of the other end surface of the rolled medium supported by the shaft portion.

Abstract: Provided are a rotary shaft of a three-dimensional printing filament spool holder, a three-dimensional printing filament spool holder, and a three-dimensional printer, comprising a fixed tube and a sleeve assembly sleeved outside the fixed tube and being capable of rotating relative to the fixed tube. The sleeve assembly is elastically connected to the fixed tube through an elastic member, the relative rotation between the sleeve assembly and the fixed tube causes the elastic member to generate elastic deformation, and the sleeve assembly is configured for being sleeved in a three-dimensional printing filament spool.

Abstract: An apparatus for the accumulation of wire or cable, the apparatus including a collapsible reel assembly, the collapsible reel assembly including a central hollow arbor, a fixed inner support structure axially centered on and rigidly attached to the central hollow arbor, wherein the fixed inner support has a first end and a second end, a fixed flange, axially centered on and attached to the first end of the fixed inner support structure, a removable flange, axially centered on and removably attached to the second end of the fixed inner support structure opposite the fixed flange and an inner drum assembly. The inner drum assembly including a plurality of moving inner support structures movably attached to the fixed inner support structure and a plurality of inwardly-collapsible drum segments. Wherein the inwardly-collapsible drum segments collapse inward after the removable flange is removed from the collapsible reel assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a cable reel. The cable reel may include a hollow core having a width; a first wall coupled to an end of the core and extending radially outward a distance from the core, the first wall comprising an opening aligned with the hollow core and at least one support member extending across the opening; and a second wall coupled to an opposing end of the core and extending radially outwardly a distance from the core, the second wall comprising an opening aligned with the hollow core; wherein the first wall and the second wall form a gap therebetween equal to the width of the core, the gap being configured to hold a length of excess cable wrapped around the core. Cable reel covers are also described.

Abstract: Provided are embodiments including a system a method for performing smart beamforming for reliable and secure wireless data transmission. The can embodiments include receiving at least one parameter of an elevator car operating in a hoistway, and determining a steering angle based on the received parameters. The embodiments can also include performing beamforming of an antenna array based on the determined steering angle, and transmitting data from the antenna array based at least in part on a beamforming process.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a location of a conveyance apparatus within a conveyance system including: detecting a first location of the conveyance apparatus at a first time using a position reference system; detecting a second location of the conveyance apparatus at a second time using at least one of a pressure sensor located on the conveyance apparatus and an acceleration sensor located on the conveyance apparatus; and determining that the second location is equivalent to the first location if the second time is within a selected range of the first time.

Abstract: A docking mechanism, an elevator shaft module, and an elevator system. The elevator shaft module and elevator system includes the docking mechanism. The docking mechanism includes a first docking element having a first adjusting element; and a second docking element having a second adjusting element, the first docking element is adapted to dock the second docking element in an adjustable manner, and the first adjusting element is adapted to engage the second docking element, such that a docking position between the first docking element and the second docking element is changeable by adjusting one of the first adjusting element and the second adjusting element.

Abstract: A transportation system for a building with multiple floors includes a shaft, a traction sheave drive type elevator and a lift. The elevator that vertically conveys persons has an elevator car which is movable in the shaft and at least two counterweights which are movable together with the car in the shaft in a direction of movement opposite to the direction of movement of the elevator car. The elevator car and the counterweights are driven by drive engines with traction sheaves. The lift that vertically conveys objects may be a self-propelled lift. A lift platform of the lift overlaps at least partly a vertical projection of the elevator car, whereby preferably the vertical projection of the lift platform is smaller than the vertical projection of the elevator car.

Abstract: A landing door of an elevator system includes a door leaf equipped with an integrated floor indicator that signals to a person the floor on which an elevator car approaching the exit floor is currently located. The door leaf of the landing door has a wall element made of sheet metal with a microperforated indicator sector and actuatable light sources arranged in the indicator sector behind the wall element to form the floor indicator.

Abstract: A monitoring device (20, 22), which is configured for monitoring movement of at least one component (6, 12) of an elevator system (2), includes an acceleration sensor (24) and a controller (26). The acceleration sensor (24) is configured for detecting accelerations (g, g?) of the at least one component (6, 12) and providing a corresponding acceleration signal (28, 30). The controller (26) is configured for determining peaks (28a, 28b, 30a, 30b) having positive or negative signs in the detected acceleration signal (28, 30); determining the signs of the detected peaks (28a, 28b, 30a, 30b); and determining that the moving direction of the at least one component (6, 12) has changed when two subsequent peaks (28a, 28b, 30a, 30b) of the acceleration signal (28, 30) having the same sign are detected.

Abstract: There is provided a crane that is assemblable and disassemblable and is capable of changing a monitoring range for periphery monitoring according to an assembly state of the crane.

Abstract: Based upon the identification of a structural member, a projective path and final attachment location for the structural member is presented to the crane operator. Further, the dimensions of each structural member are determined and compared against a construction site database. Structural members not conforming to the dimensions listed in the construction site database are identified and the crane operator alerted.

Abstract: A control unit performs a travel stop process for stopping travel of a travel unit in response to an indicator detection unit detecting a stop notice indicator section and then detecting a stop position indicator section. After the travel of the travel unit is stopped as a result of the travel stop process, the control unit performs a transfer process for causing a transfer unit to transfer an article. The control unit performs, instead of the transfer process, anomaly notification processing for providing a notification of an occurrence of an anomaly to a superordinate control unit, after the travel of the travel unit is stopped by the travel stop process, in response to: (i) a travel distance, from a position at which the indicator detection unit has detected the stop notice indicator section, being smaller than a determination distance smaller than a notice distance, and (ii) the indicator detection unit detecting the stop position indicator section.

Abstract: Provided are a control system and a control method for cranes which, by reducing the distortion of a structural member, are capable of shortening the time necessary for correcting positional deviations and directional deviations resulting from the distortion, thereby improving the efficiency of cargo handling work. A control system includes receivers and a control device and is configured in such a way that the control device adjusts the speed of each of paired propelling devices based on the coordinates of positions determined by the receivers to perform control to decrease the change in relative positions between the receivers in plan view.

Abstract: An automatic loading system for vehicles includes an overhead platform, a transporting machine, and a cargo carrying mechanism. The overhead platform includes two rails. The transporting machine is disposed on the rails and configured to move on the rails along a first direction. The transporting machine includes a hoist mechanism and a fork assembly disposed on the hoist mechanism. The hoist mechanism is configured to drive the fork assembly to move along a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction. The fork assembly includes forks disposed side by side and separately. Each fork includes at least a conveyer belt. The cargo carrying mechanism is configured to carry cargos and includes a conveyer belt platform. When the fork assembly is close to the cargo carrying mechanism, the conveyer belt and the conveyer belt platform are configured to transport the cargos to the forks from the conveyer belt platform.

Abstract: A gantry crane for containers with at least one raised horizontal beam, comprising ship-side spreaders supported on a first section of said horizontal beam, container land-side spreaders supported on a second section of said horizontal beam, and a horizontal transport carriage, mounted displaceably along the beam so that it is susceptible to being placed under the containers lifted by the ship-side spreaders, and arranged to support the containers and displace them to a position below the land-side spreaders, said horizontal transport carriage comprising anchoring means for separably anchoring the containers.

Abstract: A mobile crane includes: a lower traveling body including a pair of crawlers; an upper slewing body supported on the lower traveling body slewably about a slewing axis; a tiltable attachment including a boom tiltably supported on the upper slewing body; and a physical quantity detector. The lower traveling body has a reaction force receiving part for receiving a reaction force from the ground at a position away from the slewing axis in a boom direction in a state where the pair of crawlers are in contact with the ground, the boom direction coinciding with a horizontal component of a direction in which the boom extends from the upper slewing body, and the physical quantity detector detects a physical quantity which changes in accordance with a change in the reaction force received from the ground by the reaction force receiving part.

Abstract: The aerial lift comprises a working platform 130 and a lifting structure 120 supporting the platform 130 on one side. At least three, preferably four, force sensors 41, 42 are interposed between the lifting structure 120 and the platform 130. The support interfaces for the force sensors 41, 42 are all situated on a side of the floor 131 of the platform 130 that is situated towards the side of the working platform on which it is supported by the lifting structure 120. Each of the force sensors 41, 42 is provided to measure the force exerted only in the vertical direction by the platform 130 on the support interface thereof when the floor of the working platform extends horizontally.

Abstract: A hydraulic jack for providing safety and security is disclosed. The hydraulic jack comprises a hydraulic cylinder storing hydraulic fluid inside, and a piston installed in the hydraulic cylinder that is raised up from the hydraulic cylinder by pressure of the hydraulic fluid stored in the hydraulic cylinder, thereby a heavyweight can be lifted by the piston. The piston has at least one drill hole on its body thereof that has a determined diameter and is perpendicular to the piston. A security piece is attachable on a top portion of the hydraulic cylinder. The security piece comprises a pair of through holes, which align with at least one drill hole of the piston.

Abstract: Materials-handling vehicles, such as counterbalanced lift trucks, can incorporate a counterweight that includes a frame, a cavity, and a sensor-mounting recess. The counterweight may be configured to provide an unobstructed horizontal line of sight of at least 180 degrees for a sensor, such as an object-detection sensor, that is mounted within the sensor-mounting recess. A lift truck can include a lift assembly comprising a mast and a pair of forks, an operator compartment comprising truck steering and speed controls, a plurality of wheels, an energy source, a counterweight comprising a frame and a sensor-mounting recess, and a sensor.

Abstract: Method to move containers (C) in a processing line (10) that comprises a station (11) for storing and picking up said containers (C) and a station (12) at least for filling said containers (C), said method providing, in said storage and pick-up station (11), to supply a container-holding tray (15) containing a plurality of said containers (C) disposed upended in said container-holding tray (15) with respect to their mouth (43), and subsequently to upend said containers (C) with the aid of upending means (20) so as to invert the orientation of said containers (C) and make them available with the side of the mouth (43) facing upward so that they can be picked up by extraction means (22).

Abstract: A container-handling apparatus, in particular a filling machine for filling cans or similar containers with liquid contents, has a first transporter for a container infeed, a downstream rotor with a plurality of handling positions for handling the containers, and a second transporter downstream of the rotor and forming a container outfeed. The second transporter is a chain conveyor with at least one guide finger having first and second guide portion, which receives the as yet unsealed containers and guides them by the first guide portion initially along a first, at least partially curved transport path portion, continuously in contact with a guide rail, before the second guide portion of the guide finger then conveys the container on a straight, second transport path portion along the container treatment path.

Abstract: A pressure control device for controlling a pressure in a beverage container comprises a gas filled pressure control chamber enclosed by a wall of the pressure control device. The wall has an inner surface facing the chamber and an outer surface facing away from the chamber, the inner surface and outer surface defining a thickness of the wall. A scavenger material is provided in the pressure control device for capturing gas that enters, during use, into the pressure control chamber. The scavenger material is distributed over the wall thickness with a predetermined concentration from the inner surface towards the outer surface of the wall such that a rate of gas capture by the scavenger material changes over time.

Abstract: An ice-making mechanism and a water dispenser with the mechanism include an ice-making box configured to make ice cubes, the ice-making box is in communication with a water source, so that the water source supplies water to the ice-making box, an evaporator sleeved on the ice-making box, the evaporator is configured to cool the water in the ice-making box to make the ice cubes, an ice storage basket configured for storing the ice cubes, the ice storage basket is located on a side of the ice-making box away from the ground and is in communication with the ice-making box, and a cold water tank configured for storing cold water, the cold water tank is in communication with the ice storage basket.

Abstract: The present system generally relates to a fluid flow system where a controller and motor pump assemblies are used to optimize the control of fluid flow through the system. The controller samples the back electromotive force of the motor and pump assemblies and is able to utilize the sampled back electromotive force in conjunction with predefined target back electromotive force values, preferably empirically determined and tuned to an induvial motor and for a select fluid, to tune the voltage applied to the system, control the back electromotive force of the system and, by extension, control the flow of fluid.