Abstract: The invention is a method of coordinating the movement of a plurality of oppositely directed tramcars operating along a single guidelane. This includes positioning a plurality of fixed stop-boarding areas along the guidelane. By-pass lanes enabling oppositely moving tramcars to pass each other are located in association with at least some of the stop-boarding areas. A predetermined arrival time for each tramcar at each stop-boarding area is calculated such that oppositely moving pairs of tramcars approaching a common stop-boarding area will arrive at approximately the same time. A processor onboard each tramcar calculates the distance and time remaining to the next stop-boarding area. With a known time and distance remaining to the next stop-boarding area, each on-board processor adjusts the speed of the tramcar such that it arrives at approximately the predetermined arrival time.

Abstract: Transportation system comprising a large number of platforms which can be displaced along guides and a smaller number of displacement devices which can be coupled to and uncoupled from the said platforms. Each displacement device comprises a linear actuator comprising a moving part and a stationary part. The stationary part comprises a laminated plate assembly with coils, and the moving part comprises a structure with permanent magnets, such as neodymium magnets. On the linear actuator, there may be a further linear actuator, so that movement in two directions is possible. A transportation system of this type can be used in a parking garage for positioning vehicles.

Abstract: A device that is usable to change the direction of a transport assembly, on which feed roller may be transported, includes a lower section and an upper section. The upper section is pivotally mounted on the lower section. The transport assembly is arranged on the side or on the top of the upper section and the upper section can be pivoted by an angular amount, relative to the lower section, by use of a drive unit. A drive motor of the drive unit has its output transmitted to the upper section by a drive belt. A positive drive exists between the motor and belt and a friction drive exists between the belt and the upper section.

Abstract: A transport system has a pair of laterally spaced apart guideways, each of the guideways having an upward facing track. A vehicle has supports on each side that engage the tracks. A pair of conductor rails are mounted to a shroud extending over the track. Each of the conductor rails has an engaging surface that faces generally laterally from the other. A follower assembly mounted to the vehicle raises into engagement with the rails. The follower assembly has brushes that engage the rails in sliding contact to receive power for the vehicle. The follower assembly is also connected to the steering mechanism of the device for steering the vehicle.

Abstract: A specimen conveying system according to the present invention selectively supplies specimens, which are carried in by a specimen carry-in line having conveyor-belt type conveying lane, to a plurality of specimen processing lines each having a conveyor-belt type conveying lane which perform respective specific processes for the specimens. The supply of the specimens to the specimen processing lines is performed using a motor vehicle whose running is controlled by running control means including means for transmitting a command given from a host computer. The configuration of the whole system is simplified to lower the costs, and an operating passage, which crosses the conveying line, is secured to improve the efficiency of the entire specimen processing operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automated guided vehicle system that can transfer an article between an automated guided vehicle and an automatic warehouse on the basis of easy control. In an automated guided vehicle system 1, the vehicle 10A running on a running path is provided with a roller conveyor 8 used to transfer an article. Further, automatic warehouses 5 are each provided with an article storage and retrieval roller conveyor 51. The transfer roller conveyor 8, which runs with the vehicle 10A, and the storage and retrieval roller conveyor 51 are arranged in series and in proximity to each other in a carrying direction. An article 9 can be transferred between the vehicle 10A and the automatic warehouse 5. The bottom surface of the article 9 is formed as planar portions 9c, 9c at its laterally opposite ends in the carrying direction.

Abstract: An automatic transporting system and a method for operating the same. The automatic transporting system includes a main track, a plurality of transport vehicles, a loading and unloading track, a stocker, a rapid track and an emergency track. The plurality of transport vehicles move on the main track. The loading and unloading track has a first entrance and a first exit. The first entrance and first exit are connected to the main track. The stocker is disposed beside the loading and unloading track. The transport vehicles enter the loading and unloading track and stop at the stocker to load and unload a material. The rapid track has a second entrance and a second exit. The second entrance and second exit are connected to the main track. The emergency track is connected to the main track. The transport vehicles leave the main track via the emergency track.

Abstract: A conveyance system which performs conveying action operating carrier vehicles, including a loop track, carrier vehicles which run on the track, a station where each carrier vehicle performs loading and unloading of a cargo, and a standby station for storing the carrier vehicles in a standby state. The number of the carrier vehicles to be used is determined from a conveyance command number, and can be automatically determined in correspondence with the load in the conveyance system. Accordingly, even if the load is not uniform but significantly varied, the conveying action can be conducted readily and efficiently.

Abstract: A transportation system includes lifts for inter-floor carriage, a carrier cart for intra-floor carriage, and a transit stocker for loading/unloading an article to/from the lift. For each of the lifts, operation status, that is, operating or not, is recorded in a database. The operating rate of each lift, carriage queue for each lift, and an inventory of each transit stocker might also be recorded in the database. When carriage of an article is required, a lift optimum for the carriage is selected from among the lifts based on the information recorded on the database.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes guideways having tracks for supporting a type of vehicle which moves within the guideways and tracks for a type of vehicle which moves on top of the guideways. Guide tracks are provided within the guideways for guiding vehicles of either type and controlling movement through Y junctions. The type of vehicle that moves on top of the guideway includes auxiliary wheels which cooperate with auxiliary tracks in Y junctions to insure reliable support. Each type of vehicle includes automatic load tilting mechanisms and also a special four wheel drive arrangement.

Abstract: A method for heated mold changing at a forming station (24) is performed by apparatus (32) in a heated chamber (22) where heated glass sheets are cyclically formed. A switching station (318) is located adjacent the forming station (24). An unloading station (320) and a mold preheating station (322) are each located adjacent the switching station. An unloading cart (324) is initially movable from the loading station (320) to the switching station (318) and then to the forming station (24) to receive one or more heated molds from the forming station and is subsequently moved from the forming station back through the switching station to the unloading station to permit unloading of each heated mold. A loading cart supports a second mold or a pair of molds for heating within the mold preheating station (322) and is movable from the mold preheating station to the switching station (318) and then to the forming station for mold loading.

Abstract: A novel transportation system enables passengers to travel at high speeds relative to automobile traffic, while permitting each passenger to individually select his destination, commence travel whenever a transporter is available, and travel with or without his own automobile. The transportation system includes a system of guideways connecting various stations, so that a passenger can travel from an origination station, across guideways, to a destination station of choice. Each guideway consists of parallel tracks supporting support magnets. Each transporter is capable of holding one or more passengers or a single vehicle, with or without passengers. The transporters have horizontally extending supports with transporter support magnets.

Abstract: A method of controlling a dispensing system, having a robot that moves along a motion segment and applies a material to a workpiece, automatically determines a backup distance for the robot after an error has occurred during the dispensing of a first portion of the material. The backup distance is based on an operational speed of the robot. The robot is relocated to a backup position based on this backup distance to ensure that the robot reaches the operational speed at least by a time that the robot reaches a re-application position. The re-application position is at or near where the application of the first portion of the material ended. Therefore, gaps, overlaps, and puddles in the material on the workpiece are prevented.

Abstract: A transportation system, generically known as Personal Rapid Transit, employs conventional electric or hybrid automobiles (18) underwhich are mounted electro-mechanical adaptors (24) which permits them to operate autonomously on an elevated guideway (16) which is part of the PRT system. An electronic guidance sensor system (45), and other functional components built into the adaptors, permits the vehicles to track unique rf signals emitted from a guidance wire (36) centrally embedded in the guideway, and to exit and enter the guideway to and from off-line stations (10), and to select various platforms and storage areas within these stations.

Abstract: A system is provided that uses small carrier vehicles that operate along electrified guideways and use standardized connections to automatically carry load-carriers to desired destinations. The load-carriers may be passenger cabins, freight loads or automobile platforms and in each case are loaded and unloaded at separate loading and loading regions. Loading regions are preceded by queue portions of branch paths and may include a group of regions which may be a series of cabin loading regions along a branch path or may be automobile loading regions in side-by-side lanes. Passenger station arrangements are provided for rapid and efficient movement of passengers and for transfer operations when desired. Platform constructions and loading arrangements are provided for rapid loading and unloading and safe transport of automobiles.

Abstract: This invention is a transportation system and method of transport the provides a way for transport of vehicles in which the vehicles are loaded onto self-propelled pallets that are coupled to self-propelled apparatus that is in turn coupled to a fixed and predetermined guide.