Abstract: Of the type capable of being combined side by side with other similar units and compose an installation for storage, movement and dispatching of several volumes which can be packaged in boxes which are stacked on each module, each base comprising a structural module (1) with three functional sections that constitute real pavements, one lower (2) referred as ground floor, one intermediate defined as first floor (3) and one upper defined as support level (4), the latter has support locks (5) for the stacked boxes (6); each one of the two pavements (2 and 3) are equally provide with four rails segments (7) and (8), on which work at least one movement robot (10) and one lifting robot (9); all this set is combined with other equal units fitted on all or any of its four sides, this combination also coincides with the alignment between all the rails (7) and (8) by configuring paths in the four directions of each structural module and which constitutes routes for the robots (9 and 10); said robots combine to remove t

Abstract: A system for moving pallets can include a rectangular grid, pallets, a shuttle device, a motive assembly, and one or more processors. The pallets can be arranged upon a matrix of cells of the rectangular grid. The one or more processors can be communicatively coupled to the shuttle device and the motive assembly. The one or more processors can execute machine readable instructions to activate a vertical actuator to urge the pallet engagement member of the shuttle device into engagement with a shuttle engagement member of a selected pallet of the pallets. The motive assembly can be actuated to slide the selected pallet along the rectangular grid, while the pallet engagement member of the shuttle device and the shuttle engagement member of the selected pallet are engaged.

Abstract: A method for managing charge of a plurality of battery-driven AGVs (automated guided vehicles) circulating on the main route provided with an automatic charge station includes: a first step of detecting, using an AGV, a marker for battery voltage check provided on a main route to measure the voltage of a battery of the AGV; a second step of changing the route of the AGV to advance it into a charge route provided in an automatic charge station, stopping the AGV in a charging position, and charging the battery automatically by using an automatic charger, if the measured battery voltage has lowered to a level requiring charging; and a third step of conveying the AGV that has been automatically charged to a standby place provided in the automatic charge station.

Abstract: A parking facility for motor vehicles having fixed parking places arranged above each other and each having a guide for a pallet that is displaceable along the guide as well as a lift, which is disposed alongside the fixed parking places and which also carries a guide for the pallet is provided. For displacement of the pallet between the respective guides of a parking place and the lift, the lift is stopped alongside a parking place such that the respective guides are aligned with one another. The guide of the lift at its end facing the parking place is supported on a supporting surface connected to the parking place. The guide of the lift after being set down onto the supporting surface is pivoted about a horizontal pivotal axis until the guide of the lift is in a horizontal position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new personal transport system for passengers and goods, which comprises: a tube car comprising a self-powered closed tube car carrying passengers or goods from door to door; and a network of tubes comprising a plurality of tubes, the said network of tubes combined with the existing blocks or buildings, with each tube in the network of tubes provided with an upper rail and/or a lower rail for supporting and/or guiding the said tube car carrying passengers or goods. According to the invention it is possible to achieve a door-to-door transport between two buildings. In comparison to other traffic systems, the inventive system's velocity, line capacity, safety and reliability, ability of resisting disasters and comfortableness are much increased while its consumption of energy, construction cost, occupied space, operating cost, noise and visual pollution are greatly reduced.

Abstract: A system and method for automated handling, transferring and storing conventional cargo storage containers on a cargo ship wherein the containers are stored in a multi-tier cell system and are manipulated by powered transfer units which are selectively moveable along an intersecting overhead track system such that containers may be simultaneously retrieved from, moved or placed within any of the cells of the ship. The transfer units are equipped both with hoists, which control spreader beams which are selectively secured to the cargo containers, and guide stabilizers, which prevent undesirable movement of the cargo containers when they are elevated above the cell structures such that the containers may be manipulated even during rough sea conditions such that the system is essentially continuously operable as a floating supply distribution system.

Abstract: A vertical lift system for storage and in particular for parking motor vehicles comprising a multi-level frame comprising a structure extending upward from a base, and a lifting mechanism centrally positioned within the frame and in communication with each level, and a plurality of platforms positioned on each level about the lift mechanism the plurality of platforms for the receipt of a vehicle. The lift mechanism has capability to retrieve a selected vacant platform and transport it to an entrance/exit level, which can be located at any level within the structure, for positioning of a vehicle thereon, and subsequent transportation to its position on the frame.

Abstract: A system for parking automobiles in a garage which uses a single-drive mechanism to simultaneously move automobile platforms. The automobile platforms reside in contiguous storage towers and are stacked in multiple levels. The automobile platforms simultaneously move in the towers. In one tower, the platforms move upward while the platforms in the other tower move downward. The automobile platforms rest on movement chains which move vertically among the various levels. The automobile platforms are moved from the vertical movement chains to a lateral movement means to move horizontally from tower to tower. The vertical movement system is powered by single-drive mechanism through a series of gears, sprockets and chains. Horizontal movement in the upper and lower lateral transfer areas is done by a lateral movement means.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method is provided for storing semiconductor wafer carriers, and for loading wafers or wafer carriers to a fabrication tool. The apparatus preferably provides an elevated port for receipt of wafer carriers from an overhead factory transport, allows for local interconnection among a plurality of the inventive apparatuses, and enables independent loading of the factory load port and the tool load port. An inventive wafer handling method which divides a lot of wafers into sublots and distributes the sublots among tools configured to perform the same process is also provided.

Abstract: A simple and relatively inexpensive containerized vehicle storage system for holding self-parked vehicles. In one embodiment, the system includes a building or housing having an upper level and a lower level, with the lower level being situated below level of vehicle entrance into the housing. A plurality of containers are positioned in at least two vertically stacked columns in the housing. Each container is identically configured, and includes a weight tolerant structural shell. The shell is formed by a floor, sidewall and roof arranged to define a shell entrance and an oppositely situated shell exit to permit respective entry and exit of a vehicle into and from the shell of the container. The shell is typically configured to support the weight of a conventional automobile positioned inside the shell, and further support a stack of about ten similarly loaded and configured containers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a parking apparatus having a plurality of vertically movable vehicle supporting platforms for being lifted and lowered between a lower vehicle supporting level and an upper vehicle supporting level and arranged horizontally in a mutually parallel relationship, positioning structure for respective vertically movable vehicle supporting platforms for selectively preventing the vertically movable vehicle supporting platforms from being lowered from their upper vehicle supporting level or from being lifted from a vehicle positioning state of their lower vehicle supporting level, the positioning structure being switchable from the vehicle positioning state to a released state in which lifting or lowering if the vertically movable vehicle supporting platform is enabled, a lifting drive of the vertically movable vehicle supporting platforms, the lifting drive including a motor, and a wind-up body driven by the motor, a frame, a plurality of suspending cables suspending respective vertically m

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method is provided for handling, moving and storing semiconductor wafer carriers. The apparatus comprises two physically separate load ports, each coupled to a vertical transfer mechanism. Coupled between the two vertical transfer mechanisms is a horizontal transfer mechanism which extends above the footprint of the fabrication tool to which wafers are to be supplied. In a preferred embodiment the horizontal transfer mechanism comprises a bi-level conveyor comprised of a series of dual compartment segments. The dual compartment segments are coupled such that they may shift between a neutral and a positive position while maintaining a continuous movement channel between the two vertical transfer mechanisms. In this manner a wafer carrier may be placed within a first compartment of a neutrally positioned segment for movement; to store the wafer carrier the segment is shifted to the positive position.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for storing objects in a storage block having identical storage places arranged behind, next to or above each other in the X, Y and Z directions and at least one lifting member associated to the storage block. Each storage place is equipped with a driving unit for moving the objects in the Y direction. Further driving units are provided for moving the objects in the X direction between the entrance area and the transfer side of the storage block. All successive rows in the X direction have at least one free storage place and one plane of the storage block is designed as a storage and return plane for empty pallets.

Abstract: This invention is related to a multistory, multicolumn storing installation capable of efficiently storing cargoes. The assembly includes a frame structure that defines four adjacent multistory columns A, B, C and D. Movable pallets P, each of which can be loaded with a cargo such as a vehicle, are normally stored in different layers in three of the columns. The pallets are seated on movable platforms T that shift the platforms laterally between adjacent columns. Lifting mechanisms 5 and 15, each of which is attached to a separate center-located column, B and C, move the pallets and their cargoes between the base level of the structure and the intermediate storage levels. A cargo is transferred between the base level and columns B and D by lifting the pallet through column C to the selected storage level and then laterally transferring it into column, B or D.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic controlled multi-level storage system having a bottom access level, a plurality of cargo storage levels vertically spaced above the access level, and a central elevator space vertically disposed through each level, each level having an array of contiguous spaces mounted with four-way or two-way wheel assemblies longitudinally and/or transversely and pairs of parallel rails intersected with one another longitudinally and transversely for moving individual storage platforms and cargo thereon, the elevator space being installed with an elevator for raising and lowering individual storage platforms and cargo thereon to a desired level, the elevator having two register spaces vertically spaced, each resister space having four-way wheel assemblies and mechanical arms for moving each time an individual storage platform to either level, the access level having platform storage devices for storing individual storage platforms.

Abstract: A computer-controlled, multi-floor, multi-block equipment conveying and storage system having a multi-floor steel framework made of H-beam steels. Each floor is divided into a plurality of equal blocks longitudinally and latitudinally aligned. The blocks include one block serving as a lifting gear access unit for the passing therethrough of a lifting gear which moves from floor to floor for carrying storage items and the other blocks serving as storage units surrounding the lifting gear access unit for storing items. A plurality of driving mechanisms to separately carry a plurality of carrier plates from block to block in a straight direction permits any designated carrier plate in either floor to be moved to the lifting gear access unit of the same floor for delivery to any other floor by the lifting gear.

Abstract: A cargo depot for storing palletized cargoes such as passenger cars (97, 98, and 99), in which a car (97) is moved to a designated cell (5) in sequential steps along two or three coordinates through door openings (11, 12) provided in adjacent cells (5) located along the travelling path of the car (97). The adjacent cells (5) are emptied of other cargo by moving the cargo to other cells (5) to allow passage of the car (97).

Abstract: A multi-story type automatic parking lot for dense parking, permitting the parked vehicles to be closely arranged with one adjacent to another without any passage way required. Every parking unit is made of a steel plate which comprises a plurality of rolling wheels peripherally on its bottom so that it can be supported and carried by a plurality of transmission mechanisms, which are longitudinally and transversely mounted on the ground of each floor of the parking lot and controlled by a central computer control system, to change position parking unit by parking unit.

Abstract: Storage and retrieval apparatus and method using pallets for storing vehicles and other loads. A number of storage levels aligned vertically are reached by a pair of lifts in shafts which bracket the levels. A transfer mechanism can push a pallet and automobile from either lift onto any level. Each level is always filled with pallets and sized to exactly hold an integral number of pallets. When a pallet is pushed into a level from one lift the intermediate pallets are pushed laterally to the opposite lift, resulting in the farthest pallet being ejected onto the opposite lift located at the same level. Separate loading stations are provided on ground level for each lift. An automobile can be driven on or off a pallet or a load placed on or off a pallet at the loading station. A loading station mechanism can move a pallet with a load to be stored from the loading station onto a lift.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for moving a plurality of wafer-like articles such as semiconductor substrates back and forth between a carrier and a processing chamber maintained in an interior atmosphere isolated from that of the carrier. A translating arm pivotal about its center with a wafer engaging vacuum chuck at each end loads and retrieves articles from the carrier and exchanges articles at a support. The support centers an article thereon and translates it linearly to or from a load lock chamber. The chamber opens and closes about the article on the support to maintain isolation of the environments as the article passes therebetween.

Abstract: The plant comprises a carrier structure formed by a network of orthogonal paths (1,2) on which carriages to be stored (5) are capable to move in two directions (xy). The displacement along (y) is provided by a robot carriage (18) carried by a carrier carriage (23) moving on a side path (24,25). The displacement of carriages along (x) is provided by bars (11) provided with pneumatic fingers (17). The carriages are either provided with two wheel trains (8,9) with axles perpendicular between each other and of which the running planes are at different levels, or provided with pads allowing the carriages to move by sliding. When the carriages run on their high wheels (9), the low wheels (8) are free in clearing channels (10). The carrier structure may be completely full except for at least one transversal row (y). For the purpose of its withdrawal, a carriage is isolated in the free row, previously displaced if required by displacement along (x) of the neighbouring carriages.

Abstract: Transporter or material handling apparatus for the controlled movement of goods includes two pairs of intersecting rails, a pallet for supporting the goods, a first group of wheels mounted on the pallet for rolling on one pair of intersecting rails, a second group of wheels mounted on the pallet for rolling on the other pair of intersecting rails, and a directional interchange in each of the intersecting rails permitting movement of the pallet in two angularly disposed directions therefrom. The movement of the pallet may be effected by a drive which engages the pallet for selectively propelling it in either of the two directions.