Abstract: A detection apparatus includes a first sensor for detecting rotation information of a wheel of a moving object; a second sensor for detecting angular velocity information of a rotation in a yaw axis of the wheel or angular information as yaw rotation information; and a storage unit for storing the rotation information and the yaw rotation information to be output to a processing unit for obtaining positional information of the moving object based on the rotation information and the yaw rotation information.

Abstract: A laser radar module includes a laser radar, an upper cover disposed above the laser radar, a lower case disposed below the laser radar, and a locking assembly for connecting the upper cover to the lower case. A gap is formed between the upper cover and the lower case for the laser radar to transmit and receive signals.

Abstract: A robotic system has a vehicle, a robot, a first removable rack and a second removable rack. The robot, the first removable rack and the second removable rack are mounted on a platform of the vehicle. A plurality of latches are used to lock or unlock the first removable rack and the second removable rack. The robot comprises a rotatable base. A method uses the robotic system to move a plurality of items from a stationary rack to a designated location.

Abstract: A method for positioning a mobile platform at a station that includes moving the mobile platform near a bumper by applying torque to a drive shaft. The mobile platform is maneuvered until a contact stop of the platform is touching the bumper. A locking mechanism is engaged to the mobile platform before the torque to the drive shaft is released to assure position retention at the station. A system for precise positioning of a mobile platform at a station is provided that includes a stationary bumper at the station. A mobile platform has contact stops, a drive shaft, and sensors for measuring contact with the stationary bumper. The mobile platform having a locking mechanism for preventing movement of the drive shaft in response to input from at least one of the sensors in response to contact with the stationary bumper to provide the precise positioning of the mobile platform.

Abstract: A method of operating a material transport vehicle (“MTV”), for transporting glass substrates used in the manufacture of image arrays in a clean room factory environment includes accepting a user input for initiating forward motion of the MTV, configuring a plurality of safety zones proximate to the MTV, detecting an intrusion into one of the plurality of safety zones, and limiting a maximum allowable forward motion of the MTV by an amount determined by the proximity of the safety zone to the MTV. The method includes further steps for additional safety, cleanliness, productivity, and maintainability improvements.

Abstract: A mailpiece transfer apparatus uses a transfer box to unload a plurality of mailpieces from an open tray, while maintaining an orientation alignment of the flat items. The tray is placed in the transfer box, after which the transfer box, holding the tray, is rotated to cause the mailpieces to rest against a cover of the transfer box. The tray is then removed, and the transfer box rotated again, allowing the substantially flat items to rest against a bottom of the transfer box, but without the tray. The mailpieces are then guided to a next workstation. The mailpieces may be edged for delivery to the next workstation.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing automation and a computer executed automated handling system for forming a device are presented. The method includes issuing a transfer request by a tool. The transfer request is processed by a production control system configured for tracking and controlling the flow of carriers. The processing of the transfer request includes selecting a carrier containing production material. A transport system having transport and load/unload (U/L) units in a production area to effect a transfer is controlled and the carrier is transferred by the transport system.

Abstract: A system for unloading inventory items includes an inventory holder, an unloading station, and a mobile drive unit. The inventory holder stores inventory items. The unloading station includes a barrier that is operable to prevent inventory items from moving past the barrier as the inventory holder moves past the barrier. The mobile drive unit is operable to move the inventory holder toward the unloading station and to move the inventory holder past the barrier.

Abstract: A cart (2) for assisting in transferring mailpieces (100) for a sorting machine (1) having a row of sorting outlets (10) for the mailpieces (100) stacked on a work surface (11), said cart (2) for assisting in transferring mailpieces including a support (23) supporting a tray (101) to be filled, a back plate (20) carrying guide means (24) co-operating with a longitudinal runner (14) on said sorting machine (1), said back plate (20) being extended by a transfer ramp (26) inclined relative to said back plate (20) with which it forms an acute angle and designed to bridge over the edge of the work surface (11) to come flush with said work surface (11) from above. A postal sorting installation including a sorting machine (1) and a cart (2) as described for assisting in transferring mailpieces.

Abstract: Providing an information system in an item delivery system comprises reading a tracking indicia (410) on a unit load, updating a database (415) with first data from the tracking indicia, and updating the database with information that the unit load has been terminated. In addition, receiving (425) second data to be included in a label, and printing the label may be included.

Abstract: Unstacker apparatus (1) for unstacking flat items (E), the unstacker apparatus comprising a flat item feed magazine (M) in which the flat items are disposed in a stack and on edge and are moved in a certain direction (D) until they reach an unstacking plate (6) disposed in alignment with said feed magazine, whereupon they are ejected one-by-one in a perpendicular direction (P) that is perpendicular to said certain direction (D), the unstacker apparatus further comprising a blower member (13) which is disposed so as to blow a jet of air onto the flat items, and which is mounted in a manner such as to be retractable into the unstacking plate.

Abstract: An automated flats handling system is provided that includes mail shuttles, a tray unloading section, a quality control area, a shuttle tilter, a shuttle return section and a stacker/loader. The tray unloading section has a conveyor and unloads mail from a standard tray into one of the shuttles. The quality control area also has a conveyor and facilitates grooming the mail in the shuttle. The shuttle tilter tilts each shuttle prior to unloading the mail from the shuttle. The shuttle return section also has a conveyor and returns the shuttles to the tray unloading section. The stacker/loader cooperates with the shuttle tilter and unloads the mail from the shuttles, creates a mail stack from the unloaded mail, and loads a portion of the mail stack into an automation compatible tray.

Abstract: An automatic tray-handling system for use with a mail sorter (26) having a plurality of tray supporters, comprises a transporter (50) having a conveying surface (56) and an insertion/extraction assembly (58); and respective feed (44a, 44b) and discharge conveyors (46a, 46b) adapted to feed empty trays (38) to the transporter conveying surface (56) and receiving at least partially full trays (38) from the transporter conveying surface. The insertion/extraction assembly (58) is adapted to insert empty trays (38) to tray support areas and remove at least partially full trays (38) from tray support areas. The conveying surface operational is adapted to receive empty trays (38) from the feed conveyor (44a, 44b) and at least partially full trays (38) from the insertion/extraction assembly (58). Moreover from the conveying surface empty trays are dischargeable to the insertion/extraction assembly (58) and to the discharge conveyor (46a, 46b).

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading packages, parcels, postal items, baggage, etc., from a container having an open side. The apparatus has a sliding wall that is disposed over the open side of the container when the container is receiving within the apparatus. The apparatus, along with the container, is tilted such that the open side of the container is generally directed downward. From this tilted orientation, the sliding wall of the apparatus is withdrawn, incrementally exposing the open side of the container, permitting the controlled egress of the packages, etc., from the container.

Abstract: A docking station for a robotic mail tray loading system includes a ground plate that is mounted to the floor of the building in which the robotic mail tray loading system is housed. The ground plate has first and second wheel-retaining recesses that preferably include ramped surfaces to accommodate wheels of mail carts. A plurality of guide plates are positioned to locate one pallet or two mail carts in the docking station at a time. The docking station also includes a plurality of sensors that sense the presence or absence of a pallet or cart in the docking station and that sense the type of cart present at the cart docking station.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for transporting loads of the type comprising self-propelled carriages movable on rails and having assembly structure on which removable containers may be engaged and temporarily fixed, loading and unloading of such containers taking place in automatic loading and/or unloading stations.The assembly structure contains at least one assembly profile oriented parallel to the axis of movement of the carriage and cooperating with a corresponding assembly profile provided on the containers, so that the assembly or disassembly of the containers may take place after a relative carriage/container translational movement parallel to said axis of movement.

Abstract: Apparatus for receiving and/or delivering articles comprises a generally horizontal conveyor having a number of cars arranged to travel along it. A receiving station and a delivering station are located in the path of travel of the cars along the conveyor. Each car has doors at its ends which are normally kept closed but which are arranged to open as the car approaches the receiving end delivering stations and to close on leaving the stations. The receiving station has a plate located below the base of the car but engageable therewith and means are provided to retain articles in the car on the plate as the car passes through the receiving station. The delivering station has a similar plate located below the base of the car but engageable therewith and a mechanism is provided to retain articles on the plate until the car passes through the delivering station when it picks up the articles from the plate automatically.

Abstract: A mobile transport unit for independently operating within an enclosed environment. The transport unit is adapted for carrying a robotic manipulator arm and cargo within the environment, and includes an infrared communications transmitter/receiver for communicating with an extra-vehicular central processing unit. The transport unit includes electric motors for driving and for steering the unit. A laser docking module precisely determines the vehicle's location relative to a fixed point within the environment. Ultrasonic sensors placed about the vehicle can detect objects within a preselected range for collision avoidance and safety purposes. The vehicle is controlled by a central computer which receives inputs from the infrared communications system and from on-board sensors including directional sensors, distance measuring sensors, a gyroscope, the ultrasonic sensors, and the docking module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for unloading bulk mail vans in accordance with which the conventional roll-in or piggyback unloading dock conveyors of bulk mail handling centers, such as are operated by the United States Postal Service, are equipped with an auxiliary load receiving conveyor that serves as an implement which provides for largely mechanical transfer of the individual bags and cartons of the bulk mail from their positions of rest in the vehicle to the roll-in conveyor. The auxiliary conveyor is located at the load receiving end of the roll-in conveyor and comprises a positionable conveyor head in the form of a cantilever mounted belt conveyor apparatus having an upright two wheeled chassis that has a draft type connection to the roll-in conveyor frame for movement part and parcel with the roll-in conveyor to bring the conveyor in through the vehicle end opening into close adjacency with the stacked bags and cartons that form the bulk mail to be handled.

Abstract: An improved door is provided for a mail sorting bin which is made of a resilient noise damping material and includes a trip lever integrally formed with the door. The trip lever is substantially coplanar with the door and has a first portion extending outwardly from a first transverse end of the door, a second portion which extends generally outwardly and downwardly from the first portion to engage the movable lever which holds the door shut, and a third portion which extends upward to a point even with the upper edge of the door and to define an aperture between the trip lever and the door. The door is attached between the sides of a mail sorting bin such that one side of the bin extends through this aperture. A tab, may also be formed integrally with the door so that it extends outwardly from the opposite transverse end of the door. This tab is positioned to be engaged by a spring which urges the door open.