Abstract: According to one aspect, energy management or battery pack distribution may be achieved by receiving a location associated with a portable battery dispensing vehicle which carries or stocks modular battery replacement packs for electric vehicles, determining a location of a mobile device associated with the system for energy management, displaying the location associated with the portable battery dispensing vehicle and the location associated with the mobile device, receiving a request associated with a purchase of one of the modular battery replacement packs carried by the portable battery dispensing vehicle, and generating an instruction to credit an associated account with a virtual energy credit based on the request associated with the purchase of one or more of the modular battery replacement packs.

Abstract: A conveyance system includes a storage case, a lifting/lowering apparatus, a handover apparatus, and a conveying apparatus. The lifting/lowering apparatus lifts and lowers the storage case to position each substrate stored in the storage case to a receiving position sequentially. The handover apparatus receives the substrate at the receiving position, and hand over the substrate to the conveying apparatus at a handover position. The conveying apparatus includes a pair of belts. The pair of belts is provided such that the belts are spaced apart from each other in a left-right direction. A plurality of profiles associated with each other are provided on the pair of belts, respectively. The profiles associated with each other are configured to move together in a conveying direction, support outer edges of the substrate handed over at the handover position, and position the substrate to a prescribed position.

Abstract: A conveyor control apparatus of liquid crystal panel substrates and a control method thereof is disclosed. The apparatus has multiple first side pillars and multiple second side pillars mounted opposite to the first side pillars. A movement control assembly is mounted outside the first side pillars and the second side pillars. The movement control assembly is used to move to a slot where the liquid crystal panel substrate is to move is inserted, and control the certain liquid crystal panel substrate inserted in the slot to move out from the conveyor control apparatus.

Abstract: A glass cutting line includes a cutting table having a movable cutting head cutting glass work pieces on the table and a conveyor for moving glass work pieces onto and off of the cutting table The line includes a loader adjacent the cutting table having a loader table, a loader table conveyor, and a table loader unit receiving and delivering glass work pieces to the loader table. The loader table conveyor transports the glass work pieces to the cutting table. The line includes a cassette work piece storage and retrieval unit positioned vertically below the loader table when the loader table is positioned to transport the glass work pieces to the cutting table. The cassette work piece storage and retrieval unit receives work pieces from the cutting table and delivers work pieces to the cutting table from any of a plurality of storage locations.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the management of books returned by patrons in a library or similar setting are disclosed. In various aspects, apparatus for receiving a book from a patron, conveying the book, and placing the book onto a book collector in a near vertical orientation as well as associated methods are disclosed.

Abstract: An egg transport system has an egg transport module (10) where eggs are stored on a plurality of shelves (20) on a transportable frame (30) with wheels (11). The module (10) is loaded or unloaded by a loader (50, 150) and unloader (70), both of which can be vertical aligned to enable loading/unloading of a selected one of the shelves (20).

Abstract: Examples of a robotic de-palletizer and a robotic magazine loader are described herein. The robotic de-palletizer is configured to remove cases (e.g. HSC (half slotted cases) filled with product (e.g. disassembled cartons)) and to place the HSC on one or more conveyors. The conveyor(s) move the full HSC from the “de-palletizing” area to a magazine-loading area for processing by a robotic magazine loader. In one example of the robotic magazine loader, HSC containing unassembled cartons are removed from the conveyor. The contents of the HSC are added to a magazine feeding a carton assembling and filling machinery and the empty HSC is conveyed to a discard location.

Abstract: A glass substrate distribution system includes a cassette, a first transmission mechanism, and a second transmission mechanism. The first transmission mechanism transmits the glass substrate to several standby positions outside the cassette. The second transmission mechanism transmits the glass substrate between the standby positions and the glass substrate.

Abstract: A device for loading firing, sintering or drying material onto and unloading it from the shelving frame of a furnace wagon is disclosed herein as having a first lifting device (3) that includes a shifting cradle (45), and a second lifting device (2) disposed at a distance from the first lifting device so that a shelving frame (8) is accommodated between the two lifting devices. The second lifting device includes a lifting cradle (15) capable of travel in the vertical direction, and a conveyer system carried by the lifting cradle. Further, the device includes an interlocking apparatus (33) for coupling the shifting cradle in an extended position to the lifting cradle (15) of the second lifting device (2). When coupled using the interlocking apparatus, the vertical movements of the two lifting cradles are synchronized.

Abstract: In a method for automated sorting of objects and combining the objects to assortments according to a selectable sorting specification, the objects are removed from a supply and an object sorting position for the objects is determined, respectively, by a control unit according to a sorting specification. The objects are placed onto a belt conveyor in an intermediate position in proximity to the object sorting position by at least one first manipulating device acting as a feeding device. The objects placed onto the belt conveyor are continuously conveyed into a working area of controllable second manipulation devices acting as placing devices arranged downstream of the feeding device. The objects are gripped by the placing device and positioned in the object sorting position determined for the objects.

Abstract: An automated system for preparing weld land areas of panels to be welded to each other is disclosed. Generally, the system of the present invention includes a system for cleaning contaminants from such weld land areas. In one embodiment, the system for cleaning contaminants includes a system for blasting carbon dioxide granules or pellets against the weld land areas. In instances where the panels comprise aluminum, the system may further include a system for removing at least a first layer of aluminum oxide from the weld land areas. In one embodiment, the system for removing includes a system for moving a plurality of sheets of sand paper over the weld land areas. For purposes of moving the panels relative to the system for cleaning contaminants and/or the system for removing at least the first layer of aluminum oxide, the automated system of the present invention may further include a shuttle system for supporting and moving at least the first panel therethrough.