Abstract: In a palette accommodation device in which a nozzle palette to which a suction nozzle can be installed is stored, a plurality of storage sections (parts on one pair of comb teeth which are positioned at the same height) for storing the nozzle palette, are installed to be aligned in the vertical direction. In addition, a support arm moves in the vertical direction, and moves in the direction of approaching the storage section and in the direction of being separated from the storage section.

Abstract: A system for and method of unloading parts includes a rack and at least a first part held in a first position within the rack. At least one rack robot picks up the rack and moves the rack to a first orientation so as to position and orient the first part in a removal locus for removal from the rack. At least one line side robot removes the first part from the rack at the removal locus. The rack robot may move the rack to a second orientation so as to position and orient a second part in the removal locus for removal by the line side robot. The rack may include a plurality of clips moveable between a locked position in which the clip can securely hold a part, and an open position in which a part can be inserted or removed from the clip.

Abstract: A device for taking over, temporarily storing and passing on elongated, hollow-cylindrical product units, preferably tubes, sleeves or cans, which come from a production line, has a first supplying conveyor belt and a continuously delivering second conveyor belt. The first and the second conveyor belts are disposed horizontally lying one above the other in a transfer zone. An intermediate storage arrangement is designed as a high-rack storage arrangement or as a paternoster storage arrangement. At least one handling robot is also located in the region of the transfer zone between the conveyor belts and the intermediate storage arrangement. This handling robot is designed either (a) to take a number of product units from the first conveyor belt and to feed them to the second conveyor belt or the intermediate storage arrangement, or (b) to remove a number of product units from the intermediate storage arrangement and to feed them to the second conveyor belt.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plate material stocker facility with a simplified pallet loading and unloading mechanism. The plate material stocker facility includes a plate material stocker 4 in which pallets 9 each allowing a plate material to be stacked thereon are stored, and a pallet slide device 2. The plate material stocker 4 has a plurality of pallet support portions 10 arranged in stages in a vertical direction, the pallet support portions slidably moving the respective pallets 9 in a front-back direction, and supporting the respective pallets 9 and switchably moving the pallets 9 between a first position 4a and a second position 4b, and a plurality of posts 11, 12 supporting the pallet support portions 10. A gap is present between the adjacent pallet support portions 10. The posts 12 located at a rear end are arranged inside respective lateral ends of the pallet support portions 10.

Abstract: A tray discharge apparatus which is capable of automatically discharging and storing medicine-filled trays in carts and aligning the carts. The apparatus includes a cart standby portion (13) for putting a cart (8) transported from a cart supply line (48) on standby; and a tray supply portion (14) having a tray shift unit (21) for sequentially storing trays (7) in storage areas (46) of the cart transported from the cart standby portion. The tray supply portion is operable to align the carts with the stored trays relative to a tray discharge line (49) that is juxtaposed to the tray supply line. Also, a cart shift member (15) is provided for moving the cart to the tray supply portion from the cart standby portion.

Abstract: In an apparatus for handling rolls of web material, a shaft bearing one or more fully wound rolls of web material thereon are supported from one end in a cantilever support. An external mandrel is aligned with a free end of the shaft. A roll-moving device is positioned to shift the rolls axially along the shaft away from the supported end of the shaft. The roll-moving device shifts the rolls of web material off the shaft and onto the aligned external mandrel, shaft or other support device. The weight of the roll of web material is borne by the shaft and external mandrel throughout the transfer. Once the shaft is removed, the rolls of web material can be handled during further processing from the core.

Abstract: A system and method for minimizing electromagnetic radiation emissions from a data cartridge handling library employs intermittent operation of the video camera to ascertain correct bin locations and verify automated access between bin locations. This intermittent operation is utilized when an error is suspected or upon a predetermined routine to verify manipulation accuracy.

Abstract: A vertical carousel which has an access station located at the top of the machine, for access to the stored products from automated mechanisms from above rather than the side of the machine. Product can then be easily accessed via common overhead transport vehicles, such as those used in the semiconductor industry, and also can be stored one behind the other and still provide easy access.

Abstract: A processing system for an object to be processed has a housing defining a closed space. The housing is provided with an opening through which an airtight carrying box is carried in and carried out. The carrying box hermetically contains the object to be processed. A lid operating mechanism for opening and closing the lid of the carrying box is disposed near the opening. A contamination preventing duct covers a space around the lid of the carrying box and supplies a clean gas of a high cleanliness therein at least when the lid of the carrying box is opened.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for positioning a plurality of cassettes within an automated printing plate handler. In a plate handler, a plurality of cassettes each contain a supply of printing plates for delivery to an automatic plate-recording device. The apparatus includes a separate support table for supporting each of the plurality of cassettes within the plate handler and an elevator device for moving each of the support tables along a vertical axis of the automated plate handler. The automated plate handler is configured to automatically position a selected cassette in a first position to facilitate removal of the cassette from the handler. The plate handler further includes a platform, which substantially forms an extension of the support table supporting the selected cassette in the first position. The platform provides a second position, at which the selected cassette is to be one of, loaded or unloaded.

Abstract: A tray feeder sequentially takes pallets, each holding a tray storing electronic parts, out of a magazine and feeds them to a pick-up position where the electronic parts are picked up by a transfer head of an electronic parts-mounting apparatus. The tray feeder comprises the magazines for containing the pallets in a stacked manner, a drawing portion for drawing the pallet from the magazine and carrying the same thereon, a lifting-lowering portion for vertically moving the drawing portion, a non-mounted-parts discharge portion provided above the magazines, and a replenishing portion for receiving the pallet, holding the empty tray from which the electronic parts have been picked up, and for recharging the pallet after fresh electronic parts are replenished. With this construction, there can be achieved the tray feeder that is excellent in the operation efficiency and is compact in size.

Abstract: A unit for sorting and transferring sheets of glass has a number of carriages, each having a number of compartments for receiving respective sheets of glass; and a sorting device for supporting the sheets and feeding each of the sheets into a respective compartment; the sorting device having a support for supporting a sheet and rotating about an axis of rotation; and the carriages being arranged in a ring about the rotary support.

Abstract: A cart loading system for placing library-like items onto a library cart is provided for a cart having a plurality of shelves between first and second cart end members. The loading system includes a cart tilting mechanism for receiving and tilting the cart so as to raise the second cart end member relative to a ground plane and relative to said first cart end member such that the shelves are at a selected angle relative to the ground plane. The loading system also includes a placer device having a rack member for supporting an individual item and a pusher element for pushing the individual item off of the rack member.