Abstract: An unloading arrangement, an unloading station, and a method of unloading an item (5) from a storage container (6), comprising: a delivery vehicle (30); a storage container (6) carried by the delivery vehicle (30); and an unloading station (10) for unloading an item (5) from the storage container (6) while it is being carried by the delivery vehicle (30) in an automatic storage and retrieval system (1), the unloading station (10) comprising: an unloading device (40); and a destination conveyor (60) configured to convey the item (5) to a target destination (TD), wherein the unloading device (40) is configured to move the item (5) through a side opening of the storage container (6) to the destination conveyor (60).

Abstract: According to various embodiments, the transporting arrangement may have the following: a multi-level transporting section, which has a first transporting level and a second transporting level (102b) arranged above it; a feeding conveyor for feeding a container in the direction of the multi-level transporting section; a distributing conveyor between the feeding conveyor and the multi-level transporting section, the distributing conveyor (106) being mounted at the multi-level transporting section pivotably between the first transporting level and the second transporting level and intended for distributing the container to the first transporting level or the second transporting level; a sensor arrangement, which is configured to sense at least one physical property of the container; a pivoting control device, which is configured to pivot the distributing conveyor between the first transporting level and the second transporting level if the at least one property satisfies a predetermined criterion.

Abstract: A tape feeder is provided for pitch-feeding a carrier tape that holds a component in a pocket of the carrier tape and supplying the component to a pickup position for a mount head. The tape feeder includes a guide section that guides the carrier tape with an upper portion of the carrier tape covered, in a vicinity of the pickup position, and a lower receiving section that is positioned below the guide section and receives the pocket of the carrier tape from a lower surface side of the pocket. The lower receiving section includes a suction section that sucks the component from below and a leaf spring member that allows the suction section to contact a bottom of pocket from the lower surface side of the pocket. The component is sucked and held from below by the suction section through a hole section formed in the bottom of the pocket.

Abstract: A front end loader supports a bucket having opposite side walls connected by a bottom wall. An ejector plate is supported for movement within the bucket between a collapsed position and an extended position by a scissor mechanism including a set of parallel forward tracks secured to the ejector plate and a set of parallel rearward tracks secured to the bucket. Upper and lower sets of pivotally connected and crossing link members are connected to the tracks by pivots and rollers, and a hydraulic cylinder is positioned between the sets of link members and is pivotally connected to the rearward tracks and to the link members. A hydraulic booster cylinder initiates forward movement of the ejector plate from its collapsed position, and the side walls of the bucket have opposing guide rails which hold the ejector plate adjacent the bottom wall of the bucket.

Abstract: A feeding device includes a support assembly, a holding plate rotatably mounted on the support assembly, a guiding member mounted on the holding plate, a pushing mechanism, and a first unloading mechanism. The holding plate defines an unloading groove. The guiding member defines an outlet corresponding to the unloading groove. The pushing mechanism includes a first driver and a pushing member connected to the first driver. The pushing member is positioned above the holding plate. The first driver drives the pushing member to move towards the unloading groove. The first unloading mechanism includes a blocking member for blocking the unloading groove, and a second driver connected to the blocking member. The second driver drives the blocking member to move away from the unloading groove.

Abstract: An overhead-conveying transport bag for automatically unloading a loaded piece good includes a basic structure as well as a separate receiving device, which is arranged adjacent thereto. Unloading of the transport bag is performed through one of the front sides of the basic structure which is open and at least the lateral sides of the receiving device are formed such that the base is liftable into an unloading position of the transport bag, in which the base is lifted into the bottom of the basic structure.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for loading a transport container with a load of bulk material has a load bin (20) positioned for axial movement atop a base assembly (40). A packer blade (90) is positioned inside the load bin for movement relative to the load bin in the same axial direction. The load bin has an open first end (22) and a second end (24), with a pair of vertical side walls (66) and a substantially open top surface. Drivers (60, 92) are provided for the axial movements. Material is loaded into the load bin, the openable end of the transport container is placed around the first end of the load bin, and the load bin is extended into the transport container until the packer blade is inside the transport container. By retracting the load bin while retaining the packer blade inside the container, the load is transferred.

Abstract: A long-term storage facility has an array of storage packages receiving respective cases containing radioactive materials. Each storage package has a lateral body delimiting a housing for receiving a case, the package body being closed at its top end and at its low end respectively by a removable head cover, and by a package base. The package base has a removable base cover, allowing insertion of the case via the low end of the body. The packages can be moved inside the facility by a mechanical lift. The facility includes a pivoting frame for swinging a storage package from a horizontal orientation in which the storage package is loaded to a vertical position in which the storage package is stored.

Abstract: A system for unstrapping and unsleeving a tray is provided. The system comprises a tray-transport configured to transport a tray in the system, a strap cutter configured to cut a strap on the tray, a strap-removal portion configured to remove the strap cut by the strap cutter, and an unsleeving station configured to remove a sleeve from the tray. The unsleeving station is configured to remove the sleeve from the tray after the strap-removal portion removes the cut strap.

Abstract: A shuttle table assembly comprising a shuttle table for receiving a plurality of IC units at a first position and for offloading said units at a second position, said shuttle table movable from said first to second position; a cover assembly mounted to said shuttle table, the cover assembly having at least one cover movable from an open position to a closed position, said closed position covering said units on the shuttle table; wherein the cover assembly is coupled to a guide for closing the cover as the shuttle table moves from the first to the second position.

Abstract: A wafer transfer device and method capable of preventing a wafer from falling off of a carrier. A first carrier receiver holding a first carrier has a box-like shape having an opening through which the first carrier is attached/removed to/from the first carrier receiving member. A second carrier receiver holding a second carrier has a box-like shape having an opening through which the second carrier is attached/removed to/from the first carrier receiving member. The first carrier and the second carrier can be attached/removed to/from the first carrier receiver and the second carrier receiver, respectively. Owing to such a configuration, it is possible to prevent a wafer received in the first carrier and the second carrier from falling off from the first carrier and the second carrier, respectively.

Abstract: A bucket and blade assembly has a bucket with opposing side walls, a bottom floor, and a back wall with a centrally located cylinder rod mount. Concentric cylinders ranging from smallest to largest form a telescoping hydraulic cylinder in which the smallest has a cylinder rod mount coupling disposed at one end for engaging the cylinder rod mount. The largest cylinder is engaged in a floating trunnion mount cylinder. The blade is slidably disposed within the bucket with a capped cylinder disposed thereon having an opening into the capped cylinder for accommodating the largest cylinder opposite the rod mount coupling.

Abstract: A component loader orients a component along its long-axis for transfer from a rotatable load plate. The load plate has an outer peripheral edge and an upper surface inclined from a horizontal plane. Slots on the upper surface terminate at the outer edge of the load plate and are sized to receive at least one elongate chip lying with its long axis perpendicular to the axis of the load plate and in parallel with radius of the load plate. An outer wall conforms to the curvature of the outer edge and is mounted adjacent thereto. A transfer slot extends axially from and into the upper surface of the load plate on outer ends of the slots and terminates at the outer edge of the load plate. Each transfer slot is shaped so that a chip descending therein from a slot has a ninety degree rotation about the long axis.

Abstract: It is intended to allow for readily performing a cover tape setting operation. In the present invention, a tape guide 110 for guiding a component supply tape 35 includes a front guide section 120 provided with an open surface 128 opened on one side thereof in a continuous manner in a tape feed direction, so as to allow a cover tape 37 to be taken in and out relative to the front guide section 120 through the open surface 128. This configuration makes it possible to perform the setting operation for the cover tape 37 through given operational steps, under a condition that the tape guide 110 remains fixed to a component supply unit 40.

Abstract: A shopping bin which attaches to the top of a cart. The bin is detachable from the cart and can be slid onto the conveyor belt of a conventional check stand. The bin mechanism allows the conveyor belt to vacate the contents of the bin.

Abstract: Processing chambers (3A-3F) for applying a process to a substrate W housed therein are provided at a periphery of a conveying chamber 2. A conveying case (4) houses the substrate (W) in a state isolated from an outside atmosphere. The conveyance case (4) has a gate valve (30) and a transfer mechanism (22). A conveying mechanism (5) supports the conveyance case 4, and carries the conveyance case (4) to a position for conveying in/conveying out a substrate. The number of processing chambers connectable to a conveying chamber is not limited, and conveyance to the processing chamber can be executed while maintaining a predetermined ambience for an atmosphere of a substrate that is to be processed.

Abstract: A component loader for orienting a component along its long-axis for transfer to transmission means such as a carrier belt. The loader includes a rotatable load plate having an outer peripheral edge and an upper surface where the upper surface is inclined from a horizontal plane. A plurality of slots is on the upper surface, and each is located about the outer edge of the load plate. Each of the plurality of slots is sized to receive at least one chip, preferably lying with its long axis perpendicular to the rotational axis of the rotatable load plate. An outer wall conforms to the curvature of the outer peripheral edge and is mounted adjacent thereabout. A transfer slot extends axially into the upper surface of the load plate. Preferably, each transfer slot is shaped so that a chip descending into each transfer slot from a respective slot has a ninety degree rotation about the long axis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a six-bar linkage positioning mechanism mounted inside a clean container formed of a locating member and a four-bar linkage and a driving module which, when moved, has the slide of the driving module stopped at the base of the cleaning container and be forced to move upwards relative to a sliding way inside the locating member and to cause the driving link of the driving module to drive the four-bar linkage upwards and to further force the second link of the four-bar linkage to push workpieces in respective insertion slots in a cassette on the clean container. The six-bar linkage positioning mechanism has only one degree of freedom so that it moves workpieces horizontally in the cassette into position by means of contact at a point, preventing contamination due to friction and also improving moving stability.

Abstract: A loading assembly is provided that is configured to load transport containers with bulk material quickly and efficiently. A container support assembly is also provided that facilitate alignment and stable support of the container throughout loading. In use, a load bin of the loading assembly is inserted and retracted relative to the container by a drive mechanism. The barrier assembly confines the contents of the load bin in the container while the bin is retracted, allowing the contents of the bin to remain within the container upon removal of the bin. The container support assembly includes left and right ramps disposed along side the container. The ramps each include a support surface having an increasing height differential with reference to the ground from the distal end to the proximal end. The support assembly further includes an interface assembly configured to attach to the container and to engage the support surfaces of the left and the right ramps to distribute load onto the ramps.

Abstract: Mail reorientation apparatus which transfers horizontally oriented mail stack in an input tray to a vertical orientation in an output tray. The input tray is brought to a rotating station where a plate is brought down on top of the mail stack and a plurality of pusher rods are extended through apertures in the bottom of the input tray to contact the bottom of the mail stack. The rotation process orients the mail stack to the desired vertical orientation and the rods and plate are simultaneously moved to eject the mail from the input tray to the output tray.

Abstract: An extension plate assembly for dumping debris into a dump box from a storage tank mounted on a trunk. The storage tank is fitted with a pusher plate that both compacts and pushes debris out of the back of the storage tank. The extension plate apparatus includes extension arms that are rotatably attached on one end to the pusher plate and rotatably attached on the other end to an extension plate. When the pusher plate is in its rearward most position, the extension arms extend beyond the edge of the storage tank. The extension plate assembly allows debris to be pushed out of the storage tank and distributed more evenly into a dump box.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic-component mounting apparatus 1 for mounting a plurality of electronic components onto a printed-wiring board 10, which comprises a component mounting head 4 adapted to suck up the electronic component and mount the sucked up electronic component on the printed-wiring board 10 while moving along an X-axis direction, a table 8 adapted to move the printed-wiring board 10 along a Y-axis direction, an electronic-component feeding device 12, 14 attached to the table 8 and adapted to move in sync with the movement of the printed-wiring board 10, and component image-recognition/correction means 16 for correcting a posture of the electronic component in accordance with image recognition of the posture, during the time between the sucking up and mounting of the electronic component by the component mounting head, wherein respective positions of the sucking of the electronic component, the mounting of the electronic component and the image recognition are located on the X-axis.

Abstract: A novel feeder construction, and method of operation, for feeding components arranged in pockets in a carrier tape to a conventional pick-and-place machine. In a preferred embodiment, the carrier is fed in a line spaced laterally from the pickup location. The lead component when separated from the carrier must then be moved laterally to the pickup location. The invention includes a novel winder for the waste generated when the typical cover strip is removed from the carrier in order to remove its components. The invention also includes a vacuum nozzle construction that is capable of picking-up components such as pins and posts without altering the angular orientation of the component from the orientation it had while at the pickup location.

Abstract: A climatic cabinet for receiving objects, preferably microtiter plates, which contains a preferably rotatable object receptacle in the interior. The object receptacle is vertically adjustable for changing its position relative to an input and output door. The object receptacle is adjustable in a raised position with respect to its position relative to the input and output door.

Abstract: An intraocular lens cartridge having a distal injector portion and a proximal shipping portion. The injector portion and the shipping portion are join be a hinge that allows the shipping portion to be rotated so that the lens, when held in the shipping portion, aligns with the bore of the injector portion. The shipping portion may also be flexible so as to provide a prefold to the lens.

Abstract: A commissioning device (1) has essentially vertical product storage units (2) in which products (3) of the same type are stacked, respectively, and at least one conveying means (4), especially a conveyor belt, which is located underneath the product storage units, for transporting outgoing selected or commissioned products. The product (3′) at the very bottom of the stack of a selected product storage unit can be pushed out of the product storage unit in the direction of travel (F) of the moving conveying device and placed in a positioned product field (6) of the conveyor device by an upwardly oriented product stopping device (5) of the conveying device. The product storage units (2) are preferably located at equal intervals above the level of the conveying device (7). If the bottom product (3′) in a stack is not commissioned, the product stops (5) of the moving conveying device (4) pass freely under the product storage unit (2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic slide staining system that will process stained slides, such as cytology or histology specimens. The invention includes a slide storage device, a slide transport apparatus, and a first platen including a plurality of staining stations. The stained slides are placed in the storage device and then are removed and processed at various stations via the transport apparatus. The invention can be altered so that a cover slip apparatus can be incorporated within the system. This permits a cover slip to be placed on the stained slide after a complete transverse of the slide staining stations.

Abstract: An off-line micro device processing system is provided having a longitudinally extending feeder/processing/buffer system for providing processed micro devices to a pick point. A portable robotic system has a longitudinally extending robotic system body extending parallel to the longitudinally extending feeder/processing/buffer system and a transverse support on the robotic system body transversely positioned relative to the longitudinally extending robotic system body. A pick and place mechanism on the transverse support picks micro devices from the input, transversely moves the micro devices, and places the micro devices on the output system for receiving and storing processed micro devices.