Abstract: The storage system is for use next to a glass processing line having a loading table, a glass cutting table and a breakout table. The storage system comprises a first tilt table and a second tilt table with an intermediary conveyor extending between them. A storage rack and a laterally-movable conveyor are positioned at either ends of the storage system. The storage rack comprises a plurality of parallel storage slots. The storage slots store the glass offcuts at a substantially vertical position of less than 90 degrees with reference to the horizontal. A method of storing a glass offcut and a method of recycling glass offcuts are also disclosed. The storage system and methods allow to easily store and retrieve glass offcuts.

Abstract: A method for continuously joining at least two imbricated flows of flat printed products which are conveyed at equal speeds and spaced from one another, the method includes initially offsetting a first imbricated flow of flat printed products relative to a second imbricated flow of flat printed products so as to form a first lateral overlapping area of both imbricated flows, continuously lifting the printed products of both imbricated flows in the first lateral overlapping area until the lateral overlapping is eliminated, and lowering or dropping the printed products of both imbricated flows in the raised lateral overlapping area, so that partially a printed product of the first imbricated or the second imbricated flow comes to rest above the first or second imbricated flows above a printed product of the respectively other imbricated flow, whereby a single imbricated flow with a second overlapping area of the printed products is formed.

Abstract: In a method of separating wafers (12) from a vertical wafer stack (16), the wafers (12) are transported away individually from above via movement means (23). The movement means (23) include circulating belts (24), with a suction surface (25) against which the uppermost wafer (12) abuts, the abutment of the wafer against the suction surface (25) being enhanced by negative pressure. To separate a plurality of wafers (12) located one upon another, the movement means (23) are subjected to at least one of the following two steps: a) water (30) is forcefully jetted against the leading edge of the uppermost wafer (12), the water being directed obliquely from beneath the latter, or b) the movement means (23) guide the wafer (12) over a stripping device (32) which butts against the underside of the moving wafer and both forces the wafer against the suction surface (25) and generates a braking action thereon. Thereafter, the wafer (12) is moved to a transporting path (35, 37) to be transported for further processing.

Abstract: A bale accumulator and method in which a plurality of hay bales can be accumulated and arranged into a cluster of ten bales (a “ten stack”). The accumulator first collects a bale in each of two angled bale receivers at the rear of the accumulator. These remain in position as four columns having two bales each are collected in a more forward collection. The result is two angled bales being dragged to the rear of a conventional “eight stack.” As the device releases all ten bales, gate mechanisms rotate the two rear bales 90 degrees so that they lie transverse to the eight bales comprising the “eight stack.” The two rear bales are pressed against the rear of the eight stack in order to form a ten stack.

Abstract: The rack has an inclined bottom, a slightly angled upstanding back wall, a right endwall and a short front wall defining a media cassette receiving area. Upon activation by a manually operated handle a withdrawal mechanism disposed behind the back wall, containing a carriage having a finger selectively protruding therethrough urges the rearmost media cassette in the rack along the back wall until it may be grasped by an operator. Subsequent cassettes settle backward against the back wall upon withdrawal of the rearmost media cassette. Cassettes may be added to the rack forward of any media cassettes currently therein. In this way a FIFO queue is maintained regardless of the number or mix of media cassettes stored in the rack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for processing sets of sheets. The apparatus includes a frame, a hopper for moving a stack of sheets, a pre-singulator for separating a portion of a sheet from the stack, a sheet peeler for peeling part of a pre-singulated sheet from the stack, a sheet picker for gathering peeled sheets into a set, and a sheet discharger for clearing the set of sheets. The sheet peeler may include at least one rotating drum. The sheet picker may include one or more augers.

Abstract: A method of transporting and storing an oilfield proppant is provided that includes transporting the proppant to a storage facility by use of a dump truck; providing a load assembly at the storage facility which comprises a load hopper and a load conveyor; transferring the proppant from the dump truck to the load hopper; and operating the load conveyor to transport the proppant from the load hopper to a proppant storage area of the storage facility to form an accumulation of stored proppant therein.

Abstract: The method for the automatic feeding of metal section bars provides for seizing a group of metal section bars (2) from a store (3) by means of gripping tools (11) and for transferring the said group of metal section bars (2) in a lifted position. The metal section bars (2) are arranged on a transfer device (20) suited to transfer the metal section bars (2) on receiving means (30). In a suitable phase relationship, the counting of the metal section bars (2) transferred on the said receiving means (30) is carried out. Such operating cycle is repeated until a prefixed number of metal section bars (2) is reached. The whole of the metal section bars (2) is disentangled through the progressive sliding of the receiving means (30) along the longitudinal axis of the metal section bars (2).

Abstract: In a device for unstacking plate-shaped parts (12), in particular sheet metal blanks, comprising at least one supply station (13) in which at least one stack (14) of plate-shaped parts (12) is located and at least one conveyor station (15) on which the plate-shaped parts (12) are transported further in an unstacked manner, an unstacking unit (17) being provided for transferring the plate-shaped parts (12) between the supply station (13) and the conveyor station (15), said unstacking unit engaging the stack of parts (14) and removing individual plate-shaped parts (12) while unstacking the stack of parts (14) and depositing them in the conveyor station (15), the unstacking unit (17) comprises two robots (18a, 18b) working independently of each other, which alternately engage a common stack of parts (14) of the supply station (13) and are controlled by a control unit (19) in such a way that a first or a second robot (18a, 18b) removes a plate-shaped part (12) from the stack of parts (14) while the first robot (1

Abstract: A method for handling packages in a beverage bottling plant, a method for unstacking packages in a container filling plant, a method for stacking packages in a container filling plant, and arrangements for accomplishing the methods. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Abstract: In a method for palletizing packages using an automated manipulator, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with programming instructions for implementing the method, a sequence of grip positions is designated for accepting packages with the automated manipulator, and a supply of provided packages is automatically checked with regard to the grip positions of the packages in the supply. The supplied packages are palletized according to a predetermined initial palletizing pattern as long as the packages are supplied in the grip positions in the sequence. The packages are palletized by the manipulator according to an alternate palletizing pattern, different from the initial palletizing pattern, in the event that a package is not supplied to the manipulator in a grip position in the sequence.

Abstract: A device for moving containers or other objects relative to a surface such as a pallet includes a frame and a pin matrix movably attached to the frame. The pin matrix includes an array of pins and is housed in a plate having apertures for receiving the pins. The device further includes a pair of tracks that movably support the pin matrix. A method for moving containers or other objects relative to a surface includes the steps of moving the pin matrix over the objects, lowering the pin matrix, securing the objects within the pin matrix, moving the pin matrix and the objects relative to the surface, and raising the pin matrix.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for storing a slip-sheet removed from a stack of interleaved slip-sheets and printing plates. A materials handling system that separates a slip-sheet from a media stack that includes image recordable materials. A slip-sheet separates each of the image recordable materials from one another in the media stack. The slip-sheets removed from the stack are stored in a movable slip-sheet holder.

Abstract: A pallet dispenser includes a frame adapted to support a stack of pallets. The frame includes four screws with spiral flights. The pallets rest on the top edge of the spiral flights of the screws. Rotation of the screws then lowers the stack and allows the bottom pallet to drop to a support below the screws.

Abstract: A modular split palletizer for loading layers of articles on stackable pallets. The palletizer has a frame supporting first, second, and third sections. The first section includes a layer build area and a first portion of a stacker transfer track. The second section includes a tier sheet bin, a top frame bin, and a second portion of the track. The third section includes a pallet build area and a third portion of the track. Each of the first, second, and third sections can be disassembled, moved individually and independently, and re-assembled at a new location to form the complete palletizer. Also disclosed is a method of relocating the modular split palletizer. With the palletizer at one location, the utilities connected to the palletizer are disconnected, the fasteners holding the sections together are released, and the sections are separated. The disassembled sections are moved to the new location and reassembled.

Abstract: A loading and palletizing device for roll trucks, such as dollies, and the associated method. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Abstract: An article transport facility includes a plurality of mobile bodies movable along a single track for transporting articles, and a control device for controlling movement of the mobile bodies. The control device is capable of executing a joint moving operation for moving the mobile bodies in combination. In this operation, a first mobile body which is one of the mobile bodies pushes a second mobile body which is another of the mobile bodies.

Abstract: A holding structure for holding a plurality of culture plates in a stacked arrangement includes a feature for de-nesting the bottom culture plate from the plate above it. The de-nesting feature is preferably a structure which urges a plate to move laterally relative to the plate above it. The de-nesting of the bottom culture plate from the adjacent culture plate facilitates withdrawal of the bottom culture plate from the base via a robotic plate transfer mechanism. The de-nesting feature can be entirely passive, such as ramps formed in the base of the holding structure.

Abstract: A robotic gantry system, end-effector for a robotic gantry system and method of transporting products using a robotic gantry system is provided. The end-effector includes a movable floor that can be positioned below picked products to prevent products from being dropped during transport. The movable floor also permits selecting individual rows of products from a given layer of products of a product stack. The end-effector may include a vacuum assembly for vacuum adhering to the products. The method permits selection of varying portions of a stack of products with the end-effector and protecting the selected portions of products using the movable floor.

Abstract: An order-picking system and method includes a pallet warehouse (12), preferably in terms of a high-bay warehouse, being used as a supply warehouse dedicated to a plurality of, preferably different, packing units (40) which are stored, preferably by one sort only, on pallets (14) in the pallet warehouse (12); a tray warehouse (24) which is used as a picking buffer for supplying connected order-picking stations with packing units (40), wherein trays (38) are stored in the tray warehouse which have been loaded with a pallet layer of packing units (40) before; a conveyor (22) which transports from the pallet warehouse to the tray warehouse trays (38) which are respectively loaded with a pallet layer of packing units, particularly across longer distances; and at least a rack-transport unit (36) for trays (38), the rack-transport unit allowing receipt of a plurality of trays being respectively loaded with a pallet layer.

Abstract: The invention describes a supply module for stackable pallets, on which workpieces and/or tools can be disposed. On the supply module there are disposed several stacking bays arranged in succession in a row, at each of which a stack of pallets can be mounted in holding means, such as hooks. At least one transport module can be driven along the row beneath the stacking bays, the transport module carrying a lifting device with it. A pallet or a stack of pallets can be gripped from below by the lifting device. The supply module according to the invention can manage a large number of stacking bays, and hence pallets, in a cost-effective manner, even large stack heights being possible.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for holding together an electrically non-conductive stack of objects, such as a stack of magazines or foil strips, comprising the steps of: i) forming the stack of objects; and ii) applying along at least one stack surface at a distance D at least two regions having a difference in static polarity such that the stack of objects is held together, to a device for holding together an electrically non-conductive stack of objects, such as a stack of magazines or foil strips, comprising a station for a stack of objects, and at least two electrodes for applying along at least one stack surface at a distance D at least two regions having a difference in static polarity such that the stack of objects is held together, and power supplies for the respective electrodes and to an electrode unit therefore.

Abstract: A bale accumulator and method in which a plurality of hay bales can be accumulated and arranged into a cluster of ten bales (a “ten stack”). The accumulator first collects a bale in each of two angled bale receivers at the rear of the accumulator. These remain in position as four columns having two bales each are collected in a more forward collection. The result is two angled bales being dragged to the rear of a conventional “eight stack.” As the device releases all ten bales, gate mechanisms rotate the two rear bales 90 degrees so that they lie transverse to the eight bales comprising the “eight stack.” The two rear bales are pressed against the rear of the eight stack in order to form a ten stack.

Abstract: Plural wok pairs composed of a plurality of works are stored in work storing means. A movable sensor 45 fitted to a conveyance robot 5 detects the position of one of the work pairs in the work storing means, and the work gripping means 25 takes out a plurality of works at one time from the work storing means. One of the plurality of works is held temporally by temporal work holding means 6 or 7 while the other work is conveyed to a jig Y. In the course of conveyance, a fixed sensor 63 detects the relative positional relationship between the work and the work gripping means 25. If the relative positional relationship deviates from the regular positional relationship, the movement of a robot arm 31 is corrected.

Abstract: A system for transferring and moving elements removably associable with a packaging machine comprises at least a transferring unit provided with a movement arrangement suitable for receiving and supporting the elements, the movement arrangement being movable for transferring and/or removing the elements to and/or from the machine; a method for transferring and moving elements removably associable with a packaging machine provides supporting and conveying the elements using at least a transferring unit and transferring and/or removing the elements to and/or from the packaging machine using the movement arrangement of the transferring unit.

Abstract: Associated with a form-fill-seal packaging machine for liquid-packaging cartons is an apparatus (10) including a pusher (24) for driving a pour spout fitment (12) axially from a removal-ready position at an exit end (14) of a feed track (16) that serially guides pour spout fitments (12, 30) edge-wise to the exit end (14) such that external, circumferential flanges (18) of adjacent pour spout fitments (12) and (30) tend to overlap one another. The apparatus (10) also includes a pour spout fitment separator (28) supported adjacent the exit end (14) for reversing an immediately following pour spout fitment (30) back along the track (16) to a position where the flange (18) of the leading fitment (12) in the removal-ready position and the flange (18) of the immediately following pour spout fitment (30) do not overlap.

Abstract: A device is described for changing pallets in an automatic palletizer that arranges objects on the pallets. The object was to refine such a device in such a way that it not only minimizes the space occupied by the automatic palletizer, but also enables the length of interruptions in the palletizing process to be reduced. To solve this object, it is suggested to provide a transfer vehicle having a first pallet area for receiving a first pallet, and a second pallet area for receiving a second pallet, and a driving arrangement for moving the transfer vehicle between at least a first position and a second position, wherein when the transfer vehicle is in its first position the first pallet region of the transfer vehicle can be loaded with an empty pallet while the objects can be arranged on a pallet in the second pallet area.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to staging manufactured items and provide a method, system and computer program product for staging items in a manufacturing environment. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for staging items in a manufacturing environment can be provided.

Abstract: In a method and device for depalletizing stack containers, the stacked containers are supported by at least one support base, and the stacked containers on the support base are frictionally engaged and lifted on two opposite sides thereof.

Abstract: Lifting frames (2) suitable for moving a pack of sheet material (244) are described. Lifting frames according to the invention comprise first and second legs (4, 5), each leg having a foot (8,10) mounted thereon. The pack to be moved stands on the feet and is retained on the frame by pairs of fingers that can contact the front and rear faces of the pack. One pair of fingers (48,50) can be raised whilst another pair of fingers retains the pack on the frame. This enables the pack of sheet material to be removed from either side of the frame (2), thereby reversing the orientation of the pack in a single lifting operation. Methods of moving a pack of sheet material using lifting frames according to the invention are also described.

Abstract: A conveyor using a roller belt with rollers arranged to rotate on oblique axes to urge articles toward a side guide. The conveyor includes an oblique-roller belt supported on a carryway for running in a direction of belt travel. Rollers extend above an outer conveying surface of the belt without contact with the carryway. Each roller rotates on an axis oblique to the direction of belt travel and intersects the side guide downstream of the roller's position. A retractable stop is movable to and from a blocking position along the carryway. In the blocking position, the stop blocks the conveyed articles from advancing in the direction of belt travel. The rollers underlying the blocked articles rotate as the belt runs by contact with the articles. The rotating rollers provide a component of force to the blocked articles directed toward the side guide to push the articles against the side guide or other articles as they accumulate under low pressure upstream of the stop.

Abstract: A method and device is provided for multiaxial handling and guiding workpieces (9), particularly vehicle body subassemblies, in a processing station (2) relative to one or more processing devices (11). The workpieces (9) are placed on a supporting device (17) and, together with the supporting device (17), are handled by a number of multiaxially moving manipulators (15, 16) in common directions that are coordinated with one another, and are guided. The workpieces (9) are received by the manipulators (15, 16) together with the supporting device (17) at a receiving area (13) and are moved to a spatially separate processing area (14) and back again, whereby they are displaced relative to one or more processing devices (11) in the processing area (14) during the processing process.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) and method for continuous loading and accumulation of rows (12) of suspendedly handled items (5) includes, at the top, a feed jig (2) with one or more feed channels (3) having air conveying means and grippers (4) for holding the items and, at the bottom, a continuous-motion loader (6) having movable panels (7) or fixed walls (8) on the outer periphery to define a plurality of passageways (9). The continuous-motion loader (6) is of such a length as to define a row loading area, defined by the feed jig (2), and a row pickup area external to such jig (2): an additional section may be provided between the feed area and the pickup area for maintenance and accumulation of the loaded rows (12) of items.

Abstract: A mobile cart for carrying a plurality of fluid canisters. The cart includes a platform configured to support the fluid canisters. The cart also includes a base having a base body and a plurality of wheels movably connected to the base body so that the wheels can be selectively moved with respect to the base body between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position, the plurality of wheels extends from the base body so the cart can roll, on the plurality of wheels, over the support surface supporting the cart. In the retracted position, the plurality of wheels is retracted relative to the base body so that the cart cannot roll, on the plurality of wheels, over the support surface.

Abstract: A device is described for providing different auxiliary materials by a palleting robot for palleting objects at a palleting site. A palleting cell has storage sites, and the device is provided with a single supply site. A palleting cell is supplied with the auxiliary materials. The storage sites are arranged at a side of the supply site sequentially in a direction of transportation so that a gap of the auxiliary materials at one of the storage sites is closed by the auxiliary materials that are located at one of the storage sites and/or the supply site in the direction of transportation.

Abstract: A carton feeder assembly is disclosed for selecting or picking carton blanks from the end of a stack of blanks in a magazine. The assembly includes a magazine and conveyor for moving stacks of carton blanks toward a carton feeder assembly. A support shaft assembly is disposed at the downstream end of the magazine and includes a support shaft against which the forwardmost carton blank in the stack leans and rests to support the stack of carton blanks. The support shaft is eccentrically rotatably mounted and driven by a motor so that the support shaft oscillates rapidly as it is rotated. This motion of the support shaft keeps the forwardmost blank of the stack spaced slightly from and out of contact with the support shaft for a significant majority of the time, thus reducing substantially the average friction between the forwardmost blank and the support shaft.

Abstract: A transfer device is disclosed for transferring a plurality of stacks of disk-like objects such as frozen hamburger patties, from a plurality of first trays having bottom walls angled with respect to horizontal to a horizontal support platform spaced from the trays. The transfer device includes a support frame having wheels that is movable between first and second ends of a guide track and a pivotal frame pivotally attached to the support frame which pivotal frame supports upper and lower grippers for engaging the upper and lower sides of a plurality of stacks of objects and securely holding the stacks of objects as they are moved between first and second positions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for separating a pile of tortillas and individually depositing the tortillas on a conveyor to form a row of tortillas. The apparatus may include an accumulating device, an elevating device that is operable to remove a pile of tortillas from the accumulating device and elevate the pile of tortillas towards a vacuum conveyor. The vacuum conveyor is operable to continuously remove an uppermost tortilla from the pile of tortillas and transport the separated tortillas to a receiving conveyor. The separated tortillas are deposited on the receiving conveyor and may be transported to a subsequent processing operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for sorting non-sorted containers in a predetermined sequence in an order-picking system which comprises a main conveying track by means of which the non-sorted containers are transported within the order-picking system, in particular to an order-picking workstation or into a container store, in a main conveying direction, said apparatus having a conveying-track circuit, which can be connected to the main conveying track via an introduction point, for introducing containers into the conveying-track circuit, and via a discharge point, for discharging containers which are located in the conveying-track circuit, and having at least one transfer device, which is arranged within the conveying-track circuit such that containers can be exchanged between a first exchange point and a second exchange point of the conveying-track circuit (FIG. 1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a depalletizing device comprising a carriage as well as a friction roller attached to the carriage, which friction roller is rotatable about a horizontal rotation axis and is coupled to a rotational drive in order to rotate. The carriage can be moved to and fro in a direction at right angles to the rotation axis of the friction roller in order to push the friction roller against a side of an object on the pallet in such a manner that the friction roller exerts an upward friction force on the object as a result of which the object is raised on that side, and in order for the friction roller to pass underneath said object after the latter has been raised. The depalletizing device comprises drive means with variable driving power in order to drive the carriage. The drive means comprise detection means.

Abstract: A batch forming apparatus forms a batch of substrates by combining a plurality of substrates that have been taken out from a plurality of carriers each containing therein the substrates in a stacked manner. The batch forming apparatus includes: a substrate transfer mechanism that takes out the substrates from each carrier and transfer the substrates; a substrate relative positional relationship changing mechanism that rearranges one or more substrates out of the substrates transferred by the substrate transfer mechanism one by one relative to other substrates to change positional relationships of the substrates relative to each other; and a batch forming mechanism that forms a batch of substrates out of the substrates that have been transferred thereto by the substrate transfer mechanism, with positional relationships of the substrates having been changed relative to each other by the substrate relative positional relationship changing mechanism.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method which consists in cyclically: transferring a first row of products (3) between the station for preparing said products (6) and the pre-assembly station (7), at a speed V; transferring similarly a second row of products (3) onto said pre-assembly table (7), and in order to manage the docking of said second row with the row of products already set on said pre-assembly table (7), moving said set row at a speed v selected between zero and V, depending on the type or products (3); transferring, as the case may be, another row of products (3) onto the table (7), and, when the number of rows is reached to obtain said layer, transferring said layer onto the setting table (13) of the palletizing station (14). The installation comprises transfer s consisting of pushers (25) and (26) mobile between different stations, driven at suitable speeds.

Abstract: A supporting device includes a support body for supporting a substrate and an auxiliary wing for supporting the corner of the substrate, so that the substrate is substantially horizontally disposed on the supporting device. Also disclosed is a substrate transportation equipment including the supporting device and a movable protruding member. The substrate transportation equipment can prevent the movable protruding member from hitting the edge of the substrate when the movable protruding member moves.

Abstract: A process and associated apparatus (1) for picking up, transferring and depositing a whole layer of products to be palletized, the pickup apparatus (1) including a flexible loading surface (5) which is movable between two positions, a wound position for defining a bottom opening, and a deployed position for closing the opening to thereby define the loading surface, the motion being driven by an associated motor unit (17). In the pickup process, the layer of containers is reached by the flexible loading surface (5) in a wound position to be introduced in such configuration in the apparatus. The layer of containers therein introduced is transferred onto the flexible surface by retracting the pickup apparatus. Actuation occurs either after disconnecting the drive between the flexible loading surface (5) and the associated motor unit or by synchronizing the unit with the arms of the corresponding robot (2) associated to the apparatus.

Abstract: An automated parking system and method for controlling a parking garage employ a distributed control system to control the transport of a vehicle between an entry/exit station and a parking space. The distributed control system employs an independent controller (PLC) for each mechanical element, such as elevators and shuttle cars. The PLCs are interconnected by a network and coordinate with each other to control the operation of the automated parking system. An operator panel including a touchscreen display may be used by an operator to control directly the operation of a particular PLC and its associated mechanical element. A central management computer is used to coordinate the overall operation and management of the distributed control system and to provide enhanced features including redundant safety checks.

Abstract: A method and device for transferring packets, whereby two parallel, superimposed rows of packets are fed in a horizontal direction to a first transfer station, and the lead packets in the two rows are then conveyed in a vertical direction from the first transfer station to a second transfer station, where the lead packets are parted in the vertical direction; at this point, the parted lead packets are transferred in the horizontal direction to a heat-shrink unit having two parallel, superimposed, substantially horizontal channels, each of which is engaged by a respective row of packets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sealed enclosure for transporting and storing semiconductor substrates, the enclosure comprising a sealed container and support means placed inside the container and including trays for supporting substrates. The container comprises two touching half-shells that can be spaced apart in order to open the container, and each end of said support means is secured mechanically to a respective one of said half-shells. The total height of said means varies depending on whether the container is opened or closed, the trays being separated from one another by equal distances. Said support means preferably comprise an alternation of segments and ball joints having end segments that are mechanically connected to respective ones of the half-shells. Under such circumstances, the total height of said support means varies by the alternation of segments and ball joints moving concertina-like.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus (10) are disclosed for handling pallets (S) to be inspected and sorted. The method can include tipping a substantially vertically oriented pallet (L) in a forward rotational direction to expose and allow inspection of a trailing major (17) surface of the pallet. A lower portion of the pallet then can be moved to cause the pallet to tip in a rearward rotational direction and land in a substantially horizontal position. The apparatus can include a pallet restraining device (16) for blocking the motion of an upper portion of the pallet as it tips in the forward rotational direction and a conveyor (30) for moving the lower portion of the pallet to cause the pallet to tip in the rearward rotational direction.

Abstract: A storage and retrieval system that includes a track assembly and a carrier defining a support surface configured to support a product stored by the storage and retrieval system. The carrier includes a guide member rotatable with respect to the support surface from a first position to a second position such that the carrier is movable in a first direction when the guide member is in the first position and the carrier is movable in a second direction when the guide member is in the second position. The track assembly includes a track member coupled to the guide member. The track member is selectively rotatable from a first orientation to a second orientation such that the carrier is movable in the first direction when the track member is in the first orientation and the carrier is movable in the second direction when the track member is in the second orientation.

Abstract: A method for grouping boxes, after stopping the head box of a train line, includes transversally displacing a last box of the train line with respect to the first box of the upstream line waiting for grouping and introducing a stop motion unit for holding the upstream line into the space cleared by the last box. The conveyor device includes an endless lateral rail which is used for guiding boxes and is laterally shifted at a length corresponding to at least the box longitudinal dimension and forms something like a funnel at the location of the last box of the train and a device, which is used for transversally displacing the last box by pushing it into the funnel and includes the stop motion unit holding the first box of the upstream line.