Abstract: An assembly line of mounted assemblies, each composed of a tire and a wheel, which includes mounting the tires on the wheels by use of a mounter, correcting the position of the tire heels and balancing the mounted assemblies, as well as of storing and/or picking up the mounted assemblies by use of mobile units in and/or from a storage warehouse, characterized in that the production and delivery of assemblies are information-managed by a system of dedicated computers and robots, so that the assemblies can be delivered in sync to at least one manufacturer having need for the assemblies on the manufacturer's vehicle assembly line.

Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus is composed of a cassette block and a vacuum processing block. The cassette block has a cassette table for mounting a plurality of cassettes containing a sample and an atmospheric transfer means. The vacuum processing block has a plurality of processing chambers for performing vacuum processing to the sample and a vacuum transfer means for transferring the sample. Both of the plan views of the cassette block and the vacuum processing block are nearly rectangular, and the width of the cassette block is designed larger than the width of the vacuum processing block, and the plan view of the vacuum processing apparatus is formed in an L-shape or a T-shape.

Abstract: As component replacement positions where component feeding tables are replenished with components, are arranged a number of component replacement positions, the number being obtained by substituting a total number of component feeding tables into a specified function. A component feeding table that is not in a component suckup position is moved necessarily to any one of the component replacement positions regardless of the combination of component feeding tables. This component replacement position is determined through steps of setting sequence numbers on the component replacement positions by the specified function based on the distance from the component suckup position, setting sequence numbers and component-replacement direction on the plurality of component feeding tables by a specified function, and giving a specified function the sequence number and component-replacement direction of a component-exhausted component feeding table.

Abstract: An apparatus for tracking the movement of a number of products. The apparatus includes a shelf with the products positioned thereon. The shelf has a fit end with an optical sensor positioned thereabout. The optical sensor tracks the movement of the products. A guard is positioned about the first end of the shelf adjacent to the optical sensor so as to prevent exterior light from interfering with the optical sensor.

Abstract: A control device for a work carrying system characterized in that a first point where the moving action of a work transitions from a moving action from an origin process chamber to a transfer chamber to a moving action inside the transfer chamber and a second point where the moving action of the work transitions from the moving action inside the transfer chamber to a moving action from the transfer chamber to a destination process chamber are set on a moving path of the work, and that speed patterns on the moving path are set based on a transfer distance of the work and time required to open and close gate means of the origin and destination process chambers such that the opening of a gate valve at the destination is completed when the work reaches the second point on the moving path and that a transfer time from the first point to the second point becomes the shortest time which is longer than the opening and closing time of the gate valve, the speed of a work carrying robot being controlled in accordance wi

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for providing self-learning correction to the error in positioning movement of a platform in a vehicular wheelchair lift or any moving member of machinery or an equipment. The method includes the steps of programming the platform or moving member to stop at a target position, calculating an error between the programmed target position and an actual stop position of the platform or moving member, and deriving a new target position to stop the platform or moving member based on the calculated error to compensate the overshoot or shortcoming of the actual stop position of the platform or moving member. The apparatus implementing this method may include a programmable control mechanism such as a microprocessor having means for performing the programmed sequential operations.

Abstract: In a device processing system, an apparatus and method for retaining a device that is to be transferred to or from the apparatus at a transfer location and processed at a processing location that is spaced from the transfer location is shown and described. A first device is placed on a first chuck at the transfer location with the chuck facing a first direction. The apparatus then rotates from a first position to a second position in which the device is at the processing location and facing in a second direction which is different from the first direction. While the apparatus is in the second position, a second device may be placed on a second chuck that is now oriented in the first direction at the transfer location. When the apparatus is rotated from the second position to the first position, the first device is returned to the transfer location and the second device is moved into the processing location.

Abstract: The mailing machine includes a microcontroller system for executing machine control algorithms during each control cycle and user interface algorithms. Each control cycle is divided into first discrete time intervals sufficient to allow completion of the respective control algorithms, and a second time interval for execution of user interface algorithm and, if required, completion of the user interface algorithm during subsequent control cycles.

Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus is composed of a cassette block and a vacuum processing block. The cassette block has a cassette table for mounting a plurality of cassettes containing a sample and an atmospheric transfer means. The vacuum processing block has a plurality of processing chambers for performing vacuum processing on the sample and a vacuum transfer means for transferring the sample. Both of the plan views of the cassette block and the vacuum processing block are nearly rectangular, and the width of the cassette block is designed to be larger than the width of the vacuum processing block, and the overall plan view of the vacuum processing apparatus is formed in an L-shape or a T-shape.

Abstract: A printer and control method therefor for printing to a specific location on an inserted form whether the form is loaded automatically or manually in the printer. When a specific command is received from a host, the printer selects the insertion operation used for the printing form. If automatic loading is selected, the leading edge of the form is set to a specific position in the printer by a form transportation mechanism, and printing then begins. If manually positioned form insertion is selected, printing begins directly with the printing form as inserted and positioned by the user.

Abstract: In a stocker entry task control method employed in a semiconductor wafer cassette transportation apparatus that has high transportation ability of a semiconductor wafer cassette, a host computer sends an interrogation to a stocker in which a semiconductor wafer cassette is to be stored whether there is an available storage site therein. The stocker ascertains the storage site if available. Then, the host computer sends a transportation task instruction to an inter-stocker transport device or an automatic carrier. Alternatively, an entry task instruction is sent to the stocker.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling a processing apparatus designed to perform a predetermined process for a target processing substrate within a processing chamber after a predetermined operation of a movable member arranged in the processing chamber. The processing apparatus instructs the driving system of the movable member to perform an operation reverse to the predetermined operation when the predetermined operation cannot be confirmed within a defined time, and instructs the driving system to perform the predetermined operation again after the reverse operation is confirmed.

Abstract: A system for controlling physical distribution pallets makes it possible to accurately identify status of pallets, to set up an adequate forwarding plan of pallets, and to accomplish physical distribution in smooth manner. The system includes a wireless detector device mounted on pallets and for detecting pallet control information transmitted from transmitting means 21 which stores pallet control information of said pallet and transmits in wireless, a pallet stock data storage for receiving and storing the pallet control information detected by the wireless detector via a wide area communication network, and a pallet status judging device for judging whether the pallet stored in memory of the pallet stock data storage is empty or not based on the pallet control information of said pallet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a multiple chamber semiconductor wafer processing system. The processing system includes a plurality of process chambers about the periphery of the transfer chamber. A centrally located wafer transfer mechanism effects moving wafers between the process chambers. The process sequencer control is a real time, multi-tasking control program having a presequencer or look ahead feature for preventing delays in the processing. In one implementation, the look ahead feature identifies mid-sequence or oriented wafers which cannot be further processed because their destination chamber is busy. Rather than expend system resources waiting for the destination chamber to become available, the wafers are transferred to a holding position, preferably the load lock, and rescheduled at the earliest time to finish their processing.

Abstract: A market based controller controls the motion of an object on a transport assembly. The transport assembly is formed using sensors and actuators that are proximately coupled in physical space. To efficiently allocate a fixed amount of air pressure directed to the actuators, the market controller maps each market agent to points in space on the transport assembly, as well as, points in time relative to a system clock. Using information gathered from the sensor units, each market agent determines whether to bid on the fixed amount of air pressure each bid interval. Using the bids submitted by the market agents, a market equilibrium price and quantity are computed by a market auctioneer. The air pressure purchased by each market agent is then distributed to the actuators mapped thereto.

Abstract: A materials handling system which is made up of self-organizing components that provide distributed materials handling control without intervention or control by a centralized controller.

Abstract: A computer controlled manufacturing arrangement and method for selecting between multiple paths for transporting cassettes between processing locations. The manufacturing arrangement includes a plurality of stockers interconnected with tracks on which cassettes are carried on vehicles. A first and second stocker are interconnected by at least a first path and a second path formed by the tracks, and a cassette can be transported from the first to the second stocker via either of the two paths. A plurality of robotic arrangements are configured to transfer cassettes between the stockers and the vehicles. A data processing system is coupled to the robotic arrangements and configured and arranged to maintain an historical record of codes indicative of periods of time expended in transporting cassettes from the first stocker to the second stocker via the first path and second path, respectively.

Abstract: A system for monitoring an electrostatic powder painting process having a conveyor line adaptable for transporting articles to be electrostatically powder painted sequentially through a plurality of zones in the process. For monitoring the usage of powder paint particles, or "powder", applied to the articles, the system senses the weight of the powder in the powder delivery apparatus and displays it in real time as a powder-weight function over a period of time. For monitoring the operation of the conveyor line transporting the articles, the system senses the conveyor line speed and displays it in real time as a line-speed function over a period of time. For monitoring the precleaning-surface activation of the articles, the system senses the pH of the cleaning-surface activation solution and displays it in real time as a pH function over a period of time.

Abstract: An automated material handling picking system including a plurality of storage locations for objects which are to be picked, a moveable picking head for picking the objects from the storage locations, a moving conveyor including a plurality of receiving locations where the picked objects are to be consolidated into separate orders or sub-sets, and a bank of queue stations for temporarily holding the picked objects and selectively releasing them into the respective receiving locations where the sub-sets are to be consolidated. The picking head deposits a picked object into the nearest available queue station. The picking head is not involved in the consolidation of the objects into sub-sets because of the buffering effect of the queue stations. Preferably, only one object at a time is held in each queue.