Abstract: A storage/buffering system for the stocking and/or buffering of substrate and/or substrate carriers in a process environment includes a 6-axis robot. An end-effector is connected with the robot providing an additional one degree of freedom and a mechanism for grabbing and moving of substrate and/or substrate carriers. The robot is mounted in an inverted orientation to a removable service cart for easy removal of the robot to a service area in the event of breakdown. The robot receives commands from a programmable controller connected to control the robot and configured to direct the arm of the robot through a set of movements. Product is loaded in and out of the system through I/O load ports. Product is stored inside the storage/buffering system on a plurality of storage locations, each with product presence/absence detect sensor.

Abstract: A control system and method for a conveyor line having a conveyor for moving a plurality of hangars configured to carry units through processing areas for processing by equipment in the processing areas includes loading stations for entering process control variables corresponding to units loaded at the loading stations, a pair of conveyor sensors for sensing movement of the hangars and outputting signals indicating the passage of hangars, and a controller. The controller determines, based on the process control variables, the time required for the processing equipment to reach steady state conditions. The controller further determines, based on the signals from the conveyor sensors, the appropriate time for loading units onto hangars such that the unit reaches the processing equipment when the equipment has reached the steady state conditions.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking articles and controlling inventory thereof on a real time basis comprising the use of a tag assembly including a plurality of tags including both active tags and passive tags distinguishable from one another by the provision of a self contained power source in the active tags. One or more readers are disposed within a locale being monitored and are structured to communicate received data transmission from a host controller, for additional administrative processing in terms of determining the existence, location and/or movement of various articles with which the plurality of tags are directly associated. Depending on the category of tags, they may be activated by either entering an electric field of a predetermined first frequency or by receiving an activation signal from the reader assembly also transmitted at the first predetermined frequency. Communication between the tags and the reader occurs at a second frequency being different from the first frequency.

Abstract: A system and method for item tracking and management. A marking tag is affixed to each item to be tracked, such as articles of commercial airline passenger luggage, so that it can be read as items enter and leave the system through which they are actively managed. The marking tag bears unique identifying information that in a central registration database is associated with the person to which the item (or items) belongs. The marking tag may also bear additional information about the owner or the about the article itself. Each time the owner checks the item, the time and place of checking is noted in the registration database. A historical record of places the item has been checked is kept and may be used for identifying passengers, baggage or situations that may require greater scrutiny by security personnel. A check-out station is provided to monitor the return of items to their respective owners, and a lost item return system aids in the recovery of lost items.

Abstract: An assembly line comprising a number of pallets (1) carrying electronic components for assembly, provided with individual RF-tags (2) containing stored product information, a main conveyor (3) in the shape of an endless loop, conveying pallets (1); assembly stations (4) spaced along the main conveyor. Each station is equipped with a reading device (6) for reading the RF-tags and a data processing apparatus controlling the work station operations, depending on the data read off the RF-tag; an automatic storage system (7) placed in the vicinity of workstations (4) comprising a number of storage devices (8), as well as transfer means (9) feeding pre-selected components from a pre-selected storage device to the assembly stations.

Abstract: A traffic management system for an automatic material handling system (AMHS) divides time into a series of discrete time periods and analyzes a plurality of move requests that are to be executed within a particular time period is disclosed. The traffic management system receives a plurality of move requests from the AMHS and determines how many move requests are to be executed and selects which move requests in particular will be executed in the next time period. The traffic management system prioritizes the selected move requests by analyzing each source node and destination node contained in a move request in conjunction with other node traffic data. The traffic management system analyzes this data to ensure that a move request is not executed if a material transport vehicle would be dispatched to a node having a node traffic balance value that exceeds a predetermined value and a node traffic density value that exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A singulator is disclosed for singulating the flow of articles in a conveyor system. The singulator includes a mechanism for actuating a portion of a conveyor to remove one item at a time from the conveyor end. A control system singulates items by selectively actuating portions on the conveyor underlying the items and extending toward the end of the conveyor. After one item has been singulated, another item is singulated when a gap between the trailing edge of the first item and a leading edge of the second hem reaches a predetermined size. This process repeats itself for singulating more articles.

Abstract: An object tracking and management system and method using radio-frequency identification (“RFID”) tags is disclosed. Objects to be moved between locations are outfitted with RFID tags having information relating to the identities of the objects. The locations are also marked by RFID tags containing information on the locations. A transport vehicle for moving the objects is equipped with an RFID interrogator capable of detecting signals from the RFID tags. An onboard processor provides the operator of the vehicle with instructions on the movement of objects. The processor also determines the identities of the objects and locations from the detected signals and provides the operator with feedback as to the identity of an object being moved, the location of the vehicle and any error in carrying out the instructions. Numerous variations of the basic system and method using RFID tags are also described.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus and program which enables the automation of the carrying of a lot or lots of special purpose wafers between stockers and to achieve high speed processing while suppressing an increase in storage volume. The carrying control system includes stockers for storing therein special purpose lot or lots comprising wafers which will not be processed in production facilities, or said special purpose lot or lots and usual lot or lots comprising wafers which will be processed by production facilities and a carrying host computer for controlling automatic carrying of lot or lots in carrying facilities.

Abstract: A robot calibration system for calibration of a workpiece handling robot relative to a station. The workpiece handling robot includes a sensor mounted on an end effector. The robot calibration system also includes a target, which in coordination with the sensor, allows a control system to determine a center of the target. The target is a wafer in the shape of a disk. A pattern is on at least one side of the workpiece, preferably on a bottom side of the target. The pattern comprises alternating black and white areas. The workpiece handling robot is placed in front of the station which includes a cassette mounted thereon. The cassette has a support surface which supports the target. Once the z-height of the end effector is established with the end effector being in close proximity to a lowermost support surface of the cassette, the end effector proceeds to move in a search pattern searching the pattern for transition points from black to white areas.

Abstract: A modular object handling system has a multi-level control architecture, which includes a system controller that coordinates the functions and/or operations of individual module controllers, that in turn control corresponding actuators, to provide a desired system function. The system controller performs the overall trajectory planning by taking the constraints of each of the module actuators into account. The system controller may compensate for deviations of objects from their planned trajectories by contemporaneously redetermining trajectories and trajectory envelopes to encode the various combinations of the system constraints and task requirements. The trajectory envelopes can denote regions around other trajectories to indicate control criteria of interest, such as control and collision boundaries.

Abstract: A container tracking system comprises a dispatcher workstation with a graphical user interface and a database. These are used to track the whereabouts of shipping containers in a storage and transfer yard. A mobile unit in the yard is attached to container handling equipment and monitors the container lock-on mechanism. When a container is locked on for a move, the mobile unit starts reporting positions and velocities to the dispatcher workstation over a radio channel. These positions and solutions are computed from a combination of GPS satellite navigation receiver solutions, inertial navigation, and local beacon markers. Reports stop when the container handling equipment unlocks from the container. The database then updates the new position for that container, and the graphical user interface can be used to “see” the container on a yard map.

Abstract: A computer controlled garment conveyor retrieval system with an operator modifiable electronic input device to a computer, a computer to provide a signal to operate a drive motor for a conveyor, and a sensor to determine the position of the conveyor. A preferred embodiment includes a sensor that determines the position of the conveyor by sensing the passage of section vertical member (or poles). A preferred embodiment includes wherein said sensor determines conveyor position through mechanical means. The sensor and computer work in tandem to position the conveyor to expeditiously retrieve the selected garment. The system can operate with a plurality of conveyors simultaneously.

Abstract: Generally, a method of determining a position of a robot is provided. In one embodiment, a method of determining a position of a robot comprises acquiring a first set of positional metrics, acquiring a second set of positional metrics and resolving the position of the robot due to thermal expansion using the first set and the second set of positional metrics. Acquiring the first and second set of positional metrics may occur at the same location within a processing system, or may occur at different locations. For example, in another embodiment, the method may comprise acquiring a first set of positional metrics at a first location proximate a processing chamber and acquiring a second set of positional metrics in another location. In another embodiment, substrate center information is corrected using the determined position of the robot.

Abstract: A method and control system are provided for controlling a modular conveyor system, which may be networked together with other such systems in order to implement a control strategy for a modular conveyor system. The control system comprises a communications port for interconnection of the control system with a network for sending outgoing addressed data to other devices on the address-based network and for receiving incoming addressed data from other devices. The control system further comprises a logic system, which may receive a signal from an object sensor and provide a control signal or output adapted to control activation of a motorized roller assembly, based on an input signal from the object sensor or the communications port. The logic system may provide for single step operation whereby system troubleshooting may be facilitated, and in addition may provide situation aware and output value source selection functionality.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for tracking identity traits of commodities during the production, handling, processing and/or distribution chain of the commodity. The method includes providing a database having a unique identifier identifying a commodity to be tracked, inputting identity traits of the commodity into the database, associating the inputted identity traits with the unique identifier, tagging the commodity with a tag associated with the unique identifier, and selectively retrieving from the database the preserved identity traits of the commodity by querying the database.

Abstract: High-speed high-reliability component supplying method and mounting method is obtained by checking whether or not a component is the regular component to be mounted through a component type detecting process by means of component arrangement data having a plurality of substitute component type names of components which can be mounted in the proper position of a component supply section and a detection section and a comparing and deciding process.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, when a mailer generates a mail piece, for example using mail generation software in a PC metering system, the mail generation software accesses a database of mailing addresses. This database also contains e-mail address of recipients in the mailing list (address database). If a mailer wants to send advance notice to a recipient that a mailpiece has been sent to the recipient, the mailer can choose this option automatically and use a unique mailpiece ID as an identifier of the upcoming mailpiece. (The mailpiece ID can be generated specially for this purpose and serve as a reference point for the mailer and the recipient). This can be particularly advantageous in a legal environment, when there is a need for timely distribution of information as well as the need for distribution of legally valid hard copy documents. The unique ID number may be printed in plain text in the address block and cryptographically encoded within the DPM.

Abstract: To provide a substrate transport device and a transport teaching system which can automatically perform a teaching processing in order to reduce the burden of an operator and to eliminate a positional shift accurately and efficiently in a short time. Optical connectors 251, 252, 253 and 254 of a jig 200 and optical connectors 256, 257, 258 and 259 fixedly provided on a substrate transport device are opposed to each other and optical axes are coincident with each other. A lens having a high condensation ratio is provided in each optical connector. A light signal is output from optical sensor heads 231 and 241 through an optical fiber F2, each optical connector and an optical fiber F1, and a light signal input to optical sensor heads 232 and 242 is guided into the substrate transport device. Then, an arm 31b is automatically moved in a three-axis direction. Thus, an edge position of a detected portion 122 is detected to acquire positional information so that teaching information is obtained.

Abstract: A multiple substrate orienter is provided that includes a rotatable substrate handler having a plurality of substrate support portions, each adapted to support a substrate. The multiple substrate orienter also includes a plurality of stacked substrate supports, each adapted to support a substrate. A plurality of substrate orientation marking (SOM) detectors are provided, and each SOM detector is coupled to a different one of the substrate supports and is adapted to identify a presence of an SOM of a substrate positioned close enough to the SOM detector to allow SOM detection by the SOM detector. The multiple substrate orienter further includes a plurality of lift and lower mechanisms, each lift and lower mechanism coupled to a different one of the substrate supports and adapted to individually lift and lower the substrate support to which the lift and lower mechanism is coupled. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: A refuse collection system includes a plurality of waste receptacles arrayed adjacent to, or in the midst of, an eating area. Some of the waste receptacles may include compactor elements, and others may not. The receptacles have electronic control units and sensors for detecting the presence of patrons adjacent to the refuse receiving inlet door, or chute, and to sense the quantity of refuse accumulated in the receptacle. The patron sensor employs a wide angled feature for better detection of patrons who approach the unit from and oblique angle. The units have signal conveying devices, such as loudspeakers, by which aural messages can be communicated to patrons or servicing personnel. The electronic control units are able to communicate to a remote monitoring location, whether a fixed station or a portable station carried by a staff member.

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: System and apparatus for determining a relationship between transportable or storable materials and plural transportation or storage modes for the materials. In a transportation system, placard rules that correlate placards, materials, and transportation or storage modes are pre-stored in a computer memory. Materials data is entered corresponding to a first predetermined material, as well as data corresponding to a predetermined transportation mode or a predetermined storage mode. One of the plurality of predetermined placards is selected in response to the materials data, the transportation or storage data, and the placard rules data. The transportable or storable material may be a hazardous material, and the placard rules therefore correspond to safety rules. In an apparatus aspect, an arrangement selects one of a plurality of placards.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated interfacing with a processing tool in a manufacturing environment having a tilt mechanism and a rotation mechanism. In one embodiment, semiconductor wafers in a cassette are presented to a processing tool by tilting the cassette during movement towards the tool. The tilt mechanism provides a means for seating the wafers in the cassette. The rotation mechanism allows the cassette to be adjusted to meet a robotic arm which extracts wafers from the cassette. Where the cassette is part of a Standard Mechanical InterFace (SMIF) system, the pod is placed onto the interface apparatus, where the pod cover is removed to allow processing of the wafers. A bellows is provided to cover the exposed cassette, thus creating an extended mini-environment including the interface apparatus, tool, and pod cover. In one embodiment, the interface apparatus includes robotic arms and a lift mechanism.

Abstract: A robot calibration system for calibration of a workpiece handling robot relative to a station. The workpiece handling robot includes a sensor mounted on an end effector. The robot calibration system also includes a target, which in coordination with the sensor, allows a control system to determine a center of the target. The target is a wafer in the shape of a disk. A pattern is on at least one side of the workpiece, preferably on a bottom side of the target. The pattern comprises alternating black and white areas. The workpiece handling robot is placed in front of the station which includes a cassette mounted thereon. The cassette has a support surface which supports the target. Once the z-height of the end effector is established with the end effector being in close proximity to a lowermost support surface of the cassette, the end effector proceeds to move in a search pattern searching the pattern for transition points from black to white areas.

Abstract: An automated assembly apparatus for assembling opto-electronic devices includes a pick and place machine adapted to receive at least one opto-electronic component and place the component in one of a plurality of a nano-precision assembly cells. The nano-precision assembly cells are adapted to receive components from the pick and place machine, and position or align the components with sub-micron accuracy.

Abstract: A multiple substrate orienter is provided that includes a rotatable substrate handler having a plurality of substrate support portions, each adapted to support a substrate. The multiple substrate orienter also includes a plurality of stacked substrate supports, each adapted to support a substrate. A plurality of substrate orientation marking (SOM) detectors are provided, and each SOM detector is coupled to a different one of the substrate supports and is adapted to identify a presence of an SOM of a substrate positioned close enough to the SOM detector to allow SOM detection by the SOM detector. The multiple substrate orienter further includes a plurality of lift and lower mechanisms, each lift and lower mechanism coupled to a different one of the substrate supports and adapted to individually lift and lower the substrate support to which the lift and lower mechanism is coupled.

Abstract: A signpost (11, 241-256, 322, 612, 623, 626-628, 652, 661, 682, 686, 703) transmits low frequency signals to a beacon tag (12, 271-275, 301-316, 395-397, 616-618, 641-643, 653, 656-657, 662-664, 679, 708, 711), which in turns transmits high frequency signals containing a signpost code from a received signpost signal to a reader (13, 261, 319, 521-530). The signpost can be mounted on one mobile device and the beacon tag on another mobile device, in order to determine when those mobile devices are in close proximity. Further, a sensor (32) can be provided to detect the presence of a mobile device, and to cause the signpost to change the signpost code in its transmitted signals.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a process flow of a semiconductor wafer. In one embodiment, the method initially calculates a first location of the wafer before it is processed. The wafer is then moved into a process chamber where it is processed. Then a second location of the wafer is calculated before the wafer is unloaded. If the difference between the first and second locations are within a predetermined amount, the wafer is unloaded and regular processing steps proceed. If the difference is not within the predetermined amount, an alarm is activated and the process is stopped.

Abstract: In a mail processing system with a franking and addressing machine and to a method for combined franking and address printing, both printing jobs for franking or addressing are sequentially implemented in a specific sequence in separate passes with a single print head. The print medium surface is correspondingly printed while the print medium is transported past the print head. A turning station is provided for rotating a print medium by approximately 180° before or after the printing and is arranged in the mail processing system preceding or following the digital printer device.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for delivering a recording medium printed in accordance with received print information to a delivery tray which physically exists is constructed by a print information storing unit for storing the received print information, a delivery tray defining unit for virtually defining a delivery tray of the recording medium according to the stored print information, a delivery tray allocating unit for allocating the virtually defined delivery tray to the physically existing delivery tray and a delivering unit for delivering the printed recording medium to the allocated physically existing delivery tray. A delivering method, a print system, and a memory medium for realizing the above printing apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: A physical distribution/transportation system comprises a plurality of nodes (2) for collecting cargoes from shipment parties and discharging cargoes to delivery destinations. A dedicated traveling line (4) connects the plurality of nodes (2). Pallet vehicles (6) travel between the nodes (2) along the dedicated traveling line, and a travel controlling system (22) controls operation of the pallet vehicles. Between the nodes (2) and users are utilized ordinary vehicles which travel on ordinary roads (18). The physical distribution/transportation system is constituted by a combination of the dedicated traveling line (4) and ordinary traveling lines, which are the ordinary roads (18). Further, an integrated physical distribution system includes such a physical distribution/transportation system.

Abstract: An apparatus and control method for feeding medications in which processing units, which can prepare drugs, non-drug articles and drug-related articles, are provided along a carrier feed line, and in which carriers for respective patients are fed on the feed line in the order in which preparations for carriers, preparations for medications, and preparation for receiving carriers are all finished so that a large amount of medications can be collected and delivered by carts to a plurality of wards in a hospital with high efficiency. When patient data is entered in a host computer, at least one of the processing units corresponding to this data is activated to prepare medications. When preparations in all of the processing units, tray feed units, and tray receiving unit have been made, a corresponding tray is fed on the conveyor to collect medications and is then loaded into a predetermined one of a plurality of carts.

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: 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: To provide a substrate transport device and a transport teaching system which can automatically perform a teaching processing in order to reduce the burden of an operator and to eliminate a positional shift accurately and efficiently in a short time. Optical connectors 251, 252, 253 and 254 of a jig 200 and optical connectors 256, 257, 258 and 259 fixedly provided on a substrate transport device are opposed to each other and optical axes are coincident with each other. A lens having a high condensation ratio is provided in each optical connector. A light signal is output from optical sensor heads 231 and 241 through an optical fiber F2, each optical connector and an optical fiber F1, and a light signal input to optical sensor heads 232 and 242 is guided into the substrate transport device. Then, an arm 31b is automatically moved in a three-axis direction. Thus, an edge position of a detected portion 122 is detected to acquire positional information so that teaching information is obtained.

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: 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 system and method for determining the location of a mail piece using a code identifier of the mail piece that is read as the mail piece is placed within a mail tray. Determination of the location of the mail tray is thus determination of the location of each mail piece therein. Code identifiers on mail trays are read as mail trays are placed in vehicles. Determination of the location of the vehicle is thus determination of the location of each mail tray placed therein and coded mail pieces within the tray. A database is maintained with this hierarchical location information so as to provide a readily available means for determining the location of any mail piece.

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 system for conveyance and processing of large numbers of identical or at least similar objects (piece goods) has a large number of holders (22) which are movable in sequence along a conveying path (F) which is closed on itself. The holders convey held objects along the conveying path. In stations (30, 31) along the path, actions directed to objects or holders (22) are triggered. For controlling these actions, a selected number of the holders are equipped as signaling holders (23) such that between each two successive signaling holders (23), there is a different number of non-signaling holders. The stations (30, 31) have sensor means (33) for detecting signaling holders (23) as well as a counter (35/41) and a memory (36) for storing the counter reading. In response to a signal (S) generated on detection of a signaling holder (23), the memory contents are overwritten with the current counter reading and the counter is reset to zero.

Abstract: The wheel style recognition system for identifying and orienting wheel workpieces includes a wheel style recognition station, a conveyor for delivering a wheel workpiece to the wheel style recognition station, and a wheel orientation sensor that senses the radial orientation of the wheel workpiece on the wheel style recognition station, and generates a radial orientation signal. A wheel mapping sensor scans the wheel workpiece and generates a wheel style mapping signal pattern, while the wheel workpiece is rotated at a steady rate of rotation. A control unit compares the wheel style mapping signal pattern with at least one reference wheel style mapping signal pattern.

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 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 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.