10781results about "Lifting devices" patented technology

The invention relates to a vehicle computer system. The vehicle computer system gathers data from a safety sensor to determine whether the proper safety conditions are present for the vehicle operator to interact with the vehicle computer system. A safety controller receives safety condition data gathered from the safety sensor and instructs the display manager to disable the display of information to the vehicle operator during unsafe operating conditions. The vehicle computer system advantageously employs a transparent display screen to provide greater field of vision of the vehicle operator than could be provided by a traditional display screen.

A transfer mechanism for transferring a workpiece includes an arm member including a tip projection provided at a tip end thereof for contacting a periphery of the workpiece and restricting movement of the workpiece. The arm member further includes multiple supporting projections protruding from a top surface thereof for contacting and supporting a back side of the workpiece.

Projections 22 of the blade 16 provided on a blade surface in a wafer-loading region 18b of a body 18 support a wafer W loaded on the blade surface 18a. Since the projections 22 have microgrooves formed by surface roughening the wafer W is retained on the projections 22 with a suppressed displacement. The blade 16 has a simple structure that retains the wafer W without vacuum suction and has no receiving hole to retain the wafer W in the body 18 of the blade 16. This can effectively prevent formation of defects on the wafer W.

Some embodiments provide a system for fully autonomous order fulfillment and inventory management within a distribution site or warehouse. The system operates by autonomous robots directly pulling customer order items from distribution site shelves or pulling individual bins from distribution site shelves and dispensing appropriate quantities of items from the bins until all items of a customer order are retrieved without human involvement. The system further involves the robots autonomously monitoring item quantities within the distribution site, identifying and autonomously responding to shortages, and organizing the items within the distribution site for most efficient order fulfillment.

An intelligent modular hybrid robot arm system is usable with mobile robots, and is applicable to stationary industrial arms. The intelligent modular hybrid robot arm system provides a large work envelope and a controlled and directed rotational movement for a flexible snake robot arm. The intelligent modular hybrid robot arm system has the ability to change end effector tools and sensors. The platform computers have the ability to interact with other subsystems for coordinated as well as independent tasks. The flexibly snake robot arm can be covered with a flexible sensor network, or “skin”. The intelligent modular hybrid robot arm system can manage its energy use, stores the arm in a compact shape and uses a central support tube offering unobstructed arm access to all sectors of its working envelope.

Systems of hardware and software are provided for enabling mobile assets to communicate across a wireless network environment. Systems, computer-implemented methods and computer program products are also provided for leveraging wireless communication and/or processing capabilities of mobile assets against a robust software solution to implement enterprise wide asset management functions, to integrate mobile asset data into existing enterprise workflows and/or to enable trusted third party integration into the enterprise for enhanced asset and/or workflow management.

A method and apparatus for determining position and rotational orientation of an object within a predetermined area is disclosed. Position markers, encoded with their identity, are viewed with a camera, images are captured and processed, and the position and rotational orientation of the object are calculated. Three embodiments are disclosed; the first having a camera mounted on the movable object while position markers bearing linear bar codes are fixed in location, the second having a camera mounted on the movable object while position markers bearing two-dimensional bar codes are fixed in location, and the third having a position marker of either type affixed to the object while the camera is fixed in location.

Systems of hardware and software are provided for enabling mobile assets to communicate across a wireless network environment. Systems, computer-implemented methods and computer program products are also provided for leveraging wireless communication and/or processing capabilities of mobile assets against a robust software solution to implement enterprise wide asset management functions, to integrate mobile asset data into existing enterprise workflows and/or to enable trusted third party integration into the enterprise for enhanced asset and/or workflow management.

An automated distribution center includes an array with storage locations arranged along aisle(s) having a floor, and a mezzanine platform above the floor, the floor and mezzanine being configured for human picker access to the storage locations, an automated guided vehicle (AGV) configured for traverse of the floor and mezzanine to the storage locations, and for transporting a storage container to and from the storage locations, the floor and mezzanine each having an undeterministic traverse surface for the AGV, the AGV is configured so that the surface provides holonomic selectable paths for the AGV substantially everywhere on the surface, each path being selectable by the AGV, and an order filling station, where one or more goods are picked from container(s) to fill order(s), wherein the AGV is configured to pick the container from a storage location and transport the container on the surface between the storage array and the station.

A robot-enabled method of picking cases in a warehouse is provided. A robotic vehicle includes a processor configured to access a memory, a user input device, an output device, and a load platform, and has access to an electronically stored representation of a warehouse. The representation includes a map that defines aisles for storing items arranged as pick faces within the warehouse. A pick list is generated from an order; the pick list provides identifications of items to be picked to fulfill the order. Determined from the pick list is a plurality of stops at pick faces associated with the items. A route within the map is generated that includes the plurality of stops. The robotic vehicle iteratively guides itself along the route and automatically stops at each of the plurality of stops to enable loading of the items from the pick list onto the load platform.

A control system operates an industrial vehicle that includes a propulsion drive system and a guidance and navigation system operatively connected to the propulsion drive system to control motion of the industrial vehicle along a path, in an unmanned, autonomous mode. A wireless communicator transmits vehicle operational data to an asset management computer located remotely from the industrial vehicle, and receives commands from the asset management computer for remotely controlling operation of the industrial vehicle. For example, when the vehicle encounters an obstacle in the path a message indicating that event is sent to the asset management computer where a human operator can send a command which instructs the industrial vehicle how to avoid the obstacle.

Methods and apparatus for tracking the location of one or more unit loads in a coordinate space in a facility, comprising an integrated system that identifies a load by communicating with a host computer, determines the position of the load in the coordinate space, and stores the position and load identity in a Load Map. A mobile subsystem on each conveying vehicle identifies the location and orientation of that vehicle using a position/orientation sensor, confirms acquisition of the load, and communicates the information to a fixed-base subsystem when the load is deposited on an automated conveying device. A conveyor controller tracks the load as it is conveyed on the automated conveying device and identifies the load to a subsequent conveying vehicle based upon its position on the conveying device. Loads that are not initially identified are assigned a pseudo-identification for tracking until they can be positively identified.

A warehousing system for palletized cargo, and an automated loading/unloading system for use with the same. The warehousing system includes a feed conveyer and a plurality of storage racks. A traveling conveyor carries the cargo from the feed conveyor to the individual racks, and from the racks to a loading/unloading conveyor which carries the cargo to the loading/unloading docks. The traveling conveyor rides on a wheeled chassis that is guided between the receiving and discharge locations on tracks. The storage racks are stackable in tiers, and the traveling conveyor has a deck that raises and lowers to be level therewith. The automated loading/unloading dock includes a rigid, extensible plate having an upper surface for supporting a load of palletized cargo, with a drive mechanism being mounted to the inner end of the plate to translate it in and out of the transport vehicle. The plate carries a load of palletized cargo into or out of the transport vehicle en masse. For loading, restraining doors hold the loaded cargo within the interior of the vehicle as the extensible dock is withdrawn. When unloading, a paddle is deployed above the upper surface of the lock member and is translated towards its inner end so as to push the cargo onto the loading/unloading conveyor.

An article for mounting from or against the ceiling is removably coupled to a base fixedly secured to the ceiling, by a person standing on the floor, supporting the article on an elongated rod, and thrusting the article against the base to couple the article and the secured base. The article is removed by inserting the rod into the article, exerting a force on the rod to uncouple the article from the base, and supporting the article on the rod as the article is lowered. The article is thus positioned on or hung from the ceiling, without being manually contacted by the person. The article may be used to mount other devices, such as a sign, smoke detector, etc. or may include such device as a part of the mount.

A supplemental control system for a materials handling vehicle comprises one or more sensors capable of defining multiple contactless detection zones at least towards the front of the forward travel direction of a remotely controlled vehicle. The vehicle responds to the detection of objects within the designated zones based upon predetermined actions, such as to slow down or stop the vehicle, and/or to take other action, such as to perform a steer angle correction.

A location tracking system for tracking the location of items within a controlled area comprises a plurality of RFID tags located according to the required accuracy of the location determinations. Vehicles configured to transport items being tracked include two RFID interrogators configured to acquire RFID information from the plurality of RFID tags and to transmit the RFID tag information to a location authority. The separation the two RFID interrogators is set based on the spacing of the plurality of RFID tags such that the required accuracy results. The location authority can then simply map the RFID tag information to coordinate information stored for each of the plurality of tags to obtain the location of the vehicle and, therefore, the item being transported.

The present invention concerns an automatic system for replenishing display shelves in retail businesses, wherein, aside from a corresponding device in accordance with the invention for transporting the goods, a display shelf for storage and presentation of the goods, a shelf-stocking vehicle and a repacking station for repacking the goods from transport containers into presentation containers and corresponding method for operating these devices are comprised by the present invention.

An apparatus for transporting inventory items includes a housing, a drive module, a docking module, an elevating shaft, and a rotation module. The drive module is capable of propelling the apparatus in at least a first direction. The docking head is capable of coupling to or supporting an inventory holder. The rotation module is capable of inducing rotation in the housing relative to the elevating shaft. The elevating shaft connects to the docking head and is capable of raising the docking head when the housing is rotated relative to the elevating shaft.

An apparatus is provided for an inventory transport device having a fixed section and a movable section. The apparatus comprises a RFID reader device mounted on the movable section; and a RFID power device mounted on the fixed section. The RFID power device provides power to the RFID reader device without physical contact.

A method of monitoring operation of a vehicle detects an application of force to the vehicle and a change of momentum of the vehicle is calculated. If the change of momentum and the application of force are determined to occur within a predetermined time period of one another, an impact signal is generated.

The invention pertains to an emptying device for large-volume receptacles which consists of an auxiliary transport apparatus that is composed of at least four uprights, on the lower ends of which one respective stacking leg is arranged and in the lower end of which one respective lifting mechanism is arranged. This lifting mechanism can be connected to the carrying straps of the large-volume receptacle by means of carrying strap holders, wherein the uprights are respectively connected to one another by means of transverse braces in their lower region in order to accommodate a bottom plate. The bottom plate contains a central opening for accommodating a shutter mechanism with a shutter that is situated in a base plate arranged on the bottom plate and can be actuated by means of a hand crank.

A system and method for the operation and navigation of a moving vehicle in a warehouse environment includes a controller for controlling operation of the vehicle and an imaging device configured to capture an image representing a view from the vehicle. Location labels are configured for being positioned in the warehouse environment and include location indicia.

A navigation processor is operatively coupled to the imaging device and configured to determine a location of the vehicle based at least in part on the image of the location label, the navigation processor further coupled with the controller to control the movement of the vehicle based on the determined location.

A fork-lift truck 1, 1′ including a load carrier 2, an optical detector 3, 3′ having a first field of view and arranged to provide an output, wherein the optical detector 3, 3′ is movable together with the load carrier 2, an optical analysing unit 4, 4′ arranged to analyse the output from said optical detector 3, 3′. The optical analysing unit 4, 4′ is arranged to analyse the output from the optical detector 3, 3′ so as to identify a first three-dimensional object, said first three-dimensional object being the load carrier 2, and a second three-dimensional object based on the output from the optical detector 3, 3′, and to determine the three-dimensional position of the identified load carrier 2 relative to the identified second three-dimensional object. Further a method for operating a fork-lift truck, a method for modifying a fork-lift truck and a computer program product.

A system includes a climate-controlled inventory holder, a mobile drive unit, and a management module. The climate-controlled inventory holder is configured to control a climate of one or more inventory items stored by the inventory holder. The mobile drive unit is operable to transport the climate-controlled inventory holder from a first location to a second location based at least in part upon one or more instructions received from a management module. The management module is operable to receive an order for an inventory item, determine that the inventory holder stores the inventory item, and instruct the mobile drive unit to transport the climate-controlled inventory holder from the first location to the second location.

A teleoperated robotic system that includes master control arms, slave arms, and a mobile platform. In use, a user manipulates the master control arms to control movement of the slave arms. The teleoperated robotic system can include two master control arms and two slave arms. The master control arms and the slave arms can be mounted on the platform. The platform can provide support for the master control arms and for a teleoperator, or user, of the robotic system. Thus, a mobile platform can allow the robotic system to be moved from place to place to locate the slave arms in a position for use. Additionally, the user can be positioned on the platform, such that the user can see and hear, directly, the slave arms and the workspace in which the slave arms operate.

A mobile robot has a predetermined size of large, medium, small or back-packable. The mobile robot includes a chassis, drive system components, power components, a main processor, a communication system and a power and data distribution system. The chassis has a predetermined size of large, medium, small or back-packable. Drive system components are operably attached to the chassis and power components are operably connected to the drive system components and the power and data distribution system. Each drive system component has a predetermined size that is compatible with the chassis. The main processor, the communication system and the power and data distribution system are all operably connected together and operably connected to the traction components and the power components. The main processor, the communication system, and the power and data distribution system are all compatible with the predetermined size of the chassis and at least one other size.

In one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the invention, an order-picking system includes a picking cart having a radio frequency (RF) antenna arranged above an object-stacking surface of the picking cart. The order-picking system further includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader coupled to the RF antenna. The RFID tag reader is configured to identify a first RFID tag attached to a first tagged object placed on the picking cart and further configured to eliminate identification of a second RFID tag attached to a second tagged object located outside a perimeter of the object-stacking surface of the picking cart.

Method and device for lifting and/or lowering of objects in connection with a wind turbine or similar construction, where an uplift device is made to lift and/or lower itself in the proximity of the wind turbine or the similar construction, in as much as uplift device is possibly controlled in relation to the wind turbine or the similar construction and where at least one object is supported by said uplift device. The invention further relates to use hereof for lifting and/or lowering of various parts in connection with a wind turbine.

A multifunctional strap system for portable electronic devices having a case and a strap on the back of the case. The case securely holds a protective electronic device while allowing access to all necessary features of the device. The strap securely couples a user's hand or other personal effects to the device. The strap may also be attached to a clip that removably attaches the strap to the bottom of the device. The detachable clip of the strap allows the strap system to loop around and be secured onto an object. The case may have an insert that can be used as a kickstand or a protective cover of a card held into place by the strap.

A method and system for automatically loading and unloading a transport is disclosed. A first guidance system follows a travel path to a position near the transport and then a sensor profiles a transport so that a transport path is determined for an AGV to follow into the transport to place a load and for exiting the transport upon placement of the load.