A method and apparatus for dispensing and retrieving products is provided. A system may include: a grasping head; first and second grasping members, each grasping member comprising: a top member; a post member; and first and second grasping fingers, where the first and second grasping fingers extend from the post member and are spaced apart from the top member by a predetermined distance, where the first and second grasping members are connected to the grasping head, where at least one of the first and second grasping members is movably connected to the grasping head, where the at least one of the first and second grasping members is movable relative to the other of the first and second grasping members.

Automated, environmentally monitored and controlled storage units and systems for storing, monitoring, and maintaining a supply of products, particularly temperature sensitive pharmaceutical and/or other high-value products, be they temperature sensitive or not. Such automated storage units contain an array of independently addressable holding locations for containers with product in one or more environmentally monitored (e.g., for temperature, humidity, etc.) and controlled zones fitted with appropriate environmental sensors. In preferred embodiments, the automated storage units also include a reader to track product information and status. Product loading, retrieval, and movement within such automated storage units is performed by a computer-controlled robot. A user interface device, preferably in communication with an application service provider to provide remotely managed inventory management and other services, provides users with inventory- and product-specific information.

An allograft optimization system utilizes an optical system to determine the outer perimeter of a tissue blank for allograft cutting therefrom. The optical system determines an optimal allograft array pattern that can be derived from the irregular tissue blank and may include a plurality of various allograft shapes and sizes. A computer operates an allograft optimization computer program that receives input regarding the outer perimeter of the tissue blank. A cutting implement, such as a laser, is configured to cut the allografts from the irregularly shaped tissue blank according the allograft array pattern. The cutting implement is automatically actuated by an actuator with respect to the tissue blank to cut the allografts therefrom. The cutting implement may be a laser or a galvo laser that is directed by one or more mirrors. The tissue may be birth tissue including placental tissue and amnion.

Lumber retrieval systems and methods feed a centrally located saw with a predetermined assortment of boards picked from certain stations distributed at either side of the saw. In some examples, an overhead trolley system carries individual boards in a certain sequence from chosen stations to a board-receiving apparatus. The board-receiving apparatus, in turn, feeds the boards to the saw. The saw then cuts the boards into board segments, which can be used for making prefabricated trusses and wall panels. In some examples, the trolley system has a laser-scanning feature for determining the location of the next-to-pick board while simultaneously transporting the board currently heading to the board-receiving apparatus. In some examples, the trolley system includes two board carriers each of which are dedicated or assigned to certain stations. In some examples, one carrier serves as backup for the other one when one of the carriers is broken or otherwise inactive.

A micro device transfer apparatus and a micro device transfer method are provided. The micro device transfer apparatus comprises a stage unit including a stage where a target substrate is to be disposed, a plurality of transfer head units disposed above the stage, and a transfer head unit moving part configured to move the plurality of transfer head units, wherein, the transfer head unit comprises a carrier substrate fastening part configured to fasten a carrier substrate where a plurality of micro devices are disposed, a mask unit disposed above the carrier substrate fastening part, the mask unit comprising a mask including an opening part and a shielding part, a light emitting part disposed on the mask unit, and a housing formed around the carrier substrate fastening part, the mask unit, and the light emitting part.

Methods of positioning a gripper to pick or place a specimen container from a sample rack. One method includes providing a robot including the gripper, the gripper moveable in a coordinate system by the robot and including gripper fingers, providing a sample rack including receptacles containing specimen containers, providing data, obtained by imaging, regarding the specimen containers in the sample rack, and dynamically orienting the gripper based upon the data. The data may include population and/or configuration data and the dynamic orientation may include gripper finger opening distance, gripper finger rotational position, and/or gripper offset distance. Gripper positioning apparatus for carrying out the method are disclosed, as are other aspects.

A mounting and demounting control system is used for installing a radioactive source in nuclear logging instruments. In this system, a tail end of a truss manipulator is fixedly provided with a worktable through a bolt, a left side of an upper surface of the worktable is provided with a source capsule mounting and demounting manipulator, a right side is provided with a compression screw mounting and demounting manipulator, and the upper surface of the worktable close to the inner side of the two manipulators is respectively provided with opposed photoelectric sensors through bolts; four corners of the truss manipulator are fixed to a support through bolts, a beam is fixed between two legs at the front side of the support through bolts; and a positioning device is placed near the front of the support, and an upper part of positioning device is fixedly provided with an instrument.

A system enables management of dispensable units by supporting functions such as retrieval, scheduled distribution, analysis, and notifications. To this end, a dispensable retrieval mechanism may be programmed to carry out blind retrievals of dispensable units using a retrieval strategy with a predetermined sequence of retrieval attempts (e.g., fixed or varying two-dimensional retrieval patterns), which may be open loop or closed loop. Techniques may also include the identification of dispensable units through optical sensors and weight measurement devices that can detect, e.g., a texture, a shape, and a size of dispensable units. Such identification can be used to program retrieval attempts by a retrieval robot and in the formulation of the retrieval pattern. Additionally, networked notification systems for dispensable units can be used for updating rules or schedules related to the dispensable units, or alerting users and remote resources of any potential misuse or hazards of the dispensable units.

A computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith and executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method. The method includes a three-dimensional printer printing a first layer of an object onto a surface that is not part of the three-dimensional printer, wherein the first layer is printed while a printing platform of the three dimensional printer is in a first position. The printer is autonomously repositioned in a second position elevated above the first position by being supported either on the three-dimensional object itself or on a scaffold printed separate from the object. The printer prints a second layer of the three-dimensional object onto the first layer of the three-dimensional object while the printing platform is in the second position. The printer may have a plurality of legs for controllably repositioning the printing platform.

An automated lumber handling method for transferring various size boards from multiples board storage stations to a common board-receiving area uses a trolley that carries at least two board pickers that can operate independently. The method provides several operating modes. In a first mode, a first board picker retrieves single boards from various stations, while a second board picker is inactive. In a second mode, two board pickers retrieve two individual boards from a single station. In a third mode, one board picker retrieves one size board from a first station, and s second board picker retrieves a different size board from a second station. The two different boards can be released simultaneously at the board-receiving area. In some examples, the lumber at each station is laser scanned to determine the number of boards at each station, and a worker is notified if a station needs to be restocked.