A method for handling malfunctioning vehicles on a rail system constituting part of a storage and retrieval system includes storing a plurality of stacks of storage containers and a control system. The storage and retrieval system includes a plurality of remotely operated vehicles configured to move laterally on the rail system. The method includes wirelessly monitoring and controlling, via the control system, movements of the plurality of vehicles. The method includes forming the control system by wireless data communication including: registering an anomaly in an operational condition of a vehicle on the rail system; registering the vehicle with the anomalous operational condition as a malfunctioning vehicle; bringing the malfunctioning vehicle to a halt; registering a halt position of the malfunctioning vehicle relative to the rail system; setting up a two-dimensional shutdown zone within the rail system into which the malfunctioning vehicle is halted; and updating movement pattern of the plurality of remotely operated vehicles outside the two-dimensional shutdown zone such that entrance into the two-dimensional shutdown zone is avoided.

The present invention is directed to a system and method for transferring specimen containers between detection instruments. The method may include transporting a specimen container in a locator well to a container transfer station in a first automated detection apparatus; sensing the specimen container at the container transfer station using a first sensor; transferring the specimen container from the container transfer station of the first automated microbial detection apparatus to an automated loading mechanism of a second automated microbial detection apparatus; detecting that the specimen container is positioned over the automated loading mechanism of the second automated microbial detection apparatus using a second sensor; and releasing the specimen container onto the automated loading mechanism of the second automated microbial detection apparatus.

The present invention is directed to a system and method for transferring specimen containers between detection instruments. The method may include transporting a specimen container in a locator well to a container transfer station in a first automated detection apparatus; sensing the specimen container at the container transfer station using a first sensor; transferring the specimen container from the container transfer station of the first automated microbial detection apparatus to an automated loading mechanism of a second automated microbial detection apparatus; detecting that the specimen container is positioned over the automated loading mechanism of the second automated microbial detection apparatus using a second sensor; and releasing the specimen container onto the automated loading mechanism of the second automated microbial detection apparatus.

The invention relates to an arrangement (20) to transport a round blank ring (30) made from plastic from a receiving location (35) to an assembly station (90). A every point in time, the orientation and the position of the round blank ring (30) are predefined, at least within a tolerance range. To execute a movement from top to bottom in a height direction (H), it is possible to use a feed device (34) with a motor-driven conveying unit (58). This conveying unit (58) moves one or more round blank rings (30) in a positively guided manner downward in the height direction (H) to a delivery location (36). At every point in time as this is done, the orientation of the round blank ring relative to the height direction (H) is defined, at least within a predefined tolerance range.

The invention relates to an arrangement (20) to transport a round blank ring (30) made from plastic from a receiving location (35) to an assembly station (90). A every point in time, the orientation and the position of the round blank ring (30) are predefined, at least within a tolerance range. To execute a movement from top to bottom in a height direction (H), it is possible to use a feed device (34) with a motor-driven conveying unit (58). This conveying unit (58) moves one or more round blank rings (30) in a positively guided manner downward in the height direction (H) to a delivery location (36). At every point in time as this is done, the orientation of the round blank ring relative to the height direction (H) is defined, at least within a predefined tolerance range.

In the technical field of display devices, there is a problem of low efficiency in image appearance inspection during the processing process of a display panel. In view of this, provided is an image acquisition system, comprising: a control device, an object loading device and an image acquisition apparatus. The control device is used for obtaining a target value of displacement between the object loading apparatus and the image acquisition apparatus according to an image signal, generating a control command, which carries the target displacement value, and then sending the control command to at least one of the object loading device and the image acquisition apparatus; and at least one of the object loading apparatus and the image acquisition apparatus moves according to the control command, until the definition of the image signal received by the control device in real time is greater than a preset definition threshold value.

In the technical field of display devices, there is a problem of low efficiency in image appearance inspection during the processing process of a display panel. In view of this, provided is an image acquisition system, comprising: a control device, an object loading device and an image acquisition apparatus. The control device is used for obtaining a target value of displacement between the object loading apparatus and the image acquisition apparatus according to an image signal, generating a control command, which carries the target displacement value, and then sending the control command to at least one of the object loading device and the image acquisition apparatus; and at least one of the object loading apparatus and the image acquisition apparatus moves according to the control command, until the definition of the image signal received by the control device in real time is greater than a preset definition threshold value.

A lift system for an automated storage system of the type where storage containers are stacked in storage columns arranged in a grid, and where automated container handling vehicles retrieve and replace containers from a top level of the grid. The lift system has a platform vertically movable adjacent to a face of the grid, arranged for receiving and transporting one or more containers. A dedicated mechanical device is arranged for grabbing, lifting and moving the storage containers from a staging area at the top of the grid and placing containers on the platform and vice versa.

A lift system for an automated storage system of the type where storage containers are stacked in storage columns arranged in a grid, and where automated container handling vehicles retrieve and replace containers from a top level of the grid. The lift system has a platform vertically movable adjacent to a face of the grid, arranged for receiving and transporting one or more containers. A dedicated mechanical device is arranged for grabbing, lifting and moving the storage containers from a staging area at the top of the grid and placing containers on the platform and vice versa.

The operation of container handling vehicles and remotely operated specialized container handling vehicles are controlled by a method such that total elapsed time or waiting time cost for transferring specified storage containers between them is minimal or optimal. The specialized container handling vehicles are operating at a level below an automated storage and retrieval system having a framework structure defining a storage grid for storing storage containers in grid cells. The storage containers are stored and retrieved by container handling vehicles running on top of the storage grid. At least one operational controller, which is in communication with a first type of controller in each container handling vehicle and a second type of controller in each specialized container handling vehicle, performs the followings steps: when a specified storage container is to be transferred from a storage column and its corresponding grid cell to a specialized container handling vehicle: assigning and instructing a container handling vehicle to pick up the storage container from the grid cell and lower it to a selected port, located at the lower end of an identified free delivery column by transmitting instructions to the first type of controller of the assigned container handling vehicle, where the port selected is included as a variable in a weighting function together with time and waiting cost to derive a trade-off of the container handling vehicle and the specialized container handling vehicle having the best matching travel time to the port; moving the container handling vehicle to the grid cell, picking up the storage container and transporting it to a grid cell of the delivery column where the port is; transmitting a signal to the specialized container handling vehicles comprising information of the selected port at a first location and when the storage container will be available at the port; based on responses from the specialized container handling vehicles, assigning and instructing a specialized container handling vehicle to retrieve the specified storage container at the selected port; moving the assigned specialized container handling vehicle to the selected port at the first location, picking up the storage container and bringing it to a second location; and/or, when a specified storage container is to be transferred to a grid cell, for storage in its corresponding storage column, by a specialized container handling vehicle: determining which port at a first location that is to be used, where the port selected is included as a variable in a weighting function together with time and waiting cost to derive a trade-off of the container handling vehicle