A lamination device that laminates a plurality of types of workpieces includes supply mechanisms that supply the workpiece to each of supply positions, a movement mechanism including a stator of a linear motor having a predetermined traveling track and a mover of a linear motor that is movable between a plurality of the supply positions along a traveling track, and a controller that controls at least the mover. The mover includes a holding unit that holds the workpiece supplied to the supply positions, and a lamination stage for lamination the workpiece. The controller corrects a relative position of the workpiece with respect to the lamination stage and controls the mover to laminate the workpiece whose relative position is corrected on the lamination stage while the holding unit holds the workpiece supplied to the supply positions and moves to and stops at a next one of the supply positions.

A storage tower for storing storage containers includes a vertically extending supporting structure having a vertical axis, and m horizontally oriented container supports arranged along the vertical axis of the supporting structure and supported by container supporting frameworks to provide different levels where storage containers can be stored. The container supports are distributed at vertical intervals and m is a positive integer of 2 or more. Each container support is rotationally connected to the support structure and configured to support at least one storage container. Each level of the l container supports that are arranged above the remaining levels of m−l container supports each displays at least one opening having a size being at least a maximum horizontal cross section of the storage containers to be stored, l being a positive integer of 1 to m−1. The l container supports can be rotated about the vertical axis independently such that at least one opening of each level of the l container supports is vertically alignable with at least one opening of the other levels of the l container supports by individual rotation of the container supports.

A non-contact transporting apparatus (10) includes: a negative pressure assembly (100) configured to generate a negative pressure airflow within the non-contact transporting apparatus; and an ultrasonic assembly (200) connected to the negative pressure assembly (100). The ultrasonic assembly (200) includes: an ultrasonic transducer (210) configured to convert a high-frequency ultrasonic electrical signal into a high-frequency mechanical vibration, one end of the ultrasonic transducer (210) is connected to the negative pressure assembly (100); an ultrasonic horn (230) configured to amplify the high-frequency mechanical vibration, one end of the ultrasonic horn (230) is connected to one end of the ultrasonic transducer (210) away from the negative pressure assembly (100); and an ultrasonic chuck (250) configured to amplify and convert the high-frequency mechanical vibration, the ultrasonic chuck (250) is connected to one end of the ultrasonic horn (230) away from the ultrasonic transducer (210).

A cart assembly system for handling laundry in a facility, the system including first and second support structures each having arms extending outwardly therefrom. The arms support drive wheels, which in turn support a tow line extending between the first and second support structures. The system may include a drop cord extending downwardly from the tow line and engaging a slot on a tow cart to attach the tow cart to the tow line. The system may also include a mast extending from the cart to the tow line, the mast supporting a clamp assembly for coupling the cart to the tow line. A controller drives one or both of drive wheels to move the tow line and the cart along the line pathway, where the cart transports laundry throughout the facility.

A non-contact transporting apparatus (10) includes: a negative pressure assembly (100) configured to generate a negative pressure airflow within the non-contact transporting apparatus; and an ultrasonic assembly (200) connected to the negative pressure assembly (100). The ultrasonic assembly (200) includes: an ultrasonic transducer (210) configured to convert a high-frequency ultrasonic electrical signal into a high-frequency mechanical vibration, one end of the ultrasonic transducer (210) is connected to the negative pressure assembly (100); an ultrasonic horn (230) configured to amplify the high-frequency mechanical vibration, one end of the ultrasonic horn (230) is connected to one end of the ultrasonic transducer (210) away from the negative pressure assembly (100); and an ultrasonic chuck (250) configured to amplify and convert the high-frequency mechanical vibration, the ultrasonic chuck (250) is connected to one end of the ultrasonic horn (230) away from the ultrasonic transducer (210).

A conveyor belt (36) is arranged in at least one spiral conveyor unit (32) or (34) is arranged in tiers forming at ascending spiral stack (38) and/or a descending spiral stack (40). A ceiling or top sheet (58) is positioned over the spiral stack. A circulation fan (60, 62) draws spent thermal processing medium laterally from the tiers of the spiral stack, up the exterior of the stack and across the top of the stack above the ceiling or top sheet and through a heat exchanger (64) located above the ceiling. The treated thermal processing medium is then routed across the remainder of the diameter of the spiral stack and then down the side of the spiral stack diametrically opposite to the circulating fan thereby to enter the spiral stack in a lateral direction diametrically toward the circulating fan. At least one opening (70, 100, 200) is formed in the ceiling between the heat exchanger and the diametrically distal end of the spiral stack from the circulating fan thereby to provide an alternative flow path for a portion of the thermal processing medium to enter the spiral stack from above, thereby resulting in more uniform treatment of the work product being carried by the conveyor of the spiral stack.

A damping station for an overhead conveyor system for damping vibrations of cargo, wherein overhead conveyor system cargo can be conveyed suspended from the overhead conveyor system. The damping station includes a vibration detection device designed to generate a signal in accordance with a mechanical vibration state of cargo suspended from the conveyor device, a damping device with a mechanical contact device movable by an actuator, the contact device being designed to enter into mechanical operative connection with cargo suspended from the conveyor device, and a control unit, which is connected at least to the vibration detection device and the damping device, the control unit being designed to actuate the damping device depending on the signal of the vibration detection device such that, by means of the actuator, a force is exerted onto the cargo via the contact device in such a way that a vibration of the cargo is damped. A method for damping vibrations in cargo on an overhead conveyor system is also provided.

A conveyor belt (36) is arranged in at least one spiral conveyor unit (32) or (34) is arranged in tiers forming at ascending spiral stack (38) and/or a descending spiral stack (40). A ceiling or top sheet (58) is positioned over the spiral stack. A circulation fan (60, 62) draws spent thermal processing medium laterally from the tiers of the spiral stack, up the exterior of the stack and across the top of the stack above the ceiling or top sheet and through a heat exchanger (64) located above the ceiling. The treated thermal processing medium is then routed across the remainder of the diameter of the spiral stack and then down the side of the spiral stack diametrically opposite to the circulating fan thereby to enter the spiral stack in a lateral direction diametrically toward the circulating fan. At least one opening (70, 100, 200) is formed in the ceiling between the heat exchanger and the diametrically distal end of the spiral stack from the circulating fan thereby to provide an alternative flow path for a portion of the thermal processing medium to enter the spiral stack from above, thereby resulting in more uniform treatment of the work product being carried by the conveyor of the spiral stack.

A transfer system according to the present invention comprises a first travel rail including a first merging section; a second travel rail merging the first travel rail at a merging point and including a second merging section corresponding to the first merging section; a transfer/loading area defined in the second merging section and located upstream of the merging point; and a controller (OCS) for controlling an operation of at least one transfer vehicle moving along the first travel rail and the second travel rail, wherein a second transfer vehicle moves along the second travel rail and enters the transfer/loading area, the second transfer vehicle starts a transfer/loading operation in the transfer/loading area, the first transfer vehicle moves along the first travel rail and enters the first merging section, and the first transfer vehicle passes through the merging point before the second transfer vehicle.

A transport apparatus is for conveying a shoe last along a conveying direction, and includes a rail unit, a transport device and a transfer device. The rail unit is divided into process, bridge and transfer regions. The transport device is movably mounted to the rail unit, is movable in the process and bridge regions, and includes a gripper for gripping the shoe last. The transfer device is movably mounted to the rail unit, is movable in the bridge and transfer regions, and includes a holding member for holding the shoe last. When the gripper is in the bridge region, the holding member is operable to hold the shoe last and transfer the shoe last from the gripper to the transfer region.