An on-the-fly robotic system and method for unloading glass sheets of mixed sizes, including jumbo-sized sheets, from or onto a conveyor onto or from unloading platforms. The system comprises at least one traverse unit extending along the conveyor in parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof and at least two programmable industrial robots movably mounted on the traverse unit. The robots may be operated in a full synchronized mode for handling sheets too large or to heavy to be handled by a single robot or in an individual operation mode where each robot handles a single sheet.
An electrode for a spark plug includes a contact portion. In a particular embodiment, the electrode further includes an annular base and a support portion formed from a different material than the contact portion. The contact portion may be aligned axially with a central axis of the annular base. Further, the contact portion is configured to shield the annular base and the support portion from a second electrode inserted into the annular base.
A motor-driven type power steering apparatus includes: a drive gear connected to an output shaft of a motor; a driven gear in mesh with the drive gear, which is connected to a steering unit; a bearing for supporting one end of the drive gear; a support portion in which the bearing is disposed; and a curved leaf spring which has a length larger than a peripheral length of the bearing and fitted between the bearing and the support portion in a resiliently deformed state. The curved leaf spring urges the bearing so that a distance between an axis of the driven gear and an axis of the drive gear decreases.
Methods, devices, and systems for mechanically reducing the volume of the lung. Some embodiments include endobronchially positioning an anchoring device within a lung, the anchoring device comprising at least a distal anchor, expanding at least a portion of the distal anchor to anchor the distal anchor against lung lumen tissue, and tensioning at least a portion of the device to reduce the volume of the lung.