A height error of a workpiece holding portion is detected based on a height from a mounting pedestal side floor surface, on which a mounting pedestal is mounted, to a connection point between the workpiece holding portion and an arm unit at a point in time at which contact with a detection target is detected by a surface detection sensor, a height from the mounting pedestal side floor surface to a surface of the detection target, and a theoretical value of a height of the workpiece holding portion, and an actual loading height of a workpiece mounted on the mounting pedestal is detected in consideration of the height error of the workpiece holding portion.

A cosmetic manufacturing apparatus includes a main body providing a cosmetic manufacturing space; a part supply unit providing at least one of a mixing container for accommodating cosmetic materials and a component constituting a cosmetic container; a cosmetic material supply unit for discharging one or more cosmetic materials stored in a cosmetic material storage unit to the mixing container; a conveying means for moving at least one of the mixing container and the component constituting the cosmetic container which have been provided to the part supply unit; and a control unit for controlling at least one of the cosmetic material supply unit and the conveying means so that the one or more cosmetic materials stored in the cosmetic material storage unit are mixed and accommodated into at least one of the mixing container and the component constituting the cosmetic container.

An automated guided cart (AGC) that is configured to travel along a cart path according to generally non-precision movements is implemented to support a build process requiring precise positioning of vehicle build devices. In an example of a method of use, a vehicle build device for the build process is engaged with the AGC. When the AGC travels proximate a build operation area, the AGC can be secured in a dimensionally fixed position, with the result that both the AGC and a vehicle build device engaged with the AGC are located in precise positions. Based on the precise location of the vehicle build device, the vehicle build device can be interfaced with robots or other automated equipment according to preprogrammed and/or precise movements to carry out a build process.

A method for transporting inventory items includes moving a mobile drive unit to a first point within a workspace. The first point is a location of an inventory holder. The method further includes docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to a second point within the workspace. The second point is associated with conveyance equipment. The method further includes moving the inventory holder to a third point within the workspace using the conveyance equipment.

Methods, apparatuses, and program products for controlling a conveyor. One embodiment of the method includes operating a motorized roller of the conveyor to rotate in a first direction corresponding to a direction of travel, and in response to detecting that a jam has occurred, operating the motorized roller to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction. Another embodiment of the method includes sending a message to a second controller controlling a downstream conveyor requesting data to determine whether the downstream conveyor is occupied by an article. In response to determining the downstream conveyor is not occupied by the article, operating a motorized roller of an upstream conveyor to convey an incoming article at a target speed, and in response to determining the downstream conveyor is occupied by the article, operating the motorized roller to convey the incoming article at an adjusted target speed slower than the target speed.

Conveyer device including a local controller provided in each zone for controlling a transport operation of the zone, and host controller that reports information relating to a cause of non-transport are included. Host controller includes mouse and the like for receiving, from a user, a selection instruction through which one of a plurality of zones is selected, and report processor that obtains, as clue information, information relating to a phenomenon that can be the cause of the non-transport of a conveyed object, from local controller of the target zone, and reports cause information corresponding to information relating to the cause based on the clue information, when the clue information satisfies a determination condition previously set.

A method for providing operating data of a transport system in a machine line, e.g. for filling and packaging foods and/or beverages. The machine line includes a multiple machines and at least one transport system. A material flow of the machine line includes the transport system and at least one of the machines. The transport system includes one or more devices. The method starts with creation of one or more functional modules. Each of the functional modules fulfills a specific standardized function within the machine line. Each of the functional modules functionally represents one or more of the devices along a material flow within the machine line. For each of the functional modules, a standardized PLC interface is provided for outputting standardized information as operating data of the functional module. The operating data include a status, an operating parameter, or an error message of the functional module.

A substrate transfer apparatus to transfer a circular substrate provided with a cutout at an edge portion thereof, includes: a sensor part including three light source parts applying light to positions different from one another at the edge portion, and three light receiving parts paired with the light source parts; and a drive part for moving the substrate holding part, wherein the three light source parts apply light to the light receiving parts so that whether or not a detection range of the sensor part overlaps with the cutout of the substrate is determined on the basis of an amount of received light by each light receiving part, and when it is determined that there is an overlap at any position, positions of the edge portion of the substrate are further detected with the position of the substrate displaced with respect to the sensor part.

There is provided a conveyor assembly for sorting merchandise items. In one form, the conveyor assembly includes: a merchandise identification module; sortation modules each comprising a multi-directional sorting portion with two sets of rollers, a first wing including a third set of rollers, a second wing including a fourth set of rollers, and a controller configured to receive an IP address; a first, disassembled state of the sortation modules; a second, assembled state of the sortation modules; a merchandise database; and a control circuit configured to receive identifying information about an unsorted merchandise item, assign a unique IP address to each sortation module corresponding to the position of the sortation module, determine a sortation destination for the unsorted merchandise item, determine the sortation module corresponding to the sortation destination; and instruct the controller of the corresponding sortation module to divert the unsorted merchandise item to the sortation destination.

A processing system is disclosed for processing objects. The processing system includes a perception system for providing perception data regarding an object, and a primary transport system for providing transport of the object along a primary direction toward a processing location that is identified based on the perception data.