A robot controller configured to manage production management information of a machine tool and transmit the information to an upper-level computer, and a processing system including the machine tool, the robot and the robot controller. When a processing-start notification and/or a workpiece exchange-request is transmitted, at least a part of the production management information held by the machine tool is transmitted to the robot controller via a first network. The robot controller combines the production management information of the machine tool and other production management information held by the robot controller, and stores the combined production management information as substantially one production management information. After that, when the upper-level computer requests the robot controller or the machine tool to transmit the product management information, the production management information stored in the robot controller is transmitted to the upper-level computer via a second network.

An automatic device for emptying bags of frozen blood product includes a product removal device, a product reception hopper, a transporter for transporting the bag from a reception area to the product removal device, and at least one cutter located in the path of the bag between the reception area and the product removal device. The at least one cutter is housed in a support configured to oscillate for absorbing energy of impacts of the bag against the cutter and to return the cutter to its initial position.

Control method for a press installation and installation, where the installation includes a servo press, a conveyor device for conveying pieces from a position of origin to the servo press, and a controller. The controller controls the movements of the conveyor device and of the servo press by means of one and the same master signal, causing a synchronized actuation of both. In the method, the pieces are conveyed to the position of origin and during the travel thereof until reaching the position of origin, the passage of the pieces through a predetermined position of reference before the position of origin is detected, and depending on the detection, the master signal is adjusted for adapting the actuation speed of the servo press.

A machining system comprises a machine tool, a machine tool controller that controls the machine tool, an auxiliary device that assists the machine tool, and an auxiliary device controller that controls the auxiliary device. The machine tool and the auxiliary device work cooperatively for machining. The machining system comprises a signal management unit that receives a first signal and a second signal. The first signal indicates information about the machine tool as a criterion used for determining whether the machine tool and the auxiliary device are operable or inoperable. The second signal indicates information about the auxiliary device as a criterion used for determining whether the machine tool and the auxiliary device are operable or inoperable. The signal management unit outputs a third signal indicating an operable state or an inoperable state of the machine tool and the auxiliary device to the machine tool controller and the auxiliary device controller based on the first signal and the second signal.

A microplate handling apparatus comprising: a housing; a robotic arm mounted to the housing; and a controller located within the housing and arranged to control the robotic arm and further arranged to control an instrument. By embedding the controller within the robotic arm rather than having it as a separate PC the controller becomes a dedicated controller for the robotic arm and any associated instruments. As the controller is a dedicated controller, users are less likely to attempt to make use of the controller for any other purpose. The system provider/installer retains much greater control of the set up, e.g. of the operating system and software installation. There is a much lower likelihood of conflicting software or erroneous settings causing software problems. This reduces the number of software support problems that need to be answered which in turn reduces the cost of the system itself and/or any associated support contract. This benefit is particularly relevant to smaller, bench top systems where the operational scale (lab scale) is generally smaller and project budgets are also smaller. Thus the equipment and support cost is of much greater importance in such systems.

A machine tool system includes: a machine tool that machines a workpiece by using a tool attached to a spindle; and a plurality of robots installed inside a machining space of the machine tool and adapted to grip the workpiece and move the workpiece in conformity with the machining performed by the machine tool.

A machine tool system includes: a machine tool for machining a workpiece set on a table using a tool attached to a spindle; and a robot for gripping the workpiece. The robot is installed on the table and performs a setting operation for setting the workpiece on the table and a clamping operation for clamping the workpiece.

An autonomous production line for machining work pieces e.g. by sawing, milling, boring or grinding and proposes a roller conveyor with machining stations, a placement station and an unloading station. Machining robots machine the work pieces at the machining stations while the work pieces are supported on suction tables.

A process system includes a detection device that detects a rotation angle of a workpiece when a robot grips the workpiece. The control device includes a storage unit that stores a reference rotation angle serving as a criterion for the rotation angle of the workpiece, and an error calculation unit that calculates a rotation error relative to the reference rotation angle in the rotation angle of the workpiece detected by the detection device. The control device corrects the rotation angle of the fixture based on the rotation error so as to correspond to the rotation angle of the workpiece detected by the detection device when the robot transfers the workpiece to the fixture.

A control device, a system and methods for optimizing and providing movement profiles, wherein the movement profiles serve for determining the movement of tools of a press and the movement of a receiving element for a workpiece of a transfer system, where transfer movement profiles are synchronized with one another via press movement profiles, the synchronization of the transfer movement profiles particularly occurs by chronologically shifting synchronization points via boundary conditions such that an offset of the press movement profiles can be determined via the synchronization, so that the workpiece can be processed as quickly as possible through the system.