A manufacturing management device includes a determination section configured to determine the necessity of maintenance on any of the multiple production devices during production by the production line; and a conveyance management section configured to stop loading circuit boards, at a predetermined time, onto a reference device among the multiple production devices when it is determined that maintenance is necessary, the reference device being positioned upstream in the production line from a maintenance target device having a cause for maintenance.

The invention relates to a bottle case management system, each bottle being provided with an electronic chip, the management system comprising: a first frame (160) having a first shape, a second frame (162) having a second form, the second shape being complementary to the first shape,
the assembly of the two frames (160, 162) forming a framework delimiting an internal opening intended for the insertion of a conveyor (58) on which cases (12) run in a running direction (X), the internal opening having a dimension along a direction orthogonal to the running direction between 300 mm and 1000 mm, at least one chip reader being comprised in the frame.

A baggage handling system includes a multi-tiered carousel system, an input conveyor system, an output conveyor system and a control system. Each tier of the multi-tiered carousel system includes an array of addressable storage cells movable along a loop having a charge point and a discharge point. Each storage cell is configured to store a single baggage item. The input conveyor system transfers baggage items selectively to the addressable storage cells of the multiple tiers at the respective charge points, for storage therein. The output conveyor system retrieves baggage items selectively from the addressable storage cells of the multiple tiers at the respective discharge points and conveys the retrieved baggage items in a queue. The storage and retrieval of baggage items is controlled by the control system such that the retrieved baggage items are queued to conform to a determined sequence.

A workpiece processing system (1) includes a transfer robot (3), a control device (4) controlling operation of the transfer robot (3), and an operating part (5) performing a teaching operation to the transfer robot (3). The control device (4) has an approach point setter (6) setting in advance an approach point as a reference point for the transfer robot (3) to start operation to a workpiece processing device, a first program generator (7) generating a first program defining the operation of the transfer robot (3) from an operational zero point for the transfer robot (3) to the approach point, a second program generator (8) generating a second program defining the operation of the transfer robot (3) after the approach point based on the teaching operation, and a robot controller (9) controlling the operation of the transfer robot (3) in accordance with the first program and the second program.

A system is described for carton serialization on a high-speed production line. The system includes conveying apparatus. A printer prints a unique character string on each piece of feed stock to uniquely identify each assembled carton. Folding and gluing apparatus are operatively associated with the conveying apparatus for selectively gluing and folding feed stock to form assembled cartons. An analysis apparatus monitors operation of carton assembly. A rejection device selectively removes defective assembled cartons from the conveying apparatus. A control system is in operative communication with the sensor, printer, folding and gluing apparatus, the analysis apparatus and the rejection device. The control system stores machine operating parameters in a database. The control system controls the printer to print the unique character string on each piece of feed stock responsive to the sensor and storing the unique character string and production time for each carton produced in a database.

A motion control system for an independent cart system provides for an improved system for controlling operation of movers in areas of high traffic. A controller monitors operation of the movers to detect heavy traffic. In heavy traffic, the controller may bring a mover to a stop to avoid collisions. Once a mover is stopped, the segment controller will look at the present location of the mover and determine whether it is at the desired position set in the motion command. If the mover is not at the desired position, the stop was a result of heavy traffic. After detecting heavy traffic, the controller commands the mover to resume travel using a modified motion command. The modified motion command will command the first mover to its desired position but will command the move at a reduced rate or using a reduced response in the controller.

A system includes a storage facility configured to store drones. The system may also include at least one robotic element configured to move the drones to and from the storage facility and a conveyor configured to move the drones to a launching area. The at least one robotic element may include an articulating arm configured to move a first drone from the storage facility to the conveyor, in response to identifying that the first drone is selected for a flight.

An apparatus including a controller, and at least two cutting head assemblies. The controller typically includes a computer processor, and a computer memory, having a computer program stored therein. The controller automatically controls the current load of a cutting motor of each of the at least two cutting head assemblies via current sensors, in response to monitoring real time current loads. The controller may also control feed mechanism speed. The feed mechanism may include a conveyor belt. The controller may also be programmed to control a position or height of each of the at least two cutting head assemblies with respect to the feed mechanism. The two or more cutting head assemblies may be attached to a frame, and the controller may control the movement of the frame perpendicular to the direction of movement of feeding mechanism. Cutting head pads may be monitored for wear and replaced if necessary.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for optical inspection of the opened abdominal cavity (10) of gutted fish (11), comprising a conveying device (12) configured for conveying the fish (11) along a processing line in the longitudinal direction, pivotable ventral flaps holding elements (17) configured for holding open the abdominal cavity (10) of the fish, at least one optical imaging system (21, 22, 23) arranged along the processing line, said optical imaging system being designed and configured to take at least one sequence of images of abdominal cavity regions of one of the fish (11) in each case, said sequence comprising a plurality of single images, at least one illumination device (24, 25) configured for illuminating the abdominal cavity regions in each case with light of a predetermined spectral composition, in each case at the times the single images are taken, an evaluation unit (26) configured to evaluate the image sequence according to prescribed quality parameters, said evaluation unit being designed to activate an ejection device to remove the relevant fish (11) from the processing line by ejecting it, should the evaluation reveal any deviation from the prescribed quality parameters. The invention further relates to a corresponding method.

A system and method therefor for use with a conveyor carrying cartons inbound to a printing area and outbound away from the printing area. The system has a printer located in the printing area for printing documents to be inserted into corresponding cartons on the conveyor and a controller for cooperatively controlling operations of the conveyor and the printer based on the positions of the cartons relative to the printer. The controller includes a staging processor for determining when to cause the conveyor to carry the cartons inbound past the printer and when to cause the printer to print the documents. In operation, the controller queues the documents for printing, monitors outbound capacity of the conveyor based on detected positions of the cartons, releases a group of the cartons inbound on the conveyor in response to the outbound capacity reaching a predetermined threshold, and initiates printing the queued documents corresponding to the cartons in the group when the group of the cartons is released.