The invention relates to a method for operating a pass-through machine (1), in particular a pass-through machine which is provided for use in the manufacture of furniture and components, and to a pass-through machine. In the method, a supplied workpiece (W) is first detected and/or identified using a workpiece detection device (20); handling information (HI) is then output using an information device (30) on the basis of the detected information of the workpiece detection device (20); whereupon an operator of the pass-through machine (1) carries out a handling process on or with the workpiece (W) according to the output handling information (HI); and the handled workpiece (W) is then supplied to a machining device (50) of the pass-through machine (1) using a supply device (80).

A system and method for determining authenticity and authorized possessorship of an item that includes operations of determining a watermark comprised of one or more variations of a set of characteristics integrated into composition of the item, requesting confirmation of authenticity from an authenticity verification service that the determined watermark corresponds to an authentic, registered item, and, in response to the request for confirmation of authenticity, receiving an indication of authenticity of the item and an indication of possessor ship based at least in part on the determined watermark. Further including a system and method for obtaining a blueprint for producing the item, determining the watermark for the item, producing the item with the watermark according to the blueprint, and registering the watermark and at least one authorized possessor of the item with the authenticity verification service of a computing resource service provider.

A production control system includes a plurality of processing machines configured to successively process a plurality of workpieces conveyed on a production line, and a system server connected to the plurality of processing machines, in which the system server acquires an operating status associated with a time from each of the plurality of processing machines, associates the acquired operating statuses with the plurality of workpieces successively arriving at the processing machines, and thereby identifies each of the plurality of workpieces conveyed on the production line.

In a method for transferring goods using a robot and a storage and picking system for carrying out the method, a gripper is coupled to or activated at a robot head of the robot depending on the grip type of the goods to be transferred. By doing so, a good can be picked up at a first position and deposited at a second position. The goods, separated into the groups of goods, are supplied to the robot so that the goods of a first group of goods are firstly provided at the first position and subsequently the goods of a second group of goods are provided at the first position. The first group of goods includes the goods of a first grip type, and the second group of goods includes the goods of a second grip type.

Tracing forged parts over their production process includes: capturing process parameters of a forging process; marking a workpiece with a first identifier; storing the captured process parameters and the first identifier in a database; reading the identifier from the workpiece produced in the previous process step; capturing process parameters during subsequent process steps; storing the process parameters of the subsequent process steps in the database for the read identifier, if legibility of the first identifier of the workpiece remains during the subsequent process step; marking the workpiece produced in the subsequent process step with a further identifier, if legibility of the first identifier of the workpiece does not remain during the subsequent process step of the production process; and storing the process parameters of the subsequent process step together with the further identifier and process parameters of the previous process steps and the first identifier in the database.

Signals are transmitted between a device placed on an object and at least one further device. Based on measurement of the signals transmitted between the device and the at least one further device, a position of the object is determined. Further, data associated with the object are stored in the device. The stored data are then transmitted from the device.

Systems and methods for controlling chlorinators for pools and spas are provided. A controller communicates with a processor positioned within a replaceable cell cartridge of a chlorinator, to allow for remote control and diagnosis of the chlorinator and/or cell cartridge. The cell cartridge stores, in non-volatile memory on board the cartridge, one or more parameters associated with the cartridge. The controller can obtain this information from the processor of the cell cartridge, and can use same to configure operation of the chlorinator. Information relating to remaining cell life can be updated by the controller and stored in the non-volatile memory of the cell cartridge. Electrical and software-based mechanisms are provided for ensuring operation of only compatible cell cartridges with the chlorinator. A system for remotely diagnosing errors associated with the chlorinator is also provided.

A detection apparatus for detecting a three-dimensional position of an object includes a feature point detecting unit that, with consecutive or at least alternately consecutive two images among multiple images sequentially imaged when a robot is moving being a first image and a second image, detects multiple feature points in the second image including one feature point detected in the first image; a distance calculating unit that calculates a distance between the one feature point of the first image and the multiple feature points of the second image; and a feature point determining unit that determines a feature point for which the distance is the shortest. With consecutive or at least alternately consecutive next two images being the first image and the second image, processing for determining a feature point for which the distance is the shortest is repeated, thereby tracking the feature points of the object.

A method of improving board feature quality grading facilitates human check grader reaction to grading output. The method entails specifying, for application by an automatic grading system to the faces of boards passing through a scanning zone, a virtual grade expressed by a range of values that overlap values in two of successive standard rule-based grades representing higher and lower board feature qualities; producing a signal in response to detection of a board feature quality representing a virtual grade value of a board analyzed by the automatic grading system; indicating, in response to the signal, a virtual grading designation onto the board to alert a check grader to assess whether the board exhibits board feature quality that exceeds the lower board feature quality; and assigning to the board the standard rule-based grade representing the higher board feature quality whenever the check grader's assessment concurs with the virtual grade designation.

A tooling system that includes a drive unit configured to provide rotational force to a tool member. The tool member is attached at a mount on the drive unit. A camera associated with the drive unit is aligned to capture a target on the tool member. The data is sent to a controller that identifies the tool member based on the target. The controller determines whether the tool member is correct for performing an operation on a work piece. If the tool member is correct, the controller may set one or more operating parameters on the drive unit. If the controller determines that the tool member is not correct, the drive unit is disabled. Further, a signal may be sent to inform an operator of the issue.