A system for inspecting each workpiece of a plurality of non-identical workpieces includes a controller in control communication with the instruments of the system, and a ruleset corresponding to one or more such non-identical workpieces, the system reconfiguring the inspection instruments to customize part tending operations for each such non-identical workpiece. A method for inspecting each workpiece of a plurality of non-identical workpiece includes providing a controller in control communication with the instruments of the system, and a ruleset corresponding to each such non-identical workpiece, the controller causing reconfiguration of the inspection instruments to customize part tending operations for each such non-identical workpiece.

The invention relates to a robot cell (1) provided for use on machine tools and/or assembly machines. The robot cell (1) includes a handling device, e.g. an industrial robot (2). By means of the robot cell (1), a workpiece (4) to be processed on the machine tool or the assembly machine can be removed from an incoming transport container, pre-processed, orientated, inserted into the machine tool or assembly machine, removed from the machine tool or the assembly machine, measured and placed or stacked in an outgoing transport container. The robot cell (1) can be used on different machine tools or assembly machines. In order to facilitate operation of a robot cell (1) of this kind, the robot cell (1) can be used on the machine tool or the assembly machine without being linked or connected to the machine tool or the assembly machine, the robot cell (1) has an optics device (5), by means of which, in conjunction with reference markings on the machine tool or assembly machine, the robot cell (1) can be positioned in its operating position on the machine tool or the assembly machine, wherein by means of a control apparatus (6) and the handling device connected thereto or the industrial robot (2) connected thereto of the robot cell (1), operating elements on the machine tool or assembly machine can be contacted, operated and controlled.

A workpiece transfer apparatus for a furnace includes a carrier having access to a furnace and carrying a workpiece placed thereon, a controller for controlling movement of the carrier, the controller for determining an amount of deformation of the carrier by heat of the furnace, and the controller for determining an adjustment to the attitude of the carrier on the basis of the amount of deformation of the carrier, wherein when handing over the workpiece for a next process tool, the carrier is moved into an adjusted attitude.

A production system in which a position of a robot relative to a machine tool can be measured and an operation position of the robot can be corrected based on the measurement result, by using a simple configuration. The robot has a vision device attached to a movable part such as a robot arm. The machine tool has a visual target arranged on an outer surface of the machine tool. An image of the visual target captured by a camera is processed by a robot controller or an image processor. Due to such image processing, the position of the robot relative to the machine tool can be measured. Further, the production system has a correcting part which corrects a position of a motion of the robot regarding supplying and ejecting a workpiece, based on the positional relationship between the robot and the machine tool.

The invention concerns a method for simulating and optimizing loading of a system for transporting loads in order to determine an optimized loading plan. The method includes: a) inputting the previously defined structural and functional parameters of at least one transport system; b) inputting the number and the dimensional and weight parameters of the loads to be transported; c) inputting the spacing between the loads from previously defined values; d) inputting the route and/or the destination of the load to select the previously defined legal constraints during transport; e) carrying out an optimization calculation in real time, taking into account the parameters and constraints of steps a), b), c) and d) to simulate at least one optimized loading plan consistent with all of the constraints; and f) presenting an optimized loading calculated in e) or approximating an initial loading request.

A system for inspecting each workpiece of a plurality of non-identical workpieces includes a controller in control communication with the instruments of the system, and a ruleset corresponding to one or more such non-identical workpieces, the system reconfiguring the inspection instruments to customize part tending operations for each such non-identical workpiece. A method for inspecting each workpiece of a plurality of non-identical workpiece includes providing a controller in control communication with the instruments of the system, and a ruleset corresponding to each such non-identical workpiece, the controller causing reconfiguration of the inspection instruments to customize part tending operations for each such non-identical workpiece.

A shelving block comprises a first and second shelving units facing from opposite sides of an aisle. The first shelving unit defines a first crate storage location and a second crate storage location that different in height. The first crate storage location is accessible to a robot between a pair of neighboring horizontal rails having a first vertical spacing between them defining a height of the first crate storage location. The second crate storage location is accessible to the robot between another pair of neighboring horizontal rails having a second vertical spacing between them defining a height of the second crate storage location. The first vertical spacing is larger than the second vertical spacing. The robot carries crates according to instructions from a computerized control.

A sorting method automatically sorts workpieces produced in a flatbed machine tool according to a scheduled sorting process by a sorting device. The method includes: providing at least one piece of process information created as a result of manufacturing of the workpieces; analyzing the at least one piece of process information, such that it is determined whether there is a sorting disruption; and upon determining that there is the sorting disruption, automatically modifying the sorting process.

A combined system having a function for rapidly detecting and correcting a positional misalignment between a machine tool and a robot. The combined system includes: a machine tool having a table and a workpiece fixing jig integrally movable with the table; a robot system separated from the machine tool and having a robot configured to supply or take out a workpiece to or from the jig; a network for information transmission between the machine tool and the robot; an interference judging part which judges occurrence of interference, based on a disturbance value of each axis of the robot, when the workpiece is supplied to or taken out from the jig; and an interference avoiding part which, when it is judged that the interference occurs, stops a motion of the robot and moves the table in a direction of at least one axis based on the disturbance value.

Provided is a technique of transporting an object to be transported to a machine tool more securely. A transport system includes a transport path, and a storage portion. The storage portion stores an object, and has a first reference shape. The transport system includes machine tools, and a transport device that moves on and the transport path and transports an object. The control unit executes a process of making a camera photograph the first reference shape to acquire a first image from the camera, and a process of correcting a control parameter to be used in transporting an object to be transported stored in the storage portion to the machine tool that is a transport destination on the basis of a position of the first reference shape in the first image.