A transfer device for self-propelling workpiece trolleys of a transport system allows ends of one or more route sections to be continuously or intermittently connected. The ends of the route sections are either connected via transfer sections that are rigid and bent at least in sections, or a transfer section—which can be moved along a straight or curved track curve and supporting one or more workpiece trolleys—can be temporarily arranged before the ends of the route sections, which transfer section can be moved back and forth between the ends via a driveable gear unit. At least one transfer device for a transport and/or processing system is developed, with which the workpiece trolleys are transferred from one route section to another.

A transfer device for self-propelling workpiece trolleys of a transport system allows ends of one or more route sections to be continuously or intermittently connected. The ends of the route sections are either connected via transfer sections that are rigid and bent at least in sections, or a transfer section—which can be moved along a straight or curved track curve and supporting one or more workpiece trolleys—can be temporarily arranged before the ends of the route sections, which transfer section can be moved back and forth between the ends via a driveable gear unit. At least one transfer device for a transport and/or processing system is developed, with which the workpiece trolleys are transferred from one route section to another.

An automated parts handling system includes a conveyor, a robotic arm configured to pick parts from a parts receptacle and place the picked parts on the conveyor, a vision device disposed over or adjacent the conveyor and configured to determine the number of parts picked by the robotic arm from the parts receptacle and placed on the conveyor, a memory, and a processor communicatively coupled to the conveyor, the robotic arm, and the vision device. The memory includes program instructions executable by the processor to implement a pick process configured to receive information from the vision device on the number of parts picked by the robotic arm and placed on the conveyor, based on the received information regarding the number of picked parts, selectively control the robotic arm to retrieve from the conveyor a number of the picked parts, and selectively control the robotic arm to place one or more of the retrieved parts back in the parts receptacle when the number of parts picked by the robotic arm differs from a predetermined number of parts specified in the program instructions.

An automated parts handling system includes a conveyor, a robotic arm configured to pick parts from a parts receptacle and place the picked parts on the conveyor, a vision device disposed over or adjacent the conveyor and configured to determine the number of parts picked by the robotic arm from the parts receptacle and placed on the conveyor, a memory, and a processor communicatively coupled to the conveyor, the robotic arm, and the vision device. The memory includes program instructions executable by the processor to implement a pick process configured to receive information from the vision device on the number of parts picked by the robotic arm and placed on the conveyor, based on the received information regarding the number of picked parts, selectively control the robotic arm to retrieve from the conveyor a number of the picked parts, and selectively control the robotic arm to place one or more of the retrieved parts back in the parts receptacle when the number of parts picked by the robotic arm differs from a predetermined number of parts specified in the program instructions.

While the loading member supporting mechanism moves the loading member from the workpiece set state to the workpiece retracted state and returns to the workpiece set state again, the displacement drive unit and the rotation drive unit perform an operation of disposing the workpiece holding portion arranged at the processing position to the replacement position and an operation of disposing the workpiece holding portion disposed at the replacement position to the processing position in a trajectory in which the loading member does not interfere with the shoe.

An unloading station for a metal-cutting station and a metal-cutting machine for cutting tubular or bar-shaped workpieces. The unloading station has an unloading installation which receives workpieces guided out of a metal-cutting station and one or more workpiece supports into which the workpiece can be transferred from the unloading installation. A discharging installation for selectively discharging workpieces from the unloading installation has a longitudinal conveyor installation that extends at least between the unloading installation and the workpiece support, and which includes a workpiece turnout by way of which the workpiece delivered from the unloading installation can be selectively transferred into the longitudinal conveyor installation or onto the workpiece support.

An unloading station for a metal-cutting station and a metal-cutting machine for cutting tubular or bar-shaped workpieces. The unloading station has an unloading installation which receives workpieces guided out of a metal-cutting station and one or more workpiece supports into which the workpiece can be transferred from the unloading installation. A discharging installation for selectively discharging workpieces from the unloading installation has a longitudinal conveyor installation that extends at least between the unloading installation and the workpiece support, and which includes a workpiece turnout by way of which the workpiece delivered from the unloading installation can be selectively transferred into the longitudinal conveyor installation or onto the workpiece support.

A slider configured to move in a predetermined direction between a setup area and a pickup area is provided in a vicinity of a loading machine that supplies a workpiece W to a working machine. The slider is recessed to form a placing part for placing a pallet. Guide mechanisms for supporting the slider so as to be movable in the predetermined direction are respectively arranged on both sides in a lateral direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction in the placing part of the slider. A drive mechanism for moving the slider in the predetermined direction is arranged on at least one side in the lateral direction of the placing part.

A slider configured to move in a predetermined direction between a setup area and a pickup area is provided in a vicinity of a loading machine that supplies a workpiece W to a working machine. The slider is recessed to form a placing part for placing a pallet. Guide mechanisms for supporting the slider so as to be movable in the predetermined direction are respectively arranged on both sides in a lateral direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction in the placing part of the slider. A drive mechanism for moving the slider in the predetermined direction is arranged on at least one side in the lateral direction of the placing part.

An automated parts handling system includes a conveyor, a robotic arm configured to pick parts from a parts receptacle and place the picked parts on the conveyor, a vision device disposed over or adjacent the conveyor and configured to determine the number of parts picked by the robotic arm from the parts receptacle and placed on the conveyor, a memory, and a processor communicatively coupled to the conveyor, the robotic arm, and the vision device. The memory includes program instructions executable by the processor to implement a pick process configured to receive information from the vision device on the number of parts picked by the robotic arm and placed on the conveyor, based on the received information regarding the number of picked parts, selectively control the robotic arm to retrieve from the conveyor a number of the picked parts, and selectively control the robotic arm to place one or more of the retrieved parts back in the parts receptacle when the number of parts picked by the robotic arm differs from a predetermined number of parts specified in the program instructions.