Lumber retrieval systems and methods feed a centrally located saw with a predetermined assortment of boards picked from certain stations distributed at either side of the saw. In some examples, an overhead trolley system carries individual boards in a certain sequence from chosen stations to a board-receiving apparatus. The board-receiving apparatus, in turn, feeds the boards to the saw. The saw then cuts the boards into board segments, which can be used for making prefabricated trusses and wall panels. In some examples, the trolley system has a laser-scanning feature for determining the location of the next-to-pick board while simultaneously transporting the board currently heading to the board-receiving apparatus. In some examples, the trolley system includes two board carriers each of which are dedicated or assigned to certain stations. In some examples, one carrier serves as backup for the other one when one of the carriers is broken or otherwise inactive.

Lumber retrieval systems and methods feed a centrally located saw with a predetermined assortment of boards picked from certain stations distributed at either side of the saw. In some examples, an overhead trolley system carries individual boards in a certain sequence from chosen stations to a board-receiving apparatus. The board-receiving apparatus, in turn, feeds the boards to the saw. The saw then cuts the boards into board segments, which can be used for making prefabricated trusses and wall panels. In some examples, the trolley system has a laser-scanning feature for determining the location of the next-to-pick board while simultaneously transporting the board currently heading to the board-receiving apparatus. In some examples, the trolley system includes two board carriers each of which are dedicated or assigned to certain stations. In some examples, one carrier serves as backup for the other one when one of the carriers is broken or otherwise inactive.

A robot control apparatus for controlling a robot manipulating a target object includes a measurement unit configured to measure a change of a gripping unit configured to grip the target object when the gripping unit contacts the target object, a first acquisition unit configured to acquire the change of the gripping unit measured by the measurement unit, a second acquisition unit configured to acquire a gripping state, which is a state of gripping of the target object by the gripping unit, based on the change of the gripping unit acquired by the first acquisition unit, and a control unit configured to control an action of the robot based on the gripping state acquired by the second acquisition unit.

The present invention relates to a helical pin gripper where a helical pin gripping element is mount at one end of a rotor that is rotated and moved axially to cause a sharpened end of the helical penetrating pin(s) forming part of the gripping element to penetrate an article and move a length of the helical penetrating pin into the article and thereby grip the article.

System and methods for manipulating and sorting of objects being moved along a conveyor are disclosed, whereby control of the object is achieved through the application of one or more of vacuum, impaling, or mechanical grasping. One embodiment is directed to a robotic arm and vision detection system operable for detecting a target object to be grasped from a stream of objects being moved on a conveyor, and moving a suction head into position over the target object that has been detected on the conveyor, the suction head having a flexible cup section disposed at a distal end thereof, the vacuum item pick-up system/method using high subsonic air flow (e.g., on the order of 60 scfm or more) through a suction cup having a flow opening area large enough that an airflow of 60 scfm does not result in an airspeed exceeding Mach 0.2 under standard conditions of temperature and pressure, and further having a flow opening area whose ratio to cup opening area falls between 0.36 and 1.44 for applying a desired vacuum suction force for grasping the target object. Either as a primary grasping mechanism, or as an optional supplemental grasping mechanism, a piercing mechanism may be inserted into the object and used to manipulate the object in space. Alternate systems/methods for manipulating and sorting objects via hitting, flicking, or pushing are also disclosed.

Systems are provided for gripping or otherwise manipulating lettuce, sliced foodstuffs (e.g., sliced cheese, sliced tomato or other sliced vegetables), or other foodstuffs or other irregular objects or substances. These systems can facilitate the manipulation of groups of irregular objects, including distributing small amounts (e.g., individual instances) of such groups of objects. These systems operate to manipulate such objects by extending and retracting rods, wires, or otherwise-configured pins to contact and/or penetrate the object(s) to be manipulated. In some examples, the pins are retracted to individually dispense objects (e.g., slices of cheese) from a stack of objects. In some examples, the separation and angle of the pins can be controlled to, e.g., grip one or more irregular objects and subsequently to dispense some or all of the gripped object(s).

System and methods for manipulating and sorting of objects being moved along a conveyor are disclosed, whereby control of the object is achieved through the application of one or more of vacuum, impaling, or mechanical grasping. One embodiment is directed to a robotic arm and vision detection system operable for detecting a target object to be grasped from a stream of objects being moved on a conveyor, and moving a suction head into position over the target object that has been detected on the conveyor, the suction head having a flexible cup section disposed at a distal end thereof, the vacuum item pick-up system/method using high subsonic air flow (e.g., on the order of 60 scfm or more) through a suction cup having a flow opening area large enough that an airflow of 60 scfm does not result in an airspeed exceeding Mach 0.2 under standard conditions of temperature and pressure, and further having a flow opening area whose ratio to cup opening area falls between 0.36 and 1.44 for applying a desired vacuum suction force for grasping the target object. Either as a primary grasping mechanism, or as an optional supplemental grasping mechanism, a piercing mechanism may be inserted into the object and used to manipulate the object in space. Alternate systems/methods for manipulating and sorting objects via hitting, flicking, or pushing are also disclosed.

A system and method for separating a layer from a layer assembly when the layer assembly includes a backing layer and a material layer. The system includes an automated machine having a controller and an end effector. A separating tool is attached to the end effector of the automated machine. The separating tool includes a displacing member, with an outer face, configured to establish a void between the backing layer and the material layer by displacing a portion of the backing layer. The separating layer also includes a securing member configured to establish a mechanical connection with a displaced portion of the backing layer.

Systems are provided for gripping or otherwise manipulating lettuce, sliced foodstuffs (e.g., sliced cheese, sliced tomato or other sliced vegetables), or other foodstuffs or other irregular objects or substances. These systems can facilitate the manipulation of groups of irregular objects, including distributing small amounts (e.g., individual instances) of such groups of objects. These systems operate to manipulate such objects by extending and retracting rods, wires, or otherwise-configured pins to contact and/or penetrate the object(s) to be manipulated. In some examples, the pins are retracted to individually dispense objects (e.g., slices of cheese) from a stack of objects. In some examples, the separation and angle of the pins can be controlled to, e.g., grip one or more irregular objects and subsequently to dispense some or all of the gripped object(s).

A gripping device for at least one deformable food product has at least one perforated plate defining at least one receiving surface for the deformable food product, and for each receiving surface, a pair of needles associated with the receiving surface. Each needle of the pair is able to be moved between a retracted position, in which the needle does not pass through the receiving surface, and a deployed position, in which the needle passes through the receiving surface. A facility has the gripped device for producing deformable food products, and a method for moving a deformable food product uses the gripping device.