An automated storage and retrieval system includes an automated storage and retrieval grid and a delivery system. The automated storage and retrieval grid includes a container handling vehicle rail system for guiding a plurality of container handling vehicles, the container handling vehicle rail system including a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane (P) and extending in a first direction (X), and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane (P) and extending in a second direction (Y) which is orthogonal to the first direction (X), which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane (P) comprising a plurality of adjacent container handling vehicle grid cells, each container handling vehicle grid cell including a container handling vehicle grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring rails of the first set of rails and a pair of neighboring rails of the second set of rails, the container handling vehicles being operable to retrieve a storage container from a stack of storage containers beneath the container handling rail system; a plurality of container handling vehicles operable on the container handling vehicle rail system, the container handling vehicles being operable to retrieve a storage container from a stack of storage containers beneath the container handling rail system; and a delivery column adapted for transport of a storage container between a container handling vehicle and a delivery port situated at a lower end of the delivery column. The delivery system includes: a delivery rail system, the delivery rail system comprising a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane (P1) and extending in a first direction (X), and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane (P1) and extending in a second direction (Y) which is orthogonal to the first direction (X), and a remotely operated delivery vehicle configured to travel on the delivery rail system, the remotely operated delivery vehicle including a container carrier adapted to support the storage container; a second location on the delivery rail system including a robotic operator for handling of product items in the storage container. The delivery port is arranged at a level above the delivery rails system allowing the delivery vehicle to be positioned directly below the delivery column. The delivery vehicle is further adapted to transport the storage container between a first location represented by the delivery port and the second location. The robotic operator is able to reach multiple positions within the delivery system in order to access storage containers transported on remot

An automated storage and retrieval system includes an automated storage and retrieval grid and a delivery system. The automated storage and retrieval grid includes a container handling vehicle rail system for guiding a plurality of container handling vehicles, the container handling vehicle rail system including a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane (P) and extending in a first direction (X), and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane (P) and extending in a second direction (Y) which is orthogonal to the first direction (X), which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane (P) comprising a plurality of adjacent container handling vehicle grid cells, each container handling vehicle grid cell including a container handling vehicle grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring rails of the first set of rails and a pair of neighboring rails of the second set of rails, the container handling vehicles being operable to retrieve a storage container from a stack of storage containers beneath the container handling rail system; a plurality of container handling vehicles operable on the container handling vehicle rail system, the container handling vehicles being operable to retrieve a storage container from a stack of storage containers beneath the container handling rail system; and a delivery column adapted for transport of a storage container between a container handling vehicle and a delivery port situated at a lower end of the delivery column. The delivery system includes: a delivery rail system, the delivery rail system comprising a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane (P1) and extending in a first direction (X), and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane (P1) and extending in a second direction (Y) which is orthogonal to the first direction (X), and a remotely operated delivery vehicle configured to travel on the delivery rail system, the remotely operated delivery vehicle including a container carrier adapted to support the storage container; a second location on the delivery rail system including a robotic operator for handling of product items in the storage container. The delivery port is arranged at a level above the delivery rails system allowing the delivery vehicle to be positioned directly below the delivery column. The delivery vehicle is further adapted to transport the storage container between a first location represented by the delivery port and the second location. The robotic operator is able to reach multiple positions within the delivery system in order to access storage containers transported on remot

A method of transferring items, such as rolled absorbent product. The method includes the steps of feeding one or more input streams of items toward a turret having a longitudinal axis and arms for engaging the items, the arms being rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The arms can engage at least one of the items from at least one of the one or more input streams and rotate away from the input streams and into a position aligned with one or more output streams. The number of input streams can be different than the number of output streams. The items can be fed onto the one or more output streams.

Objects, such as, for example, preforms for producing PET bottles, are feedable to silo as bulk material by a bulk material feeding device. A fill level sensor of the silo is connected to the control device. The control device actuates the feed drive in order to refill the silo with objects in dependence on the determined fill level of the silo. Connected downstream of the silo is an overhead conveyor and downstream of the overhead conveyor a separating-into-singles system. Both the overhead conveyor and the separating-into-singles system comprise sensors and drives, all the sensors being connected to the control device and the control device controlling all the drives.

An article supply apparatus includes an inclined passage which inclines downwardly toward a predetermined direction, a vibration imparting device which vibrates the inclined passage, an article feeding device which feeds a plurality of articles to the upper end side of the inclined passage, a visual sensor which captures images of the articles on the inclined passage and which obtains information for identification of at least a position of each of the articles on the inclined passage, and a robot arm which picks up the articles one by one from the inclined passage by using the information obtained by the visual sensor and which supplies the picked-up articles to a predetermined supply destination.

The device has a linear motion drive unit for linearly driving a base portion along a fitting direction of one member and the other member, a rotary drive unit for rotationally driving the base portion about a center axis line A0, a movable portion provided to the base portion 6 movably along the fitting direction, a member holding unit provided to the movable portion for releasably holding the one member, an elastic unit for applying elastic force between the base portion and the movable portion, a sensor unit for obtaining distance change information of the base portion and the movable portion, and a fitting state determination unit for determining a fitting state of the one member and the other member based on the distance change information. The device enables members to be fitted to each other without any problem, when at least one of the members has a noncircular cross section.

The device has a linear motion drive unit for linearly driving a base portion along a fitting direction of one member and the other member, a rotary drive unit for rotationally driving the base portion about a center axis line A0, a movable portion provided to the base portion 6 movably along the fitting direction, a member holding unit provided to the movable portion for releasably holding the one member, an elastic unit for applying elastic force between the base portion and the movable portion, a sensor unit for obtaining distance change information of the base portion and the movable portion, and a fitting state determination unit for determining a fitting state of the one member and the other member based on the distance change information. The device enables members to be fitted to each other without any problem, when at least one of the members has a noncircular cross section.

An apparatus for supplying a welding tip of a welder and an apparatus for replacing the same include a fixed bracket secured to a support. The apparatus includes an actuator coupled to the fixed bracket and a first moving member moved by the actuator. A second moving member is coupled to the first moving member and hingedly coupled to the fixed bracket. A third moving member is hingedly coupled to the second moving member. A first welding tip removal member is coupled to the third moving member to separate a welding tip coupled to a shank. A fourth moving member is disposed opposite to the first moving member. A fifth moving member is coupled to the fourth moving member and hingedly coupled to the fixed bracket. A sixth moving member is coupled to the fifth moving member. A second welding tip removal member is coupled to the sixth moving member.

An apparatus for supplying a welding tip of a welder and an apparatus for replacing the same include a fixed bracket secured to a support. The apparatus includes an actuator coupled to the fixed bracket and a first moving member moved by the actuator. A second moving member is coupled to the first moving member and hingedly coupled to the fixed bracket. A third moving member is hingedly coupled to the second moving member. A first welding tip removal member is coupled to the third moving member to separate a welding tip coupled to a shank. A fourth moving member is disposed opposite to the first moving member. A fifth moving member is coupled to the fourth moving member and hingedly coupled to the fixed bracket. A sixth moving member is coupled to the fifth moving member. A second welding tip removal member is coupled to the sixth moving member.

An apparatus for supplying a welding tip of a welder and an apparatus for replacing the same include a fixed bracket secured to a support. The apparatus includes an actuator coupled to the fixed bracket and a first moving member moved by the actuator. A second moving member is coupled to the first moving member and hingedly coupled to the fixed bracket. A third moving member is hingedly coupled to the second moving member. A first welding tip removal member is coupled to the third moving member to separate a welding tip coupled to a shank. A fourth moving member is disposed opposite to the first moving member. A fifth moving member is coupled to the fourth moving member and hingedly coupled to the fixed bracket. A sixth moving member is coupled to the fifth moving member. A second welding tip removal member is coupled to the sixth moving member.