A dispensing system for dispensing containers. The dispensing system includes a storage chamber configured to hold the containers available for dispensing. A release device is coupled to the storage chamber to release the containers therefrom. An input device is configured to receive an order to dispense specific containers from the containers stored within the storage chamber, where the specific containers include at least two individual containers having different shapes. A tray receives the specific containers released from the storage, where the specific containers when released form a nested stack on the tray, and where the nested stack has a stacked height. A control system is operative coupled to the input device and the release device, where the control system determines a sequence for dispensing the specific containers from the order so as to minimize the stacked height of the nested stack on the tray.

A gripping device for gripping an egg tray (3A) having a dimpled structure includes a gripping unit (4) that is movable up and down to engage and grip the egg tray (3A) and move it. The gripping unit comprises (4) at least a pair of opposite grip ping members (42A, 42B) which are movable in opposite directions, substantially transverse to the up and down movement of the unit (4), from a retracted position to an advanced position to grip a dimple (31) of the egg tray (3A), and from the advanced position to the retracted position to release the dimple. Each gripping member (42A, 42B) of said pair has a separate pressure operated actuator (46) operatively connected to it. The actuator (46), upon pressurization, moves the corresponding gripping member (42A, 42B) from the retracted position to the advanced position.

A hand includes a plurality of first gripping members which move relative to each other, a first drive unit configured to move the plurality of first gripping members in a first opening and closing direction to bring the plurality of first gripping members close to each other or separate them from each other, a plurality of second gripping members which move relative to each other independently from the plurality of first gripping members, a second drive unit configured to move the plurality of second gripping members in a second opening and closing direction to bring the plurality of second gripping members close to each other or separate them from each other, and a third drive unit configured to move the plurality of first gripping members relative to the plurality of second gripping members in a third direction intersecting the first and second opening and closing directions.

A machine and a method for unstacking containers are described, the containers being preferably non-rigid and configured to contain food products. The machine includes pickup elements, hollow inside, disposed between a plurality of vertical loading cylinders and a horizontal conveyor belt. The pickup elements are vertically mobile between a first operating position, in which they are facing toward the loading cylinders, but distant from them, and a second operating position in which they are at least partly inserted in the loading cylinders and in contact with each of the containers that is temporarily at the bottom of the corresponding stack, and vice versa. A suction device is in fluidic communication with the pickup elements to temporarily constrain to them, by air suction, each container that is temporarily at the bottom of the corresponding stack.

A separating system (1) comprises a housing (60) sized to receive a stack of articles having at least one first article (12) stacked on top of a second article (10). The system (1) also includes a lifter (20) movable into a contact position adjacent a surface (13) on the at least one first article (12). The lifter (20) is adapted to apply a lifting force to the surface (13) to lift at least a portion of the first article (12) above the contact position. An extractor (40) moves the second article (10) away from the stack of articles after the at least one first article (12) has been lifted above the contact position by the lifter (20). The housing (60) prevents the at least one first article (12) from moving with the second article (10) when the second article (10) is moved by the extractor (40) and guides the stack of articles downward after the second article (10) is moved away.

A packing device for consumable materials comprising an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve, and springs. The outer sleeve and inner sleeve may matingly and telescopically engage with each other and the inner sleeve may be slideably moveable between a resting position and a compressed position. The inner sleeve may have (a) an interior chamber that is configured to engage with a cone and (b) a consumable material loading chamber. The springs may be configured to create a tension when the inner sleeve is slideably moved from the resting position to the compressed position by a user, such that the inner sleeve is slideably biased into the resting position when the inner sleeve is released by the user, such that when a consumable material is loaded into the consumable material loading chamber, the consumable material is packed into the cone.

A gripping device for gripping an egg tray (3A) having a dimpled structure includes a gripping unit (4) that is movable up and down to engage and grip the egg tray (3A) and move it. The gripping unit comprises (4) at least a pair of opposite grip ping members (42A, 42B) which are movable in opposite directions, substantially transverse to the up and down movement of the unit (4), from a retracted position to an advanced position to grip a dimple (31) of the egg tray (3A), and from the advanced position to the retracted position to release the dimple. Each gripping member (42A, 42B) of said pair has a separate pressure operated actuator (46) operatively connected to it. The actuator (46), upon pressurization, moves the corresponding gripping member (42A, 42B) from the retracted position to the advanced position.

A robot is configured such that: a second hand of a second arm holds a container stack by gripping a top portion of a bottom container of the container stack; then, a first hand of a first arm holds the container stack by gripping a portion of the bottom container of the container stack, such that the portion gripped by the first hand is positioned lower than the portion gripped by the second hand; thereafter, the second hand of the second arm releases the top portion of the bottom container, and then holds the container stack by gripping the top portion of a second container from a bottom of the container stack; and subsequently, the first hand of the first arm moves the bottom container downward, and separates the bottom container from the container stack.

The present disclosure provides a feeder and a backlight production apparatus. The feeder includes: a storing assembly configured to store a material tray on which a plurality of elements to be fed are placed; a fetching assembly configured to obtain the material tray from the storing assembly by sucking and transport the material tray; a distributing assembly configured to obtain at least one element to be fed by sucking from the material tray transported by the fetching assembly, and distribute the at least one element to be fed; and a turn-over assembly configured to turn over the at least one element to be fed distributed by the distributing assembly, and transport the at least one element to be fed to a next process unit.

Device for delivering traffic cones that have a cone mantle that comprises a flange at its broadest end, comprising a repository for the traffic cones, comprising an outer drum and an inner drum, both arranged coaxially about the same length axis with respect to each other and mutually rotatable with respect to each other about said same axis wherein one of the inner and outer drum comprises a helix shaped groove at a side facing the other of the inner and outer drum, and the other of the inner and outer drum comprises a blocking, for at least partly prohibiting movement of a cone in the direction of the mutual movement of the inner and outer drum and a drive for mutually rotating the inner and outer drum.