The invention relates to a chain link (1) for a chain conveyor for conveying small parts (17), in particular bottle closures, having a, in particular flat, support surface for small parts, wherein means (3) for fitting at least one carrier (14) are provided on opposite sides of the chain link. This allows the small parts to be conveyed without damage, on the other hand, the chain link (1) can be easily adapted to different types of small parts that differ in diameter and/or height. At least two carriers (14) are provided, each of which has a fastening part (15) which can be attached to a means (3) for fitting, and a gripping part (19) which is made of a softer material than the fastening part (15) and has one or more extensions (16) which, when the carrier (14) is in the fitted state, are aligned towards the respective other carrier (14).

A process for recognizing the orientation of a fruit (F), having a central axis of symmetry passing through the concave parts of the fruit (F), comprises an initial measurement step in which the measuring instrument measures its distance from the sample fruit (Fo), an individual measurement step of each fruit (F) to be treated travelling on the fruit multiple lanes tape (7), a comparison step in which the distance measured in the individual measurement step of each fruit (F) to be treated is compared with the distances measured in the initial measurement step of the sample fruit (Fo), in order to assess whether the distance measured in the individual measurement step is that one of a concave part of the fruit (F) or that one of a convex part of the fruit (F), and a check step that determines that the fruit (F) is correctly oriented or not. An apparatus that embodies this method is also described.

A conveyor system includes a rail having one or more channels therein and one or more sleds operatively associated with the rail. A sled can include a body and one or more wheels mounted on the body and configured to move through the one or more channels in the rail. A sled can also include a holding device connected to the body. The holding device can be configured to engage a packaging container to move the packaging container along the rail. Multiple sleds can be used to secure a packaging container therebetween and move the packaging container along the rail. The conveyor system may also include a queue system that dynamically moves packaging containers to packaging stations.

The present disclosure generally relates to pick and place robotic systems. An exemplary system for coupling a detachable tool to a motion device comprises: a first magnetic ring affixed to a distal end of the motion device, wherein the motion device and the first magnetic ring form a first hollow chamber; a second magnetic ring affixed to a proximal end of the detachable tool, wherein the second magnetic ring and the detachable tool forms a second hollow chamber extending from a center of the second magnetic ring and the detachable tool, wherein the first magnetic ring and the second magnetic ring are configured to automatically couple together via a magnetic field in an aligned manner, and wherein the coupling of the first magnetic ring and the second magnetic ring joins the first hollow chamber and the second hollow chamber to allow for a pass-through mechanism.

The present disclosure generally relates to pick and place robotic systems. An exemplary system for orienting an object comprises: a scanner configured to detect a label on the object; an upper conveyor belt; a flipping conveyor belt located at an end of the upper conveyor belt, wherein the upper conveyor belt is configured to transport the object toward the flipping conveyor belt, wherein the flipping conveyor belt is configured to, in a first orientation or position, rotate and exert a frictional force on the object to reorient the object while the object is in contact with the upper conveyor belt, wherein the flipping conveyor belt is configured to, in a second orientation or position, allow the object to drop off the end of the upper conveyor belt.

The present disclosure generally relates to pick and place robotic systems. An exemplary apparatus for vacuum-gripping a deformable bag comprises: a primary chamber, wherein a proximal end of the primary chamber is connected to an air flow source, and wherein the primary chamber is configured to, upon an activation of the air flow source, receive a portion of the deformable bag via a distal end of the primary chamber; a secondary chamber surrounding the primary chamber, wherein the secondary chamber is connected to the primary chamber via a plurality of connections to allow for air passage, and wherein the activation of the air flow source causes a lateral wall of the primary chamber to grip the portion of the deformable bag via pressure differential between an inside of the deformable bag and the secondary chamber.

The present disclosure generally relates to pick and place robotic systems. A compliance mechanism comprising: a motion device; an end effector coupled to the motion device, wherein the end effector comprises: a sheath structure; a rod, wherein the compliance mechanism is configured to: when the distal end of the rod is in not contact with an object, causing the distal end of the rod to move responsive to movement of the motion device, and when the distal end of the rod is in contact with an object and the motion device moves toward the object, causing the distal end of the rod to remain stationary by causing the sheath structure to move along a longitudinal direction of the rod.

The present disclosure generally relates to pick and place robotic systems. An exemplary compliant mechanism comprises: a motion device, wherein a distal surface of the motion device comprises a first plurality of magnetic components; an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises: a second plurality of magnetic components arranged on a proximal surface of the end effector in a same configuration as the first plurality of magnetic components, a rod, and an elongated member extending through a hole in the proximal surface of the end effector, wherein: a proximal end of the elongated member is affixed to the distal surface of the motion device, and the elongated member comprises an end stopper piece configured to prevent a distal end of the elongated member from passing through the hole in the proximal surface of the end effector.

The bristle brush comprises a support plate (1), a plurality of bristles (2) emerging from one of the surfaces thereof, the distal ends of the bristles (2), the ones further from the support plate (1), defining a support surface intended to receive a piece to be transported and/or cut or handled, wherein the distal ends of the plurality of bristles (2) have a semi-spherical or conical shape ending in a tip. It enables a bristle brush to be provided wherein the distal ends of said bristles have a shape which enables the bristles to move when a cutting blade or any other element comes into contact with them, without damaging them.

The load is carried on a horizontal conveyor belt which is driven by a motor. The conveyor system is carried on a base which supports a number of lever arms. The lever arms are balanced by a fixed weight and by movable weights. There is a clutch and brake mechanism on the drive axis of the main drive motor so that the load may be accelerated or stopped. The movement of the levers is directly proportional to the load so that the braking or accelerating forces are also proportional to the load. The clutch and brake mechanism may be controlled by a cam and piston.