A sheet loading apparatus for carrying a sheet loaded in a first tray to a second tray includes: a grip portion configured to grip the sheet; a sliding portion configured to move the grip portion between a sheet gripping position and a sheet release position; a lift portion configured to move the grip portion and cause the grip portion to emerge from the sheet loading surface; and a common power transmission portion configured to transmit power to both the sliding portion and the lift portion, wherein in one cycle, after the sliding portion moves the grip portion to a downstream side, the lift portion moves the grip portion downward of the sheet loading surface to cause the grip portion to reach the release position, and after the sliding portion moves the grip portion to the upstream side, the lift portion moves the grip portion to the gripping position.

A labelling machine for labelling a stack of elements is intended for the automated placement of a label located between elements forming part of the stack, and includes a support structure; printing means configured for printing a label to be placed on a stack of elements; a head supported on the support structure, the head being provided with printing means, the head being movable and adjustable at least in height through guiding means and motorized means; and separation means intended for separating two elements superimposed on one another forming part of the stack, such that they vertically separate an element to be handled, generating a free space between the two elements intended for the arrangement of the label.

The invention concerns a gripper (1) adapted to be used in an automated system for handling flexible substrates provided in a pile. The gripper (1) is rotatably arranged on an arm (6) of a robot and comprises a lower finger (7) and an upper finger (8). The lower finger (7) comprises a sharp, wedge-shaped edge (14), which is adapted to enable insertion of the lower finger (7) between substrates of the pile. The lower finger (7) has a round tip (11), which extends to at least one side of the lower finger (7) and forms a smooth, wedge-shaped edge (15), wherein the sharp, wedge-shaped edge (14) is arranged on the at least one side remote from the round tip (11) and substantially in level with but protruding further than the smooth, wedge-shaped edge (15).

The invention concerns a gripper (1) adapted to be used in an automated system for handling flexible substrates provided in a pile. The gripper (1) is rotatably arranged on an arm (6) of a robot and comprises a lower finger (7) and an upper finger (8). The lower finger (7) comprises a sharp, wedge-shaped edge (14), which is adapted to enable insertion of the lower finger (7) between substrates of the pile. The lower finger (7) has a round tip (11), which extends to at least one side of the lower finger (7) and forms a smooth, wedge-shaped edge (15), wherein the sharp, wedge-shaped edge (14) is arranged on the at least one side remote from the round tip (11) and substantially in level with but protruding further than the smooth, wedge-shaped edge (15).

The invention concerns a gripper (1) adapted to be used in an automated system for handling flexible substrates provided in a pile. The gripper (1) is rotatably arranged on an arm (6) of a robot and comprises a lower finger (7) and an upper finger (8). The lower finger (7) comprises a sharp, wedge- shaped edge (14), which is adapted to enable insertion of said lower finger (7) between substrates of said pile. Said lower finger (7) has a round tip (11), which extends to at least one side of the lower finger (7) and forms a smooth, wedge-shaped edge (15), wherein said sharp, wedge-shaped edge (14) is arranged on said at least one side remote from said tip (11) and substantially in level with but protruding further than said smooth, wedge-shaped edge (15).

A device for separating individual, two-dimensional, flexible objects from the lower side of a stack of such objects and for conveying the separated objects away from the stack. The device includes a stack space with a support region, and a support member that supports the stack from below in the support region. The support member includes a support roller arrangement of a plurality of support rollers. The device further includes at least one separating member for separating the objects from the lower side of the stack in the support region. The support roller arrangement is part of a roller guidance device and is translatorily movable to and from between a support position and a release position.

A device for separating individual, two-dimensional, flexible objects from the lower side of a stack of such objects and for conveying the separated objects away from the stack. The device includes a stack space with a support region, and a support member that supports the stack from below in the support region. The support member includes a support roller arrangement of a plurality of support rollers. The device further includes at least one separating member for separating the objects from the lower side of the stack in the support region. The support roller arrangement is part of a roller guidance device and is translatorily movable to and from between a support position and a release position.

A sheet takeout method includes: pressing, when a restraint device is in a restrained state, a transfer plate which is in a horizontal state to pickup and hold a topmost sheet member; pressing the sheet members by an inelastic deformation part of the transfer plate while setting the restraint device to be in a non-restrained state and setting the transfer plate to be in an elastically deformed state; inserting a restraining blade into a space formed between the topmost sheet member and its underlying sheet member and setting the restraint device to be in the restrained state again; returning the transfer plate that has picked up and held the topmost sheet member to a horizontal state while retracting the transfer place upward; and transferring the topmost sheet member picked up and held by the transfer plate to a receiving holder.

A sheet takeout method includes: pressing, when a restraint device is in a restrained state, a transfer plate which is in a horizontal state to pickup and hold a topmost sheet member; pressing the sheet members by an inelastic deformation part of the transfer plate while setting the restraint device to be in a non-restrained state and setting the transfer plate to be in an elastically deformed state; inserting a restraining blade into a space formed between the topmost sheet member and its underlying sheet member and setting the restraint device to be in the restrained state again; returning the transfer plate that has picked up and held the topmost sheet member to a horizontal state while retracting the transfer place upward; and transferring the topmost sheet member picked up and held by the transfer plate to a receiving holder.

A pick-up device picking up stacked sheet-shaped workpieces from the top, the device includes a nozzle mechanism that pulls up a first workpiece from the top of the stacked workpieces by air blowing, a holding mechanism that holds the first workpiece, a separation mechanism that includes a claw member being inserted into a lower side of the first workpiece with respect to the stacked workpieces, and a forward and backward drive unit causing a tip part of the claw member to move forward and backward, a suction mechanism that pulls up the first workpiece, a control device that controls the above four mechanisms, and a selection unit that selects one or more combinations of the nozzle mechanism, the separation mechanism, and the suction mechanism. The control device controls an operation for picking up the stacked workpieces from the top according to the selection of the selection unit.