The invention relates to a method and a system for moving and labelling reels (R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, . . . R.sub.n) of a web material such as paper or nonwoven in which each reel has a central core piece (3) which is hollow and around which the web material is wound. A robot arm (6) is inserted into the central core piece (3) of at least one reel (R.sub.1) and is then used to move the (R.sub.1) from a first position (P1) to a second position (P2) and to fix an inner label (15) onto the central core piece (3). According to the invention, the inner label (15) is placed on the robot arm (6) before the robot arm (6) is inserted into the central core piece (3) and the robot arm (6) is used both to fix the inner label (15) to the central core piece (3) and to move the at least one reel (R.sub.1).

A carton handling system for a carton blank magazine. The carton handling system includes a carriage assembly with a carton handling tool. The carriage assembly moves the carton handling tool in two axes of motion to receive a slug of carton blanks and to position the slug of carton blanks in the carton blank magazine. The carton handling system further includes a finger carried on the carton handling tool. The carton handling tool is movable to engage the finger with an underside of a fallen carton blank lying at an end of an advancing stack of blanks in the carton blank magazine so as to lift the fallen carton blank against a preceding blank at the end of the advancing stack of blanks. The carton handling tool is also movable to position the slug of carton blanks at an endmost blank in the advancing stack of blanks.

A web unwinding and splicing system includes a turret unwind having a turret arm with rotatable shafts at opposing ends thereof to unwind a running web of an expiring web material roll and unwind a waiting web of a new web material roll. A web splicing unit operable with the turret unwind includes a web deflection device that bumps the running web onto the waiting web to splice the running web with the waiting web and a cutting device that selectively severs the running web, thereby creating a leading portion of the running web that is spliced to the waiting web and a trailing portion of the running web that remains separate from the waiting web. A vacuum system is positioned proximate the running web to suction in the trailing portion of the running web left on the expiring web material roll.

The invention relates to a transfer system for transferring an item with a transfer assembly for transferring an item to a transporting carriage in a transfer area and with a transporting carriage for receiving the item from the transfer assembly in the transfer area.

A robotic document feeder system may comprise a robotic arm coupled to a Bernoulli cup assembly powered by a vacuum source; a base disposed over an imaging surface of a document scanner, wherein the base comprises a designated scan area through which a document may be imaged by the document scanner; an input bin for storing at least one document to be imaged by the document scanner; and an output bin for storing the at least one document after it has been imaged by the document scanner. The system may further comprise an alignment mechanism in proximity to the designated scan area and configured to align the document substantially over the imaging surface of the document scanner; at least one automated door configured to close the designated scan area after the document has been placed in the designated scan area; and a camera positioned above the designated scan area for imaging a second side of the document.

Some embodiments include a fabric separator comprising a body, a drum, a gas intake, a sensor, and a clamp. In some embodiments, the drum has an outer surface, is coupled with the body, and has a drum rotatable about an axis. The gas intake may flow gas in a rotational direction of the drum such that a low pressure zone is created on at least a portion of the outer surface of the drum. The sensor may be coupled with the body. The clamp may be in communication with the sensor and coupled with the body. The clamp having an engaged mode where the clamp is pressed against a portion of the drum and a disengaged where the clamp is not pressed against a portion of the drum, the clamp transitions from the engaged mode to the disengaged mode based on a signal from the sensor.

A winding apparatus is disclosed for winding material around a core of flat shape rotated around a rotation axis carried by a crank that is in turn carried by another crank, the three rotation axes of the core and of the two cranks being motorized independently by respective electric cams, with three distinct laws of motion programmed to cancel the variations in position and speed of the material entering the core. The winding apparatus is used for the production of electric energy storage devices.

A method for automatically replacing reels in an unwinding assembly capable of carrying out the handling operations of the reels, as well as preparing and joining the tail of the web of the finished reel with the head of the web of the new reel in a simple, efficient way, reducing the risk of malfunctions and maintaining the correct orientation of the new web as that of the finished web.

A method moves a stack of products by a robot. The robot has an articulated arm and at least one gripper disposed on the articulated arm to grip the stack of printed products and the stack of products selectively being turned. The method includes pivoting the stack of products through an effective angle α1< >180° and subsequently pivoting the stack through an effective angle α2=180°−α1 or pivoting the stack back through an effective angle α2=−α1. This method of moving stacks of products is performed in an automated way and in particular of depositing them in a turned or unturned arrangement.

There is provided a secondary battery cell supply apparatus for a process of folding a secondary battery cell, including: a first device configured to grip a secondary battery cell for a cell folding process received in a tray and raise the secondary battery cell for a cell folding process vertically upward; a second device configured to grip the secondary battery cell for a cell folding process gripped by the first device and transfer the secondary battery cell for a cell folding process in a transverse direction when the first device releases the secondary battery cell for a cell folding process; and a third device configured to grip the secondary battery cell for a cell folding process gripped by the second device, rotate the secondary battery cell for a cell folding process, and move the secondary battery cell for a cell folding process upward and downward.