The invention relates particularly to a vacuum lifting device comprising a sensor system for the direct or indirect determination or estimation of the type and/or weight of goods gripped or to be gripped by a suction means of the vacuum lifting device.

The invention relates to a vacuum adhesion system, comprising at least one suction cup having a suction surface for attaching to a surface at least one system module, comprising at least one vacuum pump connecting to the suction cup for applying a vacuum to the suction surface for providing suction adhesion at least one indicator or sensor for indicating or measuring a pressure differential in the suction cup at least one interface for communicating the measured pressure differential or a value based thereon and a processor for controlling the vacuum adhesion system.

The invention relates to a vacuum adhesion system, comprising at least one suction cup having a suction surface for attaching to a surface at least one system module, comprising at least one vacuum pump connecting to the suction cup for applying a vacuum to the suction surface for providing suction adhesion at least one indicator or sensor for indicating or measuring a pressure differential in the suction cup at least one interface for communicating the measured pressure differential or a value based thereon and a processor for controlling the vacuum adhesion system.

A suction device for retaining and/or transporting objects, comprising a main supporting body (2) and at least one operating plate (3) provided with suction holes (7) connected to and suction means, in which the operating plate (3) is removably associated with the main supporting body (2) and has a second connecting face (5) coupled to a first connecting face (4) of the main supporting body (2), and in which the device also comprises one or more magnets (13) and one or more ferromagnetic bodies (14), each ferromagnetic body (14) being magnetically coupled to one or more magnets (13) when the operating plate (3) is associated with the main supporting body (2) for keeping the operating plate (3) fastened to the main supporting body (2), each magnet (13) and the ferromagnetic body (14) magnetically coupled to it being constrained respectively one to the operating plate (3), the other to the main supporting body (2).

Embodiments of a vacuum material handler or lifting device and system of this disclosure provide a modular design that allows a power pack to be mounted directly to the pad or remotely mounted on host equipment to minimize lift weight. The pad, which includes an integral, pad reservoir, may be arranged, to accept a rotator or a tilting mechanism for position when used on mobile equipment. The power pack is independent of the pad and can be transferred to multiple pads, thereby permitting a single power pack to service the different pads. The control mechanism may reside on the pad to further facilitate modularity. Safety checks used for remote operation may be used to minimize the risk of danger in the event of remote vacuum hose or vacuum failure.

Gripping equipment for lifting apparatuses of the type comprising: a rigid support framework which is adapted to be fixed/attached to the lifting apparatus; and one or more manually controlled gripping members that are firmly fixed to said rigid support framework, and are adapted to grasp and hold a specific object to be moved; said rigid support framework comprising at least one rectilinear tubular element with polygonal cross-section, which is made of metal and has a sectional modular structure.

Solar panels are prepared for installation on an array frame by initially tipping packages of palletized, bundled, vertically-oriented panels in a preparation area to form a vertical stack of horizontally oriented panel separated from the pallet and packaging material for placement on the upper supporting surface of the transport deck. The transport deck is displaced longitudinally alongside a rack of the array frame, together with a lifting machine having a lifting head on a lifting arm for transferring solar panels from a longitudinal row of stacked solar panels on the transport deck to the array frame. The lifting head may be adapted to support one panel from each of the stacks on the transport deck for simultaneous transfer from the transport deck to the array frame.

Solar panels are prepared for installation on an array frame by initially tipping packages of palletized, bundled, vertically-oriented panels in a preparation area to form a vertical stack of horizontally oriented panel separated from the pallet and packaging material for placement on the upper supporting surface of the transport deck. The transport deck is displaced longitudinally alongside a rack of the array frame, together with a lifting machine having a lifting head on a lifting arm for transferring solar panels from a longitudinal row of stacked solar panels on the transport deck to the array frame. The lifting head may be adapted to support one panel from each of the stacks on the transport deck for simultaneous transfer from the transport deck to the array frame.

The disclosure relates to a vacuum lifting arrangement comprising a vacuum pump, a valve arrangement, a support structure, and a flexible lifting tube comprising a suction foot. The vacuum pump is connected to the valve arrangement and to the flexible lifting tube. The valve arrangement is arranged to extend and retract the flexible lifting tube. The valve arrangement is arranged separate from the suction foot, between the vacuum pump and the suction foot. The disclosure also relates to a method of providing a vacuum lifting arrangement.

Systems and methods for vacuum extraction for material sorting applications are provided. In one embodiments, a vacuum object sorting system comprises: a vacuum extraction assembly that includes at least one vacuum extractor device having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the at least one vacuum extractor device is configured to convert a controlled compressed air stream into a channeled vacuum airflow entering the inlet and exiting the outlet; and an object recognition device coupled to sorting control logic and electronics, wherein the controlled compressed air stream is controlled in response to a signal generated by the object recognition device; wherein the at least one vacuum extractor device is configured to capture a target object identified by the sorting control logic and electronics utilizing the channeled vacuum airflow, and further utilizing the channeled vacuum airflow, to pass the target object through the inlet and outlet to a deposit location.