The invention relates to a transport device for transporting objects from workstation to workstation in a production system. The invention further relates to a production system for manufacturing products, in particular containers filled with a medical product. The transport device according to the invention has a stationary assembly 2, an object carrier 3 rotatable about an axis of rotation 4 in successive work cycles, a plurality of object carrier elements 6, which are arranged circumferentially distributed and movable relative to the object carrier on a circular path 8, and to which coupling elements 14 are assigned, which can take on only a first switching position or a second switching position. In the first switching position, the coupling element 14 is engaged with the stationary assembly 2 and disengaged from the rotatable object carrier 3, in such a way that the object carrier element assigned to the coupling element remains at a workstation, whilst in the second switching position, the coupling element 14 is disengaged from the stationary assembly 2 and engaged with the rotatable object carrier 3, in such a way that the object carrier element assigned to the coupling element is moved from workstation to workstation.

An installation and a method for processing optical lenses, whereby transport carriers and block pieces are conveyed backward after use in each case to a commissioning device or blocking device, and the lens carriers are fitted by machine with unblocked or blocked lenses in order to make possible an automated and optimized process sequence.

A workpiece supply system may be provided to enable automatic loading of workpieces to be machined into a CNC machining center and to retrieve finished workpieces from the CNC machining center. The workpiece supply system may include a shelf arrangement that stores a number of pallets each bearing one or more workpieces in a vertical and horizontal arrangement. A pallet retrieval unit may engage the pallets on the shelves and a gantry may maneuver the pallet retrieval unit into the CNC machining center. The pallet retrieval unit may engage a pallet clamping base within the CNC machining center to unlock a pallet bearing a finished workpiece and then exchange the finished workpiece pallet for a new workpiece pallet.

The invention provides equipment for manufacturing a torque sensor shaft by forming a magnetostrictive region including a metallic glass coating in a predetermined pattern on a side face of a shaft-shaped workpiece. The shaft-shaped workpiece is rotatably attached on a conveying pallet. The conveying pallet is successively conveyed to each of work devices including a preheating device for the shaft-shaped workpiece, a thermal spraying device for forming a metallic glass coating on a side face of the shaft-shaped workpiece, a masking device configured to provide a covering corresponding to the pattern on the coating, and a shot blasting device configured to provide shot blasting directed toward the metallic glass coating including the covering. Preheating, thermal spraying, masking, and shot blasting are performed respectively on the shaft-shaped workpiece while rotating the shaft-shaped workpiece on the conveying pallet at each of the work devices. Therefore, the favorable manufacturing equipment can be provided.

A plant for managing products provides a plurality of work areas, each bounded by perimeter walls. Each work area has at least one robotic unit for moving and handling the products. The work areas are connected together by at least one overhead conveying unit for conveying products from one work area to another. The plant is efficient, reliable, versatile and safe.

A machining system which includes a plurality of machine tools each having an independent operation part and controller, and shared peripheral equipment associated with all of the plurality of machine tools, includes a shared controller for the shared peripheral equipment which is operable by each of the operation parts of the plurality of machine tools, wherein the shared controller includes an authorization part for granting operation authority to one of the operation parts of the plurality of the machine tools.

A pallet device which can prevent a hook fixed to a pallet from interfering with a workpiece or a tool for a machine tool. The pallet device includes a pallet including a pallet main body which clamps a workpiece, and a replacement hook movably provided in the pallet main body, the replacement hook being movable between a projection position at which the replacement hook projects outside the pallet main body and a retraction position to which the replacement hook is retracted from the projection position to the pallet main body, and a jig to and from which the pallet is attached and detached.

A machining system comprises: a machining device that machines a workpiece; a set-up station with which pallet workpiece attachment/detachment is carried out; and a pallet conveyance device that conveys the pallet between the machining device and the set-up station. A partially cylindrical operator door, which can rotate around a set-up table on which the pallet is mounted, includes a partially cylindrical outer door and a partially cylindrical inner door which rotate following coaxial circular trajectories of different radii. The set-up station is provided with an interlocking mechanism that causes the outer door and the inner door to rotate in an interlocked manner so that a shielded state is constantly maintained between the operator side and the pallet conveyance device side.

An installation and a method for processing optical lenses, whereby transport carriers and block pieces are conveyed backward after use in each case to a commissioning device or blocking device, and the lens carriers are fitted by machine with unblocked or blocked lenses in order to make possible an automated and optimized process sequence.

An automatic component loading system is disclosed. The automatic component loading system has a loading device, a conveying device having a plurality of first pin receiving slots and a plurality of first component receiving trays positioned around a circumference of the conveying device, and a position correcting device having at least one pin that corresponds with the plurality of first pin receiving slots.