A retainer apparatus configured to releasably retain an article, comprising a face plate member each having a front face; a plurality of vacuum cups and a plurality of support pins each extending distally relative to the front face, respectively; wherein the vacuum cups and the support pins are laterally spaced from one another; wherein the plurality of vacuum cups retain the article to the retainer apparatus in a presence of vacuum; wherein the plurality of support pins are extendable/retractable relative to the face plate member, wherein each of the support pins have a longitudinal axis, respectively, and are configured to contact the article to support the article against movement along the longitudinal axis and support the article against movement transverse to the longitudinal axis; and a locking mechanism configured to inhibit the support pins from being retractable and extendable when the locking mechanism is engaged.

A robotically-operated gripping device is provided and includes a frame assembly, a vacuum device, a clamping device, and a robotic arm. The vacuum device is connected to the frame assembly and configured to selectively attach to and position at least a portion of an object. The clamping device is connected to the frame assembly and provided for selectively clamping the object attached to the vacuum device. The robotic arm is connected to the frame assembly and provided for selectively positioning the vacuum device and the gripping device.

According to the present invention, provided is an unmanned construction system for an access floor comprising an installation frame (10), a pad (20) attached to the installation frame (10), and a floor (30) coupled to the pad (20), the unmanned access floor construction system comprising a construction robot connected to a control server (1) by wired or wireless communication, wherein the construction robot comprises: a pad installation robot (100) for attaching the pad (20) to the installation frame (10); a floor installation robot (200) for mounting the floor (30) on the pad (20); and a bolting robot (300) for fastening the pad (20) to the floor (30) by using a fastening means (40).

A programmable motion robotic system is disclosed that includes a plurality of arm sections that are joined one to another at a plurality of joints to form an articulated arm, and a hose coupling an end effector of the programmable motion robotic system to a vacuum source. The hose is attached to at least one arm section of the articulated arm by a pass-through coupling that permits the hose to pass freely through the coupling as the plurality of arm sections are moved about the plurality of joints.

A handling device according to an embodiment includes a manipulator, a normal grid generation unit, a hand kernel generation unit, a calculation unit, and a control unit. The normal grid generation unit converts a depth image into a point cloud, generates spatial data including an object to be grasped that is divided into a plurality of grids from the point cloud, and calculates a normal vector of the point cloud included in the grid using spherical coordinates. The hand kernel generation unit generates a hand kernel of each suction pad. The calculation unit calculates ease of grasping the object to be grasped by a plurality of suction pads based on a 3D convolution calculation using a grid including the spatial data and the hand kernel. The control unit controls a grasping operation of the manipulator based on the ease of grasping the object to be grasped by the plurality of suction pads.

An automated insertion system for inserting or combining one or more fastener components with a molded part. The automated insertion system can handle multiple fastener components repeatedly, and do so faster and more safely than current processes.

A vacuum-assisted product-handling system is described that includes a carrier to move an unpackaged product into a contact position. The system also includes an actuation unit to move the unpackaged product from the contact position of the carrier to a receiving container. The actuation unit may include a mechanical arm to lift the unpackaged product from the carrier and deposit the unpackaged product in the receiving container, and a vacuum tool connected to an end of the mechanical arm. The vacuum tool may be operable to hold the unpackaged product as the unpackaged product is moved by the actuation unit from the carrier to the receiving container. The vacuum tool may include one or more arrays of suction devices, where each array of suction devices is connected to a single vacuum source.

An example system includes a nozzle having an inlet: an outlet mechanism disposed longitudinally adjacent to the nozzle; a conduit longitudinally adjacent to the outlet mechanism where the conduit includes a distal chamber, a middle chamber, and a proximal chamber, that; are longitudinally disposed along a length of the conduit; a partition block configured to move between (i) a first position at which the partition block: is disposed laterally adjacent to the middle chamber, such that the partition block is offset from a longitudinal axis of the conduit, and (ii) a second position at which the partition block resides in the middle chamber between the distal chamber and the proximal chamber; and a deceleration structure disposed at a proximal, end of the conduit and bounding the proximal chamber, where the deceleration structure is configured to decelerate fruit feat has traversed the conduit.

According to an embodiment, an article posture changing device includes: a first end effector configured to grasp a projected tag of an article by adsorption; an arm unit configured to support the first end effector and move the first end effector along at least a vertical direction; and a controller configured to control the arm unit and the first end effector to grasp the tag, lift the article upward, separate the article from a placement surface, change an angle of the article by weight thereof, move the article downward, place the article on the placement surface, and release the grasp of the tag.

A suction transfer device suction-holds a bag-like article with a suction component and moves the suction component suction-holding the article to thereby transfer the article. The suction component has a negative pressure chamber, one or more suction openings, and a first surface. The negative pressure chamber forms a negative pressure space inside when a negative pressure generator is driven. The suction openings communicate with the negative pressure chamber. The first surface is disposed around the suction openings and opposes an article subjected to suction. An area of the first surface is from 0.5 times to 2 times an area of a sucked surface, which opposes the first surface, of the article subjected to suction.