Pre-plating systems and related methods are disclosed. A pre-plating system includes a press, an infeed robot configured to deliver a structural member to the press, and an outfeed robot configured to remove the structural member from the press. The press is configured to secure a plate to the structural member while the structural member is held in position by at least one of the infeed robot or the outfeed robot. A pre-plating system includes a press, a transfer pedestal, a plate picking robot, and a press loading robot. The plate picking robot is configured to pick a plate from a container and position the plate on the transfer pedestal. The press loading robot is configured to transfer the plate to the press. The press is configured to press the plate into a structural member positioned within the press.

A vacuum operated object lifting system is disclosed that can use air pressure differentials to anchor the lifting system to the floor or other structure. The vacuum lifting system includes a main structure having a space defined in the bottom thereof and a lifting arm system extending from the main structure for grasping and moving a load. The vacuum lifting system includes a vacuum pumping system including an air pump and a conduit system extending from the air pump to the space in the bottom of the main structure. Use of the air pump to draw air out of the conduit system creates pressure differential between ambient air pressure and air pressure in the space of the main structure to anchor the vacuum lifting system to the ground. The vacuum pumping system may also grasp the load by suction.

A gripper unit is provided, comprising a housing and a vacuum distribution unit connected to the housing such that linear motion of the vacuum distribution unit is allowed in a first direction towards and away from the housing.

A holding device according to the present invention is a holding device that holds a workpiece having flexibility. A controller sets the workpiece to a reference state in such a manner that with first and second holding mechanisms holding the workpiece, a moving mechanism moves at least one of the first and second holding mechanisms in a length direction based on a length, detected by a detector, of the workpiece in a held state and a length, prestored in a storage, of the workpiece in a reference state.

The present invention relates to automatic and high throughput smart, robotic, autonomous or driver operated, self-propelled field crops harvester (SPFCH) device of row crops, characterized by the need of selecting harvesting ripen crop, during relative long period of time. Harvesting is done by one or more modular robotic harvesting arms hanged on modular booms. When harvesting orchards fruits the SPFCH comprise at least one hybrid robotic arms equipped with a grabbing hand aimed to grab one or more fruit of a an adjacent fruits and also cut its connecting stem, and arm transporting mechanism that gently collects the fruits and transport them to the SPFCH main accumulation area. When harvesting cotton, the SPFCH of the invention may further comprise vacuum sucking hoses and at least one ginning unit that gin the seed-cotton during harvesting and accumulate the seeds in a self-container, and the lint by bales processed, on board by self-press.

A suction apparatus includes a suction unit, a negative pressure detection unit, a suction abnormality determination unit, and a notification unit. The suction unit suctions and holds merchandise with a negative pressure. The negative pressure detection unit detects a negative pressure value in the suction unit whenever the suction unit suctions the merchandise. The suction abnormality determination unit determines that the suction unit is abnormal in a case where the detected negative pressure value is lower in negative pressure degree than a predetermined suction determination negative pressure value continuously by a predetermined number of times of determination or more. The notification unit provides a notification in a case where the suction unit is determined to be abnormal.

An object gripping mechanism is provided for use with a robotic arm. A robotic arm and method of manufacturing an object gripping mechanism are also provided. The object gripping mechanism includes an attachment modular configured to connect the object gripping mechanism to the robotic arm. The object gripping mechanism also includes a plurality of retractable arms each pivotably connected with the attachment modular. The object gripping mechanism also includes one or more movement mechanisms collectively configured to pivot the plurality of retractable arms to a desired position. The object gripping mechanism further includes a drive mechanism positioned within each of the plurality of retractable arms and configured to pivot the object engagement feature using a gear and timing belt configuration.

A system for taking out a molded product that does not require an operator to determine the sucking operation start time for a vacuum sucker by himself/herself by trial and error is provided. A controller includes a time interval measuring section configured to measure a time interval judging from an output from a pressure detector. The time interval measuring section measures a stable time interval since the pressure in a pipe reaches a predetermined pressure until a sucking operation start pressure is detected judging from an output from the pressure detector. The sucking operation start pressure indicates that a suction nozzle starts operation to suck up a molded product hereby the predetermined pressure is maintained. A sucking operation start time determining section of the controller determines a sucking operation start time such that a stable time interval is longer than a bias time interval, concurrently with movement control for a moving mechanism.

A method of transferring a light-emitting element in a testing system includes transferring the light-emitting element to a predetermined position by a transferring component, and vacuuming the at least one vacuum hole to attract the light-emitting element. The predetermined position is spaced apart a distance from at least one vacuum hole, and the distance is greater than half of a width of the light-emitting element.

Provided is an automotive glass setting apparatus, including a setting base supporting a glass having a plurality of edges, a plurality of alignment units allowing the glass to be aligned with the setting base; a scanning unit scanning the edges of the glass, a plurality of moving mechanisms moving the plurality of alignment units, and a controller controlling the moving mechanisms based on data scanned by the scanning unit to align a center of the glass with a center of the setting base.