An automated feeding, sorting, and packaging system includes a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt adjacent to the first conveyor belt. The second conveyor belt moves slightly faster than the first conveyor belt. A rotating size separation tool has slits or pockets, and is located between the first and second conveyor belt. The automated feeding, sorting, and packaging system also includes a backlit conveyor belt. A vision guided robot is arranged adjacent to the backlit conveyor belt. The vision guided robot is provided with a robotic gripper and a vision sensor. At least one scales is arranged adjacent to the vision guided robot. An arrangement of temporary storage bins is arranged adjacent to the vision guided robot. The automated feeding, sorting, and packaging system also includes a container handling system. A computer-based control system is connected to the vision guided robot and to the at least one scales.

A refuse collection vehicle includes a refuse grabber assembly, a lift arm coupled to the refuse grabber assembly, and a hopper configured to receive refuse from the refuse container. The lift arm is operable to position the refuse grabber assembly. The refuse grabber assembly includes a first grabber arm and a second grabber arm that are configured to cooperate to engage the refuse container. The first grabber arm includes a first gripper and a first support arm coupled to the first gripper. The first gripper includes a first deformable structure configured to contact a first surface of a refuse container. The second grabber arm includes a second gripper and a second support arm coupled to the second gripper. The second gripper includes a second deformable structure configured to contact a second surface of the refuse container.

Provided is a robot hand that has a simple structure, can be used in a versatile way, changes shape depending on a physical object, and is less likely to damage the physical object. A robot hand that includes two or more finger portions making contact with a physical object and grips the physical object between the finger portions, wherein a gripping direction is nearly orthogonal to an extension direction of the finger portion and an outer shape of at least one phalanx portion is formed of a wire rod group configured with a plurality of loop-like wire rods having elasticity and arranged at predetermined intervals, and, wherein, in the wire rod group, the wire rods are arranged such that a loop shape extends in the extension direction of the finger portion and have an opening, which extends in the extension direction of the finger portion, between the wire rods.

Provided is a robot hand that has a simple structure, can be used in a versatile way, changes shape depending on a physical object, and is less likely to damage the physical object. A robot hand that includes two or more finger portions making contact with a physical object and grips the physical object between the finger portions, wherein a gripping direction is nearly orthogonal to an extension direction of the finger portion and an outer shape of at least one phalanx portion is formed of a wire rod group configured with a plurality of loop-like wire rods having elasticity and arranged at predetermined intervals, and, wherein, in the wire rod group, the wire rods are arranged such that a loop shape extends in the extension direction of the finger portion and have an opening, which extends in the extension direction of the finger portion, between the wire rods.

In a soft grip unit, a grip device having the soft grip unit, and a driving method of the grip device, the soft grip unit includes a flexible cover, a particle, a negative pressure generator and a flexible supporting part. The flexible cover has a gripping surface on which a target object is attached and a reference surface coupled with the gripping surface. The particle is received by the receiving space, and transformed corresponding to a shape of the target object. The negative pressure generator is connected to the flexible cover. The negative pressure generator absorbs an air of the receiving space to contract the flexible cover. The flexible supporting part is tightly attached to the reference surface, and transformed at the same time when the flexible cover is pressurized and transformed by the target object.

A method for unloading a container having packages with a rail device comprising a rail having a hand element displaceable in the longitudinal direction. The hand element has a plurality of finger elements having two flexible flank elements extending jointly from one end to the opposite end of the finger element. Each are connected flexibly to each other via a plurality of webs. The finger elements adjustable from a curved position into an extended position and back. The packages are stacked in the container forming a front face in which the rail device is brought close to the front face of the stacked packages. One hand element grips one package from the stack of packages and removes it from the stack. Following the removal, it is displaced along the rail and following the displacement grips one further package and removes it from the stack of packages.

A method for unloading a container having packages with a rail device comprising a rail having a hand element displaceable in the longitudinal direction. The hand element has a plurality of finger elements having two flexible flank elements extending jointly from one end to the opposite end of the finger element. Each are connected flexibly to each other via a plurality of webs. The finger elements adjustable from a curved position into an extended position and back. The packages are stacked in the container forming a front face in which the rail device is brought close to the front face of the stacked packages. One hand element grips one package from the stack of packages and removes it from the stack. Following the removal, it is displaced along the rail and following the displacement grips one further package and removes it from the stack of packages.

A gripping device includes a bag-shaped gripping body, a plurality of elastic portions, and a shape holding portion. The gripping body includes a palm portion, and a plurality of finger portions protruding from a periphery of the palm portion and configured to fall toward the palm portion by deforming the palm portion in a thickness direction. The plurality of elastic portions is respectively provided in the plurality of finger portions, each of the plurality of elastic portions having a shape of each of the plurality of finger portions. The shape holding portion is provided in the gripping body to prevent contraction of an outer periphery of the palm portion. The shape holding portion includes a guide bore for receiving the palm portion when being deformed, and a curved portion provided on an outer side of a distal end of the shape holding portion in an axial direction of the guide bore. The distal end faces the plurality of finger portions.

A gripping device includes a bag-shaped gripping body, a plurality of elastic portions, and a shape holding portion. The gripping body includes a palm portion, and a plurality of finger portions protruding from a periphery of the palm portion and configured to fall toward the palm portion by deforming the palm portion in a thickness direction. The plurality of elastic portions is respectively provided in the plurality of finger portions, each of the plurality of elastic portions having a shape of each of the plurality of finger portions. The shape holding portion is provided in the gripping body to prevent contraction of an outer periphery of the palm portion. The shape holding portion includes a guide bore for receiving the palm portion when being deformed, and a curved portion provided on an outer side of a distal end of the shape holding portion in an axial direction of the guide bore. The distal end faces the plurality of finger portions.

A soft robotic gripper having component parts capable of being assembled in the field at the terminus of an industrial robot arm for providing adaptive gripping of a product. A hub includes a pneumatic inlet leading to outlets. Finger mounts with pneumatic passages hold inflatable fingers, and tension fastener(s) secure and compress the finger mounts toward the hub by passing through the pneumatic passages and fastening under tension in a direction of the hub.