An automated method and system for stacking and loading wrapped or unwrapped facemasks into a carton in a facemask production line includes conveying individual wrapped facemasks in a continuous stream to a stacking location. At the stacking location, the facemasks are deposited into a vertical accumulator such that the facemasks are stacked in the accumulator. Upon reaching a predetermined fill level of facemasks in the accumulator, a bottom retainer in the accumulator is opened such that the stacked facemasks drop into a carton placed below the accumulator. Upon opening the bottom retainer, a mid-level retainer is actuated in the accumulator that captures facemasks that continue to be deposited into the accumulator at an intermediate height above the bottom retainer. The bottom retainer is closed after the stacked facemasks drop into the carton, and the mid-level retainer is then opened such that the facemasks captured by the mid-level retainer drop onto the bottom retainer.

An item packing system (100) configured to sort and/or pack vine fruit such as bunches of grapes into containers is disclosed herein. The system comprises a first robotic arm (110) comprising at least one first end effector (120) for cutting vine fruit, a second robotic arm (114) comprising at least one second end effector (122) for holding and manipulating a vine fruit for packing into a container, at least one camera (155) for providing image data of the vine fruit, and a controller configured to receive the image data of the vine fruit and to make a determination of the weight of the vine fruit based on the received image data. The controller is configured to control the at least one first end effector of the first robotic arm to cut the vine fruit based on the determined weight of the vine fruit, and the controller is configured to control the at least one second end effector of the second robotic arm to hold and manipulate the cut vine fruit into a container (142).

An item packing system (100) configured to sort and/or pack vine fruit such as bunches of grapes into containers is disclosed herein. The system comprises a first robotic arm (110) comprising at least one first end effector (120) for cutting vine fruit, a second robotic arm (114) comprising at least one second end effector (122) for holding and manipulating a vine fruit for packing into a container, at least one camera (155) for providing image data of the vine fruit, and a controller configured to receive the image data of the vine fruit and to make a determination of the weight of the vine fruit based on the received image data. The controller is configured to control the at least one first end effector of the first robotic arm to cut the vine fruit based on the determined weight of the vine fruit, and the controller is configured to control the at least one second end effector of the second robotic arm to hold and manipulate the cut vine fruit into a container (142).

Food manipulation apparatus (10) is provided and comprises manipulation means (20) which moves two parts of a food item (30) between a first relative disposition and a second relative disposition. Furthermore, a robot (70) may be provided to place the food item (30) into a container (85).

Food manipulation apparatus (10) is provided and comprises manipulation means (20) which moves two parts of a food item (30) between a first relative disposition and a second relative disposition. Furthermore, a robot (70) may be provided to place the food item (30) into a container (85).

A tube holder has a housing having an upwardly opening tube receptacle into which a tube can be inserted. A plurality of clamping elements arranged in the tube receptacle can be brought to abut an outer wall of the tube and a clamping force acting radially on the inserted tube cab be applied by at least one spring element. The clamping elements are pivotably mounted in a pivot bearing about a horizontal axis. Further clamping element are below the first group of pivot elements arranged over the tube receptacle and are under the action of the spring element and/or at least one further spring element. The clamping surface of at least some clamping elements and/or at least some further clamping elements at least in sections has a convex contour, curved about a horizontal axis, in the direction of a longitudinal central axis of the tube receptacle.

A tube holder has a housing having an upwardly opening tube receptacle into which a tube can be inserted. A plurality of clamping elements arranged in the tube receptacle can be brought to abut an outer wall of the tube and a clamping force acting radially on the inserted tube cab be applied by at least one spring element. The clamping elements are pivotably mounted in a pivot bearing about a horizontal axis. Further clamping element are below the first group of pivot elements arranged over the tube receptacle and are under the action of the spring element and/or at least one further spring element. The clamping surface of at least some clamping elements and/or at least some further clamping elements at least in sections has a convex contour, curved about a horizontal axis, in the direction of a longitudinal central axis of the tube receptacle.

An electronic product packaging system includes a robot on which a vacuum suction device adapted to pick up a packaging box and a gripper adapted to grab an electronic product are disposed, a packaging box loading platform adapted to load a pile of a plurality of the packaging boxes stacked together, a product loading device having a loading groove adapted to load a row of a plurality of the electronic products, and a packaging platform carrying the electronic products and the packaging boxes. The robot is configured to pick up the packaging box from the packaging box loading platform and place the packaging box on the packaging platform with the vacuum suction device. The robot is configured to grab the electronic product from the product loading device and place and pack the electronic product into the packaging box on the packaging platform with the gripper.

Dunnage may be applied to surfaces of items by nozzles coupled to one or more robotic arms that may be operated in six degrees of freedom within three-dimensional space. The dunnage is applied in substantially hollow pieces or sections by one or more 3D printing processes, e.g., by deposition. Such pieces or sections may be applied in one or more series or patterns along surfaces of an item prior to enveloping the item in one or more wraps or covers, or depositing the item in one or more containers. Various characteristics of the dunnage, such as materials from which the dunnage is formed, diameters or thicknesses of the dunnage, the series or patterns in which the dunnage is applied to the surface of the item, or any other factors may be selected based on one or more attributes of the items, such as dimensions or shipping and handling instructions.

Processes and systems for cleaned storage of high level cleanliness articles, such as extreme ultraviolet (EUV) reticle carriers. A decontamination chamber cleans the stored workpieces. A purge gas system prevents contamination of the articles stored within the workpieces. A robot detects the condition of the storage compartment before delivering the workpiece. A monitor device monitors the conditions of the stocker.