A system including a programmable motion device and an end effector for grasping objects to be moved by the programmable motion device is disclosed. The system includes a vacuum source that provides a high flow vacuum such that an object may be grasped at an end effector opening while permitting a substantial flow of air through the opening, and a dead-head limitation system for limiting any effects of dead-heading on the vacuum source in the event that a flow of air to the vacuum source is interrupted.

Disclosed is a flow blocking valve, a vacuum lifting device have such valve, a vacuum lifting arrangements, and methods for operating the same, the valve including a valve housing part forming a flow duct between a flow inlet arranged at an inlet end of the duct and a flow outlet arranged at an outlet end of the duct, where a seat is arranged at the flow outlet, the valve further including a displaceable valve blocking device arranged to move inside the flow duct, where said blocking device is arranged to block the flow through said valve when being forced against said seat, the valve also including obstruction means being displaceable in a direction substantially transverse in relation to a longitudinal direction of the flow duct, where the obstruction means is arranged to controllably obstruct the passage of the displaceable valve blocking device without completely disabling flow through the flow duct.

A method for producing a Fiber Metal Laminate component of an airplane, using a manipulator system with an end effector and a control, wherein at least one metal layer and at least one unhardened fiber layer are being stacked onto each other in a mould in a stacking sequence, wherein each stacking cycle comprises picking up a metal layer or a fiber layer from a supply stack according to the stacking sequence, transporting the layer to the mould, placement of the layer at a deposition surface in the mould and depositing the so placed layer onto the deposition surface. After being picked up from the supply stack and before being deposited onto the deposition surface the layer to be stacked can be deformed by the end effector as to adapt the form of the layer to the form of the deposition surface.

A quick-release vacuum pump which is mainly applied to a vacuum transport system. The vacuum pump has a mechanism in which part of compressed air supplied for generating a vacuum state is stored firstly in a chamber, and then the vacuum state within the chamber is released when transportation is completed. When the vacuum state is released, a check valve is moved by the pressure of air that flows backward. The range of movement of the check valve is adjusted by a control means. An air filter is disposed at the lower end of the check valve. The release of the vacuum state is quick and controllable. Also, the filter is naturally filtered and cleaned.

A system is disclosed for providing dynamic vacuum control to an end effector of an articulated arm. The system includes a first vacuum source for providing a first vacuum pressure with a first maximum air flow rate, and a second vacuum source for providing a second vacuum pressure with a second maximum air flow rate, wherein the second vacuum pressure is higher than the first vacuum pressure and wherein the second maximum air flow rate is greater than the first maximum air flow rate.

A method of operating a robot including a vacuum port for engaging an item, e.g. a wafer, is disclosed. The method includes operating, by a computer system, the robot in a first state, detecting using a vacuum sensor, a transition of a vacuum parameter from a first vacuum parameter zone to a second parameter zone in a plurality of vacuum parameter zones. Based on detecting the transition of the vacuum parameter from the first vacuum parameter zone to the second vacuum parameter zone, the operating state of the robot is altered from the first state to a second state. Also disclosed is an item transfer robot as part of an item transfer system.

A radiolucent circumduction joint that has one, two, or three degrees of axis move movement about a central point that is able to mirror human joint movement.

Unit for sorting parts moving along a conveyor belt comprising a transfer device (3) which comprises a roller (31) which is rotatably movable above the belt and a plurality of gripping tools (32) at the periphery of the roller which are each capable of selectively removing a part from the belt when the tools are brought into a removal position, each tool comprising a suction cup (321) attached to a tubular support sleeve (322) which is capable of creating a connection between the suction cup and an internal chamber (312) of the roller, said connection being kept at a negative pressure relative to the surrounding air, all of the suction cups which are brought into the removal position being depressurized, each sleeve being mounted so as to be translatably movable along the axis thereof through a wall (311) of the roller, an actuator (34) being designed to selectively control, in the removal position, the movement of the sleeve so that the suction cup engages with the part to be removed.

Described herein are flexible truss systems and methods of transferring flexible composite parts using these systems. A flexible truss system comprises a flexible truss mechanism and composite pick-and-place mechanisms supported on the flexible truss mechanism and designed to attach to various composite parts. The flexible truss mechanism comprises flexible elongated members and slidable ribs coupled to each flexible elongated member. Specifically, each rib is slidably coupled to at least one flexible elongated member. In some examples, each rib is also fixedly coupled to another flexible elongated member. The slidable coupling allows the flexible truss mechanism to bend and follow the shape of a supported part, such that the composite pick-and-place mechanisms are able to contact and support different areas of the composite part. As such, the same flexible truss mechanism is able to support flexible composite parts having different shapes.

A system is disclosed for providing dynamic vacuum control to an end effector of an articulated arm. The system includes a first vacuum source for providing a first vacuum pressure with a first maximum air flow rate, and a second vacuum source for providing a second vacuum pressure with a second maximum air flow rate, wherein the second vacuum pressure is higher than the first vacuum pressure and wherein the second maximum air flow rate is greater than the first maximum air flow rate.