A vacuum device for a material handling system includes a vacuum device body and a sealing element. The vacuum device body has a vacuum passageway in which a vacuum is generated in response to activation of a pressurized air supply that forces pressurized air through a venturi device. The sealing element moves to a sealing position to substantially seal the vacuum passageway when the air supply is activated, and is urged toward the sealing position via pressurized air that is diverted from an inlet of the vacuum device to the sealing element. The sealing element moves to substantially vent the vacuum passageway when the air supply is deactivated. The vacuum passageway may be in fluid communication with a vacuum cup, which seals against the object when the sealing element is at the sealing position and the vacuum generating device generates at least a partial vacuum in the vacuum passageway.

A device for harvesting mushrooms from a mushroom bed involves a robotic arm configured to interchangeably deploy one of a plurality of different suction grippers, each of the suction grippers having a suction cup having a size and shape profile appropriate for gripping a cap of a mushroom, the cap having a size and shape profile within a predetermined range. A vacuum source in fluid communication with the suction gripper supplies negative air pressure to the suction gripper for retaining a cap of the mushroom to be harvested in the suction cup. A control circuit in electronic communication with the suction gripper and the vacuum source is configured to automatically adjust the negative air pressure in the suction gripper in response to harvesting requirements during a mushroom harvesting process. A few standard mushroom shapes have been identified, which permits suction cup designs that maximize contact between the suction cups and the mushroom caps, which permits minimizing the strength of the vacuum needed to harvest the mushrooms.

Aspects relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for a manufacturing tool. The manufacturing tool is comprised of a vacuum tool and an ultrasonic welder as a unified manufacturing tool. The manufacturing tool may be used to pick and position a manufacturing part that is then welded with the associated ultrasonic welder.

The present invention provides systems, methods, and apparatus for a vacuum tool having a switchable plate, such that a common vacuum tool may be adapted with different plates. A switchable plate may form the entirety of the vacuum tool's material contacting surface or a switchable plate may form a portion of the material contacting surface. The vacuum tool is effective for picking and placing one or more manufacturing parts utilizing a vacuum force.

A work transferring system includes: a hand including a body and at least one attracting part configured to hold a work with a gap maintained between the work and a surface of the body by attracting the work to a distal end protruding from the surface; a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the work to a predetermined transfer destination by moving the hand; a work releasing member disposed above the transfer destination to which the transfer mechanism transfers the work and configured to release the work from the attracting part; and an lifting mechanism configured to move up and down the work releasing member or the work. The work releasing member includes a claw arranged in a substantially horizontal cantilever manner and having a shape that allows insertion of the claw into the gap.

A vacuum generator driven by compressed air flow and arranged to supply vacuum to a vacuum gripper, wherein a vacuum flow connection is associated with the vacuum generator and arranged to be brought in flow connection with the vacuum gripper in order to supply vacuum to the vacuum gripper in result of the compressed air flow, wherein the flow connection in addition comprises a second connection arranged to supply a compressed air flow to the vacuum gripper, and wherein the flow connection comprises a valve which is actuated by a spring force in a lower position and to open the connection to the vacuum gripper and arranged to close the connection in result of an air pressure from a compressed air flow in the second connection in a higher position.

A vacuum generator (3) driven by compressed air flow and arranged to supply vacuum (VaC) to a vacuum gripper means, wherein a vacuum flow connection (1) is associated with the vacuum generator (3) and arranged to be brought in flow connection (VaC) with the vacuum gripper means in order to supply vacuum to the vacuum gripper means in result of the compressed air flow, wherein the flow connection (1) in addition comprises a second connection (8) arranged to supply a compressed air flow to the vacuum gripper means, and wherein the flow connection (1) comprises a valve (4) which is actuated by a spring force in a lower position (A) and to open said connection (1) to the vacuum gripper means and arranged to close the connection (1) in result of an air pressure from a compressed air flow (BP) in the second connection (8) in a higher position (B).

The invention relates to a system (10) for handling workpieces, with a handling device (12) which comprises at least one vacuum gripper (16) for drawing a workpiece in by suction, with at least one vacuum generator (26) that can be operated by the supply of compressed air for supplying the vacuum gripper (16) with vacuum, with at least one controllable control valve (28) by which the supply of compressed air to the vacuum generator (26) can be controlled, wherein the control valve (28) is associated with a control device (30) for the proper control of the control valve (28 as required. The handling device comprises an evaluation unit (32) for evaluating operating data of the vacuum generator (26) and/or for evaluating operating data of the handling device (12) as well as for generating control signals as a function of the evaluated operating data, wherein the evaluation unit (32) is arranged on the handling device (12), and wherein the control device (30) controls the control valve (28) as a function of the control signals transmitted from the evaluation unit (32).

A system is disclosed for providing high flow vacuum control to an end effector of an articulated arm. The system includes a high flow vacuum source that provides an opening with an area of high flow vacuum at the end effector such that objects may be engaged while permitting substantial flow of air through the opening, and a load detection system for characterizing the load presented by the object.

A handling system having at least one vacuum generator and an associated vacuum handling device connected to and operable via the vacuum generator. The vacuum handling device is provided with an individually assigned recognition unit including a memory device in which operating data for the vacuum handling device is storable and can be read out. Each vacuum generator has a respective sub-control unit adapted to control the vacuum generator depending on data transmitted from the recognition unit. The memory device of the recognition unit can be read out directly from the sub-control unit.