A boxing system includes a first conveyor and a second conveyor that convey packages at predetermined intervals, a robot that simultaneously holds and transports a package group, and a control device. The control device controls the robot to cause it to accumulate the package groups in a boxing area. The control device generates a first command causing the package group to be directly transported from the conveyance area to the boxing area. The control device also generates a second command causing transporting of the package group from the conveyance area to a temporary placement area different from the boxing area. A third command generated by the control device causes transporting of the package group from the temporary placement area to the boxing area. The control device causes the robot to execute the first command, the second command, and the third command to accumulate the package groups in the boxing area.

A boxing system includes a first conveyor and a second conveyor that convey packages at predetermined intervals, a robot that simultaneously holds and transports a package group, and a control device. The control device controls the robot to cause it to accumulate the package groups in a boxing area. The control device generates a first command causing the package group to be directly transported from the conveyance area to the boxing area. The control device also generates a second command causing transporting of the package group from the conveyance area to a temporary placement area different from the boxing area. A third command generated by the control device causes transporting of the package group from the temporary placement area to the boxing area. The control device causes the robot to execute the first command, the second command, and the third command to accumulate the package groups in the boxing area.

A system is provided for robotically placing dunnage strips for receiving wallboard panels, including providing a robot with a robot arm with a tool having at least one suction cup and a glue dispenser; presetting in the robot a plurality of dunnage location programs, each associated with a particular wallboard panel size or thickness; and providing a dunnage cube with a plurality of stacked dunnage strips. Upon the selection of a preset wallboard panel dunnage location, the robot arm uses the suction cup to select and lift a strip from dunnage cube. Then, the robot arm places the strip upon the warehouse floor in a predesignated location per the preset program, and the glue dispenser on the robot deposits glue upon the strip. The robot repeats the dunnage strip selection, lifting, placement and deposition of glue to multiple dunnage strips until the preset arrangement is completed per the program.

A system is provided for robotically placing dunnage strips for receiving wallboard panels, including providing a robot with a robot arm with a tool having at least one suction cup and a glue dispenser; presetting in the robot a plurality of dunnage location programs, each associated with a particular wallboard panel size or thickness; and providing a dunnage cube with a plurality of stacked dunnage strips. Upon the selection of a preset wallboard panel dunnage location, the robot arm uses the suction cup to select and lift a strip from dunnage cube. Then, the robot arm places the strip upon the warehouse floor in a predesignated location per the preset program, and the glue dispenser on the robot deposits glue upon the strip. The robot repeats the dunnage strip selection, lifting, placement and deposition of glue to multiple dunnage strips until the preset arrangement is completed per the program.

A pickup and delivery station for products includes a movement arm that is articulated with respect to a fixed frame. The arm supports, at its free end, at least one respective grip means for at least one product.

The free end of the arm includes at least one track for at least two carriages for supporting at least one respective shaft that supports the grip means. A first linear actuator, which is substantially parallel to the direction of the track, is associated with one of the carriages for its movement along the track, from a configuration of separation from the other carriage to a configuration of proximity thereto.

The at least one shaft of a respective grip means is coupled to a second linear actuator that is perpendicular to the first one for the offset of the respective grip means with respect to the contiguous ones.

A pickup and delivery station for products includes a movement arm that is articulated with respect to a fixed frame. The arm supports, at its free end, at least one respective grip means for at least one product.

The free end of the arm includes at least one track for at least two carriages for supporting at least one respective shaft that supports the grip means. A first linear actuator, which is substantially parallel to the direction of the track, is associated with one of the carriages for its movement along the track, from a configuration of separation from the other carriage to a configuration of proximity thereto.

The at least one shaft of a respective grip means is coupled to a second linear actuator that is perpendicular to the first one for the offset of the respective grip means with respect to the contiguous ones.

A device and a process for feeding articles to be packaged with a packaging apparatus are presented. The articles are transported on a first conveying line and can be arranged according to a desired pattern, which is repeated on a second conveying line from which the articles will be picked up in a subsequent station. For this purpose, at least one transfer device is provided for transferring the articles from the first conveying line to the second conveying line, with a self-moving transfer arm and a respective gripping device to pick up the articles. The gripping device has a plurality of gripping elements which are movable between a first configuration, in which the gripping elements are aligned with each other to grip the articles from the first conveying line, and a second configuration, in which at least two of the gripping elements are staggered with respect to each other, to lay the articles according to a predetermined pattern.

A device and a process for feeding articles to be packaged with a packaging apparatus are presented. The articles are transported on a first conveying line and can be arranged according to a desired pattern, which is repeated on a second conveying line from which the articles will be picked up in a subsequent station. For this purpose, at least one transfer device is provided for transferring the articles from the first conveying line to the second conveying line, with a self-moving transfer arm and a respective gripping device to pick up the articles. The gripping device has a plurality of gripping elements which are movable between a first configuration, in which the gripping elements are aligned with each other to grip the articles from the first conveying line, and a second configuration, in which at least two of the gripping elements are staggered with respect to each other, to lay the articles according to a predetermined pattern.

A handling device for handling products that are conveyed by a transport device, the handling device including at least one handling unit having a plurality of movably supported movement carriages, and a plurality of handling elements that are embodied as vacuum grippers. The plurality of handling elements move relative to the movement carriages in each case at least substantially parallel to a product support surface of the transport device.

A handling device for handling products that are conveyed by a transport device, the handling device including at least one handling unit having a plurality of movably supported movement carriages, and a plurality of handling elements that are embodied as vacuum grippers. The plurality of handling elements move relative to the movement carriages in each case at least substantially parallel to a product support surface of the transport device.