A gripper mechanism for a palletizer apparatus is configured to receive articles from an associated infeed conveyor in any one of a plurality of orientations of the gripper mechanism relative to the infeed conveyor. In a preferred embodiment, the gripper mechanism is configured to receive articles through any one of four sides of the mechanism.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus (10) for handling piece goods (2) moved one after another in at least one row (1). Immediately consecutive piece goods (2) in a row (1) without spaces or with minimal spaces are transported as a closed formation (F). At least one transported piece good (2, 2*) is seized in a clamping and/or force-locking and/or form-locking manner from the closed formation (F); is spatially separated from the closed formation (F); and is brought into a specified relative target position (P) and/or target alignment in relation to subsequent piece goods (2).

An object processing system is disclosed that includes a plurality of track sections, and a plurality of remotely actuatable carriers for controlled movement along at least portions of the plurality of track sections, wherein each of the remotely controllable carriers is adapted to support and transport an object processing bin.

Detecting, locating, identifying, engaging, and/or shifting objects in automated or semi-automated fashion as well as methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer-program products therefor. Embodiments used for shifting objects in automated or semi-automated fashion may be implemented in stationary environments, and/or in moving, e.g., in-transit, environments, and may be used to transfer, route, and/or organize objects based on their designated destinations. The embodiments may further be implemented in a logistics network, thereby increasing the efficiency and capacity of the logistics network, among other benefits.

An X-ray inspection device is disclosed. The present X-ray inspection device includes an X-ray tube, a detector disposed so as to face the X-ray tube, and transfer devices, for simultaneous inspection of at least two objects to be inspected, transferring at least two objects to be inspected to an inspection position between the X-ray tube and the detector.

A seizing head for objects is described that includes a support frame adapted to be coupled to a manipulator robot, and a plurality of picking apparatuses arranged mutually flanked according to a predefined flanking direction and individually adapted to take and withhold at least one object, wherein each picking apparatus is installed on a respective mobile frame, which is slidably coupled to the support frame according to a sliding direction parallel to the flanking direction, and wherein the seizing head further includes a plurality of functionally independent activation devices, each of which is adapted to activate a respective mobile frame along said sliding direction.

A transfer robot includes a movable mechanism, a support base moved by the movable mechanism, a horizontal arm pivotable relative to the support base around a first vertical axis, a motor in the horizontal arm to pivot the arm, and a hand disposed above the arm and rotatable relative to the arm around a second axis parallel to the first axis. The hand holds a planar workpiece placed thereon. The arm includes a rotation stage for holding the planar workpiece placed thereon. The rotation stage is rotatable around a third axis parallel to the first axis and movable vertically along the third axis. The hand has a holding center corresponding to the center of the planar workpiece, where the holding center is moved along a rotational trajectory extending across the third axis in plan view. The rotation stage is rotated by the motor provided in the horizontal arm.

An operating device for placing or retrieving bottle-like piece goods onto or from storage places of a picking device is provided. The operating device includes a gripping jaw assembly having two profile-rod shaped gripping jaws with opposite lying inner surfaces extending in a first horizontal direction corresponding to a direction for placing and retrieving piece goods. The gripping jaws are configured so that the distance of the inner surfaces from each other tapers in the downward direction at least in sections and the bottle-like piece goods can be lifted from below. The operating device also includes an actuation unit coupled to the gripping jaw assembly for moving the gripping jaw assembly in the first horizontal direction.

A substrate transfer system includes a load lock module, an atmospheric transfer module having a first sidewall adjacent to the load lock module and a second sidewall remote from the load lock module, the atmospheric transfer module being connected to the load lock module, and a substrate transfer robot disposed in the atmospheric transfer module. The substrate transfer robot includes a base configured to reciprocate along the first sidewall, a substrate transfer arm disposed on the base, and a flow rectifier surrounding the base, the flow rectifier being configured, upon movement of the base, to create an obliquely downward air flow in a direction opposite to a moving direction of the base.

An automated carrier system is disclosed for moving objects to be processed. The automated carrier system includes a base structure of a carrier on which an object may be supported, and at least two wheels mounted to at least two motors to provide at least two wheel assemblies, the at least two wheel assemblies being pivotally supported on the base structure for pivoting movement from a first position to a second position to effect a change in direction of movement of the carrier.