An end effector for installing pre-molded seal caps onto fasteners comprises a cap-dispenser assembly and a cap-placement assembly. The cap-placement assembly comprises a main housing and a plunger mechanism, comprising an outer plunger housing and an inner gripper. The inner gripper is rotatable relative to the outer plunger housing between a cap-retaining configuration and a cap-releasing configuration. The plunger mechanism is selectively translatable from an extended position to a retracted position and from the retracted position to the extended position. The main housing is selectively rotatable from a cap-receiving position, in which the plunger mechanism is aligned with the seal-cap-delivery-sleeve central axis, to a cap-installing position, in which the main housing is angularly displaced from the cap-receiving position, and from the cap-installing position to the cap-receiving position.

Systems and methods capable of selecting and positively grasping objects of interest within a cluttered environment are described. Some aspects of the present disclosure provide for real-time control of a robot that uses various sensors and reacts to sensor input in real time to adjust the robots path. In some embodiments, a robotic item picker includes an end effector having a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end, a carriage configured to rotate about and translate along an intermediate portion of the shaft between a proximal position and a distal position, a suction device coupled to the distal end of the shaft, and a plurality of fingers spaced radially about the carriage. The robot may be a t-bot including a longitudinal member rotatable about a lengthwise axis of the longitudinal member, a carriage translatable along the lengthwise axis, and a radial member slidably mounted to the carriage. The end effector may be rotatably coupled at a distal end of the radial member.

Proposed is a transfer system for presses, having at least two fastening units arranged opposite one another, wherein each of the fastening units in each case has a first fastening region. The transfer system further has a press transfer unit, consisting of two movement arms arranged opposite one another, as well as a crossbar connected thereto for receiving and for transporting, i.e. including setting down, a workpiece. Each of the movement arms has a first drive unit connected to the first fastening region, a first lever arm, a second drive unit, and a second lever arm. The first lever arm is connected at a first end thereof or between the first and a second end to the first drive unit, and at the second end thereof to the second drive unit. The second lever arm is rotatably connected at a first end thereof to the second drive unit, and is movably connected with a second end thereof to the crossbar. In addition, at least one energy-storing element is provided for each movement arm, which energy-storing element is formed and arranged in such a way that its force or a force component thereof points in the acceleration direction of the crossbar with or without workpiece. In an embodiment c1, a second fastening region is provided on the fastening unit, and the energy-storing element is connected directly or indirectly with a first end thereof to the second fastening region, and is fastened on a second end thereof at a specified region of the movement arm. In an additional or alternative embodiment c2, the energy-storing element is fastened with a first end to the first lever arm and with a second end thereof to the second lever arm.

An operating device for placing or retrieving piece goods onto or from storage places of a picking device is provided. The operating device includes a gripping jaw assembly having two 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 piece goods can be lifted from below or the gripping jaws can be moved to clamp the piece goods between them. 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 maintenance system is disclosed for assisting in maintaining an automated carrier system for moving objects to be processed. The maintenance system includes a plurality of automated carriers that are adapted to move on an array of discontinuous standard track sections, each said automated carrier including a carrier body that is no larger in either a length or width direction that a standard track section, and an automated maintenance carrier that is adapted to move on the array of discontinuous track sections, said automated maintenance system including a maintenance body that is larger in at least one of a length or width direction than the standard track section.

The invention relates to a garment hanger handling device comprising a housing and a gripping tool adapted to grip and hold a garment hanger, where the gripping tool is adapted to pick up a garment hanger at a loading station, to move the garment hanger to a mounting station, and to forward the garment hanger to an unloading station, where the garment hanger handling device is provided with a linear actuator adapted to move the gripping tool in a vertical direction, where the garment hanger handling device is provided with a rotational actuator adapted to rotate the gripping tool around a vertical axis, and that the gripping tool is adapted to position the garment hanger in a predefined rotational and vertical position at the mounting station in dependency of an input signal. The advantage of the invention is that the position where a garment is applied on a garment hanger can be adapted to the length of the operator, type of hanger and garment, where the position can be adjusted individually for each mounting cycle.

Provided is an overhead conveyor that conveys a carrier loaded with a workpiece. The carrier includes a primary carrier, and a secondary carrier having a hanger that supports the workpiece. The overhead conveyor includes a rotation drive device that rotates the secondary carrier around the vertical axis, a friction brake device that makes the secondary carrier non-rotatable with respect to the primary carrier, and a rotation positioning device that is disposed on a ground side, and positions the secondary carrier at a predetermined rotation end position. The friction brake device, in an operating state thereof, brings a friction member included in a main body provided in the primary carrier, into press-contact with a brake member provided in the secondary carrier.

A bin exchange system is disclosed that includes a plurality of automated carriers, each of which is adapted to be remotely movable on an array of track sections, at least one input station by which bins may be introduced to the array of track sections, at least one processing station in communication with the array of track sections wherein objects may be moved between bins, and at least one output station by which bins may be removed from the array of track sections.

A conveying device includes a first link that includes a first connecting part, a second connecting part, and a first holder part located opposite the second connecting part with respect to the first connecting part, a second link that includes a third connecting part rotatably connected with the first connecting part, and operates to rotate the third connecting part about a first reference point, a third link that includes a fourth connecting part rotatably connected with the second connecting part and operates to rotate the fourth connecting part about a second reference point, and a first drive that operates the links. The links move the first holder part between a first point and a second point opposite each other with respect to the first reference point so that the first holder part approaches the first reference point in association with operation of the second link.

A processing system including a singulation system is disclosed. The singulation system includes a conveying system for moving objects to be sorted from a source area along a first direction, a detection system for detecting objects at the conveying system, and for selecting certain selected objects for removal from the conveying system, and a removal system for removing the certain selected objects from the conveying system for providing a singulated stream of objects.