The invention relates to a method for operating a supply device, comprising at least one feed conveyor, at least one intermediate conveyor, a discharge conveyor and at least one handling device, wherein individual products are continuously conveyed from the at least one feed conveyor to a work area of the at least one handling device. The invention relates to a supply device for forming an article layer from individual products and for transferring the article layer to a downstream device, comprising at least one feed conveyor, at least one intermediate conveyor, a discharge conveyor and at least one handling device, which is adapted for carrying out the method according to the invention.

A method of inverting workpieces in a mass production process includes: advancing an end effector in electronic synchronization with advancement of a carrier to synchronize arrival of the carrier at a stop position with arrival of the end effector at an unloading position, in which the end effector is in alignment with a workpiece held by the carrier for engaging the workpiece; while the end effector is in engagement with the workpiece, retracting the end effector away from the carrier to unload the workpiece from the carrier and advancing the end effector back toward the carrier to load the workpiece back into the carrier; and rotating the end effector relative to the carrier to invert the workpiece in electronic synchronization with the retracting and advancing of the end effector for loading the workpiece back into the carrier when inverted.

Logistic device, for handling a package being collected that defines a contact surface with items not being collected, including a first robotic arm including adaptive gripper having at least three degrees of freedom to modify adaptive gripper position and spatial orientation; a second robotic arm including an end effector defining a resting surface and three degrees of freedom to modify end effector position and spatial orientation; control unit to command the first robotic arm to contact the adaptive gripper and package, to deform the adaptive gripper according to adhesion surface between the package and move the package from a storage position wherein the contact surface contacts the items and a collection position wherein the contact surface does not contact the items; the second robotic arm bringing the end effector resting surface into contact with the contact surface; and then the second robotic arm to move the package.

An automatic sandwich machine is provided. The machine receives customer selections for a number of sandwiches and combinations of toppings and sauces, and allows the customer to make a payment for the sandwiches. The machine places a bread piece into a bread heater, and while the bread heater is heating the bread piece, sprays sauces according to the customer selection and prepares a pre-determined amount of toppings according to a customer selection, a pre-determined amount of sliced meat from a grilled sandwich cone, and a pre-determined amount of cheese. The machine places toppings, sliced meat, and cheese onto the bread piece. The machine then wraps the bread piece to obtain a sandwich. Thereafter, the machine roasts the sandwich and places it into a packet. Finally, the machine delivers the packet with the sandwich to the customer via an outlet.

To provide an article gripping system that reduces the installation area of the apparatus and further shortens the amount of time from when it grips to when it feeds articles. An article gripping system (110) switches between a first positional relationship in which a container (50) obstructs discharge of articles gripped by a first gripping unit (15A) but does not obstruct discharge of articles by a second gripping unit (15B) and a second positional relationship in which the container (50) obstructs discharge of articles gripped by the second gripping unit (15B) but does not obstruct discharge of articles gripped by the first gripping unit (15A), so the gripping units do not move while they are holding the articles, and the articles can be prevented from falling out of the gripping units (15).

A gripper for a transport system of a picking device having horizontal storage surfaces for storing and dispensing small piece goods of different shapes and/or surface properties is provided. The gripper comprises a drop table extending in first and a second horizontal directions and having a storage and dispensing end face. Two elongated gripping jaws are arranged above the drop table extending in the first horizontal direction, and are fastened to a gripping jaw guide arrangement. At least one of the gripping jaws is movable in the second horizontal direction and at least one of the gripping jaws has a gripper coupler in its end portion facing away from the gripping jaw guide arrangement, and at least one transport attachment with an attachment coupler. The gripper and attachment couplers interact so that a transport attachment is releasably fixed at an end portion of a gripping jaw.

An extraction station for the extraction from a transport system for an at least partially complete cartridge; the extraction station has: a collecting device; at least one holding head, which is designed to grab at least one end of the cartridge; and a moving device which supports the holding head and moves the holding head between a pick-up position, in which the holding head is in the area of the transport system and grabs the cartridge, and a release position, in which the holding head releases the cartridge.

Exemplary substrate processing systems may include a transfer region housing defining an internal volume. A sidewall of the transfer region housing may define a sealable access for providing and receiving substrates. The systems may include a plurality of substrate supports disposed within the transfer region. The systems may also include a transfer apparatus having a central hub including a first shaft and a second shaft concentric with and counter-rotatable to the first shaft. The transfer apparatus may include a first end effector coupled with the first shaft. The first end effector may include a plurality of first arms. The transfer apparatus may also include a second end effector coupled with the second shaft. The second end effector may include a plurality of second arms having a number of second arms equal to the number of first arms of the first end effector.

The present invention relates to a depalletizing system and a method for controlling the same. The depalletizing system, which picks up a plurality of objects to move the picked up objects to a predetermined position, includes: a camera unit for acquiring image data of tops of the plurality of objects; a controller for performing vision recognition for the acquired image data of tops of the plurality of objects to determine whether two neighboring objects among the plurality of objects are pickable at a time; and a picking robot for at a time picking up the two objects determined as pickable objects at a time to move the picked up objects to the predetermined position.

An automated guided vehicle with a multistage loading structure includes a vehicle body, and a loader in the vehicle body and operative to load articles in a multistage manner. The loader has a loading unit that is positioned between the articles loaded in the multistage manner and separately loads the articles. The loading unit moves up and down.