A product unpacking system includes a work surface at a first height and a product unloading position at a second height. An adjustable cutter is positioned adjacent to the work surface and configured to cut a plurality of sides of each case. A case movement device, such as a robot or manual mover, is configured to retrieve a case from a group of cases and move the case to the cutter to cut a plurality of sides of the case. The case movement device may then move the cut case to an unload position over a product container to allow products within the case to drop into the product container. A system of conveyors may be used to convey empty product containers toward the work surface and to convey filled product containers away from the work surface. The system may be automated to receive recipe information for each case to be unloaded and modify parameters of the system based on the case.

A method including gripping a first surface of a grip target object mounted on a mounting surface by the first grip portion; gripping a second surface crossing the first surface of the grip target object by the second grip portion; lifting the arm together with the first and second grip portions, to lift the grip target object; turning the first and second grip portions, to tilt the grip target object with respect to the mounting surface and bring the grip target object into contact with the mounting surface; maintaining the grip target object in a state of being tilted with respect to the mounting surface; and moving the arm together with the first and second grip portions, to drag the grip target object on the mounting surface.

A method including gripping a first surface of a grip target object mounted on a mounting surface by the first grip portion; gripping a second surface crossing the first surface of the grip target object by the second grip portion; lifting the arm together with the first and second grip portions, to lift the grip target object; turning the first and second grip portions, to tilt the grip target object with respect to the mounting surface and bring the grip target object into contact with the mounting surface; maintaining the grip target object in a state of being tilted with respect to the mounting surface; and moving the arm together with the first and second grip portions, to drag the grip target object on the mounting surface.

An apparatus for sorting and stacking slab-shaped elements has an inlet line; plural suction gripping units; a sorting carousel rotatable around an axis and including multiple carousel arms mutually solidly constrained and each bearing a respective one of the plurality suction gripping units; a plurality of seats for receiving the slab-shaped elements, forming stacks thereof; and a support crown solidly constrained to a frame. The carousel axis and an axis of the support crown coincide with one another. Each carousel arm is supported by the support crown at or in proximity of a respective free end. A first slab-shaped element from the inlet line can be gripped by a first one of the suction gripping units, rotated by a first one of the carousel arms which bears the first suction gripping unit, and released by the first suction gripping unit on a first of the seats.

The invention relates to a turning apparatus for a production plant (2) for sanitary products, in particular adult or baby diapers, the turning apparatus having a drum (12) which rotates about a geometrical drum rotational axis (11), and at least one plate (14) which is spaced apart radially from the drum rotational axis (11) and is coupled to the drum (12), which plate (14) comprises a suction face (15) for the transport of sanitary material pieces (16), which suction face (15) holds the respective sanitary material piece (16) by means of a vacuum during the transport, the plate (14) having a geometrical vertical axis (17) which runs radially with respect to the drum rotational axis (11), the plate (14) receiving the sanitary material piece (16) with a first orientation about the vertical axis (17) in a first transfer region (18), and transporting the sanitary material piece (16) from the first transfer region (18) to a second transfer region (20) along a setpoint transfer path (19) which runs in the circumferential direction around the drum rotational axis (11), the suction face (15) being rotated with the sanitary material piece (16) about the vertical axis (17) during the transport, the plate (14) outputting the sanitary material piece (16) in the second transfer region (20) with a second orientation which is different than the first orientation about the vertical axis (17). It is proposed that, during the receiving and/or outputting, the plate (14) carries out a non-linear compensation movement relative to the drum (12) with a radial movement component.

A substrate transfer device includes a substrate holder and a base to which the substrate holder is movably attached. The substrate holder includes first and second suction holes provided to be open in a placing surface, first and second protrusions disposed respectively in the first and second suction holes, and first and second supports provided respectively in the vicinity of the first and second suction holes so as to protrude upward from the placing surface. The first protrusion is pressed by a first elastic member toward an upward direction to protrude from the first suction hole such that the first protrusion blocks the first suction hole, and the second protrusion is pressed by a second elastic member toward an upward direction to protrude from the second suction hole such that the second protrusion blocks the second suction hole.

A substrate transfer device includes a substrate holder and a base to which the substrate holder is movably attached. The substrate holder includes first and second suction holes provided to be open in a placing surface, first and second protrusions disposed respectively in the first and second suction holes, and first and second supports provided respectively in the vicinity of the first and second suction holes so as to protrude upward from the placing surface. The first protrusion is pressed by a first elastic member toward an upward direction to protrude from the first suction hole such that the first protrusion blocks the first suction hole, and the second protrusion is pressed by a second elastic member toward an upward direction to protrude from the second suction hole such that the second protrusion blocks the second suction hole.

A robotically-operated gripping device is provided and includes a frame assembly, a vacuum device, a clamping device, and a robotic arm. The vacuum device is connected to the frame assembly and configured to selectively attach to and position at least a portion of an object. The clamping device is connected to the frame assembly and provided for selectively clamping the object attached to the vacuum device. The robotic arm is connected to the frame assembly and provided for selectively positioning the vacuum device and the gripping device.

This disclosure is directed to automated warehouse facilities that are configured to assemble mixed pallets. The warehouse facilities can include one or more layer handling devices that are configured to remove layers from pallets in a delayering operational mode, and to add layers to pallets in a palletizing operation mode. The warehouse facilities also may include one or more item retrieval devices that are configured to retrieve individual items from storage racks. The warehouse facilities can include other automated devices as well.

A stacking apparatus for preparing food portions comprises at least one product support movable between a feed position and a depositing position, wherein, in the feed position of the product support, a part portion of the food portion to be prepared can be conveyed along a conveying direction onto a support surface of the product support, and wherein the stacking apparatus is configured to place the part portion conveyed onto the product support beneath the product support by moving the product support into the depositing position, in particular to stack the part portion conveyed onto the product support on a previously placed part portion. In the product support, at least one pneumatic channel is furthermore formed that can be connected to a device for generating a pressure difference and that has at least one orifice into the support surface.