Embodiments herein provide automated bin packing of heterogeneous objects to fill maximum number of objects in an available bin space in an efficient manner. Conventional methods are less efficient in packing heterogeneous objects in a space and time efficient manner. The apparatus receives a plurality of 3D objects through a primary conveyor and diverts each of the plurality of 3D objects to an identified cuboidal bin through a corresponding secondary conveyor. Each of the plurality of 3D objects are diverted based on a tracking code associated with each of the plurality of 3D objects and a computed available bin space of the identified cuboidal bin corresponding to each of the plurality of 3D objects. Here the available bin space is computed based on a bin space information received from a corresponding bin vision sensor and a corresponding state space of the identified cuboidal bin.

In a method of operating a dimensioning system with a plurality of laser scanners, a processor controls the operations of the scanners and processes the scanner signals, and further with memory for storing data delivered by the processor, the data acquired by the dimensioning system in its regular mode of operation are used to construct a three-dimensional model of surface points of the object including spatial coordinates and image intensity for each surface point. The three-dimensional model is stored in the memory. Based on the three-dimensional model, two-dimensional images from any desired viewing angle that was exposed to the scanner rays can be produced on demand to document the appearance of the object at the time the scan was taken.

An intervention device (1) for a conveyor line conveying products to be moved in an upright position, i.e. the largest dimension thereof being perpendicular to the normally horizontal conveying plane, such as bottles of liquid, the device including: a detection module (2) for detecting the position of the products in a detection area (3) on the conveyor line; a removal module (4) for gripping and removing products that are lying down from a removal area (5) on the conveying line; and a control module (6) receiving information from the detection module (2) and controlling the removal module (4) accordingly. A corresponding method is also described.

A method of operating a cross belt slat sorter includes moving a first item of a first type positioned on the sorter. A database is maintained that stores transport requirements for different item types. A control system ascertains a first type of the first item via a separate vision system that is operatively connected to the control system. The database is accessed to establish the first transport requirements for the first item based on the first type. Belts are controlled based on the first transport requirements of the first item. A second item is moved on the belts, and a second type of the second item is observed with the vision system. The database is accessed to ascertain second transport requirements for the second item. The belts are controlled based on the second transport requirements of the second item.

A system for removing unstable articles from an automated processing stream includes an automated processing stream with a plurality of processing units including a flow diverter and configured to carry a stream of articles, a vision system, and a control system interfacing with the automated processing stream and the vision system, wherein the vision system is configured to detect positions of an article and to transmit position data to the control system, and wherein the control system is configured, through operation of a processor, to determine an expected position of the article based on a first detected position, compare the expected position to a second detected position of the article, determine a deviation of the second detected position from the expected position, and control the flow diverter to divert the article based on the deviation.

A device for distributing clip-type components for assembling parts includes a main magazine for bulk storage of the components, a tray for temporary storage of components extracted from the main magazine, configured to temporarily store the components to be transferred out of the device and mounted for reciprocating translation in a longitudinal direction to shake the temporarily stored components and facilitate their positioning inside the tray in a predetermined stable position corresponding to their shape. The device includes an optical detection system to detect, from among the components temporarily stored inside the temporary storage tray, the components having the predetermined stable position, and a transfer system to transfer the components having the predetermined stable position to a downstream processing area outside the device. The device further includes an electronic control unit connected to the optical detection system and the transfer system, the unit configured to control the transfer system.

Embodiments herein provide automated bin packing of heterogeneous objects to fill maximum number of objects in an available bin space in an efficient manner. Conventional methods are less efficient in packing heterogeneous objects in a space and time efficient manner. The apparatus receives a plurality of 3D objects through a primary conveyor and diverts each of the plurality of 3D objects to an identified cuboidal bin through a corresponding secondary conveyor. Each of the plurality of 3D objects are diverted based on a tracking code associated with each of the plurality of 3D objects and a computed available bin space of the identified cuboidal bin corresponding to each of the plurality of 3D objects. Here the available bin space is computed based on a bin space information received from a corresponding bin vision sensor and a corresponding state space of the identified cuboidal bin.

A new and improved automated bun handling and toasting system and method are disclosed comprising a plurality of horizontally oriented bun storage tubes mounted upon a carousel, and an indexing system operatively connected to the carousel so as to rotate the carousel in a predetermined incremental manner and thereby dispose a particular one of the plurality of horizontally oriented bun storage tubes at a predetermined discharge position such that a bun can be discharged from the particular bun storage tube. The discharged bun has a vertical orientation, however, a bun separator separates the bun into its crown and heel bun segments which then attain horizontal orientations with the internal surface portions facing upwardly so as to pass through a toaster appliance so as to be toasted.

A subsystem for orienting articles, the subsystem comprising a tool assembly comprising a carriage. A tool head has a first and a second article gripper rotationally coupled thereto. A first drive mechanism is coupled to the first article gripper. A second drive mechanism is coupled to the second article gripper. A sensor is configured to observe two adjacent articles. A controller is provided in communication with the first and second drive mechanisms and the sensor. The controller is configured to determine the orientation of each of the two adjacent articles and to control the first and second drive mechanisms to rotate each of the two adjacent articles to a predefined orientation.

The invention discloses an automatic-sensing transfer device based on an edge-tracing alignment algorithm, which is characterized by comprising a device body, a rotating device, a lifting device, a stretchable device, a sensing device, a gripping device and a control device. The rotating device, the stretchable device, the lifting device, the sensing device, the gripping device and the control device are all arranged on the device body. The control device is connected to the rotating device, the stretchable device, the lifting device, the gripping device and the sensing device. Accurate positioning of the gripping device can be realized through the transfer device, so that the production efficiency is improved.