A pick-up device picking up stacked sheet-shaped workpieces from the top, the device includes a nozzle mechanism that includes a pick-up nozzle pulling up a first workpiece from the top of the stacked workpieces by air blowing, and a holding mechanism that holds the first workpiece from the top. The pick-up nozzle includes a ventilation groove provided on a bottom surface opposite to an upper surface of the first workpiece from the top and passing through to an air blowing side end part of the bottom surface, and a nozzle port blowing air toward the air blowing side end part of the bottom surface along the inside of the ventilation groove, and the air blowing side end part of a groove inner bottom surface of the ventilation groove is formed in a shape directed in a direction of being separated from the workpiece.

A sheet-transporting element includes suction openings for holding print sheets, longitudinal sliders including air passages, and transverse sliders including air passages. The longitudinal sliders and the transverse sliders are disposed in a cross-wise configuration and are movable into different positions corresponding to various sheet formats in the positions blocking selected ones of the suction openings.

A secondary battery electrode film and separator supply device configured to: replace a bobbin when an electrode separator is used up by automatically extracting an empty bobbin from a spool, mounting the empty bobbin on a side of a bobbin mount of a bobbin changer, changing the position of a new bobbin mounted on another side by rotating the bobbin mount 180 degrees, and then moving and mounting the new bobbin on the spool; automatically extracting an end of a wound electrode separator through vacuum suction and connecting the end to another electrode separator; and feed a replacing material roll to a moving spool, cut a finishing tap at an end of a material by a predetermined length, and then automatically connect a new separator end of the replacing material roll and an in-use separator end through taping.

A sheet-transporting element includes suction openings for holding print sheets, longitudinal sliders including air passages, and transverse sliders including air passages. The longitudinal sliders and the transverse sliders are disposed in a cross-wise configuration and are movable into different positions corresponding to various sheet formats in the positions blocking selected ones of the suction openings.

An apparatus includes a transfer mechanism that transfers discrete articles to a receiving member. The transfer mechanism includes a plurality of transfer pucks that carry discrete articles thereon. Each of the transfer pucks includes a puck body with an article carrying surface having vacuum holes formed therein to retain the discrete article thereon via a vacuum. The article carrying surface includes a central region and at least one side region adjacent the central region, the side region aligned lengthwise along the puck body. Each of the transfer pucks also includes one or more resilient puck inserts positioned about a portion of a perimeter of the transfer puck, with each puck insert engaged with the puck body in a respective side region. The puck inserts are sized to protrude above the article carrying surface and are depressible inward toward the article carrying surface upon an application of force thereto.

A suction cup gripping system has suction cup gripping devices each provided with a gripping suction cup having an internal cavity, a Venturi vacuum generator connectable to a compressed air line and connected to the internal cavity to generate therein a partial vacuum, a release valve connected to the internal cavity and operable to connect the internal cavity to an external environment or the compressed air line to eliminate the partial vacuum in the internal cavity, and a check valve interposed between Venturi vacuum generator and internal cavity. The gripping system includes a valve system connected to the Venturi vacuum generators and the release valves, a manifold connected to the internal cavities, a vacuum sensor connected to the manifold, and a control unit configured to control the valve system.

An apparatus includes a transfer mechanism that transfers discrete articles to a receiving member. The transfer mechanism includes a plurality of transfer pucks that carry discrete articles thereon. Each of the transfer pucks includes a puck body with an article carrying surface having vacuum holes formed therein to retain the discrete article thereon via a vacuum. The article carrying surface includes a central region and at least one side region adjacent the central region, the side region aligned lengthwise along the puck body. Each of the transfer pucks also includes one or more resilient puck inserts positioned about a portion of a perimeter of the transfer puck, with each puck insert engaged with the puck body in a respective side region. The puck inserts are sized to protrude above the article carrying surface and are depressible inward toward the article carrying surface upon an application of force thereto.

A gripping apparatus includes an impermeable layer defining a vacuum port, a first flow media layer associated with the impermeable layer, and a second flow media layer opposed from the first flow media layer to define a receiving space therebetween.