A system for management of packing articles on one or more cargo units, each for loading on one of a plurality of cargo vehicles, is provided. The system comprises a registration station to identify and communicate freight data characterizing each of the articles, thereby facilitating registration thereof, wherein the freight data comprises physical attributes and shipping information, and wherein the registration station comprises one or more computer-controlled sensors to identify at least some of the physical attributes; a build-up station configured for packing the articles on the cargo units, the build-up station comprising a robotic arm for carrying an article while supporting it from below; and a controller to receive the freight data from the registration station, and to direct operation of the system.

The present application discloses a vacuum sucker with one-cavity and multi-holes, which comprises a housing, a sucker member, a suction chamber and a piston member. The housing is connected to the sucker member. The sucker member is provided with at least two recess type chambers on bottom surface. The suction chamber is provided with air holes which are communicated with the recess type chambers. The piston member is movably mounted in the suction chamber and is provided with a component for one-way communication by sucking the air from the suction chamber to the outside through a reciprocating motion of the piston member. Each of the recess type chambers is provided with an air hole communicated with the suction chamber. The present application provides a vacuum sucker with one-cavity and multi-holes, achieving a better use effect through a plurality of the recess type chambers being sucked on the sucking surface.

A gripping system for grabbing and releasing an object using a robotic arm includes a gripper body for operably engaging the robotic arm. The gripper body includes a vacuum pathway, a vacuum source connector operably coupled to the vacuum pathway, and a compressed air source connector. A plurality of compensators are configured to extend and retract relative to the gripper body. Each one of the compensators is configured for being placed in communication with the vacuum pathway when the compensator is in the extended position and for being isolated from the vacuum pathway when the compensator is in the retracted position.

The invention relates to a method for conveying components and to an automated vacuum gripper (1) for components (3), in particular sheet metal parts, comprising a plurality of suction elements (4), which are arranged at a preferably movable support part (5), a first vacuum generator (8) for forming a first vacuum circuit (9), a second vacuum generator (10) for forming a second vacuum circuit (11), at least one switching element connected to a system controller (14) for automated switching of the first vacuum circuit (9) to the second vacuum circuit (11), at least one compressed air supply (15) connected to at least the first and the second vacuum generators (8), at least one sensor device (16, 17), wherein the first vacuum generator (8) is associated with a first predeterminable group (12) of suction elements (4), and the second vacuum generator (10) is connected to a vacuum tank (18) for forming a second vacuum circuit (11), which may be activated in case of emergency and is redundant to the first vacuum circuit (9), and wherein at least one first sensor device is (16) is formed for monitoring the vacuum at least at the first vacuum circuit (9), and at least one second sensor device (17) has an optical sensor for detecting a relative movement of the component (3) during a conveying operation.

A lifting head comprises a base member that has a suctioned surface, a raising/lowering shaft supported by the base member and having a raising/lowering axial channel, a contact member fixed to one end of the raising/lowering shaft and contacting with a raising/lowering drive mechanism of a lifting device, a needle support member fixed to the other end of the raising/lowering shaft and supporting a needle, and a needle cap having a stage at one end thereof and fixed to the base member. The suctioned surface of the base member is gripped by a suction force of a first negative pressure passage of an attachment member of the lifting device. While the contact member contacts with the raising/lowering drive mechanism, an inside of the needle cap is suctioned by a suction force of a second negative pressure passage of the raising/lowering drive mechanism via the raising/lowering axial channel.

A component mounter includes a head including multiple holders each holding a nozzle, and includes a fluid pressure circuit connected to the multiple holders, a sensor to detect at least one of a pressure and a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the fluid pressure circuit, and a determination section to set a threshold that increases as an absolute value of a pressure or a flow rate detected by the sensor, and determine that the component picked up by the nozzle is in contact with a board when the absolute value of the pressure detected by the sensor, an absolute value of a change amount of the detected pressure, or an absolute value of the detected flow rate or a change amount of the detected flow rate exceeds the threshold during the mounting operation after the predetermined timing.