A device includes a carrier to carry and transport rectangular objects in a transport direction; a meter to measure a dimension of the object and/or measure a spacing between successive objects; and a controller to rotate at least one object and/or adjust said spacing. The meter can measure an outer dimension of a side surface of the object. The controller can align the side surface in line with the transport direction. A method includes: providing at least one object; measuring a dimension of the object and/or measuring a spacing between successive objects; and rotating at least one object around an upright axis line and/or adjusting a spacing between successive objects. Measuring the dimension includes measuring an outer dimension of a side surface of the object. Rotating the at least one object around the upright axis line includes aligning the side surface in line with a transport direction of said object.

A modular conveying assembly includes active roller control for reducing backline pressure without product to product contact when accumulating products. Methods are discussed for manipulating objects by a bump-through indexing operation, a slug-control indexing operation, a catch-and-release indexing operation, box or case turning operations, and zero-pressure accumulation operations.

The present disclosure generally relates to pick and place robotic systems. An exemplary system for coupling a detachable tool to a motion device comprises: a first magnetic ring affixed to a distal end of the motion device, wherein the motion device and the first magnetic ring form a first hollow chamber; a second magnetic ring affixed to a proximal end of the detachable tool, wherein the second magnetic ring and the detachable tool forms a second hollow chamber extending from a center of the second magnetic ring and the detachable tool, wherein the first magnetic ring and the second magnetic ring are configured to automatically couple together via a magnetic field in an aligned manner, and wherein the coupling of the first magnetic ring and the second magnetic ring joins the first hollow chamber and the second hollow chamber to allow for a pass-through mechanism.

The present disclosure generally relates to pick and place robotic systems. An exemplary system for orienting an object comprises: a scanner configured to detect a label on the object; an upper conveyor belt; a flipping conveyor belt located at an end of the upper conveyor belt, wherein the upper conveyor belt is configured to transport the object toward the flipping conveyor belt, wherein the flipping conveyor belt is configured to, in a first orientation or position, rotate and exert a frictional force on the object to reorient the object while the object is in contact with the upper conveyor belt, wherein the flipping conveyor belt is configured to, in a second orientation or position, allow the object to drop off the end of the upper conveyor belt.

The present disclosure generally relates to pick and place robotic systems. An exemplary apparatus for vacuum-gripping a deformable bag comprises: a primary chamber, wherein a proximal end of the primary chamber is connected to an air flow source, and wherein the primary chamber is configured to, upon an activation of the air flow source, receive a portion of the deformable bag via a distal end of the primary chamber; a secondary chamber surrounding the primary chamber, wherein the secondary chamber is connected to the primary chamber via a plurality of connections to allow for air passage, and wherein the activation of the air flow source causes a lateral wall of the primary chamber to grip the portion of the deformable bag via pressure differential between an inside of the deformable bag and the secondary chamber.

The present disclosure generally relates to pick and place robotic systems. A compliance mechanism comprising: a motion device; an end effector coupled to the motion device, wherein the end effector comprises: a sheath structure; a rod, wherein the compliance mechanism is configured to: when the distal end of the rod is in not contact with an object, causing the distal end of the rod to move responsive to movement of the motion device, and when the distal end of the rod is in contact with an object and the motion device moves toward the object, causing the distal end of the rod to remain stationary by causing the sheath structure to move along a longitudinal direction of the rod.

The present disclosure generally relates to pick and place robotic systems. An exemplary compliant mechanism comprises: a motion device, wherein a distal surface of the motion device comprises a first plurality of magnetic components; an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises: a second plurality of magnetic components arranged on a proximal surface of the end effector in a same configuration as the first plurality of magnetic components, a rod, and an elongated member extending through a hole in the proximal surface of the end effector, wherein: a proximal end of the elongated member is affixed to the distal surface of the motion device, and the elongated member comprises an end stopper piece configured to prevent a distal end of the elongated member from passing through the hole in the proximal surface of the end effector.

Techniques regarding a conveyance system with variable speed rollers are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise an apparatus, which can comprise a roller attached to a support member that is operatively coupled to a first gear. The first gear can drive a conveyance of the support member and the roller in a first direction. The apparatus can also comprise a shaft that can operatively couple the roller to a second gear. The second gear can drive a rotation of the roller in an axial direction.

A system for alignment of big bags prior to product filling. The system includes a first alignment arrangement configured to rotate an inflated big bag. The first alignment arrangement including a first drive configured to operate a first rotation part, a counter hold, and a displacement arrangement for displacing the first alignment arrangement and/or the counter hold relative to a big bag.

The system may include a sensor arrangement configured to detect a rotational orientation of the inflated big bag and adapted to provide a sensor output based thereon, and a controller configured to receive the sensor output and control the first drive to rotate the inflated big bag based on the sensor output.

A method of alignment of big bags prior to product filling, a computer program configured for executing acts of the method and a computer readable medium for storing the computer program.

An alignment station and a method of operating the alignment station allows for rotation of slices such as slices of meat or cheese. The alignment station comprises a conveyor which comprises a plurality of closed loop elements, a first roll unit and a second roll unit. The slice is supported on a first loop section of the plurality of closed loop elements. To reduce problems that may occur during rotation of the slice, said slice is subjected to vibration in the first loop section.