A plate handling system (500, 600) for transporting printing plates between workstations in a process workflow. A plurality of vacuum gripper end effectors (512) configured to grip the printing plates are mounted to a computer-controlled transporter (514) configured to translate in at least three orthogonal directions and to rotate about at least one rotational axis. At least one sensor (560) detects orientation of the plate relative to a staging location and a controller (630) causes the transporter to move based upon programmed instructions in accordance with information provided by the sensor. A mobile preparation table (1000) may be provided in the staging location. A thickness measurement system (1090) may be included in some embodiments.

A system includes a robot configured to load and/or unload from a location, such as a cargo carrier or building. The robot includes a base unit that has a transport system to move the base unit. A mast extends from the base unit, and the mast has a mast conveyor. An End of Arm Tool (EoAT) is coupled to the mast. The EoAT includes an EoAT conveyor configured to move a cargo item to and from the mast conveyor. A gripper mechanism is configured to move between a retracted position where the gripper mechanism is clear of the cargo item on the EoAT conveyor and an extended position where the gripper mechanism is able to grip the cargo item.

A machine for automatically positioning objects is disclosed. The machine has one inlet conveyor to transport objects in a lying position; a detector system to identify the orientation and/or shape of the objects; a robotic collection device to collect and position the objects according to information received by the detector system; a transfer conveyor having transfer fasteners arranged in fixed positions along a periphery of the transfer conveyor defining a closed loop around a tilted axis; an outlet conveyor to receive and transport the objects in an upright position; and a transfer fastener seat for the objects at each transfer fastener. The conveyor moves the fasteners seats because of the movement of the transfer conveyor between an upper receiving position, in which the object is held in a lying position, and a lower delivery position, in which the object is held in an upright position. The transfer conveyor and the outlet conveyor are synchronized.

A device for picking articles including a supporting unit and a plurality of gripper heads equipped with respective means for gripping an article and movable relative to the supporting unit along a picking direction. The gripper heads are divided into at least first gripper heads and second gripper heads. The device includes at least a first picking unit, applied to the supporting unit and on which the first gripper heads are positioned in mutually aligned configuration along a first alignment direction, and a second picking unit, applied to the supporting unit and on which the second gripper heads are positioned in mutually aligned configuration along a second alignment direction transversal to the first alignment direction.

A flipping apparatus, a system for processing articles comprising a said flipping apparatus, and a method for processing articles are provided. An article is picked by a first flipping arm. The first flipping arm rotates from a pick position into a pass position, at which the article is passed to a second flipping arm, which is in a receive position. The second flipping arm rotates from the receive position to a place position and places the article. By the passing of the article from the first to the second flipping arm and the rotations a flipping of the article is achieved. The first flipping arm and the second flipping arm each rotate at a higher speed when not carrying an article than when carrying an article. In addition, first and/or second flipping arm may perform a translation movement.

The invention starts from a conveying device (10c) having at least one transport unit (20′c, 20″c) for transporting packaging blanks (12c) and/or containers (14′c, 14″c) in a transport direction (16c) along a transport path (18c), wherein the transport unit has at least one conveying element (24′c, 24″c) which can be driven along a section (22c) of the transport path (18c). It is proposed that at least one conveying element (24′c, 24″c) has a rear side (26′c, 26″c) which in at least one operating state is intended to pull packaging blanks (12c) and/or containers (14′c, 14″c) in the transport direction (16c), and a front side (28′c, 28″c) which in at least one operating state is intended to push packaging blanks (12c) and/or containers (14′c, 14″c) in the transport direction (16c). The invention also relates to a packing machine comprising such a conveying device.

A machine for automatically positioning objects is disclosed. The machine has one inlet conveyor to transport objects in a lying position; a detector system to identify the orientation and/or shape of the objects; a robotic collection device to collect and position the objects according to information received by the detector system; a transfer conveyor having transfer fasteners arranged in fixed positions along a periphery of the transfer conveyor defining a closed loop around a tilted axis; an outlet conveyor to receive and transport the objects in an upright position; and a transfer fastener seat for the objects at each transfer fastener. The conveyor moves the fasteners seats because of the movement of the transfer conveyor between an upper receiving position, in which the object is held in a lying position, and a lower delivery position, in which the object is held in an upright position. The transfer conveyor and said outlet conveyor are synchronized.

Equipment for the logistics of slab-shaped articles comprises supply line(s) of slab-shaped article(s) and outlet line(s) of the slab-shaped article(s); robotic gripping assembly(s) of the slab-shaped article(s) provided with at least three degrees of freedom and positioned between the supply line(s) and the outlet line(s); first movement device/unit/component/etc. of the gripping assembly(s) along a direction(s) of movement; where the supply line(s) and said outlet line(s) are substantially aligned to each other along the direction(s) of movement. Equipment also comprises temporary storage stations of the slab-shaped article(s) arranged laterally to the gripping assembly and substantially aligned to each other to define at least one row substantially parallel to the direction of movement, wherein the gripping assembly(s) picks the slab-shaped article(s) coining from the supply line(s); positions the slab-shaped article(s) on the storage station(s); and picks the slab-shaped article(s) from the storage station(s) and bring it to the outlet line(s).

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.

The invention relates to an automated vacuum gripper, a feed unit and a method for conveying flat components (3). The vacuum gripper (1) comprises a support part (5), at least one support part element (7), a plurality of first suction elements (4′), which are arranged at the at least one support part element (7) and define a first suction plane; at least one bearing assembly (28) and at least one actuating assembly (29), wherein the at least one support part element (7) is pivotably mounted at the support part (5) by means of the at least one actuating assembly (29) about the at least one bearing assembly (28). The plurality of second elements (4) is arranged at the support part (5) and defines a second suction plane (19). The at least one support part element (7) with its first suction plane defined by the plurality of first suction elements (4′) is pivotable from a standby position that is at an angle relative to the second suction plane into a working position that is congruous with the second suction plane, and vice versa.