A processing system including a singulation system is disclosed. The singulation system includes a conveying system for moving objects to be sorted from a source area along a first direction, a detection system for detecting objects at the conveying system, and for selecting certain selected objects for removal from the conveying system, and a removal system for removing the certain selected objects from the conveying system for providing a singulated stream of objects.

A vacuum lifter apparatus for lifting sheet material articles, comprises an upper chassis joined to a substantially planar lower suction plate and an airflow suction system for conveying vacuum air pressure to the suction plate. The suction plate comprises a plurality of suction plate modules, each comprising a housing with a substantially hollow interior and each of the housings being located laterally adjacent at least one other of the housings. Each of the housings comprises a lower plate, an upper plate and at least one side plate, each housing being affixed to the laterally adjacent housing along a seam between adjoining pairs of side plates. The upper plates each comprise at least one opening and the lower plates are each perforated with a plurality of orifices through which, in use, air is drawn along airflow paths through the interior and out of the opening by the airflow suction system.

A robotic system includes a robot having a picking arm to grasp an inventory item and a shuttle. The shuttle includes a platform adapted to receive the inventory item from the picking arm of the robot. The platform is moveable between a pick-up location located substantially adjacent to the robot and an end location spaced a distance apart from the pick-up location. The system improves efficiency as transportation of the item from the pick-up location to the end location is divided between the robot and the shuttle.

An apparatus for sorting and stacking slab-shaped elements has an inlet line; plural suction gripping units; a sorting carousel rotatable around an axis and including multiple carousel arms mutually solidly constrained and each bearing a respective one of the plurality suction gripping units; a plurality of seats for receiving the slab-shaped elements, forming stacks thereof; and a support crown solidly constrained to a frame. The carousel axis and an axis of the support crown coincide with one another. Each carousel arm is supported by the support crown at or in proximity of a respective free end. A first slab-shaped element from the inlet line can be gripped by a first one of the suction gripping units, rotated by a first one of the carousel arms which bears the first suction gripping unit, and released by the first suction gripping unit on a first of the seats.

An apparatus for sorting and stacking slab-shaped elements (2), for example tiles, has an inlet line; a plurality of suction gripping units; a plurality of rotating arms which each bear a suction gripping unit; a plurality of seats for receiving the slab-shaped elements, forming stacks of slab-shaped elements; and a support crown which is solidly constrained to a frame. The rotating arms are mobile independently of one another; the rotating arms and the support crown are relatively dimensioned so that each rotating arm is supported by the support crown at or near the respective free end.

A suction gripper for handling small piece goods, particularly pharmaceutical packages, is provided. The suction gripper is suitable for handling different small piece goods. The suction gripper includes a main element, a rotary drive arranged on the main element with an axis of rotation which is vertical in the starting position, an end-effector unit coupled to the axis of rotation, wherein the end-effector unit has a holding element, to which a suction arm holder is fastened, wherein the suction arm holder has at least two elongated suction arms which each have a suction head with a suction surface at their distal end, wherein the suction arms are designed such that a negative pressure can be applied to them. The suction arm holder is rotatably mounted on the holding element, and the suction surfaces of the suction heads are dimensioned differently for handling different types of small piece goods.

A robot hand includes grip portions for gripping an article, grip drive mechanisms for moving the grip portions, and a control device for controlling the drive of the grip drive mechanisms. Then, the control device controls the drive of the grip drive mechanisms to start gripping operation with a first force for a force of gripping an article by the grip portions, and then switches the force of gripping an article by the grip portions to a second force.

Transfer system for removing sleeve-shaped workpieces from a first conveyor and for pushing the sleeve-shaped workpieces onto a second conveyor, with a linearly movable coupling rod, with which a gear unit is associated, which includes a swivel body mounted so as to be pivotable about an axis of movement, on which a first workpiece gripper mounted so as to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation and a second workpiece gripper are arranged, wherein the gear unit has an adjuster for initiating an actuating movement for setting a distance between a first gripping region of the first workpiece gripper, which is arranged at a radial distance from the axis of movement, and a second gripping region of the second workpiece gripper, which is arranged at a radial distance from the axis of movement, as well as with a swivel drive for actuating the adjuster for initiating a forced swivel movement connected to the swivel movement of the swivel body onto the first workpiece gripper.

A device for aligning and optically inspecting a semiconductor component arranged on a receiving tool that is arranged on a turning mechanism. The device aligns the semiconductor component in relation to a center of the receiving tool in at least one axis direction and/or a direction of rotation. The turning mechanism is designed to rotate about a turning axis and to move the semiconductor component out of a receiving position into an offset position, with two slides that can be moved towards and away from each other and comprise slide sections, the two slide sections coming to rest on two lateral surfaces of the semiconductor component, at least in sections, in order to align the semiconductor component arranged on the receiving tool, the slide being defined such that it slides and/or rotates the semiconductor component into an inspection position, while the receiving tool holds the semiconductor component.

Apparatus extracting, from trays, bottles with mouths facing downwards includes an advancement line stopping the trays at a rest station; a handling organ; and a bottle pickup and transfer mechanism having a suction plate, with suction seats receiving and retaining the bottles internally. A frame with a housing receives and releasably retains the suction plate. The frame rotates about a first axis to a first operating position near the rest station and to a second operating position near the handling organ. Gripping and moving means pick up and move the suction plate above the tray with the seated bottles, and to raise the plate with the bottles, and then position the plate at the housing in the first operating position.