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 method includes arranging, on a robot, a set of suctions cups on an actuator of the robot to allow for removable engagement of the set of suction cups to a container surface. The method further includes initiating movement of the actuator to cause the robot to (1) engage the set of suction cups to the container surface, generating a pressure within at least a subset of the set of suction cups; (2) detect the pressure within the subset of the set of suction cups; (3) connect the subset of the set of suction cups to a set of vacuum pumps to generate a vacuum, resulting in a grip on the container; and (4) move the container on to a platform of the robot to prepare the container for delivery.

A seat arrangement of a passenger cabin includes at least two seat groups. The at least two seat groups are arranged consecutively between two passenger aisles running parallel to a longitudinal direction of the passenger cabin and each have two outer seat units and just one central seat unit. The seat units are set in a seating configuration. A central seat unit of at least one of the at least two seat groups is arranged offset with respect to at least one of the outer seat units of the same seat group in the longitudinal direction of the passenger cabin, as a result of which each seat unit has obstacle-free access to at least one cabin aisle.

An automatic bag loading system includes a transfer arm configured to grab a bag and transfer the bag from a conveyor a bag gripper, which then rotates the bag to a filling station. The system further includes a detection device to detect a location of a leading edge of the bag between the conveyor and the bag gripper.

The invention relates to a control device for controlling a pneumatic component, the device including a compressed air supply circuit for connecting to an inlet of the pneumatic component. The circuit comprises both a normally closed monostable valve having an inlet for connecting to a compressed air source and an outlet for connecting to the pneumatic component, and also a bistable directional valve having both a first port for connecting to the compressed air source and also a second port connected to a first port of a normally passing monostable directional valve, the monostable directional valve having a second port connected to a pneumatic control port of the monostable valve; the bistable directional valve is capable of adopting a passing state in which a connection is created between the first port and the second port of said directional valve, and a non-passing state in which the first port and the second port are disconnected from each other; and the monostable directional valve is capable of adopting a rest state in which a connection is created between the first port and the second port of said directional valve, and an exhaust state in which the second port of said directional valve is connected to an exhaust outlet.

In an apparatus for controlling a robot arm with an end effector for packing workpieces in a box-shaped open container with a bottom wall and at least one side wall, an inner surface of the at least one side wall being covered with a contact prevention sheet having an indefinite shape, a controller determines whether a packing position of a selected workpiece in the box-shaped open container is adjacent to the inner surface of the at least one side wall of the container. The controller instructs the robot arm to move the selected workpiece picked up by the end effector downward while preventing the picked-up workpiece from entering a predetermined safety zone in response to determination that the specified packing position in the box-shaped open container is adjacent to the inner surface of the at least one side wall of the container.

A method is disclosed for using robots to move items from one container to another. The method includes positioning a source container under a suction robot having two degrees of freedom only, the suction robot having a flexible suction end having a variable suction component that can cause suction to occur within the suction end upon contact with an item in the source container. The contact can be non-orthogonal of an end of the flexible suction and a surface of the item. The robot retrieves the item from the source container with the flexible suction end by lowering the flexible suction end into the source container to retrieve the item and lifts the retrieved item from the source container. The robot then moves the retrieved item horizontally from the source container to a destination container.

According to the present embodiment, a control device of a conveyor system controls a moving device and a suction device to suction the transport target article so that an approximate center of an opening of at least one suction unit is located on a first imaginary line, and remaining suction unit is located on one end side in a longitudinal direction of the transport target article with respect to the first imaginary line, controls a turning-over section to be in a front-back reversing orientation, and performs control so that suction of the transport target article by the suction units is released after the suction device is in the front-back reversing orientation.

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a plant trimming machine. Plants are placed in a tumbler. As the tumbler rotates, leaves are sucked through the tumbler by a vacuum assembly and cut by at least one rotatable blade adjacent to the tumbler. The tumbler and blade are housed in separate cartridges so that they can be easily removed and inserted. Thereby, it is relatively easy to clean and replace a tumbler or blade with minimal downtime to the machine.

Technology disclosed includes a robotic workstation for unstacking/stacking a multi-layer stack of boards and includes an end effector configured to pick up, move and release a layer of boards. The end effector includes first and second pick up and release members, each being (i) disposed below first and second support members, (ii) transversely arranged with respect to the first and second support members and (iii) attached to both of the first and second support members. The robotic workstation also includes a robotic manipulator connected to an attachment plate of the end effector and capable of moving the end effector. The robotic manipulator is under control of a controller executing stored instructions that perform operations including picking up the layer of boards by orienting the end effector such that each board of the layer of boards is transversely oriented with respect to the first and second pick up and release members.