The present invention discloses a cell photographing and conveying apparatus, including a cell feeding workstation, a detection workstation, a manipulator and an image acquisition device. The manipulator transfers a cell from the cell feeding workstation to the detection workstation. The image acquisition device includes ultraviolet lamps, illumination lamps, and cameras, where the ultraviolet lamps are used for emitting ultraviolet light to the detection workstation. By means of the cell photographing and conveying apparatus, a relatively complete appearance image of the cell can be acquired, thus ensuring detection accuracy.

A system for grasping and retaining dishware during a cleaning cycle. The system includes a grasping element and a receiving surface substantially adjacent to the grasping element. The grasping element grasps the dishware, and the receiving surface receives and retains the dishware during at least one stage of a cleaning cycle. The receiving surface rotates about an axis to convey the dishware to at least two unique locations. A corresponding method is also described herein.

A mobile manipulator robot for retrieving inventory items from a storage system. The robot includes a body, a wheel assembly, a sensor to locate a position of the robot within the storage system, an interface configured to send processor readable data to a remote processor and to an operator interface, and receive processor executable instructions from the remote processor and from the operator interface, an imaging device to capture images of the inventory items, a picking manipulator, first and second pneumatic gripping elements for grasping the inventory items, and a coupler configured to mate with a valve to access a pneumatic supply for operating at least one of the first or second pneumatic gripping elements. The robot is configured to transition the valve from a closed condition to an open condition and selectively place one of the first or the second pneumatic gripping elements in communication with the pneumatic supply.

A device for gripping and handling pallets and/or layer pads, is provided with an attachment flange for a multiple axis movement mechanism, for example a robot of anthropomorphic type or Cartesian type, including a first anti-collision safety group, fixed to the attachment flange, with a device for detecting the vertical position of the pallet and/or of the layer pad to be picked up; a second group, connected to the first group, for the gripping, centering of the pallet and/or of the layer pad and with safety function with regard to accidental pallet falls, with a first section for gripping the pallets, for centering the pallets and/or the layer pads, and a second section for gripping the layer pads; and a control unit for supervising and controlling the functions of the device itself. Methods for gripping a pallet and/or a layer pad which use the device are also provided.

A vacuum-based end effector for engaging parcels includes a base plate, one or more vacuum cups of a first type, and one or more vacuum cups of a second type. Each vacuum cup of the vacuum-based end effector is configured to be placed in fluid communication with a vacuum source to provide the vacuum cup with a suction force which can be used to engage and grasp parcels. Each vacuum cup includes a bellows defining a pathway for a flow of air and a lip connected to the bellows. Each lip of the one or more vacuum cups of the first type comprises a foam lip, and each lip of the one or more vacuum cups of the second type comprises an elastomeric lip. The vacuum-based end effector can be combined with a robot to provide an improved system for engaging parcels.

An end effector for engaging flexible packaging materials includes a frame, along with a first and second wheel mounted for rotation with respect to the frame. The first wheel and the second wheel are mounted to the frame relative to each other so that the outer surfaces of the two wheels are positioned opposite of each other. The first wheel and the second wheel can be driven in opposing directions to effectively define a roller intake which can be used to draw the flexible packaging materials of a target parcel between the first wheel and the second wheel. The end effector of the present invention can be combined with a robot to provide an improved system for engaging the flexible packaging materials of a parcel.

A processing system includes a robot arm with an end effector having a longitudinal axis, the robot arm having a reach of at least 45 inches, wherein the end effector includes: a first wafer pocket defined within the end effector at a first location along the longitudinal axis, wherein the first wafer pocket has the reach of at least 45 inches; and a second wafer pocket defined within the end effector at a second location along the longitudinal axis, wherein the second wafer pocket has a second reach that is less than 45 inches. The end effector is capable of concurrently carrying a first wafer in the first wafer pocket and a second wafer in the second wafer pocket.

In the method for transferring blister packs from a first and a second pick position to a common place position, the blister packs in the first and second pick positions are arranged next to each other in a row and are each outwardly offset from the longitudinal center plane of the transfer unit. Then the two blister packs are picked successively by two suction arms and placed from above in the place position, which is in the area of the longitudinal center plane. After the placing step, the blister packs in the place positions have a rotation of 180 around their centers in comparison to their orientation in the pick positions; and in addition the blister packs acquire a lateral offset during the transfer.

A system for part transfer and transport, the system including: a first conveyor system for transporting a plurality of trays containing a two-dimensional grid of parts; a second conveyor system for transporting the parts to a predetermined destination in a linear arrangement; and a selection apparatus for transferring a linear array of parts selected from the grid of the first conveyor system to the linear arrangement of the second conveyor system, the selection apparatus comprising: a pick and place apparatus which may be cam driven for moving the parts; and a feed screw defining a plurality of singulated part spaces separated by a part pitch along the second conveyor to facilitate insertion of the linear array of parts into the linear arrangement.

An automatic station for picking up articles which can be used in a machine for packaging articles, which achieves a greater efficiency, relative to the prior art stations, in terms of percentage of the articles picked up.