One embodiment can provide an apparatus. The apparatus can include a robotic arm, a pair of jaws coupled to the robotic arm configured to grip a fabric piece at a pair of predetermined locations, a force sensor coupled to the jaws and configured to measure a tension force applied to the fabric piece by the jaws, and a control module configured to control movements of at least one jaw based on the measured tension force, thereby allowing the fabric piece to be stretched.

The invention relates to an system for picking-up elements, comprising an automated arm (5) provided with at least one tool at one of its ends for picking up said elements (3), and a work surface (4) on which said elements (3) are placed, wherein said tool comprises at least one pick (1). Furthermore, the pick-up system also comprises a fixing-ejecting element (2), which removes from the at least one pick (1) an element (3) that has been picked up.

The invention provides a system for picking-up elements which facilitates picking up, i.e., gripping, securing, conveying, and leaving, the elements.

Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for back end control of translation and rotation of green ware (e.g., producible from ceramic extrudate). A green ware handling system (102) includes a back end assembly (129) that contacts a back end face (118B) of a green ware (116) and moves to push the green ware (116) along the support channel (114). In certain embodiments, the green ware handling assembly (102) includes a leading end assembly (128) to pull the green ware (116) and then transfer control to the back end assembly (129), which translates and also optionally rotates the green ware (116). This handoff increases the overall production rate of the green ware (116). In certain embodiments, the back end assembly (129) penetrates the back end face (118B) of the green ware (116) with cleat penetration features (312) to provide a secure engagement with the green ware (116) to rotate and translate the green ware (116) while also decreasing a depth of damage to the green ware (116).

A system and method for separating a layer from a layer assembly when the layer assembly includes a backing layer and a material layer. The system includes an automated machine having a controller and an end effector. A separating tool is attached to the end effector of the automated machine. The separating tool includes a displacing member, with an outer face, configured to establish a void between the backing layer and the material layer by displacing a portion of the backing layer. The separating layer also includes a securing member configured to establish a mechanical connection with a displaced portion of the backing layer.

A carrying mechanism for providing placement of at least one flexion item to a sponge pool having a lower sponge and a lateral sponge particularly used in mattress production includes at least one holder for fixing said flexion item thereon, at least one compression mechanism configured to at least partially compress the flexion item from the sides towards the center thereof, and at least one pushing group configured to separate the flexion item from the carrying mechanism in the sponge pool.

One embodiment can provide an apparatus. The apparatus can include a robotic arm, a pair of jaws coupled to the robotic arm configured to grip a fabric piece at a pair of predetermined locations, a force sensor coupled to the jaws and configured to measure a tension force applied to the fabric piece by the jaws, and a control module configured to control movements of at least one jaw based on the measured tension force, thereby allowing the fabric piece to be stretched.

The invention relates to a gripping device for transferring a magnetic dipole rod as well as to a robot with a robot arm, to which the gripping device is attached. The invention furthermore relates to a magazine for providing one or more magnetic dipole rods, to a system for transferring a magnetic dipole rod, and to the use of the system. The gripping device for a magnetic dipole rod has a metal bolt made of a ferromagnetic material, the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the magnetic dipole rod. The metal bolt can assume at least two different positions, wherein the dipole rod adheres to the front end of the metal bolt in the first position and is stripped off from the front end of the metal rod during the transition into the second position.

The invention relates to a supply installation (22) for a site (10) for producing rubber products from rubber blocks of rubber mixtures of predetermined weight and volume, characterized in that the supply installation includes: an input station where the supply installation performs a process of entry of empty bins (B.sub.V) for receiving, during a picking process, rubber blocks identified to satisfy a rubber product production campaign; a discharge station where the supply installation performs a process of discharging full bins (B.sub.P) containing the picked rubber blocks; a supply means that manages the transport of the empty bins and the full bins to the supply installation; and a picking station that performs a process of picking the rubber blocks grouped in a container according to the status of the current rubber product production campaign.

Lumber retrieval systems and methods feed a centrally located saw with a predetermined assortment of boards picked from certain stations distributed at either side of the saw. In some examples, an overhead trolley system carries individual boards in a certain sequence from chosen stations to a board-receiving apparatus. The board-receiving apparatus, in turn, feeds the boards to the saw. The saw then cuts the boards into board segments, which can be used for making prefabricated trusses and wall panels. In some examples, the trolley system has a laser-scanning feature for determining the location of the next-to-pick board while simultaneously transporting the board currently heading to the board-receiving apparatus. In some examples, the trolley system includes two board carriers each of which are dedicated or assigned to certain stations. In some examples, one carrier serves as backup for the other one when one of the carriers is broken or otherwise inactive.

A robot control apparatus for controlling a robot manipulating a target object includes a measurement unit configured to measure a change of a gripping unit configured to grip the target object when the gripping unit contacts the target object, a first acquisition unit configured to acquire the change of the gripping unit measured by the measurement unit, a second acquisition unit configured to acquire a gripping state, which is a state of gripping of the target object by the gripping unit, based on the change of the gripping unit acquired by the first acquisition unit, and a control unit configured to control an action of the robot based on the gripping state acquired by the second acquisition unit.