An object processing system is disclosed that includes a plurality of track sections, and a plurality of remotely actuatable carriers for controlled movement along at least portions of the plurality of track sections, wherein each of the remotely controllable carriers is adapted to support and transport an object processing bin.

An end effector for installing pre-molded seal caps onto fasteners comprises a cap-dispenser assembly and a cap-placement assembly. The cap-placement assembly comprises a main housing and a plunger mechanism, comprising an outer plunger housing and an inner gripper. The inner gripper is rotatable relative to the outer plunger housing between a cap-retaining configuration and a cap-releasing configuration. The plunger mechanism is selectively translatable from an extended position to a retracted position and from the retracted position to the extended position. The main housing is selectively rotatable from a cap-receiving position, in which the plunger mechanism is aligned with the seal-cap-delivery-sleeve central axis, to a cap-installing position, in which the main housing is angularly displaced from the cap-receiving position, and from the cap-installing position to the cap-receiving position.

A gripper truck assembly for moving a workpiece with respect to a machining station includes a gripper truck; a gripper arm extending from a proximal end connected to the gripper truck to an opposite distal end; a gripper including at least one jaw moveable between a closed position for gripping the workpiece and an open position for releasing the workpiece, wherein the gripper is connected to the distal end of the gripper arm by a joint configured to permit a rotation of the gripper; a hydraulic gripper actuator accommodated in the gripper arm and operatively connected to the gripper for actuating the at least one jaw of the gripper between the open position and the closed position; a gripper rotation actuator for actuating the rotation of the gripper with respect to the gripper arm about the gripper rotation axis.

An operating device for placing or retrieving bottle-like piece goods onto or from storage places of a picking device is provided. The operating device includes a gripping jaw assembly having two profile-rod shaped gripping jaws with opposite lying inner surfaces extending in a first horizontal direction corresponding to a direction for placing and retrieving piece goods. The gripping jaws are configured so that the distance of the inner surfaces from each other tapers in the downward direction at least in sections and the bottle-like piece goods can be lifted from below. The operating device also includes an actuation unit coupled to the gripping jaw assembly for moving the gripping jaw assembly in the first horizontal direction.

A packing method of packing articles into a packing box comprises pre-grouping articles on a pre grouping surface provided by a pre grouping conveyor belt of a pre grouping conveyor, and providing the articles from the pre-grouping surface of the pre-grouping conveyor belt into the packing box. This is done consecutively by providing one of a cassette box and the packing box at a discharging end of the pre-grouping conveyer; moving downwards said one of the cassette box and the packing box while driving the pre grouping conveyor belt such that the pre-grouped articles on the pre-grouping conveyer-belt moves towards the discharging end of the pre-grouping conveyor and the opening of said one of the cassette box and the packing box, and that the articles of the pre-grouped articles are discharged from the pre-grouping conveyor belt into said one of the cassette box and the packing box and onto one another; and, in case the articles of the pre-grouped articles are provided into the cassette box, providing the articles from the cassette box into the packing box.

A feeding unit (12) which is configured to feed articles (3) from a pick-up station (S10) to a delivery station (S11). The feeding unit (12) comprises: a gripping head (16) provided with at least one gripping means (17) and attached to a shaft (13). The shaft (13) is configured to translate along the rotation axis (X) between a lowered position (PA), in which the articles (3) are picked up and released by the gripping head (16), and a raised position (PS), in which the gripping head (16) rotates between the pick-up station (S10) and the delivery station (S11). The feeding unit (12) comprises two actuators (25, 26) which are coaxial to the shaft (13) and which are configured to respectively translate the shaft (13) between the lowered position (PA) and the raised position (PS) along the rotation axis (X) and to rotate the shaft (13) around the rotation axis (X) between the pick-up station (S10) and the delivery station (S11).

A substrate transfer system includes a load lock module, an atmospheric transfer module having a first sidewall adjacent to the load lock module and a second sidewall remote from the load lock module, the atmospheric transfer module being connected to the load lock module, and a substrate transfer robot disposed in the atmospheric transfer module. The substrate transfer robot includes a base configured to reciprocate along the first sidewall, a substrate transfer arm disposed on the base, and a flow rectifier surrounding the base, the flow rectifier being configured, upon movement of the base, to create an obliquely downward air flow in a direction opposite to a moving direction of the base.

An automated system for de-stacking a plurality of stacked objects, the automated system comprising a lift assembly and a grabber assembly. The lift assembly comprises a tower, and a number of electric motors. The tower is configured to rotate about a vertically-extending axis. One of the electric motors is configured to rotate the tower. Another one of the electric motors is configured to raise and lower the grabber assembly. The grabber assembly is configured to move with the tower as the tower rotates and comprises a claw and an electric motor. The claw is configured to grasp the objects individually. The electric motor of the grabber assembly is configured to actuate the claw. The first, second, and third electric motors are configured to operate in a refrigerated environment.

A transfer robot includes a movable mechanism, a support base moved by the movable mechanism, a horizontal arm pivotable relative to the support base around a first vertical axis, a motor in the horizontal arm to pivot the arm, and a hand disposed above the arm and rotatable relative to the arm around a second axis parallel to the first axis. The hand holds a planar workpiece placed thereon. The arm includes a rotation stage for holding the planar workpiece placed thereon. The rotation stage is rotatable around a third axis parallel to the first axis and movable vertically along the third axis. The hand has a holding center corresponding to the center of the planar workpiece, where the holding center is moved along a rotational trajectory extending across the third axis in plan view. The rotation stage is rotated by the motor provided in the horizontal arm.

Embodiments provide for systems and methods related to kiosks for personalizing a packaged article. The kiosks may also be used for storage, inventory management, retrieval, packaging, and/or personalization of packaged articles. The kiosks discussed herein differ from non-kiosk personalization systems, such as personalization systems installed on a factory or warehouse floor, in that the kiosks are self-contained personalization systems. In some embodiments, the kiosks are portable and can be moved between different sites or events. This portability allows the kiosks to personalize packaged articles for concerts, festivals, conventions, trade shows, and the like.