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 method including gripping a first surface of a grip target object mounted on a mounting surface by the first grip portion; gripping a second surface crossing the first surface of the grip target object by the second grip portion; lifting the arm together with the first and second grip portions, to lift the grip target object; turning the first and second grip portions, to tilt the grip target object with respect to the mounting surface and bring the grip target object into contact with the mounting surface; maintaining the grip target object in a state of being tilted with respect to the mounting surface; and moving the arm together with the first and second grip portions, to drag the grip target object on the mounting surface.

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 article withdrawing system for withdrawing articles held in a packing box, the upper surface of which is opened. A first stage holds the packing box carried with the opened upper surface and reverses the packing box so that the articles held in the packing box falls down. A second stage supports and holds the falling-down articles. The first stage includes a support unit supporting and moving the packing box upward and downward, a box holding frame in which the support unit is mounted, a linear movement frame to which the box holding frame is rotatably coupled, a main frame in which the linear movement frame is coupled and supported to be linearly moved and is located and supported on the ground, and a first rotation driving means disposed in the linear movement frame and for rotating and driving the box holding frame.

A robotic system includes a hub assembly rotatable about a vertical axis. A robotic arm has a first end connected to the hub assembly and an opposite second end connected to an end effector, which is configured for holding an item. The system is configured to support an agent on or above the hub assembly for working on the item held by the end effector. The operation of the robotic arm and end effector to move the item does not obstruct operation of the agent.

The present invention discloses a material integrating device, which comprises a material transferring mechanism, an integrating mechanism and a conveying mechanism that are linked to a control system signal, wherein the material transferring mechanism is used to place the material to be integrated on the integrating mechanism and transfer the integrated material to the conveying mechanism, a vacuum adsorption platform is installed on a manipulator and is used to adsorb materials; the integrating mechanism comprises a vacuum negative pressure worktable, an angle adjusting platform and an electric push rod, the angle adjusting platform is slidably provided on the top surface of the vacuum negative pressure worktable and is located on the side of the material to be integrated, and the electric push rod is used to push the material to be integrated to be level; and the conveying mechanism comprises a conveyor belt for placing the integrated material.

A reversing system for reversing a packing box, an upper surface of which is opened, and from which products are withdrawn, such that a lower surface of the reversed empty packing box is disposed above. A first conveyor transfers an empty packing box, an upper surface of which is opened, from a position at which products are withdrawn from the packing box to a position at which the packing box is reversed. A turning device holds the packing box to be turned about a horizontal rotation axis, and reverses the packing box. A second conveyor carries the reversed packing box to a position at which the bottom surface is opened. The turning device holds two sides, facing each other, among sides of the packing box, and turns and reverses the packing pox using a portion between the holding locations of the two held sides as a rotation axis.

Actuating an air conveyor device is disclosed, including: causing an airflow to be generated by an airflow generator of an air conveyor device, wherein the airflow generator is configured to cause the airflow to enter an intake port of the air conveyor device and exit from an outlet port of the air conveyor device in response to receiving air at an air input port of the air conveyor device; causing a target object to be captured by the air conveyor device using the airflow; activating a positioning actuator mechanism to position the air conveyor device; and causing the target object to be ejected from the air conveyor device.

A system and method for providing power to moving elements on a conveyor system while the moving elements are moving. An accessory for mounting on one or more of the moving elements, which receives power from the system. Various accessories for using the power provided. In one case, the accessory is a rotary gripper that includes a body; a gripper motor; a rotation motor; and a plurality of grippers, wherein the gripper motor is mechanically connected with and configured to open and close the plurality of grippers, the rotation motor is mechanically connected with and configured to rotate the plurality of grippers. Other accessories include a gripper, a vacuum system, a heater, and a cooler.

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.