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.

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 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 gripper arrangement for lifting a flexible semi-finished product from a support, wherein the gripper arrangement comprises a flexible semi-finished product resting on a support and at least one pair of grippers with a suction gripper or needle gripper and with at least one clamping gripper, wherein the suction or needle gripper is pivotable around an axis between a pick-up position for picking up an edge of the flexible semi-finished product and a transfer position for transferring the edge of the flexible semi-finished product to the clamping gripper. Furthermore, a corresponding method is described.

A gripper arrangement for lifting a flexible semi-finished product from a support, wherein the gripper arrangement comprises a flexible semi-finished product resting on a support and at least one pair of grippers with a suction gripper or needle gripper and with at least one clamping gripper, wherein the suction or needle gripper is pivotable around an axis between a pick-up position for picking up an edge of the flexible semi-finished product and a transfer position for transferring the edge of the flexible semi-finished product to the clamping gripper. Furthermore, a corresponding method is described.

Needle gripper features a gripper unit with a gripping surface facing a workpiece to grip, and a needle carriage with a gripping needle. The needle carriage moves into an active position extending the gripping needle beyond the gripping surface by one needle stroke depth, and in a passive position retracting the gripping needle, and features a drive unit with a drive actuator driven forward/backward along a drive direction that couples to the needle carriage so it moves into the passive/active positions by driving the drive actuator forward/backward. A setting device for setting the needle stroke depth includes a guide carriage displaceable perpendicularly to the drive direction along a guide direction, and a stop for the guide carriage. The drive actuator couples via connection arm to the guide carriage so when the drive actuator moves backward, the guide carriage moves in the direction toward the stop, which prevents further backwards movement.

Needle gripper features a gripper unit with a gripping surface facing a workpiece to grip, and a needle carriage with a gripping needle. The needle carriage moves into an active position extending the gripping needle beyond the gripping surface by one needle stroke depth, and in a passive position retracting the gripping needle, and features a drive unit with a drive actuator driven forward/backward along a drive direction that couples to the needle carriage so it moves into the passive/active positions by driving the drive actuator forward/backward. A setting device for setting the needle stroke depth includes a guide carriage displaceable perpendicularly to the drive direction along a guide direction, and a stop for the guide carriage. The drive actuator couples via connection arm to the guide carriage so when the drive actuator moves backward, the guide carriage moves in the direction toward the stop, which prevents further backwards movement.

A single material sheet is picked from a support member. A gripping member is aligned above the support member, where the gripping member includes a pair of spaced apart pinching members movably coupled with a main frame, and each pinching member includes an exposed gripping surface that is substantially planar and that faces an exposed surface of the material sheet. The gripping member is moved a first distance toward the exposed surface of the material sheet such that the gripping surfaces of the pinching members engage a portion of the material sheet. The pinching members for the gripping member are moved toward each other while the pinching members engage the portion of the material sheet so as to pinch the portion of the material sheet between the pinching members and vertically displace the material sheet from the support member.

A single material sheet is picked from a support member. A gripping member is aligned above the support member, where the gripping member includes a pair of spaced apart pinching members movably coupled with a main frame, and each pinching member includes an exposed gripping surface that is substantially planar and that faces an exposed surface of the material sheet. The gripping member is moved a first distance toward the exposed surface of the material sheet such that the gripping surfaces of the pinching members engage a portion of the material sheet. The pinching members for the gripping member are moved toward each other while the pinching members engage the portion of the material sheet so as to pinch the portion of the material sheet between the pinching members and vertically displace the material sheet from the support member.

Material moving apparatus, systems and methods are presented which can include an air material mover. Airflow through orifices can create a localized vacuum such that the uppermost or top layer of material can be separated from the stack of material. The airflow can interact with the material to produce flutter, which assists in separating lower layers from the uppermost layer. A material gripper can grip the uppermost or top layer of material for removal from the stack and repositioning in a work area.