There is provided a scalable area gripper that includes a structural frame and variable vacuum zones coupled to the structural frame. Each variable vacuum zone includes (i) vacuum ports, (ii) one or more movable barrier elements, and (iii) an actuator assembly to move each of the one or more movable barrier elements across one or more of the vacuum port(s), to cause the one or more vacuum port(s) to go between a closed state and an open state. One or more of the variable vacuum zone(s) is configured to be adjusted to each provide an adjusted vacuum zone that corresponds to a corresponding identified section of a material having a start portion and an end portion. Each adjusted vacuum zone is configured to be positioned adjacent to its corresponding identified section of the material, and is configured to be activated to pick up the material during a material handling process.

A robot system (2a . . . 2d) is specified, which comprises a robot (1a, 1b) having a gripping unit (4) for collecting and placing down/throwing goods (26a, . . . 26g), wherein the goods (26a, . . . 26g) are differentiated into multiple types with respect to their dimensional stability, compressive stability, flexural rigidity, strength, their absolute weight and/or specific weight. When the goods (26a, . . . 26g) are manipulated, the robot (1a, 1b) and/or the gripping unit (4) are controlled depending on the type determined for the goods (26a, . . . 26g). Moreover, a method for operating the robot system (2a, . . . 2d) is specified.

There is provided a scalable area gripper that includes a structural frame and variable vacuum zones coupled to the structural frame. Each variable vacuum zone includes (i) vacuum ports, (ii) one or more movable barrier elements, and (iii) an actuator assembly to move each of the one or more movable barrier elements across one or more of the vacuum port(s), to cause the one or more vacuum port(s) to go between a closed state and an open state. One or more of the variable vacuum zone(s) is configured to be adjusted to each provide an adjusted vacuum zone that corresponds to a corresponding identified section of a material having a start portion and an end portion. Each adjusted vacuum zone is configured to be positioned adjacent to its corresponding identified section of the material, and is configured to be activated to pick up the material during a material handling process.

A process system includes a detection device that detects a rotation angle of a workpiece when a robot grips the workpiece. The control device includes a storage unit that stores a reference rotation angle serving as a criterion for the rotation angle of the workpiece, and an error calculation unit that calculates a rotation error relative to the reference rotation angle in the rotation angle of the workpiece detected by the detection device. The control device corrects the rotation angle of the fixture based on the rotation error so as to correspond to the rotation angle of the workpiece detected by the detection device when the robot transfers the workpiece to the fixture.

A robot system includes a robot having a gripping unit for picking and placing down/throwing goods, wherein the goods are differentiated into multiple types with respect to their dimensional stability, compressive stability, flexural rigidity, strength, their absolute weight and/or specific weight. When the goods are manipulated, the robot and/or the gripping unit are controlled depending on the type determined for the goods. Moreover, a method operates the robot system.

A robot system includes a robot having a gripping unit for picking and placing down/throwing goods, wherein the goods are differentiated into multiple types with respect to their dimensional stability, compressive stability, flexural rigidity, strength, their absolute weight and/or specific weight. When the goods are manipulated, the robot and/or the gripping unit are controlled depending on the type determined for the goods. Moreover, a method operates the robot system.

A process system includes a detection device that detects a rotation angle of a workpiece when a robot grips the workpiece. The control device includes a storage unit that stores a reference rotation angle serving as a criterion for the rotation angle of the workpiece, and an error calculation unit that calculates a rotation error relative to the reference rotation angle in the rotation angle of the workpiece detected by the detection device. The control device corrects the rotation angle of the fixture based on the rotation error so as to correspond to the rotation angle of the workpiece detected by the detection device when the robot transfers the workpiece to the fixture.

A robot system includes a robot having a gripping unit for picking and placing down/throwing goods, wherein the goods are differentiated into multiple types with respect to their dimensional stability, compressive stability, flexural rigidity, strength, their absolute weight and/or specific weight. When the goods are manipulated, the robot and/or the gripping unit are controlled depending on the type determined for the goods. Moreover, a method operates the robot system.