Abstract: A method for operating a vacuum handling apparatus, in particular for a human-machine-collaboration system, a vacuum gripper can be connected to a primary vacuum system to generate a vacuum, the method includes the following steps applying the vacuum gripper to a workpiece and building up a vacuum in the vacuum gripper by means of the primary vacuum system; holding the workpiece during its handling by means of the vacuum prevailing in the vacuum gripper, and monitoring at least one state variable during the handling; and generating an auxiliary vacuum in the vacuum gripper by a self-sufficient, secondary auxiliary vacuum system if the monitored state variable deviates from a target state.

Abstract: The invention relates to an operating device for a tube lifter having a suction grip device arranged on one end of the lifting tube, the operating device having a suction port for fluid communication with the suction grip device, a lifting tube port for fluid communication with the tube interior of the lifting tube, and a valve means for controlling the fluid communications, the valve means comprising a blocking member, a ventilation valve and a control valve, the valve means being designed such that the control valve is adjustable independently of the position of the blocking member and the valve means being designed such that when the ventilation valve is shifted into the ventilation position the blocking member always closes off the flow path between the tube interior and the suction grip device. The invention also relates to a tube lifter comprising an operating device of this kind.

Abstract: Devices for separating two workpiece parts, e.g., metal sheets, from one another are described and include a workpiece mounting, a lifting device arranged on one side of the workpiece mounting, and a counter-holder arranged on the opposite side of the workpiece mounting. The counter-holder can be transferred into a fixing state and into a releasing state. One of the workpiece parts to be separated from one another is provided as a removal part, the other as a remaining part. For separating the two workpiece parts, the removal part, which is acted upon by the lifting device and supported by the counter-holder, can be moved by means of the lifting device perpendicular to the mounting in relation to the remaining part by a removal movement. At least in the releasing state, the counter-holder forms a rigid abutment in the lifting direction for the removal part. The rigid abutment has the effect that the removal part is aligned parallel to the mounting.

Abstract: The invention is a holding device for a suction gripper or for another interface member on a base of a vacuum handling apparatus, wherein the holding device is designed for detachable and preferably tool-free attachment of the suction gripper to the base and has a first direction and a second direction orthogonal thereto.

Abstract: A method for operating a vacuum handling apparatus, in particular for a human-machine-collaboration system, a vacuum gripper can be connected to a primary vacuum system to generate a vacuum, the method includes the following steps applying the vacuum gripper to a workpiece and building up a vacuum in the vacuum gripper by means of the primary vacuum system; holding the workpiece during its handling by means of the vacuum prevailing in the vacuum gripper, and monitoring at least one state variable during the handling; and generating an auxiliary vacuum in the vacuum gripper by a self-sufficient, secondary auxiliary vacuum system if the monitored state variable deviates from a target state.

Abstract: The invention relates to an operating device for a tube lifter having a suction grip device arranged on one end of the lifting tube, the operating device having a suction port for fluid communication with the suction grip device, a lifting tube port for fluid communication with the tube interior of the lifting tube, and a valve means for controlling the fluid communications, the valve means comprising a blocking member, a ventilation valve and a control valve, the valve means being designed such that the control valve is adjustable independently of the position of the blocking member and the valve means being designed such that when the ventilation valve is shifted into the ventilation position the blocking member always closes off the flow path between the tube interior and the suction grip device. The invention also relates to a tube lifter comprising an operating device of this kind.

Abstract: The invention relates to an operating device for a tube lifter having a lifting tube that has a tube interior and can be shortened by applying a vacuum to the tube interior, and having a suction grip device arranged on one end of the tube lifter, which suction grip device can be supplied with a vacuum through the tube interior, the operating device having a suction port for fluid communication with the suction grip device, a lifting tube port for fluid communication with the tube interior of the lifting tube, and valve means for controlling the fluid communications, the valve means including a control valve which is adjustable between a closed position and an open position, in the open position a flow path from the surroundings to the lifting tube port being open, and in the closed position said flow path being substantially closed, and a control mechanism comprising a manually actuable operating element being provided for adjusting the control valve.

Abstract: An operating device for a handling device, with a gripping section and a coupling for a gripping device, with at least a part of the coupling being at or in the gripping section, so that it is rotatable about an axis of rotation, with a reading device for reading out an information carrier with coded data being placed on the side of the griping section facing the coupling, where the reading device is designed to read out an information carrier of a gripping device coupled to the coupling regardless of the rotational position of the coupling.

Abstract: Battery gripper (12), for attracting by suction and handling starter batteries (26) of, in particular, motor vehicles, having a housing (56), in which a vacuum chamber which can be loaded with vacuum is provided and which has suction openings (84, 84) on the suction side thereof (54) which faces the starter battery to be attracted by suction, wherein the suction side is assigned a flexible lining (82) for contact with the starter battery, wherein the housing has a T-shaped cross section which runs parallel to the suction side, wherein the cross section has a bar section (64) and a web section (66) which extends transversely from the bar section, in such a way that the web section extends between the battery poles (68, 70) of the starter battery when the starter battery is attracted by suction to the battery gripper.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10) for the hand-guided movement of loads by means of a retaining or gripping element (11) as a lifting aid, which retaining or gripping element is attached to a load-bearing rope (2), comprising a load-bearing apparatus (1), which is provided with at least one vertical cantilever (3), over which the load-bearing rope (2) is guided from sides of a rope-winding apparatus (4) on the load-bearing apparatus (1) by means of an adjustable rope articulation point (5), wherein a sensor (6) for measuring a rope angle of the load-bearing rope (2) in relation to the vertical is provided and a controller coupled to the sensor (6) is provided, which controller is designed to simultaneously control an adjustment of the rope articulation point (5) and a rope length of the load-bearing rope (2) on the basis of a measured rope angle.

Abstract: A handling device for handling an object by means of manual control of the handling device by an operator, including a sensor apparatus and an evaluating apparatus, is designed and developed with a view to further simplify the handling of objects using a handling device such that the sensor apparatus comprises sensors for detecting the position of the handling device and movement data of the handling device in the form of measured values, such that the evaluating apparatus is designed to generate handling instructions and/or handling-related information for the operator by evaluating the detected measured values, and such that an output apparatus is provided for outputting the handling instructions and/or handling-related information to the operator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method for operating a vacuum generator using pressure fluid to generate the vacuum. The vacuum generator has a pressure port for pressure fluid supply, and a suction point. During a work cycle, the pressure fluid supply is activated at least once and then deactivated again at least once. An active period is measured during which the pressure fluid supply is activated during the work cycle.

Abstract: A method for operating a pneumatically driven system for handling workpieces, comprising a plurality of pneumatic units that can be pneumatically operated or are used for pneumatic control, which have connections to pressure hoses and/or which are in fluid communication with each other by the use of pressure hoses, and comprising at least one control unit for driving at least one of the pneumatic units by the use of electrical signals and/or for receiving and evaluating electrical signals from at least one of the pneumatic units. The electrical signals are here transmitted between the control unit and at least one pneumatic unit via the pressure hoses, wherein an electric voltage is applied between at least two different pressure hoses that connect the control unit and the respective pneumatic unit.

Abstract: A method for the handling of flexible and/or mat-like workpieces (30, 30a) with a holding device (10) comprising the steps of: picking up the workpiece (30, 30a) from an initial configuration with activated gripping devices (18); and displacing the gripping devices (18) relative to each other to deform the workpiece (30, 30a) into a desired freeform, further wherein the holding force before or during the displacement of the gripping devices (18) is reduced on each gripping device (18) so that the first sections (34) of the workpiece (30, 30a) during its deformation slide along the contact surface (20) and the second sections (36) of the workpiece (30, 30a) are fixed by the gripping devices (18) on the bearing surface (20).

Abstract: The invention relates to a handling device and method for monitoring a handling device having a holding device, in particular a vacuum gripping device or a vacuum tensioning device, for fixing a workpiece, and having a sensor device for detecting vibrations and for generating measured values therefrom. The sensor device is situated on the holding device and is configured for detecting vibrations of the workpiece that is fixed to the holding device.

Abstract: A multistage ejector has a nozzle arrangement, which has at least three nozzles which are arranged in series in the direction of a longitudinal axis, wherein the nozzles are designed for passage of a throughflow of a fluid, wherein a fluid gap is provided between adjacent nozzles in each case, wherein at least two of the at least three nozzles are interconnected monolithically to form a nozzle string, and wherein the nozzle string is arranged at least partially in a sleeve and the nozzle string and the sleeve are detachably fastened to each other. The nozzle string and the sleeve are axially fastened to each other by fastening mechanism which acts in a positively locking manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring a functional state of a pressure-driven actuator which comprises an actuator compartment defined at least in portions by a flexibly deformable wall, the actuator being actuated by applying pressure to the actuator compartment by means of an operating pressure supply, a work process being carried out to actuate the actuator, which process is accompanied by the actuator transitioning from a starting configuration to an end configuration. The pressure the pressure applied to the actuator compartment is measured depending on time by means of a sensor apparatus during the transition from the starting configuration to the end configuration. The invention also relates to a pressure-driven actuator.

Abstract: The invention concerns a lifting tube as well as a vacuum lifting device with such a lifting tube. The lifting tube has a tube wall extending about a lengthwise axis and enclosing a tube interior, while the lifting tube can be reversibly deformed along its lengthwise axis into an elongated configuration and, with reduction of the tube interior, a contracted configuration. The tube wall has a plurality of outer crease lines, along which the tube wall can buckle to produce the contracted configuration, while the outer crease lines run obliquely to each other so that, when deformed into the contracted configuration, the tube wall experiences a torsion about the lengthwise axis in some sections.

Abstract: Battery gripper (12), for attracting by suction and handling starter batteries (26) of, in particular, motor vehicles, having a housing (56), in which a vacuum chamber which can be loaded with vacuum is provided and which has suction openings (84, 84) on the suction side thereof (54) which faces the starter battery to be attracted by suction, wherein the suction side is assigned a flexible lining (82) for contact with the starter battery, wherein the housing has a T-shaped cross section which runs parallel to the suction side, wherein the cross section has a bar section (64) and a web section (66) which extends transversely from the bar section, in such a way that the web section extends between the battery poles (68, 70) of the starter battery when the starter battery is attracted by suction to the battery gripper.