Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A winch for winding and unwinding of a tension line, with a winding drum that is rotational around its central axis so that the tension line is windable and unwindable in windings running around the winding drum, and with a rotating actuator for driving a rotation of the winding drum, wherein the winding drum is arranged in a longitudinally movable manner along its central axis with respect to a base of the winch. It is a threaded rod extending in the central axis and having an external thread, wherein the winding drum is arranged rotationally around the threaded rod by means of a counter-thread that engages in the external thread.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method for operating a manipulator system having a vacuum manipulator device for manipulating a workpiece and a vacuum generator for generating a vacuum. The vacuum generator has a suction connection for suctioning in order to provide a vacuum supply for the vacuum manipulator device. Further, a diagnosis cycle is executed, including the steps of: provision of a vacuum for the vacuum manipulator device, and suctioning without a workpiece; and measurement of the equilibrium pressure obtained at the suction connection with a suction pressure sensor.

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 vacuum gripping device comprising a plurality of suction bodies, each comprising a suction chamber for applying to a workpiece to be gripped, a suction valve is associated with each suction point, wherein each suction valve comprises a vacuum supply side for connection to a vacuum supply device and a suction side connected to the suction chamber of the assigned suction body, wherein the suction valve comprises a valve body, moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve body is arranged on a flexible control membrane which delimits a control chamber; in such a way that the valve body is moveable from the open position into the closed position using deformation of the control membrane, and wherein a membrane cloth extending across multiple or all suction points is arranged in the gripper housing.

Abstract: Valve with a valve housing which has a vacuum supply side and a suction side, with a flexible dividing wall which delimits a control space in the valve housing. A valve body which is arranged on the flexible dividing wall and can be moved between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve body has a sealing portion which, in the closed position, bears against a sealing seat in order to seal the vacuum supply side with respect to the suction side. The volume of the control space is reduced with deformation of the flexible dividing wall and the valve body is moved from the open position into the closed position. The valve body has a suction side passage, and the sealing portion and the sealing seat are arranged in such a way that, in the closed position, the flow connection through the suction side passage is sealingly closed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (10) for handling workpieces, with a handling device (12) which comprises at least one vacuum gripper (16) for drawing a workpiece in by suction, with at least one vacuum generator (26) that can be operated by the supply of compressed air for supplying the vacuum gripper (16) with vacuum, with at least one controllable control valve (28) by which the supply of compressed air to the vacuum generator (26) can be controlled, wherein the control valve (28) is associated with a control device (30) for the proper control of the control valve (28 as required.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for monitoring the operating state of a device, including a communication circuit and antenna for wireless transmission of signals to and from a base device arranged on the device, including the steps of: transitioning between first and second operating states, wherein the first operating state corresponds to a position of an interfering object in spaced relation to the antenna and the second operating state corresponds to a position of the interfering object closer in relation to the antenna; interference of the signal transmission between the antenna and the base device by the interfering object when in its closer position, wherein the interfering object does not interfere with the signal transmission when in its spaced position; detection of at least one of the occurrence or lack of interference with the signal transmission for determination of a transition between the operating states.

Abstract: A handling system having at least one vacuum generator and an associated vacuum handling device connected to and operable via the vacuum generator. The vacuum handling device is provided with an individually assigned recognition unit including a memory device in which operating data for the vacuum handling device is storable and can be read out. Each vacuum generator has a respective sub-control unit adapted to control the vacuum generator depending on data transmitted from the recognition unit. The memory device of the recognition unit can be read out directly from the sub-control unit.

Abstract: A conveyor device (10) for the transport of goods, comprising individual modules (12) which form in their entirety a conveyor line (14) and each have a belt (20) circulating between a start section (16) of the module (12) and an end section (18) of the module (12), is configured and modified in regard to a reliable conveyance, including that of small objects in particular, such that the modules (12) are coupled together and able to swivel against each other so that the conveyor line (14) is adjustable in length by swiveling of the modules (12).

Abstract: The invention relates to a surface area vacuum gripper for sucking and handling workpieces, comprising a housing, in which a negative pressure chamber is provided that can be subjected to negative pressure and wherein the housing comprises on the suction side, facing the workpiece, suction openings having a suction cross-section, wherein a flexible lining is associated to this suction side, which is applied to the workpiece. A film is interposed between the suction side of the housing and the flexible lining. The film includes flow openings which are locally corresponding to the suction openings, wherein the flow resistance of the suction openings is adjustable via the flow cross-section of the flow openings of the film.

Abstract: A holding device (10) having a plurality of gripping devices (18) which are arranged displaceable relative to each other on a support structure (12) in such manner that by their displacement gripping devices (18) are adjustable to a free-form surface. The support structure (12) comprises a plurality of mutually associated movable support elements (22) on which are arranged gripping devices (18), wherein a plurality of support elements (22) are arranged in a row and are connected to form a carrying chain (24) such that the carrying chain (24) is form-adjustable by the movement of the support elements (22) relative to each other.

Abstract: A valve has suction and vacuum supply sides and a valve housing inbetween, a flexible dividing wall delimiting a control space in the valve housing connected to the vacuum supply side via a vacuum passage, and a valve body arranged on the dividing wall moving between open/closed positions. The valve body has a sealing portion sealing off or opening up the vacuum passage in closed/open positions. Based on a control space vacuum, the volume of the control space reduces with a deformation of the dividing wall, and the valve body moves from the open to closed position. The valve body has a suction-side passage connecting the suction side to the control space so air is suctioned from the suction side into the control space, and penetrates the dividing wall with the sealing portion on one side and a guide portion on the other side of the dividing wall.

Abstract: A conveyor device (10) for the loading or unloading of separable piece goods from a storage area or to a storage area with at least one conveyor belt mechanism (1), which is mounted on a bracket (2), and with a roll-on module (3) for receiving and setting down the separable piece goods, wherein the roll-on module (3) is arranged at a front free end of the conveyor device (10), wherein a curve module (4) is provided between the roll-on module (3) and the conveyor belt mechanism (1), with which a change of direction in the transport direction at least in the horizontal plane is variably adjustable. The roll-on module (3) has two belt ramps (31) running parallel to each other, and the two belt ramps (31) can be actuated separately so that the speeds of the belt ramps (31) can be adjusted differently.

Abstract: A surface area vacuum gripper for sucking and handling workpieces, comprising a housing, in which a negative pressure vacuum chamber is provided that can be subjected to negative pressure and wherein the housing includes suction openings on the suction side, facing the workpiece. An insertion element is provided in the housing, which reduces the free inner space of the housing and includes vacuum channels fed by a vacuum generator. The insertion element can be equipped with a plurality of optional functions.

Abstract: A vacuum gripping device comprising a plurality of suction bodies, each comprising a suction chamber for applying to a workpiece to be gripped, a suction valve is associated with each suction point, wherein each suction valve comprises a vacuum supply side for connection to a vacuum supply device and a suction side connected to the suction chamber of the assigned suction body, wherein the suction valve comprises a valve body, moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve body is arranged on a flexible control membrane which delimits a control chamber; in such a way that the valve body is moveable from the open position into the closed position using deformation of the control membrane, and wherein a membrane cloth extending across multiple or all suction points is arranged in the gripper housing.

Abstract: Valve with a valve housing which has a vacuum supply side and a suction side, with a flexible dividing wall which delimits a control space in the valve housing. A valve body which is arranged on the flexible dividing wall and can be moved between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve body has a sealing portion which, in the closed position, bears against a sealing seat in order to seal the vacuum supply side with respect to the suction side. The volume of the control space is reduced with deformation of the flexible dividing wall and the valve body is moved from the open position into the closed position. The valve body has a suction side passage, and the sealing portion and the sealing seat are arranged in such a way that, in the closed position, the flow connection through the suction side passage is sealingly closed.

Abstract: A gripper apparatus includes a receiving surface which faces an object for gripping purposes, and includes at least one electroadhesion section, which has at least one electrode, for exerting an electroadhesion force on the object. In order to reliably grip and hold an object, provision is made for the electroadhesion section for bearing against the object to be gripped to project beyond the receiving surface in the direction of the object which is to be gripped in such a way that a space which adjoins the receiving surface and the electroadhesion section is formed, and that the electroadhesion section is designed such that it can be deformed in such a way that it can be matched to the shape of the object which is to be gripped when it bears against said object.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surface area vacuum gripper (60) having a housing (12) with suction openings (20) for sucking a workpiece to be gripped, at least one cover plate (24) that seals the end face of the housing, an insertion element (28) that can be inserted into the housing, wherein the insertion element can be fixed at the cover plate (24) and comprises at least one opening (32) which is flow-connected with the suction openings (20) in the housing (12), the cover plate (24) comprising a compressed air inlet (26). The insertion element (28) comprises a functional device (34) for controlling a flow through the opening (32) of the insert (28).