Abstract: The invention relates to a method for gripping an object by a handling system, including a robot with at least one robot arm, a gripping device which is connected to the robot arm and has a pneumatically operated suction gripper having an elastically deformable contact portion for contact with an outer surface of the object to be gripped, an identifier for identifying the outer surface of the object to be gripped and a controller which interacts with the identifier and is designed to control the robot.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for gripping an object by a handling system, including a robot with at least one robot arm, a gripping device which is connected to the robot arm and has a pneumatically operated suction gripper having an elastically deformable contact portion for contact with an outer surface of the object to be gripped, an identification means for identifying the outer surface of the object to be gripped and a control means which interacts with the identification means and is designed to control the robot, wherein an outer surface of an object to be gripped is identified, wherein a distinction is made between planar portions of the outer surface on the one hand and convex elevations or outer edges on the other, and wherein the suction gripper is made to approach the outer surface of the object to be gripped in such a way that at least a part of the contact portion of the suction gripper clings to a convex elevation or outer edge of the outer surface.

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: 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: 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 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: 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 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 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 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: 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.