Abstract: A production cell includes: at least one robot arranged to handle products; at least one buffer area for intermediate storage of products inside the production cell; a vision system with cameras arranged to determine, based on images from the cameras, the identity and the location of objects in the production cell a plurality of production modules, each production module comprising at least one Hardware Module configured to process products; and a plurality of module attachment locations, each module attachment location being configured to connect with an interface section of a production module through at least a physical connection and a power connection.

Abstract: A method for supporting designing and operation of a robotic system includes operating a computer-based Inventory configured to operate in a robotic system having Hardware Modules to perform a task, the Inventory including Hardware Module Descriptions including a unique identifier, a description of physical characteristics, a current status and historical data the Hardware Module. The method including the steps of collecting status data of the Hardware Module; collecting operating data representing usage of the Hardware Module and updating the historical data accordingly; and at least one of the steps of scheduling maintenance actions to be performed on the Hardware Module; deriving or modifying, based on the operating data, historical data that is associated with a type of the Hardware Module.

Abstract: A Hardware Module for a robotic system includes at least one sensor for measuring an internal property of the Hardware Module, a communication unit for communicating with other Hardware Modules, a data storage unit and an embedded controller. The embedded controller is configured to collect collected data, the collected data including: status data representing the current status of the Hardware Module; and operating data representing usage of the Hardware Module wherein at least part of the collected data is determined from sensor data from the at least one sensor, and the embedded controller is configured to perform at least one of: storing the collected data on the data storage unit; and transmitting the collected data via the communication unit.

Abstract: A robotic system includes at least two Hardware Modules, each having at least one sensor for measuring an internal property, a communication unit, a data storage unit and an embedded controller. The embedded controller is configured to collect collected data including status data representing the current status of the Hardware Module; and operating data representing usage of the Hardware Module. At least part of the collected data is determined from sensor data, and the embedded controller is configured to store or transmit the collected data. The robotic system including a central computation and command unit configured to receive the collected data; and to control operation of the robotic system by controlling operation of at least one actuator of the at least two Hardware Modules.

Abstract: A robotic system includes at least two Hardware Modules, each having at least one sensor for measuring an internal property, a communication unit, a data storage unit and an embedded controller. The embedded controller is configured to collect collected data including status data representing the current status of the Hardware Module; and operating data representing usage of the Hardware Module. At least part of the collected data is determined from sensor data, and the embedded controller is configured to store or transmit the collected data. The robotic system including a central computation and command unit configured to receive the collected data; and to control operation of the robotic system by controlling operation of at least one actuator of the at least two Hardware Modules.

Abstract: A production cell includes: at least one robot arranged to handle products; at least one buffer area for intermediate storage of products inside the production cell; a vision system with cameras arranged to determine, based on images from the cameras, the identity and the location of objects in the production cell a plurality of production modules, each production module comprising at least one Hardware Module configured to process products; and a plurality of module attachment locations, each module attachment location being configured to connect with an interface section of a production module through at least a physical connection and a power connection.

Abstract: A method for supporting designing and operation of a robotic system includes operating a computer-based Inventory configured to operate in a robotic system having Hardware Modules to perform a task, the Inventory including Hardware Module Descriptions including a unique identifier, a description of physical characteristics, a current status and historical data the Hardware Module. The method including the steps of collecting status data of the Hardware Module; collecting operating data representing usage of the Hardware Module and updating the historical data accordingly; and at least one of the steps of scheduling maintenance actions to be performed on the Hardware Module (3); deriving or modifying, based on the operating data, historical data that is associated with a type of the Hardware Module.

Abstract: A robotic system includes at least two Hardware Modules, each having at least one sensor for measuring an internal property, a communication unit, a data storage unit and an embedded controller. The embedded controller is configured to collect collected data including status data representing the current status of the Hardware Module; and operating data representing usage of the Hardware Module. At least part of the collected data is determined from sensor data, and the embedded controller is configured to store or transmit the collected data. The robotic system including a central computation and command unit configured to receive the collected data; and to control operation of the robotic system by controlling operation of at least one actuator of the at least two Hardware Modules.

Abstract: A Hardware Module for a robotic system includes at least one sensor for measuring an internal property of the Hardware Module, a communication unit for communicating with other Hardware Modules, a data storage unit and an embedded controller. The embedded controller is configured to collect collected data, the collected data including: status data representing the current status of the Hardware Module; and operating data representing usage of the Hardware Module wherein at least part of the collected data is determined from sensor data from the at least one sensor, and the embedded controller is configured to perform at least one of: storing the collected data on the data storage unit; and transmitting the collected data via the communication unit.

Abstract: After the manufacturing of an object by layer-wise solidification from a powder, this object is displaced into a container together with the powder surrounding the object, and is closed by a plate, which is positioned below the object during the manufacturing of the object.

Abstract: After the manufacturing of an object by layer-wise solidification from a powder, this object is displaced into a container together with the powder surrounding the object, and is closed by a plate, which is positioned below the object during the manufacturing of the object.

Abstract: In an assembly for filling medicine dispensers (11) with administering units (12/i) which are to be taken daily by patients, a deblistering apparatus (39) is provided for the separating, automatic removal of the medicines from the respective blister pack, the blister film (33) of which can be subjected to a notching or cutting pretreatment, only after which the medicine is removed. A transport device (18) is provided which supplies the medicine dispensers (11) to a feeding device, at which the individual medicines can be loaded into receiving compartments (14/1 to 14/4) of the medicine dispenser (11). The assembly comprises modules (17/i) which have in each case a blister shaft (62), a punching device and a feeding device and are arranged along the transport device (18) at spacings from one another which correspond to the spacing of the receiving compartments (14/i) of the dispensers (11/i) or to an integral multiple of said spacing.

Abstract: An installation for filling weekly blister packs, i.e. packaging units, with doses of different medicaments corresponding to the weekly requirements of several patients and to be taken by the respective patient in a certain order according to the day of the week and the time of the day, according to a doctor's prescription. The installation is provided with output stations associated with the medicaments, for automatically filling all or selected compartments line-by-line. In order to control the output stations in such a way as to fill the weekly blister pack with the prescribed medicament, an electronic control unit processes information about patients, the information being continuously supplied to the unit in such a way that it is synchronized with the blister pack advancing movements.

Abstract: In an assembly for filling medicine dispensers (11) with administering units (12/i) which are to be taken daily by patients, a deblistering apparatus (39) is provided for the separating, automatic removal of the medicines from the respective blister pack, the blister film (33) of which can be subjected to a notching or cutting pretreatment, only after which the medicine is removed. A transport device (18) is provided which supplies the medicine dispensers (11) to a feeding device, at which the individual medicines can be loaded into receiving compartments (14/1 to 14/4) of the medicine dispenser (11). The assembly comprises modules (17/i) which have in each case a blister shaft (62), a punching device and a feeding device and are arranged along the transport device (18) at spacings from one another which correspond to the spacing of the receiving compartments (14/i) of the dispensers (11/i) or to an integral multiple of said spacing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an installation for filling weekly blister packs, i.e. packaging units (11), with doses of different medicaments corresponding to the weekly requirements of several patients and to be taken by the respective patient in a certain order according to the day of the week and the time of the day, according to a doctor's prescription. Said installation is provided with output stations (19) associates with the medicaments, for automatically filling all or selected compartments (12) line-by-line. A longitudinal transport device (14) is used to sequentially transport the weekly blister packs to the output stations (16) that are individually associated with the different medicaments. The medicament doses are supplied to the output stations by means of transversal transport devices (17) individually associated with the medicaments.

Abstract: A machine and a process for thermal cutting of workpieces has at least one workpiece support (8) for the workpiece, at least one thermal cutting device (2), and at least one machine device (10, 11) to move the workpiece support (8) and the cut product adhering to the workpiece support (8) after the workpiece is cut relative to at least one stop (10) to loosen cut product adhering to the workpiece support (8).

Abstract: A machine and a process for thermal cutting of workpieces has at least one workpiece support (8) for the workpiece, at least one thermal cutting device (2), and at least one machine device (10, 11) to move the workpiece support (8) and the cut product adhering to the workpiece support (8) after the workpiece is cut relative to at least one stop (10) to loosen cut product adhering to the workpiece support (8).

Abstract: A machine and a process for thermal cutting of workpieces has at least one workpiece support (8) for the workpiece, at least one thermal cutting device (2), and at least one machine device (10, 11) to move the workpiece support (8) and the cut product adhering to the workpiece support (8) after the workpiece is cut relative to at least one stop (10) to loosen cut product adhering to the workpiece support (8).

Abstract: A method of transferring printing ink from an intermediate carrier to a printing-ink receiver selected from the group consisting of a further intermediate carrier and a substrate, wherein the printing ink adheres either in a granular state or in an at least partially liquid state to the intermediate carrier includes, with respect to the first-mentioned state of the printing ink, melting the printing ink at a side thereof facing away from the intermediate carrier before transferring the printing ink to the printing-ink receiver and, with respect to the second-mentioned state of the printing ink, reducing the adhesion of the printing ink to the intermediate carrier with a separating agent at one time at least before and during transfer to the printing-ink receiver; and a device for performing the method.

Abstract: As part of a process for bending workpieces (14), when the workpiece (14) is released from the upper die (8) and/or the lower die (10), the actual size of the bending angle (.beta.) is continually determined; from the actual size of the bending angle (.beta.) found, the change in it is determined and, as soon as the change in the actual size of the bending angle (.beta.) assumes a predetermined value, the actual size of the then existing bending angle (.beta.) is compared with the desired size.On a tooling machine for carrying out the method described, there are scanning elements (17,18) and a device (24) for determining the actual size of the bending angle (.beta.) that are parts of a device (19) for determining the change in the actual size of the bending angle (.beta.). The device (24) for determining the actual size of the bending angle (.beta.) is connected to a comparison device (32) for comparing the actual size of the bending angle (.beta.) to the desired size.