Abstract: A manually actuated end-of-arm tool (EOAT) changer is described. EOAT changer includes an external housing within which an inner cam ring is fixed in place and a rotatable cam ring surrounds the inner cam ring. The inner cam ring defines ball bearing retaining cavities that extend from an exterior of the inner cam ring to an interior; a single ball bearing is at least partially contained in each cavity. The rotatable cam has interior surface which defines bearing engagement teeth. Each tooth is positioned adjacent to one of the ball bearings so as to engage the ball bearing and bias the ball bearing toward the interior of the inner cam ring when the rotatable cam ring is rotated from an open stat to a closed state. A swing arm is engaged to the rotatable cam ring. A yolk is engaged to the external housing and positioned adjacent to the swing arm. When the swing arm is engaged to the yolk the changer is in the closed position.

Abstract: A method for operating a robot includes executing program instructions to determine that a robotic control program being executed on a robotic controller to operate the robot has been stopped; executing program instructions to determine whether a cause of the stoppage is a motion supervision error; executing program instructions to request a new target object from a vision system; and executing program instructions to resume normal robotic operation using the robotic control program.

Abstract: A product stabilizer is employed to prevent tipping or shingling of product in a packaging line. The product stabilizer utilizes a linear actuator, coupled to a plurality of arms, to ensure proper spacing between adjacent products in the packaging line.

Abstract: One or more systems for handling one or more articles, wherein at least one article has a first orientation that deviates from a desired orientation. One or more systems include an infeed conveyor system including an infeed conveyor belt moving at a first speed and an aligning conveyor system including an aligning conveyor belt moving at a second speed and/or a static surface and having portions that form a trough in which an article may be oriented in a sliding engagement to a second orientation that deviates from the desired orientation less than the first orientation. One or more methods include contacting an aligning conveyor system having an aligning conveyor belt and/or a static surface that forms a trough with an article that has a first orientation that deviates from a desired orientation and allowing the article to move laterally within the trough to a second orientation that deviates from a desired orientation less than the first orientation.

Abstract: A product stabilizer is employed to prevent tipping or shingling of product in a packaging line. The product stabilizer utilizes a linear actuator, coupled to a plurality of arms, to ensure proper spacing between adjacent products in the packaging line.