Abstract: A part manipulator includes a robot arm movable in three-dimensional space between a pick station and a place station. The part manipulator includes an end effector coupled to a distal end of the robot arm. The end effector includes a rotation platform rotatable between a first position and a second position. The end effector includes a part gripper coupled to the rotation platform movable between a releasing position and a holding position. The part gripper is configured to hold a part in the holding position. The part gripper is rotated by the rotation platform as the rotation platform is rotated from the first position to the second position to move the part from a picking orientation to a placing orientation. The end effector picks up the part in the picking orientation at the pick station. The end effector releases the part in the placing orientation at the place station.

Abstract: A reel handling machine includes first and second re-reeling assemblies coupled to a frame. The re-reeling assemblies each include a reel mount supporting a first reel and a re-reel mount supporting a second reel. The re-reeling assemblies operated to unwind a product strip from the first reel and rewind the product strip on the second reel. The reel handling machine includes a reel manipulator positioned proximate to the re-reeling assemblies configured to automatically remove the second reel from the re-reel mount after the product strip is rewound on the second reel and move the second reel to a remote location.

Abstract: A mobile reel transport device includes an automated guided vehicle (AGV) having a mobile cart with wheels for maneuvering through a facility. The AGV includes a reel manipulator mounted to the mobile cart. The reel manipulator has a movable component movable relative to the mobile cart and an end effector at a distal end of the movable component. The end effector is configured to pick up and manipulate a reel. The AGV includes a reel positioning device at the distal end of the movable component. The reel positioning device includes an imaging device for imaging the reel and environment and generating an image. The reel manipulator is operable to move the end effector based on the image.

Abstract: A stamping strip reel replacing system includes an autonomous mobile robot and an automatic guide vehicle. The autonomous mobile robot is adapted to autonomously move to a position where a reel driving shaft for mounting the reel is located, and includes a grabbing tool for grabbing the reel. The automatic guide vehicle moves together with the autonomous mobile robot, and carries an empty reel wound with no stamping strip. The autonomous mobile robot is further adapted to unload a full reel wound with the stamping strip from the reel driving shaft and place the unloaded full reel onto the automatic guide vehicle by operating the grabbing tool. The autonomous mobile robot is further adapted to grab the empty reel from the automatic guide vehicle and mount the grabbed empty reel onto the reel driving shaft by operating the grabbing tool.

Abstract: A traffic management system for controlling an AGV includes a sensor arranged proximate to an intersection between first and second passages in a logistics facility. The sensor transmits sensing beams into the second passage to detect presence of a vehicle in the second passage. The sensor transmits sensor signals based on the presence of the vehicle in the second passage. The traffic management system includes a traffic controller receiving the sensor signals and communicating with the AGV causing the AGV to stop at a stopping location in the first passage and restrict movement of the AGV into the second passage when the object is detected.

Abstract: A part packing system includes a bag holding machine including a part funnel having an opening configured to receive an end of a part and having a bag end manipulator holding first and second bag end gripper mechanisms that receive an end of the bag therebetween to open the end of the bag to form a mouth at the end of the bag. The bag end manipulator moves the first and second bag end gripper mechanisms to position the mouth of the bag immediately downstream of the opening of the part funnel. A part loading machine including a part manipulator holding the part and moving the part to a loading position upstream of the part funnel and moving the part gripper mechanism to load an end of the part through the opening in the part funnel into the mouth of the bag to load the part into the bag.

Abstract: A vehicle control device for an AGV includes a call box having a user interface and a manual activation element at the user interface accessible to a user. The manual activation element generates a manual call signal. The vehicle control device includes an automated activation element operably coupled to a sensor and receiving a sensor signal from the sensor. The automated activation element generates an automated call signal based on the sensor signal without user intervention. The vehicle control device includes a communication device held by the call box that receives the manual call signal and receiving the automated call signal and communicates with the AGV to trigger operation of the AGV based on both the manual call signal and the automated call signal.

Abstract: A connector assembling machine a revolver mechanism coupled to a frame. The revolver mechanism includes a shaft coupled to the frame, an actuator operably coupled to the shaft to rotate the shaft, and a rotor rotated by the shaft. The rotor includes a hub coupled to the shaft and mounting brackets extending from the hub. The revolver mechanism includes cartridges coupled to the mounting brackets each having cartridge walls forming a connector cavity configured to receive an electrical connector. The cartridge has a window exposing receptacles of the electrical connector. The rotor is rotated to move the cartridges between a connector loading station, a connector processing station, and a connector unloading station. The cartridges are loaded with the electrical connectors in the connector loading station and unloaded in the connector unloading station. The cartridges position the electrical connectors for loading support plates into the receptacles in the connector processing station.

Abstract: A robotic labeling system includes a package locating system for locating a package at a labeling station and a package identification system having a scanning device configured to scan an identification tag on the package to identify the package. The package identification system has a package measurement module configured to determine at least one dimension of the package and a package orientation module configured to determine an orientation of the package in the labeling station. The robotic labeling system includes a label application system including a label printer printing a label for the package based on an identity of the package determined by the scanning device and a label applicator operated to apply the label based on a measurement input from the package measurement module and based on an orientation input from the package orientation module.

Abstract: A reel assembly machine for assembling a bottom flange and a top flange to a reel core of a reel includes a lower assembly device including a support plate for supporting the bottom flange of the reel. The lower assembly device includes a locating jig for positioning the bottom flange on the support plate. The lower assembly device includes a lower staple gun configured to staple the bottom flange to the reel core. The reel assembly machine includes an upper assembly device including a pressure plate configured to press against the top flange and hold the reel core between the bottom flange and the top flange. The upper assembly device includes an upper staple gun configured to staple the top flange to the reel core.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly machine includes a pin support mechanism having first and second pin support forks. The first pin support fork includes a first connecting bar and first tines defining first gaps configured to receive connecting pins of contacts. The second pin support fork includes a second connecting bar and second tines defining second gaps configured to receive the connecting pins of the contacts. The first pin support fork is shifted in a first lateral direction to load the first tines against the connecting pins and the second pin support fork is shifted in a second lateral direction opposite the first lateral direction to load the second tines against the connecting pins. The first tines and the second tines cooperate to hold the connecting pins relative to each other for loading a pin organizer of the electrical connector onto ends of the connecting pins.

Abstract: A part packing system includes a bag holding machine including a part funnel having an opening configured to receive an end of a part and having a bag end manipulator holding first and second bag end gripper mechanisms that receive an end of the bag therebetween to open the end of the bag to form a mouth at the end of the bag. The bag end manipulator moves the first and second bag end gripper mechanisms to position the mouth of the bag immediately downstream of the opening of the part funnel. A part loading machine including a part manipulator holding the part and moving the part to a loading position upstream of the part funnel and moving the part gripper mechanism to load an end of the part through the opening in the part funnel into the mouth of the bag to load the part into the bag.

Abstract: A connector assembling machine a revolver mechanism coupled to a frame. The revolver mechanism includes a shaft coupled to the frame, an actuator operably coupled to the shaft to rotate the shaft, and a rotor rotated by the shaft. The rotor includes a hub coupled to the shaft and mounting brackets extending from the hub. The revolver mechanism includes cartridges coupled to the mounting brackets each having cartridge walls forming a connector cavity configured to receive an electrical connector. The cartridge has a window exposing receptacles of the electrical connector. The rotor is rotated to move the cartridges between a connector loading station, a connector processing station, and a connector unloading station. The cartridges are loaded with the electrical connectors in the connector loading station and unloaded in the connector unloading station. The cartridges position the electrical connectors for loading support plates into the receptacles in the connector processing station.

Abstract: A part packing system for packing a part in an elongated bag includes a bag holding machine including a first bag gripper mechanism, a second bag gripper mechanism, and an air nozzle. The first bag gripper mechanism is configured to hold a first end of the elongated bag. The first bag gripper mechanism opens the first end of the elongated bag. The second bag gripper mechanism is configured to hold a second end of the elongated bag. The second bag gripper mechanism closes the second end of the elongated bag. The air nozzle is located proximate to the first bag gripper mechanism. The air nozzle is configured to inflate the elongated bag with an airflow directed into the first end of the elongated bag. The first bag gripper mechanism holds the inflated elongated bag with the first end open to receive the part in the open first end while the air nozzle directs the airflow into the elongated bag.

Abstract: A robotic labeling system for labeling packages on a pallet includes a depalletizing station having a pallet holding a plurality of unlabeled packages and a palletizing station having a pallet configured to receive a plurality of labeled packaged. The robotic labeling system includes a labeling station configured to successively receive the packages for labeling. The labeling station has a labeling device preparing labels for the packages and a label applicator moving the labels from the labeling device to the corresponding packages. The labeling station includes a label verification scanning device scanning the applied labels for label verification. The robotic labeling system includes a palletizing robot moving the unlabeled packages from the depalletizing station to the labeling station for label application and moving the labeled packages from the labeling station to the palletizing station after label verification.

Abstract: A robotic labeling system for packages includes a package database management system including a package database storing package data and a package labeling controller communicatively coupled to the package database management system. The robotic labeling system includes a package locating system receiving locating inputs from the package labeling controller for locating the packages at a labeling station and a package identification system having a scanning device scanning an identification tag on the package to determine the package identification and orientation. The robotic labeling system includes a label application system having a labeling device and label applicator that prepares and applies a shipping label and a customer specific label to the package based on the content data stored in the package database. The robotic labeling system may verify the applied labels based on the scanned data on the package and either discharging or rejecting the package based on the scanned data.

Abstract: A part packing system for packing a part in an elongated bag includes a bag holding machine including a first bag gripper mechanism, a second bag gripper mechanism, and an air nozzle. The first bag gripper mechanism is configured to hold a first end of the elongated bag. The first bag gripper mechanism opens the first end of the elongated bag. The second bag gripper mechanism is configured to hold a second end of the elongated bag. The second bag gripper mechanism closes the second end of the elongated bag. The air nozzle is located proximate to the first bag gripper mechanism. The air nozzle is configured to inflate the elongated bag with an airflow directed into the first end of the elongated bag. The first bag gripper mechanism holds the inflated elongated bag with the first end open to receive the part in the open first end while the air nozzle directs the airflow into the elongated bag.

Abstract: A robotic labeling system for packages includes a package database management system including a package database storing package data and a package labeling controller communicatively coupled to the package database management system. The robotic labeling system includes a package locating system receiving locating inputs from the package labeling controller for locating the packages at a labeling station and a package identification system having a scanning device scanning an identification tag on the package to determine the package identification and orientation. The robotic labeling system includes a label application system having a labeling device and label applicator that prepares and applies a shipping label and a customer specific label to the package based on the content data stored in the package database. The robotic labeling system may verify the applied labels based on the scanned data on the package and either discharging or rejecting the package based on the scanned data.

Abstract: A robotic labeling system for labeling packages on a pallet includes a depalletizing station having a pallet holding a plurality of unlabeled packages and a palletizing station having a pallet configured to receive a plurality of labeled packaged. The robotic labeling system includes a labeling station configured to successively receive the packages for labeling. The labeling station has a labeling device preparing labels for the packages and a label applicator moving the labels from the labeling device to the corresponding packages. The labeling station includes a label verification scanning device scanning the applied labels for label verification. The robotic labeling system includes a palletizing robot moving the unlabeled packages from the depalletizing station to the labeling station for label application and moving the labeled packages from the labeling station to the palletizing station after label verification.

Abstract: An autonomous product picking system includes product pick up stations at different locations within a facility having call stations with activation buttons at a user interface activated by an operator to transmit call requests when the products are needed to be picked up and to transmit completion signals when the products have been picked up. An automatic guided vehicle is movable within the facility between the product pick up stations and a product drop off station. A system control module guides the AGV within the facility and includes a system communication module communicatively coupled to the AGV and the call stations. The system communication module receives the call requests and the completion signals from the call stations when the activation buttons are activated.