Abstract: A manipulation device for folding products comprising an input; and an output; the manipulation device defining a product pathway between the input and the output; the manipulation device further comprising: a transportation device configured to move a product along the product pathway; a first gas manipulator associated with the product pathway, nozzle of the first gas manipulator configured to output pressurized gas in a first orientation with respect to the product pathway for manipulating a product on the transportation device; a second gas manipulator associated with the product pathway, nozzle of the second gas manipulator configured to output pressurized gas in a second orientation with respect to the product pathway for manipulating the product on the transportation device, the second orientation being different to the first orientation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an article picking and placing system, the system comprising: —a first article picking tooling and a second article picking tooling, and an intermediate transportation unit configured in between an article infeed transportation unit and an article outfeed transportation unit; —a control unit for synchronizing the first and second article picking tooling such that (i) the first article picking tooling picks and/or forms a first configuration of articles from the infeed transportation unit for transfer to the intermediate transportation unit, thereby forming an intermediate configuration on said intermediate transportation unit, and (ii) the second picking tooling picks a second configuration of articles from said intermediate transportation unit for transfer to the outfeed transportation unit, wherein the second and intermediate article configurations are different relative to each other and each different from the first article configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for automated loading and packing for custom-sized packages. In one embodiment, an example system may include a first custom-sized package generation machine configured to generate packaging having a first range of dimensions, a second custom-sized package generation machine configured to generate packaging having a second range of dimensions, and a first independent transport robot configured to transport items to at least one of the first and second custom-sized box generation machines. The first custom-sized package generation machine and second first custom-sized package generation machine are decoupled from an item induction portion of the system.

Abstract: A product handling apparatus, systems and associated methods. A product handling apparatus, includes a continuous circuit having an infeed length; and a discharge length. A carriage configured to travel around the circuit between the infeed length and the discharge length has a first picking tool configured to selectively engage a first product; and a second picking tool configured to selectively engage a second product. The product handling apparatus is configured to pick a first and second product arranged in a first arrangement at the infeed length and place the first and second product in a second arrangement, different to the first arrangement, at the discharge length.

Abstract: An apparatus for diverting and/or folding articles includes an infeed conveyor, an outfeed conveyor, and a diverter. The diverter is a non-contact, fluid emitting diverter, configured to emit a fluid jet to exhibit the diverting force on the impact zone of the article at a side of the article facing away from the outfeed entry. An angle of the average direction of the diverting force of the fluid jet with the outfeed path at the outfeed entry is in the range of 5° to 85°.

Abstract: The present invention provides an article picking and placing system, the system comprising: —a first article picking tooling and a second article picking tooling, and an intermediate transportation unit configured in between an article infeed transportation unit and an article outfeed transportation unit; —a control unit for synchronizing the first and second article picking tooling such that (i) the first article picking tooling picks and/or forms a first configuration of articles from the infeed transportation unit for transfer to the intermediate transportation unit, thereby forming an intermediate configuration on said intermediate transportation unit, and (ii) the second picking tooling picks a second configuration of articles from said intermediate transportation unit for transfer to the outfeed transportation unit, wherein the second and intermediate article configurations are different relative to each other and each different from the first article configuration.

Abstract: A product handling apparatus, systems and associated methods. A product handling apparatus, includes a continuous circuit having an infeed length; and a discharge length. A carriage configured to travel around the circuit between the infeed length and the discharge length has a first picking tool configured to selectively engage a first product; and a second picking tool configured to selectively engage a second product. The product handling apparatus is configured to pick a first and second product arranged in a first arrangement at the infeed length and place the first and second product in a second arrangement, different to the first arrangement, at the discharge length.

Abstract: A system for processing a packaging in assembly comprising a main transportation unit (102); and a manipulator transportation unit (104) having at least one manipulating unit (110), said manipulating unit mounted on at least one independently motion controlled mover (108) and adapted for manipulating a material component of a package (106) in assembly present at the main transportation unit, wherein said manipulating unit comprises an engagement device (112) for temporarily engaging a material component of a package in assembly while being in transit.

Abstract: An apparatus for diverting and/or folding articles includes an infeed conveyor, an outfeed conveyor, and a diverter. The diverter is a non-contact, fluid emitting diverter, configured to emit a fluid jet to exhibit the diverting force on the impact zone of the article at a side of the article facing away from the outfeed entry. An angle of the average direction of the diverting force of the fluid jet with the outfeed path at the outfeed entry is in the range of 5° to 85°.