Abstract: An internal container for storage of a first substance and in use with an external container for storage of a second disparate substance is provided. The internal container may be stored within the external container while keeping the first substance and the second substance separated until a predetermined time. At the predetermined time the first substance and the second substance may be mixed by continuously accelerating or shaking the external container without any direct user contact with the internal container.

Abstract: An insulating container can be configured to retain a volume of at least 1800 cubic centimeters that includes an outer shell and an inner shell. The outer shell and inner shell may be integrally joined together to form an insulated double wall structure with a sealed vacuum cavity between the two shells. A compressible support member may be placed to between a bottom wall of the outer shell and a bottom wall of the inner shell to help form a planar bottom wall of the inner shell when the vacuum cavity is formed.

Abstract: Molded foam articles are provided. The molded foam articles have at least one surface having at least a portion that has been skin-formed for improving the thermal and mechanical properties of the molded foam articles without the need for material, density, or foam particle size changes.

Abstract: A temperature insulated packaging system includes a container having interior surface bounding an interior volume and a liner disposed within the interior volume and at least partially bounding a compartment configured to receive an item for temperature insulated shipping. The liner includes a first sleeve made of cellulose material and at least partially bounds a channel. The first sleeve has an outside wall disposed adjacent to the container and an opposing inside wall disposed adjacent to the compartment configured to receive the item for shipping, the channel being disposed between the inside wall and the outside wall. At least one insulation sheet is disposed within the channel of the first sleeve, the at least one insulation sheet being made of a cellulose material and having a plurality of recesses formed thereon.

Abstract: Molded foam articles in the form of containers are provided. The containers have at least two portions formed from polylactic acid-based molded bead foam and joined together using a heat-seal. The at least two portions are tailor-made to have a specific size and shape suitable for thermally sensitive commodities and may be customized based on the intended destination for the commodities and potential changes in weather in route. The containers may include one or more stand-offs for providing additional thermal energy protection, further enhancing the customizability of the containers. The containers may be formed from a single, flat foam panel that is cut and formed into a container on site, dramatically increasing the versatility of the container and reducing the carbon footprint associated with the container.

Abstract: An insulated beverage container sleeve; the insulated beverage container sleeve includes an insulated sleeve having a generally cylindrical profile which is configured to receive and host a beverage container within an inner volume. The insulated sleeve is defined by a base, a sidewall, an open top end, and at least one flexible display screen configured to illuminate and display functional indicia. The insulated sleeve includes a thermally insulating material for maintaining a temperature of a beverage contained within a hosted the beverage container.

Abstract: An insulating container can be configured hold a wine bottle or other bottles that includes an outer shell and an inner shell. The outer shell and inner shell may be integrally joined together to form an insulated double wall structure with a sealed vacuum cavity between the two shells. A compressible support member may be placed to between a bottom wall of the outer shell and a bottom wall of the inner shell to help form a planar bottom wall of the inner shell when the vacuum cavity is formed. The insulating container may further include a cylindrical elastomeric disc that is a similar size and shape as the inner bottom wall and is located on the inner bottom wall.

Abstract: A dispenser apparatus may include a housing and a delivering structure at least partially enclosed by the housing. The dispenser apparatus may dispense desired sizes or pieces of tablets, pills candy, mints, chewing gum or the like. The dispenser apparatus is refillable when a cover or lid is open. The dispenser has an adjust apparatus which is used to change a carrying holder dimension and the control apparatus of the adjust apparatus hiding in the dispenser in a stowed configuration and showed out of the dispenser in a dispensing configuration.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a facemask is provided. The dispenser includes a housing having an interior volume so as to retain one or more facemasks having a metal strip disposed thereon or therein and a cover assembly forming at least a portion of the housing, the cover assembly including an outer surface forming a portion of an exterior of the dispenser and an inner surface facing the interior volume. An arm is disposed on the inner surface of the cover assembly, the arm including a first end having a magnetic device disposed thereon, wherein the magnetic device is configured to lift one or more facemasks to a dispensing position when the cover assembly is moved to an opened position.

Abstract: Described herein are proportionally controlled caps for spray paint cans that can provide a variety of spray effects and/or spread in the spray of paint without changing caps. The disclosed proportionally controlled caps include actuating elements that change the spread in spray paint to achieve a targeted spread. The cap includes an actuator button that is configured to move relative to a main body to cause a needle valve to change the spread in paint leaving the needle valve. The disclosed caps for spray paint cans can be configured to fit typical spray paint cans so that the disclosed caps can be used to replace the typical caps that come with spray paint cans, enabling typical spray paint cans to achieve a variety of spray effects and/or spreads in spray paint with a single cap.

Abstract: A container for consumer goods is provided, including: an outer sleeve including outer sleeve front and back walls, and first and second opposed outer sleeve side walls; an inner slide mounted within the outer sleeve and including inner slide bottom, front, and back walls; and a sleeve cover including sleeve cover first and second panels, the first panel detachably depending from the outer sleeve along a first line of weakness and extending between the outer sleeve back and front walls, the sleeve cover second panel detachably depending from the sleeve cover first panel along a second line of weakness and permanently affixed to an inner surface of the outer sleeve, such that upon separation of the sleeve cover first panel and the sleeve cover second panel: a first outer sleeve opening is revealed, and the inner slide becomes movable between fully inserted and protruding positions.

Abstract: Packaging for a cigar is provided. The packaging includes a tube configured to receive the cigar therein. The tube includes an open end and an opposing closed end. A cap is releasably secured to the open end of the tube. The packaging further includes an infusing agent. The infusing agent is configured to act as a humidifier to prevent the cigar from drying out while the cigar is in the packaging and the infusing agent is further configured to provide flavor and aroma to the cigar while the cigar is in the packaging. A method of packaging a cigar is also provided.

Abstract: A container for a tab lead includes a main body part configured to contain a plurality of tab leads and a cover part configured to cover the main body part. The main body part has a pocket that has an inverted quadrangular pyramidal trapezoid shape having a bottom surface and four side surfaces, in which an area of an opening at an upper end of the pocket is larger than an area of the bottom surface. The pocket is configured such that a volume of a region occupied by portions, which are below an upper end of an insulating films of the plurality of tab leads, of the plurality of tab leads in a state in which the plurality of tab leads are contained in the pocket is included within a range of 70% to 90% of a volume of the pocket.

Abstract: A container for a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a code encoding preparation information, the code comprising a reference portion and a data portion: the reference portion comprising reference units defining a reference line r; the data portion comprising a data unit, wherein said data unit is arranged on an encoding line D that intersects the reference line r, the data unit is arranged a distance d from said intersection as a variable to at least partially encode a parameter of the preparation information, whereby said encoding line D is circular and is arranged with a tangent thereto orthogonal the reference line r at said intersection point, wherein the reference units are arranged with a configuration defining a reference point from which the reference line r extends.

Abstract: An automatic container interlock apparatus having a central shaft, a drive wheel positioned on the drive wheel, a locking lever positioned upper end of central shaft configured to rotate between a locked and an unlocked position, a first vertical slide extension and second vertical slide extension, said first vertical slide extension configured to vertically extend and collapse, the first vertical slide extension and the second vertical slide extension having a second collar slider, a shaft pin, a pair of flex arms having a first flex arm assembly and a second flex arm assembly, the first flex arm assembly pivotably connected to the shaft pin and a first collar slider, the second flex arm assembly having pivotably connected to said shaft pin and the second collar slider, an expansion device between first flex arm assembly and second flex arm assembly, a first rotational drive arm and a second rotational drive arm.

Abstract: A trash bin comprising a body having side walls, a top lid, a front door, and a garbage bag holding arrangement extending over a top portion of the front door and over a top portion of the side walls, wherein a garbage bag can be removed through the front door.

Abstract: A method for sealing refuse in a sealed chamber. The method includes providing an opening to deposit refuse into a chamber formed of a material that is partially sealed, identifying when refuse is deposited into the partially sealed chamber, activating a sealing assembly after refuse is deposited into the chamber to seal the refuse in the chamber defined by the material, executing a cutting procedure to separate the sealed chamber from the remaining material, the cutting procedure creating a second chamber being formed by partially sealed material, and drawing a length of the material from a reservoir containing tubular shirred material with an extraction assembly.

Abstract: A transport system includes a first track in a first building, a second track in a second building, overhead transport vehicles, and a relay to pass a FOUP between the overhead transport vehicles. The overhead transport vehicle traveling on a first outward path portion and the overhead transport vehicle traveling on a second return path portion can transfer the FOUP to a same storage shelf, and the overhead transport vehicle traveling on a first return path portion and the overhead transport vehicle traveling on a second outward path portion can transfer the FOUP to the same storage shelf.

Abstract: A load handling device is disclosed for lifting and moving containers stacked in a storage system having a grid structure. The load handling device includes a container receiving space; a lifting mechanism arranged to lift a container; a vehicle body; a wheel assembly arranged to support the vehicle body, the wheel assembly having a first set of wheels and a second set of wheels; and a drive mechanism for selectively driving rotation of the first set of wheels and the second set of wheels. Each wheel includes a wheel positioning mechanism configured to rotate the wheel about a respective second axis of rotation to selectively lower or raise the first set of wheels or the second set of wheels to selectively engage or disengage the first set of wheels with a first set of grid members or the second set of wheels with a second set of grid members.

Abstract: A control device is provided to reliably locate objects and calculate appropriate grasp points for each object to thereby effectively control a robot system. grasp point calculation is based on, at least, properties of a surface of the object to be grasped by the robot system to more effectively calculate a grasp point for the surface of the object An organised point cloud generator and a robot system having a suction cup end are to generate an organised point cloud of a storage The robot system can grasp the object from the storage means. Normals of the organised point cloud and principal curvatures of the organised point cloud can be calculated. A grasp point can be calculated for the suction cup end effector of the robot system to grasp an object based on the organised point cloud, the calculated normal, the calculated principal curvatures, and a normal of a lower surface of the storage.

Abstract: A storage array system including an open undeterministic transport surface, a navigation array disposed in connection with the transport surface, the navigation array includes a distributed feature, a first waypoint at a first position of the distributed feature, a second waypoint displaced from the first waypoint along the distributed feature and offset with respect to the first waypoint in a direction angled to the distributed feature, and a guided bot, arranged to traverse the transport surface, with a non-holonomic steering system, the guided bot having a bot pose determination system employing sensor data detecting the distributed feature, wherein the guided bot includes a controller configured to generate a substantially smooth curved bot traverse path on the transport surface connecting the first and second waypoints with a predetermined optimal trajectory of the guided bot along the traverse path determined based on a bot dynamic model.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus are provided for retrieving an object from a multi-depth object storage. The method includes retrieving, via a shuttle, at least a first object from a first depth of a storage location and a second object from a second depth of the storage location. The first depth is less than the second depth, such that the first object positioned at the first depth interferes with retrieval of the second object positioned at the second depth. The method also includes manipulating the first object and the second object, such that the first object is positioned to be disposed into the storage location while the second object remains disposed on the shuttle. The method further includes disposing the first object into the storage location while the second object remains on the shuttle. A corresponding apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transporting device for a storage system which maximises storage capacity of the storage system whilst remaining scalable and avoiding overheads. The transporting device includes a frame having a Z-direction track and a tray for supporting the container. The tray includes an X-direction movement unit arranged to move the container in an X-direction, a Y-direction movement unit arranged to move the container in a Y-direction and a Z-direction movement unit arranged to move the tray in a Z-direction by way of interaction with the Z-direction track. The transporting device can include a frame having a Z-direction track and a first movement unit arranged to move the container in an X-direction and/or a Z-direction by with the Z-direction track. A second movement unit is arranged to move the container in a Y-direction and/or a Z-direction.

Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a framework structure. The framework structure includes upright members, a storage volume comprising columns provided between the members, and a rail system provided on top of the members. Storage containers are stackable in stacks within the columns. The automated storage and retrieval system includes an access station and container handing vehicles configured to move on the rail system. The framework structure includes an access station compartment. The access station compartment comprises an access module, wherein the access module is one single independent access module with a self-supporting frame provided with wheels. The one single independent access module with a self-supporting frame is insertable into and retrievable out from the access station compartment.

Abstract: In a control method of a stocking apparatus, the stocking apparatus includes a plurality of housings formed separately and independently. Each of the plurality of housings includes a plurality of stockers, each of which stocks an item. The control method comprises: acquiring a demand number which is a number of at least one item being the item to be received by the stocking apparatus from a utilizer of the stocking apparatus or a number of at least one item being the item to be provided by the stocking apparatus to the utilizer of the stocking apparatus; and determining a receiving-and-providing stocker which is at least at least one of the plurality of stockers of the plurality of housings and receives the item from the utilizer or provides the item to the utilizer, based on the demand number.

Abstract: An order picking system including: shelving units delimiting an aisle; and a self-guiding carriage having climbing elements including four sprockets each intended to cooperate with shelves or chains attached to the posts, each of the sprockets being mounted on a support movable with respect to the frame of the carriage between an extended position and a retracted position. The width or length of the carriage is less than the spacing between the posts of the first pair of posts or the second pair of posts, and the movable support is configured such that, in the deployed position, at least a portion of each of the sprockets also protrudes from an edge of the frame facing the aisle.

Abstract: A picking system is realized that can efficiently perform operations from collection to delivery of articles in a limited space. A picking system (1) includes: a multi-row sorting device (2) configured to sort the article into one of the plurality of rows of exits (21) and discharge the sorted article; a container supporting device (3) capable of supporting an accommodating container (B) on a plurality of rows of container supporting portions (32) until an article group that is a set of articles for the order is collected; and a transport device (4) configured to unload the accommodating container (B) in which the article is accommodated from the container supporting portion (32), and load an empty accommodating container (B) to the container supporting portion (32).

Abstract: An Inventory Management and Delivery System (IMDS system) manages product items within a climate-controlled enclosure (e.g., beverage case) in an automated manner using a product loading (ingestion) subsystem to convey product items into the enclosure's climate-controlled environment and utilizes two gantry robots and an articulated robot to perform all backstocking/storage and delivery/restocking operations. Product items are ingested on standardized crates to simplify backstocking/retrieval of various product types from an array of storage locations using the first (backstocking) gantry robot. During restocking operations, the required crates are retrieved from storage and individual items are extracted and by the articulated robot and transferred to the second (delivery) gantry robot. The second gantry robot utilizes a simplified channel-type delivery mechanism to deliver each product item to its associated display shelf location.

Abstract: The conveyor system comprises a frame (2) with a substantially plane conveying surface composed by rollers (3) for conveying products (P) in a conveying direction T to an end station with end stop (8); —wherein the frame (2) comprises an edge part with roller shaft slots (5) each with a roller shaft slot lower end, in which roller shafts (4) are displaceably received; —wherein the conveyor system further comprises a beam (6) with a drive belt (7) arranged against the rollers (3) for rotating the rollers (3) to thereby convey the products (P), in particular such that upon a product (P) reaching the end stop (8) or upon a product (P) reaching a preceding arrived product (P) said drive belt (7) slips under the rollers (3) under these arrived products (P); and —wherein the conveyor system is configured such that a maximum pushing force which buffers these products (P) is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a fruit and vegetable conveyor machine having a traction cable whereon a number of rotating elements are suspended which travel along mechanised rails to determine their path. The advance of the fruits and vegetables is generated by the translation and a continuous rotation of the rotating elements that form at least one circuit associated with the traction cable, which moves defining a conveying speed of the rotating elements. The configuration of the machine enables the differentiation of an alignment area which includes corresponding opposite-facing belts, forming a V, and in movement, and an area for the inspection of the fruit or vegetable conveyed, where the rotating elements are illuminated with a colour that may be selected so as to enable the differentiation of the background image from the product.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for using a continuous conveyor belt. One of the systems includes a conveyor belt adapted to move a plurality of comestibles and having i) a first edge, ii) a second edge opposite the first edge, iii) a first row of apertures that is substantially parallel to the first edge, and iv) a second row of apertures that is substantially parallel to the second edge.

Abstract: A container feed system for the transport of containers along a transport path includes a pulling element, first carriers, second carriers, the first and second carriers arranged distributed at fastening points of the pulling element such that the containers are received and transported along the transport path by the first and second carriers during movement of the pulling element. The fastening points for first and second carriers of the first carriers are arranged side by side on the pulling element and have a first fastening distance and the fastening points of a third carrier of the first carriers is arranged next to a first carrier of the second carriers on the pulling element and have a. second fastening distance. The second carriers have a shape that is different the first carriers such that a transport distance between the containers guided side by side along the transport path is constant.

Abstract: Belt modules with wear pads for constructing modular plastic conveyor belts. A conveyor belt made of the modules is supported in the carryway of a conveyor atop linear wearstrips along which the belt's wear pads slide as the belt advances.

Abstract: Transfer device, adapted to take over a conveyed material at a takeover area from an upstream conveying section, convey the conveyed material at least temporarily within a conveying area in a conveying direction and, and selectively transfer the conveyed material in the direction of a transfer area arranged laterally in the conveying direction, the transfer device including a plurality of belt carriages which are arranged circumferentially along a guide in such a way that the belt carriages move at least temporarily, in particular in the conveying area, in the conveying direction, the belt carriage having a transport belt, the transport belt forming at least temporarily a support surface for the conveyed material, and the transport belt being selectively movable in a transverse direction transverse to the conveying direction for selective lateral transfer of the conveyed material.

Abstract: A container supply system for the transport of a container along a transport route from a container source to a container receiver includes a movement device configured to receive and transport the container along the transport route, a transport belt stretching along the transport route with a length, the container moveable upon the transport belt along the transport route by the movement device, and a sensor arranged at the transport belt to detect the container. The sensor stretches along a width of the transport belt running perpendicular to the length of the transport belt such that the container moving along the transport route is detectable by the sensor.

Abstract: Dispensing device (1) for the controlled dispensing of food substances contained in a container (2) which can be associated with the dispensing device (1) in correspondence with a mouth (20) of the container through which the substance to be dispensed passes; the device (1) comprises: a screw element (10) comprising a hollow cylindrical body (12) with an inlet (11) connectable to the container (2) and a dispensing outlet (14); a helicoid (13) disposed internally and coaxial with respect to the cylindrical body (12); a support base (3) comprising motor means (4, 5) connected and acting on the screw (10) to activate on command the controlled rotation of the helicoid (13) and obtain the consequent controlled transfer of the substance to be dispensed from the container (2) towards said dispensing outlet (14); the screw element (10) can be connected to the base (3) by means of a quick release connection.

Abstract: A conveying system including at least three axis devices for transporting component receiving portions for receiving a component and/or a component holder on a station path along a main transport direction in a component station. The axis devices each have a carriage assembly having one of the component receiving portions and having a feed apparatus for feeding the component receiving portion from an avoidance state to a transport position, and each have a linear shaft apparatus for moving the component receiving portion in the transport position along the station path in the main transport direction and for returning the component receiving portion in the avoidance state in a reverse direction. At least two of the axis devices are linear displacement axis devices which linearly move the component receiving portion in a spatial direction of the feed apparatus. The spatial directions each define a different projection direction in a projection plane perpendicular to the main transport direction.

Abstract: An article transport facility includes a transport vehicle and a segment controller. When the transport vehicle is to travel on a first route section, the transport vehicle requests first passage permission, which is passage permission to travel past a first passage location, from the segment controller. When the transport vehicle is to travel on a second route section, the transport vehicle requests second passage permission, which is passage permission to travel past a second passage location, from the segment controller. In response to the request for both the first passage permission and the second passage permission, the segment controller, if the first passage location and the second passage location are both unoccupied by preceding transport vehicles, permits the transport vehicle to travel from the first route section or second route section into a connecting route section and to occupy both the first passage location and the second passage location.

Abstract: A modular roller system. The system includes a mechanical shaft and at least one plastic disc. The one or more the discs may include a recessed end abutting one side of the plastic disc. The system also includes an assembly in physical contact with the recessed end and positioned in an inside of the recessed end. The one or more discs slide onto and around the mechanical shaft using frictionless bearing system.

Abstract: A normal control mode and a substitute control mode are set, as control modes that are executed by a control system including a higher-level control device and a section control device. The normal control mode is a mode in which control of a transport vehicle in a specific section is performed by the section control device responsible for the specific section, and the substitute control mode is a mode in which control of the transport vehicle in a specific section is performed by the higher-level control device instead of the section control device responsible for the specific section. The substitute control mode is executed in response to at least one of an anomaly occurring in communication between the section control device and the higher-level control device and an anomaly occurring in communication between the section control device and the transport vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method separate flow of tablets compacted by a compacting device. The separating system includes an input line to recover a flow of tablets at the output of the compacting device and two output lines to eject tablets from the separating system. A device accumulates tablets positioned between the input line and the output lines and periodically accumulates a given number of tablets. The accumulating device has a line for accumulating tablets and an assembly for regulating flow of tablets, the regulating assembly including a member for retaining the tablets to accumulate the tablets in the accumulating line and a member to forcibly eject the accumulated tablets from the accumulating line. A conveying surface is under the accumulating line and accompanies displacement of the tablets toward the output lines. A routing device directs tablets from the input line toward one of the output lines.

Abstract: A planar drive apparatus includes at least one mover and a drive table. The mover has an outer shell, the drive table has a planar drive surface, and the mover can be electromagnetically coupled to the drive surface and can be moved in a floating state parallel to the drive surface. The drive table has a cleaning region including a cleaning device for cleaning at least a part of the outer shell of the mover. The mover can be brought into the cleaning region by electromagnetic drive of the drive surface. The cleaning device has at least one additional cleaning unit which is arranged on or above the drive surface and which is configured to clean a side surface and/or a top side of the mover.

Abstract: A processing system including a singulation system is disclosed. The singulation system includes a conveying system for moving objects to be sorted from a source area along a first direction, a detection system for detecting objects at the conveying system, and for selecting certain selected objects for removal from the conveying system, and a removal system for removing the certain selected objects from the conveying system for providing a singulated stream of objects.

Abstract: An accumulating conveyor comprises a conveyor belt successively follows a first helical track from a lower end thereof in upward direction to a location below an upper end thereof, a first bridge to a location at a second helical track below an upper end thereof, the second helical track in downward direction to a lower end thereof, a first set of auxiliary guides to the upper end of the second helical track, the second helical track in downward direction, a second bridge to the first helical track, the first helical track in upward direction to the upper end thereof, and the second set of auxiliary guides to the lower end of the first helical track. The bridges are synchronously movable along the first and second helical tracks for varying the effective lengths of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for using a continuous conveyor belt. One of the systems includes a conveyor belt adapted to move a plurality of comestibles and having i) a first edge, ii) a second edge opposite the first edge, iii) a first row of apertures that is substantially parallel to the first edge, and iv) a second row of apertures that is substantially parallel to the second edge.

Abstract: A conveying system having at least three axis devices for transporting component receiving portions for receiving a component and/or a component holder on a station path along a main transport direction in a component station. The axis devices each have a carriage assembly having one of the component receiving portions and having a feed apparatus for feeding the component receiving portion from an avoidance state to a transport position, and each have a linear shaft apparatus for moving the component receiving portion in the transport position along the station path in the main transport direction and for returning the component receiving portion in the avoidance state in a reverse direction. The component receiving portions of at least two of the axis devices are arranged and/or arrangeable laterally offset from one another in the region of the station path in the avoidance state.

Abstract: A conveying system having at least three axis devices for transporting a component receiving portion for receiving a component and/or a component holder on a station path along a main transport direction in a component station. The axis devices each have a carriage assembly having the component receiving portion and having a feed apparatus for feeding the component receiving portion from an avoidance state to a transport position, and each have a linear shaft apparatus for moving the component receiving portion in the transport position along the station path in the main transport direction and for returning the component receiving portion in the avoidance state in a reverse direction. At least one of the axis devices is configured as a pivotal displacement axis device for pivoting the component receiving portion about a pivot region in order to move the component receiving portion from the avoidance state to the transport position and/or in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A conveying system employs independently controlled flights. The flights are controlled separately from a conveying surface using a linear transport system. The linear transport system allow the position of the flights to be controlled based on a parameter, such as the length of a conveyed object. The flights are pivotally mounted to a mover of the linear transport system and can pivot relative to the conveying surface to allow the flights to fit in a space between an end of carryway and a receptacle.

Abstract: An article loading method includes a first transfer step of picking up at least some of a plurality of articles accommodated in a storage member and transferring the articles to an upper portion of a plate, a dropping step of dropping the plurality of articles, which is transferred to the upper portion of the plate in the first transfer step, onto the plate, a second transfer step of picking up some of the articles, which are dropped onto the plate in the dropping step, and transferring the articles to an alignment unit, and a loading step of transferring the article, which is transferred to the alignment unit in the second transfer step, and loading the article to one side, in which the article is freely dropped toward the plate in the dropping step.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and/or apparatus for gripping a plurality of types of circuit boards. For example, a method may include: gripping a first circuit board using a first sub-gripper of an integrated mechanical gripper, wherein the integrated mechanical gripper comprises a plurality of sub-grippers; placing the first circuit board into a transfer platform; gripping the first circuit board from the transfer platform using a second sub-gripper of the plurality of sub-grippers, flipping the first circuit board, and placing the flipped first circuit board into a splitter; splitting the first circuit board into at least one second circuit board with a different type or size from the first circuit board; and gripping the second circuit board from the splitter using a third sub-gripper of the plurality of sub-grippers.