Abstract: A vehicle hitch assistance system includes a powered suspension system supporting a rear of the vehicle at a height and a controller. The controller acquires position data for a coupler of a trailer, determines when the position data indicates that a hitch ball of the vehicle is aligned with the coupler, and causes the powered suspension system to raise the height of the rear portion of the vehicle until a threshold resistance value is detected.

Abstract: A conveying system includes a robot apparatus, a second conveyor, and a controller. The robot apparatus has a holding unit configured to hold a package, and an arm configured to move the holding unit, and is located next to a first conveyor extending in a first direction, in a second direction, which is different from the first direction. The second conveyor is located next to the robot apparatus, in the first direction, and is configured to convey the package in the second direction toward the first conveyor. The controller is configured to control the robot apparatus so as to retrieve the package from an accumulation unit for the package and place the retrieved package on the second conveyor.

Abstract: A robot assembling system for assembling a multi-layer cage comprises a first assembling workstation, a second assembling workstation, a third assembling workstation, and a robot. The multi-layer cage includes a bottom case, a top case, a partition plate, and a partition assembly. The first assembling workstation assembles the partition plate and the partition assembly to form a partition device. The second assembling workstation assembles the partition device and the top case to form a top case assembly. The third assembling workstation assembles the top case assembly and the bottom case to form the multi-layer cage. The robot transmits the bottom case, the top case, the partition plate, the partition assembly, the partition device, or the top case assembly between the workstations. The robot assists an assembly process at each of the workstations.

Abstract: Systems, devices, articles, and methods for the partition of a plurality of items. A system including at least one processor, a frame, an end-effector coupled to the frame, a conveyor, a buffer area proximate to the end-effector and overlying at least a part of the conveyor. Coupled to the at least one processor is the end-effector, the conveyor, and a storage device storing processor-executable instructions which cause the at least one processor to direct the end-effector partition a plurality of items into two or more predefined parts per a defined partition for the plurality of items. Items in the two or more parts are placed in the buffer area, transferred to the conveyor, and may be transferred to a plurality of containers. A method of operation of a system including at least one processor and a robot substantially as described and illustrated herein.

Abstract: The stop position of a workpiece is detected by a position detection unit. A control unit calculates and records a difference between the detected stop position (actual stop position) and a reference stop position set in advance. After recording the difference multiple times, the control unit performs a statistical processing of the differences and calculates a compensation amount based on results of the statistical processing. In the next position detecting, the position detection unit is disposed at a compensated position which is obtained by adding the compensation amount to the reference stop position, and in this state, detects the position of a predetermined portion of the workpiece.

Abstract: A smart loader apparatus for a trunk lid hinge includes a hinge alignment jig at which a trunk lid hinge is aligned and disposed at a predetermined position, a smart loader of which a transfer gripper for gripping the trunk lid hinge aligned at the hinge alignment jig is disposed at a front end portion, and the smart loader includes an articulated arm for transferring the trunk lid hinge gripped by the transfer gripper to a predetermined position of a vehicle body, a driving portion that drives the transfer gripper and the articulated arm to change a position of the transfer gripper, a force and torque (FT) sensor installed at a portion at which the articulated arm and the transfer gripper are connected, and a controller that controls the driving portion to move the transfer gripper in the direction of the force sensed by the FT sensor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a teaching method of setting a location of a robot that transports a substrate onto a rotatable support plate that supports the substrate, the teaching method including setting the location of the robot by using decentering values that are acquired by performing an operation of loading the substrate on the support plate with the robot, rotating the support plate by a preset angle, unloading the substrate from the support plate with the robot, and detecting a decentering value of the substrate positioned on a hand of the robot a plurality of times.

Abstract: A positioning jig has a circular part with a diameter that is identical with a diameter of a semiconductor wafer and knock-pins for connecting a periphery of base plate around an opening in a base plate of a conveying tool for a semiconductor wafer. These knock-pins are respectively provided in four blades protruded from predetermined positions of the circular portion at least three directions. When adjusting the projection positions of supporting plates, the knock-pins are fitted into the opening of the base plate of the conveying tool for the semiconductor wafer. The supporting plates moves so that the knock-pins come into contact with an outer edge of the circular part of the prepared positioning jig. The adjusted supporting plates are then fixed on the base plate. The semiconductor wafer is mounted on the adjusted and fixed supporting plates so that the semiconductor wafer is positioned.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a component mounting apparatus which includes a plurality of substrate conveying lanes and which efficiently controls the order of carrying in of substrates, thereby capable of improving productivity, and also is to provide a substrate conveyance method in the component mounting apparatus. In a configuration which includes: component supplying units (20A, 20B) positioned lateral to conveyor lines including conveyors (10A, 10B, 10C, 10D) arranged in parallel; and a substrate distributing unit (M3B) configured to distribute substrates (13) delivered from an upstream apparatus, in the case where a substrate request signal (R) is output for a plurality of conveyors, a new substrate (13) is carried in from the substrate distributing unit (M3B) into conveyors (10A, 10D) which are closest to the component supplying units (20A, 20B) among the conveyors (10A, 10B, 10C, 10D).

Abstract: A destemmer system may be shown. The destemmer system may have a cleated conveyor belt with a first end and a second end. An orientator system may be above the first end of the cleated conveyor belt. The orientator may have means for placing at least one stemmed object onto the cleated conveyor belt. A vision system may be between the first end and the second end of the cleated conveyor belt. A positioning system may be between the vision system and the second end of the cleated conveyor belt. A destemmer may be at the second end of the cleated conveyor belt.

Abstract: A destemmer system may be shown. The destemmer system may have a cleated conveyor belt with a first end and a second end. An orientator system may be above the first end of the cleated conveyor belt. The orientator may have means for placing at least one stemmed object onto the cleated conveyor belt. A vision system may be between the first end and the second end of the cleated conveyor belt. A positioning system may be between the vision system and the second end of the cleated conveyor belt. A destemmer may be at the second end of the cleated conveyor belt.

Abstract: A modular manufacturing line includes first and second modular manufacturing stations. Each station includes a framework defining a manufacturing space, and an overhead friction drive system supported on the framework for moving a suspended article through the manufacturing space. A control system is in communication with each drive system and is configured to simultaneously control a first article at the first station according to one operation pattern and control a second article at the second station according to a different operation pattern. A work tool including a work tool spray nozzle is positioned at the first station and is movable along a floor mounted work tool support track. The first article moves through an article pathway volume that intersects with a work tool pathway volume defined by the work tool movement.

Abstract: To provide a substrate transport apparatus and a substrate transport method that enable curtailing of a mounting wait time incidental to movement of support pins. Height data pertaining to components 10 mounted on a back side of a substrate 1 are stored beforehand. During substrate carrying-in operation, support pins 7 are caused to descend according to component height data and wait at a height h1 where to be able to avoid interference with the components 10. During substrate carrying-out operation, the support pins 7 are caused to descend according to the component height data and recede to the height h1 where to be able to avoid interference with the components 10.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning packing boxes relative to a covering sheet comprises a belt for conveying the sheet from a gluing unit to a device for centering the box on the pre-glued sheet and optical sensors for identifying the position of the sheet on a belt conveyor surface, the belt being made with at least two regions of the conveyor surface having contrasting colors.

Abstract: A system for handling vehicle frames. The system includes a conveyor assembly including a loading end and an unloading end, and the conveyor assembly carries a plurality of vehicle frames thereon. The system also includes a frame transfer assembly disposed at the unloading end of the conveyor assembly. The frame transfer assembly may be adapted to grasp a vehicle frame from the conveyor assembly and transfer the vehicle frame from the conveyor assembly. A vehicle frame inversion system is also provided that includes a first robotic inversion device that may include a first clamping system, and a second robotic inversion device that may include a second clamping system. The first and second clamping systems are adapted to grasp a vehicle frame, and the first and second robotic inversion devices are adapted to lift and invert the vehicle frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to a picking line for inserting products into a packaging container, having a conveyor belt for the delivery and the transport of products in a transport direction, and at least one picker equipped with a position image processing system for determining the position of the products on the conveyor belt. A quality image processing system is disposed in the transport direction upstream of the at least one picker for checking the products passing the quality image processing system on the conveyor belt in the transport direction for predetermined quality features, and for associating quality information to be transmitted to a picker adjacent downstream of the quality image processing system in the transport direction, serving as a control command for grasping or not grasping the products.

Abstract: A gate reader assembly for positioning and identifying articles carried by conveyor systems. The gate reader assembly including a main housing for attachment to said conveyor adjacent a conveyor line of the conveyor; a sprocket rotatably mounted on said housing and having a plurality of gullets formed thereon, each gullet configured for receiving one of said articles. In addition, said sprocket is configured to rotate about an axis normal to said conveyor line via a horizontal force from said articles such that said rotating sprocket is configured to receive and move said articles along said conveyor line. The gate reader assembly additionally includes a detent mechanism disposed on the housing and slidably coupled to the sprocket for releasably restraining said sprocket from rotation thereby inhibiting said article against further movement along said conveyor line.

Abstract: A transfer device using a workpiece carrier to feed workpieces to workstations for processing. The workpieces are held firmly on the workpiece carrier by a holding device (3.1). Provided on a transfer table are guiderails that serve the linear guidance of the workpiece carrier in the “x” direction. Provided for each work station is a drive with a motor and a driving wheel that drives a double-sided toothed belt which in turn engages in a toothing of the workpiece carrier. A scale is arranged on the workpiece carrier and a stationary sensor form a position emitter whose signal enables the precise positioning of the workpiece carrier.

Abstract: A preform conveyor system (10), of the type including a number of transport elements (18) which each have at least one grasping device (26) for carrying a preform, movable between an upper release position and a lower grasping position, characterized in that each grasping device (26) is linked in terms of upward and downward axial movement to an associated bracket (46), and in that the bracket (46) includes a stud (74) designed to interact slidingly with a fixed ramp (78), when the grasping device (26) is in an intermediate axial position between its upper release position and its lower grasping position, so as to cause the grasping device (26) to slide axially into its upper release position.

Abstract: Provided is a system for handling a semiconductor module, the system may include a rotor, a rotational driving device, at least one insertion portion, and at least one extraction portion. The rotor may be configured to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise around a rotation axis. The rotational driving device may be configured to rotate the rotor. The at least one insertion portion may be connected to the rotor and may be configured to insert a semiconductor module into a socket. The at least one extraction portion may be connected to the rotor and may be configured to extract the semiconductor module from the socket.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for moving paper, board and cellulosic web rolls in a roll packaging system having a plurality of roll handling stations and at least one indexing conveyor capable of operating on at least two elevation levels. According to the method, the rolls are moved in the packaging system by an indexing conveyor car, which is adapted to move synchronously at each roll handling station. The car is moved in a return motion when the indexing conveyor car is in its lowermost position. The position of the roll is measured. At least one roll is admitted onto the indexing conveyor car while having the car driven into its lowermost position (base elevation level 0) and the roll is transferred by the movement of the indexing conveyor car driven into its base elevation level 0 in such a fashion that the roll is positioned into an appropriate position in regard to the function of the roll handling stations for moving the rolls to the roll handling stations.

Abstract: An automated fabrication system is provided that utilizes electromagnetism to manipulate and/or sense the location of raw materials on a platform. Tools located around said platform may be utilized to fabricate a predetermined structure out of the raw materials. Tags that can be electromagnetically manipulated and sensed may be placed on passive raw materials. Structures fabricated from such a system may be, for example, a roof truss. Additionally, the fabrication system may be mobilized by way of a truck such that structures may be built on-site.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for supporting sheet-like materials for at least one separating process in the sheet-like materials, with at least one jet cutter device which may be displaced in the Y-direction during a separation process, with a first and second support surface together forming a support table for supporting the sheet-like material and with a jet trapping device, arranged between the first and second support surfaces and provided to be able to be displaced in the X-direction. The first and the second support surfaces are made from a flexible material forming part of at least one enclosed chamber, filled with a gas under pressure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for product separation and processing are provided where an apparatus for sorting and grouping objects includes: an attribute measurement device 20; a first conveyor 18 moving at a first rate of speed; a second conveyor 26 oriented perpendicularly to the first conveyor 18 and moving at a second rate of speed which is less than the first rate of speed; a position determination device 30; and a controller unit 22 that groups sets of objects 16 matching a target attribute based on attribute measurements and position information from a population of objects 28.

Abstract: A conveyor system for conveying a basket or rack through a chamber having a system for stopping a rack at a predetermined location along the conveyor. The system is comprised of a rocker device mounted relative to the chamber. The rocker device has a first normal position wherein the rocker device is movable from the first normal position when the rack engages the rocker device. The rocker device has an upper arm and a lower arm. The rocker device is rotatable about an axis disposed between the upper arm and the lower arm. A magnet is disposed on the lower arm of the rocker device. A sensing element is aligned with the magnet when the rocker device is in the first normal position. The sensing element is operable to provide a signal to a system controller. A stop mounted relative to the chamber. The stop is rotatable from a first position to a second position. The stop has a tab dimensioned to engage the rack in the conveyor system when the stop is in the first position.

Abstract: A work attracting apparatus and a work attracting method that uses a Bernoulli chuck or the like as a work attraction section and that can ensure the perfect operation of attracting and receiving. The work attraction section (Bernoulli plate 1 and Bernoulli arm 2) attracts a wafer 14 being transported in; a movement section (moving unit 3 and speed variable actuator 10) moves the work attraction section in a direction of transport of the wafer 14; a work detector 4 detects the wafer 14 being transported at a predetermined position and outputs a detection signal; and a controller 5, when receiving the detection signal, controls the movement section to move together with the wafer 14 being transported and makes the work attraction section operate.

Abstract: The method of the present invention is capable of adhering a wafer to a prescribed position of the carrier plate, which has been correctly positioned, in a short time. The method comprises the steps of: heating a carrier plate; detecting a mark provided to a predetermined position of the carrier plate rotating at predetermined rotational speed; positioning the carrier plate on the basis of a position of the detected mark; conveying the carrier plate to a wafer adhering section with keeping a posture of the carrier plate which has been positioned in the positioning step; and adhering the wafer at a prescribed position of the carrier plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for repositioning a workpiece on a lugged conveyor, where the conveyor has lugs for carrying the workpiece spaced apart by a lug space in a downstream direction. The apparatus includes a sensor for detecting the position of the workpiece on the conveyor and relaying position information to a processor, at least one running element mountable in cooperation with the conveyor, a selectively actuable actuator cooperating with the processor for the selective actuation of the running element.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for loading parts onto a work table that has the step of conveying parts to a work table by a conveyor. The work table has a plurality of rows, each having a plurality of locations. One part is transferred to each of the plurality of locations on the rows. Each one of the parts at each of the plurality of the locations is located with reference to a known coordinate system. The parts are then releasably fixed to the work table.

Abstract: In a tray feeder, in which a drawing section draws a palette from a container and supplies the palette to a pick-up point where a pick-up head of a parts-mounting-apparatus picks up parts, the head starts lowering and halts at a stand-by position before the palette held by the drawing section arrives at the pick-up point. When the drawing section arrives at the pick-up point, the head lowers again from the stand-by position. This mechanism reduces a time necessary for picking up a part.

Abstract: A carriage conveying apparatus is provided to efficiently circulate push carriages (110) even in a limited space. The apparatus includes forward and return paths (PH1, PH2) for push carriages (110). The return path (PH2) is provided immediately below the forward path (PH1). The push carriages (110) are made transferable from one to the other of the paths (PH1, PH2) by a pair of elevated conveyors (120, 140). In addition, the return path (PH2) is inclined so that the push carriages (110) return from an upstream side of the return path (PH2) to a downstream side thereof by the action of gravity.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a work sheet processing system wherein the material work sheet can be transported in and the product work sheet can be transporting out efficiently, and the cycle time of the processing can be shortened. The work sheet processing system comprises a work sheet processing machine 3, and a loader 5 for transporting the material work sheet W onto the table 7 of the work sheet processing machine 3 and transporting out the product work sheet M from the table. The loader 5 includes a work sheet holding means 18 comprised of a material work sheet holding tool 19 and a product work sheet holding tool 20. The work sheet processing system further comprises a processing machine control means 31 and a loader control means 32.

Abstract: A transfer system and method for moving an article between a conveyor and a workstation. The transfer system includes an elevator system having a lift device configured to engage the article carried by a conveyor and raise the article above the conveyor. The lift device is movable between a stand-by position with the lift device positioned for the movement of articles past the lift device along the conveyor, and an actuated position with the lift device holding the article above the conveyor. The transfer system also includes a support assembly for supporting the article vicinal a workstation. The support assembly including a shelf for retaining the article at the workstation and a displacement mechanism for moving the shelf between the conveyor and the lift device. The method includes moving a support to engage the article and lift the article above the conveyor, extending a load port shelf to the conveyor and inserting the shelf between the article and the conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a handling device (36) for one or more clamping frames (14) for components (3), especially shells of vehicles, in processing stations (1). The handling device (36) has one or more rotatably driven connecting rods (10), which are mounted in a carriage (5) that can be moved by a motor along a transfer line (2) at one of their ends and have a holding device (13) for receiving the clamping frame (14) at their other ends. Two connecting rods (10), which are arranged in two coupled carriages (5) in the manner of a four-bar chain and are rotatable around parallel axes (11), are preferably present. The handling device preferably generates a feed movement of the clamping frames (14) which is essentially linear and is directed at right angles to the transfer line (2).

Abstract: A modular object handling system has a multi-level control architecture, which includes a system controller that coordinates the functions and/or operations of individual module controllers, that in turn control corresponding actuators, to provide a desired system function. The system controller performs the overall trajectory planning by taking the constraints of each of the module actuators into account. The system controller may compensate for deviations of objects from their planned trajectories by contemporaneously redetermining trajectories and trajectory envelopes to encode the various combinations of the system constraints and task requirements. The trajectory envelopes can denote regions around other trajectories to indicate control criteria of interest, such as control and collision boundaries.

Abstract: A carriage conveying apparatus is provided to efficiently circulate push carriages (110) even in a limited space. The apparatus includes forward and return paths (PH1, PH2) for push carriages (110) are. The return path (PH2) is provided immediately below the forward path (PH1). The push carriages (110) are made transferable from one to the other of the paths (PH1, PH2) by a pair of elevated conveyors (120, 140). In addition, the return path (PH2) is inclined so that the push carriages (110) return from an upstream side of the return path (PH2) to a downstream side thereof by the action of gravity.

Abstract: In a handler attracting and transporting ICs by the use of a vacuum pick-up head, a control system is provided which provides for removing a jammed IC without the need for opening the door of the constant temperature chamber, if the vacuum pick-up head's failure to grasp an IC should cause jamming. A jam detecting means detects the occurrence of jam to interrupt the operation of the handler, whereupon a motion control means is activated to move the vacuum pick-up head to and stop it at a position distant from the site of jamming whereby the space above the site of jamming is cleared. This allows for removing the jammed IC by using a manipulator rod inserted through a through-hole formed through the outer wall of the constant temperature chamber.