Abstract: A robotic-based system and method for transposing glass sheets of mixed sizes, including jumbo-sized sheets, from or onto a conveyor onto or from unloading platforms positioned on either side of the conveyor. The system comprises two parallel bridges extending across and above the conveyor and a pair of industrial robots movably mounted each on one of said two bridges for allowing traverse movement of the robots along the bridges such that the robots are having equal reach to both sides of the conveyor. The robots may be operated either in a full synchronized mode for handling sheets too large or to heavy to be handled by a single robot or in an individual operation mode where each robot handles a single sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for use with a stack having plates and sheets alternating. Sheets are removed by being reliably suction adhered with a sucker. The sheet feeder includes a suction device, and the sucker and device are mounted at a supporting portion. In order to allow suction adhering of the plates and sheets alternately stacked in a magazine, the suction device is operated when the sucker is brought into contact with the sheet, and the sheet is raised separately from the plate. Thereafter, the sheet is suction adhered to the sucker by suction. This makes it possible to prevent the sucker from suction adhering to the plate together with the sheet, and only the sheet is reliably removed from the stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for resisting rotational movement of can ends in a downstacker is provided, that includes a housing having a bore, a ring having a bore that is disposed within the housing, a second ring having a bore that is disposed within the housing and a sleeve having a bore that is disposed within the housing wherein the bores of the ring, the second ring and the sleeve are in substantial alignment relative to each other. A method of resisting the rotational movement of can ends in a downstacker is also provided.

Abstract: A depalletizer includes an input assembly for supporting a loaded pallet loaded with at least one product, a lift assembly, and a product take-away assembly. The input assembly presents the loaded pallet to the lift assembly, which moves the loaded pallet to a product unloading elevation. The product take-away assembly is positioned for receiving a product from the pallet at the unloading elevation. The depalletizer assembly also includes a pallet take-away assembly. After the product is unloaded from the pallet, the lift assembly moves the unloaded pallet to a pallet discharge elevation, where the pallet take-away assembly is positioned to receive an unloaded pallet from the lift assembly.

Abstract: A method and system for determining if envelopes are properly exiting a mailing machine, and if not, halting operation of the mailing machine before a jam occurs inside the mailing machine is provided. A guide member is placed at the output of the mailing machine. The guide member includes a conductive fiber brush that mates with a corresponding conductive brush to complete a conductive circuit that is monitored by a controller in the mailing machine. An envelope exiting the mailing machine will pass between the conductors, thereby opening the conductive circuit. The controller, by monitoring the status of the circuit, determines if an envelope has properly exited the mailing machine. If an envelope has not properly exited the mailing machine, the controller will halt operation of the mailing machine, thereby preventing a jam from occurring in the mailing machine.

Abstract: In a biochemical analysis apparatus a frameless dry chemical analysis film having a reagent layer formed on a support sheet is taken out from a cartridge storing therein a plurality of the frameless chemical analysis films, applied with a sample liquid, inserted into an incubator and taken out from the incubator and at least a part of these steps and film transferring steps between these steps is effected with the film held by a suction pad. A change of pressure in the suction pad when it attracts the film under a suction force is measured and the attracting state of the suction pad is judged on the basis of the result of the measurement. The part of the steps which is effected with the film held by the suction pad is controlled on the basis of the judgment.

Abstract: An insertion automation apparatus for discs and booklets in disc packages has plural parallel belts for transporting containers through successive stations. A first station is adjacent the belts for unstacking containers. A second station is adjacent the belts for opening the containers. An inspection station adjacent the belts inspects the opened containers. A fourth station adjacent the belts partially inserts booklets in the open containers, has a booklet conveyor for unstacking and moving booklets and an insertion conveyor for partially inserting the booklets in booklet pockets of the containers. A fifth station adjacent the belts has a pusher for pushing booklets fully into the pockets. A sixth disc placement station adjacent the belts has a continuous looped disc carrier arranged transversely to the belts and plural outwardly spaced disc carrier heads facing outward from the looped disc carrier.

Abstract: A wafer handling wand allows the efficient loading and unloading of semiconductor wafers to and from a CMP apparatus. The wand includes identical work piece gripping, alignment, and loading/unloading mechanisms on the top and bottom sides. A processed wafer can be unloaded from the apparatus onto one side of the wand and an unprocessed wafer can be loaded into the apparatus from the second side. The gripping mechanism includes a support area and a spaced apart moveable gripping finger. Wafer loading is facilitated by a cam attached to the support area that rotates when the cam contacts the apparatus. Upon rotation, the cam provides a surface for directing the work piece into the apparatus. The surface of the cam also includes an alignment aid that can be brought into contact with a reference surface on the apparatus to insure proper alignment between the wand and the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting rows of products that includes a supply device for supplying rows of products; a first transport device for transporting the rows of products through a certain distance in a first transporting direction, wherein each row of products is supported by a carrier; a sliding device for displacing the rows of products relative to the carrier; and a second transport device for transporting the displaced rows of products in a second transporting direction. The distance between adjacent carriers in the first transporting direction is smaller during the transport than the dimensions of the products. The sliding device is adapted to displace the rows of products parallel to the first transporting direction such that a row of displaced products rests on two adjacent carriers. The second transport device is adapted to lift the displaced rows of products from the carriers.