Abstract: A single pass inkjet printer that utilizes a modular printing system with one or more self-contained printing modules, where each printing module is easy to remove and replace from a large printing machine, thus resulting in an overall system that is easy to service and maintain. Each module is a self-contained printer including an ink supply, printhead drive electronics, and printhead assembly in order to provide one color or fluid of inkjet printing capability. Each module includes a precise three-point compliant self-aligning mount system to obtain accurate printhead positioning, and a unique integrated printhead tending system that includes a compact movable vacuum knife for cleaning the printheads, and a printhead capping station for sealing and protecting the printheads from the ambient environment when not in use.

Abstract: A pallet exchanger and load splitter apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus has a pallet-receiving assembly with a pallet-receiving zone configured to receive, at least in part, a pallet supporting a pallet load; a clamp assembly connected to the pallet-receiving assembly having a clamping zone configured to secure a first side, a second side, and a rear of the pallet load once the clamp assembly is activated by a pneumatic circuit so that the pallet load is supported by the clamp assembly; and the pneumatic circuit is for controlling a clamping pressure of the clamp assembly.

Abstract: A robot system includes a container, a disposed-state detector, and a robot arm. The container is configured to accommodate a plurality of to-be-held objects and includes a reticulated portion. The disposed-state detector is configured to detect disposed states of the plurality of respective to-be-held objects disposed in the container. The robot arm includes a holder configured to hold a to-be-held object among the plurality of to-be-held objects based on the disposed states of the plurality of respective to-be-held objects detected by the disposed-state detector.

Abstract: A conveyer magazine-type empty bag supplying apparatus including an empty bag separator for separating the topmost empty bag from a set of empty bags and feeding it forward, a positioning stopper for the front end of the fed-out empty bag coming into touch therewith, ratchet wheels coming into contact with the empty bag fed by the empty bag separator and feeding the bag forward, causing the bag to come into touch with the positioning stopper, and an empty bag suction members for adhering to and picking up the bag positioned by the positioning stopper. The ratchet wheels are provided on pivoting arms so as to be oscillatingly moved between its delivery position and its retracted position. The delivery position is between the positioning stopper and the empty bag suction members and the retracted position is on the front side which is beyond the stop surface of the positioning stopper.

Abstract: A method of orienting a selected item from a stack of similar items, the method comprising the steps of separating, engaging and orienting. The separating step separates the selected item from the stack using a first attraction force of a transport apparatus. The engaging step engages the selected item with a second attraction force from the transport apparatus. The second attraction force being greater than the first attraction force. The orienting step orients the selected item relative to the transport apparatus as the transport apparatus is en route to a destination location.

Abstract: A robot system includes a robot hand for transferring substrates stored within a storage unit in multiple stages along a vertical direction, and a position detecting unit for detecting storage positions of the substrates stored within the storage unit. The robot system further includes a clearance calculating unit for calculating a clearance between the adjoining substrates on the basis of the storage positions of the substrates detected by the position detecting unit, and an entry permission/prohibition determining unit for determining permission or prohibition of entry of the robot hand into a space between the substrates on the basis of the clearance calculated by the clearance calculating unit.

Abstract: A carton feeding system is provided for feeding selected cartons from a stack of cartons contained within a carton magazine to a downstream carton conveyor such as for a product packaging machine. A carton picking device removes a selected carton from the stack of cartons within the magazine, after which the carton is engaged between a carton engaging segment of the primary segment wheel and a draw roller, which pulls the carton from the magazine and feeds the carton along a first path of travel. Thereafter, a secondary segment wheel engages and redirects a leading portion of the carton toward a second path of travel. The carton then is fed along its second path of travel toward engagement between a pair of downstream nip rolls that feed the carton into the downstream carton conveyor.

Abstract: A method of orienting a selected item from a stack of similar items, the method comprising the steps of separating, engaging and orienting. The separating step separates the selected item from the stack using a first attraction force of a transport apparatus. The engaging step engages the selected item with a second attraction force from the transport apparatus. The second attraction force being greater than the first attraction force. The orienting step orients the selected item relative to the transport apparatus as the transport apparatus is en route to a destination location.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for prefeeding corrugated boards to a box finishing machine wherein a stack of rectangular boards are moved to a first conveyor with the long dimension of the boards extending transverse to the direction of movement of said first conveyor. The stack is then rotated to place the long dimension of the boards in alignment with the direction of movement of said first conveyor, and then moving the rotated stack to a second conveyor for feeding to a box finishing machine with the long dimension of the boards in alignment with the direction or path of movement of the boards through the box finishing machine. The stack is transferred to the first conveyor from an elevator which contains a supply of boards larger than the stack. Three different types of apparatus are disclosed for rotating the stack. One is a plurality of conveyor belts whose speeds may be varied to rotate the boards. Another is a turntable with a set of belt conveyors and a set of rollers.

Abstract: A device (100) for feeding blanks (99) to a packaging machine (M), includes at least one rotating group (G) for picking up flat folded carton blanks from the bottom of a stack (94) of blanks (99), in a picking up position (P), by the use of a picking up vacuum device (7) supported by the group (G). Then, the picked up folded blanks are erected into box-like configurations (A) in an erecting position (K). Then, the group (G) feeds the blanks (99) to an inlet station (98) of the machine (M), to place them one by one in the station (98) in a placing position (ID). The group (G) includes one first kinematic series (C1) for determining the movement of the picking up vacuum cups (7) along a closed path (T), extending between the picking up position (P) and the placing position (ID). A second kinematic series (C2) controls and maintains constant the orientation of the picking up vacuum cups (7, V).

Abstract: A batch forming apparatus forms a batch of substrates by combining a plurality of substrates that have been taken out from a plurality of carriers each containing therein the substrates in a stacked manner. The batch forming apparatus includes: a substrate transfer mechanism that takes out the substrates from each carrier and transfer the substrates; a substrate relative positional relationship changing mechanism that rearranges one or more substrates out of the substrates transferred by the substrate transfer mechanism one by one relative to other substrates to change positional relationships of the substrates relative to each other; and a batch forming mechanism that forms a batch of substrates out of the substrates that have been transferred thereto by the substrate transfer mechanism, with positional relationships of the substrates having been changed relative to each other by the substrate relative positional relationship changing mechanism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a separating device (1) with a manipulating device (5) and with at least one carrier support (2) with at least one stacking shaft (3) for workpieces (4) disposed on it, in particular metal plates made ready for a bending operation on a bending press, and with a gripping mechanism (14) for removing the workpiece (4) from the stacking shaft (3) and transporting the workpiece (4) from a pick-up position into a transfer position. The manipulating device (5) and the carrier support (2) are positioned relative to one another by means of positioning means (65), and at least one fixed positioning space (27) for the carrier support (2) is provided in a reference position of the stacking shaft (3) with respect to the manipulating device (5).

Abstract: An order merging system includes two first case guides with a pair of twisted lanes. The case guides are downwardly sloped and guide a product case along in each case guide. Two raisable guides are connected downstream of the case guides and are in communication with them. Two other case guides in communication with the raisable guides, which are lowered to allow the product cases from the first case guides to merge onto the other case guides.

Abstract: A tray destacker is operable to separate individual trays from a stack of trays and to discharge the individual trays. The tray destacker includes a tray separating device which engages an edge or handle of the individual tray and moves the tray away from the stack of trays, while a tray retaining device engages a next tray adjacent to the individual tray and retains the remaining trays of the stack. The tray separating device may be biased toward an engaging position so as to engage the individual tray when the trays and the tray separating device are in an appropriate position relative to one another. The tray retaining device may also be biased to engage the next tray and may release the next tray in response to the tray separating device returning to the stack of trays to remove the next tray from the stack.

Abstract: A product packaging system for organizing and packing a number of different items into a set. The system may include a number of staging conveyors. Each of the staging conveyors may carry a stack of items from the number of different items. The system further may include a positioning conveyor positioned adjacent to the staging conveyors and a number of removal devices positioned adjacent to the positioning conveyor. The removal devices may remove one item from the stack of items on each of the staging conveyors and place the item on the positioning conveyor. The system also may include one or more rotation devices positioned about the positioning conveyor so as to rotate the one items on the positioning conveyor.

Abstract: An automated container management system including at least one robotic device, a container inverting apparatus, a conveyor system, a container stack, and a storage and retrieval system transfer vehicle. The first and second robotic devices each having a container cooperation head. The container cooperation head has pneumatically driven magnetic lift assemblies for stacking and unstacking multiple containers as a single unit between the conveyor system and the container stack. The container storage and retrieval system transfer vehicle services the container stack. An inverting apparatus inverts the multiple containers before stacking and after unstacking to facilitate storage of the multiple containers in an inverted position.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for handling pallets, such as for inspection and sorting, are disclosed. In a disclosed embodiment, an up-ender includes a support frame, a pallet-tilting mechanism coupled in a pivotal manner to the frame, and first and second generally upright pusher arms coupled to the frame. The pallet-tilting mechanism is pivotable between an up position and a down position, such that when the pallet-tilting mechanism is in the up position, an upright stack of pallets can be loaded onto the pallet-tilting mechanism and when pivoted to the down position, the stack is rotated about 90° so that the pallets become generally vertically oriented. The pallet-tilting mechanism also is adapted to displace the stack of vertically oriented pallets along a support surface. The pusher arms are positioned to receive the stack of pallets from the pallet-tilting mechanism and automatically index the pallets in the stack along the support surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide for singulating thin and substantially porous material layers arranged in a stack. A pick head is positioned above the stack of material layers. An adhesive tape is stabilized against the pick head through use of a vacuum between the adhesive tape and the pick head. Contact is effected between the stabilized adhesive tape and the top material layer. The pick head is moved to move the top material layer from the stack to a predetermined location. While at the predetermined location, the adhesive tape is detached from the top material layer. The singulation apparatus and method are particularly well suited for destacking individual porous fluid transport layers (FTLs) from a magazine of FTLs during automated fuel cell assembly.

Abstract: Successive collapsed cardboard blanks which can be erected to accommodate, for example, arrays of cigarette cartons are supplied from a source (such as a magazine for one or more piles of superimposed randomly distributed properly oriented and misoriented blanks) to a packing machine along a path wherein the orientations of successive blanks are monitored and the misoriented blanks are reoriented so that the packing machine receives blanks each of which is in an optimum orientation for erection and subsequent reception of arrays of commodities. The arrangement for monitoring and, if necessary, correcting the orientation of successive blanks can include pneumatic and/or other conveyors, mobile props, mobile pushers, an upright chute and a vertically movable supporting platform for stacks of monitored and (if necessary) reoriented blanks.

Abstract: An automated system for preparing weld land areas of panels to be welded to each other is disclosed. Generally, the system of the present invention includes a system for cleaning contaminants from such weld land areas. In one embodiment, the system for cleaning contaminants includes a system for blasting carbon dioxide granules or pellets against the weld land areas. In instances where the panels comprise aluminum, the system may further include a system for removing at least a first layer of aluminum oxide from the weld land areas. In one embodiment, the system for removing includes a system for moving a plurality of sheets of sand paper over the weld land areas. For purposes of moving the panels relative to the system for cleaning contaminants and/or the system for removing at least the first layer of aluminum oxide, the automated system of the present invention may further include a shuttle system for supporting and moving at least the first panel therethrough.

Abstract: A system and method for transporting and reorienting one or more items is provided. The system includes a first transport apparatus that can transport and reorient an item from a loading location to a first unloading location. For example, a first carder is movably secured to a frame of the first transport apparatus such that it can move at least about 180 degrees about the frame to the first unloading location. Moreover, the first carrier can also move about 90 degrees to a first transfer location. At the first transfer location, the items contained within the first carrier can, in some instances, also be pushed to a second carrier at a second transfer location. The second carrier is movably secured to a frame of a second transport apparatus such that it can move at least about 90 degrees to a second unloading location. The reoriented item(s) can be unloaded from a carrier at the first or second unloading locations.

Abstract: A method and unit for transferring blanks on a packing machine, whereby stacks of blanks are transferred from a platform, on which the blanks are arranged in stacks, to a store wherein the blanks are packed successively and seamlessly along a path for supply to a pickup station of the packing machine; transfer of the stacks from the platform to the store including forming, at a loading station and by means of two gripping devices for gripping the stacks, a group of blanks defined by stacks superimposed and aligned in a container, feeding the container and the group along a path to an unloading station at the store, and transferring the group of blanks from the container to the store.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus for articles is provided comprising: