System, apparatus, and method for sensing automation picking and stacking

A method of sensing material during a picking and stacking process, comprising:

• displacing, using a robotic arm, at least one apparatus such that at least one vacuum cup for the at least one apparatus is aligned with at least one sheet of material in a first direction;
• creating, using at least one vacuum pump, negative pressure with the at least one vacuum cup;
• adhering, with the negative pressure, the at least one sheet of material to the at least one vacuum cup;
• continuously monitoring, using at least one sensor, an area proximate the at least one vacuum cup;
• displacing, using the robotic arm, the apparatus to a second location;
• detecting, using the at least one sensor, that the at least one sheet of material is not in the area;
• transmitting, using the at least one sensor, at least one signal to a control circuit, the at least one signal indicating that the at least one sensor has not detected the at least one sheet in the area;
• and,
• generating, using the control circuit and in response to the at least one signal, an error signal indicating that the at least one sheet of material is not present in the area.

A system for picking and stacking a product, comprising:

• a robotic arm;
• and,
• at least one apparatus connected to the robotic arm, the at least one apparatus including:
• a control circuit;
• at least one vacuum cup arranged to adhere, at a first location, a sheet of material of a plurality of sheets of material to the at least one vacuum cup;
• at least one sensor configured to:
• continuously monitor an area proximate the at least one vacuum cup;
• and,
• transmit at least one signal when:
• the sheet of material is detected in the area;
• or,
• the sheet of material is not detected in the area, wherein:
• the plurality of sheets of material are arranged in a sequence;
• and,
• the control circuit is configured to:
• determine, using the at least one signal, that the sheet of material is not present in the area at the second location;
• determine an intended position of the sheet of material within the sequence;
• and,
• generate an error signal indicating:
• that the sheet of material is not present in the second location;
• and,
• the intended position of the sheet in the sequence.