Article manipulator for robot

A pneumatic article handling apparatus for use with a robot comprising:

• a mounting plate for coupling the handling apparatus to the robot;
• a frame having spaced members connected to said plate;
• a lifting mechanism fixedly connected to the frame;
• and
• means for separating an article from a stack fixedly mounted on the lifting mechanism;
• said means including an air cylinder positioning an elongated piston and a vacuum picking device fixedly connected to the piston and being constrained to move in a linear path substantially parallel to the lifting mechanism to pick and place the article on said lifting mechanism and to maintain the stability of said article as it is transported from one place to another.

A manipulating device for use with a robot for unloading single parallelepiped articles from pallets carrying a stack of said articles onto a conveyor system of an automated manufacturing assembly line and to remove said articles from the assembly line onto pallets comprising:

• a frame for connecting the device to the robot;
• a lifting means fixedly connected to the frame, said lifting means being operable for contacting and supporting the article on one of its sides;
• a linear actuator fixedly mounted on the lifting means and including an air cylinder means for positioning an elongated piston constrained to reciprocate along a linear path;
• a vacuum gripping means fixedly coupled to one end of the piston said vacuum gripping means being mounted and constrained to reciprocate in spaced and parallel relationship to the lifting means to grip the article on another side and to maintain the stability as it is transported by the manipulating device.

An article manipulating device for use with a robot comprising:

• a frame operable for coupling said device to the robot;
• a lifting means fixedly connected to the frame and operable for supporting an article thereon;
• a linear positioning means including an air cylinder and an elongated member fixedly mounted on the frame with the air cylinder operable for reciprocating said elongated member in a linear trajectory substantially parallel to the lifting means;
• and
• a vacuum gripping means fixedly coupled to said, elongated member and in spaced relationship to the lifting means, said gripping means being operable to contact the article on one side and placing said article on the lifting means and to maintain the stability of the article as it is transported by the manipulating device.