Abstract: Acquisition or pick-up tools that themselves aid in improving the ease with which images of an acquired substrate may be captured, and methods of operating such pick-up tools, are provided. The pick-up tools may include a pick-up surface adapted to interface with a foreign substrate and a light source integrated with the pick-up tool such that light emitted from the light source passes through the pick-up surface to the foreign substrate when the foreign substrate is temporarily coupled with the pick-up surface to create a silhouette of the foreign substrate. A vision system may be adapted for capturing the silhouette of the foreign substrate when the foreign substrate is temporarily coupled with the pick-up surface. The substrate pick-up surface may be formed of one of a transparent, a semi-transparent, or a translucent material such that light may at least partially pass there through.

Abstract: A workpiece container stores at least one workpiece having a bottom surface and a peripheral edge. In one embodiment, a workpiece support structure is located within the container enclosure, which forms multiple vertically stacked storage shelves within the enclosure. Each storage shelf includes, in one embodiment, a first tine and a second tine for supporting the workpiece in a substantially horizontal orientation. The bottom surface and peripheral edge of a workpiece seated on a storage shelf extends beyond the outer edge of both the first tine and the second tine. An end effector may engage these extended portions or “grip zones” of the workpiece.

Abstract: A tool includes a grasping mechanism, an extendable pole operably connected to the grasping mechanism at a free end thereof, and a handle mechanism for manipulating the grasping mechanism. The handle mechanism is operably connected to the extendable pole.

Abstract: A gripping device comprises a base, a first finger rotatably or movably connected to the base, and a second finger connected to the base. The first finger and the second finger are capable of selectively entering an opened gripping mode and a closed gripping mode to grip an object. In the opened gripping mode, the first and second fingers grip the object from the same side of the object. In the closed gripping mode, the first and second fingers grip the object from different sides of the object.

Abstract: A robot tendon system having a robot arm having an exterior surface, and further rigid elements, each of which is moveably attached to the robot arm or to another of the further rigid elements. Further, a tendon retaining element defines a set of closed channels, and has a major exterior surface that is attached to the major surface of the robot arm. Finally, tendons extend through the closed channels and are attached to the rigid elements.

Abstract: A mechanical hand is provided that can increase the operation stroke and also the gripping force of a pair of gripping members. The hand includes first and second sliders, a driving source, a rotating plate, a first clamping link. Of these components, the first and second sliders are provided on a hand body so as to be linearly movable in opening and closing directions and the driving source is provided in the hand body. The rotating plate is rotatably driven by the driving source. The first clamping link is linked with the rotating plate so as to be only rotatable on a first shaft, and is linked with the first slider so as to be only rotatable on a second shaft. Moreover, the second clamping link is linked with the rotating plate so as to be only rotatable on a third shaft, and is linked with the second slider so as be only rotatable on a fourth shaft. The first and second sliders move linearly in the opening and closing directions by making the driving source rotate the rotating plate.

Abstract: A vacuum cup assembly that generates a local vacuum using a prime mover that may be an electrical motor or a solenoid. The vacuum cup may have one or more ports to remove and vent air between the cup and the atmosphere. The prime mover drives a piston or a flexible membrane, which may be a diaphragm, through one or more reciprocating cycles to generate the local vacuum. The vacuum cup assembly may be used to form a temporary attachment to a work piece, the act on the work piece, such as by moving the work piece, and then release the work piece from the vacuum cup assembly. The vacuum cup assembly disclosed herein is self-contained inasmuch as the assembly may have a power source, such as a battery, located on a housing. This makes its operation quiet and effective.

Abstract: A dog waste collection (and disposal) system designed to fit in a users pocket or small purse for convenient use when walking a pet. A refill of 5-10 disposable bags may also be manufactured separately for each dog scoop. The device is useful for remote collection and efficient sanitary disposal of pet waste.

Abstract: A simple, portable carrier for a non-rigid container such as a plastic bag or sack that permits container to remain open for filling with articles or materials while serving as a carrying handle, especially suitable for highway crew members cleaning debris over long stretches of roadway. Device is comprised of a rigid member such as a hollow rod (tube), snug-fitting end caps, and end cap retaining bands. A segment of the open end of container is entrapped at each end of rigid member and held in place by friction between end caps and each end of rigid member. The device is reusable and is small enough to be carried in a pocket or on a belt loop.

Abstract: The anchor and clevis system comprises a quick, tactical, and safe means to deploy a canine into an attic or other intended space to conduct a search and/or for the apprehension of a criminal suspect and comprises an anchor adapted to lock onto a support structure and a clevis attached to the anchor and threaded to accept a pole for remote deployment. Attached to the anchoring device by a carabiner is the top pulley. A lift rope is threaded through the top pulley allowing the user on the ground or lower floor to quickly lift a dog into an attic with minimal exposure to harm. The lift rope engages a lower pulley allowing a subject to be lifted by one user. Attached to the lower pulley by a second carabiner is a snap-shackle release system which allows the user to disengage the dog from the device remotely.

Abstract: A robot includes a first arm and a second arm. The first arm and the second arm have different mechanisms from each other.

Abstract: An auxiliary handle accessory attaches to a shovel's handle-shaft via a folding “clamshell” type clamp, with an intermediate stem member attached to the clamp, and a grip handle screwed into this intermediate stem member, completing the assembly. The intermediate stem member has a ball-knob at the bottom that becomes entirely enclosed by half-sphere “cups” in each of the clamshell clamp halves. When these clamshell-halves close together, they form a simple yet robust socket around the ball, and comprise a ball-and-socket joint. Advantageously, the clamshell-clamp halves are bolted together, insuring a strong and robust connection. This design accommodates the “to-and-fro” motion in the vertical axis during shoveling.

Abstract: An adjustable scoop comprising a sheet of flexible material having a periphery configured so that the sheet may be bent from a flat configuration to form a scoop having a curved body, two handles, a base and a cross member, wherein the cross member may be secured to the body at one of a plurality of locations so that the body, base and cross member form a receptacle having one of a plurality of volumetric capacities for particulate material.

Abstract: A rotatable shovel handle assembly for mounting on a shovel including, a rotatable grip portion; and a lift handle portion hingedly attached to the rotatable grip portion. Wherein, the rotatable grip portion includes a base sleeve portion and a rotatable sleeve portion, and wherein the rotatable sleeve portion is disposed about the base sleeve portion and adapted to rotate thereabout.

Abstract: A dog waste collection device for holding a disposable bag, with a handle having a proximal end for a user to hold the device and a distal end opposite the proximal end, a loop affixed to the handle at the distal end of the handle by a clamping assembly having a magnet for releasably securing the bag to the collection device while the collection device is used to collect dog waste.

Abstract: A card extraction apparatus which is useful for removing a card from a card storage device is disclosed. The card extraction apparatus has an affixing element to affix the card to the card extraction apparatus and further has a tab member which a user may grip to apply an extracting force.

Abstract: An add-on sling-load system capable of being attached to a host that comprises a load provided with at least two slices arrange in a predetermined configuration and preferably a stack and a controlled coupling mechanism configured to attach and release at least one slice from the arranged configuration. The sling load system is used for multiple devices.

Abstract: This apparatus supports gripping, manipulation and/or insertion or removal of a planar workpiece from a receptacle into which it fits tightly. The apparatus has two substantially identical rigid arms attached to one another at a single pivot point near their longitudinal center. One end of each arm forms a handle; pressing or releasing these two handles actuates the gripper. The other end of each arm has attached on its inside surface a rigid plate. Together these two substantially parallel plates form jaws to grip the planar workpiece. A spring attached to the two handles biases the jaws toward the closed position. An optional adjustable stop mechanism supports setting the gap between jaws when the apparatus is in the closed position. An alternative embodiment utilizes step-shaped jaws for applications where flat jaws are difficult to utilize.

Abstract: An animal waste collection assembly includes a box that has a first half that is hingedly coupled to the second half. The first half is positioned in an open position and the box may collect animal waste. A pair of wheels is provided and each of the wheels is coupled to the box. Thus, the box may be rolled along a support surface. A handle is coupled to the box and the handle may be manipulated. An actuator is coupled to the handle and the actuator may be manipulated. The actuator is mechanically coupled to the first half such that the actuator selectively urges the first half into the open position wherein the second half is configured to receive animal waste.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flow blocking valve, a vacuum lifting device have such valve, a vacuum lifting arrangements, and methods for operating the same, the valve including a valve housing part forming a flow duct between a flow inlet arranged at an inlet end of the duct and a flow outlet arranged at an outlet end of the duct, where a seat is arranged at the flow outlet, the valve further including a displaceable valve blocking device arranged to move inside the flow duct, where said blocking device is arranged to block the flow through said valve when being forced against said seat, the valve also including obstruction means being displaceable in a direction substantially transverse in relation to a longitudinal direction of the flow duct, where the obstruction means is arranged to controllably obstruct the passage of the displaceable valve blocking device without completely disabling flow through the flow duct.