Abstract: A laser welding head carried by a robotic arm welds sheet metal workpieces to each other along an elongate seam while maintaining a precise focusing of the laser beam on the seam as it is formed in the face of minor variations in the dimensions, shape and positioning of successive workpieces. The head includes a workpiece gripping assembly including a fluid pressure actuated motor having its cylinder coupled to one of two workpiece engaging members and its piston rod coupled to the other to shift the members between an open workpiece release position and a closed workpiece clamping position in which the assembly clamps the two workpiece fixedly against each other with a clamping force determined by the pressure applied to the motor. The gripping assembly is movable mounted upon a base member fixed to the robotic arm.

Abstract: A plurality of clamps carried on an article support frame movable on a conveyor between successive work stations are mechanically actuated by push/pull cable assemblies connected between each clamp and a common actuator mounted on the support frame. A movable actuator member is driven by a drive screw to actuate the clamps via the cable assemblies and the threaded interconnection between the screw and actuator member locks the actuator member in its last actuated position to lock the clamps in their last actuated positions. A reversible rotary power drive may be drivingly coupled to the screw when the support frame is at a predetermined position at a work station.