Abstract: An improved automated process and apparatus for making a gastro-retentive device (10). The method includes the steps of providing a pouch assembly (18) having an ingredient section within a membrane; rotating the membrane to form a folded pouch assembly; inserting the folded pouch assembly into a first capsule section (20a) to form a pouch/first capsule assembly, and inserting the pouch/first capsule assembly into a second capsule section (20b). The process can further include the steps of providing a continuous strip (32) of multiple pouch assemblies (18) and cutting a single pouch assembly (18) from the strip (32).

Abstract: A device for assembling a composite structure is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the device includes at least one carriage track, a linear rail carriage carried by the at least one carriage track, a yoke assembly carried by the linear rail carriage, a linear actuator assembly engaging the linear rail carriage and adapted to move the linear rail carriage along the at least one carriage track and a pair of mandrel cradles pivotally carried by the yoke assembly. Activation of the linear actuator assembly facilitates movement of the linear rail carriage along the at least one carriage track and pivoting of the pair of mandrel cradles with respect to the yoke assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a crimping device for producing individual, pillow-shaped, preferably filled, hollow bodies from plastically deformable tubes separated transversely to their longitudinal direction and delimited at opposite ends by crimped edges. The crimping device has at least one elongate crimping unit assigned to the longitudinal direction of the tubes, on which a row of crimping tools is disposed one behind the other in the longitudinal direction. Each crimping tool has a stationary crimping jaw fixed in the frame and a movable crimping jaw lying opposite to the fixed jaw in the transverse direction and disposed on a carriage movable back and forth in the transverse direction in the frame. All of the movable crimping jaws may be fastened on the carriage to actuate all of the crimping tools simultaneously and thereby separate a tube into a number of hollow bodies.

Abstract: A method of a double starwheel unit in multiple rows with a multi-hole manner, an instrument and the like are disclosed. The double starwheel unit has a sleeve and two starwheel parallel-arranged and connecting the sleeve. The instrument has a plate-like assembly fixture and an orientation mechanism. The plate-like assembly fixture has a plurality of strip-like tools. The method combines the strip-like tools with the plate-like assembly fixture and a plurality of module holes, presses an exterior mold on the starwheel onto upper and lower surfaces of the plate-like assembly fixture, and injects a working fluid to shape the double starwheel units. The strip-like tools are engaged or disengaged by the orientation mechanism.

Abstract: A component supplying apparatus and a reel can be easily and integrally managed when not supplying components, and the component supplying apparatus can be made to be compact when the component supplying apparatus and the reel are not integrally managed. The component supplying apparatus (50) has an apparatus main body section (53), provided with a feeding apparatus (52) for pulling out a tape (TP), which holds components at fixed intervals, from a reel (80) toward a prescribed component supplying position, and a main body frame (500) on which the feeding apparatus (52) is mounted. The component supplying apparatus (50) is removably mounted on a surface mounting machine (10). The component supplying apparatus (50) is provided with an engaging section (100) as reel holder, which is mounted on the apparatus main body section (53) and is displaced between a holding position where the reel (80) is held and a storing position where the reel (80) is not held.

Abstract: The invention concerns a packing assembly for the manual transport of products, characterised in that it comprises, on a rigid plane (10), one on another in the order, wheels means (20) and one or more product units (40), the wheels (21) of the wheels means (20) remaining on the outside of the rigid plane (10), the parts of the assembly being maintained in fixed reciprocal position by vertical holding means (31,32), so that the packing assembly (100,101) be transportable on said wheels (21).

Abstract: A moving-positioning means of belt-fastening apparatus including a head and an anvil plate on which a row of fastener holes disposed, a row of positioning grooves are disposed in one side of the anvil plate; said positioning grooves are parallel to said fastener holes and the spaces of the positioning grooves are identical to those of said fastener holes; and a positioning strip disposed on the head is compatible with said positioning grooves. Since the positioning grooves and the fastener holes are separately disposed on the anvil plate, the positioning strip may be inserted into the positioning grooves to be located when the head moves. Therefore the fastener holes are no longer used for the location, and the movement of the head is not restricted to the fastener holes, which means the head may move in the whole area of the frame no matter whether the fasteners are inserted into the fastener holes or not.

Abstract: An apparatus to facilitate movement of a pallet from an assembly table to a pallet stacker comprises a roller frame adapted for movable attachment to the pallet stacker in front of the entrance to the pallet opening such that the roller frame can be moved, in a direction substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the loading direction, from a receiving position nearest to the assembly table, to a remote position farthest from the assembly table. A pallet roller is rotatably attached on top of the roller frame about a substantially horizontal axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the loading direction. The pallet roller supports a pallet in a substantially horizontal position such that the supported pallet can be rolled into the pallet opening of the pallet stacker. Conveniently a bias force is provided to return the roller frame to the receiving position when the pallet has been rolled off.

Abstract: A method of preparing flat articles for sorting includes the steps of: (1) receiving a bundle of flat items to be sorted, the bundle being wrapped with a flexible film such that the film forms an enclosed package of flat items, (2) placing the bundles on a substantially horizontal, substantially frictionless work surface, moving the bundle adjacent at least one film slitter, the film slitter being automatically activated when the bundle is moved adjacent the film slitter, (3) removing the cut film from the flat items, and (4) stacking the unbundled flat items in a cartridge.

Abstract: A pickup device comprising a pickup surface to which an electronic component retaining liquid is to be applied and capable of adjusting a wet area of the electronic component retaining liquid on the pickup surface is prepared, and the electronic component retaining liquid is applied to the pickup surface in a first step. The electronic component is retained on the pickup surface via the electronic component retaining liquid in a state where the wet area is extended in a second step.

Abstract: A method for automation of conventional manual operation of setting the work-pieces on the hanger (H) for transporting the work-pieces, which moves such as in the surface treatment equipment (300), so as to provide the labor and power saving effect, to improve the efficiency on the operation, and to further improve the quality of the surface of the work-piece after treatment, comprises the process to separate and align plural work-pieces which are joined and aligned; the process to support the skewer-shaped supporting member (K) supporting plural separated and aligned work-pieces while maintaining the separated and aligned configuration; and the process to hang the skewer-shaped supporting member (K) supporting the work-pieces in the separated and aligned configuration on the hanger (H).

Abstract: According to the invention, a shell handling carriage (19) is provided with grippers (194) which grip the end edges of a shell (2) made of composite material still fixed to a molding drum (11). An expeller strut (13) prevents the drum (11) from moving while the carriage (19) translating 5 removes the shell (2) from the drum (11). The shell (2) is then transported by the carriage (19) to a working station in which robots rivet the transversal ribs on it. The transversal ribs reach the robot working position orderly arranged on a self-moving rib store, which is inserted in the shell (2) itself.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus for precision deploy-attaching beam-mount structure to the outside of an elongate column at plural, defined attachment sites that are distributed and spaced along the length of the column. The method involves (a) preparing an elongate column to act as a travel way for a carriage which is designed to transport and deploy beam-mount structure, shifting such a carriage progressively along the column from defined attachment site to defined attachment site, and at each such site, deploy-attaching from the carriage to the column the carriage-carried beam-mount structure.

Abstract: A face-mounted carrier for transporting a refiner plate segment for refining lignocellulosic material to a refiner disk. The refiner plate segment may contain threads that facilitate bolting to the face-mounted carrier and bolting to the refiner disk.

Abstract: Mounting operation is efficiently performed by automatically conveying parts and assisting only an operation to mount the parts to a mounted body. A parts conveying/mounting device 1 comprises a power assist mechanism on a self-traveling carrier. When receiving a tank T at a parts reception position SP, the parts conveying/mounting device 1 travels at high speed to a main line ML along a travel guiding route K, and self-travels in the conveyance direction of a vehicle body W synchronously with the flow of the vehicle body W, in a state that the tank T is conveyed to the vicinity of a mounting portion of the vehicle body W. A worker MS performs positioning of the tank T via the power assist mechanism, and mounts the tank to the vehicle body W.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for disassembling, assembling and using a toroidally shaped segmented core configured to carry a tire during a curing process includes: a transport mechanism operatively moving the segmented core between a plurality of stations in a tire curing line; one or more segment removal devices for removing a plurality of core segments individually from a cured tire and from around a core central axis and placing the core segments individually in respective spaced apart storage locations; and one or more core segment assembly devices for removing the core segments individually from the storage locations and placing the core segments individually in respective core locations to form an assembled segmented core. The apparatus and method operatively sequences to place and remove differently structured core segments individually into and from the assembled core configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for maintaining orientation of a manufactured part during a manufacturing process. The invention includes feeding a carrier from at least one supply apparatus. The carrier includes a flexible material and the supply apparatus stores the carrier such that the carrier may be fed from the supply apparatus. The invention includes feeding the carrier into a part forming module used by a manufacturing process to form a manufactured part and forming a plurality of manufactured parts onto the carrier as the carrier is fed into the part forming module.

Abstract: A T-bracket and spring plate riveting machine for use with a T-bracket making machine is disclosed to have a conveyer for carrying T-brackets from the T-bracket making machine to a front side for processing, two pitch-adjustable riveting units for stamping metal sheet materials into spring plates and riveting two spring plates to the ends of each T-bracket, and sensor-controlled corrector frames for correcting the position of the T-bracket before riveting if necessary.

Abstract: A method, and apparatus for performing the method, is provided for the purpose of forming and inserting seal pieces into a container cap of a type which comprises an integral cup-like member having a top panel, a skirt depending from the top panel, and a plurality of cap lugs formed in the rim and extending partially inward from the rim. A quantity of such caps is supplied onto a surface, preferably with the caps inverted resting on their top panels. The caps are gathered into a plurality of rows and forwarded to screw conveyor mechanisms for advancing the caps to seal inserting stations located substantially coplanar with said assembly surface. The screw conveyor mechanism includes a table with at least two slots therein and conveyor screws extending beneath and along the slots and carrying caps along the table to a discharge location where the caps are temporarily located.

Abstract: An installation apparatus is comprised of a pair of grasping brackets and an installation jig. The installation apparatus is employed to install a cockpit module in a vehicle body in a manner that the grasping brackets is detachably attached respectively to both end portions of a steering member of the cockpit module and that the installation jig grasps the grasping brackets and conveys the cockpit module to the vehicle body.

Abstract: An automated fabrication system is provided that utilizes electromagnetism to manipulate and/or sense the location of raw materials on a platform. Tools located around said platform may be utilized to fabricate a predetermined structure out of the raw materials. Tags that can be electromagnetically manipulated and sensed may be placed on passive raw materials. Structures fabricated from such a system may be, for example, a roof truss. Additionally, the fabrication system may be mobilized by way of a truck such that structures may be built on-site.

Abstract: A device for assembling, tuning and testing motor vehicles may be installed anywhere in a flat hall without modifying the ceiling or floor and is transportable. The device may be assembled from individual, transportable, modular, interconnectable components that can be installed on a flat surface without using pits or creating floor load. The device encompasses the conveying mechanisms and assembly units for the motor vehicles to be assembled.

Abstract: An assembling machine with a feeder is provided. The feeder feeds receiving components into an assembler, where a moveable coupling mechanism couples attaching components to the receiving components. Transporting mechanisms coupled to a plurality of drive trains deliver the receiving components across the feeder table and to the assembler. The transporting mechanisms alternate between a plurality of speeds so as to deliver the receiving components to the assembler such that the moveable coupling mechanism may operate at a continuous, periodic rate.

Abstract: A collector mirror exchanging apparatus capable of safely and easily exchanging a collector mirror for collecting extreme ultra violet light emitted from plasma generated within a chamber of an extreme ultra violet light source apparatus. The collector mirror exchanging apparatus includes: a supporting base for supporting a collector mirror or a collector mirror structure; and a guiding rail disposed on the supporting base and regulating a moving direction of the collector mirror or the collector mirror structure; wherein at least the collector mirror is taken out of the chamber by moving the collector mirror or the collector mirror structure along the guiding rail on the supporting base.

Abstract: A fixture exchange rail system is provided having first and second fixture assemblies movably mounted with respect to respective first and second stationary rails. A movable rail is disposed substantially adjacent to, and movable between, the first and second stationary rails. The movable rail is sufficiently configured to selectively receive the first and second fixture assemblies thereon. A method of operating a workstation having a fixture exhange rail system operable to enable work on a workpiece is also provided including the steps of: A) determining the style of workpiece present at the workstation; B) aligning a movable rail with one of a first and second stationary rail having a respective first and second fixture assembly mounted thereto corresponding to the style of workpiece; and C) moving the fixture assembly corresponding to the style of workpiece from the stationary rail to the movable rail.

Abstract: Vehicle body assembly line apparatus includes a plurality of work pallets (14) having locators (18) with locator members (36) that are adjustable by a grab member (40) on each at a remote location below a vertical rest surface (37) mounted on each locator member. An adjusting station (16) provides either automatic adjustment of the adjustable locators (18) by one or more robots (52) or manual adjustment of the adjustable locators (18). A sensor (58) senses the location of a positioning target (56) on each locator member (36) at a known location from the vertical rest surface (37) and any locator pin (38) mounted thereon and generates a deviation signal when the positioning is not within a design tolerance. A control (60) readjusts the appropriate locator (18) as necessary to the design tolerance range.

Abstract: A system and a method for in-line production of insulated glass units (IGU) for custom windows. The system and method schedule IGU production based on the order in which the cut glass is available, or broken out, from a glass cutting station. Once the IGUs are assembled, they are then sorted into the order in which they are to be further processed, i.e., into the order in which the corresponding windows are to be produced and shipped. Thus, the sorting, or carting, step occurs after the cut glass is contained in sealed IGUs, and the workers who perform the sorting step do not have to directly handle the pieces of cut glass.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for moving a truss assembly from a truss assembly table work surface are presented having lift out rails movable between a recessed position beneath the work surface and a raised position above the work surface. A support element assembly is movably mounted to each lift out rail and has at least one support surface for supporting a truss assembly when the lift out rail is in the recessed position. The support element assembly is movable between an up position and a down position. In the up position the support surface is flush with the work surface of the truss table, the support element assembly in the up position when the lift out rail is in the recessed position. In the down position the support surface does not interfere with a truss assembly sliding on the slide mechanism of the lift out rail, the support element assembly in the down position when the lift out rail is in the raised position.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a swash plate with pistons in a swash plate compressor of the present invention can automatically assemble the swash plate with double or single head pistons and shoes thereby improving workability and productivity. In the assembling apparatus, each of the pistons includes a swash plate-receiving section for receiving a pair of opposed shoes therein and having an insert groove for receiving the swash plate mounted on a rotational shaft and a piston body to be inserted into a cylinder bore of a cylinder block so that the swash plate is inserted into the insert grooves of the pistons. The assembling apparatus comprises a base plate, piston-loading means, piston-shifting means and rotating means.

Abstract: A sunroof is automatically and precisely positioned to a mounting position by an apparatus including a floating plate movably mounted to a base member. A secondary lift structure is mounted to the floating plate and a centering cylinder unit is disposed between the secondary lift structure and the floating plate such that the centering cylinder unit aligns the floating plate to the sunroof mounting position on the vehicle body.

Abstract: A manufacturing system for assembly of component parts to produce an article includes a plurality of separate process modules for executing the various process steps, and a plurality of magazine units, which can be coupled to the process modules, for storage and transport of article components produced in the process steps. The process modules have a substantially identical base structure which can be suited to the respective process steps.

Abstract: A system for assembling a wrap-around type binder includes a riveting apparatus including a riveting station, for assembling a ring/shield/frame/hinge plate assembly to binder covers. The ring assemblies are moved to the riveting station along one path, and the binder or notebook covers are fed to the riveting station along another path. The riveting station includes locating and forming pins and at least one magnet for holding the hinge plates, and a carriage for holding rivets and for driving them through the covers and expanding the rivets on the forming pins to securely mount the hinge plates and associated rings, shields and frames to the binder covers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing articles from a continuous manufacturing line without interrupting the line comprising a pair of conveyor portions arranged in substantially parallel alignment, each having means for transporting an article along the manufacturing line and being mounted on a frame, the frame being reversibly transportable between a first and second position in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of travel of an article on the manufacturing line, said first and second positions corresponding with a conveyor portion being in alignment with the continuous manufacturing line.

Abstract: An installation apparatus is comprised of a pair of grasping brackets and an installation jig. The installation apparatus is employed to install a cockpit module in a vehicle body in a manner that the grasping brackets is detachably attached respectively to both end portions of a steering member of the cockpit module and that the installation jig grasps the grasping brackets and conveys the cockpit module to the vehicle body.

Abstract: A billet of veneer sheets is constructed using parallel sheet conveying conveyors for simultaneous building of partial fans that are combined and transferred to the trailing end of the billet. Encoders, detectors and computer controls control the conveyors for precise placement of the sheets in building a fan and precision placement of the fan to the trailing end of the billet.

Abstract: A chip mounting system includes a substrate supply apparatus and a chip supply apparatus. The substrate supply apparatus includes a transport conveyor formed to be moved for a length corresponding to the size of a discrete substrate and a stage with a disposition surface corresponding to the size of the discrete substrate. In the chip supply apparatus, the lowermost chip tray of a plurality of stacked chip trays is sequentially transported to a chip supply stage, and a tray stage is disposed near the chip supply stage. In addition, the chip supply apparatus includes a box for surrounding an area in which the substrate and the chip are transported as a substantially closed space and a clean fan for flowing clean air into the closed space.

Abstract: A connecting rod is cracked by mounting it on a fixture having a split mandrel and driving a pair of opposed wedges between the mandrel halves. The fixture is mounted on a support and is transported by a conveyor through a series of stations where the rod is split, separated into two pieces, the crack zone is cleaned, and the pieces are reunited along the crack lines. The use of two opposed wedges cancels out the horizontal forces of the wedges and results in a vertical force that cracks the rod. The fixture floats relative to the support allowing the connecting rod to be centered relative to the wedges. A break limiter limits the displacement of the first side of the rod to crack to prevent distortion of the second side before it cracks. In the event the fixture malfunctions, the entire fixture is removed from the conveyor and replaced by another fixture, thus reducing downtime.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for immobilizing a vehicle chassis frame in its free state atop a frame fixture so as to establish a net datum position of the chassis frame for enabling a net datum feature to be fabricated in a location net to the fixture and in design-intent position on the chassis frame. The apparatus does not compressingly clamp any portion of the chassis frame in order to avoid deforming or displacing the chassis frame and to avoid building stress into the chassis frame or incurring springback of the chassis frame. The chassis frame is interposed between a pair of opposed pads used for contacting opposite portions of the chassis frame. A work support connects to each of the opposed pads for advancing the opposed pads from a retracted position to an advanced position to find opposite portions of the chassis frame. The advancing device advances the pair of opposed pads into contact with the chassis frame without measurably displacing the chassis frame despite the tolerance variations.

Abstract: Apparatus for assembling injection devices includes first and second pairs of shafts spaced apart from one another and defining axes extending parallel to a first inclined axis. The shafts include grooves extending helically between ends of the shafts, the helical grooves together defining passages extending vertically between the shafts. The shafts are rotated about their axes such that the passages move between first and second ends of the shafts. Syringes are introduced into successive passages to carry the syringes downwardly along the inclined axis between the first and second ends of the shafts while maintaining the syringes oriented vertically and spaced apart. Guards are carried along a horizontal axis that converges with the inclined axis at a convergence region. The guards are spaced apart and suspended vertically below corresponding syringes such that the syringes are received in successive guards at the convergence region.

Abstract: There is a module conveyance mechanism 1 projected, which comprises: lift means for transfer 6, in which the module constructed in a subline SL is made to move through a lower part than a floor side FL of a mainline ML; a slide mechanism 5, wherein the module is made to move through a lower part than the floor side of a mainline ML parallel to the floor thereof; the lift means for assembly 4, in which the module transferred from the slide mechanism 5 is made to rise to the assembly zone of the body F.

Abstract: In an apparatus for inserting a handle part into a mold for blow molding a bottle, a pick-up unit includes a vertical backing plate, a clamping unit projecting substantially horizontally from the backing plate for clamping therebetween a portion of the handle part, and an ejector hole formed in the backing plate. A release unit is disposed at one side of the backing plate opposite to the clamping unit, and includes a plunger movable through the ejector hole for pushing the handle part away from the clamping unit.

Abstract: In a soft contact lens manufacturing process, an injection molding machine (IMM) produces many thermoplastic injection molded front curve (FC) and back curve (BC) mold parts, each of which mold parts is subsequently used only once to mold a single soft contact lens. An inlay station with alignment assemblies and transfer tubes provide for the precise transfer to and alignment of the FC and BC molds in pallets during their transfer from the IMM to pallets on an assembly line in a high speed automated commercial production operation. A rotatable FC transfer arm and a rotatable BC transfer arm transfer the FC and BC molds from the IMM machine to the pallets in an inlay station. The precisely aligned transfer is provided by two alignment rods of an alignment assembly which pass through two alignment apertures in the pallet and then pass through two alignment apertures in one of the FC or BC alignment arms.

Abstract: An I/O minienvirornent including a port door within an I/O port, and a system for removing the port door and pod door coupled thereto, and setting down the pod and port doors at a convenient location within the I/O minienvironment. After wafer processing has been completed and the wafers have been transferred back through the I/O port to the SMEF pod, the system may retrieve the port and pod doors, and return the port door to their sealing positions within the I/O port and cassette, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the system for gripping and transporting the port and pod doors may be located on the back end of the end effector of the wafer handling robot within the I/O minienvironment. The back end of the end effector is the end of the end effector opposite that used to transport the wafers and/or cassette.

Abstract: A vehicle body transfer machine transfers a vehicle body along a transfer path by using a transfer truck with which the vehicle body is supported, wherein the transfer truck is returned to an initial starting position of the transfer path for a repeated use when transfer of the vehicle body is terminated. The vehicle body transfer machine comprises a jig change-over stage located before the initial starting position of the transfer path, a plurality of locator jigs including an upwardly directed locating pin, a plurality of lock units, an unlock-operating unit, and a jig change-over unit including a socket portion engageable with the locating pin of the corresponding one of the plurality of locator jigs.

Abstract: A stack of integrated circuits in thin small outline packages (TSOP's) is constructed with an air space in between adjacent packages. The TSOP's have a plurality of connection terminals extending therefrom. A lead frame is disposed adjacent to the packages, positioned medially of the air space and having a plurality of connection terminals in registration with and in electric contact with the plurality of TSOP connection terminals. The TSOP's have a chip select terminal and several unused terminals. The lead frame has a strain-relieved conductor extending between the chip select terminal on a TSOP higher in the stack to the adjacent TSOP lower in the stack. Moreover, TSOP locating surfaces are included on the lead frame in the finished stack.

Abstract: A system is disclosed to manufacture a recuperator core. The core is made up of a plurality of cells and an inner sealing member. A manufacturing system has an input end, an assembly station having a lower or inner chucking portion and an upper portion, and a welding station. The lower or inner chucking portion is movable between a lower position and an upper position and has a retracted position and an expanded position. The upper portion is movable between a loading position and a clamping position and is rotatable between a first position and a second position. The welding station performs a tack welding operation and a lineal welding operation.

Abstract: A truss assembly apparatus for assembling truss structures, by assembly on two or more consecutive, spaced apart, coplanar work table surfaces and with a gantry type press assembly of a plurality of wooden truss members and truss connector plates with toothed projections, the truss members coupled by embedding the connector plate projections into said truss members. The truss assembly apparatus has a gantry type press assembly with first and second ends adapted to be mounted on first and second ends of each of said work table surfaces, for movement over the work table surfaces and the space between adjacent work table surfaces. The gantry assembly has a continuous belt on the first and second ends for driving of the gantry assembly, by engagement of the continuous driving belt with the first and second table ends. The gantry assembly is configured to be supported by the continuous belt, during movement of the gantry over a work table surface when crossing the space between work table surfaces.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for cutting a sheet of material into single supports where each of the single supports has an array area to which is bound an array of chemical compounds. The sheet comprises a plurality of score lines. The apparatus comprises an input conveyor, an output conveyor, a driver for moving the sheet from the input conveyor to the output conveyor and a breaking mechanism for breaking the sheet into single supports. The input conveyor, the output conveyor and the driver are each adapted to move the sheet without contacting the array area and an area on a surface of the support opposite the array area. Likewise, the breaking mechanism breaks the sheet into the single supports along the score lines without contacting the array area and an area on a surface of the support opposite the array area.

Abstract: A workstation having multiple robots and multiple fixtures for processing multiple workpieces along two processing paths. A first fixture can be positioned on the first processing path and a second fixture can be positioned on the second processing path. The multiple robots are positioned between the two paths and are moveable to process workpieces moving along both the first and second paths. The robots can be welding robots. The robots can be independently moveable with respect to each other to enhance the efficiency of the workstation. The robots can have overlapping ranges of movement so that every portion of the workpiece can be processed by at least two of the robots.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting screw elements from a screw shaft comprises a frame, a stationary clamp mounted on the frame and disposable between open and closed positions, a carriage mounted on the frame for motion toward and away from the stationary clamp, a movable clamp mounted on the carriage for motion therewith and disposable between open and closed positions, a first drive coupled to the stationary clamp for opening and closing the stationary clamp, a second drive coupled to the movable clamp for opening and closing the movable clamp, and a third drive coupled to the carriage for causing motion of the carriage toward and away from the stationary clamp, wherein clamping of a downstream screw element by the stationary clamp, clamping of an upstream screw element by the movable clamp and one or more strokes of the carriage away from the stationary clamp result in removal of the downstream screw element held in place by the stationary clamp from the screw shaft.