Abstract: A claw mechanism for an amusement game such as an arcade crane game is disclosed with a movable leg or prong that pivots about a pin to capture a target at the target's upper rim. The prong is actuated by a solenoid that retracts a rod, causing the prong to pivot inward toward a pair of stationary prongs or fixed support such as a half tube. The prong may be formed with a notch that is configured to engage the rim of an aluminum can for lifting the target/prize off a turntable and into a retrieval bin.

Abstract: A rotatable cushioning pick-and-place device primarily comprises a motor, a body, a cushioning module and a pick-and-place module. The cushioning module is disposed in a first chamber of the body and comprises a rotary bearing which is connected to a drive shaft of the motor, and coupled to a driven shaft sleeve through a rotary follower. The rotary follower is driven by the rotary bearing to drive the driven shaft sleeve to rotate, thereby allowing the rotary bearing to displace relative to the driven shaft sleeve axially. The cushioning spring is arranged between the rotary bearing and the driven shaft sleeve. A first sealing ring and a second sealing ring of the pick-and-place module are fixed on the body to cooperatively and air-tightly seal the second chamber.

Abstract: A component delivery device includes an actuator that displaces an outer sleeve and an inner rod positioned within a cavity of the outer sleeve together from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration to move an ejectable component in relation to a feed head. The actuator further displaces the outer sleeve and not the inner rod to an ejection configuration to displace the ejectable component toward a workpiece. Displacing the outer sleeve and not the inner rod causes the outer sleeve to translate over the inner rod and compresses a biasing member that is disposed within the cavity and in engagement with the inner rod.

Abstract: A rotary positioning apparatus includes a fixing base, a rotation mechanism, two driving modules and a carrier. The rotation mechanism is disposed on the fixing base, the first driving module is disposed on the fixing base and coupled to the rotation mechanism to drive the rotation mechanism rotating around a first rotation axis relatively to the fixing base. The carrier has plural accommodating slots on a circular-arc surface thereof and is pivoted to the rotation mechanism through a second rotation axis passing through the curvature center of the circular-arc surface and perpendicular to the first rotation axis, on which the curvature center is located. The second driving module is disposed on the rotation mechanism and coupled to the carrier to drive the carrier rotating around the second rotation axis relatively to the rotation mechanism. An automatic pick-and-place system and an operation method using the rotary positioning apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: A holding member can be made to move up and down with long strokes by means of short vertical strokes so that the overall arrangement can be downsized and lightweight. Additionally, the holding member can be held to a constant attitude and the overall arrangement can be simplified to reduce the cost. A swing arm is adapted to be swung between the metal mold of a resin molding machine and the outside of the resin molding machine by means of a rotary shaft rotating in response to a vertical motion of an elevating body relative to a vertical frame and, at the same time, a fitting member is adapted to be driven to rotate in response to the swinging motion of the swing arm in order to control the attitude of a vertical arm so as to make its axial line aligned with the vertical direction.

Abstract: This invention discloses a transferring apparatus for transferring a glass substrate from a cartridge in case the glass substrate disposed therein is damaged or defective. The transferring apparatus includes a chassis, and a conveying device. The conveying device includes a frame and a plurality of transferring rods arranged in a common plane and along a longitudinal direction. A first driving device disposed on the chassis and is interlinked with the conveying device. The first driving device moves the frame along the first horizontal direction such that the frame can be moved in and out from the cartridge to carry the damaged glass substrate. The driving device further drives the transferring rods to rotate centered with its own axis. By the provision of the transferring apparatus, a damaged or defective glass substrate can be properly transferred out of the cartridge without damaging adjacent glass substrate. This can be performed automatically so as to increase the efficiency, while reducing labors.

Abstract: A clamp is designed for accepting a mail piece at a loading station, and for releasably holding the mail piece while the mail piece is moved to an unloading station via a sorting system. The clamp is manipulated in the sorting system, instead of manipulating the mail piece held by the clamp. The clamp includes jaws for releasably holding the mail piece, plus a machine readable identifier, plus a mechanism for engaging with the sorting system. The clamp's identifier includes clamp information which uniquely identifies the clamp. The clamp information is for use by the sorting system, in combination with address information on the mail piece, to enable sortation of the mail piece held by the clamp.

Abstract: A buffering device for temporarily storing containers with plants in a buffer space includes a supply device for supplying containers, a disposer for disposing a number of supplied containers in a row extending in a first direction, a distributor provided with at least one controllable gripper for gripping a row of containers, wherein the distributor is movable substantially in a second direction which differs from the first direction, and is movable above the disposer. In turn the gripper includes opposing pivot arms arranged opposite to one another relative to an intended row of containers to be gripped, and further includes a pivot driver.

Abstract: A clamp is designed for accepting a mail piece at a loading station, and for releasably holding the mail piece while the mail piece is moved to an unloading station via a sorting system. The clamp is manipulated in the sorting system, instead of manipulating the mail piece held by the clamp. The clamp includes jaws for releasably holding the mail piece, plus a machine readable identifier, plus a mechanism for engaging with the sorting system. The clamp's identifier includes clamp information which uniquely identifies the clamp. The clamp information is for use by the sorting system, in combination with address information on the mail piece, to enable sortation of the mail piece held by the clamp.

Abstract: A robotic manipulator for clamping a workpiece includes a power source, a first rotary member, and a clamping mechanism. The first rotary member is connected to and rotated by the power source. The clamping mechanism is non-rotatably connected to the first rotary member and includes a first clamping member and a second clamping member capable of coupling to and decoupling from the first clamping member. The first clamping member and the second clamping member are coupled to each other. A receptacle is defined between the first clamping member and the second clamping member to receive the workpiece. The receptacle has a shape and size substantially the same as the workpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus for accepting and transferring at least one disk-like member is provided. The apparatus includes a pick- and place-mechanism including gripping means. In effect, the mechanism is adapted to provide pick- and/or place-cycles, which during operation provides a movement of said gripping means between an up and a down position and vice versa, whereby, in the down position, said gripping means either picks the disk-like member from a load position or places the disk-like member onto the load position.

Abstract: A slide gripper assembly is provided having a slide assembly coupled to a gripper assembly. The slide assembly extends and retracts the gripper assembly. A bracket assembly is coupled to the slide and gripper assemblies to move the gripper assembly relative to the slide assembly. The Bracket assembly may comprise an at least partially-spherical head which may be coupled to the gripper assembly to allow movement of the same relative to the slide assembly.

Abstract: A micro device using assembly system for feeding, programming, and placing micro devices on circuit boards includes a robotic handling system capable of picking up and placing the micro devices on the circuit boards on a conveyor system. A control system controls the conveyor system and the robotic handling system. An input feeder provides the micro devices and a programming system is capable of programming a plurality of micro devices in sockets which are in line parallel with the input feeder. The input feeder responds to communication with the control system to feed the unprogrammed micro devices while the programming system programs the micro devices and communicates to the control system. The robotic handling system responds to communication of the programming system with the control system to pickup and places the programmed micro devices on the circuit boards at high speed.

Abstract: A servo adjustable gripper device for gripping and transporting at least two objects such as boxes includes a frame and at least two gripper assemblies connected with carriages slidably connected with the frame. The gripper device further includes a robotic arm which controls further movement and placement of the boxes on a pallet. The position of the gripper assemblies on the frame is adjustable to provide equal lifting force for a variety of differently sized boxes or for different numbers of boxes.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for reducing warpage of a substrate undergoing a molding process, comprising a conveying device for transporting the substrate during molding and pressure means adapted to act on the substrate whereby to maintain the flatness of the substrate. Using the invention, it is possible to provide an apparatus and method which are usable with conventional substrates and which reduce reliance on material formulation to maintain flatness of the substrate.

Abstract: A linear slide gripper assembly is provided having a linear slide assembly coupled to a gripper assembly. The linear slide assembly has extension and retraction ports in fluid communication with a fluid source to move the gripper assembly between extended and retracted positions. The gripper assembly is in fluid communication with the linear slide assembly to selectively actuate.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus comprising a frame, a drive section, an articulated arm, and at least one pair of end effectors. The drive section is connected to the frame. The articulated arm is connected to the drive section. The articulated arm has a shoulder and a wrist. The arm is pivotally mounted to the drive section at the shoulder. The drive section is adapted to rotate the articulated arm relative to the frame about an axis of rotation at the shoulder, and to displace the wrist relative the shoulder. The pair of end effectors is connected to the articulated arm. The pair of end effectors is pivotally jointed to the wrist of the articulated arm to rotate relative to the articulated arm about a common axis of rotation at the wrist. Each end effector is independently pivotable relative to each other about the common axis of rotation at the wrist. At least one end effector is independently pivotable about the common axis of rotation of the wrist relative to the articulated arm.

Abstract: A robotic containerization and palletizing system having a multiple-fingered end effector. The system includes a frame that defines one or more cells. Each cell has one gantry-type robot, which is mounted in a set of tracks on top of the frame. The robot is movable along two axes and has an arm to which the end effector is mounted. The end effector is designed to grasp trays, tubs, and similar items from a conveyor system running through the cell and load them in a cart or on a pallet. The items are gripped by two sets of fingers. One set of fingers may be mounted to a first plate and another set of fingers may be mounted to a carriage that moves in a horizontal direction, either toward or away from the first set of fingers. Each finger has a main shaft and a bent tip. The shafts are rotatable such that the tips can be moved underneath or out from under a load, depending upon whether a pick-up or drop-off operation is being performed.

Abstract: An automated data storage system which comprises one or more robotic accessors movably disposed therein, each such accessor including a revolving memory buffer and a velocity control program, wherein the velocity control program stores operational data regarding the gripping and pivot mechanisms disposed on the accessor. A method to diagnose the cause of an accessor failure by downloading and analyzing the operational data stored on the defective accessor's revolving memory buffer.

Abstract: A workpiece transfer device includes an elongated hollow housing, a plurality of push mechanisms, a plurality of coupling devices, a plurality of lever mechanisms, and an elongated swing member. The push mechanisms have a plurality of spindles disposed inside and spaced longitudinally of the housing. Each of the coupling devices has a cylindrical sleeve member sleeved rotatably on a corresponding one of the spindles, and at least one cantilever extending radially from the sleeve member for turning about the corresponding one of the spindles. Each of the cantilevers has a distal end distal from the corresponding one of the spindles. Each of the lever mechanisms has a lever connected pivotally to a corresponding one of the cantilevers. Each of the levers has a first end portion engaging the corresponding one of the spindles, and a second end portion adjacent to the distal end of the corresponding one of the cantilevers.

Abstract: In an apparatus for automatically transporting workpieces in a multi-stage forming machine, a tong casing (1) is fitted on a transverse transporting tube (2). The tong casing (1) comprises a tong-casing basic body (10) on which there are arranged exchangeable tong modules (12a, 12b, 12c) each with one set of tongs by means of which a workpiece (W2, W3) can be seized laterally from above. Each set of tongs is connected, via a coupling location (19), to associated transmission means which, are in operative connection with a control shaft (3), mounted rotatably in the transverse transporting tube (2), for controlling the opening and closing movements of the tongs. The operation of transporting, from one forming station (U1, U2, U3) to the adjacent forming station (U2, U3, U4), a workpiece (W2, W3) seized by tongs with pairs of interacting tong grippers (130, 140) and the operation of moving the tongs back take place by the transverse transporting tube (2) moving back and forth.

Abstract: A carrying system for carrying a lead frame of a semiconductor device includes first and second carriers located on the same side of a carrier line, one carrier located above the other carrier. The first and second carriers are movable from along the carrier line, from a start point to a processing area and to an end point. The first and second carriers each include a holder for holding the lead frame on a specific end of the lead frame. By holding the lead frame on the same side of the carrier line and at a specific end of the lead frame, holding position deviation is minimized.

Abstract: In an apparatus for transporting thin boards, in particular coated printed circuit boards, comprising rows of spaced-apart grippers (2) which lie opposite one another and are arranged on a rod (3), in order to prevent the thin boards from sagging when transported, tension is applied to a rod (3), at least on one side of the printed circuit board (1), by an elastic device (15, 20), in order to tension the printed circuit board which has been gripped.