Abstract: An industrial robot includes a manipulator (1) having a control unit (2) and a portable terminal (3), the unit and the terminal being able to communicate in wireless mode for executing a robot programming session. The unit (2) and the terminal (3) are configured so as to implement a step of mutual logic coupling, which is required so as to enable the programming session, only when the terminal (3) is in a substantially predefined physical position (5) close to the unit (2).

Abstract: A machining unit, particularly for machining the surface of cylindrical cavities, has a tool-holder assembly, including an electric actuator for adjustment of the radial tool position. The control signals of the actuator are transmitted to said actuator by a stationary electronic control unit via a wireless communication system. Also provided on board the tool-holder assembly is a system for electrical supply of the actuator, constituted, for example, by one or more batteries or else by an electrical-generation microsystem that exploits a portion of the flow of the high-pressure lubricant-coolant that is fed into the machining area.

Abstract: device for remote laser welding of metal sheet structures comprises an anthropomorphous robot onto whose wrist is mounted an accessory device carrying a focusing head for the laser beam coming from a laser source, as well as means for oscillating the pointing direction of the focused laser beam around one oscillation axis. During welding the robot shifts the accessory device along a given trajectory and at a given speed, while the pointing direction of the focused beam is oscillated to as to allow the area of structure that is lighted by the laser beam to shift at a speed and/or along a trajectory not depending directly on the shifting trajectory and speed of the accessory device carried by the robot.

Abstract: A flexible system for welding motor-vehicle bodies or subassemblies thereof envisages a series of pairs of side frames provided with referencing and clamping devices for keeping in the correct position the structures to be assembled during welding. For each different type of body to be assembled a different pair of side frames is provided, equipped with referencing and clamping devices adapted to the respective type of body. Each pair of side frames is associated to a basic structure, with which it forms a unitary referencing and clamping module. Said modules can be moved through the assembly station to follow one another in the operative welding position, according to the type of body to be welded. The structure to be assembled, or at least part thereof, is fed to the welding station by means of a conveying line that is totally independent and separate from the basic structures of the modules.

Abstract: A vertically movable slide unit for an operating machine includes a support structure, a slide slidably mounted along a vertical direction on the support structure and drive means of the vertical movement of the slide, carried by the support structure A safety device for preventing an accidental fall of the slide and operatively interposed between the slide and the support structure is foreseen, which is integrated within the slide.

Abstract: A cell for automated assembly operations, in particular for the assembly of components and accessories of multi-cylinder internal-combustion engines, has means for referencing the piece and clamping it in position, which comprise a plate, provided with reference elements that are to engage the piece, said plate being raisable vertically to take up the piece, setting it at a distance from the conveying device. The raisable plate is carried by a slide, which is mounted mobile in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the line. The aforesaid slide is mounted so that it can slide on a supporting structure, which is in turn mounted oscillating about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the conveying line on a structure that is rigidly connected to the fixed frame of the cell.

Abstract: Described herein is an articulated robot wrist, comprising: a first support, which is to be mounted on a robot component that is rotatable about a first axis; a second support, mounted on said first support in a rotatable way about a second axis inclined with respect to said first axis; a first motor, carried by said first support, the shaft of which is connected in rotation to said second support via a first gear transmission; a third support, mounted on said second support in a rotatable way about a third axis, inclined with respect to said second axis; and a second motor, carried by the second support, the shaft of which is connected in rotation to said third support via a second gear transmission.

Abstract: A load lifting device includes a lower structure, an upper structure movable with respect to the lower structure between a lowered position and a raised position, a scissors-like pantograph, including at least two arms mutually articulated according to an X-shape, connecting the upper structure to the lower structure, and an actuator device controlling the position of a connecting element which connects the actuator to one arm of the pantograph and having a cam-following element cooperating with a fixed cam. The actuator is articulated to the connecting element around an axis which is located below the articulation axis of the connecting element to the arm of the pantograph, in such a way that, when the actuator is activated to cause the lifting movement of the device, the connecting element acts as a pushing strut subjected substantially to compression between the cam and the articulated arm. Preferably the actuator includes a hoist device with a belt, cord, or chain engaging a number of pulleys.

Abstract: A flexible system for welding motor-vehicle bodies or subassemblies thereof envisages a series of pairs of side frames provided with referencing and clamping devices for keeping in the correct position the structures to be assembled during welding. For each different type of body to be assembled a different pair of side frames is provided, equipped with referencing and clamping devices adapted to the respective type of body. Each pair of side frames is associated to a basic structure, with which it forms a unitary referencing and clamping module. Said modules can be moved through the assembly station to follow one another in the operative welding position, according to the type of body to be welded. The structure to be assembled, or at least part thereof, is fed to the welding station by means of a conveying line that is totally independent and separate from the basic structures of the modules.

Abstract: Motor-vehicle bodies or sub-assemblies thereof are assembled in a welding-assembly station with the aid of frames arranged at the two sides of the conveying line that traverses the station, said frames being provided with fixtures for locating and clamping the various parts of the body. The side frames are moved between their operative position in the station and an inoperative position at a distance from the station with the aid of multi-axis manipulating robots. Said robots, however, do not carry the frames up to their final operative position for assembling the body, but rather unload them on two rigid structures, which are prearranged at the two sides of the line and are movable in a transverse direction with respect thereto between an open condition and a closed condition. The movable structures, once they have received the frames from the robots in their open condition, displace into their closed condition, thus carrying the frames into their final operative position.

Abstract: In a welding system comprising a welding station and various pairs of side frames, which can be positioned selectively in the welding station for clamping in the welding position bodies of different types, are provided magazines of side frames both upstream and downstream of the welding station. There are moreover provided auxiliary guide means, which connect directly together at least one magazine upstream of the welding station and at least one magazine downstream of the welding station so as to enable transfer of pairs of side frames directly from a magazine upstream to a magazine downstream or vice versa, without passing through the welding station.

Abstract: A cell for automated assembly operations, in particular for the assembly of parts of multicylinder internal-combustion engines, has manipulator means that are designed for simultaneous assembly of a plurality of elements on a work piece and that are adjustable for varying the distance between the positions of said elements.

Abstract: A system for the welding of motor-vehicle bodies comprises a conveying line, for carrying the motor-vehicle bodies to be welded through a welding station, and a plurality of pairs of side gates mobile on guide means, the gates of each pair being adapted to the configuration of a corresponding type of body to be welded. According to the invention there is provided a plurality of tractors, which are independent with respect to said side gates, each tractor being selectively coupleable in an automatic way to side gates of different pairs, for the purposes of displacement of the latter between an active position, close to the welding station, and at least one parking position, remote from the welding station.

Abstract: A horizontal boring machine tool is described that includes a boring bar equipped with a cutting bit and a counter-bar coupled in head-to-head rotation with the boring bar. This counter-bar is also equipped with a cutting bit, or a series of cutting bits destined to operate simultaneously on the same cylindrical seat to be bored. Both the bit or bits arranged on the bar, and the bit or bits arranged on the counter-bar are radially adjustable via an automatic adjustment system.

Abstract: A programming system for a robot or similar apparatus comprises a portable programming terminal (6) having a display device (D), a plurality of jog keys (14) for controlling the robot movements and a plurality of teaching keys (15–24, 26). The body of the terminal (6) comprises a first portion (11), wherein the jog keys (14) and the teaching keys (15–24, 26) are arranged, having a width which progressively decreasing until reaching the area of union with a second portion (10) of the body, wherein the display device (D) is positioned; the jog keys (14) comprises two series of keys (14) being positioned in a substantially symmetrical fashion to each other, each series being along a respective longitudinal side of the first portion (11), whereas the teaching keys (15–24, 26) are positioned within or close to the restricted zone of the body, bridging the first and the second portion (11, 10).

Abstract: A programming system for a robot includes a portable programming terminal (6) having a series of jog keys (14) for controlling the motions of the robot, a key (18) for selecting one among a plurality of possible co-ordinate systems for the jog keys (14) and a key (21) for storing the position reached by a predefined point of a tool supported by the robot, as a result of a motion thereof. The terminal (6) includes additional control keys (40, 41), able to be operated manually instead of the jog keys (14), to cause, independently from the co-ordinate system selected with the selection key (18), a Cartesian and/or angular displacement of the predefined point of the tool relative to a reference point that may be varied at will, which corresponds to the position of the operator who uses the terminal (6).

Abstract: A robot system (X-Z) includes a plurality of manipulators (1x-2x, 1y-2y, 1w-2w, 1z-2z) and a portable terminal (3), said terminal being able to connect to the manipulators in wireless mode. The system is conceived so as to enable the terminal (3) to connect to a first manipulator (1x-2x) in a programming mode (Main) and, during the same session, to connect to a second manipulator (1w, 2w) in a monitoring mode (Secondary).

Abstract: An industrial robot includes a manipulator (1) having a control unit (2) and a portable terminal (3), the unit and the terminal being able to communicate in wireless mode for executing a robot programming session. The unit (2) and the terminal (3) are configured so as to implement a step of mutual logic coupling, which is required so as to enable the programming session, only when the terminal (3) is in a substantially predefined physical position (5) close to the unit (2).

Abstract: A load lifting device includes a lower structure, an upper structure movable with respect to the lower structure between a lowered position and a raised position, a scissors-like pantograph, including at least two arms mutually articulated according to an X-shape, connecting the upper structure to the lower structure, and an actuator device controlling the position of a connecting element which connects the actuator to one arm of the pantograph and having a cam-following element cooperating with a fixed cam. The actuator is articulated to the connecting element around an axis which is located below the articulation axis of the connecting element to the arm of the pantograph, in such a way that, when the actuator is activated to cause the lifting movement of the device, the connecting element acts as a pushing strut subjected substantially to compression between the cam and the articulated arm. Preferably the actuator includes a hoist device with a belt, cord, or chain engaging a number of pulleys.

Abstract: device for remote laser welding of metal sheet structures comprises an anthropomorphous robot onto whose wrist is mounted an accessory device carrying a focusing head for the laser beam coming from a laser source, as well as means for oscillating the pointing direction of the focused laser beam around one oscillation axis. During welding the robot shifts the accessory device along a given trajectory and at a given speed, while the pointing direction of the focused beam is oscillated to as to allow the area of structure that is lighted by the laser beam to shift at a speed and/or along a trajectory not depending directly on the shifting trajectory and speed of the accessory device carried by the robot.