Abstract: An inserting device for automated assembling of cone half-bits on the stem of a valve of an internal combustion engine, has an inner chamber at one end which is isolated from outside due to the engagement of the inserting device on the end of the valve when this device carries out the assembling of the cone half-bits. Immediately after assembling, pressurized air is introduced into this chamber and a check is carried out on whether there are any pressure losses in this chamber caused by air leakages due to improper assembling of the cone half-bits.

Abstract: There is described a wrist for an industrial robot, comprising three wrist elements rotatably supported relative to each other around respective rotation axes which are coplanar and mutually inclined, which leave a space inside thereof free for passage of supply cables which are to be connected to the tool secured to the robot wrist. The latter has a front flange for coupling the tool and a plurality of radial outlets for the above mentioned supply cables, so as to allow for the use of a tool coupling flange having a simplified structure.

Abstract: There is described a welding station for motor-vehicle bodies or subassemblies thereof in which the body side panels are engaged during welding by locking devices arranged in the space between the body sides and carried by two locating gates which are rigidly connected to each other by means of quick coupling means.

Abstract: A device for automated assembling of cone half-bits on a valve of an internal combustion engine has a pushing rod which is introduced inside a plurality of longitudinal petals which are elastically deflectable outwardly in a radial direction, said petals being adapted to be introduced between the two cone half-bits so as to cause them to diverge from each other during the assembling operation.

Abstract: A welding station, for example for welding motor-vehicle bodies, receives only a part of the structure to be welded from a conveyor line, the remaining components of the structure being assembled with said part at the welding station itself, by using two locating gates which receive said components from manipulating robots, said robots also providing for carrying out the spot welding of the structure once the latter has been assembled and locked in a proper welding position by said locating gates. The locating gates are provided with self-propelled lower trolleys guided on rails, in order to be rapidly interchanged with another pair of locating gates adapted to a different type of body.

Abstract: An operation for hemming two sheet metal elements is carried out by two subsequent bending operations respectively carried out by two hemming tools which come in operation in sequence and are driven by cams mounted on a rotating driving shaft.

Abstract: An industrial robot is provided with a plurality of elements articulated to each other, whose rotation is driven by respective electric motors by reduction gear units which are integrated in the structure of these elements.

Abstract: An industrial robot, particularly for use as an interpress robot, includes a pair of arms rotatable around two axes parallel to and spaced apart from each other, on which there are articulated two forearms. The opposite ends of the forearms are mutually articulated around a common axis and one of these forearms rotatably supports a wrist for rotation around a third axis parallel to said first and second axis.

Abstract: A high speed production unit for performing machining operations, has a first horizontal slide, a second slide slidable horizontally along a direction orthogonal to the sliding direction of the first slide and a third vertically sliding slide carrying a tool head. In addition to a static tool magazine, the unit has a dynamic tool magazine which is displaceable between an operative position adjacent to the working area of the tool head and an inoperative position spaced apart from said working area for replacement of broken or worn tools without any loss in cycle time.

Abstract: The quality of the laying of a silicone string for sealing purposes, for example between the crankcase and the sump of an internal combustion engine is controlled by a robot carrying a laser-meter head for measuring distances by reflection.

Abstract: In a welding station, particularly for motor-vehicle bodies, the elements to be welded are locked in a precise position by locking devices carried by locating gates. There are provided a number of pairs of locating gates, corresponding to the number of different types of structures to be welded on which the station must operate. The gates are mounted on powered carriages which are guided longitudinally on both sides of the conveyor line to allow the pair of gates which are in the operative position to be rapidly interchanged. The elements of the structure to be welded reach the work area suspended to a hook, without being preliminarly connected to each other.

Abstract: In a welding device for motor vehicle bodies there are provided a number of pairs of locating gates adapted to operate on different models of body. In the work position, each pair of locating gates can be selectively coupled to a plurality of auxiliary fixtures depending upon the specific version (for example hatchback, sedan, station-wagon) of the model of body to be welded.

Abstract: A semifinished part feed unit having an indexing table for transferring a stack of semifinished parts from a loading station to a pickoff station; a robot handling fixture for transferring one part at a time from the pickoff station to a press; a detecting device for detecting the characteristics and the position assumed by the stack in the pickoff station; and a control and processing system for generating control signals for the handling fixture in response to input signals from the detecting device.

Abstract: A unit for feeding semifinished parts, whereby a carriage travelling along a straight slideway supports a rectangular table in turn supporting a parallelepiped stack of semifinished parts and which is floatable by means of an air cushion. The carriage presents a device for positioning the stack and comprising four articulated arms, each fitted to the carriage and having, on its free end, a locating element designed to contact the lateral walls of the stack.

Abstract: A device for rapidly feeding piece-supporting pallets to a machine includes a motorized belt whose upper run is fixed to a pallet gripping device which is slidably mounted on a guide rail.

Abstract: An optical inspection system for controlling the laying of a string or layer of a fluorescent material on a metal piece comprises an optical inspection station including a wall movable between an open condition and a closed condition in which the wall defines a dark chamber wherein the piece to be controlled is confined. With the wall there are associated Wood lamps which illuminate the piece ensuring an optimal inspection by the video camera.

Abstract: An auxiliary resolver position tracking (RPT) system for an industrial robot includes a resolver excitation and monitoring system which is powered by an uninterruptable power supply which includes a battery. The RPT system generates trapezoidal excitation pulses for the resolvers in the robot when no external excitation signal is applied, for example when the robot is shut down. Since there is relatively little motion to be detected in these instances, the RPT system switches between a slow position sampling rate, when no motion is detected, and a fast sampling rate when motion is detected. When operating on battery power, the RPT only switches to the fast sampling rate when motion is detected. To ensure that no motion data is lost when the system switches back to the slow sampling rate, the high sampling rate is maintained for a time sufficient to capture any residual motion of the robot.

Abstract: A laser device which combines a device for focusing a laser beam onto a workpiece to carry out industrial processes, for example, surface hardening heat-treatment or welding, with a row of pyroelectric sensors to simultaneously monitor the temperature of a region of the workpiece being treated by detecting the thermal energy emitted by the workpiece. This detection of thermal energy occurs along an ideal line extending across a focal length of the region of the workpiece onto which the laser beam is focused. In the present invention, both the device for focusing the laser beam and the row of pyroelectric sensors are attached to a single head.

Abstract: A station for assembling pressed sheet-metal structures, for example, motor-vehicle bodies, includes fixtures for locating and clamping the various components of the structure in the assembled condition and programmable robots with electrical spot-welding heads. One or more robots have means for replacing their welding heads with sensors for checking the positioning and/or configuration of the locating and clamping fixtures to ensure the quality of the product output from the station.

Abstract: In a welding station, particularly for motor-vehicle bodies, the elements to be welded are locked in a precise position by locking devices carried by locating gates. There are provided a number of parts of locating gates, corresponding to the number of different types of structures to be welded on which the station must operate. The gates are mounted on powered carriages which are guided longitudinally on both sides of the conveyor line to allow the pair of gates which are in the operative position to be rapidly interchanged. The elements of the structure to be welded reach the work area suspended to a hook, without being preliminarly connected to each other.