Abstract: A holding technology whereby an article, i.e., a subject to be held, can be stably held by increasing a contact area with respect to the article. An article holding device includes a holding main body, a suction mechanism, and a sandwiching mechanism. The sandwiching mechanism includes sandwiching arms, which come into contact with one side of the article, and a board-like sandwiching plate that comes into planar contact with the other side of the article.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are multi-turn drive assemblies, systems and methods of use thereof. The multi-turn drive assemblies enable a robot link member to have a maximum rotation of at least 360 degrees about an axis. The multi-turn drive assemblies can be incorporated into a robot arm for enabling 360 degrees rotation of one or more link members about an axis. The robot arm may be located in a transfer chamber of an electronic device processing system. Also disclosed are methods of controlling the multi-turn drive assemblies and related robots.

Abstract: A work tool includes a bucket and a hydraulic actuator that pivots the bucket on a frame. The loaded bucket applies a maximum compressive force Fc against a resilient bump stop, which reacts a proportion of the applied force as a restoring force Fr against the actuator. A major proportion of the applied maximum compressive force Fc is reacted between the piston and cylinder, while the restoring force Fr is arranged to be greater than the force Fe applied by the self weight of the empty bucket, such that (Fc>2·Fr), and (Fr>Fe).

Abstract: An artificial epidermis structure capable of using a gel substance to adjust a frictional property with high precision is provided. When a front surface of a lid member comes into contact with a target object and pressure acts on the lid member, a part of the gel substance can escape into a space that is formed by concave portions on a front surface of a gel substance. Therefore, reduction in a repulsion force of the gel substance is achieved. Accordingly, the pressure can be appropriately transmitted to the gel substance via the lid member, and convex portions of the gel substance can be caused to easily bulge out over the front surface of the lid member via holes of the lid member.

Abstract: A gripping mechanism which grips an object includes a main body section, a first gripping section, and a second gripping section. The first and second gripping sections are connected, with a space therebetween, to the main body section. The first gripping section includes a first roller and a first frame. The first frame houses the first roller. The first gripping section grips a first portion of an object between an outer surface of the first roller and an inner surface of the first frame using gravity acting on the first roller. The second gripping section includes a second roller and a second frame. The second frame houses the second roller. The second gripping section grips a second portion of the object, differing from the first portion, between an outer surface of the second roller and an inner surface of the second frame using gravity acting on the second roller.

Abstract: Provided is a substrate holder including a first holding member and a second holding member configured to sandwich and fix a substrate, wherein the first holding member includes a first holding member body, and a clamp provided on the first holding member body, the clamp being rotatable about a shaft extending parallel to a surface of the first holding member body, or being reciprocable in a direction intersecting with the surface of the first holding member body, the second holding member includes a second holding member body, and the clamp is capable of engaging with the second holding member in a state where the first holding member body and the second holding member body are brought into contact with each other, to fix the second holding member to the first holding member.

Abstract: A top loading assembly is provided. The assembly includes a robotic arm and an article collector assembly supported thereby. The robotic arm is characterized by first and second arm segments and three pivotable arm joints, a first arm joint J1 being a distal arm joint for operatively supporting said collector assembly, a second arm joint J2 being an intermediate arm joint, and a third arm joint J3 being a terminal/anchorable arm joint. The collector assembly, directable from an article collection locus to a collected article loading locus, includes a collector adapted to effectuate select clamping in relation to articles collected by the collector during direction of the collector assembly from the article collection locus to the collected article loading locus.

Abstract: An end effector includes an elongated body that is non-circular in cross section. A guide rail is mounted on a top surface of the elongated body. A hook carriage includes a linear motion guide that moves linearly along the guide rail to position a hook member. A locking mechanism locks the hook carriage at a preselected position along a length of the guide rail.

Abstract: A substrate processing system includes a substrate loading unit which loads a plurality of substrates, a substrate transfer unit which transfers N (where N is natural number) substrates at the same time from the substrate loading unit, and a substrate processing unit including a plurality of process chambers which receives the N substrates at the same time from the substrate transfer unit and processes the received substrates where each of the process chambers includes a stage on which the N substrates are disposed and an insulation layer disposed between the N substrates.

Abstract: A transfer mechanism includes a rail, first and second tables on the rail, first and second arms each having a base pivotably supported by the first and second tables, respectively, and first and second drive mechanisms that move the first and second tables along the rail, respectively. The first and second arms are pivotaly connected to each other at a position between a tip side and a base side. Tip side portions of the first and second arms than a connected portion of the first and second arms serve as fingers for holding a workpiece. The first and second drive mechanisms independently move the first and second tables, respectively. A relative movement of the first and second tables causes the first and second arms to operate a clamp/unclamp operation. A coordinated movement of the first and second tables causes the first and second arms to perform an advance/return operation.

Abstract: A coupler for coupling an attachment to an excavator or other machine comprises a powered actuator for actuating a locking member into and out of said locking state, a first power coupling unit, and a second actuator for moving the power coupling unit into and out of an engaging position in which it is engagable with a corresponding second power coupling unit of the attachment. The coupler is configured to cause the first power coupling unit to move into the engaging position after said latching member adopts the locking state and, when decoupling the attachment from the coupler, to cause said latching member to remain in its locking state until after the first power coupling unit is moved out of its engaging position.

Abstract: An intelligent automatic mold-exchanging system and an intelligent automatic mold-exchanging method are provided. The system include a mold storage unit, a mold assembly and disassembly unit, a mold temporary storage unit, a temporary storage mold pick-and-place unit, a plurality of processing machines, a plurality of mold position preparation units, an exchange mold pick-and-place unit, and a central control unit. The central control unit is electrically connected to the mold storage unit, the mold assembly and disassembly unit, the mold temporary storage unit, the temporary storage mold pick-and-place unit, the processing machines, the mold position preparation units, and the exchange mold pick-and-place unit. The mold storage unit, the mold assembly and disassembly unit, the mold temporary storage unit, the temporary storage mold pick-and-place unit, the processing machines, the mold position preparation units, and the exchange mold pick-and-place unit are disposed on a same production line.

Abstract: A robotic wheel gripper unit that is configured for gripping and transporting a wheel to a predetermined position during an assembly operation with a tire is disclosed. The robotic wheel gripper unit comprises a selectively moveable arm that includes a gripper tool connected thereto. The gripper tool further includes a plurality of gripper fingers and at least one sensor. The gripper fingers are configured for selectively engaging a portion of a wheel. The sensor is configured to detect a predetermined element on the wheel, such as a TPMS valve stem, to assist in placement of the wheel during an assembly operation.

Abstract: A conveying mechanism includes a suction part that has a suction pad and sucks and holds a target object by the suction pad, a bracket connected to the suction part through a joint that is swingable, an elastic component in which one end part is fixed to the suction part and the other end part is fixed to the bracket, a negative pressure control unit that controls generation of a negative pressure at the suction part, and a movement unit that moves the bracket. The elastic component permits a swing of the suction part according to tilt or deformation of the target object that is sucked and held and, when suction holding of the target object is released, the elastic component returns the orientation of the suction pad to a predetermined orientation when the suction pad is not sucking and holding the target object.

Abstract: The hand apparatus includes: a grasper that grasps a work; a grasper driving portion that causes the grasper to operate at a first position at which the grasper grasps the work, a second position at which the grasper is open widest, and a third position between the first position and the second position; a hand mechanism portion having a pair of hand portions that holds both ends in a width direction of the work grasped by the grasper and capable of varying an opening position of the pair of hand portions; an operating portion provided so as to be interlocked with an operation of the grasper and being connectable to the hand mechanism portion; and an actuator that causes the grasper to advance and retract, wherein when the grasper is at the second position, the hand mechanism portion is connected to the operating portion to vary the opening position of the pair of hand portions by being interlocked with the advancing and retracting movement of the grasper according to the actuator, and when the grasper is at

Abstract: A system and method for attaching implements to skid steer machines having different implement mounting configurations. The implements include or are separately provided with a securement frame defining a mini skid steer pocket engageable with a mini skid steer mount and a larger standard skid steer pocket engageable with a standard skid steer mount. The mini pocket is located between the implement and the standard pocket. A passage opening extends through the standard pocket where through the mini pocket is accessible. For attaching the implement to a mini skid steer, the mini skid steer mount is inserted through the passage opening and engages the mini skid steer pocket while the standard skid steer pocket remains unused. For attaching the implement to a standard skid steer, the standard skid steer mount is inserted directly into and engages the standard skid steer pocket while the mini skid steer pocket remains unused.

Abstract: A coupler assembly for detachably coupling an arm to a work tool. The coupler assembly comprises a first linkage having an idle link and a power link, a first pin provided on the arm, and a second pin provided on the power link. The first and second pins are receivable in openings on the work tool. The coupling assembly is characterized by a second linkage provided between the first and second pins comprising a first link and a second link joined at a shaft. The first link is fixed to the shaft to prevent rotation therebetween. A portion of the shaft comprises a gear. The second link comprises a body mounted on the shaft so as to be rotatable thereabout, the body comprising a chamber in which a piston is received, the piston including a geared section that is meshed with the gear.

Abstract: An adapter for a quick-change system for changing attachments on a construction machine, which contains two parallel pin-like coupling elements arranged between parallel side parts at a stipulated spacing from each other for connection of the adapter to a quick coupler and a coupling member support releasably fastened to one of the coupling elements to secure the coupling elements. In order to permit simplified fastening, the coupling member support is connected directly to the pin-like coupling element secured against torsion via a releasable form-fit connection.

Abstract: This transfer device is a transfer device which transfers an object to be transferred and includes a pivoting arm supported by a frame and configured to be rotatably driven around a pivot axis, a main arm which is rotatably connected to the pivoting arm and to which a support part which supports the object to be transferred is connected at a distal end portion, and an inclination adjustment part which is slidably connected to the main arm in a longitudinal direction of the main arm and has a parallel link mechanism to adjust an inclination of the main arm.

Abstract: Object manipulation space optimization is a challenging task and used in applications such as heat treatment operation and transport packaging. Traditionally manual intervention is involved to grasp and place the objects for ensuring multi object stacking with zero gap between adjacent objects. This leads to higher cost infrastructure and low productivity. Further, conventional gripper devices fail to optimize object manipulation space and are unable to handle objects of different cross sections with larger lengths. The present disclosure provides a gripper apparatus addressing a single gripper design comprising an adaptor holding unit with a provision for different modular object holding units which are varied in accordance with size, shape and length of the object to be grasped and placed by the gripper apparatus. The modular object holding unit comprises a plurality of fingers which are actuated for grasping and stacking one or more objects such that object manipulation space is optimized.