Abstract: An expandable grip apparatus to assist in holding a handheld device includes a base member having a substantially flat contact surface for securing to a surface of the handheld device, a top member that is spaced from the base member, and an expandable center section that connects between the base member and the top member, the expandable center section comprised of a series of integral foldable pleats. The series of integral foldable pleats include adjacently disposed foldable pleats that define a living hinge between the adjacently disposed foldable pleats to enable the expandable center section to selectively nest onto each other. The base member can include an adhesive or a magnet for securing the grip apparatus to the handheld device.

Abstract: A door opening device comprising a multi-directional head and a telescoping pole is provided. The multi-directional head allows the operator to choose the angle when opening the door and the telescoping pole allows the operator to remain at a distance away from the doorway while operating the doorknob. By allowing an operator to remain around a corner when opening a door, an armed and cornered individual is less able to harm the operator by shooting through the door.

Abstract: The invention discloses a handle sliding structure and a selfie stick using the same, and belongs to the field of selfie sticks. The handle sliding structure comprises a long rod and a handle, wherein the handle is a cavity structure and is slidably arranged on the long rod, and the long rod can slide along the handle to retreat into or stretch out a cavity. When the selfie stick is used, the long rod can stretch out of the handle, and only the tail end of the long rod is connected to the handle, so that the length of the long rod is fully used; and when the selfie rod is not used, the long rod can partially retreat into the handle in the length direction, so that the portability is good.

Abstract: The arm with two or more hooks 1 comprises: a supporting beam 1) designed to be connected to an operating arm 20 of a telehandler 2 or another self-propelled operating machine and a plurality of hooks 11, 12, 13, distributed along the beam 10, each designed for supporting a respective load. One or more hooks 11, 12, 13 are connected to a load sensor 31, 32, 33.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide a cross-arm phase-lifter for lifting and maneuvering a utility pole cross-arm without the need to remove the energized power lines from the cross-arm. A first embodiment of the cross-arm phase-lifter may comprise a set of clamps, clamping members, and actuators. When the actuators are driven, the clamping members may secure the clamps onto the cross-arm. Once the clamps are secured, the cross-arm may be lifted and suspended in air. A second embodiment may comprise a lifting plate comprising a plurality of pegs configured to interface with brackets on the cross-arm. When the pegs are engaged with the brackets, the cross-arm may be lifted and suspended in air.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for a lip assembly for a vacuum gripper or suction device that is designed to work well with both soft flexible packages and articles with rigid surfaces. The lip assembly can have a compliant or flexible inner lip that soft packages can blossom over when suction is applied, while the outer lip of the lip assembly is also suited to working with hard, rigid packages. The vacuum gripper can be mounted on an end of arm tool of a robotic arm and can therefore be configured to work with a wide variety of packages and package types. The small footprint achieved by having a single vacuum gripper that is able to work with both types of packages enables a better opportunity to pick individual packages at one time and maintain a grasp on the package during medium to high-speed transport.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide enhancements for soft robotic actuators. In some embodiments, angular adjustment systems are provided for varying an angle between an actuator and the hub, or between two actuators. The angular adjustment system may also be used to vary a relative distance or spacing between actuators. According to further embodiments, rigidizing layers are provided for reinforcing one or more portions of an actuator at one or more locations of relatively high strain. According to further embodiments, force amplification structures are provided for increasing an amount of force applied by an actuator to a target. The force amplification structures may serve to shorten the length of the actuator that is subject to bending upon inflation. According to still further embodiments, gripping pads are provided for customizing an actuator's gripping profile to better conform to the surfaces of items to be gripped.

Abstract: A gripper mechanism includes a stator and a pair of mobile grippers moveably coupled to the stator via a linear bearing, the stator comprising a housing and a permanent magnet mounted within the housing, the mobile gripper comprising a support portion, a coil mounted on the support portion, and a gripper finger coupled to the support portion. The gripper mechanism further includes at least one magnetic locking mechanism comprising at least a first permanent magnet mounted on one of the stator and the mobile grippers, and a complementary soft magnetic material portion or magnet mounted on the other of the stator and the mobile grippers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum adhesion system, comprising at least one suction cup having a suction surface for attaching to a surface at least one system module, comprising at least one vacuum pump connecting to the suction cup for applying a vacuum to the suction surface for providing suction adhesion at least one indicator or sensor for indicating or measuring a pressure differential in the suction cup at least one interface for communicating the measured pressure differential or a value based thereon and a processor for controlling the vacuum adhesion system.

Abstract: A joint connects a first portion of a tool to a second portion of the tool. The joint comprises a first elongated portion, a second elongated portion, and a hub. The first elongated portion is configured to couple to the first portion of the tool and includes a first joint end. The second elongated portion is configured to couple to the second portion of the tool and includes a second joint end with a plurality of cavities formed therein. The hub is positioned between the first joint end and the second joint end and is shiftable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The hub includes a projection that is operable to extend into one of the cavities when in the locked position and shift out of the cavities when in the unlocked position.

Abstract: A pneumatic controlled soft gripper includes a chamber having a negative-pressure action space defined therein and having an opening communicating with the negative-pressure action space; a sucker extending radially outwardly from the opening of the chamber and having an annular contact surface; an expandable and contractible protuberance protruding from a top face of the negative-pressure action space opposite to the opening, wherein the protuberance is received in the negative-pressure action space, and has a gas pocket defined therein; and a gas channel extending from an outer face of the chamber into the gas pocket, wherein gas flows into and out of the gas pocket through the gas channel.

Abstract: An electrically heated snow shovel including a shovel assembly and a heating assembly is disclosed. The shovel assembly includes a shaft that is connected to a handle in one distal end and to a collar of a blade in another distal end. The blade includes ridges and a tip. The heating assembly includes the heating element embedded to the ridges. The heating element is powered by a battery. The heating element may be actuated and controlled by a switch that includes a gauge. The switch includes multiple temperature settings and the switch also includes an on off option.

Abstract: An operating device for placing or retrieving bottle-like piece goods onto or from storage places of a picking device is provided. The operating device includes a gripping jaw assembly having two profile-rod shaped gripping jaws with opposite lying inner surfaces extending in a first horizontal direction corresponding to a direction for placing and retrieving piece goods. The gripping jaws are configured so that the distance of the inner surfaces from each other tapers in the downward direction at least in sections and the bottle-like piece goods can be lifted from below. The operating device also includes an actuation unit coupled to the gripping jaw assembly for moving the gripping jaw assembly in the first horizontal direction.

Abstract: An adjustable shovel apparatus and method is disclosed which includes a frame assembly and a shovel assembly adjustable in relation to the frame assembly. The shovel assembly is in slidable communication with the frame assembly and can be repositioned in multiple configurations in relation to the frame assembly to allow a user to clear snow or debris of varying heights to be a surface without the need to lift and throw it.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to be secured to a shovel and provide distribution of material during use of the shovel. The present invention includes a body having a hollow interior volume. The body has an upper end with and opening providing access to the interior volume. The lower end of the body includes a first portion and second portion that extend in opposing directions. A plurality of apertures are formed in the first portion and second portion of the body so as to provide spreading of a material as the shovel is utilized. The body is releasably secured to a mount wherein the mount is secured to the handle of the shovel. The mount includes a pair of support arms that are configured to cradle the lower end of the body. The body includes a slot formed therein that is operable to be releasably secured to a clip on the mount.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes: a cassette comprising a slit opening configured to house a wafer; a blade configured to move the wafer to and from the slit opening by extending into the slit opening, wherein a blade thickness of the blade is at most ? of a height of the slit opening and wherein the blade is configured to secure the wafer within a pocket on the blade that is at least ? of a wafer thickness of the wafer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a turntable mechanism, including a flat plate and a rotating device for driving the flat plate to rotate, where the flat plate rotates to generate a negative pressure between a lower surface of the flat plate and a surface of an adsorbed object, the flat plate and the adsorbed object adhere together by an adsorption force generated by the negative pressure, and in this case, a gap is kept between the lower surface of the flat plate and the surface of the adsorbed object. In the present invention, a continuous, consistent, and stable fluid film is formed between the turntable and the adsorbed object, and a secondary flow is not easily generated, thereby ensuring that the adsorption force between the rotating flat plate and the adsorbed object is more stable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for gripping an object by a handling system, including a robot with at least one robot arm, a gripping device which is connected to the robot arm and has a pneumatically operated suction gripper having an elastically deformable contact portion for contact with an outer surface of the object to be gripped, an identifier for identifying the outer surface of the object to be gripped and a controller which interacts with the identifier and is designed to control the robot.

Abstract: A gripper tooling includes: a gripper having a gripper body and an angular jaw; a rotor fixedly connected to the angular jaw; and a tooling member for gripping a workpiece, the tooling member including: a base pivotally connected to the rotor; a middle segment pivotally connected to the base; a distal segment pivotally connected to the middle segment; an adducting tendon having a proximal end attached to the rotor and a distal end attached to the distal segment, the rotor for rotating relative to the base and thereby for tensioning the adducting tendon; and an abducting tendon having a proximal end attached to the base and a distal end attached to the distal segment such that the tooling member can autonomously grip the workpiece as the angular jaw rotates toward the workpiece and the tooling member autonomously returns to an ungripped position as the angular jaw rotates away from workpiece.

Abstract: A gripper assembly includes a base having a hollow area extending in a first direction, at least three grippers arranged along a circumference of the base, the at least three grippers configured to be rotatable about respective rotational axes extending in the first direction, and a first power transmitter configured to rotate the at least three grippers at the same time in a first rotational direction about the respective rotational axes.