Abstract: A robot subassembly including roll, pitch, and/or vertical orientation adjustability capability of a ceramic or glass end effector. The robot subassembly includes a robot component, a mounting plate coupled to the robot component, wherein the mounting plate includes adjustable orientation relative to the robot component, and a brittle ceramic or glass end effector coupled to the mounting plate. Methods of adjusting orientation between a robot component and the end effector, as well as numerous other aspects are disclosed.

Abstract: A pipe gripping assembly to selectively engage and disengage a pipe segment includes first and second jaws configured to clamp together around the pipe segment, at least one splined shaft fixedly housed in each of the first and second jaws; and at least one self-aligning piston housed in each of the first and second jaws and configured to slide and to rotate along the splined shaft. The self-aligning pistons each include a piston body, a cam, and a roller assembly coupled to the piston body and to the splined shaft. Each one of the roller assembly is configured to rotate relative to one of the cams.

Abstract: Acquisition or pick-up tools that themselves aid in improving the ease with which images of an acquired substrate may be captured, and methods of operating such pick-up tools, are provided. The pick-up tools may include a pick-up surface adapted to interface with a foreign substrate and a light source integrated with the pick-up tool such that light emitted from the light source passes through the pick-up surface to the foreign substrate when the foreign substrate is temporarily coupled with the pick-up surface to create a silhouette of the foreign substrate. A vision system may be adapted for capturing the silhouette of the foreign substrate when the foreign substrate is temporarily coupled with the pick-up surface. The substrate pick-up surface may be formed of one of a transparent, a semi-transparent, or a translucent material such that light may at least partially pass there through.

Abstract: Apparatuses including gripping mechanisms including extendable fingers and methods of manipulating items using the gripping mechanisms are described herein. An example apparatus may include a frame, a pair of carriages coupled to the frame and moveable by one or more drive units, a pair of fingers, and a set of linkages connecting the pair of fingers with the pair of carriages. The one or more drive units are operable to cause the fingers to move towards each other and to move away from each other.

Abstract: A strapping system for transporting and storing an object includes a pair of elongate engagement straps. Each of the pair of elongate straps include a coupling configured to position each of the pair of elongate engagement straps into a loop configured to engage the object. A handle is slideably receiving and extending between the pair of elongate engagement straps.

Abstract: A lifting device is provided for an assembly of a motor vehicle that can be adapted to lift various assemblies. The lifting device includes a load carrying unit having at least one support arm, and a coupling unit arranged on the support arm for releasably connecting the support arm to the assembly of a motor vehicle. The lifting device can be used as an engine hoist and/or a transmission hoist for removing and installing engines and/or transmissions and can be used to remove a wide range of assemblies, at least different engines and/or transmissions of different types of vehicles. The coupling unit is mounted on the support arm in a longitudinally movable manner. The load carrying unit is designed to be connected to a crane unit, and in particular has a crane hook holder, and/or is adjustably connected to a support unit arrangeable on a hoist unit.

Abstract: A method of assembling a portion of a robot, including, providing a robot arm having an exterior surface and providing a tendon retaining element, having a first half having a first major surface, defining open channels and a second half having a second major surface. Then, placing a tendon in each of the open channels of the first half and placing the second major surface on the first major surface, thereby creating a set of closed channels each having a tendon passing therethrough and creating a finished tendon retaining element. Finally, attaching the finished tendon retaining element about the exterior surface of the robot arm, so that the tendons extend along the length of the robot arm.

Abstract: A robotic gripping device is provided. The device includes a finger having a worm gear coupled to its base end. The device also includes an actuator having a motor and a shaft, wherein the shaft is configured to rotate a worm coupled to the worm gear, and the actuator is mounted on a carriage such that the actuator is configured to slide along an axis. The device also includes a spring having first and second ends, wherein the first end is coupled to the motor and the second end is fixed. Further, the actuator is configured to (i) rotate the shaft relative to the motor by a first amount to move the finger toward an object, and (ii) when the finger is in contact with the object and is prevented from further movement, further rotate the shaft relative to the motor to slide the actuator along the axis.

Abstract: Articulating gripper tooling for gripping an object, the articulating gripper tooling comprising: an articulating finger jaw including a slot; a gripping element including a shaft and at least one finger attached to the shaft, the shaft having a longitudinal axis; and a locking pin disposed through the slot and coupling the shaft to the articulating finger jaw; wherein the gripping element is free to rotate a predetermined amount about the longitudinal axis of the shaft, limited by the locking pin contacting a surface of the articulating finger jaw and/or an adjustment element.

Abstract: Disclosed is an elastic corrugated pipe single-acting cylinder-driven mechanical gripper with a series-connection flexible hinge framework. The mechanical gripper consists of a palm and two flexible fingers or a palm and three flexible fingers. Each of the flexible fingers is identical in structure, and essentially consists of an elastic corrugated pipe single-acting cylinder (8) and a series-connection flexible hinge (4); configuration of the series-connection flexible hinge (4) is designed according to features of grasping objects; the mechanical gripper generates a grasping force by the elastic corrugated pipe single-acting cylinder (8).

Abstract: A robotic gripping device is provided. The robotic gripping device includes two opposable fingers and an actuator having a motor and a shaft, wherein the shaft is coupled to a first finger. The robotic gripping device also includes a torsion spring surrounding the actuator, the torsion spring having first and second ends, wherein the first end is coupled to the motor of the actuator and the second end is coupled to a second finger. Further, the actuator is configured to rotate the shaft relative to the motor by a first amount to move the two opposable fingers toward each other to contact the object. The actuator is also configured to further rotate the shaft relative to the motor to wind up the torsion spring when the two opposable fingers are both in contact with the object and the object prevents the fingers from further movement toward each other.

Abstract: A dog waste collection device. The device allows a dog owner to place a disposable bag behind a dog to capture dog waste before the waste touches the ground. A collection assembly on the device holds a top edge of a disposable bag in a spaced apart position. Tangs mounted on the collection assembly are used to engage the disposable bag. A shaft slide is used to release the disposable bag without touching the waste or the bag. When the bag is used, movement of a shaft slide on the device will allow the disposable bag to release, bag and all, into a waste receptacle.

Abstract: A hand device includes: a hand base (40a); a first finger (40b) which extends from a tip of the hand base (40a) in a longitudinal direction while bending to the hand base (40a); a second finger (40c) attached to the hand base (40a) so as to face a surface of the hand base (40a) side of a tip of the first finger (40b); and a drive mechanism (40e) which actuates the second finger (40c) so that a tip of the second finger (40c) approaches or separates from the first finger (40b).

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to applications for soft robotic actuators in the manufacturing, packaging, and food preparation industries, among others. Methods and systems are disclosed for packaging target objects using soft robotic actuators, for moving and positioning target objects and/or receptacles, and/or for diverting or sorting objects. By using soft robotic actuators to perform the fixing, positioning, and/or diverting, objects of different sizes and configurations may be manipulated on the same processing line, without the need to reconfigure the line or install new hardware when a new object is received.

Abstract: A substrate transfer apparatus and a substrate transfer system are disclosed. The substrate transfer apparatus including a main body and a plurality of main arms arranged side by side on the main body, wherein a plurality of branch arms are disposed on both sides of each of the main arms, and the plurality of main arms and the plurality of branch arms are disposed in a same supporting plane. When a substrate is transferred, the plurality of main arms and the plurality of branch arms are both disposed beneath the substrate and support the substrate together. Therefore, the downward recess of the substrate due to gravity action can be greatly reduced, so that the flatness of the substrate can be effectively improved, therefore, the display quality of the display product produced can be improved.

Abstract: A lifting shackle of a head assembly for a nuclear reactor according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a first member and a second member which extend in parallel to each other in a predetermined thickness and length and respectively have an upper portion and a lower portion; a first connection member which connects the upper portion of the first member and the upper portion of the second member to each other and is coupled to a hook; coupling sections which are respectively provided at the lower portions of the first member and the second members and has a hollow portion so as to be coupled to the head assembly for a nuclear reactor via pins; and stress reducing sections which are formed at the upper portions of the first member and the second member such that the stress reducing sections extend from the first connection member to the first member and the side end of the second member at a predetermined curvature and protrudes upwards so as to reduce bending stress that is applied to the

Abstract: A pet waste collection device for collecting and discarding animal waste is provided. The device comprises a shaft with a vacuum head mounted to the shaft. A vacuum motor is mounted within the vacuum head. A nozzle is connected to the shaft and the vacuum motor provides a suction to the second end of the nozzle. A retractable claw member having a plurality of extendable claw fingers extends from the nozzle. A waste bag is positioned within the claw member. An access port is formed in the vacuum handle. Upon collection of the pet waste in the waste bag, the claw fingers close as the claw member retracts into the nozzle, the open end of the waste bag closing shut. The bagged pet waste is suctioned by the vacuum motor through the shaft to a waste bag receptacle within the vacuum handle and removable from the receptacle through the access port.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to hook and chain assemblies, including those suitable for use in food processing environments. The chain passes through a hook body, where it is secured by a retaining pin when under tension or load. The chain can be quickly and easily removed for servicing, cleaning, and sanitation of the hook body.

Abstract: Method and device for disposal of waste including, without limitation, human or animal waste. Disposal device includes a bag-like member coupled to an absorbent member. The bag-like member may be folded for compact storage prior to use and unfolded during use thereof. A method for collecting, removing, and/or disposing of waste utilizing the disposal device including the steps of: unfolding the bag-like member; inserting a hand therein; collecting waste with the absorbent member; inverting the bag-like member so as to effectively wrap the absorbent member and waste within the bag-like member; optionally sealing the bag-like member; and disposing of the disposal device, the waste contained within the disposal device.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, methods, and apparatus for a vacuum tool having a switchable plate, such that a common vacuum tool may be adapted with different plates. A switchable plate may form the entirety of the vacuum tool's material contacting surface or a switchable plate may form a portion of the material contacting surface. The vacuum tool is effective for picking and placing one or more manufacturing parts utilizing a vacuum force.