Abstract: An assistive robot system includes a lifting mechanism, a movable arm assembly, a processing device, and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium in communication with the processing device. The processing device transmits a command to the lifting mechanism to cause the lifting mechanism to move the movable arm assembly such that a container is gripped within the movable arm assembly, transmits a first one or more signals to the movable arm assembly to cause the movable arm assembly to extend in a system longitudinal direction such that the movable arm assembly grips the container. The movable arm assembly is positioned at a release location and transmits a second one or more signals to the movable arm assembly to cause the movable arm assembly to extend in a system lateral direction such that the container gripped within the movable arm assembly is released from the movable arm assembly at the release location.

Abstract: A device for transmission of rotary motion and transfer of a fluid medium, comprising a planetary gear train for transmission of rotary motion about a main axis which has at least one reduction stage which is provided with a sun gear, which rotates about the main axis, and a toothed ring gear which are mutually concentric and between which at least two planetary gears are engaged which are supported in rotation at least about the respective longitudinal axes which are parallel to the main axis by a planetary gear carrier; such planetary gear train is provided with a driving input sun gear and with an output ring gear and with an output planetary gear carrier, of which one can move in rotation about the main axis with respect to the other; and a rotary joint which extends externally to the planetary gear train for transfer of the fluid medium.

Abstract: A continuously variable gear is described having an input shaft, a plurality of traction balls distributed radially around the axis, each traction ball is mounted on an axle passing there through, the axles are tiltable in the radial grooves in the housing and support plate. To control the position of the traction balls, the axles are guided in curved slots of a turnable iris plate. To control the axial placement of the traction balls, there is a rotatable input disc positioned adjacent to the traction balls, a rotatable output disc positioned adjacent to the traction balls opposite the input disc, and a pre-spanning ring around the traction balls such that each of the traction balls is making three-point contact with the input disc, the output disc and the pre-spanning ring, the contact surface of the pre-spanning ring having a specific curvature larger than the radius of the traction balls.

Abstract: A first driving device includes a motor including a rotating shaft, a speed reducer, and a supporting member. The speed reducer includes a rigid gear, a flexible gear configured to partially mesh with the rigid gear, and a wave motion generator coupled to the rotating shaft and configured to come into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the flexible gear, bend the flexible gear, and move a meshing position of the rigid gear and the flexible gear in the circumferential direction. The wave motion generator includes a projecting section projecting along the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft is supported by the supporting member via a bearing including an inner ring and an outer ring. The outer ring of the bearing is supported by the supporting member. The rotating shaft and the projecting section are coupled to the inner ring of the bearing by tight fitting.

Abstract: A cable guide device of an articulated robot is disclosed. The disclosed cable guide device can comprise: a base; at least one rotary arm rotatably coupled to the base in an articulated form; at least one cable passing through the base so as to be connected to the rotary arms; a cable guide block coupled to a driving unit within the base; a sliding groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cable guide block; and a cable friction reducing device member which is coupled to a portion of the cable accommodated in the base and which rotates along the sliding groove together with the portion of the cable according to the rotation of the rotary arms.

Abstract: A separable robotic interface includes a carrier portion, configured to attach to a free end of a robotic arm, and a probe portion, configured to be attached to a toolhead. The carrier portion includes a spring-loaded plug, coaxial with and arranged to slide lengthwise within the carrier portion, one or more ball bearings, arranged within holes of the carrier portion, and an axial lock feature. The probe portion may include a probe, which includes one or more recesses on lateral exterior surfaces of the probe and configured to receive ball bearings in order to axially lock the carrier portion to the probe portion in response to the probe portion inserted a predetermined distance into the carrier portion and the axial lock feature is activated. The probe portion is further configured to radially align with the carrier portion in response to an alignment feature engages the carrier portion.

Abstract: A modular drive apparatus includes a gear box (16) with a rotatable internal transmission gear (60). The gear box includes a plurality of body openings (44). The openings may be selectively closed by the installation of cover plates (52, 54). With a cover plate removed, a drive coupler (32, 34, 58, 148) may be extended in the respective opening and mounted in operative connection with the gear box. In the mounted position of the drive coupler, an idler gear (72, 172) engages the ring gear of the gear box. Rotatable power devices such as pumps, motors and generators may be operatively rotatably engaged with the drive coupler.

Abstract: A control device configured to control a robot including an articulated arm having a plurality of joints each provided with a motor and turned by driving of the motor and a base supporting the articulated arm includes: a temperature information obtaining unit configured to obtain temperature information about the plurality of joints; a joint specifying unit configured to specify one of the joints that requires cooling, based on the obtained temperature information about the plurality of joints; and a motor control unit configured to control the motor of each of the plurality of joints, wherein, when the joint specifying unit specifies one of the joints, the motor control unit controls the motor of at least one of the joints that is located on a side closer to the base from the specified joint so as to turn the joint on the base side for a given time.

Abstract: An actuator includes a housing, an extension arm, and a threaded spindle. The threaded spindle is mounted on the housing in such a way as to be rotatable with respect to an axis of rotation by a first rotary bearing. The extension arm projects out of the housing in such a way that it can be moved in a direction of the axis of rotation. The housing and the extension arm together delimit an internal space, the volume of which changes when the extension arm moves. A first end of the threaded spindle that is remote from the first rotary bearing, projects into a tubular section of the extension arm, irrespective of a position in which the extension arm is situated. The tubular section extends with a constant internal cross-sectional shape along the axis of rotation.

Abstract: The transmission includes a first shaft, a second shaft, a third shaft, and a fourth shaft. These shafts are parallel to each other. A first gear couples to the first shaft. A second gear couples to or idles around the first shaft when a first clutch is switched. A third gear meshes with the first gear and couples to the second shaft. A fourth gear couples to or idles around the second shaft when a second clutch is switched. A sixth gear meshes with the first gear and couples to the third shaft. A seventh gear couples to or idles around the third shaft when a fourth clutch is switched. A ninth gear meshes with the second gear, the fourth gear, and the seventh gear, and couples to the fourth shaft.

Abstract: A transmission for a vehicle includes a knob configured to be rotated to select one of a plurality of shift stages, a driving unit for controlling rotation of the knob, and a shift controller for applying an electrical current to generate a torque in the driving unit. Further, the driving unit includes a magnetic field generator, a magnetization unit including a plurality of magnetic bodies arranged at regular intervals along a circumference of the magnetic field generator, and a magnet unit including at least one pair of magnetic poles arranged along a circumference of the magnetization unit. In particular, the magnetization unit or the magnet unit is coupled with the knob and rotates integrally with the knob. Depending on an intensity of a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator, the driving unit allows or prevents the rotation of the knob.

Abstract: An application, in particular for motor vehicle closing devices. The basic design of the motor vehicle has an electric motor and an actuating element which is acted upon by the electric motor directly or indirectly via a powertrain. The powertrain is provided with at least one Evoloid toothing. According to the invention, a drive shaft of the electric motor is equipped with an Evoloid pinion which meshes with an Evoloid output gear at the input of the powertrain, thereby directly producing the Evoloid toothing.

Abstract: In part, skew limiter for a toric-drive CVT embodiments are disclosed. A skew limiter may include a shaped piece that limits the skew angle to a known angle notwithstanding the tilt angle of the rollers.

Abstract: A gear unit includes a gear having a gear face and a plurality of gear teeth extending outwardly from the gear face. The gear unit also includes a hub integrally formed with the gear and arranged coaxially to the gear. The hub extends outwardly of the gear in a direction of a central axis of the gear. The gear unit also includes an undercut defined at an interface of the gear and the hub and includes a curved portion arranged at proximate to an inner end of the gear. The undercut reduces a stress concentration at the interface of the gear and the hub.

Abstract: A coupling element for a positioning device, which includes a first and second linear guides for guiding first and second carriages respectively along first and second linear directions, is configured to create a coupling between the first carriage and the second linear guide. The coupling element includes a central part and a surrounding part spaced at a distance therefrom. The surrounding part has a central portion surrounding the central part, and has two end portions adjoining the central portion in the first linear direction. Connecting flat springs are disposed to create the distance and connect together the central part and the central portion of the surrounding part. The connecting flat springs lie in planes which intersect at a center of the central part. A vertical flat spring is disposed parallel to the first linear direction at each of the two end portions of the surrounding part.

Abstract: A profiled wheel assembly for coupling to a shaft includes a profiled wheel having a first guide slot extending radially outwardly from a central aperture of the profiled wheel and a first assembly slot spaced apart from and parallel to the first guide slot. A retainer is supported on the profiled wheel for movement between a lock position wherein the retainer axially locks the profiled wheel relative to the shaft and a release position wherein the retainer axially unlocks the profiled wheel relative to the shaft.

Abstract: An input shaft being configured into spline engagement with an input wheel wherein the input wheel slides axially along the input shaft; an output shaft into engagement with the input shaft, and wherein an output wheel is configured to slide axially along said output shaft; a variator wheel being configured to drive the input wheel or output wheel without direct contact; a traction fluid to enable the variator wheel to drive at least one of the input wheel and output wheel without direct contact; a toroidal cavity for containing the traction fluid and form an enveloping toroidal cavity when the input wheel and output wheel are aligned together; and an actuator tier controlling the axial sliding of the input and output wheel on their respective splined shafts.

Abstract: A drive system comprises a support structure for a guideway defining an X-Y array of tracks (22, 24) so that one or more carriages (10) can run along the tracks to any desired position. The carriages are intended to either carry a single robotic device or work together to carry a larger robotic device. The track is made up of an array of pegs (14) supported from a ceiling plane made up of an array of tiles (8) which provide for electrical connections to the carriages. Each peg carries a spool mounted between two horizontal flanges that cooperates with a rectangular sprocket connected to a base of a cuboid carriage housing. The carriages are driven by internal electric motors that are arranged to drive two pairs of omniwheels (90) on the ceiling plane while the carriage is supported and guided by means of its sprocket.

Abstract: An adjustable shifter for a vehicle is provided. The adjustable shifter comprises a body, a shift shaft mounted within the body, and a height adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a height of the shift shaft relative to the body in a continuously adjustable manner throughout an operating height range of the shift shaft.

Abstract: A protective device for an effector of a manipulator includes a shell having a plurality of chambers, wherein the shell is flexurally slack and bounds a fillable and/or evacuable pressure space. The protective device further includes at least one first pulling means for pulling back the shell, and at least one actuator for applying a tensile force to the at least one first pulling means. A device for manipulating workpieces includes a robotic manipulator having an effector, and the protective device disposed proximate the effector.