Abstract: An industrial robot and control system including a high degree of cooperation between a human operator and the robot for increased safety. In an automatic operation mode, at least a first detection device detects the presence of a foreign body in the robot working area and the control system places the robot in a safe automatic operating mode. A second and third detection devices may be employed to detect possible impacts with the robot.

Abstract: An industrial robot and control system including a high degree of cooperation between a human operator and the robot for increased safety. In an automatic operation mode, at least a first detection device detects the presence of a foreign body in the robot working area and the control system places the robot in a safe automatic operating mode. A second and third detection devices may be employed to detect possible impacts with the robot.

Abstract: A plurality of stretches of laser weld are executed on a structure to be welded by means of a device for focusing and orientation of the laser beam, which is associated to a component element of a manipulator robot. The focusing head is kept in the proximity of, but not closely adjacent to, the different areas to be welded and can consequently follow a simplified path, whilst the device for orientation of the laser beam aims the latter on the different areas of the structure to be welded, so that the speed of travel of the laser beam spot along the longitudinal direction of the weld stretch is independent from the speed of travel of the robot end element.

Abstract: A plurality of stretches of laser weld are executed on a structure to be welded by means of a device for focusing and orientation of the laser beam, which is associated to a component element of a manipulator robot. The focusing head is kept in the proximity of, but not closely adjacent to, the different areas to be welded and can consequently follow a simplified path, whilst the device for orientation of the laser beam aims the latter on the different areas of the structure to be welded, so that the speed of travel of the laser beam spot along the longitudinal direction of the weld stretch is independent from the speed of travel of the robot end element.

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.