Abstract: A manipulator device is described in which a pair of holding members mounted on extensible arms, are rotatable through 360.degree. about an axis parallel to the plane in which they lie and perpendicular to the axis of the arms, and in which the arms are actuated by motor means interconnected together in such a way as to link the holding members for simultaneous displacement in a symmetrical manner.

Abstract: A process is described which allows metal sheets of different dimensions to be manipulated in a automatic manner by means of a numerically controlled robot provided with a pair of mechanical pincers; it consists in positioning the metal sheet onto a support table carried by a rotatable base to effect rotation thereof parallel to its own plane having previously released the metal sheet by the pincers, and, for metal sheets of large dimensions, displacing, with the pincers, both the metal sheets and the table on which it is lying simultaneously, which table is removable from the said base.

Abstract: An automatic cutting machine including at least one mounting stand linearly movable in a first direction by a first driving structure; a powerful laser-beam generator; a head that sends out infrared ray flux generated in the laser-beam generator after the flux is condensed or focussed and a movable supporting structure for supporting the head above the mounting stand. The supporting means moves in the first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions by means of a seocnd and third driving means. A connecting structure for rotating the supporting structure around the first direction or axis by a fourth driving structure in order to rotate the head around the second direction or axis perpendicular to the first direction or axis relative to the connecting structure by means of a fifth driving structure and an automatic control means for the driving means and the laser-beam generator.

Abstract: A process is described which makes use of a folding press and a numerically controlled manipulator device provided with mechanical pincers; the sheet metal to be worked is gripped by the manipulator device and carried against an abutment shoulder disposed in front of the press; the alignment of the front edge of the sheet metal with the abutment shoulder is then tested by means of microswitches, and then the sheet metal is carried under the blade of the folding press utilizing, as reference co-ordinates for the movements of the manipulator, those of the abutment shoulder.

Abstract: Method of laser welding sheet metal protected by using low-vaporizing-temperature materials, whereby, before being subjected to a laser welding beam along a weld area, two metal sheets are placed on top of each other in such a manner that at least one layer of the said protecting material is located between the sheets at the weld area and that the weld area communicates directly externally of the weld area between the sheets whereby gases generated by vaporization of said protective material may escape from the weld area.

Abstract: A machine (1) (53) (75) for effecting the transfer of objects in the space between positions having predetermined co-ordinates, in which said objects are supported by a head (25) integral with a pinion (20) (60) mounted rotatable on a slide (12a) (59) sliding in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said pinion (20) (60); the pinion (20) (60) meshing by opposing means with teeth (21) (64, 65) (76, 77) extending along said slide (12a) (59) and axially moving under the bias of driving apparatus (41, 42) (68, 69).

Abstract: A position transducer for machine tools and measuring machines, arranged to measure relative displacements of a first part of the machine with respect to a second part of the machine, is described. The main feature of this position transducer is to operate by means of the optical coupling of at least two photoelectric readers fixed on the first part and at least two optical photoengraved rules rigidly connected to the second part. Selector means are provided to present in output the signals from one of the photoelectric readers.