Abstract: For holding a plurality of different, in shape, workpieces, a holding unit comprises a laminated body with a number of thin identical shaped elongate plates which have one ends forming a workpiece supporting surface, a vibrator unit for moving the elongate plates so as to vary the shape of the workpiece supporting surface to create a new one, and a bias mechanism for clamping the laminated body, so the newly created shape of the workpiece supporting surface is maintained.

Abstract: For holding a plurality of different, in shape, workpiece, a holding unit comprises a laminated body with a number of thin identical shaped elongate plates which have one ends forming a workpiece supporting surface, a vibrator unit for moving the elongate plates so as to vary the shape of the workpiece supporting surface to create a new one, and a bias mechanism for clamping the laminated body, so the newly created shape of the workpiece supporting surface is maintained.

Abstract: For holding a plurality of different, in shape, workpieces, a holding unit comprises a laminated body with a number of thin identical shaped elongate plates which have one ends forming a workpiece supporting surface, a vibrator unit for moving the elongate plates so as to vary the shape of the workpiece supporting surface to create a new one, and a bias mechanism for clamping the laminated body, so the newly created shape of the workpiece supporting surface is maintained.

Abstract: A method for detecting flaws in a surface of an inspected object can moderate the requirements for inspection condition accuracy, particular for adjustment of spatial relationships among a laser unit, the surface and an laser detector unit. The method includes the step of transmitting a laser beam in a known configurationonto a specular surface of the inspected object, projecting the laser beam reflected by the surface onto a light-scattering screen and forming an image of the surface on the screen, and detecting the image of the surface in the known configuration in relation to a predetermined portion of the screen.

Abstract: For holding a plurality of different, in shape, workpieces, a holding unit comprises a laminated body with a number of thin identical shaped elongate plates which have one ends forming a workpiece supporting surface, a vibrator unit for moving the elongate plates so as to vary the shape of the workpiece supporting surface to create a new one, and a bias mechanism for clamping the laminated body, so the newly created shape of the workpiece supporting surface is maintained.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically attaching works to respective vehicle bodies carried on a slat conveyor using a robot. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing a base on which the robot is mounted and which is movable within a movement range, at least one part of which is alongside of the conveyor; (b) providing work feeders for sequentially feeding plural kinds of the works which are different according to vehicle types (sedan, hardtop, etc.

Abstract: A method and a device for inputting the coordinates of a robot acts so that the coordinates are input accurately by scanning the working area of the robot and inputting, as coordinates of the working position, positional data when a sensor has detected the working position. A movement data calculator (138) receives target position data from a preteaching data area (146), operates a pulse register (130) and drive circuits (152), (154), (156), and makes the sensor positional data in a position register (130) coincide with the target positional data. It then receives positional vector data from a plane scanning data area (148) and a vertical scanning data area (150) and scans the sensor over the working area.