Abstract: There is set forth herein an actuator having a housing and a piston assembly. The piston assembly can have a piston and a piston rod extending from the piston. In one embodiment, the housing can receive the piston and a portion of the piston rod. The piston assembly can define a piston assembly interior and a fluid reservoir can be located within the piston assembly interior. A chamber region within the interior of the housing can be separated by the piston assembly to define a piston side chamber and rod side chamber. The piston assembly can be moveable so that respective volumes of each of the piston side chamber and the rod side chamber are variable. For operation of the actuator by movement of the piston assembly within the interior of the housing, fluid can be moved between the reservoir and the chamber region.

Abstract: A robot has a gripper for gripping parts and releasing the gripped part at a destination position. The gripped part is vibrated at the destination position to cause the gripper to release the gripped part. The gripped part can be directly vibrated or vibrated by vibrating the mechanical structure of the gripper or by vibrating air in the gripper mechanical structure. The vibrator can connect the gripper to the robot. The vibrator can be inside or attached to the one or more of the articulated fingers of the gripper. The vibrations can be stopped when a sensor detects that the gripped part has been released or after the passage of a preset vibration time.

Abstract: There is set forth herein an actuator having a housing and a piston assembly. The piston assembly can have a piston and a piston rod extending from the piston. In one embodiment, the housing can receive the piston and a portion of the piston rod. The piston assembly can define a piston assembly interior and a fluid reservoir can be located within the piston assembly interior. A chamber region within the interior of the housing can be separated by the piston assembly to define a piston side chamber and rod side chamber. The piston assembly can be moveable so that respective volumes of each of the piston side chamber and the rod side chamber are variable. For operation of the actuator by movement of the piston assembly within the interior of the housing, fluid can be moved between the reservoir and the chamber region.

Abstract: A method and device for the programming and configuration of a programmable logic controller are disclosed. The method can include: locating a configuration tool in a programming tool, wherein the configuration tool includes a module in an IEC61131 language; integrating at least one further module into the configuration tool, and executing the programming and configuration of the programmable logic controller in a high-level language using a C-Code editor, and wherein the at least one further module is configured to provide a definition of interfaces between an IEC61131 code and a high-level language code, and provide a configuration of the high-level language code.

Abstract: An inspection device for use in a fluid container having at least an opening includes a housing sized to fit through the opening. The housing has at least two fluid flow channels extending therethrough, each having an inlet and an outlet, and a pump maintained in the housing within each fluid flow channel. The pumps are selectively controlled to maneuver the housing within the fluid container. The inspection device continues with a method of in-situ inspection of a container having at least one opening to receive a fluid, that includes up-loading a virtual model of the container into a computer, inserting the device into the container, generating a position signal by the device and receiving the position signal on a computer. A virtual image of the device in the virtual model of the container is generated to determine an actual position of the device within the container.

Abstract: A machine remotely located from a control station has at least one actuated mechanism. A two way real-time communication link connects the machine location with the control station. A controller at the machine location has program code that includes an instruction which when executed transfers control of the machine from the controller to the control station. The program code can have a task frame associated with the predetermined function performed by the machine with the task frame divided into a first set controlled by the controller and a second set controlled from the control station. The system can also have two or more remotely located control stations only one of which can control the machine at a given time.

Abstract: A machine that has at least one actuated mechanism is remotely located from a control station. A two way real-time communication link connects the machine location with the control station. An interface at the control station allows an operator to select one or more virtual constraints on operation of the machine when the machine is performing a predetermined function. The virtual constraints are transmitted over the two way real-time communication link to the machine location. The machine has predetermined safety limits that are stored in a controlling device at the machine location. The stored predetermined safety limits are extracted and automatically mapped to the control station using the two way real-time communication link. The controlling device maps the predetermined safety limits to the virtual constraints.

Abstract: A teleoperated robot system has a watchdog to determine if the rate of data transmission from a computing device such as a robot controller located in the station used by the operator of the teleoperated robot to the remotely located industrial robot has fallen below a minimum data rate or the time for transmission of data has exceeded a maximum time. Upon the occurrence of either or both of the foregoing, one or more types of corrective action are undertaken to bring the teleoperated robot and the processes performed by the robot.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to an exemplary robot manipulator system having a robot manipulator with a kinematic chain of stiff robot manipulator segments, which are linked together by hinged joints. A robot controller controls execution of a robot program. At least one temperature sensor provides measured temperature values. At least one heatable cover is attached onto at least one manipulator segment for applying heat energy thereon, with an amount of heat energy being controlled dependent on measured temperature values of the at least one temperature sensor.

Abstract: A manufacturing system has one or more work cells that each performs one or more manufacturing processes. The system also has one or more mobile transport units (“MTUs”) that deliver transportable containers containing workpieces to and from said work cells. The MTUs deliver the containers to the work cells in a manner such that the workpieces are localized in the work cells. The manufacturing system also has a computer system that has status information for each of the one or more MTUs and uses the status information to control each of the one or more MTUs to deliver the transportable containers to and from the one or more work cells.

Abstract: A teleoperated robot system has a watchdog to determine if the rate of data transmission from a computing device such as a robot controller located in the station used by the operator of the teleoperated robot to the remotely located industrial robot has fallen below a minimum data rate or the time for transmission of data has exceeded a maximum time. Upon the occurrence of either or both of the foregoing, one or more types of corrective action are undertaken to bring the teleoperated robot and the processes performed by the robot.

Abstract: Stripping structure strips insulation from ends of a plurality of leads of a lead bundle. Each lead includes a conductor member coated with the insulation. The structure includes a housing having wall structure defining a stripping chamber, an inlet in fluid communication with the stripping chamber, and an outlet in fluid communication with the stripping chamber. A cover has an opening for receiving an end of the lead bundle in a sealing manner so that the leads thereof are received in the stripping chamber. Chemical stripping solution is in communication with the inlet. When the lead bundle is received through the opening with the leads in the stripping chamber and when the chemical stripping solution is provided though inlet and in the stripping chamber, the chemical stripping solution strips the insulation from the conductor members, with the stripping solution along with stripped insulation exiting through the outlet.

Abstract: A method and device for the programming and configuration of a programmable logic controller are disclosed. The method can include: locating a configuration tool in a programming tool, wherein the configuration tool includes a module in an IEC61131 language; integrating at least one further module into the configuration tool, and executing the programming and configuration of the programmable logic controller in a high-level language using a C-Code editor, and wherein the at least one further module is configured to provide a definition of interfaces between an IEC61131 code and a high-level language code, and provide a configuration of the high-level language code.

Abstract: A manufacturing system has one or more work cells that each performs one or more manufacturing processes. The system also has one or more mobile transport units (“MTUs”) that deliver transportable containers containing workpieces to and from said work cells. The MTUs deliver the containers to the work cells in a manner such that the workpieces are localized in the work cells. The manufacturing system also has a computer system that has status information for each of the one or more MTUs and uses the status information to control each of the one or more MTUs to deliver the transportable containers to and from the one or more work cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to an exemplary robot manipulator system having a robot manipulator with a kinematic chain of stiff robot manipulator segments, which are linked together by hinged joints. A robot controller controls execution of a robot program. At least one temperature sensor provides measured temperature values. At least one heatable cover is attached onto at least one manipulator segment for applying heat energy thereon, with an amount of heat energy being controlled dependent on measured temperature values of the at least one temperature sensor.