Abstract: A screw member includes: a shank part that has a circular columnar shape and has a screw thread formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof; a head part provided on one axial end part of the shank part; and a guiding protrusion protruding from the other axial end part of the shank part in a direction in which the other axial end part faces. A tip end part of the guiding protrusion has a long direction and a short direction perpendicular to the long direction.

Abstract: There is provided a tightening tool control system including a tightening tool and a PC (Personal Computer) for controlling the tightening tool, the tightening tool having a registration mode for detecting a tightening posture when tightening a member and for registering the detected tightening posture in the PC.

Abstract: A moving device is provided with a first moving body and a second moving body. First cord-shaped bodies are fed out from first feed-out length changing units provided on first feed-out units. The first cord-shaped bodies are connected to the first moving body. Second cord-shaped bodies are fed out from second feed-out length changing units provided on second feed-out units. The second cord-shaped bodies are connected to the second moving body. Further, the first moving body and the second moving body are connected to each other through a third cord-shaped body.

Abstract: The suspension assembly mounting method includes: a step of mounting the suspension assembly on a pallet having a support body and a movable member relatively movable with respect to the support body, so as to fix the base body to the support body and engage the arm member with the movable member; a step of causing the movable member to press the arm member upward so that the suspension assembly becomes a position where its own weight load equivalent to the vehicle body weight is applied; a step of lifting the pallet from under the vehicle body and contacting the suspension assembly to the vehicle body; a step of raising the pallet while stopping the movable member from pressing after the contacting; and a vehicle mount step of mounting the suspension assembly on the vehicle body while causing the movable member to press the arm member upward.

Abstract: A moving device is provided with a first moving body and a second moving body. First cord-shaped bodies are fed out from first feed-out length changing units provided on first feed-out units. The first cord-shaped bodies are connected to the first moving body. Second cord-shaped bodies are fed out from second feed-out length changing units provided on second feed-out units. The second cord-shaped bodies are connected to the second moving body. Further, the first moving body and the second moving body are connected to each other through a third cord-shaped body.

Abstract: The suspension assembly mounting method includes: a step of mounting the suspension assembly on a pallet having a support body and a movable member relatively movable with respect to the support body, so as to fix the base body to the support body and engage the arm member with the movable member; a step of causing the movable member to press the arm member upward so that the suspension assembly becomes a position where its own weight load equivalent to the vehicle body weight is applied; a step of lifting the pallet from under the vehicle body and contacting the suspension assembly to the vehicle body; a step of raising the pallet while stopping the movable member from pressing after the contacting; and a vehicle mount step of mounting the suspension assembly on the vehicle body while causing the movable member to press the arm member upward.

Abstract: Provided is a nut feeding system for feeding a nut smoothly and efficiently without the occurrence of nut clogging or the like. A posture alignment device 2 of the nut feeding system 1 repeats an advance and retreat motion of an insert pin 19. After the insert pin 19 is inserted into a screw hole of the nut N, the nut N is raised and transferred from the posture alignment device 2 towards a supply placing unit 5.

Abstract: An apparatus executes movement control that causes a robot arm equipped with a camera to move up to an object, thereby enabling a manipulator to move to an object quickly, accurately, and stably as a control system. Specifically, when the object is not detected, the apparatus executes teaching playback control to cause a manipulator to move along a path up to a target position set in advance based on a position of the object. When the object is detected, the apparatus defines a position closer to the object than the target position as a new target position, sets a new path up to the new target position, executes teaching playback control to cause the manipulator to move along the new path until a switching condition for switching the movement control is fulfilled. When the switching condition is fulfilled, the apparatus executes visual servo control.

Abstract: An apparatus executes movement control that causes a robot arm equipped with a camera to move up to an object, thereby enabling a manipulator to move to an object quickly, accurately, and stably as a control system. Specifically, when the object is not detected, the apparatus executes teaching playback control to cause a manipulator to move along a path up to a target position set in advance based on a position of the object. When the object is detected, the apparatus defines a position closer to the object than the target position as a new target position, sets a new path up to the new target position, executes teaching playback control to cause the manipulator to move along the new path until a switching condition for switching the movement control is fulfilled. When the switching condition is fulfilled, the apparatus executes visual servo control.

Abstract: The method of lap-welding of metal plates using a laser beam, wherein at least one of the metal plates is surface-treated, includes putting a metal plate on the other metal plate and forming a gap between the metal plates so that gas generated at the treated surface at the time weld can be dissipated therethrough. A surface-treated first work and a surface-treated second work are placed one on the other and clamped by a clamp with an opening of the clamp centered at the location on the first work to be welded. Then a laser beam is directed to the location to form a weld. The beam is then directed near the inner periphery of the opening to form a heated portion so that the heated portion deflects to form a gap through which the gas generated at the treated surface dissipates thereby reducing gas pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus executes movement control that causes a robot arm equipped with a camera to move up to an object, thereby enabling a manipulator to move to an object quickly, accurately, and stably as a control system. Specifically, when the object is not detected, the apparatus executes teaching playback control to cause a manipulator to move along a path up to a target position set in advance based on a position of the object. When the object is detected, the apparatus defines a position closer to the object than the target position as a new target position, sets a new path up to the new target position, executes teaching playback control to cause the manipulator to move along the new path until a switching condition for switching the movement control is fulfilled. When the switching condition is fulfilled, the apparatus executes visual servo control.

Abstract: Provided is a nut feeding system for feeding a nut smoothly and efficiently without the occurrence of nut clogging or the like. A posture alignment device 2 of the nut feeding system 1 repeats an advance and retreat motion of an insert pin 19. After the insert pin 19 is inserted into a screw hole of the nut N, the nut N is raised and transferred from the posture alignment device 2 towards a supply placing unit 5.

Abstract: According to the present invention, even during and immediately before a machining operation by a machining apparatus, it is possible to improve positioning control accuracy thereof and, as a result, machining accuracy thereof. A robot 11 equipped with a machining tool 12 performs a moving operation to a target position 41 of a machining target workpiece 2 and a machining operation on the machining target. A robot moving mechanism 14 moves the robot 11 in parallel with the workpiece 2 that is being conveyed by a conveyance carriage 18. A robot control device 17 controls movement of the robot moving mechanism 14 using a detection result of a synchronizing sensor 15 and carries out positioning control of the robot 11 using the detection result of a visual sensor 13 or a synchronizing sensor 15.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel alignment measuring method and apparatus capable of measuring wheel alignment of a vehicle body with high accuracy without wheels mounted in an assembly line. A dummy wheel (10) is mounted on a wheel mounting portion (6) on which a wheel is not mounted. Subsequently, with a vehicle body supported, a wheel mounting portion elevating means (8) elevates the wheel mounting portion (6) via the dummy wheel (10). Thereafter, an alignment measuring means (9) measures wheel alignment for the wheel mounting portion (6) on which the dummy wheel (10) is mounted.

Abstract: The method of lap-welding of metal plates using a laser beam, wherein at least one of the metal plates is surface-treated, includes putting a metal plate on the other metal plate and forming a gap between the metal plates so that gas generated at the treated surface at the time weld can be dissipated therethrough. A surface-treated first work and a surface-treated second work are placed one on the other and clamped by means of a clamp with an opening of the clamp centered at the location on the first work to be welded. Then a laser beam is directed to the location to form a weld. The beam is then directed near the inner periphery of the opening to form a heated portion so that the heated portion deflects to form a gap through which the gas generated at the treated surface dissipates thereby reducing gas pressure.

Abstract: According to the present invention, even during and immediately before a machining operation by a machining apparatus, it is possible to improve positioning control accuracy thereof and, as a result, machining accuracy thereof. A robot 11 equipped with a machining tool 12 performs a moving operation to a target position 41 of a machining target workpiece 2 and a machining operation on the machining target. A robot moving mechanism 14 moves the robot 11 in parallel with the workpiece 2 that is being conveyed by a conveyance carriage 18. A robot control device 17 controls movement of the robot moving mechanism 14 using a detection result of a synchronizing sensor 15 and carries out positioning control of the robot 11 using the detection result of a visual sensor 13 or a synchronizing sensor 15.

Abstract: An apparatus executes movement control that causes a robot arm equipped with a camera to move up to an object, thereby enabling to cause a manipulator to move to an object quickly, accurately, and stably as a control system. Specifically, when the object is not detected, the apparatus executes teaching playback control to cause a manipulator to move along a path up to a target position set in advance based on a position of the object (Step S1). When the object is detected, the apparatus defines a position closer to the object than the target position as a new target position, sets a new path up to the new target position, executes teaching playback control to cause the manipulator to move along the new path until a switching condition for switching the movement control is fulfilled (Steps S3 and S4). When the switching condition is fulfilled, the apparatus executes visual servo control (Step S5).

Abstract: A vehicle wheel alignment measuring method and apparatus capable of measuring wheel alignment of a vehicle body with high accuracy without wheels mounted in an assembly line. A dummy wheel (10) is mounted on a wheel mounting portion (6) on which a wheel is not mounted. Subsequently, with a vehicle body supported, a wheel mounting portion elevating means (8) elevates the wheel mounting portion (6) via the dummy wheel (10). Thereafter, an alignment measuring means (9) measures wheel alignment for the wheel mounting portion (6) on which the dummy wheel (10) is mounted.