Abstract: An end of arm tool has a mounting bracket mounting the end of arm tool to the robot arm for movement therewith and has a plurality of operating mechanisms mounted to the mounting bracket, a plurality of gripping devices each operatively connected to a respective operating mechanism and movable along a path, and a plurality of individual motors each operatively connected to a respective gripping device for moving the respective gripping device along its respective path. At least one programmable controller for operating the motors is provided to adjust the positions of the gripping devices along their respective paths to one of a plurality of predetermined positions established by the controller for gripping the article and to position the end of arm tool adjacent the article so that at least one of the gripping devices grips the article.

Abstract: Apparatus for molding articles from moldable material in a mold includes end of arm tooling for an articulated robot arm associated with the mold, where the end of arm tooling includes an insert transfer member mounted on the end of the articulated robot arm. The insert transfer member has an insert holder for gripping the insert. The apparatus also includes a charger for generating an electric field that causes the insert to adhere onto a surface of the mold.