Abstract: In a cover structure of a robot, the robot includes two or more movable portions, is stored in a cover, and is mounted with an end effector in any one of the two or more movable portions. The cover is fixed to any one of the movable portions other than the movable portion mounted with the end effector among the two or more movable portions, and has a cover opening portion where the end effector is capable of passing.

Abstract: A weight measurement system and a weight measurement method using a robot, by which a weight greater than a weight capacity of the robot can be measured. The system has a robot, a robot controller for controlling the motion of the robot, and an arithmetic processing unit for calculating the weight of an article to be measured. The robot is configured to apply a force to a working point connected to a tank so that at least one of support points or a part of a support surface of the tank is lifted, and simultaneously, the remaining support point or the remaining part of the support surface of the tank is grounded. The weight of the tank containing processing fluid can be measured based on a relationship between the force applied to the working point by the robot and a lever ratio.

Abstract: A precision machining/measurement device and a robot that conveys a workpiece to the device are covered by a cover, and a space covered by the cover is partitioned by a partition cover into a space where the precision machining/measurement device is installed and a space where the robot is installed. When a temperature inside the space where the robot is installed falls within a predetermined temperature range, a door provided in the partition cover is opened, and the robot supplies the workpiece to the precision machining/measurement device through the opened door.

Abstract: A tool gripping mechanism includes a tool holder and a shaft to which the tool holder is attached. The shaft is fixed to a rotary shaft of a spindle device. A plurality of magnets are disposed in pairs on concentric circles on surfaces of the tool holder and the shaft which face each other. When the tool holder is in a specific phase with respect to the shaft, the magnets of the tool holder and the magnets of the shaft attract each other, and the tool holder is aligned with respect to the shaft in that phase.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus mounted with at least one linear axis or axis of rotation and a robot on a base and mounted with vibration isolators and the robot includes vibration isolators that are capable of seating and suspending the base and a controller that controls suspension and seating of the vibration isolators in accordance with an operating condition of the robot.

Abstract: A linear drive unit and a machine tool having the linear drive unit, capable of being applied to various applications, while taking into consideration the balance between the thrust force and the cogging of a linear motor. The linear drive unit has a magnetic gap changing mechanism which is configured to change a magnitude of a magnetic gap between a coil and a magnet, by displacing at least one of the coil and the magnet so that the coil and the magnet approach or are separated from each other.

Abstract: A weight measurement system and a weight measurement method using a robot, by which a weight greater than a weight capacity of the robot can be measured. The system has a robot, a robot controller for controlling the motion of the robot, and an arithmetic processing unit for calculating the weight of an article to be measured. The robot is configured to apply a force to a working point connected to a tank so that at least one of support points or a part of a support surface of the tank is lifted, and simultaneously, the remaining support point or the remaining part of the support surface of the tank is grounded. The weight of the tank containing processing fluid can be measured based on a relationship between the force applied to the working point by the robot and a lever ratio.

Abstract: In a cover structure of a robot, the robot includes two or more movable portions, is stored in a cover, and is mounted with an end effector in any one of the two or more movable portions. The cover is fixed to any one of the movable portions other than the movable portion mounted with the end effector among the two or more movable portions, and has a cover opening portion where the end effector is capable of passing.

Abstract: A tool holder holding a rotating tool can be sucked in a direction of a rotational axis of a spindle and a direction perpendicular to the direction of the rotational axis, using a chuck. A projection is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the tool holder, and caused to collide against another projection with the spindle kept rotating, to displace the tool holder. Thus, runout and dynamic balance of the rotating tool are adjusted.

Abstract: A precision machining/measurement device and a robot that conveys a workpiece to the device are covered by a cover, and a space covered by the cover is partitioned by a partition cover into a space where the precision machining/measurement device is installed and a space where the robot is installed. When a temperature inside the space where the robot is installed falls within a predetermined temperature range, a door provided in the partition cover is opened, and the robot supplies the workpiece to the precision machining/measurement device through the opened door.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus mounted with at least one linear axis or axis of rotation and a robot on a base and mounted with vibration isolators and the robot includes vibration isolators that are capable of seating and suspending the base and a controller that controls suspension and seating of the vibration isolators in accordance with an operating condition of the robot.

Abstract: A tool gripping mechanism includes a tool holder and a shaft to which the tool holder is attached. The shaft is fixed to a rotary shaft of a spindle device. A plurality of magnets are disposed in pairs on concentric circles on surfaces of the tool holder and the shaft which face each other. When the tool holder is in a specific phase with respect to the shaft, the magnets of the tool holder and the magnets of the shaft attract each other, and the tool holder is aligned with respect to the shaft in that phase.

Abstract: A tool holder holding a rotating tool can be sucked in a direction of a rotational axis of a spindle and a direction perpendicular to the direction of the rotational axis, using a chuck. A projection is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the tool holder, and caused to collide against another projection with the spindle kept rotating, to displace the tool holder. Thus, runout and dynamic balance of the rotating tool are adjusted.

Abstract: A linear drive unit and a machine tool having the linear drive unit, capable of being applied to various applications, while taking into consideration the balance between the thrust force and the cogging of a linear motor. The linear drive unit has a magnetic gap changing mechanism which is configured to change a magnitude of a magnetic gap between a coil and a magnet, by displacing at least one of the coil and the magnet so that the coil and the magnet approach or are separated from each other.

Abstract: Since a tool holder is formed of a structure which is elastically deformed by a centrifugal force produced as the tool holder rotates around a rotation center axis, the rotation radius of a tool with a cutting edge directed to the rotation center axis varies from zero to an arbitrary value. The structure of the tool holder includes two beams elastically deformable to the same degree in opposite directions by the centrifugal force, and centrifugal force components acting on the two beams cancel each other so that a rotation balance is maintained even when the rotational speed of the tool holder is changed.

Abstract: When an excitation of a servo motor is released due to an emergency stop, a power outage, or another operation performed on a positioning device, the positioning device uses air supplied from an air supply source to vary pressure of an air balance, which cancels a self-weight of a vertical axis driven by the servo motor, thereby moving the vertical axis.

Abstract: A measurement program is created for measurement performed by moving X- and Z-axes so that a central axis of a probe is perpendicular to the surface of a reference sphere, and errors are obtained between original probe position data and probe position data obtained by measurement performed at two different angles ?1 and ?2 of a rotary axis according to the created measurement program. Position coordinates of a tip end of the probe at the two different angles ?1 and ?2 of the rotary axis are corrected so that the errors are zero. Then, the X- and Z-axis coordinates are corrected based on a positive or negative phased shift amount, and measurement errors are obtained by calculation. A real probe tip position is defined by the X- and Z-axis coordinates corrected by a correction amount with which the obtained measurement errors become minimum.

Abstract: When an excitation of a servo motor is released due to an emergency stop, a power outage, or another operation performed on a positioning device, the positioning device uses air supplied from an air supply source to vary pressure of an air balance, which cancels a self-weight of a vertical axis driven by the servo motor, thereby moving the vertical axis.

Abstract: A fluid bearing structure with uniform depths of bearing concaves and a method of forming the bearing concaves in the fluid bearing structure. Pipe parts are inserted into through holes formed in the bearing base to form fluid spout holes for spouting fluid between confronting bearing surfaces. Bearing concaves are formed around the fluid spout holes. The bearing base and the pipe parts are made of different materials. A coating layer is formed on the bearing base and the pipe parts by an anodic oxidation process. Thickness of the coating layer on the bearing base is different from thickness of the coating layer on the pipe parts since the base member and the pipe members are made of different materials. The material on which a coating layer grows quickly is selected for the bearing base and the material on which a coating layer grows slowly is selected for the pipe parts.

Abstract: A contact type measurement device performs measurement with displacement of a probe, while a contact member attached to the probe is in contact with an object to be measured. Data on the relationship of a contact force of the probe to the object to be measured with an angle between the central axis of the probe and the direction of gravity, the amount of displacement of the probe, and a fluid pressure for applying a pushing-out or pulling-in force to the probe is stored in advance and, on the basis of this data, the fluid pressure or the amount of displacement of the probe is controlled to automatically and precisely adjust a fine contact force of the probe to the object to be measured.