Abstract: An automatic pill cutter includes mechanisms for bringing pills to a cutting location, for centering and locating the pills at the cutting location, and for cutting and dispensing the cut pills.

Abstract: An automatic pill cutter, including a solenoid plunger, torsion spring, indexing wheel, and cutting blade mounted within an upper and lower body assembly capable of cutting pills ranging in size up to 0.187 inches in thickness and 0.500 in diameter.

Abstract: Apparatus for placement of an optical component on a substrate. The apparatus includes a machine vision system for locating the optical component on the substrate, a contact determiner for determining contact therebetween, and a robot for contacting the optical component and the substrate with one another, and for moving the optical component and the substrate relative to one another under guidance from the machine vision system toward a desired position, wherein the optical component and the substrate contact one another for a portion of the movement. A method includes contacting the optical component with the substrate, locating the optical component on the substrate, and moving the optical component and the substrate relative to one another toward a desired position of the optical component on the substrate, wherein the optical component and the substrate contact one another for a portion of the moving.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for precision placement of an optical component on a substrate and precision assembly thereof into a fiber optic telecommunication package. An apparatus is disclosed comprising a machine vision system; contact determiner means; and a robot. A method is disclosed comprising contacting the optical component and the substrate with one another; locating the optical component relative to a fiducial point on the substrate; and moving the optical component and the substrate relative to one another toward a desired position of the optical component relative to the fiducial point on the substrate; wherein the optical component and the substrate contact one another for at least a portion of the step of moving the optical component and the substrate.

Abstract: Clean benches each providing a sealed work space can be connected together in a row to form a modular system such that objects on pallets can be transported concurrently back and forth from one to another of connected benches through sealed doorways. The pallets have a translucent bottom and lamps are provided below their paths such that the objects thereon can be clearly silhouetted. Each bench is provided with a driving mechanism for a robotic gripper arm such that various tools can be used to automatically perform different tasks in the work space. The main frame of each bench forms a closed air circulating system for providing an air flow through the work space, and fans of different power are arranged in its path such that the air pressure tends to be higher in the work space than elsewhere.

Abstract: A pick-up head module has two vertical tubes for picking up small objects such as ICs by suction. A mechanism is provided for rotating these two tubes around their own axes. The tubes are individually supported by two separate tables, one (first) rack gear being attached to one of these tables and two (second and third) rack gears being attached to the other. These three rack gears are all vertically oriented, the first and second rack gears being in a side-by-side relationship and the third rack gear being opposite therefrom. A pinion is provided so as to be controllably slidable in the direction of its axis, thereby selectably engaging either with the first and second rack gears or with the first and third gear.