Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for applying melt flowable materials to components of articles of manufacture. The methods and apparatuses disclosed herein are concerned with formation of appropriate flowable materials, control over the manner in which the flowable materials are applied, treatment of the components prior to application of the flowable materials and the like. Moreover, the apparatuses and methods may be particularly suited for applying flowable materials to surfaces and components found in automotive, aerospace, and marine vehicles.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for applying melt flowable materials to components of articles of manufacture. The methods and apparatuses disclosed herein are concerned with formation of appropriate flowable materials, control over the manner in which the flowable materials are applied, treatment of the components prior to application of the flowable materials and the like. Moreover, the apparatuses and methods may be particularly suited for applying flowable materials to surfaces and components found in automotive, aerospace, and marine vehicles.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for applying melt flowable materials to components of articles of manufacture. The methods and apparatuses disclosed herein are concerned with formation of appropriate flowable materials, control over the manner in which the flowable materials are applied, treatment of the components prior to application of the flowable materials and the like. Moreover, the apparatuses and methods may be particularly suited for applying flowable materials to surfaces and components found in automotive, aerospace, and marine vehicles.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for applying melt flowable materials to components of articles of manufacture. The methods and apparatuses disclosed herein are concerned with formation of appropriate flowable materials, control over the manner in which the flowable materials are applied, treatment of the components prior to application of the flowable materials and the like. Moreover, the apparatuses and methods may be particularly suited for applying flowable materials to surfaces and components found in automotive, aerospace, and marine vehicles.

Abstract: A gravitational compensating system that eliminates gravitational torque of linked robotic arms is provided. A three arm embodiment is disclosed which rotates around a vertical reference axis. The second and third arm rotate around two separate horizontal axes. The gravitational compensating system compensates for the gravitational torque attributed to the second arm as it rotates about its horizontal swing axis and the gravitational torque attributable to the third arm as it rotates about its horizontal swing axis. The combined actuating and compensating systems for the second and third arm are housed in the base structure of the first arm. The compensating system also applies to two arm embodiments.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to robots and specifically to a robot for spraying applications which has the ability to accurately follow trajectories that require high speeds and accelerations, a working envelope appropriate for processing the sides, top, and bottom of a large object such as an aircraft, an integrated revolute joint and actuator for supplying power to the movable components of the robot along protected, low maintenance power paths, a zero backlash drive, and a gravity compensating system which causes the robot to be neutrally balanced throughout its entire working envelope even while carrying a payload of significant weight.

Abstract: Disclosed is a manual control means for motor-assisted manual control of a motor-driven member.A control handle bears against the centre of a deformable diaphragm in the form of a cross. The outer end of each of the arms of the diaphragm is mounted to pivot freely in a fixed support means. When the diaphragm is deformed by movements of the handle, pairs of strain gauges attached to each of the arms produce electrical signals which are processed for use to control the motor-driven member to cause it to be driven in the sense of the movement of the handle.

Abstract: An articulation for a manipulation arm at one end of which a tool, e.g. a spray gun, is to be mounted has two supporting elements such as plates or rings which are intercoupled by connecting rods, and joints between the connecting rods and the supporting elements have at least two degrees of freedom. A preferred number of rods is three, and two of the joints may be pivotally mounted to one of the supporting element but a third is non-rotatably mounted. By independent angular driving of two of the coupling rods a wide range of articulation displacements may be caused as between the supporting elements and hence communicated to a tool mounted on one of them. Furthermore the attitude of the tool about an axis perpendicular to the ring may be controlled by a rotatable drive rod linking pivots disposed centrally of each supporting element.