Abstract: The invention relates to a method for designing grippers and fixtures for handling objects in robotic manufacturing and pick-and-place tasks. To achieve this a method for determining a shape of the holding or support surface of the gripper or fixture is presented. This method includes steps of determining an initial shape of the support surface based on an outer shape of the object, applying a shaping function to different locations of the initial shape, determining modified shape points at locations of the initial shape by comparing the applied shaping function with the initial shape. If the application of the shaping function results in an extension of the initial shape G(xi,yj) at the neighbour location (xi, yj) this extension forms part of a modified support surface for the gripper or fixture. A method for determining an optimum shape of the support surface with respect to optimization conditions is also presented.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system for switching between control points of a robotic system involving an industrial robot including a robot arm with a number of joints and provided with a tool interest point movable in a plurality of degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A device (1) for connecting first and second components (2, 3) which lie at a spacing from one another by clamping by a spacer (7), which is disposed in a spacing region, and a clamping piece (15) which clamps the two components (2, 3) with respect to one another, the securing actuation of the clamping piece (15) initially displacing the spacer (7) from a spaced position to a bearing position with respect to the second component (3) and then fixing the device to the first component (2) by clamping elements (13) which move into engagement against the wall of an insertion cavity (6) of the first component (2), wherein the spreading elements (13) are associated with the spacer (7).

Abstract: A rotary-latch lock (1), of which a rotary latch (8) has a fork mouth (9) for accommodating a mating locking part (6) which, in a locked position of the rotary-latch lock (1), is located in front of a blocking flank (16) formed by a fork-mouth leg (11), having a window-like opening (17, 25, 26) which promotes plastic deformation when the blocking flank (16) is subjected to increased loading, wherein the opening (17, 25, 26) forms a bending/extending web (18, 23, 24).

Abstract: A rotary-latch lock (1), of which a rotary latch (8) has a fork mouth (9) for accommodating a mating locking part (6) which, in a locked position of the rotary-latch lock (1), is located in front of a blocking flank (16) formed by a fork-mouth leg (11), having a window-like opening (17, 25, 26) which promotes plastic deformation when the blocking flank (16) is subjected to increased loading, wherein the opening (17, 25, 26) forms a bending/extending web (18, 23, 24).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for connecting components (2, 3) by clamping and by means of a spacer (7) which is arranged in the gap and a clamping component (15) which clamps the two components (2, 3) against each other, said components being situated at a distance from one another. The fixing movement of the clamping component (15) results in a displacement of the spacer (7) from a distanced position into a position of rest on the second component (3) and then results in the device being fixed to the first component (2) by means of clamping elements (13) that are brought to rest on the wall of an insertion cavity (6) pertaining to the first component (2). According to the invention, the spreading means (13) are allocated to the spacer (7).

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus, and related method, for providing a procedure to analyze images based on two-dimensional shape primitives. In the procedure, an object representation is created automatically from an image and then this representation is applied to another image for the purpose of object recognition. The features used for the representation are the two type of two-dimensional shape primitives: local line segments and vertices. Furthermore, the creation of object representations is extended to sequences of images, which is especially needed for complex scenes in which, for example, the object is presented in front of a structured background.

Abstract: A device for the releasable fastening of seats, bench seats or other objects on a floor of a motor vehicle, comprising a locking part, and a mating locking part which can be fastened to the floor. The locking part is movable by overcoming a spring force from a locking position, in which it cannot be uncoupled from the mating locking part, into a release position in which it can be uncoupled from the mating locking part. A blocking element, upon the uncoupling, retains the locking part in the release position by a positively locking interengagement.

Abstract: The invention is a locking device for fastening a vehicle seat to a floor of the vehicle. The device allows both fastening and unfastening via structure that compensates for tolerances and helps ensure a rattle-free connection.

Abstract: A device for damping the belt tension which occurs in a seat belt (16) in the event of a momentary stress of great force. In order for momentary stresses of great force on the seat belt (16) to be able to be absorbed without injury being caused, the device has at least two reels (6, 14), rollers or the like which deflect the seat belt (16) from its straight-line extent and at least one (14) of which can yield elastically in the transverse direction of the extent when a preset maximum force is exceeded.

Abstract: A seat back (35) with a headrest (40) on a vehicle seat (33). To reduce the whiplash effect during a front-end accident to a significant degree, the head rest (40) rests on a headrest support (38) that can be pivoted outward and forward around a horizontal axis (39), with the backward displacement of the support being restricted in terms of movement.

Abstract: A headrest (23) which pivots forward, by lever action, as a result of the mass of the upper body of a vehicle occupant acting on a pressure-bearing surface in the event of an impact from the rear. In order that in case of both a rear-end crash and a head-on crash of the vehicle, the headrest (23) follows the head of an individual sitting on the vehicle seat, the headrest (23) is positioned on a headrest carrier (17) which can be pivoted out of the backrest (3) in the forward direction and can be pivoted outward about a pin (19), this pin being located at a lower level than that of the pivot pin (21) of the headrest (23).