Abstract: An electric stapler is disposed at the bottom of a tray on which printed sheets are stacked, and is movable along the bottom of the tray. Printed sheets are aligned on the tray along a reference line. The stapler moves along the bottom of the tray and stops at determined points to staple the aligned sheets. A control section is stored with data about the number and location of stapling points proper for each sheet size. The size of printed sheets to be stapled is detected, and the movement of the stapler is controlled so that the stapler can staple at proper points for the detected sheet size.

Abstract: Herein disclosed are a method and an apparatus for indexing a moving portion of a robot to a mechanical origin. First and second reference holes are formed respectively in the moving portion and a holding portion supporting the moving portion relatively movably. A plug gauge used has a foot to be fitted in the first reference hole and a probe attached to the foot and sized to be inserted into the second reference hole. The plug gauge is fitted in the first reference hole, and the moving portion is then moved in a first direction relative to the holding portion by operating a drive unit. This relative movement of the moving portion is stopped when the probe of the plug gauge comes into contact with the inner wall of the second reference hole.

Abstract: An articulated robot having a swivel base supported on a support base for swivel movement about a vertical axis, a first arm pivoted on the swivel base for swing movement about a first swing axis perpendicular to the vertical axis and a second arm pivoted on the forward end of the first arm for swing movement about a second swing axis parallel to the first swing axis, wherein a servomotor for moving the second arm is mounted on the swivel base. The robot is provided with a gear train transmitting the rotation of the servomotor to the second arm, and the gear train is composed of a drive gear rotated by the servomotor to be rotated about the first swing axis, a driven gear fixed to the second arm for rotational movement about the second swing axis together with the second arm, and three idler gears disposed between the drive gear and driven gear for transmitting the rotation of the drive gear to the driven gear.

Abstract: An industrial robot utilizing a parallel link mechanism comprises a shoulder portion swingable about a vertical axis, which supports a first arm and a first link for swing movements about a common axis. A second arm pivoted at the end of the first arm for swing movement about a swing axis parallel to the common axis and being provided with a wrist portion at the front end thereof, while a second link is connected between the first link and the second arm so as to form a parallel link mechanism. Further, the second arm is provided with first and second connecting portions formed at the rear side and front sides of the second arm, respectively, with respect to the swing axis of the second arm. The first and second connecting portions are selectively connectable with one end of the second link using a connecting mechanism.

Abstract: An industrial robot having a first arm pivotable about an axis and a second arm carried on one end of the first arm for pivot movement about an axis which is parallel to the pivot axis of the first arm. The second arm is composed of an arm body, which carries a rotary member rotatable about an axis normal to the pivot axis of the second arm. A twist body secured to one axial end of the rotary member carries a bend body rotatable about an oblique axis which is slanted with respect to the rotational axis of the rotary member, and the bend body carries a swivel body rotatable about an axis which is slanted with respect to the oblique axis. The twist body is formed at a portion radially offset from the rotational axis of the rotary member with an eccentric cylindrical portion, in which a first pair of shafts for transmitting rotational power respectively to the bend and swivel bodies are rotatably carried in approximately coaxial alignment with each other.

Abstract: A multilink-type robot includes an arm support pivotably mounted on a base for angular movement about a vertical axis, the arm support having a pair of side support ledges extending upwardly with a U-shaped recess defined therebetween and extending substantially the entire length of the arm support, a first shaft extending across the recess and having opposite ends rotatably supported on the support ledges, a second shaft rotatably supported on the arm support in coaxial relation to the first shaft for relative rotation with respect to the first shaft, a first arm having one end fixed to the first shaft, a third shaft rotatably supported on an opposite end of the first arm in parallel relation to a first shaft, first rotation transmission for transmitting rotation of the second shaft to the third shaft, a second arm having one end fixed to the third shaft, a fourth shaft rotatably supported on an opposite end of the second arm in parallel relation to the third shaft, a wrist unit fixed to the fourth shaft, an

Abstract: A horizontal multi-link type robot has servomotors for rotating first and second arms, respectively. These servomotors are mounted to a first arm support shaft so as to be symmetrical with respect to this shaft. The first arm is mounted to the first arm support shaft so as to be rotatable in a horizontal plane. The second arm is mounted to a second arm support shaft, which extends parallel to the first arm support shaft and is rotatably held to the first arm. A tool holding shaft extends parallel to the second arm support shaft and is rotatably held to the second arm.