Abstract: The production planning apparatus includes a memory configured to store, with respect to each of a plurality of process steps included in a production process for producing predetermined articles, the number of resources for setup step that are available for a setup step in which setup for performing work of the process step is performed and a processor configured to determine, on the basis of the number of the resources for setup step, among the resources for setup step, resources that are allocated to the setup steps of respective ones of the plurality of process steps in such a way that a total of required times required for the setup steps of respective ones of the plurality of process steps is minimized.

Abstract: The production planning apparatus includes a memory configured to store, with respect to each of a plurality of process steps included in a production process for producing predetermined articles, the number of resources for setup step that are available for a setup step in which setup for performing work of the process step is performed and a processor configured to determine, on the basis of the number of the resources for setup step, among the resources for setup step, resources that are allocated to the setup steps of respective ones of the plurality of process steps in such a way that a total of required times required for the setup steps of respective ones of the plurality of process steps is minimized.

Abstract: An assembly system includes a molding machine that molds first parts and second parts and a robot having an assembly unit including a first holder that holds the first parts and a second holder that holds the second parts with each other. The first parts and the second parts that are molded by the molding machine are removed from the mold while being held by the first holder and the second holder of the robot. At least one of the first holder and the second holder is moved relative to the other so as to assemble the first parts and the second parts without releasing the first parts held by the first holder and the second parts held by the second holder.

Abstract: A palletizing system capable of conserving space in an area for buffer conveyors. The palletizing system includes a supply conveyor for conveying a first type of article and a second type of article, a type detection sensor for detecting the type of the article, a first buffer conveyor for conveying the first type of article, a second buffer conveyor for conveying the second type of article, which is disposed above the first buffer conveyor, a sorting robot which places the first type of article on the first buffer conveyor and which places the second type of article on the second buffer conveyor, and a loading robot which removes articles from the first buffer conveyor and the second buffer conveyor, to load the articles on a pallet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a part conveyor system comprising an attitude adjusting jig which adjusts the attitude of a part which has an axis part and a head part, and a conveyor device which takes out and conveys the part from the attitude adjusting jig. The attitude adjusting jig is provided with a recessed part which has an inside space which is sandwiched between a pair of upward slanted surfaces facing each other, a groove part which is formed at the bottom of the recessed part for holding the axis part of the part, and a magnet which is arranged in the groove part.

Abstract: An assembly system includes a molding machine that molds first parts and second parts and a robot having an assembly unit including a first holder that holds the first parts and a second holder that holds the second parts with each other. The first parts and the second parts that are molded by the molding machine are removed from the mold while being held by the first holder and the second holder of the robot. At least one of the first holder and the second holder is moved relative to the other so as to assemble the first parts and the second parts without releasing the first parts held by the first holder and the second parts held by the second holder.

Abstract: A palletizing system capable of conserving space in an area for buffer conveyors. The palletizing system includes a supply conveyor for conveying a first type of article and a second type of article, a type detection sensor for detecting the type of the article, a first buffer conveyor for conveying the first type of article, a second buffer conveyor for conveying the second type of article, which is disposed above the first buffer conveyor, a sorting robot which places the first type of article on the first buffer conveyor and which places the second type of article on the second buffer conveyor, and a loading robot which removes articles from the first buffer conveyor and the second buffer conveyor, to load the articles on a pallet.

Abstract: A screw fastening device (10) includes a base part (11), an extended part (12) with one end (12a) which is attached to the base part in a pivotable manner, a tool part (13) which is fastened to another end (12) of the extended part and makes a screw which is engaged with its front end rotate, a pushing mechanism (15) which pushes the tool part against the screw (14) through the extended part in an axial direction of the screw, a guide part (16) which is fastened to the base part and has an arc shaped part, a torque generating part (17) which generates a torque which makes the extended part rotate along the arc shaped part in a fastening direction of the screw, and a first detection part (18a) which detects when a reaction force of a predetermined value or more acts against the torque generating part.

Abstract: The present invention provides a part conveyor system comprising an attitude adjusting jig which adjusts the attitude of a part which has an axis part and a head part, and a conveyor device which takes out and conveys the part from the attitude adjusting jig. The attitude adjusting jig is provided with a recessed part which has an inside space which is sandwiched between a pair of upward slanted surfaces facing each other, a groove part which is formed at the bottom of the recessed part for holding the axis part of the part, and a magnet which is arranged in the groove part.

Abstract: A screw fastening device (10) includes a base part (11), an extended part (12) with one end (12a) which is attached to the base part in a pivotable manner, a tool part (13) which is fastened to another end (12) of the extended part and makes a screw which is engaged with its front end rotate, a pushing mechanism (15) which pushes the tool part against the screw (14) through the extended part in an axial direction of the screw, a guide part (16) which is fastened to the base part and has an arc shaped part, a torque generating part (17) which generates a torque which makes the extended part rotate along the arc shaped part in a fastening direction of the screw, and a first detection part (18a) which detects when a reaction force of a predetermined value or more acts against the torque generating part.

Abstract: A robot turning apparatus capable of considerably extending a working area of a robot without using a traveling axis, etc., which is also advantageous in terms of maintenance and cost. The turning apparatus has a base section arranged on a floor surface; a turning section connected to the base section so as to be turned about a turning axis; a robot mounting section for mounting the robot thereon, formed on the turning section; and a driving section which turns the turning section. The robot has a robot base part, and a robot arm part attached to the robot base part so as to be rotated about a rotation axis, wherein the robot base part is attached to the robot Mounting section so that the rotation axis is offset from the turning axis in a horizontal direction by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A sucking-conveying device capable of sequentially and efficiently taking out and conveying a workpiece one-by-one, even when a taking-out means attached to the robot is not correctly positioned relative to a workpiece to be taken out. The sucking-conveying device includes a robot and a vision sensor capable of detecting a plurality of workpieces randomly located in a container. A suction nozzle, configured to suck and take out the workpieces one-by-one, is mounted on the robot. By attaching the nozzle to a robot arm, the position and orientation of the nozzle may be changed. The suction nozzle is fluidly connected to a suction unit via a blow member. The suction unit sucks air through the nozzle, and generates suction force at the nozzle for sucking a target workpiece to be taken out toward the nozzle, whereby the nozzle can suck and hold the target workpiece.