Abstract: An angle stop wrench with an open first end sized for holding a plumbing component during an installation procedure. A side opening of a different size from the open first end is also included in the angle stop wrench for holding a plumbing component during the installation procedure. Finally, a hook end portion for holding and aligning a plumbing component during the installation procedure is also provided, where the hook portion is formed on an end portion spaced from the open first end portion. The angle stop wrench may be secured for storage within the handle of a second tool useful in the installation procedure.

Abstract: A work bench may include a body for supporting a power tool, a first leg connected to a first end of the body, a second leg connected to a second end of the body, the first and second legs being pivotally connected, the first and second legs being movable between a first position where the body is in a lowered position and a second position where the body is in an elevated position, and a spring connecting the first and second legs. The spring provides at least a portion of the force necessary to move the first and second legs from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An accommodating apparatus configured for accommodating screws and a screw driver includes a sleeve and a support. The sleeve defines a receiving hole, and a sidewall of the sleeve defines a fixing groove in communication with the receiving hole. The support includes an accommodating plate, and the accommodating plate includes two opposing clamping blocks for clamping the screw driver, and a protrusion corresponding to the fixing groove. The accommodating plate has a mounting surface, and the support defines a plurality of through holes in the mounting surface for receiving the screws. The protrusion is releasably-engagable with the fixing groove, thereby enabling the accommodating plate to be received in the receiving hole of the sleeve, and further enabling the accommodating plate to be disengaged from the sleeve.

Abstract: Methods includes calibrating robots without the use of external measurement equipment and copying working programs between un-calibrated robots. Both methods utilize the properties of a closed chain and the relative position of the links in the chain in order to update the kinematic models of the robots.

Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus including a frame, at least one arm link rotatably connected to the frame and a shaftless drive section. The shaftless drive section including stacked drive motors for rotating the at least one arm link relative to the frame through a shaftless interface, each of the stacked drive motors including a stator having stator coils disposed on a fixed post fixed relative to the frame and a rotor substantially peripherally surrounding the stator such that the rotor is connected to a respective one of the at least one arm link for rotating the one of the at least one arm link relative to the frame causing an extension or retraction of the one of the at least one arm link, where the stacked drive motors are disposed in the at least one arm link so that part of each stator is within a common arm link.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for determining gripping regions on an object. The object is to be gripped, based on the determined gripping regions, by means of a robot. At least one first gripping pose of the robot is taught at the object, and additional gripping poses are determined at the object. Based on these gripping poses, a first gripping region is configured.

Abstract: Example systems and methods may be used to determine a trajectory for moving an object using a robotic device. One example method includes determining a plurality of possible trajectories for moving an object with an end effector of a robotic manipulator based on a plurality of possible object measurements. The method may further include causing the robotic manipulator to pick up the object with the end effector. After causing the robotic manipulator to pick up the object with the end effector, the method may also include receiving sensor data from one or more sensors indicative of one or more measurements of the object. Based on the received sensor data, the method may additionally include selecting a trajectory for moving the object from the plurality of possible trajectories. The method may further include causing the robotic manipulator to move the object through the selected trajectory.

Abstract: A visually controlled end effector is disclosed. The end effector comprises two or more operational members capable of picking up one or more randomly placed items. A crank is capable of actuation by a robot to orient a first one of said two or more operational members to pick up a first one of said one or more randomly placed items. The crank is further capable of actuation by the robot to orient a second one of said two or more operational members to pick up a second one of said one or more randomly placed items. The crank is further capable of orienting the first and second ones of the said two or more operational members for placement of the first and second ones of said randomly placed items into a desired oriented condition. A time savings of three robot transfers is thus made over prior art systems that transferred each individual product one by one.

Abstract: Provided is a manipulator system including: a manipulator that has an insertion section composed of a flexible section and a bending section and that has a bending-section drive unit for driving the bending section; an operation input unit; a flexible-section shape detecting unit and a bending-section shape detecting unit that detect curved shapes of the flexible section and the bending section, respectively; compensation-value setting units that set a compensation value on the basis of the curved shape detected by each of the shape detecting units; and a control unit that generates a curvature control signal for driving the bending-section drive unit according to an operating instruction input via the operation input unit and furthermore corrects the curvature control signal using the compensation value and transmits it to the bending-section drive unit.

Abstract: A method for controlling an actuator of a hinged segment including the steps of: estimating an inertia J of the segment and a minimum viscous hinge friction f; estimating or measuring a traveling speed {dot over (X)} of the segment and an internal deformation ?X of the actuator; synthesizing a control law H? generating a control current (or torque) from the estimates or measurements and meeting a performance objective pertaining to a transfer function (I) between an acceleration {umlaut over (X)} of the segment and an external force F to which the segment is subjected: (II) with (III), ? being a mathematical artifact and s being the Laplace variable; and controlling the actuation of the hinged segment according to the control law thus synthesized.

Abstract: A method including, based at least partially upon a command transmission to at least one motor of a robot, estimating deflection for at least one member of the robot during movement of the robot; based at least partially upon the estimated deflection, determining calculated end effector coordinates for an end effector of the robot; and based at least partially upon the calculated end effector coordinates, adjusting movement of the robot for placing a substrate, located on the robot, at a desired location.

Abstract: A machining apparatus includes a robot including a first arm portion, a second arm portion, a tip portion, a second actuator swinging the first arm portion around a second axis, a third actuator swinging the second arm portion around a third axis, a seventh actuator adjusting a distance between the second axis and the third axis, and an end effector provided to a tip portion and applying machining to a workpiece. The robot is positioned such that a movable range of a tip portion of the first arm portion or a base end portion of the second arm portion interferes with the workpiece when the first arm portion is rotated around the second axis, where the distance is made longest, in a state where the robot exactly faces the workpiece.

Abstract: This method relates to the disconnection of a manual control unit of a multi-axis robot, including a connecting cord for connecting the unit to a controller. The cord includes an input power line and output power line for each of the two cabling circuits of an emergency stop button, and an input power line and output power line for each of the two cabling circuits of a dead man contactor. The method comprises successive steps, in which: a) an operator makes a request to disconnect the unit, b) during a predetermined length of time, the safety controller does not trigger an emergency stop based on the control of the electrical cabling circuits, c) at the end of the predetermined length of time, the safety controller does not trigger an emergency stop if and only if, on the one hand, only one of the two cabling circuits of the emergency stop button is open and, on the other hand, only one of the two cabling circuits of the dead man contactor is open.

Abstract: Example systems and methods may allow for closed-loop control of robotic operation. One example method includes receiving input data that identifies data sources to monitor and indicates adjustments to make in response to deviations by at least one of the data sources from at least one predicted state during subsequent execution of sequences of operations by robotic devices, receiving data streams from the data sources during execution of the sequences of operations by the robotic devices, identifying a deviation by one of the data sources from a predicted state for which the received input data indicates adjustments to the sequences of operations for the robotic devices, providing instructions to the robotic devices to execute the adjusted sequences of operations, and providing instructions to a second computing device to update a visual simulation of the robotic devices based on the adjusted sequences of operations.

Abstract: A system for sorting comprising an x-y-z stage including a suction cup attached thereto, a camera, a computer connected to the x-y-z stage and the camera, and a translucent platform for sorting with the platform mounted below the camera and the x-y-z stage.

Abstract: Initial interaction between a mobile robot and at least one user is described herein. The mobile robot captures several images of its surroundings, and identifies existence of a user in at least one of the several images. The robot then orients itself to face the user, and outputs an instruction to the user with regard to the orientation of the user with respect to the mobile robot. The mobile robot captures images of the face of the user responsive to detecting that the user has followed the instruction. Information captured by the robot is uploaded to a cloud-storage system, where information is included in a profile of the user and is shareable with others.

Abstract: An industrial robot may include a robot main body; and an elevating mechanism to raise and lower the robot main body. The robot main body may include a hand, an arm to which the hand is joined, a main body portion to which the arm is joined, and an arm-elevating mechanism. The center of rotation on the base end side of the arm may be located farther toward the third direction side than the center of the main body unit when viewed in the up-down direction. In the standby state, part of the arm may be positioned farther toward the fourth direction side than the main body unit. The main body unit may be secured to the elevating mechanism. The elevating mechanism may be arranged on one or both sides of the main body unit in the first direction and/or on the fourth direction side.

Abstract: A horizontal articulated robot in which an arm moves in the horizontal direction for use with objects to be transferred may include a hand on which the objects are to be mounted. The arm may have at least two arm portions including a hand-side arm portion to which the hand is rotatably joined to the front end thereof; and a second hand-side arm portion to which the base end of the hand-side arm portion is rotatably joined to the front end thereof; and a main body portion to which the base end of the arm is rotatably joined. A level which may be attached to the hand, the arm or the main body portion after an inclination of a center axis of rotation of the hand-side arm portion with respect to the second hand-side arm portion is adjusted relative to the vertical direction.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide enhancements for soft robotic actuators. In some embodiments, angular adjustment systems are provided for varying an angle between an actuator and the hub, or between two actuators. The angular adjustment system may also be used to vary a relative distance or spacing between actuators. According to further embodiments, rigidizing layers are provided for reinforcing one or more portions of an actuator at one or more locations of relatively high strain. According to further embodiments, force amplification structures are provided for increasing an amount of force applied by an actuator to a target. The force amplification structures may serve to shorten the length of the actuator that is subject to bending upon inflation. According to still further embodiments, gripping pads are provided for customizing an actuator's gripping profile to better conform to the surfaces of items to be gripped.

Abstract: A vacuum cup assembly that generates a local vacuum using a prime mover that may be an electrical motor or a solenoid. The vacuum cup may have one or more ports to remove and vent air between the cup and the atmosphere. The prime mover drives a piston or a flexible membrane, which may be a diaphragm, through one or more reciprocating cycles to generate the local vacuum. The vacuum cup assembly may be used to form a temporary attachment to a work piece, the act on the work piece, such as by moving the work piece, and then release the work piece from the vacuum cup assembly. The vacuum cup assembly disclosed herein is self-contained inasmuch as the assembly may have a power source, such as a battery, located on a housing. This makes its operation quiet and effective.

Abstract: A robotic finger structure is a section of a robotically controlled extension including a fingertip and a tactile sensor, the fingertip has a finger pulp, and the tactile sensor is integrated with the surface of the finger pulp. The tactile sensor configured to form a detecting area to accept and indicate any pressure on a plane perpendicular between the tactile sensor and an object; therefore the tactile sensor can feed back the force of pressure accurately, and control overall gripping force of the robotic finger.

Abstract: Provided herein is an active joint module, and a robot for inspecting pipelines having the active joint module, the active joint module including a frame unit; a first bracket connected to one side of the frame unit in a rotatable manner, and to which a first module is coupled; a second bracket connected to another side of the frame unit in a rotatable manner, and to which a second module is coupled; and a bracket rotating unit supported to the frame unit, and is configured to rotate the first bracket and second bracket independently from each other in response to receiving an operating signal, and to unconstrain rotation of the first bracket and second bracket in response to there being no operating signal received.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a folding knife is provided. More specifically, the locking mechanism is a rotational wedge locking mechanism that maintains the folding knife's blade in an extended position and prevents the blade from inadvertently closing when the knife is in use in the extended position. The rotational wedge locking mechanism also impedes the folding knife from inadvertently opening when the blade is in a closed position of storage. The rotational wedge locking mechanism generally comprises a lock pin, a means for moving the lock pin, and a biasing member, which work in conjunction with the tang of the blade and the back spacer to securely retain the folding knife in an open or closed position.

Abstract: A multi-locking utility cutter has a shank, a blade and a slider. The shank has a guiding groove having multiple first locking units. The blade is slidably mounted in the shank and selectively covers the first locking units. The slider is connected with the blade and has a second locking unit. When no external force is applied on the slider, the first locking unit and the second locking unit are engaged with each other to provide a locking effect to the blade. When the slider is forced, the second locking unit is disengaged from the first locking unit, such that the blade can slide. A locking position between the first locking unit and the second locking unit is located at the guiding groove of the shank, such that a locking force can be uniformly distributed on the guiding groove of the shank. Therefore, the guiding groove can be forced uniformly and the locking effect can be increased and improved. Further, the first locking units are covered and avoid exposure to the exterior environment to prevent damage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a razor and a method for producing a razor. In order to provide an improved razor, a razor (1) has a handle (10), at one end of which a ball joint socket (11) is arranged, and a blade head (20) having at least one razor blade (21) and a ball joint head (22). The ball joint head of the blade head and the ball joint socket of the handle form a ball joint, and the handle has an alignment element (14) in the ball joint socket that is designed to engage with a recess (36) in the ball joint head.

Abstract: Improvements in an interchangeable shaver that accepts a variety of different disposable razors. To retain a disposable razor with a handle the interchangeable shaver has a cavity where the handle of the disposable razor slides into the holder to grip the handle and prevents the disposable razor from rotating as the shaver is drawn up, down and along the back, legs or other area of a person. The adapter angles the disposable razor to provide an optimal shaving angle for maximum hair removal and the closest shave to reduce the frequency of repeat shaving. A further improvement is an adapter that connects the interchangeable shaver to a disposable head. The adapter is configured to accommodate different disposable heads with a single adapter. The shaver has an extendable handle configured to prevent the razor from rotating on the shaft.

Abstract: An edger for trimming an excess portion of a laminate extending beyond an edge of a substrate includes a housing having a slot for receiving the excess portion, a first adjustable cutting wheel configured to ride along the edge of the substrate below the excess portion and a second fixed cutting wheel configured to be disposed above the excess portion. The first and second cutting wheels cooperate with each other to pinch and cut-off the excess portion as the edger is slid along the substrate.

Abstract: A reciprocally moveable cutting knife is described and which includes an elongated main body having a first, and an opposite, second end for engaging an object of interest; and a protrusion is made integral with the elongated main body and which extends outwardly from a plane which is defined by the outside facing surface of the main body, and which inhibits an adhesion from being created between the outside facing surface of the elongated main body, and the respective sidewalls of a knife guidance track when a source of water wets the outside surface of the elongated main body and the spaced sidewalls of the knife guidance channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for cutting a coreless rolled paper product. The method includes defining a core offset value for a cut, the cut having a starting point and an ending point, setting a plunge speed for a saw to a first plunge speed, and changing the plunge speed to a second plunge speed when the saw reaches the core offset value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device, a method and an assembly of parts produced by cutting in a block B of metal or composite material, following a determined trajectory. The device comprises a guide (3) forming said trajectory and a support (chain 9) mounted in the guide in a sliding manner, comprising a lateral blank (23) provided with at least one cutting plate (24) comprising a protruding cutting edge (25) arranged so as to carry out the cutting in a normal direction (26) in relation to the blank.

Abstract: A cutting table (10) with differentiated suction for the stabilisation of the material (14) to be cut, comprises a surface having a planar extension divided into a plurality of sectors (12) and surmounted by a permeable cover (18) on which said material is laid, The cover (18) rests on an underlying rigid structure (20) provided with quadrangular indentations (22) corresponding to said sectors (12) along which two apertures are made (24-26) for the alternate suction of air at high and low pressure by means of respective pumps (34-34?). Each of said sectors (12) is divided into two zones respectively used for high and low pressure suction by means of the intervention of specific valve groups (50).

Abstract: A trim shear is adapted to trim the front and tail ends of a hot rolled product exiting from a rolling mill along a mill pass line and travelling at either high or low speeds, depending on the size of the product being rolled. The trim shear comprises a trim station having a high speed a set of trim knives configured and arranged to trim the front and tail ends of high speed products, and a different low speed set of trim knives disposed laterally from the high speed set of trim knives and configured and arranged to trim the front and tail ends of low speed products; and traversing means for shifting the trim station transversely with respect to the mill pass line to alternatively locate either one or the other of said sets of trim knives in an active position on the mill pass line.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to processing a substrate including at least one sheet of paper, cardboard or carton by directing a jet stream of liquid nitrogen to a surface of the substrate via a jet nozzle; and by moving the jet nozzle at a distance from the surface. The jet stream can be unmodulated or modulated. For example, the jet stream can be modulated by a modulation unit such as to reduce the impact of the jet stream on the surface. In this way, the jet stream can be applied to score folding lines into the substrate. An unmodulated or on/off modulated jet stream can be applied to cut lines into the substrate. Thus, by applying an appropriate modulation to the jet stream, the processing can switch between cutting the substrate and scoring folding lines into the substrate.

Abstract: The magnet cutting device includes a pair of supporting portions spaced apart by a predetermined distance and configured to support the magnet from a bottom side, a blade configured to press the magnet supported by the pair of supporting portions from an upper side of the magnet, and a magnet supporting tool arranged between the pair of supporting portions to support the magnet from the bottom side of the magnet. A surface of the magnet supporting tool to be held in contact with the magnet is shaped such that a central part of an upper end is higher than the upper ends of the pair of supporting portions and an end part of the upper end is lower than the upper ends of the pair of supporting portions when the magnet is placed on the surface, the upper end having a slope connecting the central part and the end part.

Abstract: A stock guide assembly guides movement of stock along a work table. The assembly includes a base and a roller operatively connected to the base to engage stock and hold it against the work table. In some embodiments, a biasing member yieldably biases the roller to urge the stock toward the work table and accommodate changes in thickness of the stock. The roller can be mounted at a skew angle to urge the stock toward a fence of the work table. The assembly can include a shaft movable with respect to the base for translationally adjusting the distance of the roller from the base and rotatably adjusting the distance between the roller and the work table. The roller can be rotatably mounted to the end of an arm oriented relative the work table so stock kickback drives the arm to pivot and drive the roller toward the work surface.

Abstract: A saw chain includes a tie strap adapted to be pivotally connected to other links of the saw chain. The tie strap features an interior hole with a chamfered edge. An interior counterbore in the interior hole receives a barrel portion of a rivet. The rivet has two flanges extending from both sides of the barrel, each with a smaller diameter than the barrel, and each with chamfered corners in a transition area where the flanges meet the barrel. An exterior counterbore on an exterior surface of the tie strap receives a rivet head formed from one of the flanges, such that an exterior surface of the rivet head sits flush with the exterior surface of the tie strap.

Abstract: A device and a method for machining a workpiece are provided, said workpiece consisting preferably at least in segments of wood, wood-based materials, synthetic material or the like, having a first milling tool for contour machining an edge attached to said workpiece, a second milling tool for contour machining an edge attached to said workpiece, which is adjustable in relation to said first milling tool between a resting position in which said first milling tool is engageable with a workpiece and a machining position in which said second milling tool is engageable with a workpiece. The device is characterized by a third milling tool for flush milling a narrow side of an edge attached to said workpiece, the three milling tools being arranged coaxially to each other and all are jointly drivable by one device.

Abstract: A log splitter (1) for coupling to a dipper arm (2) of an earth working machine comprises a support element (3) and an anvil (5) extending perpendicularly from the support element (3). A splitting element (6) is slideable longitudinally along the support element (3) from a receiving state spaced apart from and defining with the anvil (5) an open mouth (9) for receiving a log, and a splitting state adjacent the anvil (5) for splitting the log. A primary ram (7) coupled between the splitting element (6) and a mounting bracket (20) extending from the support element (3) urges the splitting element (6) between the receiving and splitting states.

Abstract: A bamboo splitter has an outer support ring with an interior mounted inner ring blade. A plurality of base blades are radially arranged around the inner ring blade and both the inner ring blade and the base blades have v-shaped cutting surfaces. Attached to each base blade is a pair of slat blades that attach to the base blades at a vertex and have a left and right slat blade. The angle between the vertex and the left and right blades is chosen so that adjacent left slat blades are parallel to adjacent right slat blade forming a parallel cutting space which produces bamboo slats that have orthogonal edges which makes them much more amenable to traditional building methods. A different number of slat blades may be used depending on the size of the bamboo being used and the size and number of the slats being produced.

Abstract: Molding equipment comprising a mold having at least one cavity is disclosed. Each cavity allows the formation of a brick. A brick molding element is installed on top of each cavity to allow the formation of a mortise interlock element. The brick molding element is typically secured in place by mean of a securing mechanism. The molding equipment may be used for molding a variety of inter-engaging stackable brick element.

Abstract: An integrated closing tool is inserted into a part of hexagonal cells in a green honeycomb molded body including a plurality of hexagonal cells that open in an upper surface and a lower surface of a columnar body and are mutually partitioned by partition walls to join the partition walls together, thereby closing the hexagonal cells. A part of the integrated closing tool is separated, and tool separated pieces separated from a part of the hexagonal cells into which the closing tool has been inserted are removed.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a width measuring unit for measuring the width of a grooving groove formed in a wafer by laser grooving and the width of a cut groove formed by a cutting blade. The width measuring unit includes an imaging camera for imaging the grooving groove and the cut groove, and an illuminating unit for illuminating an area to be imaged by the imaging camera with light supplied in a predetermined light quantity. Therefore, when first light is radiated from the illuminating unit, a first image in which the grooving groove is sharply imaged can be imaged by the imaging camera, whereas when second light is radiated from the illuminating unit, a second image in which the cut groove is clearly imaged can be imaged by the imaging camera. Consequently, the grooving groove and the cut groove can be easily distinguished from each other.

Abstract: This invention relates to tufted floorcovering articles, including carpet tiles and broadloom carpet. In particular, this invention relates to tufted floorcovering articles made from the family of polymers known as polyester. Specifically, this invention relates to tufted carpet tile products made from polyester. The polyester carpet tiles meet commercial performance specifications and are fully end-of-life recyclable.

Abstract: A blow mold for PET bottles has the inner surface which contacts the hot PET during the blowing operation, coated with a layer of ceramic material having a nanometric thickness, of which at least one thickness layer is AI2O3 and/or TiO2 deposited by ALD technique. Due to this technique, the PET preforms are subject to less friction during the contact with the interior of the mold.

Abstract: Methods of separating a glass web include the step (I) of exposing a path on the glass web to at least one laser beam to produce thermal stress along the path without damaging the glass web. The methods further include the step (II) of creating a defect on the path while the path is under thermal stress produced during step (I), whereupon the glass web spontaneously separates along the path in response to the defect.

Abstract: Ophthalmic device molds made from a first portion of a molding surface formed from a first polymer and a second portion of the molding surface formed from a second polymer are described. When combined, the first portion and the second portion of the molding surface form an entire molding surface suitable for molding an entire surface, such as an anterior surface or a posterior surface of an ophthalmic device. Methods of manufacturing ophthalmic devices using these molds, including contact lenses, are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a mold for forming a tire tread. The mold includes a tongue forming portion at an end of a tread forming portion.

Abstract: Cells of a composite cell array are cured by placing tool blocks in the cells and inserting thermally conductive elements in each of the tool blocks. The thermally conductive elements are convectively heated by a flow of hot air. The heated conductive elements conduct heat to the tooling blocks, which then conduct heat to the cells to cure the composite and adhesive.

Abstract: A method of casting a penis using a kit is provided. The present invention includes a cylinder with a first end cap and a second end cap. An opening may be cut through the sidewall of the cylinder. An opening may also be cut through the first end cap. The user may insert their penis through the opening of the first end cap. A liquid molding material may be poured into the opening through the sidewall so that a substantial portion of the cylinder is filled. The liquid molding material hardens over a first period of time forming a solid mold. The penis may be removed from the solid mold. A liquid casting material is poured into the solid mold and hardens over a second period of time forming a casted penis.

Abstract: Composite heat sink structures and methods of fabrication are provided, with the composite heat sink structures including: a thermally conductive base having a main heat transfer surface to couple to, for instance, at least one electronic component to be cooled; a compressible, continuous sealing member; and a sealing member retainer compressing the compressible, continuous sealing member against the thermally conductive base; and an in situ molded member. The in situ molded member is molded over and affixed to the thermally conductive base, and is molded over and secures in place the sealing member retainer. A coolant-carrying compartment resides between the thermally conductive base and the in situ molded member, and a coolant inlet and outlet are provided in fluid communication with the coolant-carrying compartment to facilitate liquid coolant flow through the compartment.