Abstract: Safety is one of the most important factors in the robot interaction with unknown and dynamic environments. Recent studies have shown that the use of compliant components as a solution to the safety issue, especially in the physical human-robot interaction. To overcome performance degradation caused by including compliant elements into the systems, variable stiffness approaches have been introduced at the cost of an extra actuator. A variable stiffness gripper is presented. Embodiments of the disclosed gripper may have, for example, with two parallel fingers (jaws). Compliance of the system may be generated by using magnets as the nonlinear springs. Based on the presented design, the position and stiffness level of the fingers can be adjusted simultaneously by changing the air gap between the magnets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic plate for attracting cartridges. The magnetic plate comprises an upper cover, a support frame and a lower cover. The upper cover, the support frame and the lower cover are connected fixedly in order from top to bottom. The upper cover and the lower cover are engaged and form a case. The support frame is positioned within the case. Magnetic components are mounted between the support frame and the lower cover. The magnetic components comprise metal members and magnetic steel members connected fixedly to the metal members. The metal members are stuck on the bottom surface of the support frame. The metal steel members include first magnetic steel members and second magnetic steel members. The first magnetic steel members are arranged on the upper surface of the metal members and pass upwards through the support frame, and the second magnetic steel members are arranged on the lower surface of the metal members and pass through downwards through the lower cover.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a firearm retaining apparatus.

Abstract: A multi-row magnetic dial assembly that conveys work pieces, such as fasteners, includes a work piece engaging surface disposed around an outer perimeter, adjacent a first dial surface and/or adjacent a second dial surface. Multiple magnets are disposed adjacent the work piece engaging surface to exert a magnetic force on work pieces to magnetically hold them against a dial. The magnets include a first magnet and a second magnet that exert magnetic forces so that the work piece engaging surface magnetically attracts and holds first and second rows (or more) of work pieces, the first row being distal from the second row by a row separation distance. The dial can be oriented in a horizontal plane or a non-horizontal plane. Related methods of operation are also provided.

Abstract: A deposition substrate transferring unit that can deposit a deposition material at an exact location on a substrate, includes an electrostatic chuck that has a first surface to which a substrate is attached; and a carrier having a surface that combines with a second surface of the electrostatic chuck to move the electrostatic chuck in a first direction. The carrier includes accommodation parts disposed in empty space within the carrier, and supplementary ribs respectively formed on surfaces of the accommodation parts.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a bottle clamp having first and second clamp arms extending beyond respective first and second pivot axes. The clamp arms are held in a closed position. A rotatable locking element part is provided on an extension region of the first clamp arm, and a fixed locking element part is provided on an extension region of the second clamp arm.

Abstract: An apparatus for gripping bottle necks includes a clip having first and second opposed clip arms, each of which can be swivelled in a horizontal plane about a corresponding swivelling axis. Each clip arm has a corresponding grip area, a first magnet attached to the first clip arm between a grip area thereof and the swivelling axis about which the first clip arm swivels, and another permanent a second magnet attached to the second clip arm between a grip area thereof and the swivelling axis about which the second clip arm swivels. The first and second magnets exert a closing force on the clip in an operating position thereof.

Abstract: The invention is a new container clip or clamp in a container conveying apparatus which is designed to have only a single clamp out of a group of clamps to release a container in the case of a failure of the single clamp thereby allowing the remainder of the system to continue. The invention includes a bearing block having holding elements and in the event of exceeding a lateral pivoting range the holding elements are at least partially detached from the bearing block to be released so as to pivot sideways.

Abstract: A fastening assembly for attaching a ferrous metal baking pan to a baking rack, the baking rack having a plurality of bars, the fastening assembly including an “E” plate having a stem and a plurality of arms, a pair of bar receiving channels, the channels consisting of the arms' interstices; at least a first permanent magnet; and a concavity and seal combination interconnecting the at least first permanent magnet and a medial arm among the “E” plate's plurality of arms.

Abstract: Object transfer device comprising a frame (3,20,63,58), at least one gripper (6,22,22a,62,57a,57b) having a gripper body (7,25,45) and means of guiding the gripper body with respect to the frame; the gripper being equipped with one or more jaws (8,28a,28b,46) mobile with respect to the gripper body (7,25,45). The gripper comprises a magnetic element (12,32,44,52,56) capable, when it is subjected to a magnetic field greater than an efficiency threshold, of exerting a force on at least one mobile jaw. The frame comprises a control device (24,49,50) of the gripper capable of creating a magnetic field greater than the efficiency threshold in at least one zone (14,15) of the frame dedicated to the operation of the gripper. Said gripper body guide means is designed so that the magnetic element of the gripper is driven in translation along a movement path (13,33) passing through the operation zone (14,15) of the gripper defined by the control device (24,49,50).

Abstract: A container treatment machine with at least one gripper, which can be compulsorily transported along a predetermined transport section for handling a preform or container during transport and/or acceptance and/or delivery, and including, at a holder retaining at least two gripper claws, at least one controllable electric or magnetic drive for the gripper claws, where the gripper claws can be moved relative to each other in opening and closing directions and at least between defined gripping and release positions, and where each gripper claw can be individually separately actuated by the drive in the opening and/or closing direction relative to another gripper claw of the gripper. Alternately, both gripper claws can be actuated together in the same direction.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly suitable for use in a substrate processing system includes: at least one substrate carrier having a substrate-carrying surface configured to support at least one substrate; a processing track; a return track; a drive system configured to drive the substrate carrier along the processing track and the return track; and at least one swivel unit configured to pivot the substrate carrier around a substantially horizontal axis from a first orientation into a second orientation, and/or vice versa. Also provided is a method for conveying a substrate carrier including: providing a substrate carrier; positioning the substrate carrier in a first orientation; conveying the substrate carrier along a first track; and rotating the substrate carrier around a substantially horizontal axis into a second orientation.

Abstract: Object transfer device comprising a frame (3,20,63,58), at least one gripper (6,22,22a,62,57a,57b) having a gripper body (7,25,45) and means of guiding the gripper body with respect to the frame; the gripper being equipped with one or more jaws (8,28a,28b,46) mobile with respect to the gripper body (7,25,45). The gripper comprises a magnetic element (12,32,44,52,56) capable, when it is subjected to a magnetic field greater than an efficiency threshold, of exerting a force on at least one mobile jaw. The frame comprises a control device (24,49,50) of the gripper capable of creating a magnetic field greater than the efficiency threshold in at least one zone (14,15) of the frame dedicated to the operation of the gripper. Said gripper body guide means is designed so that the magnetic element of the gripper is driven in translation along a movement path (13,33) passing through the operation zone (14,15) of the gripper defined by the control device (24,49,50).

Abstract: The invention relates to a clip (1) for capturing bottle necks, particularly of PET bottles, in bottle-filling systems, wherein the clip arms can pivot in the horizontal plane, wherein a simple design allows retaining forces that are as equal as possible for bottle necks of different diameter. The aim is achieved in that both clip arms (1a, 1b) are made of plastic and comprise receptacles (6) for permanent magnets (7) between the gripping area (8) and the pivot axis (3), said magnets exerting on each other a force closing the clip (1) into the usable position.

Abstract: A device which is suitable for processing agricultural products such as bulbous plants, is provided at least with at least a magnetic track comprising a number of magnet segments of alternating polarity. The device is further provided with at least one magnet which is movable with respect to the magnetic track. A function element connected to the magnet is movable in dependence on the position of the magnet relative to the magnet segments of the magnetic track.

Abstract: A gripper for containers, in particular for bottles, with at least first and second gripper arms (1, 2) which are mounted such that they can pivot and are acted on in the gripping pivoting direction by magnetically interacting permanent magnets such as, permanent magnets which simultaneously repel one another and attract one another are arranged in such a way that the sum of the repelling and attracting forces which act in the gripping pivoting direction on the gripper arms is substantially constant within a predetermined gripping range (d1 to d2) of the gripper which covers different container gripping sizes.

Abstract: A magnet assembly for a conveyor system transporting a ferromagnetic container includes a housing having a unitary configuration. The housing defines a pocket, and a magnetic circuit is disposed in the pocket. The magnetic circuit produces a magnetic field having a magnetic flux. The magnetic circuit attracts the ferromagnetic container being transported by the conveyor system. In addition, a method of forming the magnet assembly to radiate the magnetic field includes providing the unitary housing having an opening and inserting the magnetic circuit into the unitary housing. The method further includes encapsulating the magnetic circuit in the unitary housing to form the magnet assembly.

Abstract: A machine for inspecting a container having a vertical axis has an inspection station including an inspection device for carrying out an inspection on a transparent container relative to a vertical inspection axis. The bottle is delivered to the inspection station by a conveyor, which includes structure for engaging the sidewall of the bottle. The invention is an object to be inspected by such an inspection machine, which includes a container like adaptor having a vertical axis, and configured for handling by the conveyor structure so that when the container like adaptor engages the structure, the conveyor will deliver the container like adaptor to the inspection station. The container like adaptor has a horizontal top surface and a vertical axis, and a magnet is mounted in the top surface having a centering axis coincident with the vertical axis of the container like adaptor.

Abstract: A magnet assembly for a conveyor system transporting a ferromagnetic container includes a housing having a unitary configuration. The housing defines a pocket, and a magnetic circuit is disposed in the pocket. The magnetic circuit produces a magnetic field having a magnetic flux. The magnetic circuit attracts the ferromagnetic container being transported by the conveyor system. In addition, a method of forming the magnet assembly to radiate the magnetic field includes providing the unitary housing having an opening and inserting the magnetic circuit into the unitary housing. The method further includes encapsulating the magnetic circuit in the unitary housing to form the magnet assembly.

Abstract: A magnetic centerguide for a grid structured for travel along the path of a conveyor. The grid defines a support surface that supports a pan. The guide generally comprises a magnet-carrying guide member mounted to the grid, normally but not necessarily on the grid centerline, and adjustable in a vertical direction relative to the support surface. The guide functions with numerous types of pans having different configurations of dough-carrying pockets and inter-pocket gaps. The guide member automatically adjusts its vertical position to contact the underside of the pan under a pocket or in an inter-pocket gap.

Abstract: A work fixing device in which the load of the conveyor is not increased even when using a fixed magnet. The work fixing device comprises: plurality of plates, on each plate of the plurality of plates a work with a ferromagnetic portion being mounted; a transporter for endlessly connecting and circulating the plurality of plates; at least one machining head provided above the transporter, a magnet fixed to the transporter, the magnet fixing the work, which is transported by the transporter, through magnetic force on each plate of the plurality of plates within a working range of the machining head; and a nonmagnetic clearance holder for separating the magnet and the work from each other at a predetermined interval.

Abstract: A method of retrofitting a magnetic centerguide to a grid. The grid is of the type adapted to carry a pan along a path defined by a conveyor to which the grid is attached. The centerguide is of bifurcated construction which is split at one or both ends of its structure in order to allow it to be maneuvered about the grid structure for partial assembly. After being partly assembled, a fastener secures the bifurcated portion together to provide a magnetic centerguide in which the underside of a magnet is attracted to and thereby guides a pan when placed on the grid.

Abstract: An apparatus whereby cylindrical cans formed of a ferromagnetic material and transported at high speed along a carrying conveyor in such a contiguous way as having no gaps between adjoining cylindrical cans are separated so as to provide a spacing therebetween to eliminate interference between the adjoining cylindrical cans, thereby supplying a plurality of cylindrical cans with reliability to a main index wheel of an automatic machine for producing cylindrical cans. The apparatus includes a carrying conveyor, star index wheel, supply index wheel and main index wheel. The supply index wheel has permanent magnets, each holding an individual cylindrical can by suction. The transport speed of a plurality of cylindrical cans transported along a conveyor at high speed is reduced for a moment by the star index wheel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus comprising a conveyance belt, on which stripe shaped electrodes each fed to a voltage different from that fed to one another are alternatively arranged, for conveying a sheet in attracting the sheet with electrostatic force and power supplying means disposed on an inner side of the conveyance belt for supplying voltage to the electrodes.

Abstract: A specimen carrier comprises a unitary structure for receiving and retaining a specimen container in an upright orientation. Such unitary structure is defined by a pedestal having upper and lower platforms connected by a stem. Extending upwardly from the upper platform is a plurality of rigid members which support a plurality of opposing flexible fingers adapted to engage and press upon the side wall of a specimen container received by the carrier. Preferably, the specimen carrier of the invention has a chamber formed therein for housing a pre-programmed, programmable or otherwise radio-frequency (RF) identification tag in the form of an RF transponder. Upon being energized by a suitable RF field provided by an RF reader antenna or sensor positioned adjacent the carrier's intended path of movement, the tag transmits a unique identification code, such code being received by the antenna or sensor and decoded by the reader.

Abstract: A parts feeder is provided which is designed to pick up parts carried by a strip carrier. The strip carrier is moved intermittently to a pickup station and has storage chambers arrayed in a lengthwise direction thereof. The storage chambers has openings and stores therein the parts each of which has formed on ends thereof electrodes having at least a magnetic portion. A magnet which has a non-pole face oriented to the strip carrier is disposed at the pickup station for magnetically keeping each of the parts in a desired orientation within one of the storage chambers.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a firearm retaining apparatus.