Abstract: A simplified drive press system is operable to press-fit a pair of first workpieces into a second workpiece. The drive press system uses a simplified mechanical arrangement to translate an input torque into movement of a pair of drive arms toward and away from one another. Yokes of differing configurations may be attached to the drive arms to accommodate a variety of different workpieces. A nut runner may be used to supply a drive torque to the gear assembly and provide a controlled input torque and control the movement of the drive arms. An overall reduction may be utilized that balances a desired movement resolution with the desire to detect changes in input torque. The nut runner may be programmable to provide a desired movement of the drive arms while monitoring the input torque to detect when a fully press-fitted condition is realized.

Abstract: A low cost automated warehouse that enables a plurality of types of stacker cranes to travel and support articles with different weights is provided. The warehouse includes a rack with multiple levels of shelves, a track along the rack at a position higher than the multiple levels of shelves, and a first and second suspension type stacker crane. The first suspension type stacker crane includes a plurality of driving trucks arranged in a traveling direction, a mast extending in the vertical direction, and a first transfer device suspended in a liftable manner. The second suspension type stacker crane includes a plurality of driving trucks whose number is smaller than the number of the driving trucks of the first suspension type stacker crane, arranged in the traveling direction, a mast extending in the vertical direction, and a second transfer device suspended in a liftable manner.

Abstract: A system for turning over a vehicle frame defining openings and having a longitudinal center axis includes first and second robots each having an end effector. Each end effector has a pair of oppositely-positioned locator pins, at least one of which is selectively moveable toward the other. A controller is used to control the positioning of the frame via the robots and end effector by executing method instructions to cause the robots to align the locator pins of the end effectors with the openings of the frame, and to insert the aligned locator pins into the openings toward the center axis from outside of the vehicle frame. The robots lift the frame from a first conveyor, with weight of the vehicle frame born by the locator pins during the lift. The robots also rotate the frame about the center axis and lower the vehicle frame onto a second conveyor.

Abstract: There is provided a vibration generation device, including: a housing including an inner space; a direction conversion member mounted in the housing to be disposed within the inner space; a piezoelectric actuator including a piezoelectric element fixed to the direction conversion member and horizontally deformed; and a vibrator fixed to the direction conversion member and disposed within the inner space and vertically displaced due to horizontal deformation of the piezoelectric actuator.

Abstract: A gripper device for a transport vehicle includes a base plate, a guide rail provided on an upper surface of the base plate, a pair of guide blocks arranged to be movable in a substantially horizontal direction toward and away from each other along the guide rail, and a pair of gripping parts. Each of the gripping parts includes a horizontal portion fixed to an upper surface of one of the guide blocks and arranged to extend substantially parallel to the upper surface of the base plate, a vertical portion arranged to extend downward from the horizontal portion to a position lower than that of the base plate, and a claw section provided on a lower end of the vertical portion and arranged to grip an object.

Abstract: An overhead shuttle is controlled to support a bottom of an article while traveling. A transfer apparatus is controlled to hold the article from above the article, move the article between a position above the overhead shuttle and a position above stations provided on a side of a travel rail, and elevate and lower the article to transfer the article between the transfer apparatus and the station.

Abstract: An article transport facility includes an article carrier movable along a track, and an article rack arranged along the track. Each article rack has a fixed frame, and a movable frame supported to be movable relative to said fixed frame between an extended position projecting toward the track and a retracted position retracted away from the track. A movable guide shiftably supports and guides the movable frame to be movable relative thereto in a shifting direction. A fixed guide is mounted on the fixed frame for supporting and guiding the movable guide to be movable in the shifting direction.

Abstract: An article transport facility comprises an article transporting mobile body movable along a moving path and having an article holding unit; an article support for article storage, the article support movable between an article transfer position for receiving an article from the holding unit of the mobile body and transferring the article to the holding unit, and an article storage position; and a operating device provided on the mobile body for moving the article support between the article storage position and the article transfer position when the mobile body is at an article transfer location corresponding to a location of the article support.

Abstract: A suspended type transporting carriage (16) is provided with: a gripping mechanism (22) for gripping a transported object (17); a hoisting mechanism (21) for hoisting the gripping mechanism; and a traveling mechanism (60), on which the hoisting mechanism is mounted in a suspended condition, for traveling on a rail (20) installed on or near a ceiling. The gripping mechanism is provided with (i) an elongating and contracting device (23) capable of horizontally elongating and contracting and (ii) a gripping device (24) disposed at a tip portion of the elongating and contracting device for selectively gripping the transported object.

Abstract: A transporting apparatus is provided with: a transporting device (120) having: a loading device (220) which can elongate in an elongation direction toward a side of the track portion; and an elongation mechanism (600) for elongating the loading device. The elongation mechanism is provided with: a first rack (510) fixed to the main body device (210) and a second rack (520) fixed to the loading device, the first rack and the second rack each extending in the elongation direction and facing each other with a space therebetween; and a first pinion (610) engaged with the first rack, a second pinion (620) engaged with the second rack, and an odd number of third pinions (630) engaged between the first and second pinions.

Abstract: The present invention provides an overhead travelling carriage with a hoist which suppresses transmission of vibration to an article during conveyance. A chuck mechanism 10 is provided in a hoist 7 to support the top of an article 4. A fall preventing mechanism 14 is provided to prevent the article 4 supported by the chuck mechanism 14 from falling. Movable members 18 are provided which can move in a horizontal direction so as to advance toward and retreat from the housed article 4. Each of the movable members 18 has an L-shaped side cross section that extends so as to cross the direction in which it advances and retreats. A horizontal portion 18a of the movable portion 18 acts as means for preventing the article from falling. Rubber dampers 19 are provided on that surface of a vertical portion 18a of the movable member which is closer to the article 4, so as to constitute members pressed against the article 4.

Abstract: A height sensor 26 and an image recognizing section 28 are installed in a teaching unit 24; the height sensor 26 contacts a pin 30a on a load port 4 to detect the height position of the pin 30a and the image recognizing section 28 recognizes a pin 30c and thus its horizontal plane position. A platform 16 of an overhead travelling carriage 8 grips and lowers the teaching unit 24 toward the load port 4. The height sensor 26 then detects the height of the load port 4. Then, the teaching unit 24 is slightly raised. The horizontal plane position of the pin 30c is recognized and averaged over a time equal to at least the vibration period of the platform 16. As a result, the position of the load port can be accurately taught to the overhead travelling carriage 8 without preparations such as the installation of marks on the load port.

Abstract: An overhead traveling vehicle has a lateral movement mechanism for moving a transfer apparatus toward left and right sides. The lateral movement mechanism includes a fixed base unit having drive means, and a middle unit supported by the base unit. The middle unit is slidable laterally by the drive means toward both of the left and right sides and is provided at an intermediate position below the base unit. The mechanism has further a front unit supporting the transfer apparatus, and being supported by the middle unit. The front unit is slidable laterally, moves with the movement of the middle unit, and is provided at a front end position below the middle unit.

Abstract: A platform 12 is supported by four belts 22 to 25. Of the belts 22 to 25, a pair of belts 24, 25 is attached to a pivoting arm 26 so that the pivoting arm 26 is pivotable around a pivoting shaft 28. Pivoting of the pivoting arm 26 absorbs, for example, the difference in length between the belts 24, 25. The present invention makes it possible to simplify an elevate and lower driving mechanism of the platform 12 and to easily adjust the lengths of the belts 22 to 25. The present invention also makes it possible to prevent vibration during elevation or lowering and to allow the belts 22 to 25 to stand long use.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transporting apparatus provided with a sensor for detecting information relating to a relative position in the vertical direction between an article to be transported and a holding portion for holding the article, and a controller that is linked to this sensor through signals, wherein the controller raises the holding portion by a set raising amount when the sensor detects that the holding portion is below a target lowering position. Thus, it is possible to provide a transporting apparatus with which the position of the holding portion can be automatically moved to a suitable position even if the holding portion is lowered too far with respect to the article.

Abstract: The present invention provides an overhead travelling carriage system in which an overhead travelling carriage 110 is run along a running rail to convey a cassette 14 between processing devices 111. The overhead travelling carriage system is provided with an elevating space 8 for a platform 12 on which transfer means 51 is provided to transfer the cassette 14 and a storage space 10 in which a plurality of shelves are provided in a vertical direction to store cassettes 14. The elevating space and the storage space are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the running rail, as viewed from above. According to the present invention, the stocker requires a reduced space.

Abstract: A device for manually maneuvering a handling unit, includes a mounting structure for attachment to a handling unit which is operated through actuation of a control mechanism connected to the mounting structure. A handle frame is connectable to the mounting structure and includes a cross member and a pair of elongate grip elements detachably coupled to the axial ends of the cross member which is releasably attached to the mounting structure. The cross member and the grip elements can be selected from a plurality of cross members and grip elements of varying lengths to thereby establish a construction kit that allows construction of handle frames of varying configuration.

Abstract: The present invention provides an overhead travelling carriage with a hoist which suppresses transmission of vibration to an article during conveyance. A chuck mechanism 10 is provided in a hoist 7 to support the top of an article 4. A fall preventing mechanism 14 is provided to prevent the article 4 supported by the chuck mechanism 14 from falling. Movable members 18 are provided which can move in a horizontal direction so as to advance toward and retreat from the housed article 4. Each of the movable members 18 has an L-shaped side cross section that extends so as to cross the direction in which it advances and retreats. A horizontal portion 18a of the movable portion 18 acts as means for preventing the article from falling. Rubber dampers 19 are provided on that surface of a vertical portion 18a of the movable member which is closer to the article 4, so as to constitute members pressed against the article 4.

Abstract: A robot vehicle for hot-line job for transmission and distribution lines which comprises an insulating boom formed of an insulating material at a tip end stage of multiple stage booms, a base end of which is supported on an elevated work vehicle to be capable of swinging, pivoting up and down, and extending and contracting, and a frame provided on the tip end of the insulating boom, the frame mounting thereon double arm manipulators of multishaft construction for performing a distribution work, a slide device for sliding independently these right and left double arm manipulators front to rear, and lifting arms of multishaft construction having a function of lifting a heavy article, so as to allow an operator to perform remote control. An electric actuator is used for driving the double arm manipulators and the slide device, and hydraulic manipulators for driving the lifting arms.