Abstract: An electric gripper has a housing with a motor. A gearhead is coupled with the motor. A controller is electrically coupled with the motor to control the gripper via the motor. A compliance device is coupled with the motor. The compliance device absorbs impact energy created by the device. A drive mechanism is coupled with the compliance device and with a jaw movable on the housing. Fingers are coupled with the jaw that opens and closes to grip a part.

Abstract: A clamp mechanism includes a base defining two first sliding grooves, a sliding member slidable relative to the base and two second sliding grooves corresponding to the first sliding grooves respectively, a pair of first connecting members slidably received in the first sliding grooves respectively, a pair of second connecting members slidably received in the second sliding grooves respectively, a first clamp member connected to one first connecting member and one second connecting member, a second clamp member connected to the other first connecting member and the other second connecting member, an impelling member fixed to the sliding member; and a driver capable of driving the sliding member along with the first and second clamp members to move toward or away from each other in order to clamp or release an object, and the impelling member capable of removing the object when the object is released.

Abstract: An article holding assembly for rotatably securing and hoisting various types of articles is provided. The article holding assembly is a clamp type article holding assembly having interchangeable end effectors rotatably secured to bottom ends of clamp arms. The end effectors act to secure the article and to allow the operator to rotate the article once secured and hoisted. For each article that the article holding assembly is to rotatably secure and lift, a specific pair of end effectors is provided. The end effectors are readily secured to and removed from the clamp arms.

Abstract: A gripper has a frame with a plurality of guide rods secured to the frame. At least one jaw is slidably secured with the plurality of guide rods. The at least one jaw includes a housing surrounding a portion of at least one of the guide rods. A locking device is positioned in the jaw housing. The locking device is adjacent the at least one guide rod. The locking device removably applies a force onto the at least one guide rod. The locking device locks the jaw in position when the force is applied and enables the jaw to slide on the guide rods when the force is removed.

Abstract: A pick and place device for picking up and re-positioning an article (11) carried by a support surface, comprising a first part which includes a plate portion (8, 8?) which is movable parallel to the support surface so that a leading edge thereof penetrates below the article, between the article and the support surface, and a belt of flexible material (9, 9?) which is wrapped around at least the leading edge of the plate portion so that it is sandwiched between the plate and the article when the former penetrates therebelow and as the plate portion moves below the article there is substantially no relative sliding movement between the sandwiched portion of the belt and the article.

Abstract: Improvements in a forklift adapter to offer a way of double-stacking pallets by a single forklift operator, using an existing forklift equipped with single-double forks using existing forklift controls, which is both unique and superior to using two or three people to perform the same task manually. Double-stacking pallets are accomplished by placing a sheet of material on top of a first loaded pallet of material. The blades of the forklifts slide into rectangular tubes on the forklift adapter. Sheet material is gripped by a plurality of pins on the forklift adapter where the depth of the pins is adjustable. The forklift adapter utilizes a spring that provides the gripping force. Using a spring to provide to grip provides consistent force. The spring material, coils, spring force and spring length all have factors that can change the gripping force.

Abstract: A holding apparatus includes a first holding unit including at least two supporting rollers rotatable around rotation shafts which extend substantially parallel with each other; a second holding unit including at least one supporting roller rotatable around a rotation shaft; and at least one holding mechanism having the first holding unit and the second holding unit. The rotation shafts of the supporting rollers of the first holding unit and the rotation shaft of the supporting roller of the second holding unit are substantially in parallel with each other. By moving at least one of the first holding unit and the second holding unit, an object to be held is held between the first holding unit and the second holding unit by using the supporting rollers.

Abstract: A method adapted to transfer a sample container such as a capped sample tube is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes gripping a sample tube body with a first gripper pair and a cap with a second gripper pair of a gripper apparatus. In another aspect, a seating member may contact the cap to aid in the positioning of the sample container. Apparatus and systems for carrying out the method are provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: An adjustment flange for lift guides; structured in two identical semi-parts fastened on a support (5) clamping the lift guide between them (G), each of which consists of: a) a rotary element (1) provided with an axial orifice (11) and a perimeter channel (12) of asymmetric section; b) an anchor bolt (2) that passes through said axial orifice (11) and an orifice/housing (S1) of the support (S) positioned facing it; and c) a nut (3), threaded in the body (20) of said bolt (2) with interposition of a washer (4); The lift guide (G) is fitted between the two rotary elements (1) positioned facing each other and with their wings ((S1) housed in their perimeter channels (12).

Abstract: An electrical gripper has a housing and a solenoid plunger. A pair of jaws are movably mounted with the housing. The jaws are movable towards and away from each other. The jaws are coupled with the solenoid plunger to provide movement to the jaws. A first mechanism is associated with the solenoid plunger to lock the solenoid plunger in a first position when power is terminated to the solenoid plunger. A second mechanism is associated with the solenoid plunger to lock the solenoid plunger in a second position when power is terminated to the solenoid plunger. Thus, the jaws are actively locked in an open or close position when power is terminated to the solenoid plunger.

Abstract: A gripper assembly which in one form includes a body, at least one jaw, a longitudinally extending wedge, and a spring. The body has a slot disposed therein and opposed longitudinally extending walls. The jaw is laterally slideable within the slot. The longitudinally extending wedge is fitted along the longitudinally extending wall. The jaw comprises a surface that is engageable with the wedge. The surface of the jaw is slideable along the wedge. And a spring biases the wedge toward the jaw to reduce the running clearance between the two structures.

Abstract: The present embodiments are directed towards the transfer, retrieval and storage of flexible materials. In one embodiment, a system is provided that generally includes a hose retrieval system having a first hose gripper assembly. The first hose gripper assembly includes a pair of first grippers configured to move between a first open position and a first closed position in opposite crosswise directions relative to a longitudinal axis of a hose. Each first gripper includes a first L-shaped structure, and the first L-shaped structures are configured to overlap one another to define a first bending gap in the first closed position.

Abstract: The invention concerns a pneumatic needle gripper that comprises two due slides (33) on board a gripper body (10) each carrying at least one pair of needle grippers (36). The needles on a slide are facing towards the needles on the other slide, each sloping and converging towards a frontal plane (16) of the gripper body. The slides can me moved simultaneously in opposite directions, by means of a pneumatic control piston (19), between an inactive position, in which the needles are retracted compared with the frontal plane and at a distance from each other, and an active position in which they protrude from the frontal plane to penetrate into a material to be picked up and moved.

Abstract: A piston is displaced by a pressure fluid supplied to a chuck body, whereupon a pair of first and second fingers that constitute a gripping member are operated to open and close along a base body. Further, a shaft-shaped bobbin is inserted through the interior of the first and second fingers, and a coil is wound around a small diameter portion of the bobbin. Accompanying opening/closing operations of the first and second fingers, an opening/closing amount thereof is detected based on a change in impedance of the coil.

Abstract: A pneumatic linear gripper, including a gripper body (11) with a chamber (15), a piston (12) moving alternately in the chamber (15) and a pair of jaws (13) sliding associated and movable in opposite directions with piston via a translation device (20). The gripper body (11) is formed of two elements (14), or semi-shells, joined face to face to define at the same time the chamber (15) for the piston (12) and the sliding guides (16) for the jaws (13). The piston (12) is composed of a first component (21), made of a plastic material, bearing seals and a second component (22), made of metal, associated with the first and united, in particular integral, with the translation device (20) of the jaws in opposite directions.

Abstract: A housing for a seal assembly of a pump, the housing comprising a main body having a wall section with inner and outer sides, and a bore extending through the main body between the inner and outer sides, a holder protruding from the inner side of the main body, the holder having an outer edge and a bearing face which is inclined inwardly towards the inner side, and extending from the outer edge towards the bore. There is also disclosed a lifting device for use with the housing.

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: The invention relates to a device and method for running a warehouse in which objects are stored in a number of stacks in a storage area. The device comprises a collecting device (101) with an intermediate storage (102) and a gripping device (103), which can be displaced as desired over the storage area. The intermediate storage (102) can, in separate receiving steps, be successfully filled from different stacks. The gripping device (103) is formed by two vertically displaceable bars (104, 105) that are situated opposite one another and serves to lift one or more objects from one of the stacks. An improved utilization of the available storage space results by virtue of the fact that only the bars (104, 105) are displaced into the stack space.

Abstract: A device (1) for moving a book (2) with a clamping device (3) moved by a first drive (22, 23) and having two clamping jaws (3a, b) that can be displaced in a parallel to open and close the clamping device, with a gear mechanism (8) on the moving clamping device (3) that converts a rotative movement into a linear adjusting movement for the clamping jaw (3a, b) which can be displaced in parallel, with a controllable second drive (21) that is arranged stationarily, and with a permanent driving connection (13, 14, 15) between the second drive (21) and the gear mechanism (8). The second drive (21) is not arranged on the moving system, such that the clamping device (3) can be realized in a lightweight construction. Pneumatic and electric connecting lines and signalling lines (35a, b) for the second drive (21) can be permanently installed.

Abstract: A method for moving a reel of packaging material from a storage station to a supply station of a packaging unit involves clamping a peripheral edge of reel by using a pair of clamping elements of a clamping unit, rotating clamping elements relative to the reel, and supporting the reel on the pair of clamping elements by interacting with a portion of reel radially inner with respect to circumferential edge.

Abstract: A gripping device, for gripping underwater pipelines at the laying stage, has jaws that are pressed onto a pipeline extending along an axis substantially parallel to a laying direction, and have respective friction pads that are brought cyclically into contact with the outer face of the pipeline; and auxiliary gripping tools, which have panels for covering respective friction pads, and are selectively connectable to the jaws to increase grip between the jaws and the pipeline.

Abstract: An electric gripper has a housing with a motor. A gearhead is coupled with the motor. A controller is electrically coupled with the motor to control the gripper via the motor. A compliance device is coupled with the motor. The compliance device absorbs impact energy created by the device. A drive mechanism is coupled with the compliance device and with a jaw movable on the housing. Fingers are coupled with the jaw that opens and closes to grip a part.

Abstract: A gripper has a frame with a plurality of guide rods secured to the frame. At least one jaw is slidably secured with the plurality of guide rods. The at least one jaw includes a housing surrounding a portion of at least one of the guide rods. A locking device is positioned in the jaw housing. The locking device is adjacent the at least one guide rod. The locking device removably applies a force onto the at least one guide rod. The locking device locks the jaw in position when the force is applied and enables the jaw to slide on the guide rods when the force is removed.

Abstract: A bale lifting device for the lifting, moving, and handling of cargo and/or bales of fibrous material such as hay. The bale lifting device having a pair of generally facing hydraulic cylinders configured for moving a pair of forks from a close inner position to a spaced apart outer position.

Abstract: This invention discloses a handling tool for handling a pellicle which is used in the lithography carried out in a manufacturing process of semiconductor devices. The said tool comprises a handle, a main shaft connected with a fore-end of the handle to form a T-shaped part, two parallel arms protruding forward from the both ends of the said main shaft orthogonally to form a U-shaped part, and four pellicle frame holders of which two are each provided on the inward side surface of each arm respectively. Furthermore the said arms are designed in a manner such that they are both capable of moving towards and away from each other so as to be able to adjust the arm-to-arm distance, and the said holders are provided so that they can grasp the frame's side surfaces at the four corners of the pellicle frame when the said arms are closed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a one-finger gripper device that comprises a pneumatic actuator (10) with a control piston (16) that is connected to a gripper jaw (19) for the movement of the latter between an active and idle position, and where the gripper jaw (19) is set up and susceptible to linear movements on a (Y) axis at right angles to the (X) axis of the control piston, the piston and the gripper jaw being connected to each other by a transmission at 90°.

Abstract: The invention concerns a linear pneumatic gripper that has a gripper body comprising a base element (11), in which a chamber (18) has been provided for a piston (12) and which supports two drive levers (13) oscillating on relative fulcrums or pins (24) and connected to the piston, and a guide head (14) associated with the base element and having a guide groove for two jaws connected to the drive levers. The guide head is fixed to the base element of the gripper body by the oscillation fulcrums or pins (24) of the drive levers.

Abstract: A mixed size product end of arm tooling is used in conjunction with a robot to pick mixed size product and place the product onto a pallet or layers resting on top of a pallet. The end of arm tooling includes two center rails/forks mounted to a base. Two outer rails/forks are mounted to linear bearings that guide the outer rails/forks when moving inwardly or outwardly from the center rails for pre-sizing to the product. Pusher arms are formed of two outer pusher arms and one center pusher arm. These pusher arms are attached to linear bushings that guide the pusher arms forward and backward. The pusher arms push off the product simultaneously as the robot is withdrawing the rails.

Abstract: Apparatus for gripping and handling a length of pipe includes first and second pipe gripping members supported on a frame. The first pipe gripping member is movable along a straight line path from an open position to a closed position closer to the second pipe gripping member. The first pipe gripping member is supported on a movable transfer plate having an engagement member connected thereto and to a piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a crane device suitable for handling a wrapped crucible, which crane device is capable of realizing mechanical handling of the wrapped crucible by way of a machine without manual work. In view of this, the present invention provides a crane device adapted to be capable of making reciprocal movements along a path between a position above a lifting-up point where a wrapped quartz glass crucible is placed and another position above a putting-down point where a packing container is placed and ascending to/descending from the path at each of the lifting-up point and the putting-down point, the crane device having: four arms extending in the ascend-descend direction and disposed at apexes of a quadrangle such that two arms paired on a diagonal line of the quadrangle are movable to advance to/separate from each other; and a claw provided at a rear end of each arm to extend in the advancing direction of the arm.

Abstract: A packaging system for handling palletized product arranged in multiple layers of product cases, a pallet de-layering system includes a gripper mechanism. The gripper mechanism is configured to clamp a layer of the multiple layers by applying a clamping force to one or more product cases of the layer such that the layer can be removed from an adjacent layer of product cases to a different location. The layer includes a void between adjacent product cases. The gripper mechanism includes a void filling member carried by the gripper mechanism. The void filling member is sized and located to be positioned within the void to limit movement of the adjacent product cases into the void during a clamping operation.

Abstract: A gripper apparatus for removing and replacing objects such as containers or vials in an array of containers has a gripper head which extends downward from a support arm, a planetary gear assembly mounted in the gripper head including at least three planet gears, and at least one gripping pin extending downward from each planet gear and projecting beyond a lower end of the gripper head. A drive motor drives the planetary gear assembly to rotate the planet gears in opposite directions, moving the pins inward and outward along predetermined paths to grip and carry an object and release the object when in a desired location.

Abstract: An engagement head for engaging a porous substrate includes at least two pin sets, each pin set including a plurality of pins arranged in a plurality of parallel pin rows at a predetermined pin angle, wherein pins of immediately neighboring pin rows are arranged such that pin angles for the pins in a pin row are inversely symmetrical to pin angles for the pins in a neighboring pin row. The pins of a pin row move collectively in the same direction when a pin set is extended, which direction is determined by the pin angle of the pin row, whereby neighboring pin rows move in opposite longitudinal directions from one another when the pin set is extended. The pin sets may be extended and retracted in unison by a single actuation source.

Abstract: An apparatus orients to a vertical position a precast wall panel formed in a horizontal position. The panel has holes formed in opposite sides thereof. The apparatus includes an overhead crane having a pair of suspended hooks and a lifting beam assembly suspended from the crane hooks. The lifting beam assembly includes a pair of oppositely facing pin carriages each having a pin adapted to be received in one of the panel holes. The lifting beam assembly further includes a motorized drive mechanism for displacing the pin carriages toward and away from each other along the length of the lifting beam. Displacing the pin carriages toward each other along the length of the lifting beam allows the pins to align with and engage the panel holes. Raising the crane hooks orients the wall panel in a vertical position.

Abstract: To collect refuse, a portable material container gripper is mounted to lift arms of a refuse collection truck. The portable material container gripper is easily mounted to the lift arms by inserting a tube around the lift arms and locking it in place with a bar passing through an opening in the tube. The portable material container gripper includes a clamp that clamps around a horizontal bar on a refuse or material container to hold the refuse or material container in place while it is dumped into the bed of the refuse collection truck by the lift arms.

Abstract: A linear pneumatic gripper including a gripper body (11) with a chamber (15), a piston (12) moving alternately in the chamber (15) and a pair of sliding gripper jaws (13) associated with and moving in opposite directions with the piston, and where the gripper body (11) is made up of two elements (14), or identical shells, joined face to face to form at the same time the chamber (15) for the piston (12) and the slide guides (16) for the jaws (13), and the piston (12) is in particular integral with the translation devices (22) for the movements of the jaws of the grippers in opposite directions.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a crucible handling device that can firmly sandwich and reliably move a quartz glass crucible under a clean environment and a method of handling a quartz glass crucible using the crucible handling device.

Abstract: A plant transplanting apparatus includes a pair of hand spade assemblies each having a post with a top end and a bottom end and a blade that has a top edge and a bottom edge. The top edge is attached to the bottom end of the post and a grip is attached to the top end of the post. A coupling assembly releasably couples the hand spade assemblies together. The coupling assembly engages the posts to allow the first sides of the blades to be pivoted toward or away from each other. The coupling assembly is adjustable to allow a space between the spade assemblies to be selectively adjusted. The blades are extended into soil on either side of a plant and the blades are pivoted toward each other to lift the plant from the soil to allow the plant to be transplanted.

Abstract: In order to produce a gripping device for a robot or for a gantry loader that can be employed in a flexible manner, it is proposed that the gripping device should comprise at least one linearly displaceable gripping jaw and at least one pivotal gripping connection. The gripping jaw may be linearly displaced along a longitudinal axis of the gripping device by means of a linear drive to grip and release a workpiece. The pivotal gripping connection can be pivotably rotated along a pivotal axis to likewise grip and release a workpiece. In an embodiment, the pivotable gripping connection can be arranged in a plurality of different positions with respect to the housing of the gripping device so that a plurality of different gripping orientations can be achieved.

Abstract: A transporting apparatus is provided with a main body part which defines an inner space and an opening in which the inner space is open to an external space and which can accommodate a load from the external space to the inner space through the opening; a holding device which is disposed at a position facing or in contact with the inner space of the main body part and which can hold the accommodated load within the inner space; and one or a plurality of grips which are disposed at positions facing or in contact with the external space of the main body part and which can be grabbed from the external space side.

Abstract: A flat workpiece transport apparatus having a movable arm and an end effector. The end effector is connected to the arm. The end effector has a movable grip for holding a flat workpiece on the end effector. The end effector has a grip actuator operably connected to the movable grip. The grip actuator has more than one actuation members and a resiliently flexible member connecting the more than one actuation members. Each actuation member actuates at least one corresponding grip element of the movable grip to capture or release the workpiece. Flexure of the resiliently flexible member effects movement of at least one of the more than one actuation members for actuation of the at least one corresponding grip element. The resiliently flexible member is sandwiched by substantially rigid portions of the more than one actuation members.

Abstract: The present invention is a pod opener having an end effector which: a. grips and releases a reticle supported above the base of a pod; and b. while transferring the reticle between the base of the pod and an adjacent IC photolithography tool, reorients the reticle. In one embodiment, the pod opener reorients the reticle by rotating it about a single axis disposed substantially perpendicular to its patterned surface. In another embodiment, the present invention is a pod opener which while transferring the reticle between the base of the pod and an adjacent IC photolithography tool, in addition to effecting rotation substantially perpendicular to a reticle's patterned surface, also turns the reticle over so a patterned surface of the reticle is oriented for proper focus within the IC photolithography tool.

Abstract: A device for temporarily loading, storing and unloading a container without deforming the container and affecting its contents. An enclosure (2) having struts (3) at both its left and right sides is provided. A support beam (4) of a transporter (10) that is provided with a pair of horizontal retaining fingers (13, 13) is attached in a vertically movable manner between the struts on the rear-surface side of the enclosure (2), and a plurality of horizontal shelves (20) is arranged between the struts on the rear-surface side of the enclosure with spaces (H) in a height direction of the container (19), the spaces being larger than the height dimension (h) of the container (19). Further, the retaining fingers (13, 13) of the transporter (10) are made to protrude toward the shelves (20) and the distance (L) between the pair of retaining fingers (13, 13) is made to be suitable for lifting the container.

Abstract: A polish rod clamping device, for use as part of a wellhead production pumping tree to secure a polish rod. The device includes a pressure-containing body forming a central vertical and opposed first and second side bores. A pair of clamping rams are positioned in the side bores for sliding movement therealong, each clamping ram having a front and a rear end, the front ends of the clamping rams being configured to accommodate at least a portion of the polish rod between their front ends when the clamping rams are advanced across the central bore. The front end of at least one of the clamping rams is configured with a vertical V-groove for gripping the polish rod. The invention extends to the V-groove rams themselves and to composite wellhead assemblies containing the V-groove clamping device.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a gripper assembly which in one form includes a body, at least one jaw, a longitudinally extending wedge, and a spring. The body has a slot disposed therein and opposed longitudinally extending walls. The jaw is laterally slideable within the slot. The longitudinally extending wedge is fitted along the longitudinally extending wall. The jaw comprises a surface that is engageable with the wedge. The surface of the jaw is slideable along the wedge. And a spring biases the wedge toward the jaw to reduce the running clearance between the two structures.

Abstract: A parallel gripper for handling multiwell plates in an automated analysis system, moves individual multiwell plates between a plate storage array unit (i.e., plate hotel) and an imaging station. More particularly, the gripper has two parallel plate-gripping arms that move in equal, but opposite linear directions and are controlled using a stepper motor. Each of the arms has a shelf that provides support for the corresponding side edge of a multiwell plate.

Abstract: A semiconductor material handling system including a frame mounting a wafer cassette and a plurality of load ports thereon, and a wafer moving robot including a robot body which has a lifting member mounted in the frame and vertically moving along a predetermined lifting shaft, an articulated arm which has a driving link mounted in the lifting member and a plurality of driven links whose end part transversely moving along the frame having the load ports, a swing unit which is mounted in the end part of the driven links and rotates along a vertical rotation shaft, and a crossing arm which comprises a base mounted in the swing unit, a plurality of sliding units mounted in the base and reciprocating transversely, and a wafer hand mounted in the sliding units and picking up a wafer from the wafer cassette and storing the wafer back in the wafer cassette.

Abstract: A pick and place device for picking up and re-positioning an article (11) carried by a support surface, comprising a first part which includes a plate portion (8, 8?) which is movable parallel to the support surface so that a leading edge thereof penetrates below the article, between the article and the support surface, and a belt of flexible material (9, 9?) which is wrapped around at least the leading edge of the plate portion so that it is sandwiched between the plate and the article when the former penetrates therebelow and as the plate portion moves below the article there is substantially no relative sliding movement between the sandwiched portion of the belt and the article.

Abstract: The invention concerns a parallel pneumatic gripper which includes a gripper body (11) forming a chamber (15), an alternate pneumatic piston (12) movable in the chamber, and two jaws (13, 14) controlled by the piston and movable in opposite directions. A first jaw (13) is rigidly attached to the piston (12) to follow its movements, whereas the second jaw (14) is connected to the piston (12) by an oscillating transmission element or lever (22, 22?) comprising an intermediate larger dimensioned cross section portion (23, 30) having a transversal bore to house the oscillating central fulcrum and two terminal heads with rolling surfaces (25, 25?; 31, 31?) designed to couple with corresponding seats provided respectively on the bottom of a flaring shaped in one side of the piston (12) and in the second jaw (14).

Abstract: A tray transferring apparatus for transferring a handling tray on which semiconductor devices are mounted prevents the semiconductor devices from being scattered or separated from the handling tray. The tray transferring apparatus includes a fixing means installed on a main frame for supporting a fixed tray, a correcting means installed on the main frame for correcting the position of the fixed tray, a gripping means installed on the main frame for gripping a handling tray, and at least one sensor for sensing gripper plates and the handling tray. A fixed tray is held by the fixing means, and right/left inclination of the fixed tray is corrected by the correcting means. An upper portion of a handling tray holding semiconductors is covered by the bottom of the fixed tray and is gripped by the gripping means.