Abstract: A tool for grasping an electronic component that includes a first arm and a second arm resiliently joined together at one end and each separately extending to free end opposite from each other and spaced apart while at rest. The tool further includes a first and a second extension each attaching to the free end of the respective arms, and a lateral member extending from each extension towards the opposing extension. The extensions and lateral members each have at least one contact surface and the bottom surfaces of the lateral members and inner surfaces of the extensions recede from the contact surfaces, reducing the surface area of contact when an object is grasped with the tool.

Abstract: A gripping device comprising holders which exhibit a two-directional elasticity for picking up products with large dimensional tolerances. The gripping device may comprise two grippers disposed in opposed relationship with one another. At least one of the grippers may be movable towards the other. Each of the grippers may include a holder and a gripping jaw attached to the holder. The holder may be a C-shaped portion that exhibits a two-directional elasticity to allow horizontal as well as a vertical movement of the gripping jaw. At least one of the holders may be coupled to a linear actuator to move the gripper in at least a substantially horizontal direction.

Abstract: A gripper device for laser welding and vision inspection is provided which includes a frame unit releasably mounted on a front end of an arm of a robot and a clamping unit mounted on the frame unit. Additionally, embodied in this single gripper device is a laser-vision exchange (first) module, a laser-vision sharing (second) module and a laser-vision target (third) module all embodied in a single gripper device to irradiate laser beam for welding a welding object and obtain a vision source of an inspection object.

Abstract: A sample conveying mechanism minimizes a risk of damage to a sample typified particularly by a photomask, and the sample conveying mechanism provides the sample retention mechanism for holding the sample so as to be suspended and is configured such that a portion close to a pattern surface of the sample is separated from a projection section of a flange for suspending the sample, thereby inhibiting a contact between the pattern surface and members configuring the conveying mechanism.

Abstract: A tool and method for removing a film from a surface is provided, wherein the tool can include a frame, a handle operably coupled to the frame, a number of wheels operably coupled to the frame, a cylinder rotatably coupled to the frame, an arm rotatably coupled to the frame, and a number of separating devices operably coupled to the arm. In some embodiments, the wheels can rotate about one or more axes parallel to the surface. The cylinder, which collects the removed film, rotates about an axis that can also be parallel to the surface. The arm can rotate about an axis that can also be parallel to the surface.

Abstract: A method for grasping an object includes moving a first and second gripping pad (116) respectively to first and second locations in which a first face (117) of the first gripping pad is opposed from a second face (117) of the second gripping pad and spaced apart a distance. Two or more of pins (118) included in each gripping pad are extended from at least the first face in a direction toward the second face. Thereafter, an extension distance for each of the pins is independently determined responsive to a resistance encountered by each of the pins as a result of the extending. As a result of the independently determining step, an object-defined gripping contour is provided as formed by distal ends of the pins.

Abstract: A grasping apparatus includes a robot and a grasping assembly. The grasping assembly is rotatably mounted to the robot and includes a cylinder, two grasping plates, two grasping blocks and two first resilient members. The cylinder is secured to the robot. The two grasping plates are rotatably attached to the cylinder. The cylinder is capable of driving the two grasping plates to rotate towards each other. Each grasping block is slidably attached to each grasping plate. Each first resilient member is secured between each grasping block and each of the two grasping plates. When the two grasping plates are rotated towards each other, the two grasping blocks are adapted to sandwich a product therebetween.

Abstract: A lift truck clamp arm assembly for engaging large cartons, which may contain large household appliances. Pivoting clamp pad support assemblies are adjustable to vary a radial spacing between a pivot pin and a clamp pad supported on the clamp arm assembly by attachment to the adjustable clamp pad support assembly, to provide desired pressure concentrations at selected parts of a carton to be gripped.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for engaging an article. The apparatus has a base portion, an end portion disposed adjacent the base portion. The end portion is moveable in relation to the base portion generally along the longitudinal centerline. One or more bands are joined to and extend between the base portion and the end portion. At least one of the bands bends away from the longitudinal centerline when the end portion is moved toward the base portion from the disengaged configuration to the activated configuration.

Abstract: A robotic arm is for holding a molding item. The robotic arm includes a mount; a lifting mechanism mounted to the mount; a horizontal driving device; a rotating assembly mounted between the lifting mechanism and the horizontal driving device to rotate the horizontal driving device relative to the lifting mechanism; a holder for holding the molding item, the holder mounted on the horizontal driving device. The lifting mechanism cause the holder to move relative to the mount in a first direction, the horizontal driving device moves the holder relative to the mount and the lifting mechanism in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A system and method for providing weed extraction so Industrial, Commercial and Home users (ICAHUs) can assure that unwanted weeds can be easily and effectively extracted. The system and method allows ICAHUs to work safely and efficiently and to extract weeds by using a hand-held device that can easily penetrate the ground around weeds, secure the unwanted weed, and aid the user in extracting the weed from the ground. ICAHUs can easily operate the levers of the device which operate jaws to secure to weeds. Specialized debris passages in the jaws of the device allow for debris to be passed through the jaws of the device which allow to for continued use and a greatly reduced need to clean the device during use. The method comprises a system in which unwanted weeds may be easily secured and extracted by the user without an increased risk of accidents or without unnecessary steps or procedures for cleaning.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a panel transferring apparatus. The panel transferring apparatus includes a panel supporting mechanism for supporting a panel. The panel supporting mechanism includes a plurality of primary supports spaced apart from each other; and a plurality of secondary supports disposed on the primary supports and extending lateral to the primary supports. The primary supports and the secondary supports cooperate to support the panel. The present invention further discloses a panel supporting mechanism. A contact area between the panel supporting mechanism and the panel is increased by disposing the plurality of secondary supports on the plurality of primary supports. Thereby, flexure of the panel is lessened, the production cost is lowered and the production cycle is shortened.

Abstract: A gripper for pulling arrows, wherein the gripper comprises a handle, a gripper head and three hinges. The handle and gripper head comprising two first legs extending in an elongated manner, which are connected to one another via the first hinge, which has a first rotation axis aligned transversely to the elongated extension of the legs, so that two counteracting levers are provided via a first hinge as a first support, wherein two lever arm sections act as force arm sections and arranged on the handle and two lever arm sections act as load arm sections and consequently are arranged on the gripper head, and wherein on each of the two lever arm sections that are arranged on the gripper head, a gripper jaw is pivoted in the interior of the gripper head via a second hinge.

Abstract: A chuck hand 1 includes a pressing mechanism 14 having a pusher 25 which presses a semiconductor process wafer 3 in the direction of a front guide 12 to thereby grip the semiconductor process wafer 3. The pressing mechanism 14 further has a pusher supporting body 22 and a buffering member 28. The pusher supporting body 22 is configured such that it can advance and retract. The pusher supporting body 22 is disposed in the pusher 25 such that it can slide back and forth. A gap 26a is defined forward relative to the pusher supporting body 22. The buffering member 28, which has a low bounce and is elastically deformable, is interposingly placed in the gap 26a. When the pusher supporting body 22 moves forward, it pushes the pusher 25 through the buffering member 28 whereby the pusher 25 is moved forward. The pusher 25 is abutted and pressed against the semiconductor process wafer 3.

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: The medicament dispensing machine enables to use vials having various sizes and shapes without changing a part in the machine or without performing a special operation. The medicament dispensing machine contains a discharging unit that receives a vial filled with a medicament from a medicament filling means and discharges out of a vial discharging window. The discharging unit contains a vial gripping means having a pair of gripping arms that grip a vial, a body of gripping means having the vial gripping means, a moving means that moves the vial gripping means from the medicament filling means to the vial discharging window, and an orientation changing mechanism that changes the orientation of the body of gripping means. With a coordination of the movement of the body of gripping means toward the vial discharging window, the orientation changing mechanism makes the gripping arms orient to the vial discharging window.

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 apparatus for transferring substrates in a processing system where the substrate is exposed to high temperatures is provided. In one embodiment a blade for transporting a substrate is provided. The blade comprises a base having an arcuate lateral shoulder, a first finger extending outward from and perpendicular to the base, a second finger extending outward from the base and parallel to and spaced-apart from the first finger, a first support tab configured to support the substrate and positioned along the arcuate lateral shoulder, a second support tab configured to support the substrate and coupled with the first finger, and a third support tab configured to support the substrate coupled with the second finger, wherein the arcuate lateral shoulder extends from an outer edge of the first finger to an outer edge of the second finger.

Abstract: An integrated grip arm comprises a plurality of grippers to accommodate a plurality of reticles and carrier boxes without the need of separate arm or gripper changes. The integrated grip arm can comprise an edge gripper for gripping a reticle or a carrier box at the edges, and a fork gripper for gripping a reticle or a carrier box at a top and a bottom portions. The integrated grip arm can comprise an edge gripper for gripping a wafer from the edges and an end effector for holding a wafer from the bottom. The integrated grip arm can comprise a vertical gripper for gripping a workpiece from a vertical position and a horizontal gripper for gripping a workpiece from a horizontal position.

Abstract: A pair of spring-biased pivoting levers is provided with a pair of flexible elastic grips. Each grip is contoured to conform to the surface of a jar and to elastically deform around a jar as a user squeezes the levers together. Each grip can be formed with an arcuate groove for receiving an annular rib commonly formed on canning jars.

Abstract: An apparatus for grabbing and lifting a case having side walls each formed with a hole has a plurality of grabs each having a plurality of pivotal lift arms each having a lower end provided with a horizontally projecting finger engageable into one of the holes. The fingers of each grab are vertically offset from one another.

Abstract: A handling tool for handling a pellicle which is used in the lithography carried out in a manufacturing process of semiconductor devices, comprising 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, wherein the 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: A holding apparatus has: a first sleeve having a first arm and a first handle; a second sleeve having a second arm and a second handle; a coupling element that couples together the first and second sleeves about an axis of rotation, with an overlap between the first and second arms upon sufficient rotation of the second sleeve about the axis of rotation towards a closed position of the holding apparatus; an adjustable receiving structure formed of inwardly oriented receiving surfaces of the first and second arms and configured to receive and retain an object upon sufficient rotation of the second sleeve about the axis of rotation towards the closed position; a quick release mechanism; and an adjustable sizing element configured to be in releasable engagement with the quick release mechanism that releasably maintains an adjustable size of the adjustable receiving structure.

Abstract: A gripper applied in a transport mechanism for transporting a wafer is provided. The transport mechanism includes a bar. The gripper includes a fixing member fixed to the bar, and a carrying member. The fixing member includes two grooves adjacent to the bottom of the fixing member. Each groove includes an entrance and a retaining portion. The carrying member includes a notch and a first claw. The notch is located at the top of the carrying member and communicates two opposite sides of the carrying member. The notch includes two inner walls, each having a protrusion. The carrying member is assembled to the fixing member by sliding each protrusion along one of the grooves from the corresponding entrance and until abutting against the corresponding retaining portion. The first claw is located at a first sidewall of the carrying member. The edge of the wafer is supportable by the first claw.

Abstract: A gripper device is provided for picking up and releasing an article. The device includes a support (15, 16) and a pair of grippers (10, 11) pivotally mounted on the support for movement of their distal ends towards and away from each other. A belt (1) is belt arranged to extend across the gap defined between the distal ends of the grippers when they are spaced apart so that the belt is able to extend over the article to be picked up and to extend around the article when the grippers have been moved towards each other to pick up the article.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to apparatus and method for supporting and transferring large area substrate in a vacuum condition. One embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus comprising one or more end effectors having a plurality of end effector pads disposed thereon without mechanically joining to the one or more end effectors. In one embodiment, a plurality of end effector pad assemblies are coupled to one or more end effectors by magnetic force.

Abstract: Gripper devices for handling syringes and automated pharmacy admixture systems (APASs) that utilize such gripper devices. The gripper devices may include various gripper finger profiles, substantially tapered or angled gripping surfaces and/or gripper fingers interleaving to reduce radial distortion of the syringes to be grasped while opposing axial motion of the syringes.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a gripper finger including a surface area for clamping. This area this area is covered with a membrane including at least one section, which is substantially made of a shape memory polymer (SMP). The disclosure relates also to a gripper tool including such gripper finger and a method for adjusting such a gripper tool.

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 pipe gripper device including first and second gripper bodies and a clevis assembly. The gripper bodies each have a head and an arm. The head forms a slot. The arm defines a grip segment proximate a leading end and forms a textured exterior surface. The arms are pivotably coupled and slidably contact one another along corresponding interiors. The clevis assembly includes a clevis mounted to the heads by a pin passing through the respective slots. The gripper device is transitionable between a contracted state and an expanded state by pivoting of the gripper bodies at the corresponding pivot points, with the pin sliding within the slots to define a limit of the expanded state. In the contracted state, the grip segments are readily inserted into a pipe; upon transitioning toward the expanded state, the grip segments engage the pipe interior for application of a pulling force.

Abstract: A gripper has a pair of supports 22A, 22B positioned on opposite sides of a bottle made of resin, and abutments 24A, 24B disposed respectively on the supports 22A, 22B for holding the bottle 4 made of resin, each of the abutments 24A, 24B have two thin plates 26A, 28A, 26B, 28B which are vertically spaced from each other. The abutments 24A, 24B hold the bottle 4 by gripping a neck 4a of the bottle 4 on its opposite sides. While holding the bottle 4, the supports 22A, 22B are held out of contact with an outer surface of the bottle 4, allowing the electron beam to travel around the neck 4a to sterilize the entire surface of the bottle 4.

Abstract: A gripper system having a pair of jaws operable in a first plane and having a central closure axis; each jaw including a finger member and finger tip member disposed on its distal end; and a gripper drive assembly for moving the jaws toward and away from each other; each finger member having a shaped inner contour for accommodating an object to be gripped; each finger tip member including an inner surface which generally aligns with the shaped inner contour for gripping a range of larger objects and an outer surface which generally aligns with the gripper central closure axis upon closure for gripping a range of smaller objects. Alternatively, each finger tip member may include a forcep element extending transversely to said plane.

Abstract: A disc transporting mechanism includes a gripping mechanism having a plurality of gripping members configured to grip a disc, a transport arm provided with the gripping mechanism, and a moving mechanism configured to move up and down the transport arm. The transport arm is connected to the moving mechanism through an elastic member.

Abstract: A robot gripper block is provided that facilitates the simultaneous attached of robot deployed tools to a plurality of distinct robot platforms having robot grippers with opposing moveable fingers. The block includes a plurality of parallel cylindrical sockets passing through the block to accept the complementary cylindrical bars of the robot deployed tools. A set pin is inserted through the block and tools to secure the tools in the block. Running along the faces of the block and arranged in pairs are channels sixed and shaped to complement the fingers of the robot grippers. Each set of channels is arranged for a given robot gripper.

Abstract: A robot configured to check whether an object is properly grasped by a hand determines whether the position and posture of a handle (object), determined based on an image obtained by a camera (external information), and the position and posture of the handle in the case where the handle is assumed to be properly grasped, determined from the posture of a robot based on an output or the like of a rotary encoder (internal information), agree with each other. In response to the determination of whether the external information and the internal information agree with each other, it is determined whether the handle is properly grasped based on a force detected by a six-axis force sensor provided on each hand.

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: The invention provides a contact lens gripper comprising a tweezers gripper having first and second gripper arms hingedly connected to an actuation support for moving the free ends of the arms towards and away from each other so as to grasp and release a soft contact lens. The invention also provides a contact lens gripping unit comprising a mounting bar to which a plurality of individual contact lens grippers are mounted at a predetermined distance from each other, wherein each of the individual grippers is a contact lens gripper according to any one of the preceding claims.

Abstract: A carrier blade for transferring a semiconductor wafers into and out of a deposition chamber may include transition surfaces sloping downward from ledge surfaces. The transition surfaces slope from the corresponding ledges at angles that are greater than about 90 degrees so that the edges between the ledge surfaces and the transition surfaces are not sharp. The carrier blade may include bevels extending from the ledge surface(s) to upper lateral edges of the carrier blade.

Abstract: A disc picking device having an engaging member for engaging a disc includes: a contact portion having a contact face for contacting an upper face of the disc; an arm which movably supports the engaging member and has the contact portion; and a moving mechanism moving the arm in a contacting direction for contacting the upper face of the disc, wherein the moving mechanism supports the arm such that the contact portion can be moved in a direction opposite to the contacting direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling an article in semiconductor fabrication in which the article is completely separated from a gripper by a frozen liquid. The gripper includes a feeding device for introducing a liquid such as a high-purity water or a decontaminating liquid. The gripper also includes a cooling device for freezing the liquid. A suction take-in device applies negative pressure to hold the article against the frozen liquid.

Abstract: A disc gripping device is configured for gripping a disc by inserting at least three gripping members into a center hole of a disc and expanding at least one of the gripping members in a radial direction to push an inner circumferential face of the center hole. The at least three gripping members include a first gripping member having a disc contacting face for contacting the inner circumferential face of the center hole, a length of the disc contacting face being greater than a thickness of the inner circumferential face of the center hole; a second gripping member having a disc contacting face for contacting the inner circumferential face of the center hole, a length of the disc contacting face being equal to or smaller than the thickness of the inner circumferential face of the center hole, and a third gripping member having a disc contacting face for contacting the inner circumferential face of the center hole.

Abstract: A gripper for use with a robot includes a support body for removably attaching the gripper to a moveable arm and a workpiece contact body having a groove extending along at least a portion of the contact body for engaging a curved outer edge of the workpiece. A coupling member connects the support body to the workpiece contact member and includes a flexure component that flexes to allow radial and/or tangential relative movement of the workpiece contact body with respect to the support body to diminish slippage between the workpiece and the contact body as the gripper engages the workpiece.

Abstract: A gripper device for gripping the neck of a hollow body from the outside, which gripper device includes an annular body supporting at least two gripper parts each having its own bearing face, said gripper parts being movable substantially radially and constrained by an elastic device in such a way that the gripper parts are able to occupy a first radial position in which they bear against a buffer of the annular body with their bearing face projecting into the annular body, and a second radial position in which they are pushed back with their bearing face bearing against the exterior wall of the neck of a hollow body engaged in the annular body. The bearing faces of the gripper parts are bowed in the overall shape of an arc of a cylinder.

Abstract: A vacuum chuck includes a first surface with a cavity formed in the first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a relatively deformable portion disposed between the first surface and the second surface. The vacuum chuck is formed using a resilient material, and the relatively deformable portion changes shape in response to pressure more easily than other portions of the vacuum chuck.

Abstract: A substrate transfer apparatus for loading and unloading substrates in a reaction chamber, includes: an arm having a distal end which is laterally movable in a straight line direction; and end-effectors for loading and unloading substrates in a reaction chamber, which include a lower end-effector and an upper end-effector. One of the lower end-effector or the upper end-effector is movably coupled to the arm at a distal end of the arm, and the other end-effector is fixed to the movably coupled end-effector. The fixed end-effector is fixed to the movably coupled end-effector.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a vacuum end effector having workpiece supports that work in conjunction with distorted workpiece surfaces. In one embodiment, each workpiece support has the ability to gimbal and conform the workpiece surface in contact with an outer edge of the support. Each workpiece support preferably provides a knife-like contact edge to minimize the contact area between the support and the workpiece while still providing an effective vacuum area to hold the wafer securely on the support. In another embodiment, each workpiece support is replaceable without having to remove the end effector from the robot assembly.

Abstract: A supporting structure is mounted on a hand body facing a circumferential edge of a substrate from below the substrate to support the substrate. First and second guiding members are mounted on the hand body, and having guiding surfaces in contact with an imaginary cylinder having an axis aligned with a reference axis of the hand body. First and second movable members are capable of moving in an imaginary plane perpendicular to the reference axis and are disposed on the radially outer-side of the circumferential edge of the substrate so as to face the circumferential edge. A driving unit simultaneously displaces the first and second movable members in the imaginary plane. The first and second guiding members and the first and second movable members are spaced apart on the circumference of the imaginary cylinder at intervals greater than the length of the arc of a segment in a substrate holding state.

Abstract: Generally, an end effector assembly for a substrate transfer robot is provided. In one embodiment, an end effector assembly for supporting a quadrilateral substrate during substrate transfer includes an end effector having an inner edge support disposed on a first end and a first outer edge support disposed on a distal end. The first end of the end effector is adapted for coupling to a robot linkage. The first inner edge support has a face that is oriented parallel to and facing the face of the first outer edge support. This configuration of edge supports captures the substrate to the end effector thereby minimizing substrate slippage during transfer. In another embodiment, lateral guides may be utilized to further enhance capturing the substrate along the edges of the substrate open between the inner and outer edge supports.

Abstract: A device for gripping products including a first gripper arm having a first gripper pad, and a second gripper arm having a second gripper pad, the first gripper pad having a bore and an outer surface being eccentric with respect to the bore. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A transporting arm has two protruding support sections. Front ends of the support sections are formed such that a thickness of the support sections decreases toward the front ends of those. A surface of the transporting arm on which a wafer is placed is provided with a plurality of suction holes formed at equal intervals in a fan-shaped region. The wafer is fixed to the transporting arm through the suction holes. The wafer is charged with a large amount of static electricity. The transporting arm is charged with the static electricity. A surface of the transporting arm is coated with a conductive fluorinated graphite material. Therefore, an electrical discharge rate of the transporting arm into an atmosphere increases. Accordingly, elevation of a surface potential of the transporting arm in a floating state can be appropriately suppressed. Reduction of repulsive force due to the static electricity acting between the transporting arm and the wafer leads to reduction of vibration of the wafer.