A fluidic exoskeleton system. The system can include one or more fluidic actuator units that have: a joint; a first and second arm coupled to the joint; an inflatable bellows actuator extending between a first and second plate associated with the joint, the inflatable bellows actuator defining a bellows cavity, the inflatable bellows actuator configured to extend along a length of the bellows actuator when inflated by introducing fluid into the bellows cavity; and one or more constraint ribs extending from the joint and surrounding portions of the bellows actuator along the length of the bellows actuator.

The invention relates to a protective cover comprising a plurality of protective cover segments (1), which can be moved telescopically against one another and which have a covering leg (2) and a supporting leg (3), and comprising a connecting element or bellows (4). When the protective cover is telescopically extended, an elastic restoring element produces a torque (M) and transfers said torque to the supporting leg (3). The invention is characterized in that the elastic restoring element is an integral component of the connecting element (4) in that the connecting element (4) has flexural rigidity and is connected to the supporting leg (3) in a planar manner along a height portion (h) of the supporting leg (3). Owing to the invention, an additional elastic restoring element and the attachment thereof to the supporting leg are no longer necessary. Thus, the compressed size, the weight and the production complexity of the protective cover can be reduced, and the leak tightness and reliability of operation are improved.

Bellows (1) connecting adjacent carriages (3), in particular carriages of a material handling sorter (2) along a predetermined path (P), being robust and reliable, comprises opposite heads (4a, 4b) each being associated with a carriage (3) and a pleated structure (5) with a preset number of substantially M-shaped elements (6) being provided with a plurality of vertices (7), as well as a bearing structure (8) formed by a base structure (8) and by a frame (8) slidingly abutting on the base structure (8% such base structure (8) and such frame (8) being rigid and cooperating with each other, being placed between adjacent carriages inside the bellows (1).

A ball joint (100) to be fitted to a knuckle (200) is provided wherein, a shaft section (11) has an annular projection (11a), a dust cover (30) has a seal main body which is made of an elastic body and which integrally includes: a body section (31); a fixed section (32) which is provided in the body section (31) on one end side; and an inner circumferential seal section (33) and a dust seal section (34) which are provided in the body section (31) on another end side, and the ball joint (100) is provided with a positioning member (40) which is mounted to the shaft section (11) in advance before the ball joint (100) is fitted to the knuckle (200) and which positions an end of the dust cover (30) on the other end side with respect to the shaft section (11) so that the inner circumferential seal section (33) is positioned at an opposite side of the spherical section (12) across the annular projection (11a).

A bushing assembly for a variable stiffness joint assembly includes a bushing body. The bushing body is disposed about a shaft assembly. The bushing body has an inner bushing surface, an outer bushing surface that is spaced apart from the inner bushing surface, a first bushing face that extends between a first end of the inner bushing surface and a first end of the outer bushing surface, and a second bushing face that extends between a second end of the inner bushing surface and a second end the outer bushing surface.

A gaiter seal for shielding a functional element of a container-processing machine extends between parts of a working head of the container-processing machine includes axially-adjacent gaiter modules that extend along an axis and support-and-sliding elements at interfaces between adjacent gaiter modules. The support-and-sliding elements radially support and guide the first and second gaiter-modules along the functional element.

In a diaphragm bellows, diaphragms that follow one another are welded together alternately in region of their inner and outer edges. At least one guide part is provided for guiding on a surface of a rod passing through an inner through-opening in the diaphragm bellows or of a tube surrounding the diaphragm bellows. The at least one guide part is made of sheet metal and has a holding portion which, in the case of guiding on a rod, is located, in a region of an outer edge, between adjacent diaphragms and is welded to the adjacent diaphragms and, in the case of guiding on a tube, is located, in the region of an inner edge, between adjacent diaphragms and is welded to the adjacent diaphragms. The holding portion is connected to a guide portion for guiding on the surface of the rod or of the tube.

A bellows system includes a first bellows segment having a first end and a second end, the first bellows segment configured to elastically compress and expand. A first plate is coupled to the second end of the first bellows segment and a first sleeve is concentric with the first bellows segment, the first bellows segment disposed within the first sleeve. A second bellows segment has a third end and a fourth end. The second bellows segment is configured to elastically compress and expand, and the third end of the second bellows segment is coupled to the first plate. A second sleeve is coupled to the first plate. The second sleeve is concentric with the second bellows segment and the first sleeve, and the second bellows segment is disposed within the second sleeve. The second sleeve is configured to travel within the first sleeve.

A bellows system includes a first bellows segment having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first bellows segment is configured to elastically compress and expand. A first plate is coupled to the second end of the first bellows segment. The bellows system includes a second bellows segment having a third end and a fourth end opposed the third end. The second bellows segment is configured to elastically compress and expand. The third end of the second bellows segment is coupled to the first plate opposite the first bellows segment. A second plate is coupled to the fourth end of the second bellows segment. A plurality of guide rods are coupled to the second plate and extend through the first plate. The first plate is free to slide along the plurality of guide rods.

A support structure for a bellows attached to a slide table, and which is capable of expanding and contracting in a movement direction of the slide table, includes support members that support the bellows, shafts disposed substantially in parallel with the movement direction of the slide table, and bushes that support the support member so as to be capable of moving in the movement direction of the slide table with respect to the shafts. Fluid bearings are formed by supplying a fluid between the bushes and the shafts.