A robotic system is provided for repeatedly and reproducibly applying a sealant to a seam in an assembled HVAC duct component. The applied sealant has a predetermined location on the assembled HVAC duct component to seal the seam. An assembled HVAC duct component is thus provided having a robot applied sealant on at least one seam in the assembled HVAC duct component, wherein the applied sealant has at least one of a predetermined location, thickness or coverage. The robotically applied sealant can be applied to a blank for forming the assembled HVAC duct component, wherein the sealant is located at locations forming a seam in the assembled HVAC duct component.

In certain embodiments, a system comprises a robot, a spray gun coupled to the robot and operable to spray a first predefined number of passes of a material onto a substrate at a first flow rate, and a measurement device operable to measure one or more properties of the material sprayed onto the substrate while the material is wet. The system further comprises an analyzer operable to determine a thickness of the wet material based on the one or more measured properties and calculate a second flow rate required to achieve a cured thickness of the material within a second predefined number of passes. The calculated second flow rate is based on the first predefined number of passes, an expected thickness of the wet material for one pass of the first predefined number of passes, the determined thickness of the wet material, and the first flow rate.

A portable programmable machine enhances efficiency and ergonomics associated with conducting otherwise manual operations within confined spaces. A main body supports a programmable telescoping arm configured to extend through an access port to reach a confined space. The arm includes an articulating wrist for holding and manipulating tools for autonomously processing work parts. The machine can also act semi-autonomously to accommodate interventions of an operator for overriding and fine-tuning interaction of a tool with a work part for proper processing of the part. The arm communicates with a computer in the main body for processing numerical data, and the operator may use a reference camera to fine tune any particular process. The machine incorporates multiple processing functions, for example collar swaging, nut running, cleaning, and/or application of sealants, all through an aircraft wing access port. The main body has lockable wheels for securing the main body near the access port.

An apparatus and method for cleaning milking stalls on a platform of a rotary parlour. The rotary parlour includes a robotic manipulation device configured to perform a primary task; a holding device configured to hold the end portion of the hose member in a predetermined parking position, and a control unit. When it is time to clean a milking stall on the platform, the control unit activates the robotic manipulation device such that, instead of performing a primary task, the robotic manipulation device performs an additional task in which the robotic manipulation device grips the end portion of a hose member and moves the end portion from a parking position to a number of cleaning positions from which liquid jets are sprayed from the outlet opening of the end portion against predetermined surfaces to be cleaned in the milking stall.

A robotic apparatus for painting a workpiece includes a redundant axis robot for use in a robotic painting system. The redundant axis of rotation provides the robot arm additional flexibility in avoiding obstacles and reaching an interior of the workpiece to apply paint thereto. The robotic apparatus could be a seven-axis robot arm or a five-axis parallel link panel opener robot arm for opening and/or closing the panel. The robot arms are mounted on at least one vertically oriented column adjacent a path of travel of the workpiece through a painting booth and the robot arms can be mounted on a common base.

An apparatus for preventing a cover from being drawn into a joint of a paint robot includes a circular ring member mounted to the paint robot proximate the joint. The circular ring member may include first and second blocking members. The paint robot includes first and second portions rotatable relative to one another about an axis of the joint. The circular ring member circumferentially surrounds the first portion of the paint robot such that the axis of the joint passes through the circular ring member.

A robot assembly having an exchangeable application device is provided. The application device is connected and exchangeable via an intermediate flange, with the respective construction lengths of the application device and the intermediate flange being matched to each other as a pair such that an exchange of the application device together with the associated and individually matched intermediate flange maintains the tool center point.

A washing and drying unit configured to perform at least one of washing, drying, and sterilizing, or any combination thereof includes at least one sensor configured to determine a dimension and/or shape of the object, a washing and/or sterilizing apparatus and a drying and/or sterilizing apparatus configured to direct at least one apparatus or spray of a washing and/or sterilizing or a drying and/or sterilizing fluid to the object, at least one robot arm connected to at least one of the apparatuses, and a controller operable to orient and move the at least one robot arm. A separate sterilization apparatus may be included and the sterilization may include using electrified water or water that has been exposed to ultraviolet light. The controller orients the at least one robot arm based on the dimension and/or shape determined by the at least one sensor.

An arrangement for automated painting of an object includes a paint robot, a cover and a cover blocking member. The paint robot defines an axis joint about which a first portion rotates relative to a second portion. The cover covers at least a portion of the paint robot. The cover blocking member is in the form of a strip brush including a plurality of bristles. The strip brush is carried by the paint robot and is positioned between the paint robot and the cover.

A device for treating objects, wherein a gap is formed between two wall sections of a treatment chamber. At least one respective component of at least one first and one second working device which can move along the gap, extends from an outer region outside of the treatment chamber through the gap into the treatment chamber. A covering assembly seals the gap in the wall of the treatment chamber, apart from a first through opening and a second through opening, through which the component of the first working device or the component of the second working device extend, and which follow a movement of the component of the first working device or the component of the second working device along the gap. A covering band running on the gap is secured to a first and to a second securing side of the first working device, said first and second securing sides facing one another in the longitudinal direction of the gap. A diverting device, directs the covering band from the first securing side to the second securing side of the first working device, and also from the first securing side of the first working device to the second working device, where it is lifted away from the gap using a lifting device and directed past the second working device.