A manufacturing device includes a first hinge defining a first axis of rotation and having an arm connected thereto. A parallel link mechanism includes a second hinge connected to the arm and first and second links pivotably connecting the second hinge to an attachment such that the attachment is vertically movable relative to the second hinge. A nut runner is configured to rotatably drive a fastening tool about a third axis of rotation and is connected to the attachment. A first motor is provided on the first hinge and is configured to horizontally rotate the arm about the first axis of rotation. A second motor is provided on the second hinge and is configured to horizontally rotate the parallel link mechanism about a second axis of rotation that is parallel to the first and third axes of rotation.

A surgical assembly configured to be operably attached to a surgical robot is disclosed. The surgical assembly comprises a housing and a stapling assembly. The housing comprises a first, a second, and a third drive system. The stapling assembly comprises an end effector including a staple cartridge, a distal shaft assembly, a proximal shaft assembly, and an interface. The distal shaft assembly comprises a first driver configured to rotate the end effector, a second driver configured to articulate the end effector, and a third driver configured to move axially within the end effector. The proximal shaft assembly comprises a first drive train operably responsive to the first drive system, a second drive train operably responsive to the second drive system, and a third drive train operably responsive to the third drive system. The interface is configured to operably couple the distal shaft assembly to the proximal shaft assembly.

A system and method for assembling a plurality of components into an assembly is provided. The system includes an assembling robot and an adhesive dispensing robot. The assembling robot is configured to attach a first sub-assembly to a second sub-assembly. The first sub-assembly includes at least one of the plurality of components, and the second sub-assembly includes remaining ones of the plurality of components. The adhesive dispensing robot is configured to apply an adhesive between the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly, after the first sub-assembly is attached to the second sub-assembly, to bond the first sub-assembly to the second sub-assembly.

A surgical stapling instrument. Various embodiments include an actuation system for selectively generating a plurality of control motions. A surgical end effector is operably coupled to the actuation system. The actuation system interfaces with an actuation member configured to operably engage rotatable camming members to fire staples within the end effector into forming contact with an anvil portion of the end effector.

A tool assembly for mounting a tailgate to a car body is provided. The tool assembly includes a bracket adapted to engage with an overhead structure and a frame movably coupled to the bracket and configured to move in a vertical direction relative to the bracket. The tool assembly also includes a linkage mechanism movably coupling the frame with the bracket and configured to maintain the frame parallel to the bracket during the vertical movement of the frame. Further, a pair of torque guns is coupled to the frame and is configured to hold a pair of fasteners. The pair of torque guns engages and tightens the pair of fasteners to the car body and a hinge attached to the tailgate.

A surgical staple cartridge is disclosed. The surgical staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body defining an elongate slot. The surgical staple cartridge further comprises a plurality of staple pushers movably supported in the cartridge body for vertical travel therein. Each staple pusher operably supports at least one staple thereon. The surgical staple cartridge further comprises a plurality of movable drivers operably supported in the cartridge body. Each movable driver corresponds to at least one of the staple pushers and includes a camming surface thereon such that when each movable driver is contacted by an axially moving actuator, at least a portion of each of the movable drivers moves laterally away from the elongate slot to bring the camming surface thereon into camming contact with the staple pusher corresponding thereto to thereby move the corresponding staple pusher vertically within the cartridge body.

This invention describes a process flow and method to assemble triple IG units without contaminating the center glass lite. A non-contact vacuum pad is used to lift a glass lite off from a horizontal or vertical support that conveys it from a glass washer to an assembly station. Each of multiple pads has a capacity to lift approximately seven to ten pounds. Use of multiple pads per glass sheet or lite allows lites having dimensions up to 70 by 100 inches (assuming glass thickness of one quarter inch) to be assembled.

A surgical stapling instrument. Various embodiments include an actuation system for selectively generating a plurality of control motions. A surgical end effector is operably coupled to the actuation system. The actuation system interfaces with an actuation member configured to operably engage rotatable camming members to fire staples within the end effector into forming contact with an anvil portion of the end effector.

This invention describes a process flow and method to assemble triple IG units without contaminating the center glass lite. A non-contact vacuum pad is used to lift a glass lite off from a horizontal or vertical support that conveys it from a glass washer to an assembly station. Each of multiple pads has a capacity to lift approximately seven to ten pounds. Use of multiple pads per glass sheet or lite allows lites having dimensions up to 70 by 100 inches (assuming glass thickness of one quarter inch) to be assembled.

A method for assembly manufacturing including positioning a workpiece in an assembly position within an operational cell, positioning a fastening machine relative to the workpiece, wherein the fastening machine includes a robot frame comprising a throat, an assembly end effector coupled to the frame about the throat, and a plurality of linear actuators coupled to the frame, moving, by the plurality of linear actuators, the fastening machine about at least one of six degrees of freedom to receive at least a portion of the workpiece within the throat and position the assembly end effector relative to the workpiece, and performing, by the fastening machine, a fastening operation on the workpiece.