An end effector system is disclosed for a robotic system that includes a primary acquisition system that includes a primary end effector, and a secondary retention system that substantially surrounds at least a portion of the primary acquisition system, wherein at least a portion of the primary acquisition system may be drawn up within at least a portion of the secondary retention system such that the primary end effector system may be used to select an object from a plurality of objects, and the secondary retention system may be used to secure the object for rapid transport to an output destination.

Exemplary embodiments relate to a fastener suitable for industrial tasks. Some embodiments include a sealing surface sized so that an outer surface of a sealing ring is located at approximately the same diameter as the fastener head, thus reducing ingress risk for foreign contaminants. Further embodiments provide a centering pilot to improve sealing consistency and quality. Some embodiments provide an angled flange on the fastener head to lift tightening tools away from the surface to which the fastener is being applied, and to shed liquids readily. The portion of the head that receives the tightening tools may be relatively small (approximately the same diameter as the fastener's threaded shaft) to reduce the risk of over-torquing. A bearing surface of the fastener may be located below the sealing ring (towards the threaded shaft) to prevent the fastener from marring the unsealed surface to which the fastener is being applied.

Provided is a machine tool hand including a body portion that is mounted so as to be attachable to and detachable from a spindle of a machine tool, and that is provided with a flow path connected to a coolant-liquid supply path formed in the spindle; and two or more hand members that are attached to the body portion such that at least one of the hand members is pivotable about a prescribed axis, and that are capable of gripping an object therebetween by being closed. The flow path is provided with discharge ports via which a coolant liquid supplied from the coolant-liquid supply path is discharged toward surfaces of the hand members that are exposed to an outside, and a pressure of the coolant liquid causes an opening operation or a closing operation of the hand members.

A robot hand controller includes an air supply unit configured to supply air into fingers of a robot hand and configured to discharge air in the fingers, and a controller configured to control the air supply unit, where the air supply unit includes two or more air passages respectively connected to the different fingers, the air passages capable of supplying the air into the fingers and discharging the air in the fingers independently from each other, and the controller controls supply and discharge of the air through each of the two or more air passages in response to a shape of the workpiece and an object in a vicinity of a transport destination of the workpiece.

A gripper head assembly is for a robotic gripping system and includes an actuator. The actuator includes: an actuator body having an attachment region configured to attach the actuator body to the gripper head; a drive element having a mounting section for a tool; a drive having a connector configured to receive an input; the drive being configured to move the drive element upon receiving the input; the drive element defining a through passage; the through passage having a first port for receiving at least one of negative pressure and positive pressure; and, the through passage having an outlet at the mounting section configured to supply the tool with the at least one of negative and positive pressure.

A soft gripper comprising at least one actuator, the at least one actuator comprising: a top layer and a bottom layer; wherein the top layer comprises at least one fluid chamber comprising a plurality of compartments separated from each other and interconnected to induce flexion upon introduction of a fluid into the at least one fluid chamber; and wherein the bottom layer comprises an auxetic structure adaptable to conform to an object being grasped.

A dual-channel soft-bodied finger includes a fingertip, a finger junction, and a fingerboard. A plurality of flexible joints and a plurality of flexible shoulders are disposed at intervals on an upper portion of the fingerboard between the fingertip and the finger junction. A lower portion of the fingerboard is provided with a plurality of protrusions. An end portion of the finger junction is a convex annular-shaped body. A transition segment between the end portion of the finger junction and the flexible joints is a cone-shaped body. A first air channel and a second air channel are disposed inside the finger, and when the first and second air channels are inflated, air is guided into an air bag through the first and second air channels.

Exemplary embodiments relate to soft robotic gripper systems suited to grasping target objects in cluttered environments. Some embodiments provide extension rods, hinges, and/or rails that allow a soft robotic actuator to be extended towards or away from a robotic base and/or other actuators. Accordingly, a gripper including the actuator may be reconfigured into a size and/or shape that allows for improved access to the cluttered environment. Further embodiments relate to soft robotic gripper systems for supporting grasped objects during high acceleration movements using vacuum, gripper, and/or bellows devices. Still further embodiments relate to specialized grippers for manipulating food items.

A robot gripper has a housing having at least one flexible chamber, at least one finger channel, and at least one column channel; a finger configured to insert within the finger channel; and at least one column having a base with one or more ports, a conduit in communication with the ports, and one or more column apertures for access to the conduit; wherein the at least one column is configured to insert within the at least one column channel with the one or more column apertures aligning with the one or more flexible chambers such that the flexible chambers are in fluid communication with the conduit. As fluid enters a first set of chambers, the chambers expand, thereby pivoting the fingers attached thereto on a pivot point, bringing the working end of the fingers closer together.

A gripping device includes a bag-shaped gripping body, a plurality of elastic portions, and a shape holding portion. The gripping body includes a palm portion, and a plurality of finger portions protruding from a periphery of the palm portion and configured to fall toward the palm portion by deforming the palm portion in a thickness direction. The plurality of elastic portions is respectively provided in the plurality of finger portions, each of the plurality of elastic portions having a shape of each of the plurality of finger portions. The shape holding portion is provided in the gripping body to prevent contraction of an outer periphery of the palm portion. The shape holding portion includes a guide bore for receiving the palm portion when being deformed, and a curved portion provided on an outer side of a distal end of the guide bore and facing the plurality of finger portions.