A universal gripper is disclosed for transferring totes and sub-totes, for example in an order fulfillment center. The universal gripper includes adjustable tines and pins capable of being positioned to engage within slots in the different configurations of totes and sub-totes.

A product manipulation tool for interacting with products and containers at, for example, a retail facility can include a securing mechanism to secure an exposed portion of the container with respect to a horizontal surface such as a shelf. The product manipulation tool can also include a stabilizing device to stabilize the container with respect to the horizontal surface prior to securing the container. The product manipulation tool can also include a support structure for insertion underneath the container to support the load. The stabilizing mechanism may lift or tilt the container prior to insertion of the support structure. In an example, the product manipulation tool may be disposed on a mobile unit configured for locomotion about the retail facility.

A gripping device includes a side supporting unit supporting or releasing a side of a workpiece, a plurality of pusher members pushing the workpiece downward, and a pusher member shifting unit shifting the pusher members in a direction toward or away from the workpiece. An engaging pin to be engaged with a through-hole created in the workpiece is disposed inside at least one of the pusher members.

A gripping device, rock drilling unit and method of gripping drilling tools is disclosed. The gripping device includes a frame and at least one elastic gripping element connected in a fluid-tight manner to the frame. The gripping element may be expanded by conveying pressurized fluid between surfaces of the frame and the gripping element, whereby the gripping element moves against surfaces of the drilling tool and generates friction forces and support.

Systems, methods, and associated components for robotic manipulation of physical objects. The physical objects include three-dimensional gripping features configured to be detected by an optics system and gripped by an end-effector of a robotic arm with sufficient gripping force to move the physical objects against the force of gravity. Sets of the physical objects can have different sizes and shapes and, in some examples, include identically constructed three-dimensional gripping features.

The machine comprises a rotary feeder configured to receive the first tubular body and the second tubular body; wherein the first tubular body and the second tubular body are secured to one another separately in a single coaxial direction in the rotary feeder; and wherein the two tubular bodies make up separators of the pallets. The machine also comprises a robotic arm configured to transfer the two tubular bodies in pairs from the rotary feeder to an area above a transport table on which a first base of the pallet rests; so that one of the end portions of the second tubular body fits into an opening of the first base; wherein the robotic arm places the first tubular body around the second tubular body.

A gripping system for securing a work piece includes a clamp device, a rotary actuator, and a control circuit. The clamp device includes a ball screw mechanism and a jaw portion that has multiple grip fingers. The ball screw mechanism includes a shaft and a holder assembly. The shaft extends through the holder assembly and is configured for displacement along a central axis of the jaw portion. A distal tip of the shaft engages the grip fingers. The control circuit controls the rotary actuator to drive rotation of the shaft relative to the holder assembly, causing displacement of the shaft along the central axis. The displacement of the shaft causes the distal tip of the shaft to force the grip fingers to move in a radial direction away from the central axis to provide a clamp force on the work piece.

The invention relates to a consumable-material handling device for transporting and/or handling at least one consumable material (12a; 12b), in particular packaging material, comprising at least one at least partially autonomous handling unit (14a; 14b), which is at least provided for handling the consumable material (12a; 12b). According to the invention, the machine tool comprises at least one, in particular at least partially autonomous, mobility unit (16a; 16b), on which the handling unit (14a; 14b) is arranged and which is at least provided for enabling locomotion, in particular at least partially autonomous locomotion, of the handling unit (14a; 14b).

A gripper head for use in gripping a seal and positioning the seal in an electrical terminal. The gripper head has a mounting section, a compliant section and a gripping section. The compliant section extends from the mounting section. The compliant section has compliant legs having fixed ends proximate the mounting section and free ends. The compliant legs are spaced apart by compliant section slots. The gripping section extends from the compliant section. The gripping section has gripping legs which extend from the compliant legs. The gripping legs are spaced apart by gripping section slots. As the gripper head is moved into engagement with the seal, the gripping legs and the compliant legs are resiliently deformed causing the compliant legs and the gripping legs to apply a force to the seal to retain the seal on the gripping section of the gripper head.

A transfer system includes a robot arm configured to hold a core, which is tubular, of at least one separator roll from a side of a first side surface of the at least one separator roll. The at least one separator roll includes the core and a separator, wound around an outer circumferential surface of the core. The robot arm is further configured to take out the at least one separator roll from a rack. A defect inspection device is configured to hold the core from a side of a second side surface of the at least one separator roll, receive the at least one separator roll from the robot arm, and inspect, for a defect, the at least one separator roll thus received.