A workpiece gripping device includes a gripping body part that includes a slit into which a plate-shaped part of a workpiece can be inserted; and a positioning mechanism that includes an engagement part that is structured to be engaged with the plate-shaped part of the workpiece in the slit of the gripping body part, in order to position the workpiece.

An automated pick and place apparatus includes a robotic arm having at least three degrees of freedom. An end effector is mounted to the robotic arm and includes a gripping device for gripping a target object. An actuator actuates the gripping device. An object alignment device is mounted to the robotic arm. The object alignment device includes a body having a base and an end face opposite the base. An alignment projection is slidingly received by the body within an opening and extending outwardly beyond the end face. The alignment projection has an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. A sensor detects when the alignment projection is in the retracted configuration and provides a signal to a processor.

An apparatus and method for supporting an article during transport is disclosed. The apparatus includes a support surface oriented to support an underside of an article to be transported. The apparatus also includes a plurality of pins distributed over at least a portion of the support surface and movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the plurality of pins being urged into the extended position such that a lateral retaining portion of each pin protrudes above the support surface. The underside of the article, when received on the support surface, causes a first portion of the plurality of pins underlying the article to be depressed into the retracted position while a second portion of the plurality of pins remain in the extended position such that the lateral retaining portions of pins disposed adjacent to the article constrain the article to prevent movement of the article on the support surface while being transported.

An assembly apparatus is for assembling a first member and a second member. The assembly apparatus includes a first gripping section, a second gripping section, and a driving section. The first gripping section includes a contact member and an elastic member. The second gripping section includes a contact member and an elastic member. The driving section drives the first and second gripping sections. The driving section drives the first and second gripping sections such that the contact member of the first gripping section and the contact member of the second gripping section make contact with the second member. The first and second gripping sections grip the second member through the two elastic members urging the respective contact members. The driving section drives the first and second gripping sections such that the first member and the second member are assembled.

A robot assembling system comprises a first assembling workstation, a second assembling workstation, and a robot. The first assembling workstation is configured to assemble a contact of a connector assembly and a light guide pipe of the connector assembly to form a contact subassembly. The second assembling workstation is configured to assemble the contact subassembly and a cage to form the connector assembly. The robot is configured to transmit the cage, the light guide pipe, the contact, or the contact subassembly between the first assembling workstation and the second assembling workstation and configured to assist an assembling operation at the first assembling workstation and the second assembling workstation.

A transport device, a transport method for transporting a semi-finished product, and a processing device for processing a semi-finished product are provided. The transport device has at least one positioning device for positioning the semi-finished product in relation to the transport device and at least one retaining device for retaining the semi-finished product on the transport device. The positioning device can be inserted into an engagement region of the semi-finished product at least in some segments and the retaining device can be arranged on a surface of the semi-finished product at least in some segments.

A conveyance apparatus includes two clamp mechanisms. Each of the clamp mechanisms is configured to freely change its state among a fully clamping state, a semi-clamping state, and a non-clamping state. When an object is delivered from a first clamp mechanism that is holding the object to a second clamp mechanism, the second clamp mechanism is brought into the semi-clamping state to temporarily hold the object. Then, the first clamp mechanism is brought into the non-clamping state and the second clamp mechanism is brought into the fully clamping state.

An all-in-one jigless projection loading system for a vehicle is adapted to load and assemble a body component to a vehicle body. The all-in-one jigless projection loading system may include: a fixing bracket fixed to an arm of a robot; a position adjusting member rotatably mounted to the fixing bracket; a gripper mounted to the fixing bracket to be movable backward and forward, and gripping the body component; an array unit mounted to the position adjusting member, and arraying the body component; and a welding unit mounted to the fixing bracket, and projection-welding the body component to a vehicle body.

A pin field, comprising a plurality of pins mounted parallel with each other in a frame. The plurality of pins are extendable and retractable from the frame for sensing an object or for manipulation of the object in a working environment.

A robot system having a robot with a jamming gripper is disclosed. The jamming gripper may comprise granular material within a deformable membrane configured to phase transition between a malleable state and a rigid state upon modification of its internal pressure. The phase transition of the gripper may allow the robot to engage and/or grasp a target object by conforming to the shape of the target object while in its malleable state, then transitioning to its rigid state in order to firmly grasp the object. In some situations, the robot may be configured to select and/or engage a stencil before engaging the target object, so as to pre-shape the gripper before engagement with the target object.