This disclosure sets forth a robotic end effector for acquiring and managing an article, such as an item of luggage. The robotic end effector can include an extendable arm comprising a first support member, a capture device comprising a guide member having a plurality of apertures formed therein with a rod slideably supported in each aperture of the guide member. The capture device can further include a biasing member associated with one or more rods and being configured to bias the one or more rods in a first direction relative to the guide member. The article interface system can include an actuatable article engagement device. The actuatable article engagement device can itself include an article interface surface. The actuatable article engagement device can be operated to interface with an article to facilitate movement of the article toward the capture device.

A panel conveyance system includes a pin member, a bar pad facing a panel right lower portion, a block pad facing a panel left lower portion, a bar guide positioned outside an outer edge end of the panel left lower portion, and a conveyance robot. The panel conveyance system further includes a panel take-out control unit that hangs a panel on a pin member, and a temporary retention control unit that causes the bar pad to come into contact with a surface of the panel right lower portion, causes the block pad to come into contact with a surface of the panel left lower portion, and causes the bar guide to come into contact with the panel left lower portion to temporarily retain the panel while keeping the panel hung on the pin member, and a holding control unit that holds the temporarily retained panel with a clamp.

An assembly system and a part holding assembly are configured to locate and secure a part defining holes. The part holding assembly further includes a first clamping device movable along a first track for positioning the first clamping device relative to the part. The first clamping device is configured to engage the part to secure the part to the first clamping device. The part holding assembly also includes a first pin device movable along a second track for positioning the first pin device relative to the location of one of the holes of the part. The first pin is configured to be disposed through the one of the holes of the part when in a closed position for locating the part. The first pin is configured to expand in the one of the holes when in an open position for securing the part to the first pin device.

A part holding assembly, an assembly system and a method of positioning a first part are disclosed. The part holding assembly is coupleable to a support structure. The part holding assembly includes a base adapted to be coupled to the support structure. The part holding assembly also includes a first pin extending outwardly away from the base to a distal end that is spaced from the base. The base is movable to position the first pin relative to a first part and to insert the distal end of the first pin through a first hole of the first part to locate the first part. The part holding assembly further includes a first magnet adjacent to the first pin. The first magnet is selectively magnetized to selectively secure the position of the first part relative to the base.

This disclosure sets forth a robotic end effector for acquiring and managing an article, such as an item of luggage. The robotic end effector can include an extendable arm comprising a first support member, a capture device comprising a guide member having a plurality of apertures formed therein with a rod slideably supported in each aperture of the guide member. The capture device can further include a biasing member associated with one or more rods and being configured to bias the one or more rods in a first direction relative to the guide member. The article interface system can include an actuatable article engagement device. The actuatable article engagement device can itself include an article interface surface. The actuatable article engagement device can be operated to interface with an article to facilitate movement of the article toward the capture device.

Nut plate grippers and related methods are disclosed herein. The nut plate grippers are configured to grip a nut plate along an engagement axis. The nut plate includes a base plate and a nut that is operatively attached to the base plate and defines a threaded central opening. The nut plate grippers include an attachment region, which is configured to facilitate attachment of the nut plate gripper to an end effector, an elongate resilient retention structure, which extends from the attachment region along the engagement axis and is sized for an interference fit within the threaded central opening, and a pair of orienting structures positioned on opposed sides of the elongate resilient retention structure and configured to operatively engage the base plate when the nut plate gripper grips the nut plate to precisely orient the base plate relative to the nut plate gripper along an orienting axis.

The invention relates to a tool attachment (70) for a collaborating robot. According to the invention, the tool attachment (70) comprises two pairs of gripping jaws (74, 75), the respective gripping jaws of the one pair (74) being arranged at a smaller base distance and those of the other pair (75) being arranged at a larger base distance with respect to one another when moved together.

An expanding locating pin assembly configured to locate and hold a part includes a housing, a locating pin, an actuating mechanism, and a controller. The housing is configured with a plurality of radial jaw guides and a part rest face. The locating pin has a plurality of jaws connected to and radially movable in the radial jaw guides and extending past the part rest face. The actuating mechanism synchronously moves the jaws to a radial position and applies a holding force to the part. The controller controls the radial position and the holding force of the jaws. The part rest face of the housing and the jaws of the locating pin are configured to receive the part in a located position. The jaws of the locating pin are configured to hold the part in the located position via the holding force and a friction force resulting from the holding force.

A panel conveyance system includes a pin member, a bar pad facing a panel right lower portion, a block pad facing a panel left lower portion, a bar guide positioned outside an outer edge end of the panel left lower portion, and a conveyance robot. The panel conveyance system further includes a panel take-out control unit that hangs a panel on a pin member, and a temporary retention control unit that causes the bar pad to come into contact with a surface of the panel right lower portion, causes the block pad to come into contact with a surface of the panel left lower portion, and causes the bar guide to come into contact with the panel left lower portion to temporarily retain the panel while keeping the panel hung on the pin member, and a holding control unit that holds the temporarily retained panel with a clamp.

An assembling apparatus configured to mount a first part on a second part having an engaged part extending in a first direction includes a holding part configured to hold the first part, an engaging part extending in the first direction and being configured to engage with the engaged part, a support part configured to support the holding part and the engaging part, a first mechanism configured to displace the support part in the first direction, and a second mechanism configured to allow a displacement of the support part in a plane intersecting with the first direction.