A shaft-like component supply device has a form in which a component supply pipe and an outer cylinder are intersected at an acute angle and coupled. A supply rod holds and advances a shaft-like component at a distal end and releases the shaft-like component at a target location. Meanwhile, component transfer from the outlet hole of the component supply pipe to the distal end of the supply rod is performed by the attraction force of a magnet. The supply rod includes an inner shaft mounted with a magnet and a hollow shaft. A first drive device that advances and retracts a holding piece and a second drive device that pulls back the magnet of the inner shaft in a direction away from the distal end of the supply rod are coupled to a single holding member mounted near a distal end part of an outer cylinder.

The invention relates to a method for orientating two workpieces in order to form a joining connection, wherein in a longitudinal orientation step the first workpiece is orientated relative to the second workpiece) along at least one of the workpiece edges by linear movement of at least one of the grippers relative to the other gripper and wherein the longitudinal orientation step is carried out during the transport of the workpieces from the provision station to the processing station. Furthermore, the invention relates to a manipulator which comprises a first gripper and a second gripper.

A material handling tool having a support member, a magnet, a magnet control, a power source, and a magnet coupling. The support member may be made of two or more support member portions that allow for interchangeable support members of various lengths to be used in order to adjust the length of the material handling tool. The magnets used with the material handling tool may also be interchangeable in order to use magnets of different strengths. A magnet coupling may be used that provides angular and/or rotational movement of the magnet with respect to the support member. The magnet may be an electromagnet, which may have a magnetic field that can be adjusted. As such, a magnet control and/or power source may be used to adjust the magnetic field by turning the magnetic field on or off or adjusting the strength of the magnetic field.

Systems and methods to grasp objects using vacuum-actuated end of arm tools may include moving pistons, pinching or stabilizing arms, and suction cups. For example, responsive to application of negative pressure and responsive to grasping an object by a suction cup, a piston may move between a retracted position and an extended position. The movement of the piston may cause corresponding movement of one or more pinching or stabilizing arms around the object to pinch and/or stabilize the object grasped by the suction cup.

A finger mounted vacuum pickup tool for picking up a material may include a finger band configured to accommodate insertion of a user’s finger therein; a ring cap attached to the finger band; and a vacuum cup attached to the ring cap, the vacuum cup including a cup portion and a protrusion extending from a rear surface of the cup portion, the protrusion having a vacuum cup channel extending therethrough, wherein the vacuum cup is configured to create a vacuum seal against the material. The ring cap may include a ring cap inlet channel extending from the vacuum cup to a vent port. The tool may further include an actuation button positioned within the vent port or a vacuum supply tube operatively attached to the ring cap.

A nozzle jig for sucking products includes a nozzle body and a suction head. The nozzle body includes at least one air channel. The suction head includes a mounting portion and the suction portion. The mounting portion includes a connecting hole. The suction portion includes at least one suction hole and at least one exhaust groove. The suction portion is connected to the nozzle body through the mounting portion. The at least one suction hole, the connecting hole, and the at least one air channel communicate in that sequence. Each of the at least one exhaust groove extends inwardly from a periphery of the suction portion.

A connector (70) for mechanically connecting a device (2) to a robot (20), wherein the connector (70) comprises a first portion (74) configured to be attached to the robot (20) and a second portion (76) configured to be attached to a device (2) configured to be connected to the robot (20). The first portion (74) and the second portion (76) are detachably attached to each other by a first connection portion (1) constituting a rotational system comprising a pivot (116) about which the first portion (74) can rotate with respect to the second portion (76) and a second connection portion (1′) constituting a mechanical locking structure that prevents the first portion (74) and the second portion (76) from being detached from each other.

A method for controlling an aerial vehicle including a compliant arm mechanism is disclosed. A propulsion system of the aerial vehicle is controlled to fly the aerial vehicle to an area proximate to a surface. One or more of the propulsion system and the compliant arm mechanism are controlled such that the compliant arm mechanism contacts the surface. The compliant arm mechanism is configured to extend laterally beyond a perimeter of the propulsion system. One or more sensor signals indicating contact of the compliant arm mechanism against the surface are received via a sensor. A force at which the aerial vehicle presses against the surface is determined based on the one or more sensor signals.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes a housing including a first opening and a second opening. The first opening forms a suction connection with a transportable component. The apparatus includes a valve connected with the second opening a channel defined within the housing. The channel extends between the first opening and the second opening. The apparatus includes a vacuum maintaining mechanism disposed within the channel, and the vacuum maintaining mechanism holds a partial vacuum within the channel.

A machine for use in picking up objects having a cellophane outer covering using a vacuum, the machine comprising a housing, a vacuum source, a suction cup coupled to the vacuum source, a transport system for moving the suction cup horizontally and vertically within the housing, and a plurality of objects having a cellophane outer covering in the housing below the pick-up device. The plurality of objects include an adhesively applied target on at least one of the cellophane outer coverings, the adhesively applied target having a surface area greater than a surface area circumscribed by a lowermost edge of the suction cup, and the suction cup includes a threaded tubular member extending axially therein through, the threaded tubular member including stops that engage an upper and lower surface of the suction cup.