A substrate assembling device (1) includes a first end effector 10 attached to a first arm (3), a second end effector 20 attached to a second arm (3), and a controller 4. The second end effector 20 includes a pair of grippers 22 configured to grip a second substrate 102, and a placing part 23 where threaded elements are placed. The controller 4 is adapted to control operations of the first arm and the second arm to position the second substrate 102 on a first substrate 101 while gripping the second substrate 102 by using the pair of grippers 22 of the second end effector 20, and hold the threaded element placed on the placing part 23 of the second end effector 20 and fasten the held threaded element, by using the first end effector 10, to join the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 102 together.

A flexible assembly system includes an industrial personal computer, a data collection card, a motion control card, a six-degree-of-freedom assembly platform, a first visual platform, a second visual platform and a supporting platform. The six-degree-of-freedom assembly platform includes a four-degree-of-freedom motion platform and a two-degree-of-freedom adjustment device, the two-degree-of-freedom adjustment device includes a two-degree-of-freedom motion platform and a clamping mechanism, and the clamping mechanism includes an outer frame, a flexible wrist rotatably connected in the outer frame, two clamping sheets mounted on the flexible wrist, two driving parts corresponding to the two clamping sheets, two first force sensors provided on the outer frame and two second force sensors provided on the flexible wrist; a first image collection apparatus is mounted on the first visual platform, and a second image collection apparatus is mounted on the second visual platform. A flexible assembly method is also disclosed.

The invention relates to a gripper jaw for a robot gripper, the gripper jaw having a first gripper jaw interface corresponding with the robot gripper and a second gripper jaw interface corresponding with tools of a tool set, the gripper jaw interfaces each being used as a mechanical interface, as a signal interface and as a power interface; to a tool for a gripper jaw of this type the tool having a tool interface corresponding with the second gripper jaw interface; to a tool system, the tool system comprising at least one gripper jaw of this type and a tool set with tools of this type; and to a method for operating a tool system of this type, wherein first a tool is selected, thereafter said tool is picked up from a predefined position, thereafter said tool is used and thereafter said tool is deposited in the predefined position.

The invention relates to a gripper jaw for a robot gripper, the gripper jaw having a first gripper jaw interface corresponding with the robot gripper and a second gripper jaw interface corresponding with tools of a tool set, the gripper jaw interfaces each being used as a mechanical interface, as a signal interface and as a power interface; to a tool for a gripper jaw of this type the tool having a tool interface corresponding with the second gripper jaw interface; to a tool system, the tool system comprising at least one gripper jaw of this type and a tool set with tools of this type; and to a method for operating a tool system of this type, wherein first a tool is selected, thereafter said tool is picked up from a predefined position, thereafter said tool is used and thereafter said tool is deposited in the predefined position.

An object of the present invention is to ascertain parts of an object that are approachable by finger portions of a hand mechanism. In an image information processing device, a housing container is retrieved from an image by using a first retrieval frame, and an object is retrieved from the image by using a second retrieval frame. A plurality of determination points are set in advance on the second retrieval frame, and a predetermined approach direction is set for each determination point. A determination is then made as to whether or not the finger portions of the hand mechanism can be caused to approach parts of one object, existing within the second retrieval frame, that correspond respectively to the determination points set on the second retrieval frame from the predetermined approach directions set in relation to the determination points.

An object of the present invention is to ascertain parts of an object that are approachable by finger portions of a hand mechanism. In an image information processing device, a housing container is retrieved from an image by using a first retrieval frame, and an object is retrieved from the image by using a second retrieval frame. A plurality of determination points are set in advance on the second retrieval frame, and a predetermined approach direction is set for each determination point. A determination is then made as to whether or not the finger portions of the hand mechanism can be caused to approach parts of one object, existing within the second retrieval frame, that correspond respectively to the determination points set on the second retrieval frame from the predetermined approach directions set in relation to the determination points.

A system (10) for loading different conveying tracks (2, 3, 4) of at least one in particular commercial conveyor dishwasher (1, 1′). The system (10) includes a feed conveyor belt (11) for delivering washware (9a, 9b, 9c) to loading regions of the at least one conveyor dishwasher (1, 1′). The system (10) further includes a sorting arrangement for sorting the washware (9a, 9b, 9c) delivered to the loading regions of the at least one conveyor dishwasher (1, 1′) via the feed conveyor belt (11) according to previously defined or definable washware groups. The sorting arrangement is associated with at least one loading arrangement (13a, 13b, 13c) for automatically loading the different conveying tracks of the at least one conveyor dishwasher (1, 1′) with washware (9a, 9b, 9c) of one of the previously defined or definable washware groups.

Methods and apparatus for temporarily holding one end of a wire on a harness form board during automated transfer from one robot to another robot. The apparatus includes a wire holding device which is designed to facilitate the transfer of a wire end from a first end effector of a first robot to a second end effector of a second robot. The wire holding devices have different structures, but share the common feature that opening of the wire holding device (to enable wire insertion) involves applying a contact force which overcomes a spring force that urges the wire holding device to be closed. The end effectors are designed and their movements are controlled in a manner such that the moving end effector applies the contact force necessary to overcome the closure-inducing spring force being exerted.

A robot application development system and method includes a robot application unit that determines a robot application, which defines the industrial robot in a robot workspace. An input interface receives robot application information. An object data interface receives work piece information. A gripper finger design unit determines a gripper finger design. The robot application unit determines the robot application using the robot application information. The gripper finger design unit determines the gripper finger design using the work piece information and the robot application information.

A robot application development system and method includes a robot application unit that determines a robot application, which defines the industrial robot in a robot workspace. An input interface receives robot application information. An object data interface receives work piece information. A gripper finger design unit determines a gripper finger design. The robot application unit determines the robot application using the robot application information. The gripper finger design unit determines the gripper finger design using the work piece information and the robot application information.