A gripping mechanism (3) includes a holder (31), a gripping roller (32), a first movable plate (331), a second movable plate (332), a first spring (341), and a second spring (342). The holder (31) houses the gripping roller (32). The first movable plate (331) and the second movable plate (332) pinch the gripping roller (32) inside the holder (31). The first spring (341) urges the first movable plate (331) toward the gripping roller (32). The second spring (342) urges the second movable plate (332) toward the gripping roller (32). The gripping mechanism (3) grips a gripped section (42) of a first component (4) between the first movable plate (331) and the gripping roller (32).

A loading workstation comprises a docking station including a first transmission device adapted to transmit a carrier for loading components, and a mobile vehicle. The mobile vehicle includes a second transmission device, a feeding device and a loading device. The second transmission device is adapted to dock with the first transmission device to allow the carrier to be continuously transmitted on the first transmission device and the second transmission device. The feeding device is adapted to supply components to be loaded. The loading device is adapted to load the supplied components onto the carrier that has been transferred to the second transmission device.

An automated clip application system for fitting clips in an automotive assembly line includes a cassette receiving station for receiving at least one cassette preloaded with a plurality of clips. The clips in the cassette are arranged in the same orientation. A dispensing opening dispenses clips from the cassette one at a time, and a robotic member is programmed to pick up the clips, one at a time, after they have been dispensed from the dispensing opening and fasten each clip in position in an automotive assembly.

A projection portion is formed on a distal end surface of a supply rod with which a surface of a flange is brought into close contact. A circular-arc receiving surface is formed at a boundary portion between the distal end surface and the projection portion, and is configured to fit a flange outer peripheral portion. One side of the circular-arc receiving surface is continuous with the distal end surface, and another side of the circular-arc receiving surface is continuous with an inclined guide surface. The close contact of the flange with the distal end surface is achieved with a magnet of an advancing/retreating type provided in the supply rod.

An orientation device for objects (O) provided with a stem (S) and with a head (H) that has a minimum width (R), characterised in that it comprises: a slot (3) which has two edges separated by a predetermined distance (D), less than the minimum width (R) and greater than the maximum width of the stem (G); an uncoupling device (4), movable between an active configuration, in which it is able to retain an object (O) with respect to lifting, and an inactive configuration, in which it is not able to interact with an object (O); a magnetic gripping element (2), movable along at least a vertical direction between an upper position and a lower position, in which an object (O) associated with the gripping element (2) is in a position such as to be retained by the uncoupling device (4) so as to be detached from the gripping element (2).

A feeding rod is configured to insert a shaft-shaped component having a circular flange and a shaft portion into a receiving hole. A central axis of the shaft portion is disposed in an inclined state with respect to a central axis of the receiving hole due to the inclined disposition of the feeding rod. A surface of the flange is in close contact with a tip surface of the feeding rod due to an attraction force of a magnet of the feeding rod. A positioning protrusion receives an outer peripheral portion of the flange and sets a relative position between the feeding rod and the shaft-shaped component. A most advanced stop position of the feeding rod is a position where a tip portion of the shaft portion has entered the receiving hole, and the attraction force of the magnet is configured to be eliminated at the stop position.

Provided is apart stopping/passing unit for apart including a unit main body having a part passage, an opening/closing member configured to open and close the part passage, and an attracting mechanism. The opening/closing member includes a stopper surface for stopping a part and a passing hole for allowing the part to pass therethrough. The attracting mechanism is configured to position the part by an attracting force when the stopper surface takes a part stopping position, and to allow the part to pass by elimination of an attraction force when the passing hole takes a part passing position.

A projection portion is formed on a distal end surface of a supply rod with which a surface of a flange is to be brought into close contact. A circular-arc receiving surface fitting an outer peripheral portion is formed at a boundary portion between the distal end surface and the projection portion. One side of the circular-arc receiving surface is continuous with the distal end surface, and another side of the circular-arc receiving surface is continuous with a regulation inner surface formed on the projection portion in a state of being opposed to the distal end surface. With this, a receiving groove is formed, and a control gap is defined between the regulation inner surface and the flange. The close contact of the surface with the distal end surface is achieved with a magnet of an advancing/retreating type provided in the supply rod.

A robot vision-based automatic rivet placement system and method. The automatic rivet placement system includes: an industrial robot installed on a frame, a multi-functional end effector, a rivet blowing mechanism, a detection disk, and a rivet holding tray. The multi-functional end effector consists of a flange disk, a support frame, an industrial CCD camera, a laser displacement sensor, a spring, a mixing rod, and a vacuum nozzle. The multi-functional end effector is connected to a terminal end of the industrial robot via the flange disk. The industrial CCD camera is installed directly in front of the support frame, and is used to acquire a rivet image and measure a rivet parameter. The laser displacement sensor is installed at a side surface of the support frame, and is used to measure a rivet depth.

An assembly system with a sealant application station and an assembly tool is described. The assembly system is used to connect two or more components to each other. The sealant application station applies a sealant to a connector. The sealant application station is arranged in a feed system for the connectors. The sealant-applied connectors are transferred to the assembly tool. The assembly tool contains a drill spindle in which a connector and a drill can be axially aligned with each other so that the drill spindle can both drill a hole in the components to be connected and position the connector in the drilled hole with a linear movement along a processing axis. For these operations, the drill spindle moves only along the processing axis, so that a linear drive can be used for these operations.