Actuators, systems, and methods for controlling tools are disclosed. One actuator includes a first motor, a second motor, and a controller. The first motor is operable to rotate a first threading extending in a first helical direction around an axis. The second motor is operable to rotate a second threading axially spaced apart from the first threading and extending in a second helical direction opposite the first helical direction around the axis. The controller is in communication with the first and second motors. The controller is configured to control speed and direction of the first and second motors to effect a desired pattern of axial and rotational movement of the tool. One method includes rotating the first threading in a first rotational direction, and simultaneously, rotating the second threading in a second rotational direction opposite the first direction.

Actuators, systems, and methods for controlling tools are disclosed. One actuator includes a first motor, a second motor, and a controller. The first motor is operable to rotate a first threading extending in a first helical direction around an axis. The second motor is operable to rotate a second threading axially spaced apart from the first threading and extending in a second helical direction opposite the first helical direction around the axis. The controller is in communication with the first and second motors. The controller is configured to control speed and direction of the first and second motors to effect a desired pattern of axial and rotational movement of the tool. One method includes rotating the first threading in a first rotational direction, and simultaneously, rotating the second threading in a second rotational direction opposite the first direction.

A linear drive mechanism which moves a detector having sensitivity in a first axial direction, relatively to a workpiece in a second axial direction orthogonal to the first axial direction, the linear drive mechanism includes: a drive shaft extending in the second axial direction; a mover which is supported in a non-contact fashion by the drive shaft and configured to move along the drive shaft integrally with the detector or the workpiece; a guide provided at a position deviated relative to the drive shaft in a third axial direction orthogonal to both the first axial direction and the second axial direction, the guide parallel to the drive shaft; and a resistance force generator which is provided on one of the mover and the guide, and is in contact with the other of the mover and the guide, the resistance force generator generates a resistance force which resists against movement of the mover.

A pick tooling device including a pick tool configured to pick up an object such as fastener, and a driver having a drive bit that is configured to drive the fastener. The pick tool may be a pneumatically-operable gripper tool that is used to pick up the fastener, or the pick tool may be a vacuum-operable pick tool that utilizes suction to pick up the fastener. The drive bit may be axially movable relative to the pick tool to engage and drive the fastener picked up by the pick tool. The device may include a tool changer having one side that is operably connected to the driver, and another side that is operably connected to a fastener-specific pick tool, in which the pick tool can be separated from the driver to permit quick-changeover to a different type of pick tool.

A pick tooling device including a pick tool configured to pick up an object such as fastener, and a driver having a drive bit that is configured to drive the fastener. The pick tool may be a pneumatically-operable gripper tool that is used to pick up the fastener, or the pick tool may be a vacuum-operable pick tool that utilizes suction to pick up the fastener. The drive bit may be axially movable relative to the pick tool to engage and drive the fastener picked up by the pick tool. The device may include a tool changer having one side that is operably connected to the driver, and another side that is operably connected to a fastener-specific pick tool, in which the pick tool can be separated from the driver to permit quick-changeover to a different type of pick tool.

A drive unit with a spindle drive and a spindle-drive drive motor, which comprises a rotor, is characterized in that a spindle of the spindle drive is arranged inside the rotor acting as a spindle nut and comprising a hollow shaft. As a result, a particularly compact construction for the drive unit can be realized, which can serve, in particular, as a linear drive of tool sleeve.

Machining tool comprising a frame in which a drive shaft for a tool is mounted so as to pivot about a rotation axis and to move axially along the rotation axis. The shaft is connected to two rotary motors, namely a first motor connected to a member for meshing with a fluted portion of the shaft in order to drive the shaft in rotation and a second motor connected to a nut engaged with a threaded portion of the shaft in order to move the shaft axially. The motors are connected to at least one control unit designed to control the motors independently of one another, and the first motor and the second motor are coaxial with one another.

Machining tool comprising a frame in which a drive shaft for a tool is mounted so as to pivot about a rotation axis and to move axially along the rotation axis. The shaft is connected to two rotary motors, namely a first motor connected to a member for meshing with a fluted portion of the shaft in order to drive the shaft in rotation and a second motor connected to a nut engaged with a threaded portion of the shaft in order to move the shaft axially. The motors are connected to at least one control unit designed to control the motors independently of one another, and the first motor and the second motor are coaxial with one another.

Provided is an ultrasonic vibration processing device which can suppress vibration of components due to an ultrasonic vibrator and can perform processing using ultrasonic vibration in a preferable manner.

The ultrasonic vibration processing device includes: a housing (10); an ultrasonic vibrator (20) including a horn portion (21A) to which a tool holder (70) is detachably attached and a piezoelectric element (23), the ultrasonic vibrator having a rear end located at a node of ultrasonic vibration and being supported inside the housing (10) so as to be rotatable; a connecting portion (30) stored in the housing (10) so as to be rotatable together with the ultrasonic vibrator (20); a motor (40) connected to the connecting portion (30); and a non-contact power supply unit (50) including a primary transformer (51) and a secondary transformer (52), the primary transformer (51) being fixed to the housing (10) and including a primary coil (51B) that receives high frequency power from an external power supply, the secondary transformer (52) being connected to the rear end of the ultrasonic vibrator (20) with a clearance maintained between the secondary transformer (52) and the primary transformer (51) and including a secondary coil (52B) that supplies an induced electromotive force to the piezoelectric element (23).

A multi-motion-platform parallel robot, comprising an original parallel mechanism; and a plurality of N.sub.1 derivative parallel mechanisms, wherein: each of the parallel mechanisms possesses N.sub.2 degrees-of-freedom (DOFs) and shares an identical set of DOF properties; N.sub.1 is an integer greater than 1; N.sub.2 is one of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6; the original parallel mechanism includes an original base platform, an original movable platform and a plurality of N.sub.2 original chains; the plurality of original chains connect the original base platform and the original movable platform; each of the original chains includes a plurality of generalized kinematic pairs interconnected in series; the derivative parallel mechanism includes a derivative base platform, a derivative movable platform and a plurality of (N.sub.2N.sub.1) derivative chains; and the plurality of derivative chains connect the derivative base platform and the derivative movable platform.