A workpiece information recognition system includes a workpiece placing tool (20) capable of placing a workpiece, a reference block (31) detachably provided on workpiece placing tool (20), an information detector configured to detect information about reference block (31), and a control device configured to receive the information of reference block (31) from the information detector. The control device includes a storage configured to store data on a relationship between the information about reference block (31) and information about the workpiece and a controller configured to recognize the information about the workpiece placed on workpiece placing tool (20) by checking the information about reference block (31) detected by the information detector with the data stored in the storage. With this configuration, the workpiece information recognition system capable of easily cope with a change in a type of the workpiece is provided.

Systems and methods are provided for shape controlled gripping of a workpiece. A layer jamming structure includes a membrane defining an internal cavity containing a number of overlapping material layers. A pressure system includes a pump coupled with the internal cavity. A shape conforming tool includes at least one part configured to move to apply a force to the layer jamming structure. The shape conforming tool, by operation of the part, conforms the layer jamming structure to the workpiece. The pressure system, with operation of the pump, changes a pressure in the internal cavity to impart rigidity to the layer jamming structure.

A machining center equipped with a device for mounting on a clamp parts to be worked or which have been worked, such as profiles, which has a supporting frame for supporting a turntable with two or more stepped positions or placements or workstations, an loading basket and an unloading basket.

The machining center comprises a robot configured to remove or to associate, with each one of said two or more stepped positions or placements or workstations, the parts or the profiles to be worked and which have been worked at a plurality of fixed RPS or reference points and mobile mechanical components, according to a single positioning that is adapted to allow access by machining devices to any zone in the space of the profiles to be worked by modifying only the condition that the two or more stepped positions or placements or workstations are in.

A conveyance apparatus includes two clamp mechanisms. Each of the clamp mechanisms is configured to freely change its state among a fully clamping state, a semi-clamping state, and a non-clamping state. When an object is delivered from a first clamp mechanism that is holding the object to a second clamp mechanism, the second clamp mechanism is brought into the semi-clamping state to temporarily hold the object. Then, the first clamp mechanism is brought into the non-clamping state and the second clamp mechanism is brought into the fully clamping state.

A machining apparatus includes: a shuttle unit (3) that holds a differential case (10) and rotates the differential case (10); a pair of opposed right and left machining units (4); and a tool support (6) that supports a tool (40) for machining the differential case (10), in which the pair of right and left machining units (4) each include a slide mechanism dedicated for uniaxial sliding in right and left directions, the shuttle unit (3) is movable in up and down directions and front and back directions, a tool attached to each of the pair of right and left machining units (4) enables machining an end portion of an inner surface of the differential case (10) and a flange hole of the differential case (10), the end portion surrounding a through hole, and a cutting edge of the tool (40) supported by the tool support (6) enables spherically cutting the inner surface of the differential case (10) held and rotated by the shuttle unit (3).

Systems and methods are provided for shape controlled gripping of a workpiece. A layer jamming structure includes a membrane defining an internal cavity containing a number of overlapping material layers. A pressure system includes a pump coupled with the internal cavity. A shape conforming tool includes at least one part configured to move to apply a force to the layer jamming structure. The shape conforming tool, by operation of the part, conforms the layer jamming structure to the workpiece. The pressure system, with operation of the pump, changes a pressure in the internal cavity to impart rigidity to the layer jamming structure.

The collecting mechanism includes a holding unit and a controller. The holding unit has a pair of arms, and can sandwich a machined portion with the pair of arms. The holding unit can be switched between a holding state and a standby state. In the holding state, the pair of arms is closed to be in contact with the circumferential surface of the machined portion to sandwich the machined portion. In the standby state, the pair of arms is opened so as to stay near the circumferential surface of the machined portion with a space between the arms and the circumferential surface of the machined portion. The controller monitors whether cutting-off of the machined portion has been completed to keep the holding unit in the standby state before completion of the cutting-off and to switch the holding unit from the standby state to the holding state at the time of completion of the cutting-off.

A clamping means system including a bearing device and clamping vices, which fit into the bearing device and respectively have on their base area machine coupling system and on their side faces and flanks a bearing receiving contour and a gripping receiving contour. The bearing receiving contour has the greatest play; the fit between the gripper and the gripper receiving contour is of moderate precision, while the precision of the machine coupling system is the greatest. The clear functional separation between the machine coupling system and the bearing receiving contour or gripper receiving contour allows a reliable low-cost system to be constructed. Furthermore, in the case of mixed partly automated systems, in which parts of the handling tasks are performed by the operator and other parts are performed by gripping robots, the handling is possible in an easy and intuitive way.

A machine tool includes a headstock that holds a workpiece, a tool post that is movable in a first axis direction parallel to a workpiece rotation axis and in a second axis direction orthogonal to the first axis and holds a tool, an in-machine robot, an opening for communicating the inside and the outside of a working chamber, and a door that opens and closes the opening. The robot includes a root joint fixed in the working chamber and a link unit positioned on a distal end side of the root joint. The root joint is a linear-motion joint extendable in a direction orthogonal to the workpiece rotation axis, and is a linear-motion joint extendable between the length for causing the entire link unit to be positioned inside the working chamber and the length for causing the entire link unit to be positioned outside the working chamber.

A machining system comprises a machining device that machines a workpiece, a set-up station with which pallet workpiece attachment/detachment is carried out, and a pallet conveyance device that conveys the pallet between the machining device and the set-up station. A partially cylindrical operator door, which can rotate around a set-up table on which the pallet is mounted, includes a partially cylindrical outer door and a partially cylindrical inner door which rotate following coaxial circular trajectories of different radii. The set-up station is provided with an interlocking mechanism that causes the outer door and the inner door to rotate in an interlocked manner so that a shielded state is constantly maintained between the operator side and the pallet conveyance device side.