A support rail for a robot platform displaceable in a translatory manner. This support rail is configured in the manner of an elongate construction element having at least one metallic guide rail for guiding the robot platform, the metallic guide rail being provided on the external side and extending in a main direction of extent. The support rail has at least one lower metallic connection flange for fastening the support rail on a sub-base such as a shed floor or to a gantry base, and on an external side, has at least one upper metallic connection flange for attaching the metallic guide rail and/or directly the at least one metallic guide rail. The support rail is designed having a support structure of concrete, and the support rail has a metallic tension structure embedded in the support structure of concrete and under tensile stress in the main direction of extent.

A support rail for a robot platform displaceable in a translatory manner. This support rail is configured in the manner of an elongate construction element having at least one metallic guide rail for guiding the robot platform, the metallic guide rail being provided on the external side and extending in a main direction of extent. The support rail has at least one lower metallic connection flange for fastening the support rail on a sub-base such as a shed floor or to a gantry base, and on an external side, has at least one upper metallic connection flange for attaching the metallic guide rail and/or directly the at least one metallic guide rail. The support rail is designed having a support structure of concrete, and the support rail has a metallic tension structure embedded in the support structure of concrete and under tensile stress in the main direction of extent.

A device for positioning an end effector in a space spanned by a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction and a vertical direction has: a first linear rail aligned in the longitudinal direction and on which a first longitudinal slide is arranged so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction, a second linear rail aligned parallel to the first linear rail in the longitudinal direction and on which a second longitudinal slide is arranged so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction, and a third linear rail guiding a cross slide connected to the first linear slide via a first guide element and to the second linear slide via a second guide element, characterized in that the first guide element is a first spring structure that is rigid in the vertical direction and the second guide element is a second spring structure that is rigid in the vertical direction.

A device for positioning an end effector in a space spanned by a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction and a vertical direction has: a first linear rail aligned in the longitudinal direction and on which a first longitudinal slide is arranged so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction, a second linear rail aligned parallel to the first linear rail in the longitudinal direction and on which a second longitudinal slide is arranged so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction, and a third linear rail guiding a cross slide connected to the first linear slide via a first guide element and to the second linear slide via a second guide element, characterized in that the first guide element is a first spring structure that is rigid in the vertical direction and the second guide element is a second spring structure that is rigid in the vertical direction.

A self-cleaning apparatus for sorting a mixture of materials is disclosed that comprises a material sorter and a gantry positioning system elevated above the material sorter. The gantry positioning system includes a longitudinal travel rail with a longitudinal travel rail carriage, a traverse travel rail connected to the longitudinal travel rail carriage running perpendicular to the longitudinal travel rail, a traverse travel rail carriage, and a vertical travel rail connected to the vertical travel rail carriage and running perpendicular to the traverse travel rail. A cutter and, optionally, a picker, are connected to the vertical travel rail. The gantry positioning system can move the cutter and picker in various directions to dislodge and remove material that may have accumulated on the sorter. Instead of a gantry positioning system, the apparatus may have a multi-axis arm.

A self-cleaning apparatus for sorting a mixture of materials is disclosed that comprises a material sorter and a gantry positioning system elevated above the material sorter. The gantry positioning system includes a longitudinal travel rail with a longitudinal travel rail carriage, a traverse travel rail connected to the longitudinal travel rail carriage running perpendicular to the longitudinal travel rail, a traverse travel rail carriage, and a vertical travel rail connected to the vertical travel rail carriage and running perpendicular to the traverse travel rail. A cutter and, optionally, a picker, are connected to the vertical travel rail. The gantry positioning system can move the cutter and picker in various directions to dislodge and remove material that may have accumulated on the sorter. Instead of a gantry positioning system, the apparatus may have a multi-axis arm.

A mirror replacement device includes a gripping mechanism to grip a segment mirror, a fine drive mechanism to change a position and a posture of the gripping mechanism, a lift mechanism for the segment mirror, a first detector to detect a relative position and a relative posture between a comparison object and a target object, a second detector to detect a bend of the fine drive mechanism, and a mirror replacement controller to replace the segment mirror based on detection signals output from the above-mentioned detectors. The controller determines whether the first detector can successfully perform a measurement. When it is determined that the measurement can be successfully performed, the control is performed based on the detection signal output from the first detector. When it is determined that the measurement cannot be successfully performed, the control is performed based on the detection signal output from the second detector.

An apparatus for performing operations on a part, and in particular on the fuselage of an aircraft. The apparatus utilizes movable arches which carry an and effector and which move along a track fixed to a structure. Additional, fixed arches are positioned at specific longitudinal positions and when the movable arches are aligned with the fixed arches, the end effector may move from the movable arch to the fixed arch.

An apparatus for performing operations on a part, and in particular on the fuselage of an aircraft. The apparatus utilizes movable arches which carry an and effector and which move along a track fixed to a structure. Additional, fixed arches are positioned at specific longitudinal positions and when the movable arches are aligned with the fixed arches, the end effector may move from the movable arch to the fixed arch.

A CNC machine including a worktable displaceable along y-axis, a gantry disposed along an x-axis, either fixed or displaceable along the y-axis, a carriage on such gantry displaceable along the x-axis and including a thermoplastic material extrusion conduit, a tool carrier mounted on such carriage displaceable along a z-axis, a dispersion conduit mounted on such tool carrier accommodating an applicator, means mounted on such applicator for extruding a molten bead of a thermoplastic material, a flexible hose interconnecting such molten material forming means and such applicator, a plurality of servomotors for linearly or rotationally displacing such components along or about such axes and a computer for controlling such component displacements.