In accordance with an embodiment, the invention provides an end effector for use with a programmable motion device. The end effector includes a pair of mutually opposing surfaces, at least one of the pair of mutually opposing surfaces being movable with respect to an end effector support structure for supporting the at least one of the pair of mutually opposing surfaces.

A robot hand apparatus includes a first holder having a first sucking surface that is bendable at any position and that sucks an object using negative pressure; a second holder arranged to oppose the first sucking surface of the first holder; and a driving mechanism that changes a distance between the first holder and the second holder to sandwich the object between the first holder and the second holder.

A workpiece conveying system is provided, which includes a workpiece including a workpiece main body, a cylindrical gripping part protruding from the workpiece main body, and an engaging plate attached to a tip-end surface of the gripping part, a chuck device including three jaws configured to grip the gripping part in radial directions of the gripping part, and a robot to which the chuck device is attached. The engaging plate includes an overhang part protruding from the gripping part along the tip-end surface of the gripping part, and an engaging slot, into which one of the three jaws fits, is formed in the overhang part.

A spout holding device for holding a spout part having a communication hole, includes an elastic part capable of elastically deforming in a direction orthogonal to a first direction when compressive force or tensile force is applied to the elastic part in the first direction, wherein the elastic part applies elastic force to the spout part in three or more different directions orthogonal to the first direction to hold the spout part.

An operating device for piece goods is provided. The operating device includes a first gripping jaw, a second gripping jaw opposed to the first gripping jaw along a lengthwise axis and a gripping jaw guide coupled to the first and second gripping jaws. The first and second gripping jaws each have inner surfaces and a distance between upper portions of the inner surfaces is greater than a distance between lower portions of the opposed inner surfaces in a first position of the first and second gripping jaws. The first and second gripping jaws are configured to lift cylindrical piece goods from below.

A gripper designed for grasping objects when mounted on a robotic manipulator is disclosed. The robot gripper may utilize a single actuator to facilitate the grasping of objects of varying shape and size with three degrees of freedom of passive alignment, thus enabling said robot gripper to grasp, push and pull. Passive alignment features assist the robot gripper in executing robust and fast grasping of objects with minimal requirement for active feedback control. The mechanical robot gripper jaw is constructed of a compliant material and a curved rigid member to allow the gripper to cage objects.

This disclosure sets forth a robotic end effector for acquiring and managing an article, such as an item of luggage. The robotic end effector can include an extendable arm comprising a first support member, a capture device comprising a guide member having a plurality of apertures formed therein with a rod slideably supported in each aperture of the guide member. The capture device can further include a biasing member associated with one or more rods and being configured to bias the one or more rods in a first direction relative to the guide member. The article interface system can include an actuatable article engagement device. The actuatable article engagement device can itself include an article interface surface. The actuatable article engagement device can be operated to interface with an article to facilitate movement of the article toward the capture device.

A centering unit for diagnostics laboratory transporting compartment is presented. The centering unit for diagnostics laboratory transporting compartment comprises at least two arms with grippers for centering diagnostics laboratory transporting compartments of different diameters. For accurate and reliable centering of laboratory transporting compartments, the two arms are biased with a single elastic member. A laboratory system and a method for centering diagnostics laboratory transporting compartment and diagnostics laboratory transporting compartment holder are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a robot gripper comprising: a main gripper body that has a connection flange designed to secure the rotational gripper to a tool flange of a robotic arm; also a base element that is mounted on said main gripper body such that it can rotate about a first rotational axis by means of a first rotational joint able to be adjusted automatically by a first drive motor; and a first gripper finger mounted such that it can rotate about a second rotational axis aligned parallel to the first rotational axis, relative to the base element, by means of a second rotational joint which can be adjusted automatically by a second drive motor; as well as at least one additional gripper finger, said second rotational joint being designed to adjust the first gripper finger individually, using the second drive motor, independently of said at least one additional gripper finger.

A machine tool system includes: a machine tool for machining a workpiece set on a table using a tool attached to a spindle; and a robot for gripping the workpiece. The robot is installed on the table and performs a setting operation for setting the workpiece on the table and a clamping operation for clamping the workpiece.