A movable object holding system for holding a movable object including a body portion 11 and a protruding portion protruding from the body portion, comprising a hand part 40 holding a movable object, the hand part 40 comprising plural guide portions limiting movement of the movable object in a first axis direction and a second axis direction that are perpendicular to each other and a pair of positioning portions 43e limiting movement of the movable object in a third axis direction that is perpendicular to the first and second axis directions, wherein the hand part 40 holds the movable object with the protruding portion of the movable object disposed in a space surrounded by the plural guide portions and touching the pair of the positioning portions 43e and with a part of the body portion of the movable object exposed out of the hand part 40.

An operating device for placing or retrieving bottle-like piece goods onto or from storage places of a picking device is provided. The operating device includes a gripping jaw assembly having two profile-rod shaped gripping jaws with opposite lying inner surfaces extending in a first horizontal direction corresponding to a direction for placing and retrieving piece goods. The gripping jaws are configured so that the distance of the inner surfaces from each other tapers in the downward direction at least in sections and the bottle-like piece goods can be lifted from below. The operating device also includes an actuation unit coupled to the gripping jaw assembly for moving the gripping jaw assembly in the first horizontal direction.

A gas cylinder transfer apparatus and a gas cylinder logistics system including the same are disclosed. The gas cylinder transfer apparatus includes a transfer vehicle for transferring a gas cylinder and a transfer robot disposed on the transfer vehicle. The transfer robot includes a robot hand for supporting a lower surface portion of the gas cylinder and a hand drive unit for moving the robot hand in horizontal and vertical directions.

A robot hand configured to grip a substrate by contacting an edge of the substrate at at least two locations is provided, which includes a base body defining a gripping position at which the center of the substrate is located on a center line extending in a longitudinal direction, a rotary part configured to be rotatable integrally with a second contacting part in a plane where the longitudinal direction intersects with a thickness direction, centering on a supported point provided on a base-end side of the second contacting part on the center line, and movable integrally with the second contacting part. The rotary part and the second contacting part integrally rotate toward the base body centering on the supported point in the plane where the longitudinal direction intersects with the thickness direction, by the second contacting part receiving a reaction force from the substrate when the substrate is gripped.

An end effector is disclosed that is configured for connection to a robotic unit used to manipulate a door of a vehicle (e.g., during vehicle painting). The end effector includes a base plate; a sensor that is supported by the base plate; and a piston that is configured for engagement with the door. The piston is operatively connected to an interrupter such that movement (displacement) of the piston causes corresponding movement (displacement) of the interrupter between a first position, in which the interrupter is positioned in alignment with a signal transmitted across the sensor to interfere with the signal and thereby interrupt circuit completion, and a second position, in which the interrupter is out of alignment with the signal transmitted across the sensor to permit circuit completion and thereby inform the robotic unit that the door is present and engaged with the end effector.

An end of arm tool (EOAT) for use during manufacture of parts using one or more pre-impregnated composite plies is disclosed. In an embodiment, the EOAT includes a mechanical gripper arrangement with first and second fingers configured to supply a compressive force to grip a pre-impregnated composite ply therebetween. At least one of the first and second fingers include a roller member to engage opposite surfaces of the pre-preg ply and supply a compressive gripping force. The roller member on either or both the first and second fingers preferably include a torque regulator to selectively adjust an associated roller member's resistance to rotation via supply of a rotational torque resistance.

A gripping mechanism includes an inclined surface, a rolling element, and a facing gripping part. The inclined surface is a surface inclined to a vertical direction. The rolling element freely rolls obliquely upward and downward on the inclined surface. The facing gripping part is arranged to face the inclined surface and forms an opening space with an end of the inclined surface, the opening space being narrower than a diameter of the rolling element. The rolling element includes: a core member forming a core of the rolling element; an annular member that is provided around the core member and has elasticity; and a plurality of ribs each of which is interposed between an outer periphery of the core member and an inner periphery of the annular member, and forms a gap between the core member and the annular member.

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.

An operating device for placing or retrieving piece goods onto or from storage places of a picking device is provided. The operating device includes a gripping jaw assembly having two gripping jaws with opposite lying inner surfaces extending in a first horizontal direction corresponding to a direction for placing and retrieving piece goods. The gripping jaws are configured so that the distance of the inner surfaces from each other tapers in the downward direction at least in sections and the piece goods can be lifted from below or the gripping jaws can be moved to clamp the piece goods between them. The operating device also includes an actuation unit coupled to the gripping jaw assembly for moving the gripping jaw assembly in the first horizontal direction.

An improvement in reliability of manufacture of an assembly including a tap is achieved. A control section of a manufacturing system for manufacturing an assembly including a tap causes a robot to perform: a step of producing a first assembly by gripping a cap having an opening and engaging the cap with a collet having a recess such that the cap is placed on the collet; a step of producing a second assembly by gripping the first assembly and inserting the first assembly into a recess of a tap holder; and a step of producing a third assembly, which is an assembly including a tap, by gripping the tap and inserting the tap through the opening of the cap of the second assembly into the recess of the collet.