The present invention provides a holding mechanism capable of well preventing misalignment of a workpiece even if the outer diameter of the workpiece is changed when the workpiece is supported at three points by a flat face and a V-shaped groove. Additionally, the present invention provides a holding mechanism of a transfer device capable of stably detecting a chucking error of holding claws for a workpiece.

A slide rack gripper apparatus is provided that simultaneously conveys a plurality of glass slides in the protection of a slide rack within a digital slide scanning apparatus. The slide rack gripper apparatus conveys the plurality of glass slides from a slide rack carousel to a scanning stage for processing. The slide rack gripper includes a first motor attached to a base configured to drive a finger mount attached to the base along a first linear axis. The slide rack gripper apparatus also includes a second motor attached to the finger mount and configured to drive opposing gripper fingers attached to the finger mount along a second linear axis. The second motor is also configured to drive individual gripper fingers along a third linear axis to move the gripper fingers toward each other and away from each other to grasp or release a slide rack.

A method and apparatus for dispensing and retrieving products is provided. A system may include: a grasping head; first and second grasping members, each grasping member comprising: a top member; a post member; and first and second grasping fingers, where the first and second grasping fingers extend from the post member and are spaced apart from the top member by a predetermined distance, where the first and second grasping members are connected to the grasping head, where at least one of the first and second grasping members is movably connected to the grasping head, where the at least one of the first and second grasping members is movable relative to the other of the first and second grasping members.

A robotic kitchen assistant for frying includes a robotic arm, a fryer basket, and a robotic arm adapter assembly allowing the robotic arm to pick up and manipulate the fryer basket. The robotic arm adapter includes opposing gripping members to engage the fryer basket. A utensil adapter assembly is mounted to the handle of the fryer basket, and the opposing gripper members are actuated to capture a three-dimensional (3D) feature of the utensil adapter assembly. The robotic arm adapter assembly can include an agitator mechanism to shake the fryer basket or another utensil as desired. Related methods are also described.

A fluid powered gripper can include a body, a bore, a first finger, a second finger, and a piston. The body can include a central bore coaxial with a central longitudinal axis of the body. A bore fluid inlet can be fluidly coupleable to the central bore. The first finger can be rotatable about the body. The second finger can oppose the first finger and the second finger can be rotatable about the body. The piston can be disposed in the central bore. The piston can be powered by a fluid to move between a first position and a second position. The first finger and the second finger can be closed in the first position and open in the second position.

Shape-shifting fingers may enable parallel-jaw gripper to re-grasp objects. In some embodiments, a gripper includes two fingers each having a flexible membrane which is moveable between an extended state and a retracted state in response to pressure applied to a cavity at least partially formed by the membrane. In the extended and retracted state the shape of the flexible membrane may change based on the pressure and/or a force applied to the membrane and may attain two distinct geometric forms to facilitate distinct manipulation functionalities. In some embodiments, the flexible membrane switches between a wedge-shaped geometry in the extended state and a V-shaped geometry in the retracted state. The wedge-shaped geometry may provide a point contact on a cylindrical object so that the object may pivot to a vertical position under the effect of gravity. The V-shaped geometry may localize the object in a vertical position and securely hold it.

An end of arm tool (EOAT) for use with a robotic end effector includes radially opposed gripper fingers secured to a distal end portion of the robotic end effector, each radially opposed gripper finger having a recess with a first sidewall and a second sidewall oriented at an acute angle relative to the first sidewall. The radially opposed gripper fingers are configured to translate radially to grip a part within the recesses and to release the part for placement in an assembly.

A machine (10) to automatically transport, from and to one or more working stations (12), one or more components (11) to make a package, comprises a reference surface (13), with which electric energizing members (14) are associated to selectively generate one or more magnetic fields, and at least a pair of support members (15) each provided with magnetic means (16) configured to interact with the magnetic fields. The machine (10) comprises control means (17) configured to energize selectively and in a coordinated manner the electric energizing members (14) to cause the selective movement of each support member (15) from one point to another of the reference surface (13). Each support member (15) is also provided with respective gripping means (18) comprising at least one support arm (19), wherein the support arm (19) of the first support member (15) is configured to cooperate with the support arm (19) of the second support member (15) to selectively temporarily grip and support at least one or more components (11).

A robotic kitchen assistant for frying includes a robotic arm, a fryer basket, and a robotic arm adapter assembly allowing the robotic arm to pick up and manipulate the fryer basket. The robotic arm adapter includes opposing gripping members to engage the fryer basket. A utensil adapter assembly is mounted to the handle of the fryer basket, and the opposing gripper members are actuated to capture a three-dimensional (3D) feature of the utensil adapter assembly. The robotic arm adapter assembly can include an agitator mechanism to shake the fryer basket or another utensil as desired. Related methods are also described.

Various examples are provided related to end effectors for use in, e.g., automation of sewing robots. In one example, among others, a compliant perimeter end effector includes a mounting bracket having a contact mounting flange, a plurality of compliant material contact elements coupled about a perimeter of the contact mounting flange. The mounting bracket can couple to a manipulator including, e.g., an industrial robot or other manipulation assembly. The compliant material contact elements can include a contact interface that can engage with a piece of material. The compliant material contact elements can precisely transfer material on a workspace with surface irregularities while equally distributing force to the material.