An end effector for engaging flexible packaging materials includes a frame, along with a first and second wheel mounted for rotation with respect to the frame. The first wheel and the second wheel are mounted to the frame relative to each other so that the outer surfaces of the two wheels are positioned opposite of each other. The first wheel and the second wheel can be driven in opposing directions to effectively define a roller intake which can be used to draw the flexible packaging materials of a target parcel between the first wheel and the second wheel. The end effector of the present invention can be combined with a robot to provide an improved system for engaging the flexible packaging materials of a parcel.

An instrument manipulator may comprise a frame comprising an outer shell and an inner frame, the inner frame being movably coupled to the outer shell. The instrument manipulator may also include a plurality of actuator outputs protruding in a distal direction from the frame and an instrument support feature coupled to the outer shell. The instrument manipulator may further comprise a latching mechanism, the latching mechanism being configured to move the inner frame, the outer shell, or both relative to one another, so as to operably engage the plurality of actuator outputs with a plurality of actuator inputs of an instrument supported by the instrument support feature.

A system for handling a first component includes: a main-device and a module-device, the module-device having a pressing section arranged to form an outer surface of the module-device, the module-device configured to releasably receive the first component, such that a connection section of the first component is attachable to the pressing section of the module-device. The module-device is releasably connected to a second component, wherein the main-device includes a grabbing unit adapted for releasably connecting the module-device, such that the pressing section is arranged to form a first outer surface section of the main-device, and wherein the main-device includes a connector for connecting to a handling-unit for arranging the main-device at the second component, such that the connection section of the first component, if attached to the pressing section of the module-device, is at least indirectly attachable to a front surface of the second component.

A dispenser tool (42) is provided with multiple cartridges for dispensing viscous material onto the surface (5) of a wind turbine blade (5). The dispenser tool (42) is advantageously part of a robot system used to work the surface (5) of the blade (5). The system is configured for bringing the nozzle of a selected cartridge into the vicinity of the surface (5) and orienting the dispenser tool (42) relatively to the surface (5) such that the nozzle (46) of the corresponding selected cartridge (44) is at the surface (5) for providing viscous material onto the surface (5) from the selected cartridge (44) while moving the nozzle (46) along the surface (5).

A multi-arm hanging rail type casting cleaning robot comprises a traveling device, a rotating device, a lifting device, a working arm mounting seat, and four working arms mounted on an annular rail, wherein in addition to pneumatic grippers and magnetic cranes, cleaning tools such as pneumatic air picks and plasma cutters are further provided on end effecters of the working arms. The traveling device of the present invention adopts a four-point hanging supporting mode to realize long-distance stable traveling. Large arm adjusting cylinders and small arm adjusting cylinders are used to replace servo reducing motors to adjust postures of the working arms. The four working arms can jointly and synchronously work. The two pneumatic grippers, the two magnetic cranes, and the four cleaning tools can be flexibly transformed and replaced. The needs of cleaning operations can be satisfied.

End effectors having compaction feet for welding thermoplastic parts of thermoplastic composite laminated articles are described. An example end effector is to be coupled to a robot. The end effector includes a welding head. The welding head includes a welder having a first central axis and a compaction foot having a second central axis. The welder is movable along the first central axis between a first retracted position and a first extended position relative to a surface of the end effector. The compaction foot circumscribes the welder and is movable along the second central axis between a second retracted position and a second extended position relative to the surface.

The present invention relates to a self-moving device (100). The self-moving device (100) includes a body (20), a walking mechanism (40) disposed on the body (20) and configured to drive the self-moving device (100) to walk, a connecting arm (60) connected to the body (20), and a control module (11) configured to control the walking mechanism (40) to drive the self-moving device (100) to walk within a defined area. The connecting arm (60) is selectively connected to at least one of at least two working heads (200) configured to perform different work tasks. The connecting arm (60) includes a connecting structure (64) configured to be connected to the working head (200) and a connecting component (62) configured to connect the connecting structure (64) to the body (20).

A method of treating refractory-lined equipment includes accessing an interior of the refractory-lined equipment with an equipment repair apparatus, wherein the equipment repair apparatus includes a robotic arm and one or more end effectors coupled to an end of the robotic arm, inspecting refractory material that lines an inner wall of the refractory-lined equipment with a first end effector coupled to the end of the robotic arm, removing damaged refractory material from the inner wall with a second end effector coupled to the end of the robotic arm, removing one or more anchors from the inner wall with a third end effector coupled to the end of the robotic arm, and installing new refractory material on the inner wall with a fourth end effector coupled to the end of the robotic arm.

Methods and apparatuses for performing automated operations using a high-density robotic cell. An apparatus comprises a first plurality of robotic devices; a second plurality of robotic devices; and a control system. Each of the second plurality of robotic devices is coupled to a single function end effector. The control system controls the second plurality of robotic devices to concurrently perform tasks at a plurality of locations on an assembly, while the first plurality of robotic devices independently maintain a clamp-up at each of the plurality of locations.

A machine tool is provided which can execute various works while suppressing increase in cost or size. The machine tool includes a tool spindle device which is a movable member which can move with respect to a mounting surface of the machine tool, and one or more serial-manipulator-type robots attached on the tool spindle device, which can move with the tool spindle device, and which have two or more degrees of freedom, and the robot includes two or more end effectors provided at positions different from each other with one or more joints therebetween.