A robotic finger structure includes a proximal phalanx; a middle phalanx rotatably connected to one end of the proximal phalanx; a distal phalanx rotatably connected to one end of the middle phalanx and defining a distal phalanx opening in a front side thereof and at one end adjacent to the middle phalanx; a connecting rod having opposite ends that are rotatably connected to the proximal phalanx and the distal phalanx, and an actuating assembly to drive the middle phalanx to rotate with respect to the proximal phalanx. The connecting rod includes a first angled segment having a first recess facing a back side of the middle phalanx. When the distal phalanx is flush with the middle phalanx, the first angled segment passes through the distal phalanx opening, and a first end of the distal phalanx opening extends into the first recess.

A gripper for a picking device for storing small piece goods and a method for operating a picking device having a gripper are provided. The gripper simplifies dispensing and includes a drop table extending in first and second horizontal directions, and has at least one end portion having a dispensing end face, wherein the drop table and the end portion define an upper support surface. A transport device for moving small piece goods is arranged above the drop table and sensor device(s) are arranged in the at least one end portion having detection regions associated therewith, the sensor device being arranged along a vertical axis in such a way that the detection regions cover a vertically extending space in front of the dispensing end face.

According to one embodiment, a gripper for a robotic arm for pick and place palletizing of a container of material is disclosed. The gripper can include a body, a plate and one or more load cells. The body can have a frame and one or more mechanisms to capture the container. The plate can have a mounting connection for coupling to a wrist of the robotic arm. The one or more load cells can couple the body to the plate. The one or more load cells can be configured to measure a weight of the container of material when captured by the one or more mechanisms of the body.

A robotic hand is provided including a main body defining the body of the robotic hand and a longitudinal axis; a finger hinged to the main body; an attachment defining the attachment surface for attaching to an external member; and a hinge defining a mutual rotation axis between the attachment and main body so as to vary the angle between the longitudinal axis and the normal to the attachment surface.

Disclosed is a self-lifting robot with multi-jointed arm. The robot includes a multipart housing, a traction drivetrain capable of generating translational and rotational motion of the self-lifting robot on a working surface, and a deployment hook configured to release from a storage hanger, thus depositing the self-lifting robot onto the working surface, and configured to re-attach to the storage hanger, thus lifting the self-lifting robot off of the working surface. The robot also includes a multi jointed arm, and a grabber disposed from a free-rotating wrist joint at a distal end of the multi-jointed arm, and configured to grab, hold, and release one or more target objects.

Systems and methods are provided for shape controlled gripping of a workpiece. A layer jamming structure includes a membrane defining an internal cavity containing a number of overlapping material layers. A pressure system includes a pump coupled with the internal cavity. A shape conforming tool includes at least one part configured to move to apply a force to the layer jamming structure. The shape conforming tool, by operation of the part, conforms the layer jamming structure to the workpiece. The pressure system, with operation of the pump, changes a pressure in the internal cavity to impart rigidity to the layer jamming structure.

There is disclosed an end effector for a robotic positioner. The end effector has a frame adapted to connect to the robotic positioner, the frame defining a guide. A first gripper member is connected the frame and a second gripper member defines a follower operatively engaged to the guide, an engagement between the follower and the guide constraining the second gripper member to movement in at least one rotational movement about a virtual pivot spaced away from the first gripper member, the second gripper member, the follower and the guide. At least one actuator is connected to the second gripper member for moving the second gripper member toward and away from the first gripper member in the rotational movement.

Devices, systems, and methods for repositioning a deformable laundry article are described. For example, a robotic device includes a conveyor configured to transfer the deformable laundry article outside of a work volume, two or more lifters including grippers individually anchored about the perimeter of the work volume, two or more sensors disposed at fixed locations about the work volume, and a memory storing data indicative of repositioned deformable laundry articles. A controller is in operative communication with the memory, the two or more sensors, and the two or more lifters. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the sensors, identify grip points on the deformable laundry article suspended above the conveyor, instruct a lifter to grip and lift an identified grip point to the suspension height, determine whether the deformable laundry article is repositioned, and instruct the lifters to lower the repositioned deformable laundry article onto the conveyor.

A workpiece transport unit including a pair of arms, an opening/closing mechanism configured to open and close the pair of arms in a horizontal direction, a pair of first placement surfaces provided at the pair of arms and configured for a first workpiece to be placed thereon, and a pair of second placement surfaces provided at the pair of arms and configured for a second workpiece to be placed thereon.

Disclosed is a gripper (1) for beverage cans (20). The gripper (1) comprises at least one gripping device (6) used to grip a particular beverage can (20) from underneath the top seam (5) in a form-fitting manner in the region of a top seam (5), which top seam (5) is formed by a particular beverage can (20). The gripper (1) comprises at least one centering device (30), by which at least one centering device (30) aligns the particular beverage can (20) into a defined alignment, where the at least one gripping device (6) is able to grip a particular beverage can (20) from underneath in a form-fitting manner in the region of its top seam (5).