A linear delta system includes a support frame, rails mounted to the support frame, linear actuators, each linear actuator configured to translate along a longitudinal length of a respective rail, pairs of parallel rods each coupled to the linear actuators, a platform coupled to a longitudinal end of each of the pairs of parallel rods opposite the respective linear actuator, and an object coupled to the platform. Longitudinal axes of the rails are oriented parallel to each other and lie within a common plane or an uncommon plane. A method of forming a linear delta system includes mounting rails to a support frame, the rails having longitudinal axes that are parallel to each other and lying within a common plane, coupling a linear actuator to each of the rails, coupling a pair of parallel rods to each linear actuator, and coupling a platform to the pairs of parallel rods.

A mechanical translation apparatus includes a translation stage and a translation assembly operatively connected to the translation stage so as to impart linear motions to the translation stage substantially free of rotational motions. The translation assembly includes a plurality of at least three arms pivotably connected to the translation stage at a first end of each arm of the plurality of at least three arms. The mechanical translation apparatus also includes a base assembly in which each arm of the plurality of at least three arms is also rotationally connected to the base assembly at a second end of each arm. Each arm of the plurality of at least three arms includes three rigid elongate structures arranged substantially parallel and non-coplanar with respect to each other so as to act in cooperation to cancel torques so that substantially purely linear motion is imparted to the translation stage by the plurality of at least three arms, and the translation assembly constrains motion of the translation stage to be substantially purely translational motion free of rotational motion. A robot includes the mechanical translation apparatus.

A system for identifying and transferring parcels includes a robot singulator configured to engage and transfer individual parcels in a bulk flow of multiple parcels on a first conveyor to a singulated stream of parcels on a second conveyor. The system further includes a vision and control subsystem, with a first camera for acquiring image data of the bulk flow of multiple parcels, and a computer that receives and processes the image data to identify and segment individual parcels, and then communicates instructions to the robot singulator to engage and transfer each of the individual parcels to the second conveyor. The system may further include a second camera for acquiring image data of the individual parcels to confirm placement on the second conveyor. The system may further include first and second indexing conveyors controlled by the vision and control subsystem for delivering parcels to the robot singulator.

A parallel link robot includes a base portion; a movable portion that is disposed below the base portion; a plurality of arms that link the base portion and the movable portion so as to be parallel to each other; and a wrist shaft that is supported by the movable portion so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis in a substantially vertical direction. A pair of marks indicate a relative phase between the movable portion and the wrist shaft about the rotation axis are on the movable portion and the wrist shaft, at positions visible from the upper side or the lateral side.

A method for the quasi-simultaneous welding of at least two types of welding by means of a laser beam, wherein the laser beam originates from a laser optic which is associated with a platform of a delta robot and is guided by a movement of this platform.

An automated device for producing a closed part, commencing with an open part having a cap joined with a hinge to a body, the device comprising: a tool having a guide surface defined in an operating plane substantially orthogonal to a hinge axis; a part gripper disposed on a computer numerically controlled shuttle, the part gripper operable to: select an open part from a stream of identical open parts; engage one of: the cap; and the body, on a start point on the guide surface; slide the open part, within the operating plane from the start point to a finish point on the guide surface, to rotate the cap about the hinge axis from an open position to a closed position relative to the body; and release the closed part from the part gripper at a release station.

A joint cover is removably attached to a joint of a robot including first and second joint members, and a spherical bearing coupling the first and second joint members, wherein the bearing includes a ball shank including a shaft part fixed to the first joint member and including a bail part at one end of the shaft part, and a holder fixed to an end of the second joint member and including a ball receiver configured to enclose and support the ball part, the joint cover includes a body made of an elastic material and configured to cover the holder and the end of the second joint member, and the body includes two through-holes respectively allowing for insertion of the shaft part and the second joint member, and the joint cover includes a slit configured to open and close and to make the two through-holes continuous with each other.

A system for stabilizing a device, comprises: A) a base plate provided comprising a plurality of motors; B) a displaceable mounting plate provided with: i) a plurality of bearing assemblies; ii) one or more sensors for measuring the orientation of said mounting plate; and iii) mounting elements for mounting instruments on said mounting plate; C) a plurality of actuators interconnecting between said mounting plate and said base plate, each actuator comprising; a) a shoulder section pivotally coupled to one of said motors of the base plate; b) an arm section coupled to one of said bearing assemblies of said mounting plate; and c) a mediating bearing assembly connecting between said shoulder and arm sections; and D) a processing unit adapted to receive readings from said sensors, to determine a required state of each arm, and to instruct one or more of said motors to rotate.

A manipulating device includes a base part, a user interface disposed above the base part and having a movable part and a grip part, a parallel link mechanism having a pair of arm parts and a pair of link parts, a position sensor configured to detect a position of a base-end part of the arm part, and a controller configured to control at least one of a position and a posture of a robot based on the position detected by the position sensor. The arm part is rotatably connected at a base-end part to the base part, the link part is rotatably connected at a base-end part to the arm part, and is rotatable connected at a tip-end part to the movable part, and the base part is coupled to the movable part through three sets of parallel link mechanisms with six degrees of freedom.

A linear motion mechanism with precise linear motion has structural robustness and allows easy reduction in weight and size, simple production and easy operation. The linear motion mechanism includes: an elastic arrangement which is arranged to transform an input direction and an input displacement to an output direction and an output displacement, wherein the output direction is orthogonal to the input direction; an operating member which is arranged to deform the elastic arrangement in the input direction by the input displacement; and a movable member fixed to the elastic arrangement to move in the output direction by the output displacement.