According to one embodiment, a cargo handling apparatus includes a hand, a robot arm, a transfer device, a measurement device, and a control device. The hand holds an article. The robot arm moves the hand. The transfer device is arranged with the robot arm, and transfers the article. The measurement device measures a position and a size of the article. The control device performs a first operation of transferring the article to the transfer device by using the hand and the robot arm, and a second operation of transferring the transferred article by using the transfer device. The control device determines whether or not the robot arm will interfere with the transfer device or a second article on the transfer device when performing the first operation for a first article. The control device controls a start timing of the first operation according to a determination result of the interference.

A system for moving a cutting device gantry or similar structure on a material processing machine can include a mounting structure configured to be operably coupled to the gantry and a drive assembly movably coupled to the mounting structure. The drive assembly can be configured to move the mounting structure and the gantry in a first direction relative to a gantry guide shaft of the material processing machine. The drive assembly can also be movable relative to the mounting structure in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more guide wheels rotatably coupled to the mounting structure. Each of the guide wheels can include an annular outer portion having curvature configured to complimentarily engage the gantry guide shaft. The annular outer portion can be resiliently deformable and configured to conform to the gantry guide shaft during movement of thereon.

A device for producing a three-dimensional laminate for the construction industry from a plurality of layers of particulate material, which layers are arranged one on top of the other on a printing platform, are consolidated in locally predetermined regions, and are bonded to one another to form a three-dimensional laminate. The device includes a printing frame and at least two coating devices for applying the particulate material layer by layer on the printing platform. The at least two coating devices are movably mounted on the printing frame, preferably along a longitudinal guide. A printing head is provided for discharging a binder at the locally predetermined regions, and the printing head is movably mounted on the printing frame, preferably along at least one longitudinal guide. The at least two coating devices and the printing head are in each case movable in relation to one another.

Feedback information is an important aspect in all machine learning systems. In robot systems that are picking objects from a plurality of objects this has been arranged by acquiring images of objects that have been picked. When images are acquired after picking they can be imaged accurately and the information about picking and also dropping success can be improved by using acquired images as a feedback in the machine learning arrangement being used for controlling the picking and dropping of objects.

The invention provides a controllable gripper for a robot. A plurality of gripping members, e.g. suction cups, are arranged to engage with a surface of an object to be gripped. The gripping members are arranged in a controllable gripping configuration. A base part is arranged to be moved by a robotic actuator, e.g. a gantry type of robotic actuator. Two or more arms connected to the base part are slidably arranged along their lengths relative to the base part. Each arm has a gripping member at or near its distal end. A controllable actuator system is arranged to control position of the arms in different directions, relative to the base part, thus allowing various gripping configurations to be formed with respect to at least size. Especially, four arms of fixed length, each with a suction cup, may be actuated by one or two electric motors, so a to allow the four suction cups to form various gripping quadrangle sizes. This allows the gripper to be capable of gripping small and large objects in random order, since the gripping configuration can be rapidly changed. Still, the gripper can be formed rather simple with few elements, and yet it is flexible and can be very compact in a compressed state of the arms to allow navigation into narrow spaces, e.g. to grip an object in a 3D bulk of objects. The gripper is preferably mounted to a robotic actuator by means of a controllable rotation and tilting arrangement.

A six-axis motion mechanism combines three translation axes in the directions of the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis and three rotation axes in the directions of the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis to carry out a six-axis compound motion. The six-axis motion mechanism includes a movable support frame provided with a connecting mechanism. Drive mechanisms are provided in the directions of the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis respectively for controlling the displacement, velocity and acceleration of three translation axes. Rotation mechanisms are provided in the directions of the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis respectively for controlling the rotation angles (θ, φ, Ψ), angular velocity, and angular acceleration of the three rotation axes. The six-axis motion mechanism further includes a motion body which can proceed its rotation and displacement at any angle to imitate a single motion of rolling, yawing and pitching and a compound motion.

A Robotic Coating System with Real-Time Mixing has a particular arrangement of a robotic gantry, two peristaltic pumps, a mixer, a hollow brush, two tanks, and a computerized controller. The invention has tubes providing fluid communication from a coating tank and a thinner tank through the pumps and mixer to the brush. The invention provides everything necessary for robotic coating in one compact system. This invention provides the ability to apply coatings to an item, without pre-mixing the coating components. A computerized controller drives the brush through a pre-programmed path to coat required areas and not coat sensitive areas. The System operates upon utility service, typically 110 VAC, and it also self-cleans.

A suction assembly includes a main body, a sealing ring, an air duct, and a suction head. The main body includes a columnar wall, a top cover arranged at one end of the columnar wall and defining a first through hole, and a bottom cover arranged at another end of the columnar wall and defining a second through hole. The first through hole communicates with a negative pressure generating device. The sealing ring is sealed in the main body and movably arranged between the top cover and the bottom cover. The air duct includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end passes through the second through hole and is fixed in the sealing ring. The suction head is coupled to the second end.

A gripper apparatus is configured to grasp a closed receptacle having a closure affixed to an open top end of a receptacle. Opposed jaw members capable of lateral movement between an open position, a first closed position, and a second closed position are configured to grasp the closed receptacle when the closed receptacle is situated between the jaw members at the first closed position and to release the closed receptacle at the open position. The gripper apparatus further includes a plurality of fingers configured to grasp a sidewall of the closure beneath a top surface of the closure when the closure is situated between the plurality of fingers and beneath a base of each of the jaw members as the jaw members move laterally toward each other from the open position to the second closed position.

An automated insertion system for inserting or combining one or more fastener components with a molded part. The automated insertion system can handle multiple fastener components repeatedly, and do so faster and more safely than current processes.