A parallel link robot includes a plurality of drive units and link units each driven by the corresponding drive unit. Each of the drive units includes a motor, a transmission mechanism that transmits the rotation of the motor to the link unit, and a housing that holds the motor. The housing includes a first connection portion, a second connection portion, and an opening through which the link unit extends. The first connection portion of one of the drive units and the second connection portion of another of the drive units are connected to each other, while the second connection portion of the one of the drive units and the first connection portion of another of the drive units are connected to each other.

An article accumulating apparatus that uses a robot to transfer to a predetermined location and accumulate an article conveyed thereto is disclosed. The article accumulating apparatus includes a conveyance unit, an accumulation unit, and a discharge unit. The conveyance unit is configured to convey the article. The accumulation unit is disposed in series with the conveyance unit and is configured to accumulate the article. The discharge unit is configured to discharge the article in the conveyance unit to an area outside the accumulation unit. The discharge unit is disposed in a robot movable range that is a range in which the robot holds and transfers the article to the accumulation unit.

An apparatus for adjusting a shoe and methods for making and using the same. A relative movement can be generated between a platform and a model foot wearing the shoe such that the platform contacts the shoe and the model foot adjusts the shoe via the relative movement. Advantageously, the model foot can be a surrogate to a human foot in adjusting the shape of the shoe. The model foot can stretch the shoe in the same manner as human walk. A person can experience great comfort when wearing the stretched shoe. The model foot can simulate the mechanical characteristics of the natural foot. The model foot can simulate gait of a natural foot and the stretching of the shoe can be further customized.

A link actuation device includes a proximal-end-side link hub, a distal-end-side link hub, three or more link mechanisms each coupling the link hubs such that a posture of the distal-end-side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal-end-side link hub. Each link mechanism includes a proximal-side end link member, a proximal-side intermediate link member, a distal-side intermediate link member, and a distal-side end link member. Actuators for arbitrarily changing the posture and a distance from the distal-end-side link hub to the proximal-end-side link hub are provided to three or more link mechanisms of the three or more link mechanisms. A control unit calculates a rotation angle of the proximal-side end link member according to a targeted posture of the distal-end-side link hub and a targeted distance between the centers of the spherical links, and controls the respective actuators so as to attain the calculated rotation angle.

In one embodiment, an storage module has first and second guide rails that are spaced from one another along a lateral direction. Each guiderail has an upper track and a lower track spaced from one another along a vertical direction, and first and second connecting tracks that connect the upper track to the lower track at first and second ends, respectively. A plurality of inventory carriers that are supported between the guiderails and are arranged end-to-end along the upper and lower tracks. A drivetrain drives the carriers to translate along the upper and lower tracks at a first speed, and drives the carriers to translate along the connecting tracks at a second speed, faster than the first speed. Increasing the speed of the carriers at the connecting tracks can prevent the carriers from colliding with one another when transitioning between the upper track and the lower track.

The parallel link mechanism is applied to a work device in which a link actuation device and a combined-side actuator are combined. A control device includes a storage that stores a plurality of work coordinates as well as a work-point movement velocity as a target velocity of an end effector and a posture change velocity as a target angular velocity to be set for changing the posture of the end effector. A controller includes a switching function unit that switches the target velocity used for calculating movement velocities of the respective posture control actuators and a movement velocity of the combined-side actuator, to the work-point movement velocity and to the posture change velocity.

A link actuator includes a proximal end side link hub, a distal end side link hub, and link mechanisms which connect the distal end side link hub to the proximal end side link hub. Each of the link mechanisms includes a proximal side end link member, a distal side end link member, and an intermediate link member. Each of the proximal end side link hub and the distal end side link hub is provided with a through-hole which allows an origin positioning shaft to be inserted therethrough. The distal end posture of the link actuator is set to a specified posture by inserting the origin positioning shaft through the through-holes. An amount of operation of actuators in a state where preload is applied to the link actuator is set as a position of an origin of the actuator.

A device that makes it possible to make the movements of moving platforms safer and relates more particularly to a linear actuator that can be used in a hexapod positioner supporting a load is provided. The actuator is actuated by electric control and comprises at least one hydraulic damper positioned on the actuator such that the forces generated by damping in the event of extreme breakdown are experienced only by the load and are distributed such as to limit force and acceleration peaks.

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.

The present invention is concerned with an apparatus for simulating the chewing process for the purpose of testing dental materials and implants and for the purpose of analyzing food samples. The apparatus comprises a frame, a stationary platform connected compliantly to the said frame and a moving platform corresponding to the maxillae and mandible of humans or animals, to which dentures or teeth are affixed. The moving platform is guided and driven in mandibular motion using six rods fitted with spherical joints at both ends. Said ball-jointed rods are attached with one end to the moving platform, and with the other end either to the frame of the apparatus, or to rotary cranks driven synchronously by a motor via a transmission. The rotary cranks together with their motor and transmission are mounted on a carrier which is adjustably attached to the frame of the apparatus. To closely reproduce a desired mandibular motion, the locations of the spherical joints to the frame, the position and orientation of the carrier relative to the frame, and the lengths of the rotary cranks and of the ball-jointed rods are suitably adjusted.