Embodiments provide shelves, bracket systems, automated picker robots, totes, and other features that may be used with delivery vehicle configurations that have automated cargo areas. A delivery vehicle may include a picking robot that selectively retrieves packages for delivery without requiring substantial human intervention for locating those packages. The cargo area of the delivery vehicle may further comprise a plurality of customizable shelving units that generate custom-sized shelves for packages. The shelves may include a plurality of individually movable shelf brackets having retaining members that pivot between an extended and retracted position to hold the package in place and to enable the picking robot to retrieve the package from the shelf. Another embodiment provides for a tote having a drive mechanism to hold letters so that a letter may be automatically retrieved from the cargo arear and provided at a delivery location.

In a gripping device including carriages disposed on a base body so as to be movable relative to each other by a motor drive, the carriages being provided with gripping elements which are movable with the carriages between an opening and a closing position of the gripping elements, at least one of the gripping elements is supported on the respective carriage so as to be able to yield to a certain engagement pressure force which is adjustable in the range of 5 to 300 N in order to prevent excessive damage or injuries-causing engagement forces.

An air chuck includes a chuck unit including a pair of fingers that capable of being freely opened and closed, an operation unit that includes an operation mechanism, which opens and closes the pair of fingers, connection mechanisms for attaching the chuck unit to the operation unit such that the chuck unit is freely attachable and detachable to and from the operating unit, and a locking mechanism that locks the pair of fingers such that the pair of fingers are capable of being freely opened and closed when the chuck unit is attached to the operation unit and such that the pair of fingers are not able to be opened or closed when the chuck unit is detached from the operation unit.

A grip apparatus is provided. The grip apparatus includes a first finger; a second finger configured to face the first finger, a first link configured to have a first end connected to the first finger, a second link configured to have a first end connected to the second finger, and a differential apparatus including a motor and configured to connect a second end of the first link and a second end of the second link. The differential apparatus rotates the first link and the second link in different directions when the motor is driven. The differential apparatus rotates the first link in a first direction when the second link rotates in the first direction by an external force.

A gripping device has a body with a stepper motor positioned within the body. A lead screw is driven by the stepper motor. A gripper is coupled with the lead screw for gripping and releasing a part. A compliance enables movement of the motor with respect to the body. A controller is electrically coupled with the motor to provide motion control and maintain a set of learned positions based on sensing when the motor is approaching its stall torque.

A method and apparatus for dispensing and retrieving products is provided. A system may include: a grasping head; first and second grasping members, each grasping member comprising: a top member; a post member; and first and second grasping fingers, where the first and second grasping fingers extend from the post member and are spaced apart from the top member by a predetermined distance, where the first and second grasping members are connected to the grasping head, where at least one of the first and second grasping members is movably connected to the grasping head, where the at least one of the first and second grasping members is movable relative to the other of the first and second grasping members.

A charge feeding system includes: a frame extending in a direction parallel to a direction of gravity; a plurality of grippers which are attached to the frame, spaced apart from one another in the extension direction of the frame, and independently open and close to grip charges loaded in a charge loading unit; a tray configured to pass through locations where the grippers are disposed along the extension direction of the frame, and transfer the charges between the grippers; and a controller configured to control opening and closing of the grippers and movement of the tray.

A holding device capable of reliably holding a workpiece with a simple operation. The holding device is for holding a workpiece and includes a base part; a guide member mounted on the base part and extending in a first direction; and a first holding mechanism movable in the first direction by an external force being applied thereto, the first holding mechanism being capable of holding the workpiece. Further, there is a second holding mechanism including a first member and a second member which face each other across the first holding mechanism in the first direction and each of which is movable relative to the base part by being driven by an actuator. The second holding mechanism is capable of sandwiching and holding the workpiece between the first member and the second member by changing a distance between the first member and the second member in the first direction.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a robot gripper with a closing mechanism that while providing a desirable closing speed avoids exerting a force on the rigid object which is greater than the holding force required to hold the rigid object in the gripper. In another aspect, the present invention provides a robot gripper capable of detecting a slip or loss of an object held by the gripper. In an alternative aspect, the present invention provides a robot gripper capable of being hand guided. In another aspect, the invention provides a robot gripper brake drive circuit with faster operation. In one other aspect, the invention provides a connector for connecting a robot end effector to a robot arm with an adjustable cable.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a robot gripper with a closing mechanism that while providing a desirable closing speed avoids exerting a force on the rigid object which is greater than the holding force required to hold the rigid object in the gripper. In another aspect, the present invention provides a robot gripper capable of detecting a slip or loss of an object held by the gripper. In an alternative aspect, the present invention provides a robot gripper capable of being hand guided. In another aspect, the invention provides a robot gripper brake drive circuit with faster operation. In one other aspect, the invention provides a connector for connecting a robot end effector to a robot arm with an adjustable cable.