Systems, apparatus, and methods of manufacturing an article using electroadhesion technology for the pick-up and release of materials, respectively.

Systems, apparatus, and methods of manufacturing an article using electroadhesion technology, either as a sole modality of handling such materials or in concert with at least one mechanically actuated modality for the pick-up and release of materials, respectively.

Systems, apparatus, and methods of manufacturing an article using electroadhesion technology, either as a sole modality of handling such materials or in concert with vacuum for the pick up and release of materials, respectively.

An end effector for an articulated arm in a robotic system includes an enclosed flexible membrane generally in the form of a tubular annulus that contains a fluid within the membrane. The tubular annulus includes a distal end for engaging objects; and a linear actuator that is positioned for reciprocal movement within the tubular annulus. The linear actuator provides actuation of the tubular annulus to grasp an object and the linear actuator provides a vacuum source at a distal end of the linear actuator. The linear actuator is also selectively coupled to a source of positive air pressure for providing positive air pressure to an object-retaining area.

A robot has a gripper for gripping parts and releasing the gripped part at a destination position. The gripped part is vibrated at the destination position to cause the gripper to release the gripped part. The gripped part can be directly vibrated or vibrated by vibrating the mechanical structure of the gripper or by vibrating air in the gripper mechanical structure. The vibrator can connect the gripper to the robot. The vibrator can be inside or attached to the one or more of the articulated fingers of the gripper. The vibrations can be stopped when a sensor detects that the gripped part has been released or after the passage of a preset vibration time.

The present invention provides a suction hand which is attached to the leading-end section of an articulated arm, attached by suction to a plate-shaped structural member having a curvature at least in a predetermined direction, and provided with: a support part attached to the leading-end section of the articulated arm; a pair of suction mechanisms having a pair of suction surfaces and disposed apart from each other in an X direction with the attachment position of the support part to the leading-end section interposed between the pair of suction mechanisms; and a pair of first angle adjustment mechanisms capable of adjusting the angle of inclination, in the X direction, of each of the pair of suction surfaces of the pair of the suction mechanisms.

A work transferring system includes: a hand including a body and at least one attracting part configured to hold a work with a gap maintained between the work and a surface of the body by attracting the work to a distal end protruding from the surface; a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the work to a predetermined transfer destination by moving the hand; a work releasing member disposed above the transfer destination to which the transfer mechanism transfers the work and configured to release the work from the attracting part; and an lifting mechanism configured to move up and down the work releasing member or the work. The work releasing member includes a claw arranged in a substantially horizontal cantilever manner and having a shape that allows insertion of the claw into the gap.

A robotic pneumatic gripper including a robotic arm; an effector including at least one gripping member such as a suction cup or foam; and a pneumatic circuit for controlled negative pressure at the at least one gripping member, the pneumatic circuit including a vacuum source; a main pipe connecting the vacuum source to the gripping member; and an auxiliary pipe connected to the main pipe at one or more nodes, the auxiliary pipe being provided with a valve configured to switch between a closed position where the auxiliary pipe is closed off, and an open position where the node is fluidly connected to the atmosphere.

An end effector is disclosed for an articulated arm in a robotic system. The end effector includes an enclosed flexible membrane generally in the form of an annulus that contains a fluid within the membrane.

Various embodiments relate to magnetically moveable displacement devices or robotic devices. Particular embodiments provide systems and corresponding methods for magnetically moving multiple movable robots relative to one or more working surfaces of respective one or more work bodies, and for moving robots between the one or more work bodies via transfer devices. Robots can carry one or more objects among different locations, manipulate carried objects, and/or interact with their surroundings for particular functionality including but not limited to assembly, packaging, inspection, 3D printing, test, laboratory automation, etc. A mechanical link may be mounted on planar motion units such as said robots.