The present invention relates to a transfer device (1) for a workpiece (11), said transfer device including a frame (2) as well as a first pivot arm (3). The first pivot arm (3) is connected to the frame (2) so as to be pivotable by means of a first rotational axis (6). Furthermore, a first slide (9) is mounted so as to be linearly displaceable on the first pivot arm (3). The transfer device (1) further includes a holding device (10) for a workpiece (11) which is connected to the first slide (9) so as to be rotatable relative to the pivot arm (3) by means of a third rotational axis (12). The first pivot arm (3) is connected to the frame (2) so as to be rotatable in a second region by means of a second rotational axis (13) which is mounted on the frame (2) so as to be displaceable substantially in the horizontal direction.

A method of forming a component includes providing a work-piece blank from a formable material. The method also includes engaging the work-piece blank with a transfer device. The method additionally includes austenitizing the work-piece blank in the transfer device via heating the blank to achieve austenite microstructure therein. The method also includes transferring the austenitized blank to a forming press using the transfer device. The method additionally includes forming the component via the forming press from the austenitized blank and quenching the formed component. A work-piece blank transfer system includes a transfer device having clamping arm(s) for engaging, holding, transferring, and releasing the work-piece blank. The transfer device also includes a heating element configured to austenitize the work-piece blank via heating the blank to achieve austenite microstructure therein. The transfer system additionally includes an electronic controller programmed to regulate the heating element and the clamping arm(s).

A gripper truck assembly for moving a workpiece with respect to a machining station includes a gripper truck, a gripper arm extending from a proximal end connected to the gripper truck to an opposite distal end, a gripper including at least one jaw moveable between a closed position for gripping the workpiece and an open position for releasing the workpiece. The gripper is connected to the distal end of the gripper arm by a joint configured to permit a rotation of the gripper, a hydraulic gripper actuator accommodated in the gripper arm and operatively connected to the gripper for actuating the at least one jaw of the gripper between the open position and the closed position, a gripper rotation actuator for actuating the rotation of the gripper with respect to the gripper arm about the gripper rotation axis.

Provided is a forming system that expands and deforms a metal material to perform forming, the forming system including: a forming device that performs the forming; and at least one transport device that transports the metal material, in which the transport device transports the metal material to the forming device in a held state, in a case where a pretreatment device that performs pretreatment for the forming is present, the transport device transports the metal material to the pretreatment device in a held state, and during a period from a transport process in which the metal material is transported to any of devices by the transport device to a treatment process performed by any of the devices, at least one of the transport device and any of the devices continues holding the metal material.

Provided is a workpiece conveying apparatus including: two SCARA robots each including: a raising and lowering frame supported on a stationary frame so as to be movable in an up-and-down direction, the stationary frame being mounted to extend along a width direction orthogonal to a workpiece conveying direction of a passage space for conveying a workpiece; a first arm supported on the raising and lowering frame through intermediation of a first joint; a second arm held through intermediation of a second joint; a first arm driving mechanism configured to drive the first arm to rotate; and a second arm driving mechanism configured to drive the second arm to rotate; raising and lowering mechanisms arranged to correspond to the two SCARA robots, respectively, and configured to enable the corresponding raising and lowering frames to mutually independently move in the up-and-down direction; a cross arm; and a cross bar unit.

A workpiece conveyance device is used for a pressing device. The workpiece conveyance device includes a support member supporting a holding component usable to detachable hold a workpiece, a lever unit including a first lever portion and a second lever portion, a lever unit support body supporting the lever unit, a first lever support portion provided to the lever unit support body, and a second lever support portion provided to the lever unit support body. The second lever portion is provided between the first lever portion and the support member. The second lever portion is rotatably linked to the first lever portion. The lever unit pivotably supports the support member. The first lever support portion pivotably supports the first lever portion. The second lever support portion slidably and pivotably supports the second lever portion.

Provided is a workpiece holding tool changing system configured to change at least one of a relative position and a posture of a holding tool of a workpiece conveying apparatus with respect to a feed bar. The feed bar includes at least one set among: an X-axis direction linear mechanism with an X-axis linear brake; a Y-axis direction linear mechanism with a Y-axis linear brake; a Z-axis direction linear mechanism with a Z-axis linear brake; and a ball joint portion and a ball brake. Under a state in which inhibition of movement or change in posture by a corresponding brake is canceled, a robot changes the relative position or the posture of the holding tool to a desired relative position or a desired posture. After the change, the workpiece holding tool changing system is brought into a holding state in which the movement or the change in posture is inhibited.

The installation space is made compact, the conveying speed of a workpiece is increased, and interference with peripheral devices is readily avoided. Provided is a conveying robot including: a pedestal; a rotating base provided in a rotatable manner about a first axis, which is substantially horizontal, relative to the pedestal; a first arm provided on the rotating base in a swivelable manner about a second axis that is orthogonal to an axis parallel to the first axis; and a second arm that is provided on the first arm in a movable manner in a longitudinal direction of the first arm and whose distal end supports a wrist unit, which is capable of holding a workpiece to be conveyed.

A workpiece conveying apparatus includes: two SCARA robots each including a first arm supported on a raising and lowering frame through intermediation of a first joint, a second arm supported through intermediation of a second joint, a first arm driving mechanism configured to drive the first arm to rotate, and a second arm driving mechanism configured to drive the second arm to rotate; a raising and lowering mechanism for the two SCARA robots; a cross arm configured to couple distal ends of the second arms; a workpiece holding unit configured to releasably hold the workpiece; shifting devices provided to the cross arm and configured to shift a drive-side shifting member; and sliding devices provided to the workpiece holding unit and configured to shift the tool holder by an operation of causing the driven-side shifting member to be driven by the drive-side shifting member.

A table (122) for holding a beam-cut piece of material (204) including at least one beam-cut part (202). The table (122) comprises a holder (114) holding a raster structure (120) configured to hold the beam-cut piece of material (204). The raster structure (120) comprises raster sections (802) comprising parallel members (804). The table (122) comprises a movable rib structure (902). The rib structure (902) comprises ribs (904). At least one of the ribs (904) is movable between two neighbouring members (804). The rib structure (902) lifts the at least one part (202), or the beam-cut piece of material (204), or a section (208) of the beam-cut piece of material including at least one part of the beam-cut piece of material, or a remainder (206) of the beam-cut piece of material from a resting position on the raster section (802). The rib structure (904) holds the at least one part (202), or the beam-cut piece of material (204), or the section (208) of the beam-cut piece of material, or the remainder (206) of the beam-cut piece of material.