A tool change unit includes a base and two tool arms rotatably mounted on the base and respectively located on two sides of the base. Each arm body includes a position-returning element, a gripping element, and an actuation element. The position-returning element enables the tool arm to rotate for upward and downward moving between a first position and a second position. The gripping element functions to grip a main-axle tool or a magazine tool. The tool change unit is combinable with a power unit to form a tool change device. The power unit drives the tool change unit to do rotation or rotation and upward and downward movement.

A method and a machine for automatically changing a disc tool to a tool holder of an automated machine working with the disc tools is disclosed. The method includes in the disc tool replacement machine: determining that the tool holder is in a replacement area in the disc tool replacement machine; unfastening a fixing member of the tool holder by applying an unfastening force to the fixing member, wherein the fixing member fixes a disc tool to a backing plate of the tool holder through a through hole at a centre of the disc tool; removing the disc tool from the tool holder after said unfastening; inserting a new disc tool to the tool holder; and fastening the fixing member of the tool holder by applying a fastening force to the fixing member, thus fixing the disc tool to the backing plate of the tool holder through the through hole.

Provided is a tool magazine apparatus capable of preventing a phase error in attaching a tool to a tool holding gripper. A tool magazine apparatus includes: a magazine body having both front and rear racks each provided with tool holding grippers; a tool transfer device to take out a tool from the both racks and attach a tool to the both racks; a tool standby pot to hold a tool; and an intra-magazine tool change device to deliver a tool between the tool standby pot and the tool transfer device. The tool transfer device includes: a moving body disposed between the both racks; a base disposed on the moving body and being rotatable around an axis extending in the Z-axis direction; a transfer gripper attached to the base and being movable in a plane orthogonal to the Z-axis direction; and an air cylinder causing the transfer gripper to move.

A system includes a frame holding a part, a robot arm adjacent to the frame, a tool rack with a plurality of tools that are interchangeable, and a controller. The controller controls the robotic arm to automatically attach a forming tool from the tool rack to the tool holder; controls the robotic arm with the forming tool to form the part in a first geometry into a second geometry; and controls the robotic arm to automatically return the forming tool to the tool rack and detach the forming tool from the tool holder.

A system for treating a part with ultrasonic vibrations. The system includes a robotic arm, an ultrasonic end effector, and a controller. The robotic arm includes an actuator system that controls motion of the robotic arm and a tool holder. The ultrasonic end effector is configured to apply ultrasonic vibrations to a region of the part. The controller executes a program for controlling motion of the robotic arm for the ultrasonic end effector to apply ultrasonic vibrations to the region of the part; and controls the ultrasonic vibrations of the ultrasonic end effector based on a programmed ultrasonic parameter value for the region.

A system forms a part in an initial geometry (e.g., a sheet) into a desired geometry. The system includes a robot arm with an end effector, a model and a controller. The model receives an input geometry and an input parameter value indicating an interaction between the part and the end effector. The model determines an output geometry of the part based on the input geometry and the input parameter value. The controller receives the initial and desired geometries; applies the model to the initial geometry and to different input parameter values; based on output geometries of the model, determines a set of parameter values for controlling the robot arm; and controls the robot arm according to the determined set of parameter values to form the part into the desired geometry using the end effector.

This machine tool system uses a plurality of mobile robots to convey workpieces to a plurality of machine tools, the machine tool system being provided with: machine tool control unit that issues work requests to the machine tools; a mobile robot control unit that determines workable times for the mobile robots on the basis of the work requests; and a determining unit that compares the workable times which are for the mobile robots and respectively planned by the mobile robots, and causes the mobile robot with the fastest workable time to execute the requested work.

A tool change unit includes a base and two tool arms rotatably mounted on the base and respectively located on two sides of the base. Each arm body includes a position-returning element, a gripping element, and an actuation element. The position-returning element enables the tool arm to rotate for upward and downward moving between a first position and a second position. The gripping element functions to grip a main-axle tool or a magazine tool. The tool change unit is combinable with a power unit to form a tool change device. The power unit drives the tool change unit to do rotation or rotation and upward and downward movement.

A system forms a part in an initial geometry (e.g., a sheet) into a desired geometry. The system includes a robot arm with an end effector, a model and a controller. The model receives an input geometry and an input parameter value indicating an interaction between the part and the end effector. The model determines an output geometry of the part based on the input geometry and the input parameter value. The controller receives the initial and desired geometries; applies the model to the initial geometry and to different input parameter values; based on output geometries of the model, determines a set of parameter values for controlling the robot arm; and controls the robot arm according to the determined set of parameter values to form the part into the desired geometry using the end effector.

This machine tool system uses a plurality of mobile robots to convey workpieces to a plurality of machine tools, the machine tool system being provided with: machine tool control unit that issues work requests to the machine tools; a mobile robot control unit that determines workable times for the mobile robots on the basis of the work requests; and a determining unit that compares the workable times which are for the mobile robots and respectively planned by the mobile robots, and causes the mobile robot with the fastest workable time to execute the requested work.