A flexible assembling system incorporating at least one manufacturing cell including at least one universal fixture, at least one position monitoring device (e,g., monitoring system, 3D vision system, 3D vision system/scanner, artificial intelligence position determination and monitoring, artificial intelligence vision system to locate part or a feature(s) of the part, and combinations thereof), and at least one programmable robot or machine (e.g., punch, weld, etc.). The at least one universal fixture is a non-dedicated fixture such that the fixture is usable with various products and not dedicated to only one specific part being manufactured.

A loading device adapted to be provided in a machine tool includes a rail portion and a loader configured to travel along the rail portion, wherein the loader includes a pivoting portion and an arm portion extending and contracting with respect to the pivoting portion, and the arm portion includes a hand portion that holds a workpiece.

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, wherein 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.

Machining system for machining workpieces, having a transport module which includes a transporter for transporting workpiece carriers along a transport path and a plurality of coupling areas, and having at least one process module, which includes a processing system for processing workpieces, a transport system for transporting workpiece carriers between the transport path and a processing position assigned to the processing system, and a coupling system for coupling to the transport module, the transport module including at least one manipulator from the group: stop device for temporarily stopping a workpiece carrier, deflection device for deflecting the direction of a workpiece carrier, and wherein the process module provides a control signal to the at least one manipulator of the transport module.

An inverter manufacturing cell includes a table including a base, a frame configured to receive a work piece, and at least one pivotable lift arm attached to the base and to the frame. The pivotable lift arm is configured to pivot relative to the base about at least one axis such that the frame and work piece rotate from a first, generally horizontal position to a second, generally vertical position. After rotating to the second, vertical position, the frame is configured to slide such that the frame and work piece further rotate to a third, generally horizontal position wherein the frame and work piece are inverted relative to the first, generally horizontal position.

A manufacturing cell comprises a machine tool that has a tool carrier carrying a tool unit and has two adjacent workpiece paths oriented in a longitudinal direction. The tool unit can be displaced relative to a machine bed of the machine tool in a transverse direction and in a vertical direction. At least one workpiece carriage per workpiece path can be displaced in the longitudinal direction along the machine tool. The tool unit can be displaced in the longitudinal direction relative to the machine bed and/or relative to the workpiece carriages. The tool carrier overhangs or projects beyond the workpiece paths. The individual workpiece carriage can also be displaced in the longitudinal direction along the workpiece supply. Furthermore, the workpiece supply has at least one lowerable or tiltable stop device per workpiece path.

A cam device includes a drive cam, a follower, a holding cam, and a restriction roller. The drive cam reciprocally rotates. The follower intermittently reciprocate linearly by the drive cam. The holding cam is rotationally driven integrally with the drive cam. The restriction roller is provided on the follower and restricts a movement of the follower by coming in contact with the holding cam. The holding cam separates from the restriction roller and the holding cam is in a holding release state, when the drive cam is in an engaged state with the follower.

A cam device includes a drive cam, a follower, a holding cam, and a restriction roller. The drive cam reciprocally rotates. The follower intermittently reciprocate linearly by the drive cam. The holding cam is rotationally driven integrally with the drive cam. The restriction roller is provided on the follower and restricts a movement of the follower by coming in contact with the holding cam. The holding cam separates from the restriction roller and the holding cam is in a holding release state, when the drive cam is in an engaged state with the follower.

Apparatus for machining hubs for vehicles, comprising a first machining group (11) having a first number (n1) of first stations, an inbound transfer station (11a), an outbound transfer station (11b), a loading station (117) and an unloading station (118); a second machining group (12) having a second number (n2) of second stations, an inbound transfer station (12a) and an outbound transfer station (12b); a first rotating table (13) having a number of first workpiece-holder sectors (131) equal to the first number (n1); where the first sectors (131) face the first stations; a second rotating table (14) having a number of second sectors (141) equal to said second number (n2); the second sectors (141) face the second stations; a first transfer group (15) for transferring workpieces between the first machining group (11) and the second machining group (12).

A combined transfer and storage device for machining comprises a storage level, a transfer device, at least one machining interface, and a feeding interface. The storage level comprises two or more storages that are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction and having storage spaces for workpiece carriers, which are arranged one above the other for holding blanks or machined workpieces. The transfer device extends in the longitudinal direction. The machining interface is used for directly or mediately coupling with a machine tool. The feeding interface is accessible for a driverless transport vehicle. The transfer device accomplishes a workpiece transfer between the feeding interface, the storage level and the at least one machining interface. A manufacturing line is provided with a combined transfer and storage device and with at least one manufacturing system having at least one machine tool and a handling cell that is arranged between a machining interface of the combined transfer and storage device and the machine tool.