An attaching mechanism includes a fastening member, a first member, a second member including an insertion portion through which the fastening member passes, and a third member configured to enable the fastening member to pass through the insertion portion when the third member is located at a first position, and engage with the fastening member and disable the fastening member from passing through the insertion portion when the third member is located at a second position. When the third member is located at the second position, and the fastening member is moved toward a predetermined direction, the third member is pressed by the fastening member toward the predetermined direction, and the second member is attached to the first member.

An end effector adaptor device for a robotic arm may have a body adapted to be secured to a working end of a robotic arm at a proximal face, the body having a distal face configured for connection of an end effector thereto. A proximal connector is in the proximal face, the proximal connector configured to be connected to a complementary connector at the working end of the robotic arm for signal and power transmission between the robotic arm and the body. A distal connector is in the distal face, the distal connector configured to be connected to a complementary connector at the end effector connected to the distal face for signal transmission and/or power transmission between the body and the end effector. Circuitry is between the proximal connector and the distal connector.

A robot end effector for dispensing an extrudable substance comprises a chassis, cartridge bays, attached to the chassis and each shaped to receive a corresponding one of two-part cartridges, and a manifold, comprising a manifold outlet, manifold inlets, and a valve inlet. When the two-part cartridges are received by the cartridge bays, the manifold inlets are in fluidic communication with corresponding ones of the two-part cartridges via static mixers, attached to cartridge outlets of the two-part cartridges. The robot end effector additionally comprises a head assembly, comprising pairs of fittings, configured to selectively supply compressed air from a pressure source to the two-part cartridges when the two-part cartridges are received by the cartridge bays, so that contents of the two-part cartridges are concurrently extruded through the cartridge outlets.

A self-propelled gripper is installed on a robotic arm. The robotic arm includes a body and a tip axis. The self-propelled gripper includes a housing, a rotation element, a moving element, and at least one claw body. The housing is fixed on the body. The rotation element is disposed in the housing and secured with the tip axis. The moving element is movably disposed in the housing and is connected to the rotation element. The moving element includes at least one slot. The claw body is pivoted on the housing and partially extends in the corresponding slot. When the rotation element rotates along with the tip axis, the rotation element drives the moving element to process a linear motion along a rotation central line so that the claw body pivotally rotates on the housing.

A robot arm including a first joint, a second joint, and a coupling element is provided. The first joint has a first inclined surface. The second joint is jointed to the first joint and has a second inclined surface. The coupling element has a third inclined surface and a fourth inclined surface opposite to the third inclined surface, wherein the third inclined surface contacts the first inclined surface, and the fourth inclined surface contacts the second inclined surface.

A slim and long multifunctional gripping mechanism has a bending- and torsion-resistant structure, on which several finger, suction, magnetic head and other mechanisms for a multitude of tasks are arranged. The gripper arm is composed in sandwich configuration of several cages placed on top of each other, like a multi-stage tower. The individual cages consist of two plates in parallel in lightweight construction, with their mutual distance being ensured by several rods, spokes, wires, ropes and strings. Most of the drives are contained within the first cage after the flange. From that position, all mechanisms participating in the action of the gripper are driven by rods, shafts, ropes, chains or belts traversing the cages. Further cages are used to attach and accommodate the components of finger mechanisms. Movable cages are used as drives for finger, suction or magnetic head mechanisms. Several finger mechanisms perform a different task each.

An attachment device configured for attaching a product sprayer for coating workpieces onto a robotic arm, the attachment device including a cover which is rigidly attached to the robotic arm and which has a substantially cylindrical shape extending along a longitudinal axis, a nut with a substantially cylindrical shape mounted on the cover and including a first helical portion, a substantially annular flange mounted rigidly attached to the sprayer, including a second helical portion arranged for mating with the first helical portion of the nut, and a deformable ring mounted on the nut and including an annular portion providing an axial stop of the ring with respect to the nut, and a deformable portion configured for being deformed by interacting with the flange so as to provide a connection between the flange and the ring.

The present invention is an apparatus and method for replacing used electrode tips of a TIG welder. The apparatus has a main housing structure with a socket adapter assembly that is operatively supported by the main housing structure. The socket adapter assembly is used to both remove and re-attach the gas shield and the electrode nut of the TIG welder. A vacuum tip suction device that is operatively supported by the main housing structure is used to both remove and install electrode tips for the TIG welder.

A gripper apparatus for loading workpieces to a grinding system includes a mount, a gas-supply coupler, a gas manifold, pneumatic cylinders, and grippers. The gas-supply coupler is supported by the mount and has a first end that detachably mates with a corresponding coupler attached to an external gas-supply conduit. The gas manifold is supported by the mount and is coupled to a second end of the gas-supply coupler. The pneumatic cylinders are supported by the mount, with each pneumatic cylinder being arranged to receive a supply of gas via the gas manifold. The grippers are respectively attached to the pneumatic cylinders. Each gripper has an opened state and a closed state brought about by controlled actuation of a corresponding pneumatic cylinder. The mount includes openings, with each of the openings being structured to receive a corresponding shaft for attaching the mount to a gantry assembly of the grinding system.

The invention relates to a tool changer for a robot, including a base unit, a changing unit, which can be locked on the base unit, movable locking elements, which are provided on the base unit, receptacles, which are provided on the changing unit, the locking elements interacting, in a locking position, with the receptacles in order to lock the changing unit on the base unit and releasing, in an unlocking position, the receptacles, and a rotary element, which is provided on the base unit and is mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the rotary element, the locking elements being movement-coupled to the rotary element in such a way that the locking elements are moved when the rotary element is rotated.