A device for harvesting mushrooms from a mushroom bed involves a robotic aim configured to interchangeably deploy one of a plurality of different suction grippers, each of the suction grippers having a suction cup having a size and shape profile appropriate for gripping a cap of a mushroom, the cap having a size and shape profile within a predetermined range. A vacuum source in fluid communication with the suction gripper supplies negative air pressure to the suction gripper for retaining a cap of the mushroom to be harvested in the suction cup. A control circuit in electronic communication with the suction gripper and the vacuum source is configured to automatically adjust the negative air pressure in the suction gripper in response to harvesting requirements during a mushroom harvesting process. A few standard mushroom shapes have been identified, which permits suction cup designs that maximize contact between the suction cups and the mushroom caps, which permits minimizing the strength of the vacuum needed to harvest the mushrooms.

An electrostatic powdering robot for a powder booth, the robot including a projector for performing electrostatic powder coating. In order to reduce the time required for powder removal from the booth and facilitate automation of powder removal, the robot further includes a robotic arm, which is articulated and which carries the projector for positioning the projector, as well as a blower, for blowing a powder removal fluid, preferably air, the robotic arm carrying the blower to position the blower inside the booth, so that the blower blows the powder removal fluid onto a surface to be de-powdered inside the electrostatic powdering booth and thereby removes the residual powder coating the surface to be de-powdered.

An inkjet coating machine is provided to prevent the components in the paint from precipitating. The inkjet coating machine includes: a robot arm having a chuck at a front end and a nozzle head unit detachably mounted on the chuck. The nozzle head unit includes a nozzle head having a nozzle for spraying the paint, a nozzle control unit for controlling driving of the nozzle, and a head-side circulation path enabling the paint to circulate within the nozzle head. The nozzle head, the nozzle control unit and the head-side circulation path are integrally configured. The coating machine further includes a standby holding unit that holds at least one nozzle head unit in standby and a head replacement unit that replaces the nozzle head unit.

An article gripping device causes a gripping member to grip an article, and subsequently discharge the article by releasing the gripping of the article by the gripping member. The article gripping device is provided with a gripping member driving mechanism to drive the gripping member, and a controller to control the gripping member driving mechanism. The controller has, as control modes for the gripping member driving mechanism, a first control mode and a second control mode that is separate from the first control mode. In the first control mode, the controller controls the gripping member driving mechanism to cause the gripping member to execute a first operation of gripping the article and subsequently releasing the gripping of the article. In the second control mode, the controller controls the gripping member driving mechanism to cause the gripping member to execute a second operation of removing matter adhering to the gripping member.

An apparatus for the robot-assisted machining of surfaces is described. In accordance with one embodiment, the device comprises the following: a support which can be mounted on a manipulator, a machining device with a tool (e.g. a grinding disc) and a linear actuator for adjusting the relative position of a tool in relation to the support. The apparatus further has a maintenance unit comprising a swiveling bracket. The bracket is swivel-mounted on the support such that, by swiveling the bracket, the maintenance unit can be positioned at least partially before the tool.

A system and method for handling a dish, comprising: inserting a tapered finger between said dish which is stacked together with another dish; gripping said dish using an end effector having at least two fingers, wherein the distance of separation between said two fingers is configurable; moving said end effector to a plurality of locations using a first rotary arm connected to a second rotary arm, wherein said second rotary arm is connected to said end effector, and said first and second rotary arms rotate about axes that are parallel to each other; moving said first rotary arm at two or more heights using a height arm connected to said first rotary arm, whereby said robot can pick up, hold and drop off said dish.

A waste sorting robot comprises a manipulator moveable within a working area. A suction gripper is connected to the manipulator and arranged to selectively grip a waste object in the working area. An air supply is in fluid communication with the suction gripper and configured to generate an airflow along an airflow path in the suction gripper. A solvent outlet in fluid communication with a solvent supply wherein the solvent outlet configured to dose the airflow with the solvent.

Systems and methods of clearing clogs in nibs used for vacuum retrieval of dispensable units are described. For example, a system may include a container having a side surface, a base, and a protrusion. To facilitate dislodging debris from the nib, the nib may be positioned into contact with a protrusion in a volume at least partially defined by the side surface and the base. Further, or instead, because the contact between the nib and the protrusion occurs within the volume, the systems and methods of the present disclosure may increase the likelihood of collecting debris that has been removed from the nib.

In one embodiment, a robotic system comprises: a robot comprising a robotic actuator and at least one robotic arm mechanically coupled to the robotic actuator; a suction gripper mechanism that comprises: a linear shaft element; an internal airflow passage within the linear shaft configured to communicate an airflow between an airflow application port at a first end of the linear shaft and a gripping port positioned at an opposing second end of the linear shaft; a suction cup assembly comprising a suction cup element coupled to the gripping port; and an actuator configured to rotate the linear shaft in order to articulate an orientation of the suction cup assembly.

Provided is an excellent robot device capable of preferably detecting difference between dirt and a scratch on a lens of a camera and difference between dirt and a scratch on a hand. A robot device detects a site in which there is the dirt or the scratch using an image of the hand taken by a camera as a reference image. Further, this determines whether the detected dirt or scratch is due to the lens of the camera or the hand by moving the hand. The robot device performs cleaning work assuming that the dirt is detected, and then this detects the difference between the dirt and the scratch depending on whether the dirt is removed.