Robot hand for electrostatically applying thin workpiece to mold

A method of applying a thin workpiece into a mold of a robot hand apparatus having a static electricity generating apparatus for generating status electricity on a holding surface, comprising the following steps:

• attracting a thin workpiece to said robot hand holding surface by negative pressure;
• moving said robot hand in place in the mold;
• giving static electricity to said thin workpiece by said static electricity generating apparatus of said robot hand before and after the movement of said robot hand;
• and
• applying said thin workpiece into the mold.

A robot hand apparatus for applying a thin workpiece into a mold that has a static electricity generating apparatus for generating static electricity on a holding surface, wherein said static electricity generating apparatus comprises:

• a frame member attached to an arm forward end of said robot hand apparatus and having a workpiece abutting section with substantially the same shape as that of said thin workpiece on one side;
• metal conductors stretched along said frame member by means of securing members in grooves open on the side of said workpiece abutting section in said frame member;
• and
• high-voltage cables having static electricity shields connected to said metal conductors and being connected to a high-voltage power source.

A method of applying a thin workpiece into a mold of a robot hand apparatus having a static electricity generating apparatus for generating static electricity on a holding surface, comprising the following steps:

• moving said robot hand to abut a workpiece abutting section thereof against a thin workpiece held by a workpiece holding member;
• separating said thin workpiece, from said thin workpiece holding member by said static electricity generating apparatus and allowing said thin workpiece to be attracted to said workpiece abutting member;
• and
• moving said robot hand in place in the mold to apply said thin workpiece into said mold.