US 10,335,957 B2Granted

Magnetically activated tool changer

AssigneeATI Industrial Automation, Inc.

InventorsKyle Russell Zachary, Daniel Allen Norton

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Abstract

A robotic tool changer in which the coupling mechanism is actuated using magnetic force is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a robotic tool changer may include a tool unit operatively connected to a robotic tool and a master unit operative to connect to a robotic arm. The master unit may include a housing and a piston. The piston may be disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to place the master unit in one of a coupled state and a decoupled state. Further, the master unit may be operative to assume the coupled state or the decoupled state in response to altering an orientation of magnetic fields to provide a first magnetic force that moves the piston to the coupled state or provide a second magnetic force that moves the piston to the decoupled state.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A robotic tool changer, comprising:

a tool unit operative to connect to a robotic tool;
and
a master unit operative to connect to a robotic arm, wherein the master unit includes:
a housing;
a piston disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to place the master unit in one of a coupled state and a decoupled state, wherein the coupled state is associated with the master unit being securely coupled to the tool unit and the decoupled state is associated with the master unit being decoupled from the tool unit;
wherein the master unit is operative to assume the coupled state in response to altering an orientation of magnetic fields, by circumferentially moving a first magnetic member at least partially about the piston axis between a first radial position and a second radial position, to provide a first magnetic force that moves the piston to the coupled state and holds it there;
and
wherein the master unit is operative to assume the decoupled state in response to altering an orientation of the magnetic fields to provide a second magnetic force that moves the piston to the decoupled state;
a first magnetic member projecting a plurality of magnetic fields over different surface areas of the first magnetic member, the magnetic fields having a same orientation or at least two of the magnetic fields having opposite orientation, the first magnetic member operative to circumferentially move at least partially about the piston axis between a first radial position and a second radial position.

6 more elements

A method of operating a robotic tool changer having a master unit and a tool unit, the master unit having a piston configured to place the master unit in one of a coupled state and a decoupled state, the coupled state associated with the master unit being securely coupled to the tool unit and the decoupled state associated with the master unit being decoupled from the tool unit, comprising:

aligning and abutting the master unit to the tool unit using the piston;
placing the master unit in the coupled state by altering an orientation of magnetic fields, by circumferentially moving a first magnetic member at least partially about the piston axis between a first radial position and a second radial position, to provide a first magnetic force that moves the piston to the coupled state and holds it there;
and
placing the master unit in the decoupled state by altering an orientation of the magnetic fields to provide a second magnetic force that moves the piston to the decoupled state.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.