Data monitoring for interchangeable robot end-of-arm tools

A method for monitoring data for interchangeable end-of-arm tools for robots, said method comprising:

• providing a data collection device having a processor and memory and in communication with all robot controllers at a facility, said data collection device being configured with a database for storing usage and maintenance data for a plurality of uniquely identified interchangeable end-of-arm tools;
• copying the usage and maintenance data for a particular one of the end-of-arm tools to a controller of a robot when the particular end-of-arm tool is attached to the robot;
• updating the usage and maintenance data for the particular end-of-arm tool while the tool is attached to the robot;
• copying updated values of the usage and maintenance data for the particular end-of-arm tool from the controller of the robot to the data collection device when the tool is detached from the robot or on a periodic time schedule;
• uploading certain values of the usage and maintenance data for an end-of-arm tool from a controller of a maintenance robot to the data collection device, or from a user interface on a device communicating with the data collection device, including uploading all values of the usage and maintenance data for a new end-of-arm tool, or uploading updated maintenance event and schedule data for an end-of-arm tool which has had maintenance performed;
• and
• viewing the end-of-arm tool data in the database via the user interface.

A monitoring system for interchangeable end-of-arm tools for industrial robots, said system comprising:

• a plurality of robots;
• a plurality of uniquely identified end-of-arm tools, where each of the end-of-arm tools is interchangeable among one or more of the robots;
• a dedicated robot controller in communication with each of the robots, each controller having a processor and memory;
• a data collection device in communication with the robot controllers and configured with a database for storing usage and maintenance data for the end-of-arm tools, where the usage and maintenance data for a particular one of the end-of-arm tools is copied from the data collection device to a controller of a robot when the particular end-of-arm tool is attached to the robot, the usage and maintenance data for the particular end-of-arm tool is updated by the controller of the robot while the tool is attached to the robot, and updated values of the usage and maintenance data for the particular end-of-arm tool are copied from the controller of the robot to the data collection device when the tool is detached from the robot;
• and
• a maintenance robot in communication with the data collection device, where certain values of the usage and maintenance data for an end-of-arm tool are uploaded from a controller of the maintenance robot to the data collection device, including uploading all values of the usage and maintenance data for a new end-of-arm tool, or uploading updated maintenance event and schedule data for an end-of-arm tool which has had maintenance performed while installed on the maintenance robot.