Multi-spindle end effector
OwnerGlen A. Carlson IIIinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-spindle end effector is provided for a multiple axis robot. The multi-spindle end effector includes a plate housing having at least a pair of spaced-apart spindles mounted thereon. A servo-motor drivingly engages the spindles. A gear box steps down the RPMs of the motor to the desired RPM of the object to be rotated. A timing belt, which may be continuous, interlinks the first and second spindles so that the rotation of first spindle matches the rotation of the second spindle. An idler pulley may be employed to properly tension the belt.
Claims20
An end effector for a multiple axis robot comprising:
- a plate housing adapted to connect to said robot;
- a plurality of spindles rotatably coupled to said plate;
- a motor drivingly engaging at least one of said spindles;
- and
- a synchronizer interconnecting said spindles.
An end effector for a multiple axis robot comprising:
- a plate housing adapted to connect to a sixth axis mounting surface of said robot;
- a plurality of spindles rotatably mounted to said plate housing, said plurality of spindles adapted to rotatably support a plurality of objects to be rotated;
- a motor coupled to said plate housing;
- a gear box drivingly connected to said motor;
- a driving pulley coupled to said gear box;
- a belt coupled to said driving pulley;
- and
- at least one driven pulley coupled to said driving pulley.
An apparatus comprising:
- a robot having an end effector mounting surface;
- and
- an end effector mounted to said end effector mounting surface, said end effector including:
- a base;
- a plurality of objects-to-be-rotated support members rotatably mounted to said base;
- a motor drivingly engaging said plurality of mounting members;
- and
- a rotation synchronizer interengaging said motor and said plurality of support members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.