US 2017/0144230 A1Published application

Tool changing device

AssigneeGimatic S.p.A.

InventorGuerino ROSSO

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Abstract

A tool changing device is described, which is provided with a male portion constrainable to a handler and a female portion constrainable to a tool to be handled and removably fittable on the male portion. Locking means are provided to lock the female portion on the male portion, and their respective actuator comprising an electric motor. The locking means are selectively movable between a locked position of the female portion and an unlocked position. Differently from conventional solutions, in the device according to the present invention advantageously the activation of the locking means is not assigned to the electric motor, on the contrary the latter has the task of only moving the locking means to the unlocked position; an elastic element is provided instead, which continuously applies a force holding the locking means in the locked position. The electric motor intervenes only to allow the female portion to be separated.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A tool changing device (1) comprising:

a main body (2) constrainable to an external handling system;
a male portion (4) housed in the main body (2);
a female portion (5) constrainable to a tool to be handled and removably fittable on the male portion (4);
locking means (11) to lock the female portion (5) on the male portion (4), and
an actuator (13, 14) of the locking means (11),
wherein the locking means (11) are selectively movable between a locked position, at which they engage the female portion (5) fitted on the male portion (4) and prevent it from detaching from the male portion (4), and an unlocked position at which they do not engage the female portion (5) and allow it detaching from the male portion (4),
wherein the actuator (13, 14) of the locking means comprises at least one elastic element (20) and an electric motor, and in that the elastic element (20) continuously applies a force onto the locking means (11) sufficient to move and hold them to the locked position, and the electric motor (15) intervenes when necessary in order to counter such a force and move the locking means (11) to the unlocked position.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.