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US 2024/0198539 A1Published application
Tool changer
AssigneeProgressive Surface, Inc.
InventorMitchell Scott Hopkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool changer includes a base, a hose coupler that is configured to be mounted to a robot arm and an adapter. Movement of a robot arm may be utilized to selectively couple and decouple the components of the tool changer to each other whereby tool changes can be accomplished without manual operations.
Claims47
A tool changer for robotic systems, the tool changer comprising:
- a base having a plurality of Z-shaped slots;
- a hose coupler that is configured to be mounted to a robot arm, the hose coupler including a plurality of L-shaped slots and an internal passageway that is open at opposite ends of the hose coupler whereby the hose coupler can be coupled to a hose to permit solid media and gas and/or other matter from the hose to pass through the internal passageway of the hose coupler;
- an adapter having a connecting structure that permits a tool to be secured to the adapter, the adapter further including an internal passageway that is open at opposite ends of the adapter, and a first set of pins that are configured to releasably engage the L-shaped slots of the hose coupler to couple the adapter to the hose coupler whereby, in use, solid media and gas and/or other matter from the hose coupler can flow through the internal passageway of the adapter, the adapter further including a second set of pins that are configured to releasably engage the Z-shaped slots of the base, whereby in use the adapter can be positioned on the base with the second set of pins engaging the Z-shaped slots of the base, and the hose coupler can be attached to a robot arm whereby the hose coupler can be moved into engagement with the adapter such that the first set of pins of the adapter enter first portions of the L-shaped slots of the hose coupler followed by rotation of the hose coupler such that the first set of pins of the adapter move into second portions of the L-shaped slots of the hose coupler to attach the adapter to the hose coupler, and wherein the robot arm can then disengage the adapter from the base by shifting the adapter to move the second set of pins from end portions of the Z-shaped slots of the base, followed by rotation of the adapter to move the second set of pins in transverse portions of the Z-shaped slots of the base, followed by shifting the adapter to move the second set of pins out of open end portions of the Z-shaped slots of the base.
A tool changer for robotic systems, the tool changer comprising:
- a base having a first connecting structure;
- a hose coupler that is configured to be mounted to a robot arm, the hose coupler including a second connecting structure;
- an adapter that is configured to have a tool secured thereto, the adapter including a third connecting structure that is configured to releasably engage the second connecting structure of the hose coupler to releasably couple the adapter to the hose coupler, the adapter further including a fourth connecting structure that is configured to engage the first connecting structure of the base, whereby in use the adapter can be supported by the base with the fourth connecting structure engaging the first connecting structure of the base, and the hose coupler can be attached to a robot arm whereby the hose coupler can be moved into engagement with the adapter such that the third connecting structure of the adapter engages the second connecting structure of the hose coupler whereby the adapter is coupled to the hose coupler due to movement of the hose coupler relative to the adapter, and wherein the robot arm can then decouple the adapter from the base by moving the adapter to disengage the fourth connecting structure from the first connecting structure whereby the adapter can be moved away from the base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.