Couplers that couple rotatable robotic arms and rotatable vacuum-assisted end of arm tools

A method of moving at least one object, the method comprising:

• providing a coupler that couples a vacuum source to a rotatable tool coupled to an end of a rotatable robotic arm that moves the at least one object, the coupler comprising:
• a first portion coupled to both the rotatable tool and the rotatable robotic arm, wherein the first portion and the rotatable tool rotate in response to rotation of the end of the rotatable robotic arm, and wherein the first portion includes a first conduit passing therethrough and in fluid communication with the vacuum source;
• a second portion including a hollow cylindrical interior and positioned around the first portion such that the first portion is fully contained within the hollow cylindrical interior of the second portion, wherein the second portion is fixedly mounted relative to a non-rotatable portion of the rotatable robotic arm such that the second portion does not rotate during rotation of the rotatable robotic arm and the rotatable tool;
• and
• a second conduit extending from an exterior surface of the second portion, the second conduit including a proximal opening coupled to the second portion and a distal opening that couples to a first end of a flexible tube having a second end thereof coupled to the vacuum source, wherein the second conduit is in fluid communication with the first conduit, and wherein the second conduit is fixedly mounted relative to the non-rotatable portion of the rotatable robotic arm such that the second conduit does not rotate during the rotation of the rotatable robotic arm and the rotatable tool;
• bringing the rotatable tool into proximity of the at least one object and activating the vacuum source to hold the at least one object using a vacuum force against a surface of the rotatable tool;
• moving the at least one object from a first location to a second location while the at least one object is held by the vacuum force against the surface of the rotatable tool;
• during the moving of the at least one object from a first location to a second location, rotating the rotatable robotic arm to cause rotation of the first portion of the coupler, rotatable tool, and the at least one object moved by the rotatable tool;
• and
• during the rotation of the rotatable tool and the at least one object moved by the rotatable tool, not rotating the second portion of the coupler and restricting the second conduit and the flexible tube from rotating.

A system for moving at least one object, the system comprising:

• a rotatable robotic arm with an end that is coupled to a rotatable tool that moves the at least one object;
• a vacuum source that is coupled to the rotatable tool to facilitate the rotatable tool to move the at least one object;
• and
• a coupler that couples the vacuum source to the rotatable tool coupled to the end of the rotatable robotic arm, the coupler comprising:
• a first portion coupled to both the rotatable tool and the rotatable robotic arm, wherein the first portion and the rotatable tool rotate in response to rotation of the end of the rotatable robotic arm, and wherein the first portion includes a first conduit passing therethrough and in fluid communication with the vacuum source;
• a second portion including a hollow cylindrical interior and positioned around the first portion such that the first portion is fully contained within the hollow cylindrical interior of the second portion, wherein the second portion is fixedly mounted relative to a non-rotatable portion of the rotatable robotic arm such that the second portion does not rotate during rotation of the rotatable robotic arm and the rotatable tool;
• and
• a second conduit extending from an exterior surface of the second portion, the second conduit including a proximal opening coupled to the second portion and a distal opening that couples to a first end of a flexible tube having a second end thereof coupled to the vacuum source, wherein the second conduit is in fluid communication with the first conduit, and wherein the second conduit is fixedly mounted relative to the non-rotatable portion of the rotatable robotic arm such that the second conduit does not rotate during the rotation of the rotatable robotic arm and the rotatable tool.