Fail-safe electromagnetic tool changer system and apparatus

Abstract

A tool changer system includes a robot arm, an electromagnetic adhesion system, and a kinematic mount alignment system. The robot arm includes a rotating component and a controller that adjusts an electrical current. The electromagnetic adhesion system includes an electromagnetic tool changer. The electromagnetic tool changer includes a permanent electromagnet that produces a magnetic field in an absence of the electrical current and cancels a produced magnetic field in response to a particular value of the electrical current. The permanent electromagnet is sized and shaped for coupling with a tool changer receiver mounted to a modular tool. The kinematic mount alignment system includes a plurality of tool changer alignment elements located on the electromagnetic tool changer. The plurality of tool changer alignment elements are sized and shaped to couple with complementary alignment elements on the tool changer receiver.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.