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AssigneeApplied Robotics, Inc.
InventorsBruce D. Newell, Thomas J. Petronis, Lawrence R. Krause
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An exchange system is provided for connecting a remote, manipulable element, such as a robot arm tool gripper, to a central control source, such as a robot arm and its associated programmable control. An upper exchange unit attaches to the robot arm and receives control signals which pass through the body of the upper unit to a matable lower exchange unit. A plurality of lower exchange units are provided, each attached to an individual tool gripper and relaying control signals to the gripper. The mating upper and lower exchange units provide for serial connection of the robot arm to any desired one of an array of tool grippers and for communication of control signals through the mated units to each tool gripper without the need for separate control umbilicals between each tool gripper and the control signal source.
A manipulator tool exchange sytem, comprising:
In a manipulator tool exchange unit system comprising first and second exchange units matable along an axis, the improvement comprising matable control signal conducting means mounted in each exchange unit coaxially with the axis of mating, so as to mate upon mating of the exchange units, the control signal conducting means further comprising axially reciprocable spring-loaded electrical signal conducting contact elements mounted in at least one of the matable exchange units.
In a manipulator tool exchange unit system comprising matable first and second exchange units having matable control signal conducting means mounted in each exchange unit, the improvement comprising the control signal conducting means having long axes aligned upon mating of the exchange units and at least one of the mating conducting means being an axially reciprocable spring-loaded electrical signal conducting contact element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.