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US 5,192,844 AGranted
Robotic tool adaptor apparatus
AssigneeToddco General, Inc.
InventorsThomas Todd, Todd B. Skinner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool changing system having high current surface mount tools, such as a hot bar reflow soldering head. The tool changing system includes a mounting fixture for connecting and disconnecting the surface mounting tool to a robotic unit. A low profile, small diameter robotic tool adaptor is utilized for coupling a variety of different types and kinds of robotic units to the surface mount tool and to reduce lead to pad misalignment problem caused by non-copolanarity between the mounting surface of the robotic unit and the working surface of the surface mount tool.
Claims18
A tool adaptor for coupling a robotic controlled tool to a robotic unit, said adaptor comprising:
- coupling means disposed intermediate the tool and the robotic unit;
- means defining a centrally disposed cavity in said coupling means for helping to facilitate supplying power to the tool;
- means defining a robotic power passageway between the robotic unit and said means defining a cavity for permitting source power supplied through the robotic unit to be interconnected to the tool;
- means defining a tool power passageway between the tool and said means defining a cavity for permitting source power supplied through the robotic unit to be interconnected to the tool;
- fastening means for attaching said coupling means intermediate the tool and the robotic unit;
- means for mounting said fastening means to said coupling means, wherein said means defining a cavity is disposed intermediate said means for mounting;
- wherein said coupling means includes tool coupling means secured to the tool for helping to couple electrical power to the tool, robotic couplings means for supporting from above said tool coupling means, said robotic coupling means being adapted to be secured to the robotic unit, and engaging means partially disposed in said robotic coupling means and partially disposed in said tool coupling means for securing matingly removably together said robotic coupling means and said tool coupling means;
- wherein said robotic coupling means including means defining a large centrally disposed opening, said opening being sufficiently large to receive therein a plurality of electrical conductors, and said tool coupling means including another large centrally disposed opening, said other opening being sufficiently large to receive therein a plurality of electrical conductors;
- wherein said coupling means further includes connector means for coupling electrical power between the robotic unit and the robotic controlled tool;
- wherein said coupling means further includes means for mounting said connector means within said cavity;
- and
- wherein said means for mounting includes a robotic coupled printed circuit board having a group of downwardly depending electrical connectors adapted to be coupled to the robotic unit and a tool coupled printed circuit board having a group of upwardly depending electrical connectors adapted to be coupled to the robotic controlled tool.
9 more elements
A tool adaptor for coupling a robotic controlled tool to a robotic unit, said adaptor comprising:
- coupling means disposed intermediate the tool and the robotic unit;
- means defining a centrally disposed cavity in said coupling means for helping to facilitate supplying power to the tool;
- means defining a robotic power passageway between the robotic unit and said means defining a cavity for permitting source power supplied through the robotic unit to be interconnected to the tool;
- and
- means defining a tool power passageway between the tool and said means defining a cavity for permitting source power supplied through the robotic unit to be interconnected to the tool;
- fastening means for attaching said coupling means intermediate the tool and the robotic unit;
- means for mounting said fastening means to said coupling means, wherein said means defining a cavity is disposed intermediate said means for mounting;
- wherein said coupling means includes tool coupling means secured to the tool for helping to couple electrical power to the tool, robotic couplings means for supporting from above said tool coupling means, said robotic coupling means being adapted to be secured to the robotic unit, and engaging means partially disposed in said robotic coupling means and partially disposed in said tool coupling means for securing matingly removably together said robotic coupling means and said tool coupling means;
- wherein said robotic coupling means including means defining a large centrally disposed opening, said opening being sufficiently large to receive therein a plurality of electrical conductors, and said tool coupling means including another large centrally disposed opening, said other opening being sufficiently large to receive therein a plurality of electrical conductors;
- and
- wherein said robotic coupling means includes at least one fluid connector for receiving fluid under pressure from the robotic unit, said robotic coupling means further including a robotic fluid passageway for coupling the fluid under pressure to the tool, and
- said robotic fluid passageway having an inlet in fluid communication with said fluid connector and an outlet for discharging the fluid therefrom.
9 more elements
A tool changing system for use with a robotic unit having a robotic arm, said system comprising:
- a low profile tool adaptor for attaching a robotic controlled tool to the robotic unit;
- tool support stand means for supporting a portion of said low profile tool adaptor so that the tool may be attached to the robotic unit;
- said low profile tool adaptor including robotic changer means and tool changer means;
- said robotic changer means having a plurality of electrical connectors for supplying electrical power to said tool, said robotic changer means being attached removably to the robotic unit;
- said tool changer means being secured removably to said tool for supporting it from above;
- said tool changer means having connector means for supplying electrical power to said tool, said connector means being adapted to engage matingly said plurality of electrical connectors;
- coupling means partially disposed in said robotic changer means and partially disposed in said tool changer means for securing removably said tool changer means to said robotic changer means;
- means for causing said coupling means to engage matingly said plurality of electrical connectors with said connectors means for supplying electrical power to the tool;
- and
- said tool support stand means including means for supporting said tool changer means in alignment between said robotic changer means and said motor means to facilitate said means engaging said coupling means to secure removably together said robotic changer means and said lower tool changer means;
- and
- wherein said coupling means includes a pair of printed circuit boards, one of said printed circuit boards being mounted removably to the robotic changer means and the other one of said printed circuit boards being mounted removably to the tool changer means;
- one of said printed circuit boards having a plurality of female electrical connectors and the other one of said printed circuit boards having a plurality of male electrical connectors;
- and
- said male and female electrical connectors being disposed in aligning relationship to enable said male connectors to be received within said female connectors when said robotic changer means and said tool changer means are secured removably together.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.