US 8,005,570 B2 · Robotic tool changer

Abstract

A robotic tool changer having a master unit and a tool unit adapted to be coupled together. Movably mounted in the master unit of the robotic tool changer is a piston that is movable between locked and unlocked positions. The piston includes a contact area having an unlocking surface, a failsafe surface and a locking surface. Also provided is a series of rolling members contained within a retention area that are actuated by the piston to lock the master unit to the tool unit. For example, the piston engages the rolling members and urges them into a locked relationship with a bearing race that forms a part of the tool unit. To prevent the inadvertent or accidental movement of the piston from the locked position to the unlocked position, the piston is provided with a retarding surface generally disposed between the locking surface and the unlocking surface on the piston for retarding the movement of the piston as the piston moves from the locked position to the unlocked position.

Claims45

Dependent claims

A robotic tool changer comprising:

a. a first unit;
b. a second unit;
c. a plurality of rolling members disposed in a retention area in one of the units;
d. a piston movably mounted in one of the units of the robotic tool changer and movable between locked and unlocked positions;
e. in the locked position, the piston is operative to engage the rolling members in one of the units and to urge the rolling members against a surface of the other unit to lock the two units together;
f. the piston including a stem movable back and forth through an opening in the robotic tool changer;
and
g. wherein the stem of the piston includes a step for engaging a portion of the opening and wherein the engagement of the step of the piston with a portion of the opening tends to at least slightly restrain the movement of the piston during at least a portion of the piston's movement as the piston moves from the locked position to the unlocked position.

5 more elements

A robotic tool changer comprising:

a. a first unit;
b. a second unit;
c. a plurality of rolling members disposed in a retention area in one of the units;
d. a locking surface associated with the other unit and adapted to be engaged by the rolling members such that the engagement of the rolling members with the locking surface locks the first and second units together;
e. a piston movably mounted within one of the units of the robotic tool changer and movable between locked and unlocked positions;
f. the piston including a locking surface and a contact surface;
g. the piston further including a failsafe surface disposed between the piston locking surface and the contact surface, the failsafe surface including at least a portion that projects outwardly from the piston in the path of at least a portion of the rolling members such that as the piston moves from the locked position to the unlocked position the outwardly projecting portion of the failsafe surface engages the rolling members and urges the rolling members towards the locking surface in the other unit, retarding the movement of the piston;
and
h. wherein the failsafe surface is configured such that as the piston moves from the locked position to the unlocked position, the outwardly projecting portion of the failsafe surface will engage the rolling members and an opposing force will result that must be overcome in order for the piston to be moved from the locked position to the unlocked position.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Robotic tool changer

Life of this patent

Robotic tool changer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims45