Reconfigurable end-of-arm tool for robotic arm
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsYhu-Tin Lin, James W. Wells, Bradley J. Walworth, Lance T. Ransom, Roland J. Menassa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A configurable end-of-arm tool attachable to an articulable robotic arm is described. The end-of-arm tool comprises a rail element, a machine-adjustable swing arm, a machine-adjustable extendable shaft attached to the swing arm. A machine-adjustable rotator set is attached to the extendable shaft, and a workpiece interface tool is attached to the extendable shaft. The swing arm, the extendable shaft, and the rotator set are machine-adjustable to place the workpiece interface tool at a predetermined position.
Claims20
A configurable end-of-arm tool attachable to an articulable robotic arm, comprising:
- a rail element defining an x-axis orientation;
- a swing arm having a first end slidably attached to the rail element and machine-adjustable to pivot in an x-y plane;
- an extendable shaft fixedly attached to a second end of the swing arm and having a longitudinal axis projecting in a z-axis orientation orthogonal to the x-y plane and machine-adjustable longitudinally;
- a rotator set attached to the extendable shaft and machine-adjustable to rotate the extendable shaft around the longitudinal axis;
- a workpiece interface tool attached to the extendable shaft;
- and
- the swing arm, the extendable shaft, and the rotator set machine-adjustable to fixedly configure the workpiece interface tool to a predetermined position comprising an x-axis position, a y-axis position, a z-axis position, and a rotational angle about the z-axis.
A configurable end-of-arm tool attachable to an articulable robotic arm, comprising:
- a rail element defining an x-axis orientation;
- a modular assembly mountable on the rail element and comprising a swing arm, an extendable shaft, a rotator set, a first machine interface and a second machine interface;
- a workpiece interface tool attached to the extendable shaft;
- the first and second machine interfaces of the modular assembly engageable to an external end-effector;
- and
- the swing arm, the extendable shaft, and the rotator set each machine-adjustable by the external end-effector and the robotic arm to fixedly configure the workpiece interface tool and the modular assembly to a predetermined position on the rail element comprising an x-axis position, a y-axis position, a z-axis position, and a predetermined rotational angle about the z-axis.
A machine-configurable workpiece interface tool, comprising:
- an end-of-arm tool including a modular assembly slidably attached to a rail element;
- the modular assembly including a slidable carrier assembly, a machine-adjustable swing arm, an extendable shaft attached to the swing arm and attached to a machine-adjustable rotator set;
- the workpiece interface tool attached to a machine-adjustable swivel device attached to the machine-adjustable rotator set;
- and,
- the workpiece interface tool machine-adjustable to a predetermined position on the rail element by machine adjustment of the machine-adjustable swing arm, the machine-adjustable extendable shaft, the machine-adjustable rotator set, and the machine-adjustable swivel device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.