Electric Motor Driven Robotic Tool Changer Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic tool changers rely on pneumatic pressure for actuation, which is costly, cumbersome, and prone to outages, making them unreliable in industrial applications.
Innovation Solution
An electrically actuated robotic tool changer that uses an electric motor to drive a piston and ball member mechanism for coupling and decoupling the master and tool modules, eliminating the need for pneumatic pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pneumatic pressure is used to actuate the tool changer, then the coupling mechanism can be simple and reliable, but the system becomes costly, cumbersome, and prone to outages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the pneumatic actuation system with an electric motor-driven mechanism. The electric motor (200) drives a piston (32) through a gear train (226), substituting the pneumatic pressure system with an electrically actuated mechanical system that eliminates the need for compressed air infrastructure while providing reliable and controllable actuation for the ball members (28).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent eliminates the pneumatic system entirely by using an electric motor-driven mechanical transmission system. The gear train (226) converts rotational motion from the electric motor into linear motion of the piston, providing a clean substitution that removes dependency on pneumatic infrastructure while maintaining reliable actuation force.
2Force
If pneumatic pressure is used for actuation, then the coupling force can be sufficient, but the system is costly and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the pneumatic pressure system with an electric motor-driven mechanical transmission system. The gear train (226) provides mechanical advantage to amplify the motor's output force, delivering sufficient coupling force through the piston (32) to press the ball members (28) against the tool module while eliminating costly pneumatic infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses spherical ball members (28) that are pressed against a curved or angled surface in the tool module. This spherical contact geometry concentrates the actuation force from the piston onto a small area, maximizing the coupling force efficiency while allowing smooth engagement and disengagement of the tool changer.
3Reliability
If pneumatic pressure is used, then the tool changer can operate reliably, but it is prone to outages when pneumatic power is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the pneumatic actuation system with an electric motor-driven mechanism. The electric motor (200) provides direct electrical actuation without dependency on pneumatic infrastructure, eliminating outages caused by compressed air system failures while maintaining reliable operation through standard electrical power supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric motor-driven system can detect and respond to operational conditions autonomously. The control system can monitor the coupling status and actuate the piston (32) as needed to maintain proper engagement, providing self-regulating operation that prevents failures from propagating without requiring external pneumatic pressure maintenance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides a reliable and cost-effective solution for coupling and decoupling robotic tools, ensuring secure and consistent operation even in the absence of pneumatic power, enhancing the robustness and safety of robotic tool changers.
Implementation Method 1
an electric motor operative to drive the coupling mechanism between coupled and decoupled positions
Implementation Method 2
a piston having at least one tapered surface disposed in the master unit, the piston operative to urge the ball members radially outward of the collar as the piston moves from a retracted, decoupled position to an extended, coupled position
Implementation Method 3
the tool unit chamber includes an angled surface opposite each collar hole when the master and tool units are abutted, the angled surface operative to direct a component of the force applied to it by the ball members towards the master unit
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic tool changer comprises first and second units, operative to be separately attached to a robot and a robotic tool, and further operative to be selectively coupled together and decoupled. The first and second units are coupled and decoupled by an electric motor. Power from the electric motor may be applied to couple and decouple the first and second units in a variety of ways.