ATI Industrial Automation, Inc. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140270926 | Ball Lock Compensator for Use with a Robotic Device - A compensation device configured to be positioned between a robotic arm and a robotic tool. The device may be configured to directly attach to the tool, or may be configured to be positioned away from the tool. The device generally includes a first section that connects to the robotic arm and a second section that connects to the tool. The second section is movable relative to the first section to provide for the tool to be positioned at various orientations. The second section may comply rotationally about a first axis. The second section may be movable in a second plane. In one embodiment, the second plane is perpendicular to the first axis. | 09-18-2014 |
20100327668 | ROBOT CRASH PROTECTOR - A robotic crash protector device is configured for heavy payload applications. The device includes a housing, a piston and an actuator movably mounted within the housing, a cam member secured within the housing in fixed relation to the housing's base, and a switch. The cam member includes a cam surface with some portions being closer to the housing's base than other portions. The actuator includes bearing members that are configured to, responsive to a rotational force imparted to the actuator, move along the cam surface and thereby collectively displace the piston. The switch detects this displacement and indicates a crash. When moving along the cam surface, the bearing members are each configured to engage the surface along a line of contact, rather than at a single point. With forces imparted to each bearing member and the cam surface distributed across a line, the components better endure heavy payload applications. | 12-30-2010 |
20100197472 | POWER CONTROL OF A ROBOTIC TOOL CHANGER - A robotic tool changer removably attaches a robotic tool to a robotic arm. The changer includes a tool module connected to the robotic tool, and a master module connected to the robotic arm. To attach and detach the robotic tool, the changer couples and uncouples the tool module and the master module. A master electrical signal module (ESM) affixes to the master module and a tool ESM affixes to the tool module. In accordance with design requirements, the changer applies the same power supply to both the master ESM and the tool ESM. The changer, however, selectively suppresses application of the power supply to the tool ESM, while maintaining application of the power supply to the master ESM, during the coupling or uncoupling of the master module and the tool module. In doing so, the changer enables such coupling and uncoupling, while also preventing the formation of transient electric arcs. | 08-05-2010 |
20100113236 | Manual Robotic Tool Changer Having Rapid Coupling Mechanism - A manually actuated robotic tool changer includes a rapid coupling mechanism. The tool changer includes a master unit having a piston moveable along its axis between an unlocked position and a fully locked position, and a tool unit that is coupled to the master unit when the units are adjacent and the piston is moved to the fully locked position. A piston movement control mechanism selectively allows free axial motion of the piston between the unlocked position and a nearly locked position, when the control mechanism is actuated. The piston may be biased toward the locked position, allowing the master and tool units to be rapidly coupled by positioning the units adjacently, actuating the control mechanism to allow the piston to rapidly advance to a nearly locked position, releasing the control mechanism to restrict free axial motion of the piston, and manually advancing the piston to a fully locked position. | 05-06-2010 |
20100062919 | Manual Robotic Tool Changer with Rotating Piston - A manually actuated robotic tool changer includes a first housing having a generally cylindrical piston with a central axis partially extending from the first housing, the piston rotatable about the axis. A plurality of tabs are disposed about the circumference of a portion of the piston extending from the first housing. A second housing has a bore to receive a portion of the piston. A plurality of locking lugs are disposed about the bore. The tool changer is manually actuated from an unlocked position wherein the piston assumes a position with respect to the first housing such that the extending portion of the piston may be moved within the bore with the tabs moving between the locking lugs, to a locked position wherein the piston is rotated with respect to the first housing such that the tabs move beneath the locking lugs to lock the first and second housings together. | 03-11-2010 |
20100059943 | Manual Robotic Tool Changer with Rolling Members - A manually actuated robotic tool changer comprises master and tool units, each adapted to be connected to a different one of a robotic arm and a robotic tool. The tool changer includes a plurality of rolling members retained in one of the units and a piston mounted in one of the units and moveable in an axial direction. The piston includes a multi-faceted cam surface including an initial contact surface, a locking surface, and a failsafe surface interposed between the initial contact surface and the locking surface. When the piston is in a locked position in the tool changer, the cam surface is operative to contact the rolling members in one of the units and to urge each rolling member against a surface of the other unit to couple the master and tool units together. | 03-11-2010 |
20100009825 | Compliant Service Transfer Module for Robotic Tool Changer - A compliant service transfer module, which transfers services such as electricity, data, pneumatic fluid, etc., between a robotic arm and an attached tool, aligns service transfer points as the two units of the module mate, when the units are misaligned. A floating structure disposed in the first unit is operative to move laterally within a chamber in the housing of the first unit, to align service transfer points with the corresponding service transfer points of a second unit, when the two units are mated together but are not fully aligned. The floating structure protrudes from the first housing, and in the case of misalignment, contacts an angled inner wall of a chamber in the housing of the second unit, which moves the floating structure laterally to align the service transfer points. The floating structure returns to a default, centered position when the two units are not mated together. | 01-14-2010 |
20090322041 | Rotating Coupling for Robotic Tool Changer with Actuation Mechanism - In a robotic tool coupler, a rotating cam surface ring having a plurality of surfaces formed therein urges a plurality of ball members in one tool coupling unit radially to contact a coupling surface in the other tool coupling unit. Mechanical energy captured and stored upon decoupling the units is used by an actuation mechanism, upon manual initiation, to at least partially automatically couple the two units by partially rotating the rotating cam surface ring. Further manual rotation of the cam member exerts a radial force through the ball members onto the coupling surface. A component of that force is directed by the coupling surface toward the opposite tool coupling unit, locking the two units together. | 12-31-2009 |
20090179504 | Linearly Actuated Switch for Robot Crash Protector Device - A linearly actuated switch assembly is adjustably disposed in a housing stem bore of a robotic crash protector device. An actuation plate is disposed over the central bore of the contact surface. As the piston moves toward the housing base in response to a crash force or torque applied to the actuator, the actuation plate moves in an axial direction, and contacts and actuates the switch. The actuation plate is biased towards the contact surface by an actuation spring disposed between the actuation plate and a spring plate that is rigidly affixed to the housing stem. This arrangement allows the actuation plate to “float” with respect to the fixed spring plate. In particular, the actuation plate may assume the orientation of the piston, which may be canted from its default orientation—normal to the device central axis—by uneven application of force by the actuator. | 07-16-2009 |