A tool changing system that includes a tool mount adapter and a tool holder. The tool mount adapter is configured to be attached to a tool and selectively engage and disengage a tool bit. The tool provides movement to the engaged tool bit to perform work on a workpiece. The tool holder is positioned in proximity to hold the tool bit when the tool bit is not engaged by the tool. The tool holder can also selectively engage and disengage the tool bit.

The invention relates to a tool exchange assembly configured to swap change tool assemblies, said tool exchange assembly at least comprising a gripper with two opposing rails, said rails extending from a base to an end and forming a cam with increasing width along a path from said end to said base, wherein said cam is configured to be positioned in a gap between outer parts of the tool assemblies being relatively movable with regard to each other, and wherein at least one detector is provided to separately determine whether a tool assembly and a tool manipulator is present at the gripper.

A tool changer is described, the tool changer includes a robot-side portion having a longitudinal axis and fixable to a manipulator, and a tool-side portion fixable to a tool and abuts against the robot- side portion along the longitudinal axis. The tool changer also includes a lock to lock the tool-side portion on the robot-side portion, and an actuator of the lock. The lock is selectively movable by the actuator between a locked position, where it engages the tool-side portion that abuts against the robot-side portion, thereby preventing the separation of the two portions of the tool changer, and an unlocked position, where it does not engage the tool-side portion, which can therefore be separated from the robot- side portion. The actuator of the lock is an electric motor whose drive shaft rotates on a rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal axis.

A transport mechanism for wafers of different sizes and types includes a carrier device and a manipulator device. The carrier device has a mounting rack, multiple supporting units, and multiple carrier units. The multiple supporting units are mounted on the mounting rack, and each supporting unit has two supporting bases. Each one of the multiple carrier units has two carrier plates. Each one of the two carrier plates has a connecting rod and two positioning rods. The two positioning rods are respectively located on two sides of the connecting rod. The manipulator device has a driving unit and a manipulator unit. The manipulator unit is mounted on the driving unit and has two arms. Each one of the two arms has a connecting socket and two positioning sockets. The two positioning sockets are respectively located beside the connecting socket. The locking element is movably mounted to the arm.

In various embodiments, a tool plate configured to receive a robotic end effector is removably matable with a robot appendage via a quick-release mechanism.

A device for applying a layer of material within a thin-walled pressure vessel may include one or more maneuvering actuators configured to direct the device within the thin-walled pressure vessel, an applicator operatively coupled to the one or more maneuvering actuators, and a controller operatively coupled to the one or more maneuvering actuators and the applicator, the controller is configured to control the one or more maneuvering actuators and the applicator. The applicator may include an expander configured to apply pressure along a portion of an inner wall of the thin-walled pressure vessel, a receptacle configured to secure the material to the device and position the material along the inner wall of the thin-walled pressure vessel, and a bonder configured to bond the material along the inner wall of the thin-walled pressure vessel.

A method is provided. The method includes axially aligning a carrier portion of a separable robotic interface with a probe portion, the carrier portion coupled to a free end of a robotic arm, sliding the carrier portion over the probe portion in response to radially orienting a first alignment feature between the probe portion and the carrier portion, and in response compressing a spring-loaded plug in the carrier portion to release one or more ball bearings to make contact with an outer surface of the probe portion, the plug radially coupled to the carrier portion through a second alignment feature, seating the one or more ball bearings into matching recesses in the outer surface in response to sliding the carrier portion over the probe portion a predetermined distance, and rotating a locking ring of the carrier portion to axially lock the carrier portion to the probe portion.

A locking mechanism (6) of the robot arm coupling device (1) includes: a concave engagement portion (3a) on the master plate (3); convex engagement portion (4a) on the tool plate (4) for inserting into the concave engagement portion (3a); a plurality of steel balls (16) installed at an external circumferential wall portion (15) of the concave engagement portion (3a), and are capable of being changed over between locking positions and unlocking positions; and an annular fluid pressure cylinder (20) capable of changing over the positions of the plurality of steel balls (16); and a space is defined more radially inward than the plurality of steel balls (16) and the fluid pressure cylinder (20).

A robotic tool changer includes master and tool assemblies. When the master and tool assemblies are coupled, rolling members project from the master assembly and contact opposed sloped surfaces of a plurality of cutouts formed in a bearing race in the tool assembly. By contacting opposed sloped surfaces of a plurality of cutouts with the rolling members, torsional freeplay between the master and tool assemblies is eliminated or minimized.

A robotic tool changer includes master and tool assemblies that are coupled by urging a plurality of rolling members contained in openings in the master assembly into contact with a bearing race contained in the tool assembly. Accumulations of debris in and around the contact points between the rolling members and bearing race are permitted to escape via a series of debris passages formed between the rolling members and the openings when the master and tool assemblies are coupled.