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.

A robotic tool changer ensures inherently safe decoupling operation by only providing pneumatic fluid to a decouple port of a pneumatic coupling mechanism in the case that the tool changer is seated on, and properly aligned with, a tool stand. Pneumatic fluid to decouple the pneumatic coupling mechanism is routed from an air source to the tool stand. A pass-through in the tool stand returns the pneumatic fluid to a pneumatic path in the tool changer leading to a decouple port of the pneumatic coupling mechanism. Hence, the tool changer must be seated on the tool stand for the decouple port to receive pneumatic fluid to operate. Furthermore, a safety coupling is interposed on the pneumatic path between the tool stand and the decouple port. The safety coupling requires the tool changer to be seated on, and properly aligned with, the tool stand to effect the flow of pneumatic fluid—otherwise, the pneumatic fluid is bled to the atmosphere.

An apparatus for coupling a robot arm to a tool that is suspended by an ergonomic arm capable of supporting 3D motion of the tool within a working volume. The apparatus includes a tool sleeve configured to accept the tool, a freely rotating rotary fitting coupled to the tool sleeve, and a coupling that couples a distal end of the robot arm to the rotary fitting. When the tool is inserted into the tool sleeve, the tool is free to rotate around the rotational axis with respect to the robot arm, such that a motion of the distal end of the robot arm does not impose a torque between the robot arm and the tool around the rotational axis, and such that motion of the distal end of the robot arm repositions or reorients the tool within at least a portion of the working volume.

An attaching-detaching mechanism (23, 63) of a gripping device includes: a tubular support member (44, 84) provided to a movable member (3, 4) to protrude in the guide hole (24, 64); engagement members (46, 86) respectively inserted in support holes (45, 85) of the support member (44, 84) so as to be radially movable; an operation portion (49, 89) inserted in a guide hole (24, 64); wedge portions (50, 90) provided on an inner peripheral wall of the operation portion (49, 89); a connecting rod (53, 93) provided to protrude from a claw member (22, 62) and configured to be insertable into a tubular hole (51, 91) of the support member (44, 84); and a lock portion (56, 96) provided on an outer peripheral wall of the connecting rod (53, 93).

An apparatus for coupling a robot arm to a tool that is suspended by an ergonomic arm capable of supporting 3D motion of the tool within a working volume. The apparatus includes a tool sleeve configured to accept the tool, a freely rotating rotary fitting coupled to the tool sleeve, and a coupling that couples a distal end of the robot arm to the rotary fitting. When the tool is inserted into the tool sleeve, the tool is free to rotate around the rotational axis with respect to the robot arm, such that a motion of the distal end of the robot arm does not impose a torque between the robot arm and the tool around the rotational axis, and such that motion of the distal end of the robot arm repositions or reorients the tool within at least a portion of the working volume.

To substantially eliminate torsional freeplay in a robotic tool changer having a ball-lock coupling mechanism, scallop-like features in the form of cross-contact recesses are formed in at least one of, and preferably both of, a bearing race in a tool assembly at the points of contact of rolling members, and in the opposing inner surfaces of bores containing the rolling members in a master assembly. The cross-contact recesses are sized and shaped to receive a rolling member, but have a central void, or channel, perpendicular to the rolling member's motion in torsional freeplay, which does not contact the rolling member. The cross-contact recess contacts the rolling member at contact areas on either side of the central void. These contact areas impart two separate contact forces on the rolling member, both angled toward the center of the rolling member and hence operative to prevent side-to-side movement, or rocking, of the rolling member within the cross-contact recess, and hence substantially eliminating torsional freeplay of the robotic tool changer.

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.

A modular tooling receiver that includes a wall having a port that extends through it, an engaging member that is movably disposed in the port, and a lock actuator that is disposed on a first side of the wall. The lock actuator is moveable between a first position in which the lock actuator urges the engaging member in a first direction defined from the first side of the wall to a second side of the wall and a second position wherein the lock actuator permits the engaging member to move in a second direction defined from the second side of the wall to the first side of the wall. A first biasing element biases the lock actuator toward the first position. A damper controls a rate of motion of the lock actuator from the second position toward the first position.

A dispenser tool (42) is provided with multiple cartridges for dispensing viscous material onto the surface (5) of a wind turbine blade (5). The dispenser tool (42) is advantageously part of a robot system used to work the surface (5) of the blade (5). The system is configured for bringing the nozzle of a selected cartridge into the vicinity of the surface (5) and orienting the dispenser tool (42) relatively to the surface (5) such that the nozzle (46) of the corresponding selected cartridge (44) is at the surface (5) for providing viscous material onto the surface (5) from the selected cartridge (44) while moving the nozzle (46) along the surface (5).

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).