Robotic systems are provided for flexibility in assembly operations. A robotic system includes a suction module having a front side with a face shaped to match a mating component and a rear side with a coupling for a suction line. Openings extend through the face. The suction module defines internal passages connecting the coupling with the at least one opening through the face. An end-effector has a base plate, a mounting plate selectively moveable relative to the base plate, and a clamp. The suction module is selectively mounted to the mounting plate and releasably secured by the clamp. An actuator is mounted to selectively move the mounting plate and the suction module relative to the base plate.

A disconnectable adapter for the adaptation of a tool to an industrial robot has a first part and a second part connected detachably to the first part. The adapter is designed with at least two locking parts which engage behind the first part or the second part in a spring-loaded manner and are mounted displaceably or pivotably in the second part or first part behind which the locking parts do not engage. To disconnect the first part and the second part of the adapter from each other, all the locking parts are loaded simultaneously relative to the first part and to the second part or relative to one another by means of an external force applied as a compressive force. With the present disclosure, a disconnectable adapter which can be operated both manually and automatically is developed.

A power supplying module that can be reduced in size is provided. The power supplying module includes a module body, and a lead-in unit provided on one surface of the module body. The lead-in unit includes a plate unit that fixes at least one sealing tube to the one surface of the module body, and at least one circumference holding unit that holds a circumference of the corresponding sealing tube. The plate unit is provided with, in a longitudinal direction of the one surface of the module body, a plurality of cable insertion holes, and a plurality of positioning portions that position the plurality of circumference holding units to the corresponding cable insertion holes.

A method for performing a tool change with a robot arm. Providing a first coupling unit connected to a robot arm end shaft; providing a plurality of tool changer grippers and second coupling units detachably connected to the respective tool changer grippers; the robot arm end shaft driving the first coupling unit to be coupled with a selected second coupling unit and take the selected second coupling unit away from the corresponding tool changer gripper; the robot arm end shaft driving the first coupling unit coupled with the selected second coupling unit back to the corresponding tool changer gripper to be decoupled from the selected second coupling unit; enabling the corresponding tool changer gripper to have a degree of freedom; the corresponding tool changer gripper being self-displaced by the degree of freedom in the coupling operation and in the decoupling operation to overcome a position error.

Object manipulation space optimization is a challenging task and used in applications such as heat treatment operation and transport packaging. Traditionally manual intervention is involved to grasp and place the objects for ensuring multi object stacking with zero gap between adjacent objects. This leads to higher cost infrastructure and low productivity. Further, conventional gripper devices fail to optimize object manipulation space and are unable to handle objects of different cross sections with larger lengths. The present disclosure provides a gripper apparatus addressing a single gripper design comprising an adaptor holding unit with a provision for different modular object holding units which are varied in accordance with size, shape and length of the object to be grasped and placed by the gripper apparatus. The modular object holding unit comprises a plurality of fingers which are actuated for grasping and stacking one or more objects such that object manipulation space is optimized.

A device for connecting pneumatic tools to a manipulator is described. The device includes a main body fixable to a manipulator and provided with seats for corresponding coupling portions of a tool, at least one duct for feeding or suctioning a working fluid to/from the tool, the duct extends in the main body, and an engaging mechanism to engage to tool. The engaging mechanism is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position in order to respectively prevent or allow the detachment of the tool. Advantageously, the engaging mechanism further acts as a valve for opening and closing the duct and is provided with a vent to the atmosphere through which the pressure of the working fluid in the tool is automatically brought to the atmospheric pressure when the engaging mechanism is in the unlocked position.

A tool attachment (200) for a robotic manipulator (100), comprising: a housing (202), an input shaft (208) configured to be engaged by an end effector (105) of the robotic manipulator (100), an output shaft (210), and a tool (214) coupled to the output shaft (210). The housing (202) comprises means (206) for preventing relative rotational movement between the housing (202) and a housing of the robotic manipulator (100). Upon engagement of the end effector (105) of the robotic manipulator (100) with the input shaft (208), the tool attachment (200) is retained on the robotic manipulator (100), and rotational movement of the end effector (105) of the robotic manipulator (100) acts to rotate said input shaft (208) and drive said tool (214).

Robotic device configuration methods and systems. The methods described herein may involve operably positioning a robotic device with respect to a storage rack, wherein the storage rack holds at least one first coupling member configured with a first tool, and the robotic device includes a second coupling member; operably connecting the second coupling member to the first coupling member; and removing the first coupling member configured with the first tool from the storage rack.

An interchangeable tool including a finger of a shape suitable for various components is mechanically detachably mounted to a robot arm. This eliminates the need for seeking the origin of the actuator for each interchange. By interchanging fingers themselves, the entire end effector can be reduced in size and weight.

The invention relates to a tool changer for a robot, including a base unit, a changing unit, which can be locked on the base unit, movable locking elements, which are provided on the base unit, receptacles, which are provided on the changing unit, the locking elements interacting, in a locking position, with the receptacles in order to lock the changing unit on the base unit and releasing, in an unlocking position, the receptacles, and a rotary element, which is provided on the base unit and is mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the rotary element, the locking elements being movement-coupled to the rotary element in such a way that the locking elements are moved when the rotary element is rotated.