There is provided a releasable joint between two component flanges (1, 3). The flanges (1, 3) have a number of teeth (2) on each part that is pressed into contact by clamps, screws or other means. The releasable joint assembly is suitable for establishing a robot joint between a first and second component each having interlocking annular flange with respective contact surfaces, and where these flanges are held in place by a clamp (5).

An automatic tool exchange coupler and an automatic tool exchange device are provided that achieve further improvement in the user-friendliness of the automatic tool exchange device. The coupler includes a coupler body, a first direction switching valve and a second direction switching valve that are provided to a first side surface of the coupler body. The coupler body has: in a first side surface, an uncoupling input port being connected to a pipe for introducing a gas for uncoupling; and in the second side surface opposite to the first side surface, an uncoupling output port being configured to connected to the uncoupling port. The uncoupling input port is located at a position where a center of the uncoupling input port is radially offset with respect to the uncoupling output port by at least an amount corresponding to a length of a diameter of the uncoupling input port.

A communications module is provided for simplifying routing of communications pathways in a robot. The communications module is attached between the robot tool flange and the end effector. Additional interchangeable modules may also be provided between the tool flange and the end effector. The communications module includes multiple input ports and at least one output port. A data switch within the module combines sensor data from multiple input ports into a single output stream that is transmitted from one or more of the output ports.

A processing module is provided for improving performance of a robot. The processing module is attached between the robot tool flange and the end effector. Additional interchangeable modules may also be provided between the tool flange and the end effector. The processing module includes a processor that processes sensor data received from one or more sensors. The processor generates lower bit rate processed sensor data from the incoming sensor data. The processed sensor data is transmitted from the processing module to another processor of a robot controller.

A sensor module is provided for adding functionality to a robot. The sensor module is attached between the robot tool flange and the end effector. Additional interchangeable modules may also be provided between the tool flange and the end effector. The sensor module includes a sensor for monitoring a condition near the end effector. An output port of the module transmits sensor data to a processor outside of the sensor module for further processing.

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).

An attaching mechanism includes a fastening member, a first member, a second member including an insertion portion through which the fastening member passes, and a third member configured to enable the fastening member to pass through the insertion portion when the third member is located at a first position, and engage with the fastening member and disable the fastening member from passing through the insertion portion when the third member is located at a second position. When the third member is located at the second position, and the fastening member is moved toward a predetermined direction, the third member is pressed by the fastening member toward the predetermined direction, and the second member is attached to the first member.

A layer module for integration into a handling robot system has an interface bank on the robot side, an interface bank on the handling side, and a third interface bank. The interface bank on the robot side has a geometric connection contour for position-centered fastening to an industrial robot of the robotic handling system or to a robot adapter part, along with a cable feed for receiving a fixed wiring of an electrical functional assembly arranged in the layer module to the industrial robot. The interface bank on the handling side has a geometric connection contour for position-centered releasable joining by a snap connection to a handling tool or to a layer module element connected upstream of the handling tool, along with a group of electrical contacts. The layer module enables the use of an industrial robot in combination with different handling tools and for changing handling tasks.

A robot includes a robot main body including an A-arm which rotates around an A-rotation axis, a B-arm which is cantilevered off the A-arm and rotates around a B-rotation axis, and a C-arm which is connected to the B-arm, to which an end effector is attached, and which rotates around a C-rotation axis. The A-arm includes a first restriction that is not exposed to the outside of the robot main body. The B-arm includes a clamp which is connected to the end effector and restricts a position of a flexible wiring or pipe, a second restriction that is not exposed to the outside of the robot main body and contacts on the first restriction, and a hole through which the wiring or the pipe is inserted. The C-arm includes a through-hole which penetrates the C-arm along the axial direction of the C-rotation axis.

High precision end effectors for robots and adapters that provide attachment of the end effectors to a variety of robotic arms are disclosed. The combination provides for harmless break-away of the end effector on collision, and autonomous tool changer capability for mobile robots.