A robotic tool changer includes a locking feature, and may be made washable by sealing against fluid incursion. The tool changer comprises a master unit and one or more tool units, and it transitions between decoupled and coupled states by rotation of one part relative to another. The rotation displaces rolling members in the master unit, such as balls, from a retaining surface to a locking surface which is sized and positioned to force the rolling members against a coupling surface of the tool unit. A deformable pin interposed between the retaining and locking surfaces resists movement of the rolling members therebetween, requiring the application of force. The pin remains deformed, and continues to exert a force on the rolling members, when the robotic tool changer is in the coupled state, providing a locking feature which automatically and positively resists any inadvertent decoupling of the tool changer.

Methods, devices, and systems for positioning workpieces for processing. In one aspect, a clamping device includes two clamping elements and a servo drive provided for the clamping elements. The servo drive is operable to first move at least one of the clamping elements toward the other of the clamping elements such that the clamping elements are transferred into a clamping start position in which the clamping elements are positioned on opposite sides of a workpiece arranged therebetween and in which the clamping elements do not apply a force to the workpiece or apply a force to the workpiece that is smaller than a clamping force, and subsequently urge the clamping elements toward one another from the clamping start position to an operational state, in which the clamping elements apply the clamping force to the workpiece.

A mechanical end-effector changer includes a first connection unit and a second connection unit. The first connection unit has mounted therein multiple movable members and mating elastic members. Subject to the linking relationship between each movable member and the respective elastic member, the first connection unit and the second connection unit can be automatically connected together or detached from each other, facilitating end-effector change.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a clamping chuck with a chuck body, an axis of rotation, at least two clamps, a spiral ring, which is used as an adjustment stroke mechanism of the adjustment of at least two clamps and which can be actuated via a drive, and at least one clamping stroke mechanism, which can be actuated via a traction mechanism. The clamping stroke mechanism is arranged parallel to the axis of rotation in the chuck body and can be moved parallel to the axis of rotation.

A mechanical end-effector changer includes a first connection unit and a second connection unit. The first connection unit has mounted therein multiple movable members and mating elastic members. Subject to the linking relationship between each movable member and the respective elastic member, the first connection unit and the second connection unit can be automatically connected together or detached from each other, facilitating end-effector change.

The invention related to a holding device (3), an arrangement and a method, the holding device (3) being designed to interlockingly receive and hold interchangeable ring (2) with holding cams (4) projecting radially outwards on the circumferential side, said holding device comprising a carrier ring (5) having a plurality of adjusting pins (7) which project in the axial direction and between which at least one insertion region (31) for receiving the interchangeable ring (2) is recessed, wherein a sleeve ring (6) positioned concentrically with respect to the carrier ring (5) is provided outside the carrier ring (5) and is rotatably and in particular interlockingly connected to the carrier ring (5), wherein the sleeve ring (6) has at least one radially inwardly protruding clamping jaw (8), wherein, in a first position of the sleeve ring (6) relative to the carrier ring (5), the clamping jaw (8) is positioned adjacent to the insertion ring (31) of the carrier ring (5) in the peripheral direction, and wherein in a second position of the sleeve ring (6) relative to the carrier ring (5), the clamping jaw (8) is positioned at least in part above the insertion region (31) of the carrier ring (5) in the peripheral direction.

A workpiece holder 1 includes a holder head 11 and a holder body 12. The holder head 11 includes a chuck unit 13 for holding a workpiece W, a support pedestal 111 for supporting the chuck unit 13, and a hook 113 provided on a distal end portion of an arm 112 extending from the support pedestal 111. The holder body 12 includes a cylindrical body portion 121, a retained portion 123 that is arranged inside the body portion 121 and rotated around the cylinder axis J1 to be in either a retained state in which the retained portion 123 is retained by the hook 113 on the Z direction side or in the released state in which retaining by the hook 113 is released, and a disk spring 126 for biasing the retained portion 123 in the Z direction.

A bit holder for a rotary power tool includes a body rotatable about a central axis, the body including a bit aperture configured to receive a tool bit, a collar surrounding the body, the collar rotatable with respect to the body about the central axis, the collar including a first cam profile and a second cam profile, and a plurality of jaws rotatably coupled to the body such that each jaw of the plurality of jaws is rotatable about a jaw axis, each jaw of the plurality of jaws including a first cam arm configured to engage and move along the first cam profile and a second cam arm configured to engage and move along the second cam profile.