Rotary union connection
First Claim
1. A rotary union connector for use with a robot arm, said robot arm having a drive member mounted to an arm section for rotation of said drive member relative to said arm section about an axis;
- said connector comprising;
(a) an outer housing;
(b) an inner cylinder fixedly mounted proximate a first end to said drive member and for rotation with said drive member arm about a central longitudinal axis of said inner cylinder that is aligned with said axis, said inner cylinder being mounted for rotation within and relative to said outer housing;
said inner cylinder having a first vacuum manifold with a first vacuum channel, and said inner cylinder being adapted to be fixedly mounted proximate a second end opposite to said first end, to an end effector, said end effector having a plurality of pick up members each having at least one suction cup;
said outer housing being disposed between said first and second ends of said inner cylinder and said outer housing comprising a first vacuum chamber having a first vacuum channel, and a vacuum opening for connection to a vacuum supply line to supply vacuum to said first vacuum channel in said vacuum chamber, said first vacuum channel of said vacuum chamber also being in continuous vacuum communication with said first vacuum channel of said vacuum manifold;
said first vacuum channel in said vacuum manifold having an opening for communicating vacuum from said opening to said at least one suction cup of said plurality of pick up members;
wherein when said drive member is rotated about said axis, said inner cylinder and said end effector will also rotate about said axis, with said outer housing remaining substantially stationary in rotational movement about said axis.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rotary union connector is disclosed that may be used with a robot arm having a drive member. The connector may have an outer housing and an inner cylinder. The inner cylinder may be fixedly mounted to the drive member for rotation about a central longitudinal axis. The inner cylinder may be mounted for rotation within and relative to the outer housing. The inner cylinder may have a first vacuum channel, and may be adapted to be fixedly mounted to an end effector. The outer housing may have a first vacuum channel and a first vacuum opening for connection to a vacuum supply line to supply vacuum to the first vacuum channel in the outer housing. The vacuum channel in the outer housing may also be in vacuum communication with the first vacuum channel in the inner cylinder. The first vacuum channel in the inner cylinder has an opening for communicating vacuum from the opening to the at least one suction cup of the pick up member. When the drive member is rotated, the inner cylinder and end effector will rotate about the axis with the outer housing remaining substantially stationary in rotational movement.
57 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A rotary union connector for use with a robot arm, said robot arm having a drive member mounted to an arm section for rotation of said drive member relative to said arm section about an axis;
- said connector comprising;
(a) an outer housing; (b) an inner cylinder fixedly mounted proximate a first end to said drive member and for rotation with said drive member arm about a central longitudinal axis of said inner cylinder that is aligned with said axis, said inner cylinder being mounted for rotation within and relative to said outer housing; said inner cylinder having a first vacuum manifold with a first vacuum channel, and said inner cylinder being adapted to be fixedly mounted proximate a second end opposite to said first end, to an end effector, said end effector having a plurality of pick up members each having at least one suction cup; said outer housing being disposed between said first and second ends of said inner cylinder and said outer housing comprising a first vacuum chamber having a first vacuum channel, and a vacuum opening for connection to a vacuum supply line to supply vacuum to said first vacuum channel in said vacuum chamber, said first vacuum channel of said vacuum chamber also being in continuous vacuum communication with said first vacuum channel of said vacuum manifold; said first vacuum channel in said vacuum manifold having an opening for communicating vacuum from said opening to said at least one suction cup of said plurality of pick up members; wherein when said drive member is rotated about said axis, said inner cylinder and said end effector will also rotate about said axis, with said outer housing remaining substantially stationary in rotational movement about said axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- said connector comprising;
-
14. A robot comprising:
-
(a) a base; (b) an articulated arm comprising a plurality of arm sections, said arm sections comprising a distal arm section; (c) a drive member mounted to said arm section and operable to rotate said drive member relative to said distal arm section about an axis; (d) an end effector comprising a pick up member with a suction cup; (e) a rotary union connector disposed between said drive member and said end effector, said connector comprising; i. an outer housing; ii. an inner cylinder fixedly mounted proximate a first end to said drive member for rotation with said drive member about a central longitudinal axis of said inner cylinder that is aligned with said axis, said inner cylinder being mounted for rotation within and relative to said outer housing; iii. said inner cylinder having a first vacuum channel, and said inner cylinder being adapted to be fixedly mounted proximate a second end opposite to said first end, to said end effector; iv. said outer housing being disposed between said first and second ends of said inner cylinder and said outer housing comprising a first vacuum channel and a vacuum opening for connection to a vacuum supply line to supply vacuum to said first vacuum channel, said first vacuum channel also being in continuous vacuum communication with said first vacuum channel in said inner cylinder; v. said first vacuum channel having an opening for communicating vacuum from said opening to said suction cup; wherein when said drive member is rotated about said axis, said inner cylinder and said end effector will also rotate about said axis, with said outer housing remaining substantially stationary in rotational movement about said axis. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. A rotary union connector for use with a robot arm, said robot arm having a drive member mounted for rotation, said connector comprises:
-
(a) an outer housing; (b) an inner cylinder fixedly mounted proximate a first end for rotation with said drive member for rotation of said inner cylinder about a central longitudinal axis of said inner cylinder, said inner cylinder being mounted for rotation within and relative to said outer housing;
said inner cylinder having a first vacuum channel, and said inner cylinder being adapted to be fixedly mounted to an end effector, said end effector having a pick up member having at least one suction cup;said outer housing comprising a first vacuum channel and a first vacuum opening for connection to a vacuum supply line to supply vacuum to said first vacuum channel in said outer housing, said vacuum channel in said outer housing also being in vacuum communication with said first vacuum channel in said inner cylinder; said first vacuum channel in said inner cylinder having an opening for communicating vacuum from said opening to said at least one suction cup of said pick up member; wherein when said drive member is rotated, said inner cylinder and said end effector will rotate about said axis, with said outer housing remaining substantially stationary in rotational movement about said axis.
-
Specification