Tool change system for a machine

• US 7,156,795 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2002
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Durr Systems Incorporated (Durr AG)
• Original Assignee: Durr Systems Incorporated (Durr AG)
• Inventors: Melcher, Rainer, Nolte, Hans J., Giuliano, Stefano, Baumann, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): CADUGAN, ERICA E
• Application Number:
  US10/360,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20040192524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 483/59, 483/901, 483/7, 483/10, 483/58, 483 65- 67, 483/69, 483/16, 483/2, 483/13, 483 8- 9, 901/43, 901/46, 901/49, 118/323, 239/305, 239/750, 239/722
• US Class Current: 483/13
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/1454 separate units comprising both a material container and a spray device permanently connected thereto being removably attached to a part of the spray apparatus, e.g. to a robot arm
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0431 with spray heads moved by robots or articulated arms, e.g. for applying liquid or other fluent material to 3D-surfaces B05B13/0436, B05B13/0442, B05B13/0447, B05B13/0463 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/0018 comprising hydraulic means
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0491 comprising end-effector racks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 483/901 Robot end effectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/11 with safety means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/13 with control means energized in response to activator stimulated by condition sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/134 Identifying information on tool or tool holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/15 with means to condition or adjust tool or tool support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/17 including machine tool or component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/1809 Matrix including means to latch tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/1882 Rotary disc

Abstract

A plurality of atomizers or other tools are disposed in a mounting plate (10) in storage places (12), respectively. The mounting plate (10) is rotatable relative a paint robot of a coating installation and has a pneumatic lock or a tool holder (19) that can only be released automatically during storage of the atomizers by an external control device of the mounting plate.

Claims

1. A tool change system for sequentially changing tools adaptable for coating workpieces comprising;

a robotic device for operably and replaceably holding one said tool;

a mounting unit defining a periphery with a plurality of storage locations each being adaptable for receiving a tool flange device of one said tool, said mounting unit being a carousel that is rotatable relative to said robotic device for placing said tool flange device in a position accessable by said robotic device;

a tool holding device disposed at each of said storage locations for pneumatically engaging and releasing said tool flange device as said tool flange device is accessed by said robotic device; and

media connections cooperable with said mounting unit at each of said storage locations for flushing said tool flange device.

2. A tool change system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said media connections are fluidly communicated with said tool flange device for causing the pneumatic engaging of said tool flange device for locking said tool flange device inside said storage location.

3. A tool change system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said flange device is further defined by another connection adaptable for connecting to the media connections of the mounting unit when engaged inside said storage location.

4. A tool change system as set forth in claim 3 and further including an identification device.

5. A tool change system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said identification device, said tool holding device, and said media connections are operably communicated.

6. A tool change system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said media connections are adaptable for grounding at least one of the coating tools.