Robotic tool coupler rapid-connect bus
DCFirst Claim
1. A robotic tool changer for an industrial robot communicatively coupled to a robotic system communication network, comprising:
- a master module mechanically connected to an industrial robot arm and providing a first mechanical interface, the master module including a network node;
a tool module mechanically connected to a robotic tool and operative to mate with the first mechanical interface, the tool module not including a network node; and
a communication bus operative to transfer tool data from the tool module to the master module when the master and tool modules are mechanically coupled together.
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Abstract
A tool changer comprising a master module and a tool module includes a rapid-connect communication bus between the master and tool modules. A unique tool identification number, along with other tool-related information, may be transmitted from the tool module to the master module within about 250 msec of the master and tool modules coupling together. The master module includes a robotic system communications network node connected to the rapid-connect communication bus, and operative to transmit data between the tool and the network via the communication bus. The need for a separate network node in the tool module is obviated, reducing cost and reducing the start-up time required to initialize such a network node upon connecting to a new tool. The rapid-connect communication bus may be a serial bus.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A robotic tool changer for an industrial robot communicatively coupled to a robotic system communication network, comprising:
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a master module mechanically connected to an industrial robot arm and providing a first mechanical interface, the master module including a network node; a tool module mechanically connected to a robotic tool and operative to mate with the first mechanical interface, the tool module not including a network node; and a communication bus operative to transfer tool data from the tool module to the master module when the master and tool modules are mechanically coupled together. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of communicating information between a tool module of an industrial robotic tool changer and a controller node of a robotic system communication network, comprising:
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mechanically coupling the tool module to a master module of the tool changer, the master module including a robotic system communication network node; transferring tool information from the tool module to the master module via a communication bus between the master and tool modules; and communicating the tool information from the master module to the controller node via the robotic system communication network. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A tool module of an industrial robotic tool changer, comprising:
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a coupling mechanism operative to mechanically couple the tool module to a master module of the robotic tool changer, the master module having a robotic system communication network node; a communication bus operative to transfer tool data from the tool module to a network node in the master module when the master and tool modules are mechanically coupled together; and wherein the tool module does not include a robotic system communication network node. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification