Breakaway clutch for robot end-of-arm tooling

Details Breakaway clutch for robot end-of-arm tooling Breakaway clutch for robot end-of-arm tooling

1986-04-21

1988-01-05

Friedman, Carl D.

192 clutches and power-stop control

Clutches

Torque responsive

1921165, 414730, 403 2, 901 49, B25J 1700, B25J 1900

Patent

active

047170034

ABSTRACT:
The invention provides an "on the fly" adjustable clutch for use with robot end-of-arm tooling that provides a means for sensing movement of a tool attached to the clutch and can send a signal to shut down the robot when an overload is encountered. The clutch includes a piston capable of lateral movement within a chamber that is slidably mounted on a pin and a tool plate. The pin extends beyond the clutch housing, and the tool plate is pivotally mounted on the pin. Biasing means acts to bias the piston away from the tool plate such that the tool plate is held somewhat rigidly in relation to the clutch housing by the biasing means. In a preferred embodiment, the biasing means includes springs and pressurized air that may be introduced into the piston chamber on either side of the piston to increase or decrease the bias of the springs. Thus, the clutch is capable of varying sensitivities with the biasing means being adjustable under program control. Also included on the clutch are locating means and proximity sensors. The locating means act to position the tool plate in a normal position in relation to the clutch housing. The proximity sensors detect movement of the tool plate in relation to the housing.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3488980 (1970-01-01), Burrough
patent: 3626506 (1971-12-01), Spieth
patent: 3638973 (1972-02-01), Poletti
patent: 3819286 (1974-06-01), Blanchi
patent: 4103849 (1978-08-01), Holt et al.
patent: 4176981 (1979-12-01), Clapper et al.
patent: 4188142 (1980-02-01), Olsson
patent: 4245729 (1981-01-01), Lunke et al.
patent: 4328621 (1982-05-01), Benjamin
patent: 4540331 (1985-09-01), Stanner et al.
patent: 4557623 (1985-12-01), Tella
Robotic Accessories' brochure entitled "Uni-Coupler Safety Joint", Rumble Equipment advertisement, p. 9, Robotics World, Jan. 1986.
Kuka brochure, pp. 26-27, disclosing collision protective device diagram labeled "G.M. Clutch".

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