US 12,240,073 B2
Tool changer
James W. Geary, Pawcatuck, CT (US); Benjamin J. Jennings, Kent, WA (US); and Jeffery J. Mruzik, Livonia, MI (US)
Assigned to Stabilus Motion Controls GmbH, Langenfeld (DE)
Filed by Delaware Capital Formation, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Sep. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/488,377.
Prior Publication US 2023/0102018 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. B23Q 3/155 (2006.01); B25J 15/04 (2006.01); B25J 19/02 (2006.01)
CPC B23Q 3/1554 (2013.01) [B25J 15/0425 (2013.01); B25J 15/0433 (2013.01); B25J 19/02 (2013.01); B23Q 2003/155407 (2016.11)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tool changer comprising:
a master half and a tool half, the master half to be coupled with a robot, the tool half to be coupled with a tool;
a first mating member on the master half;
a second mating member on the tool half, the first and second mating members including a recess or a projection, respectively, for enabling the first and second mating members to mesh with one another;
a mechanism for securing the master and tool halves with one another, the securing mechanism including a clasp moving between a release position and a grasping position, and a cam plate for moving the clasp between the release position and the grasping position, wherein when the clasp is in the grasping position, the master half and the tool half are secured together with one another;
a lock coupled with the cam plate, and
when the master half and the tool half are to be secured together, the master half approaches the tool half, the master half engages with the tool half for securement, the lock is actuated and pivots the cam plate and moves the clasp from its release position to its grasping position, wherein
the lock moves into a locked position thereby locking the master half and the tool half together.