Patent ID: 7114406
Filing Date: 2006-10-03
Classification: B25J,G01N

Abstract:
1. An end effector comprising: a telescoping arm; a tube for receiving said telescoping arm, wherein said arm is at least partially disposed within said tube; a force mechanism interoperably coupled to said arm and said tube for providing a force to dynamically extend said arm from said tube; and an attachment member connected to said tube for magnetically attaching the end effector to another component by magnetic coupling and from which said telescoping arm extends, wherein said attachment member comprises at least one magnetic coupling mechanism selected from the group of a magnet and ferromagnetic material, and wherein said magnetic coupling mechanism is capable of cooperating with a magnetic coupling mechanism of said another component to create the magnetic coupling between said end effector and said another component, wherein said attachment member comprises at least one alignment member capable of providing alignment of said end effector with respect to at least one corresponding indentation of said another component for when said end effector is magnetically attached to said another component.