Patent ID: 7685699
Filing Date: 2010-03-30
Classification: B23K,B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A docking apparatus comprising: a docking station having a docking surface, a tool arm having a docking surface, at least three locator pins mounted on one or both of said docking surfaces, at least three locator sockets complementary in shape to said locator pins mounted on one or both of said docking surfaces, said locator pins and said locator sockets being positioned so that, when said tool arm is moved to a docking position relative to said docking station, each locator pin on each docking surface registers with a locator socket on the other docking surface, an actuator assembly mounted to said docking station and movable between an unlocked position in which said docking station and said tool arm are separable from each other and a locked position in which said docking station and said tool arm are secured against movement relative to each other, wherein said actuator assembly comprises a retainer attached to said tool arm and protruding outwardly from said tool arm docking surface, and a hook mounted to said docking station and movable between a locked position in which said hook disengages from said retainer and a locked position in which said hook engages said retainer.