Abstract:
A tool changer has a first and second member. The first and second members include first and second electrical connectors. The electrical connectors include elastomeric sheaths. The first and second members are locked together such that the first electrical connector is aligned with the second electrical connector so that upon contact, the sheaths deform to maintain electrical contact between the first and second electrical connectors.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/711,484, filed on Oct. 9, 2012. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to tool changers and, more particularly, to manual tool changers with automatic electrical connections. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Tool changers are perfect for flexible or multiple robotic tooling applications that utilized only one robot. End effector tooling in modular fixtures can be changed quickly and easily to accommodate many different styles of parts on the same assembly machine or machining center. This enables the end effectors to be changed and swapped out very rapidly. Ordinarily, an electrical connection is mounted on the tool changers to provide an electrical connection between the tool changer parts. Mating electrical connectors can be of a pin and socket style where the pins or sockets are held in a rigid housing with the housings having inner mating guiding features to align the male and female halves of the connectors. Additionally, spring pins and pads may be utilized. Here, the spring pins come into connect with corresponding pads on the mating tool half. The spring force maintains the electrical contact between the two contacts. While these types of connectors are satisfactory, designers strive to improve the art. 
         [0004]    The present disclosure provides the art with a manual tool changer that includes an automatic electrical contact connection. The connection provides a resilient contact that maintains contact between the contact faces. The resilient contact enables simple rigid mounting of the electric contacts to both halves of the tool changer. The present disclosure provides a simple molded construction to enable easy attachment to the tool changer halves. Additionally, the electric contacts accommodate for slight misalignments between the electrical contacts. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    According to the disclosure, a tool changer comprises a first member and a second member. The first member has a body with a base to secure with a robot or the like. The body includes a receiving portion to receive an extending portion of the second member. An electrical connector is positioned on the first member body. The electrical connector includes an elastomeric sheath. The second member includes a body with a mechanism to receive an end effector. A second electrical connector is positioned on the second member body. An elastomeric sheath is positioned on the second electrical contact. A mechanism to lock the first and second members together is coupled with them. The locking mechanism couples the first and second members together such that the first electrical contact is aligned with the second electrical contact. Thus, upon contact and locking, the sheath deforms to maintain electrical contact between the first and second electrical contacts. One of the electrical connectors is male; the other female. One of the electrical contacts may have an overall conical shape. The contact surface of the first and second electrical contacts may be flat or slightly convex. The elastomeric sheath may be polyurethane. The first and second electrical contacts are resilient to enable compression and once the compression force is removed, the first and second electrical contacts return to their original condition. 
         [0006]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the tool changer with the tool halves locked together; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a first half of the tool changer; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second half of the tool changer; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a schematic, partially in cross-section, top plan view of the electrical connectors; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a view like  FIG. 4  with the electrical contact coupled to one another. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0014]    Turning to the figures, specifically  FIG. 1 , a manual tool changer is illustrated and designated with the reference numeral  10 . The tool changer includes a first member or half  12  and a second member or half  14  and a locking mechanism  16  coupling the two halves  12 ,  14  together. The first member or half  12  includes a body portion  18 . The body portion  18  has an overall rectangular cylindrical configuration. The body portion  18  includes a hollow receiving portion or bore  20 . The receiving portion  20  is a bore in the body  18  that receives the second member  14 . The body portion includes a base  22  to secure the body portion  18  with a robot, automation, or the like. 
         [0015]    The body portion  18  includes a housing  24  positioned on a side of the body portion  18 . The housing  24  houses the first electrical connector  30  as well as pneumatic hose connections  26 ,  28 . 
         [0016]    The electrical connector  30  is positioned in a bore  32  and is recessed in the bore  32 . The electrical connector  30  includes an electrical contact  34  surrounded by an elastomeric sheath  36 . The elastomeric sheath  36  may be manufactured from polyurethane or the like materials. The sheath  36  has a conical configuration  38  at the end of the electrical contact surface  40 . The electrical contact surface  40  may be flat, slightly convex or the like to enhance electrical connection and transmission. The sheath  36  has a cylindrical portion  42  that surrounds and maintains the first connector  30  in the bore  32 . 
         [0017]    The second member or half  14  includes a body member  52 . The body member  52  includes an extending cylindrical portion  54 . The extending cylindrical portion  54  is received in the receiving portion or bore  20  of the first member  12 . A pair of trunnions  56 ,  58  extends transversely to the extending cylindrical portion  54 . A housing  60  is coupled with the body portion  52 . The housing  60  includes the second electrical connector  62 . Additionally, the body portion  52  includes a bore  64  that receives an end effector or the like. 
         [0018]    The electrical connector  62  includes an electrical contact  66  and a polymeric sheath  68 . The electrical contact  66  is buried in the sheath  68 . The sheath  68  may be formed from an elastomeric material such as polyurethane. The sheath  68  is positioned within a bore  70  in the housing  60 . The electrical contact surface  74  of the electrical contact  66  may have a flat or slightly convex surface. The electrical contact surface  74  mates with the contact surface  40  of the electrical contact  34  as seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Wires  76  extend from the electrical contacts  34 ,  66  to couple the contacts  34 ,  66  with a controller and an end effector (not shown). Alternatively, a receptacle can be coupled with the contacts to receive a standard industrial electrical cable. 
         [0019]    The locking mechanism  16  includes a rotary member  80  with a handle  82  to move the locking mechanism  16  between positions. Also, the locking mechanism  16  includes latches  84  that couple with trunnions  56 ,  58  to lock the first member  12  and second member  14  together. The trunnions  56 ,  58  are positioned in recess  86  and  88  formed in the body portion  18  and latches  84 , respectively. 
         [0020]    In use, the second member extending portion  54  is positioned into the receiving bore  20  of body portion  18 . The extending portion  54  continues to pass into the receiving portion  20  until the trunnions  56 ,  58  contact the nose  90  of the latches  84 . As this occurs, due to the design of the latches  84 , the latches  84  move upwards. As the latches  84  move upward, the second member  14  is continued to be pushed into the first member  12 . After the trunnions  56 ,  58  clear the nose  90  of the latches  84 , the latches  84  move downward, in response to moving the handle into its locked position, securing the trunnions  56 ,  58  in the latch recesses  88  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . At this time, the two halves  12 ,  14  are locked together. 
         [0021]    As the two halves  12 ,  14  are locked together, the electrical contacts  34 ,  66  come into electrical contact with one another. As this occurs, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the electrical contact  66  moves into the recess in the sheath  38  adjacent electrical contact  32 . As the trunnions  56 ,  58  are locked in place by the latches  84 , the electrical connectors  30 ,  62  are forced against one another. As this occurs, the sheath  38  compresses and become deformed in the bore  32 . The deformation of the elastomeric sheath  38  provides an opposing force so that the electrical contacts  34 ,  66  maintain electrical contact with one another. Thus, the resiliency of the elastomeric members provides a force to maintain contact between the contact faces  40 ,  74  of the electrical connectors  30 ,  62 . Thus, springs or the like are eliminated and a simple molded construction is utilized for the electrical connectors  30 ,  62 . 
         [0022]    The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.