Patent ID: 8601667

Claim:
A robotic tool changer, comprising: a first unit operative to be attached to one of a robot and a robotic tool; a second unit operative to be attached to the other of the robot and a robotic tool, and further operative to be selectively coupled to and decoupled from the first unit; a plurality of ball members disposed in the first unit; and a rotating cam surface ring disposed in one of the units and rotatable through a predetermined extent, and operative to engage the ball members in the first unit and to urge the ball members, by rotational movement of the rotating cam surface ring, against a coupling surface of the second unit to lock the first and second units together; and an actuation mechanism operative to store mechanical energy, and to automatically rotate the rotating cam surface ring partially, but not fully, through its extend upon manual release of the stored mechanical energy, so as to partially, but not fully, urge the ball members against the coupling surface.