| 摘要 |
A robotic tool changer (10) ensures inherently safe operation by separating power sources for the "couple" and "decouple" operations of its coupling mechanism (16). The power for the decouple operation is available only when an attached robotic tool is safely disposed in its tool stand (48). Once the robotic tool leaves the tool stand (48), there is no power supplied to the coupling mechanism (16) of the robotic tool changer (10) to decouple the robotic tool from a robot arm. Accordingly, it is impossible for the robotic tool to inadvertently become disengaged from the robot arm - even if software were to erroneously assert a DECOUPLE signal, or otherwise initiate a decouple operation. Furthermore, since the design is inherently safe, neither interlock circuits, the redundancy of such circuits, nor the extensive and complex monitoring circuits necessary to ensure their proper operation, are necessary. |
