Novel automatic tool changer

摘要

A tool changer including male and female flanges for respectively connecting end effectors to robot arms and the like. A male flange assembly having a tapered projection is inserted into a tapered female flange member having a rod aligned along the diameter of the tapered opening. A rotatably mounted locking stud is aligned within an opening in the male tapered projection and is machined to provide a slot having locking grooves as its lower end. The stud is rotated through a 35 degree angle causing the male and female flanges to be drawn together until the cooperating tapers are seated together. A spring retains the flanges in the locked position. A cooperating pin and pin receiving socket respectively provided on the male and female flanges at locations displaced from the male and female tapers are utilized to assure the proper orientation between flanges and to prevent rotation of the flanges. Spring loaded electrical terminals provided on the male connecting flange firmly engage cooperating conductive terminals fixedly mounted upon the female flange to complete an electrical path between electrical sources and load utilization devices forming part of the end effectors. Pneumatic couplings are provided by means of tapered projections arranged on the male flange and cooperating tapered openings provided on the female flange. O-rings arranged on grooves on each of the tapered projections provide air-tight seals between the coupling.