Nitta Corporation

Kenji Tsurimoto

Ryosuke Matsumoto

Nobuhiro Omote

Hiroki Kikuchi

Hideki Nishio

Yosuke Taniguchi

An automatic tool exchange coupler and an automatic tool exchange device are provided that achieve further improvement in the user-friendliness of the automatic tool exchange device. The coupler includes a coupler body, a first direction switching valve and a second direction switching valve that are provided to a first side surface of the coupler body. The coupler body has: in a first side surface, an uncoupling input port being connected to a pipe for introducing a gas for uncoupling; and in the second side surface opposite to the first side surface, an uncoupling output port being configured to connected to the uncoupling port. The uncoupling input port is located at a position where a center of the uncoupling input port is radially offset with respect to the uncoupling output port by at least an amount corresponding to a length of a diameter of the uncoupling input port.

Automatic tool exchange coupler and automatic tool exchange apparatus

A male member and tool changer for downsizing and preventing damage to proximity sensors; a male member includes a cam adapted to pivot between an engagement position at which the cam engages with a lock pin of a female member and a disengagement position at which the cam moves out of the engagement, and a cylinder unit adapted to pivot the cam between the engagement position and the disengagement position. A first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor are assembled onto a cylinder sidewall of the cylinder unit and first and second detection surfaces of the proximity sensors are revealed in a cylinder chamber. The first detection surface is placed at a position facing on a piston when the cam is located at the disengagement position and the second detection surface is placed at a position facing on the piston when the cam is located at the engagement position.

Male member and tool changer

A signal module and a signal relay device that can suppress the effect of noise are provided, and the signal module is a signal module of a tool changer including a first coupling member to be detachably attached to a body side of an industrial robot and a second coupling member to be detachably attached to a tool side, the signal module including a signal relay connector attached to the first coupling member or the second coupling member, and upon the first coupling member and the second coupling member being coupled, forming a signal path between the first coupling member side and the second coupling member side, wherein in the signal relay connector, a plurality of terminal pairs to be used for communication using differential signals are provided, and two terminals of each of the terminal pairs are arranged at mutually-adjacent positions.

Signal module and signal relay device

A connector apparatus which can keep an electrical connection between signal pins in good condition; when a male member and female member are coupled together, first bumps of a first contact portion and second bumps of a second contact portion are brought into contact with each other, electrically connecting the first signal pins and second signal pins with each other. Measures are taken to bring tops and ridge lines of the second bumps into contact with lateral faces of the first bumps. Also, the first signal pins and second signal pins are configured to be pivotable. During connection, contact area is increased by contact between the lateral faces of the first bumps and the tops and ridge lines of the second bumps, causing rubbing between the lateral faces and the tops and ridge lines, and thereby pushing aside and rubbing off sticking spatter, oxide films, contamination, and the like.

Growing community of inventors

Yamatokoriyama, Japan

Kenji Tsurimoto