Mts Systems Corporation

Ati Industrial Automation, Inc.

Static Control Components, Inc.

Michael L Gloden

Rodney Barr

Arnold F Sprecher, Jr

Arnold Fred Sprecher, Jr

Arnold Fred Speecher, Jr

Daniel Allen Norton

Kenneth Paul Dellach

Donald Van Zile, Iii

Douglas K Lawson

Jeffery J Dellach

Wade D Peterson

Lawrence J Russell

Henry J Brohl, Iii

Michael Joseph Hill

Leonard Aaron Odham

Mark D Bordeaux

A robotic tool changer comprises first and second units, operative to be separately attached to a robot and a robotic tool, and further operative to be selectively coupled together and decoupled. The first and second units are coupled and decoupled by an electric motor. Power from the electric motor may be applied to couple and decouple the first and second units in a variety of ways.

Electrically Actuated Robotic Tool Changer

A magnetostrictive application probe is disclosed wherein the probe includes a preassembled sensor element mounted as an application housing installation as an installable unit. The modular nature allows interchanging with various electronic assemblies, and may be an explosion proof installation.

Isolated magnetostrictive buffered liquid level sensor

A robotic tool changer having a master unit and a tool unit adapted to be coupled together. Movably mounted in the master unit of the robotic tool changer is a piston that is movable between locked and unlocked positions. The piston includes a contact area having an unlocking surface, a failsafe surface and a locking surface. Also provided is a series of rolling members contained within a retention area that are actuated by the piston to lock the master unit to the tool unit. For example, the piston engages the rolling members and urges them into a locked relationship with a bearing race that forms a part of the tool unit. To prevent the inadvertent or accidental movement of the piston from the locked position to the unlocked position, the piston is provided with a retarding surface generally disposed between the locking surface and the unlocking surface on the piston for retarding the movement of the piston as the piston moves from the locked position to the unlocked position.

Robotic tool changer

A quick disconnect tooling apparatus for releasably latching an end effector tool to a manipulator. The present invention provides a base module connectable to a manipulator, and a tool module connectable to the end effector tool. A power source coupling has a first portion coupled to the base module, and a second portion coupled to the tool module, wherein the first and second portions of the power source coupling may cooperatively engage one another to allow for the passing of power between the manipulator and the end effector tool. A releasable latch is connected to the base module and is moveable between a latched position, wherein the latch cooperatively engages a latch pin connected to the tool module to secure the tool module to the base module and allow the first and second portions of the power source coupling to communicate with one another, and an unlatched position, wherein the releasable latch does not engage the latch pin thereby allowing the base module and the tool module to be disconnected and the first and second portions of the power source coupling to be disconnected.

Quick disconnect tooling apparatus

A robotic crash protection device is adapted to be interposed between a robot arm and a robotic tool for detecting a crash. The device includes a housing, a piston having a generally central bore movably mounted within the housing, an actuator for engaging the piston and moving the piston in response to a crash, and a switch disposed within the housing and generally aligned with the bore of the piston. The switch contacts are disposed such that in a default position the bore of the piston engages the contacts and maintains the contacts in one switch state, and in the event of a crash the piston moves and permits the contacts to assume the opposite switch state. A non-circular contact surface between the actuator and the piston ensures a consistent response to lateral forces applied in to the axial direction in any radial direction.

Robot crash protector

Explosion proof magnetostrictive probe

Manual laser toner cartridge splitter

A wave guide suspension device and modular construction for sonic waveguides, including a damping element for use with a waveguide that supports a current pulse and results in a torsional or longitudinal strain wave, is disclosed. The damping element is to prevent the reflection of the sonic strain wave and includes a sleeve surrounding the waveguide and a mechanism for applying pressure on the sleeve so the sleeve exerts pressure on the waveguide, thereby gradually dampening the sonic strain wave energy along the length of the waveguide surrounded by the damping element sleeve to prevent reflection of the sonic strain wave. Further, the return wire placement is determined by measuring system response to provide minimal ringing of the signal received from a pickup coil. In addition, the suspension mechanism is used to contain the waveguide thereby avoiding extraneous noise. Finally, a bracket is disclosed that facilitates the process of assembly of the waveguide assembly.

Waveguide suspension device and modular construction for sonic waveguides

A damping element for use with a waveguide that supports a current pulse and results in a torsional or longitudinal strain wave is disclosed. The damping element is to dampen the reflection of the strain wave and includes a sleeve surrounding the waveguide and a mechanism for applying pressure on the sleeve so the sleeve exerts pressure on the waveguide, thereby gradually dampening the strain wave energy along the length of the waveguide surrounded by the damping element sleeve to prevent reflection of the strain wave.

Damping device for sonic waveguides

A modular magnetostrictive displacement sensor is disclosed having a waveguide of magnetostrictive material extending from a first housing and protected by a member of fiber reinforced composite material. There is circuitry in the first housing for generating electrical pulses along the waveguide and a converter for generating an electrical signal in response to a torsion pulse in the waveguide caused by a magnet disposed proximate the waveguide when the electrical pulse passes the magnet position. In one embodiment the waveguide and its protective member is received within a second housing. One or more magnets may be mounted within the second housing or externally on or near the second housing for movement to the waveguide. Alternatively the sensor may be used without the second housing.

Growing community of inventors

Apex, NC, United States of America

Michael L Gloden