End-of-arm tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9962828-B2
Application number	US-201515501904-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2015
Priority date	Aug 5, 2014
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

An end-of-arm tool is described and includes an outer sheet and an inner sheet. The end-of-arm tool may be reinforced with a backing plate attached to the inner sheet and a front plate attached to the outer sheet. The end-of-arm tool may also include spacers to provide structure and rigidity to the end-of-arm tool at passages configured for the installation of workpiece interface tools, for example, spring plungers.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tool for a robot:
an outer sheet having a first plurality of passages and having a first peripheral member, a first center hub and a first plurality of ribs forming a first web, the first web defining a first plurality of voids;
an inner sheet connected to the outer sheet and having a second plurality of passages and a mounting surface and having a second peripheral member, a second center hub and a second plurality of ribs forming a second web, the second web defining a second plurality of voids, the mounting surface configured to mount the tool to a proximate robot;
a plurality of spacers; and
a core intermediate the first center hub and the second center hub;
wherein the first plurality of passages are aligned with the second plurality of passages forming a plurality of shafts configured to accommodate one or more workpiece interface tools, the plurality of spacers are aligned with the plurality of shafts and configured to provide support for the one or more workpiece interface tools, and the first center hub and the second center hub align to define a cavity configured to accept the core, and
wherein the core includes a honeycomb structure.

2. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the outer sheet is connected to the inner sheet with adhesive.

3. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting plate attached to the inner sheet at the mounting surface.

4. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the one or more workpiece interface tools comprises one or more spring plungers.

5. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the first peripheral member includes a first channel and the second peripheral member includes a second channel.

6. The tool of claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of ribs comprises a third channel and each of the second plurality of ribs comprises a fourth channel.

7. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the outer sheet is made of polymeric materials, thermosetting polymers, thermoplastics, or carbon fiber materials and the inner sheet is made of polymeric materials, thermosetting polymers, thermoplastics, or carbon fiber materials.

8. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the core is made of aluminum.

9. A tool for a robot comprising:
an outer sheet having a first plurality of passages and having a first peripheral member, a first center hub and a first plurality of ribs forming a first web, the first web defining a first plurality of voids;
an inner sheet connected to the outer sheet and having a second plurality of passages and a mounting surface and having a second peripheral member, a second center hub and a second plurality of ribs forming a second web, the second web defining a second plurality of voids, the mounting surface configured to mount the tool to a proximate robot;
a plurality of spacers;
a backing plate; and
a front plate;
wherein the first plurality of passages are aligned with the second plurality of passages forming a plurality of shafts configured to accommodate one or more workpiece interface tools, the plurality of spacers are aligned with the plurality of shafts and configured to provide support for the one or more workpiece interface tools; and
wherein the front plate is attached to the first center hub of the outer sheet and the backing plate is attached to the second center hub of the inner sheet.

10. The tool of claim 9 wherein the outer sheet is connected to the inner sheet with adhesive.

11. The tool of claim 9 wherein the plurality of workpiece interface tools is a plurality of spring plungers.

12. The tool of claim 9 , wherein the first peripheral member includes a first channel and the second peripheral member includes a second channel.

13. The tool of claim 9 , wherein each of the first plurality of ribs comprises a third channel and each of the second plurality of ribs comprises a fourth channel.

14. The tool of claim 9 , wherein the outer sheet is made of polymeric materials, thermosetting polymers, thermoplastics, or carbon fiber materials, and the inner sheet is made of polymeric materials, thermosetting polymers, thermoplastics, or carbon fiber materials.

Assignees

• Corning Inc

Inventors

• Barber Devin Joe
• Fornell Nils Paul
• Hsu Tzu-Hen
• Markham Brian Keith
• Nassau Andrew Nathan

Classifications

• B65G49/068

  Stacking or destacking devices; Means for preventing damage to stacked sheets, e.g. spaces (stacking in general B65G57/00; destacking in general B65G59/00; spacer sheets in general B65H) · CPC title

• B65G49/061

  Lifting, gripping, or carrying means, for one or more sheets forming independent means of transport, e.g. suction cups, transport frames (suction means as load-engaging elements attached to the lifting or lowering gear of cranes B66C1/02; suction cups for attaching purposes F16B47/00; suction cups on gripping heads B25J15/0616; suction cups in general B65G47/91; suction cups combined with cutting means on vertical conveyors C03B33/00 - C03B33/10; devices for turning sheets B65G49/067; suspending devices B65G49/066) · CPC title

• B25J15/0616

  with vacuum · CPC title

• B25J9/0012 Primary

  making use of synthetic construction materials, e.g. plastics, composites · CPC title

• B65G49/067

  Sheet handling, means, e.g. manipulators, devices for turning or tilting sheet glass (suction cups B65G49/061; combined with vertical conveyors C03B33/00 - C03B33/10; stacking and destacking B65G49/068) · CPC title