Coupling system.

Robo-Coup is developed by Precizika Metal together with its Mother Company Ingemann Maskinfabrik and being used already as a standard for the Reconcell assembly robot and the MIR robot.

Robo-coup is a coupling system made with possibilities to transfer data, power and compressed air – modular and therefore adjustable for the clients’ specific needs.
Application examples:

• Docking mobile robot for recharging or delivery

• Connecting few robot units together

• Automatic tool changing when robot feeds the machine with various components

Only few companies in the world delivers coupling systems that

Is useful as one of the key components for automation solutions,

when several systems and/or devices has to be coupled and information, compressed air and power should be transferred. The present solutions are though:

• not adopted for specific purposes – but quite standard.
• in some cases even not adjustable for the specific need – and the robot developers will need to invent the solutions themselves
• expensive and not least if to use several coupling systems for a single robot solution, the price of the coupling will significantly influence the price on the entire robot cell/solution

For many standard automation situations it would be an advantage with a more dedicated solution for this specific need – and at a lower price than offered in the market at the moment. The Robo-Coup is the answer to this need.

The Robo-Coup was originally invented to be used for the assembly robot Reconcell to be used:

• when the parts that the assembly robot should assemble would be transported to the cell and it would be needed for the cell to understand the positioning of the parts delivered
• for the cell to be connected with other devices, where data, power and compressed air was needed.

The same philosophy was applied for the MIR robot, when it has to do precise docking. Precise docking for the MIR robot requires a specific coupling solution, where one part is for example mounted on the conveyor line the other part installed into the MIR. The MIR can find the docking point, precisely dock in and deliver. Design optimizations for the coupling to fit the MIR was needed. This is done and a dedicated coupling is now used for the MIR robots, that has a need for precise docking.

A dedicated coupling solution is also planned for the tool changing situation, when a robot arm has to work with numerous tools and do fast changing. A dedicated solution will have the optimized design and functionality – and no more. Optimized design and functionality and thereby optimized pricing as well for the solution.

The Robo-Coup is not a single batch solution – for a non-repeated process, but a dedicated solution for specific and repeated processes.

Each specific coupling solution is designed individually, which means it has to be useful for a concrete process that is needed for many of the same type of robots/solutions – as in the case with the Reconcell and MIR robots.

The basic coupling has following characteristics:

• Modular system
• 8 network pins for transmission of ICT signals
• Power connection: 400V/6W
• Transmission of compressed air: 8bar, pneumatic ½”
• Repeatability +/- 0,05mm
• Forces: 2.500N in all directions
• Torques: up to 1.500N in all directions
• To connect: no additional force
• To disconnect: compressed air, max. 2,5bar

Mechanical gland: compensation of inaccuracies up to 30mm

The market for coupling systems and devices to provide connections between automated systems will be growing largely – along with a growing automation industry.

The solutions, where coupling systems are needed are diversifying – which demands different variations of couplings, not a one-fits all solution.

At the same time more standard robot and automation solutions are as well developed, where the need for a coupling is the exact the same for each and every of those robot solutions.

This is exactly the needs that Robo-Coup will solve. The specific standard coupling for the specific standard robot and automation solution.