Tool Changer

工具快换盘Advanced

A coupling that lets a robot arm automatically swap end-of-arm tools within seconds.

A tool changer mounts between a robot arm's flange and its end-of-arm tool, and comes in two halves: a master side that stays fixed to the arm, and a tool side mounted on each individual tool. To swap tools, the arm aligns the master side with a tool side, and a pneumatic or electric locking mechanism clamps them together while connecting air lines, electrical signals, and communication — completing the swap in seconds. It solves the basic limit of one arm, one gripper: the same arm can pick up boxes with a vacuum cup one moment, switch to a two-finger gripper for assembly the next, then swap in a screwdriver after that. It's common on industrial production lines; in embodied AI, it also shows up on mobile-manipulation platforms and test rigs that need several different tools. Major makers include ATI and Schunk.

ExampleThe arm first picks up material with a vacuum cup, docks it on the tool rack, then swaps in an electric gripper to finish assembly — all without a human touching any hardware.

Also called: Quick-Change Coupler, Quick-Change Adapter, Automatic Tool Changer (ATC)
Related: Tool Flange · End Effector · Gripper · Vacuum Suction Cup · Tool Use · Robotic Arm
Sources: Robotic Tool Changers - ATI Industrial Automation