Robotic accessory mounting assembly

Abstract

A robotic accessory mounting assembly used in connection with a robot to attach an accessory to the robot, the mounting assembly including a cable connected to an implement mounted on the robot; the cable having a cable length; the implement including a first component having a first length, wherein the implement with the first component has an implement length that corresponds to the cable length; and a second component adapted to replace the first component, the second component having a length less than the first component, wherein replacement of the first component with the second component reduces the implement length defining a clearance relative to the cable length to receive an accessory mount in-line with the implement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A robotic system, the system comprising:
 a robot;   a plurality of substitutable breakaway disks of differing lengths;   an implement mounted on the robot via a first breakaway disk of the plurality of substitutable breakaway disks;   a cable having a standard cable length with the cable connectable to the implement; and   a first accessory having a first thickness;   wherein the first accessory is configured to be attached in line with the implement by substituting the first breakaway disk with a second breakaway disk of the plurality of substitutable breakaway disks by removing the first breakaway disk and attaching the first accessory in line with the implement and the second breakaway disk, with the cable connectable to the implement, to provide a first clearance for the first accessory based on the standard cable length when mounted in-line with the implement.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the implement includes a central passage configured to receive the cable therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first clearance is defined between the implement and an end of the robot, and wherein the first accessory is configured to be mounted to the end of the robot. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the implement includes a welding torch and the cable is electrically connectable to the welding torch. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the implement includes a housing, wherein the cable is connectable to the housing, and wherein the first breakaway disk and the second breakaway disk are configured to be mounted between the housing and an end of the robot, but not at the same time. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the second breakaway disk is less than a length of the first breakaway disk. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second accessory having a second thickness, wherein the second accessory is configured to be attached in line with the implement by substituting the first breakaway disk with a third breakaway disk of the plurality of substitutable breakaway disks by removing the first breakaway disk and attaching the second accessory in line with the implement and the third breakaway disk, with the cable connectable to the implement, to provide a second clearance for the second accessory based on the standard cable length when mounted in-line with the implement. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein a length of the second breakaway disk is less than a length of the first breakaway disk, and wherein a length of the third breakaway disk is less than a length of the second breakaway disk. 
     
     
         9 . A kit for a robotic system, the kit comprising:
 a plurality of substitutable breakaway disks of differing lengths,   wherein a first breakaway disk of the plurality of substitutable breakaway disks is configured to attach a first accessory of the robotic system, having a first thickness, in line with an implement of the robotic system, with a cable of the robotic system having a standard cable length and being connectable to the implement, to provide a first clearance for the first accessory based on the standard cable length when mounted in-line with the implement, and   wherein a second breakaway disk of the plurality of substitutable breakaway disks is configured to attach a second accessory of the robotic system, having a second thickness, in line with the implement, with the cable being connectable to the implement, to provide a second clearance for the second accessory based on the standard cable length when mounted in-line with the implement.   
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 9 , further comprising a replacement cable, for the cable of the robotic system, having the standard cable length. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of substitutable breakaway disks includes a central passage configured to receive the cable therethrough. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein a length of the second breakaway disk is less than a length of the first breakaway disk. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein a third breakaway disk of the plurality of substitutable breakaway disks is configured to attach a third accessory of the robotic system, having a third thickness, in line with the implement, with the cable being connectable to the implement, to provide a third clearance for the third accessory based on the standard cable length when mounted in-line with the implement. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein a length of the second breakaway disk is less than a length of the first breakaway disk, and wherein a length of the third breakaway disk is less than a length of the second breakaway disk. 
     
     
         15 . A kit for a robotic system, the kit comprising:
 a breakaway disk having a length; and   a plurality of substitutable spacers of differing lengths,   wherein the breakaway disk and a first spacer of the plurality of substitutable spacers are configured to attach a first accessory of the robotic system, having a first thickness, in line with an implement of the robotic system, with a cable of the robotic system having a standard cable length and being connectable to the implement, to provide a first clearance for the first accessory based on the standard cable length when mounted in-line with the implement, and   wherein the breakaway disk and a second spacer of the plurality of substitutable spacers are configured to attach a second accessory of the robotic system, having a second thickness, in line with the implement, with the cable being connectable to the implement, to provide a second clearance for the second accessory based on the standard cable length when mounted in-line with the implement.   
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 15 , further comprising a replacement cable, for the cable of the robotic system, having the standard cable length. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of substitutable spacers includes a central passage configured to receive the cable therethrough. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein a length of the second spacer is less than a length of the first spacer. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein the breakaway disk and a third spacer of the plurality of substitutable spacers are configured to attach a third accessory of the robotic system, having a third thickness, in line with the implement, with the cable being connectable to the implement, to provide a third clearance for the third accessory based on the standard cable length when mounted in-line with the implement. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 19 , wherein a length of the second spacer is less than a length of the first spacer, and wherein a length of the third spacer is less than a length of the second spacer.