Clamping systems and methods for robotic tools

1. An apparatus for clamping a robotically controlled tool to a workpiece, the apparatus comprising:

a tool support configured to be mounted on a robotic arm and arranged to support the tool;

a plurality of clamping modules each of which includes at least one clamping device configured to clamp the tool support to the workpiece and an adjustment mechanism configured to allow adjustment of the position of the tool support relative to the workpiece,

wherein the tool support is mounted on the robotic arm and the robotic arm is configured to move the tool support to bring the clamping devices into contact with the workpiece,

wherein each at least one clamping device comprises a plurality of vacuum cups mounted on a common mounting member which comprises a respective vacuum chamber housing defining a vacuum chamber connected to all of the plurality of vacuum cups.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a contact member movable relative to the tool support to allow relative movement of the tool support and the workpiece while the contact member is in contact with the workpiece, and the apparatus further comprises a lock configured to lock each of the contact members relative to the tool support so as to fix the location of the tool support relative to the workpiece during activation of the clamping devices.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein each of the contact members comprises a shaft that is slidably mounted on the tool support.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein each of the contact members is movable between an extended position in which the contact member will first contact the workpiece and a retracted position, and is spring biased towards the extended position.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the vacuum cups of each module is connected to the vacuum chamber via an auto-excluding valve configured to disconnect the vacuum cup from the vacuum chamber in the event of a leak in the vacuum cup.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, in each of the clamping modules, the plurality of vacuum cups are mounted on the vacuum chamber housing, and the vacuum chamber housing is rigidly connected to the tool support.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor positioned to sense a position of the tool support relative to the workpiece.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tool support comprises a sliding mounting arranged to mount the tool on the tool support so that the tool is movable on the sliding mounting relative to the tool support.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the sliding mounting comprise a spring arranged to bias the tool towards the workpiece.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising an electronic control unit and a vacuum pump, wherein the tool support is mounted on the robotic arm by means of a connector configured to connect the clamping devices to the vacuum pump.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , and further comprising at least one sensor positioned to sense a position of the tool support relative to the workpiece, wherein the connector is arranged to connect the at least one sensor to the electronic control unit.

12. A method of clamping a robotically operated tool to a workpiece, the method comprising:

a. providing the apparatus according to claim 1 , with a tool mounted on the tool support;

b. moving the tool support to a position where the clamping devices are in contact with the workpiece; and

c. activating the clamping devices to clamp the tool to the workpiece.

13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a contact member movable relative to the tool support to allow relative movement of the tool support and the workpiece while the contact member is in contact with the workpiece, and the apparatus further comprising a lock configured to lock each of the contact members relative to the tool support so as to fix the location of the tool support relative to the workpiece during activation of the clamping devices, and wherein when the tool support is in said position the contact members also contact the workpiece, the method further comprising locking the contact members relative to the tool support prior to activating the clamping devices.