Patents by Inventor Christoph Zech

Christoph Zech has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12109690
    Abstract: An active arm module and modular robot arm for an industrial robot comprises a housing, a heat exchanger, a drive device, and a connecting side with a connecting plate. The connecting plate can be mechanically connected to a further arm module or to a robot base for transmitting drive and support forces. The housing defines an interior space for receiving the drive device. The heat exchanger accommodates the drive device at least in sections, and is thermally coupled to the drive device. The heat exchanger has a fluid channel and can exchange heat between the drive device and the fluid. The arm module comprises a fluid contact device arranged at the connecting plate. Fluid can be exchanged with the further arm module or robot base via the fluid contact device; e.g., the fluid channel can be filled with the fluid for exchanging the fluid with the first fluid contact device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Kastler, Clemens Maier, Thomas Morscher, Armin Pehlivan, Christoph Zech
  • Patent number: 12109694
    Abstract: An industrial robot comprises a modular robot arm having a plurality of arm modules, where a rotation transfer device for optical signal transmission is provided in an arm module or between a first and a second arm module. The rotation transfer device comprises an optomechanical rotation interface having a first interface side and a second interface side, which face each other and are substantially rotationally symmetrical and complementary. The first and second interface sides are configured to rotate relative to each other. The first and second interface sides are mechanically mounted with respect to each other, with a radial plain bearing on one interface side and a slide bearing shell complementary thereto on the other interface side. A gap is formed between the first and second interface sides, in the axial direction of the rotation transfer device, across which the optical signal transmission takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Kastler, Clemens Maier, Thomas Morscher, Armin Pehlivan, Christoph Zech, Leo Büchinger, Hans Beckhoff, Dirk Janssen, Uwe Prüssmeier, Michael Pfister
  • Publication number: 20230111836
    Abstract: A driven linear axis includes a housing which has a linear rail guide on which a carriage is arranged such that it can be moved back and forth linearly with the aid of a transport device. The transport device comprises a belt which circulates in the housing and is guided over two gears, at least one gear being configured as a drive gear. Furthermore, a drive device is arranged within the drive gear and is in a torque-locking rotary connection with the drive gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Peter Kastler, Clemens Maier, Thomas Morscher, Armin Pehlivan, Christoph Zech
  • Publication number: 20230082028
    Abstract: An arm module includes a housing with a first connection side controllably rotatable relative to a second connection side, about an axis of rotation. The first connection side has a rotatable first connection device. The second connection side has a second connection device fixed to the housing, with a rotation-compatible data transmission device for transmitting data signals along at least one transmission path between the first and second connection sides. The transmission path includes at least one wireless transmission sub-path for wireless transmission of data signals, and at least one wire-guided transmission sub-path for wire-guided transmission of data signals. The rotation-compatible data transmission device includes at least one first wireless transmission unit and at least one second wireless transmission unit, interconnected via the transmission path and arranged to wirelessly transmit and receive data signals along the wireless transmission sub-path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Peter Kastler, Clemens Maier, Christoph Zech, Thomas Morscher, Armin Pehlivan, Michael Jäger, Peter Fischer, Thomas Rettig, Thorsten Bunte, Christopher Pohl
  • Publication number: 20220410412
    Abstract: An active arm module and modular robot arm for an industrial robot comprises a housing, a heat exchanger, a drive device, and a connecting side with a connecting plate. The connecting plate can be mechanically connected to a further arm module or to a robot base for transmitting drive and support forces. The housing defines an interior space for receiving the drive device. The heat exchanger accommodates the drive device at least in sections, and is thermally coupled to the drive device. The heat exchanger has a fluid channel and can exchange heat between the drive device and the fluid. The arm module comprises a fluid contact device arranged at the connecting plate. Fluid can be exchanged with the further arm module or robot base via the fluid contact device; e.g., the fluid channel can be filled with the fluid for exchanging the fluid with the first fluid contact device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Peter Kastler, Clemens Maier, Thomas Morscher, Armin Pehlivan, Christoph Zech
  • Publication number: 20220143815
    Abstract: An arm module, modular robot arm or industrial robot has a housing with first and second connection sides. The first connection side has a first connection plate, a first fluid contact device and a first contact device. The second connection side is mechanically connected to the housing in a torque-proof manner, and has a second connection plate. The first fluid contact device and first contact device are arranged on the first connection plate, parallel to a mounting axis. The first connection side is connectable to another arm module. An external thread is arranged about the first mounting axis, on an outer circumferential side of the first connection plate. The second connection plate is circumferentially embraced by a fastening ring with an internal thread corresponding to the external thread. The fastening ring is connected to the housing in an axially fixed manner, rotatable about a second mounting axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Peter Kastler, Clemens Maier, Thomas Morscher, Armin Pehlivan, Christoph Zech
  • Publication number: 20220134540
    Abstract: An industrial robot comprises a modular robot arm having a plurality of arm modules, where a rotation transfer device for optical signal transmission is provided in an arm module or between a first and a second arm module. The rotation transfer device comprises an optomechanical rotation interface having a first interface side and a second interface side, which face each other and are substantially rotationally symmetrical and complementary. The first and second interface sides are configured to rotate relative to each other. The first and second interface sides are mechanically mounted with respect to each other, with a radial plain bearing on one interface side and a slide bearing shell complementary thereto on the other interface side. A gap is formed between the first and second interface sides, in the axial direction of the rotation transfer device, across which the optical signal transmission takes place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Peter Kastler, Clemens Maier, Thomas Morscher, Armin Pehlivan, Christoph Zech, Leo Büchinger, Hans Beckhoff, Dirk Janssen, Uwe Prüssmeier, Michael Pfister
  • Publication number: 20220134539
    Abstract: An arm module has a housing with a first connection side and a second connection side. The first connection side is embodied to be controllably rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to the second connection side. The first connection side has a rotatable first connection device and the second connection side has a second connection device fixed to the housing. A multifunctional rotation transfer system is provided for rotational transmission of data signals, electrical energy and fluid. A drive device is provided comprising a shaft assembly having an output shaft, which is connected to the rotatable first connection device of the first connection side in a torque-proof manner, wherein the shaft assembly forms a section of the multifunctional rotation transfer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Peter Kastler, Clemens Maier, Thomas Morscher, Armin Pehlivan, Christoph Zech
  • Publication number: 20220118634
    Abstract: An active arm module for the robot arm of a modular industrial robot has a first housing, first and connection sides arranged at an offset, and a drive device. The first connection side is mounted rotatably relative to the first housing, and is connected to the drive device in a torque-locking manner. The second connection side is connected to the first housing in a torque-proof manner, the drive device being arranged in the first housing and configured to rotate the first connection side relative to the first housing. A further module can be connected to the first and/or second connection side, where the first connection side is optically, electrically, power-electrically and/or fluidically connected to the second connection side, and an optical signal, electrical signal, electrical power, and/or a fluid can be exchanged with the further module via the and/or second connection side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Pfister, Hans Beckhoff, Dirk Janssen, Uwe Prüssmeier, Christoph Zech, Leo Büchinger, Thomas Morscher, Armin Pehlivan, Peter Kastler, Clemens Maier
  • Publication number: 20200254610
    Abstract: A method for controlling an industrial robot provides that position data of the industrial robot are detected and environment data of an object in an environment of the industrial robot are captured with an environment detection unit. The position data and the environment data are transformed into a common figure space, in which a control figure is defined for the industrial robot and an object figure of the object is represented. A parameter set is created which takes a dimensioning of the control figure in the figure space into account. The parameter set comprises a temporal and spatial correlation of the position data and the environment data and takes into account the movement history of the industrial robot and/or of the object. An action instruction is generated for the industrial robot if the control figure and the object figure satisfy a predefined criterion in relation to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Clemens Maier, Armin Pehlivan, Christoph Zech, Peter Kastler, Thomas Morscher