Wrist Patents (Class 74/490.06)
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Publication number: 20120216649Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of an articulated robot wrist, which can comprise a first body comprising a first and a second end, said first end being intended to be mounted on a robot component that is rotatable around a first axis; a second body comprising a first and a second end, said first end being rotatably mounted on said second end of said first body, around a second axis inclined with respect to said first axis; and a third body comprising a first and a second end, said first end being rotatably mounted on said second end of said second body, around a third axis inclined with respect to said second axis. The first and third axes are both substantially orthogonal to said second axis, and wherein in at least one position of said robot wrist said first and third axes result substantially aligned with one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2012Publication date: August 30, 2012Applicant: Comau S.p.A.Inventors: Mauro Amparore, Giorgio Pernechele, Giuseppe Paparella
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Patent number: 8246288Abstract: A manipulator includes a support arm, a grasping member, and a connecting assembly. The connecting assembly connects the support arm with the grasping member. A base is fixed to the support arm, and the holder is fixed to the base. The holder defines an assembling hole, and a perimeter of the assembling hole increases along a direction towards the base. The connecting member has a first assembling portion received in the assembling hole of the holder. The elastic member is positioned between the base and the connecting member, thus producing an elastic force to drive the connecting member to resist the holder.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2009Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Da-Wei Liu, Hai-Yuan Li
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Patent number: 8245594Abstract: A roll joint utilizes at least one tendon guide surface to guide actuator tendons for distal roll off and on their respective drums on a central shaft of the roll joint. The tendon guide surface turns the actuator tendon in an axial direction in a more compact space than might be required for a pair of pulleys, while using fewer parts with larger features more easily formed on a small scale.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2008Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Theodore W. Rogers, Matthew R. Williams
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Patent number: 8245595Abstract: In a robotic system having a two-axis robotic wrist connected to a reference member, the wrist has a movable member movable relative to the reference member in pitch and yaw. A first serial chain linkage connects the movable member to the reference member and a second serial chain linkage connects the movable member to the reference member in parallel relationship with the first serial chain linkage. The linkages are configured to constrain the movable to spherical movement, and such that the robotic wrist is non-singular, non-overconstrained, and non-overactuated. Actuation of a pair of revolute joints connected to the reference member deflects the movable member in pitch and yaw. The roll angle resulting from deflection in pitch and yaw is that of an intersecting-shaft constant-velocity coupling connecting the reference member to the movable member.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2009Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventor: Paul H. Milenkovic
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Patent number: 8240971Abstract: A handling manipulator assembly comprises a vertical extending main support (2) arranged on a rotary plate (3). Arranged on the main support (2) is a vertically travelling vertical carriage (9) to which a horizontal extension arm (12) is secured. Mounted on the horizontal extension arm (12) is an articulated arm (14) provided at the end with a manipulator gripper (18). Such a handling manipulator assembly (1) is suitable to advantage to feed/remove tools or workpieces to/from a machine tool provided with a front portal.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2008Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Erowa AGInventor: Bruno Sandmeier
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Publication number: 20120174317Abstract: A robotic patient positioning assembly including a patient treatment couch, and a robotic arm coupled to the patient treatment couch. The robotic arm is configured to move the patient treatment couch along five rotational degrees of freedom and one substantially vertical, linear degree of freedom.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2012Publication date: July 12, 2012Inventors: Michael J. Saracen, Aaron W. Carrano, Toby D. Henderson
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Patent number: 8210069Abstract: A wrist structure of a robot arm includes a forearm body, a first rotating assembly, a wrist body, and a second rotating assembly. The first rotating assembly is disposed in the forearm body and drives the wrist body to rotate with respect to the forearm body in a first rotation axis direction. The second rotating assembly is disposed in the wrist body and drives a workpiece to rotate with respect to the wrist body in a second rotation axis direction. The first rotating assembly has a first speed reducer directly connected to the wrist body, so as to directly drive the wrist body at a predetermined speed reduction ratio, thereby obtaining a predetermined torque.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2010Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Jan Hao Chen, En Sheng Chang, Chun Chien Ting
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Publication number: 20120160163Abstract: A robot arm includes a support, a wrist joint rotatably connected to the support, a distal joint rotatably connected to the wrist joint, a first driving mechanism driving the wrist joint, and a second driving mechanism driving the distal joint. The first driving mechanism comprises a first input shaft connected to the wrist joint via two bevel gears, and the first driving mechanism drives the wrist joint to rotate relative to the support. The second driving mechanism comprises a second input shaft connected to the distal joint via at least four bevel gears, and the second driving mechanism drives the distal joint to rotate relative to the wrist joint. The robot arm is sealed and defines a conduit for allowing a plurality of pipes and cables to pass through.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2011Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD .Inventor: BO LONG
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Publication number: 20120152051Abstract: A system for externally actuating an animatronic figure. The system including a first robotic mechanism configured as a remote center mechanism for rotating a first rod about a first remote center point. The first rod is attached to a first driven part of the figure with the first remote center point spaced apart from the figure. The system includes a second robotic mechanism rotating a second rod about a second remote center point. The second rod is attached to the second driven part of the animatronic figure, and the second remote center point is spaced apart from the animatronic figure. The system includes a third robotic mechanism rotating a third rod about a remote center point, with the third rod attached to a third driven part of the figure, and the three robotic mechanisms are concurrently operable via a computer-based controller to provide the figure with twenty-one degrees of freedom.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: STEVEN A. JOHNSON, AKHIL JITEN MADHANI, JOEL F. JENSEN, DANIEL R. BAUEN, TROY A. CARTER, CASSILYN BAIR
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Patent number: 8197469Abstract: A controlled relative motion system comprising a base support, a manipulable support, and a plurality of hinged doubled pivoting links rotatably coupled to the base support and rotatably coupled to the manipulable support. A plurality of force imparting members has at least one coupled to one of the plurality of doubled pivoting links so as to be able to cause it to rotate. Also, at least one is coupled to the base support so as to be able to cause that base support to move toward or away. This joint can be used with a similar control joint, coupled thereto by coupling shafts held apart by a slidable separator, to form an extended length inserter for inserting an object positionable by the insertion joint in an obstructed location reached along a constricted passageway. These structures, positioned within a barrel, can rotate together but an activator slider, positioned at least partially about that barrel though not rotatable therewith, is coupled to the separator to cause sliding thereof.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2004Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Ross-Hime Designs, Inc.Inventor: Mark E. Rosheim
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Patent number: 8182197Abstract: In a gripping device, a displacement-type force sensor is provided on a side of a driving mechanism opposite fingers to which the driving mechanism is connected to form a grip section. The driving mechanism is supported on a housing with an elastic member being disposed therebetween at a position closer to the fingers than the center of gravity of the grip section.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2009Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Ken Meisho
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Publication number: 20120111135Abstract: A robot wrist structure includes a first wrist arm rotatable about a first axis, a second wrist arm provided in a tip end portion of the first wrist arm and configured to swing about a second axis substantially intersecting the first axis, a wrist flange provided in a tip end portion of the second wrist arm and configured to rotate about a third axis in a skew position with respect to the second axis, an intermediate member fixed to the wrist flange, and a cable bundle connected to an end effector fixed to the intermediate member. The cable bundle extends through the second wrist arm, the wrist flange and the intermediate member and drawn out from the intermediate member to reach the end effector.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2011Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKIInventors: Atsushi Ichibangase, Takashi Sanada, Kei Kamohara
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Publication number: 20120103127Abstract: A robot arm assembly includes a hollow wrist housing, a wrist rotatably connected to the wrist housing, a first driver, a first transmission mechanism, a rotary member, a second driver, and a second transmission mechanism. The first driver is assembled within the wrist housing for driving the wrist to rotate relative to the wrist housing along a first rotary axis. The first transmission mechanism is also assembled within the wrist housing and is positioned between the wrist and the first driver. The rotary member is rotatably assembled to a distal end of the wrist along a second rotary axis. The second driver is assembled within the wrist housing for driving the rotary member to rotate. The second transmission mechanism is assembled within the wrist housing, and is positioned between the second driver and the rotary member.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2011Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.Inventor: ZHEN-XING LIU
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Publication number: 20120095596Abstract: The present disclosure introduces modular apparatuses for mechanical devices. In one embodiment, a chain joint is described. The chain joint may include a rotating drum having an attachment point. Further, the chain joint may also include hydraulic cylinders connected to the rotating drum. Lengths of chain may be used to connect the hydraulic cylinders to the rotating drum via the attachment point. Another embodiment describes a robotic apparatus incorporating the chain joint. Other embodiments are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2011Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicant: Special Applications Technology, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Denver Cole, Paul Damon Linnebur, Marc Thomas Rood, Matthew David Zankey, Justin Matthew Vallely
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Publication number: 20120048047Abstract: A robot arm system includes a support base, a first robot arm, a first driving mechanism, a second robot arm, a second driving mechanism, and a wrist assembly. The first driving mechanism drives the first robot arm to rotate around the first rotation axis. The second driving mechanism drives the second robot arm to rotate around the second rotation axis. The robot arm system further comprises a first wheel positioned on the support base, a second wheel positioned on the second robot arm, a third wheel positioned on the wrist assembly and rotatably connecting to the second robot arm, a first flexible belt connecting the first wheel with the second wheel, and a second flexible belt connecting the third wheel with the second wheel. The first wheel, the second wheel, and the third wheel have the same radius.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.Inventor: GUO-QING ZHANG
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Patent number: 8123015Abstract: In a robot hand overload safety apparatus, a first magnetically attracting bearing face 3 is provided at a robot hand mounting portion, and a second magnetically attracting bearing face 9 is provided on the robot hand 4, so that the second magnetically attracting bearing face 9 is magnetically attracted by the first magnetically attracting bearing face 3 and the robot hand 4 is mounted and supported, and in which a shaft 10 projecting from the first or second magnetically attracting bearing face 3, 9 is fitted into a hole or groove 11 opening on the other bearing face, so that the robot hand 4 rotates in the lateral direction, moves in the vertical direction or inclines in the fore-and-aft direction against the magnetically attracting force via the fitting between the shaft and the hole or groove 11 due to an overload exerted to the robot hand 4.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2007Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.Inventors: Katsuya Yanai, Fumio Urushibara
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Patent number: 8109173Abstract: A parallel robot including a movable-section drive mechanism having a parallel mechanism configuration and operating to allow a movable section to perform a three-axis translational motion with respect to a base section, and a wrist-section drive mechanism operating to allow a wrist section to perform a three-axis orientation-changing motion with respect to the movable section. The wrist section includes a first rotary member supported on the movable section and rotatable about a fourth rotation axis different from axes of the three-axis translational motion of the movable section, a second rotary member connected to the first rotary member and rotatable about a fifth rotation axis orthogonal to the fourth rotation axis, and a third rotary member connected to the second rotary member and rotatable about a sixth rotation axis orthogonal to the fifth rotation axis. The third rotary member is provided with an attachment surface to which a tool is attached.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2010Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Fanuc LtdInventors: Satoshi Kinoshita, Hikaru Yamashiro
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Patent number: 8109170Abstract: An umbilical member motion limiting device is provided on a robot which has a forearm, a wrist portion, an operating tool attached to the end of the wrist portion, and the umbilical member connected to the operating tool through the forearm, for limiting the motion of the umbilical member corresponding to the motion of the robot. The motion limiting device comprises a swing portion attached to the wrist portion so as to swing around a swing axis and a limiting portion arranged on the swing portion for limiting the motion of the umbilical member. Thus, the motion limiting device can minimize interference due to surplus length of the umbilical member and avoid contact of the umbilical member with external equipment.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2009Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Fanuc LtdInventors: Munehiro Jinushi, Masahiro Morioka, Satoshi Adachi
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Patent number: 8109172Abstract: A wrist assembly (311) for a robotic arm or other mechanical device is provided. The wrist assembly comprises a first arm (313) which terminates in a first radius (317), a second arm (315) which terminates in a second radius (319), and a first band (331) that is devoid of weld joints and that extends around a portion of each of said first and second radii.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2004Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Fabworx Solutions, Inc.Inventor: Richard J. Kent
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Publication number: 20120011956Abstract: An apparatus for a robot arm of an industrial robot. A first module includes a first and a second member rotatable in relation to each other about a first axis of rotation. A second module includes a first and a second member rotatable in relation to each other about a second axis of rotation. The first member of the second module is attached to the second member of the first module. A third module includes a first and a second member rotatable in relation to each other about a third axis of rotation. The first member of the third module is attached to the second member of the second module. The second axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to the first and the third axis of rotation. The second axis of rotation is offset from the first and the third axis of rotation when the first axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the third axis of rotation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2009Publication date: January 19, 2012Inventor: Ivan Lundberg
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Publication number: 20120000312Abstract: A robot, such as a painting robot for painting components such as motor vehicle body components, is disclosed having a plurality of robot elements that are pivotable relative to each other. At least one flexible supply line may run from a proximal robot element to a distal robot element. The supply line may be axially displaceable in the proximal robot element relative to the longitudinal axis of the supply line, so that the supply line can perform an axial compensating motion during a pivot motion of the robot.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2010Publication date: January 5, 2012Inventor: Andreas Collmer
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Patent number: 8069746Abstract: An auxiliary device for a mechanical arm includes a supporting base, two reciprocating engines, a rotational plate, and four suction members. The reciprocating engine includes a cylinder and a driving rod. The cylinder is configured for driving the driving rod linearly and reciprocating along its longitudinal axis. The cylinder is rotatably fixed to the supporting base, thereby defining a first rotational axis therebetween. The driving rod is rotatably fixed to the rotational plate, thereby defining a second rotational axis therebetween. The rotational plate is also directly and rotatably fixed to the supporting base to be rotatable about a third rotational axis defined therebetween. The three rotational axes are parallel. The four suction members are fixed to the rotational plate.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2008Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Rong-Mou Bao, Ga-Lei Hu, Tao-Jun Huang, Jian-Long Xing, Chun-Nan Ou
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Publication number: 20110290061Abstract: A hybrid robotic manipulator adapted to move objects is provided. The hybrid manipulator includes a base with a waist mounted on it and configured to rotate on the base. The hybrid manipulator further includes a pair of arms mounted on the waist. Each arm includes an upper arm, a forearm serially coupled to the upper arm at an elbow and a wrist configured to couple the pair of arms at a distal end through a pair of connecting elements. The wrist further includes an end-effector mounted thereon and configured to grip the object and move the object to a desired position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2011Publication date: December 1, 2011Inventor: G. Jagannath Raju
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Patent number: 8061232Abstract: The present invention provides methods, apparatus, and systems for a wrist assembly including a housing having a cap and a bottom, at least one pivot at least partially enclosed in the housing and adapted to be coupled to a robot arm, and a belt coupled to the pivot and adapted to rotate the pivot about a bearing. The bottom of the housing is adapted to reflect heat away from the at least one pivot and the bearing.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2007Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Whitney B. Kroetz, Damon K. Cox, Jeffrey A. Brodine, Domingo J. Guerra
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Patent number: 8047093Abstract: A parallel robot including a movable-section drive mechanism having a parallel mechanism configuration and operating to allow a movable section to perform a three-axis translational motion with respect to a base section; and a wrist-section drive mechanism operating to allow a wrist section to perform a rotational motion with respect to the movable section.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2010Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Fanuc LtdInventors: Satoshi Kinoshita, Hikaru Yamashiro
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Patent number: 8029229Abstract: A robotic arm compensator includes a housing, a lock mandrel, a first lock slide, a second lock slide and an instrument attached to the lock mandrel. A method of using the robotic arm compensator includes moving the first and second lock slides in a direction toward each other to engage the lock mandrel in a first state and moving the lock slides apart from each other to disengage the lock mandrel in a second state for providing exceptional radial movement, large lateral travel relative to overall size, zero force to utilize the compensation travel and no axial compressibility.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2009Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Inventor: Duane Aiken
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Patent number: 8020466Abstract: An umbilical-member processing structure for an industrial robot which includes a forearm having a tool managing and relaying device and a wrist with proximal end rotatably connected to the forearm and having a work tool mounted on the distal end thereof, with an umbilical-member connected to the work tool being disposed to run along the wrist via the tool managing and relaying device: wherein the forearm has a first reduction gear which reduces the rotational speed of a driving source to drive the forearm in rotation; the first reduction gear having a first insertion hole for passing the umbilical-member therein; and wherein the wrist comprises a first wrist element having a through-path in communication with the first insertion hole and rotatably connected to the forearm, and a second wrist element having a second insertion hole in communication with the through-path and rotatably connected to the first wrist element.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2008Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: FANUC LtdInventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Kazutaka Nakayama, Takatoshi Iwayama
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Patent number: 8006586Abstract: An articulated robot includes a wrist carrying a flange for attachment of an apparatus to be carried by the robot. The wrist comprises a first support mounted on a robot component that is rotatable about a first axis, a second support rotatably mounted on the first support about a second axis inclined with respect to the first axis, and a third support rotatably mounted on the second support about a third axis, inclined with respect to the second axis. A first motor carried by the first support drives the rotation of the second support, and a second motor carried by the second support drives the rotation of the third support, which ends with the flange for attachment of the apparatus to be carried by the robot.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2008Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Comau S.p.A.Inventors: Igor Tealdi, Mauro Amparore
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Patent number: 7997161Abstract: The invention relates to a device which is used to move and orient an object in space and to the use thereof in rapid machining. The inventive device (1) comprises an object support which is borne by an intermediary mobile support (13) which is connected to a fixed frame (2) using articulated connecting means (7a, 7b, 7c). The invention also comprises means for moving the aforementioned intermediary mobile support (13) in relation to the fixed frame (2), which maintain the orientation of said intermediary mobile support (13) in relation to the fixed frame (2). The invention further comprises a mechanism (14) which is used to orient the object support in relation to the intermediary mobile support (13). The above-mentioned means for moving the intermediary mobile support (13) comprise actuators (5a, 5b, 5c) which are used to move an end part of each of the articulated connecting means (7a, 7b, 7c) borne by the fixed frame (2) translationally.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2004Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.), Ecole Centrale de NantesInventors: Damien Chablat, Philippe Wenger
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Publication number: 20110147103Abstract: The invention relates to a humanoid robot comprising two elements connected by a spherical joint with three degrees of freedom in rotation, the joint being moved by three actuators each acting in one of the three degrees of freedom. The invention is of particular use in the production of humanoid robots coming as close as possible to the human anatomy. According to the invention, the first and the second of the actuators act in parallel and the third of the actuators acts in series with the first and the second of the actuators.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: BIAInventors: Samer Alfayad, Fathi Ben Ouezdou, Faycal Namoun
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Patent number: 7955042Abstract: A manipulator includes an end effector, a support member that supports the end effector, and a fixing member provided to the support member and made of a tube-shaped flexible film with a space therein. In the manipulator, a fluid is supplied to the space of the fixing member to inflate the fixing member so that a flexible cover for covering the end effector is fixed to the support member. Accordingly, cleanness of the end effector is restored.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2008Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Atsushi Sugahara, Hideichi Nakamoto, Takashi Yoshimi
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Publication number: 20110120255Abstract: A wrist structure of a robot arm includes a forearm body, a first rotating assembly, a wrist body, and a second rotating assembly. The first rotating assembly is disposed in the forearm body and drives the wrist body to rotate with respect to the forearm body in a first rotation axis direction. The second rotating assembly is disposed in the wrist body and drives a workpiece to rotate with respect to the wrist body in a second rotation axis direction. The first rotating assembly has a first speed reducer directly connected to the wrist body, so as to directly drive the wrist body at a predetermined speed reduction ratio, thereby obtaining a predetermined torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2010Publication date: May 26, 2011Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Jan Hao Chen, En Sheng Chang, Chun Chien Ting
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Patent number: 7938038Abstract: A joint structure of a robot for moving an assembly 51 to be connected to a robot link with respect to the robot link, the joint structure includes a first motor 10 for causing the assembly a longitudinal swing motion, a second motor 20 for causing the assembly a lateral swing motion, and a third motor 30 for causing the assembly a rotary motion, wherein the first motor 10 and the second motor 20 are disposed so that the output shaft of the first motor 10 and the output shaft of the second motor 20 are in parallel with each other and are orthogonal to the robot link, and the third motor 30 is disposed so that the output shaft of the third motor 30 is shifted with respect to the central axis of the rotary motion of the assembly 51.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2005Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Zenta Sugawara, Kenichiro Sugiyama, Masayoshi Kokushiyou
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Patent number: 7926377Abstract: A device for adjusting the backlash in bevel gears in an industrial robot which includes a first conical gear wheel with a first axis of rotation and a second conical gear wheel. The device includes a displaceably arranged holder member adapted to fix and rotatably journal the first gear wheel for rotation about the first axis of rotation.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2008Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: ABB ABInventors: Jan Larsson, Stefan Danielsson, Mats Olsson
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Patent number: 7913584Abstract: A support arm for a clamping and/or centering element of a gripper frame for holding three-dimensional components includes an adjustment mechanism, such as a ball that can pivot or a cylindrical pin that slide and rotate, held in a clamping and release unit with clamping jaws that can be radially clamped and are configured as shells engaging on opposing halves of the ball or the cylindrical pin and whose separation distance can be set by a means of adjustment. A radially directed compression force can be applied to the clamping jaws by a ring-shaped hydraulic force generator that is arranged about the jaws.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2006Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Drauz Nothelfer GmbHInventor: Roland Arnold
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Patent number: 7914522Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes an elongate shaft having a working end and a shaft axis, and a pair of linking arms each having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is pivotally mounted on the working end of the shaft to rotate around a first pitch axis to produce rotation in first pitch. A wrist member has a proximal portion pivotally connected to the distal end of the linking arm to rotate around a second pitch axis to produce rotation in second pitch. An end effector is pivotally mounted on a distal portion of the wrist member to rotate around a wrist axis of the wrist member to produce rotation in distal roll. The wrist axis extends between the proximal portion and the distal portion of the wrist member. The elongate shaft is rotatable around the shaft axis to produce rotation in proximal roll. At about 90° pitch, the wrist axis is generally perpendicular to the shaft axis. The proximal roll around the shaft axis and the distal roll around the wrist axis do not overlap.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2008Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Tracey A. Morley, Daniel T. Wallace
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Publication number: 20110071673Abstract: The lower arm assembly for a humanoid robot includes an arm support having a first side and a second side, a plurality of wrist actuators mounted to the first side of the arm support, a plurality of finger actuators mounted to the second side of the arm support and a plurality of electronics also located on the first side of the arm support.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGYOPERATIONS, INC., The U.S.A As Represented by the Administrotor of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Oceaneering International, Inc.Inventors: Chris A. Ihrke, Lyndon Bridgwater, Myron A. Diftler, David M. Reich, Scott R. Askew
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Publication number: 20110071671Abstract: A humanoid robot includes a torso, a pair of arms, a neck, a head, a wrist joint assembly, and a control system. The arms and the neck movably extend from the torso. Each of the arms includes a lower arm and a hand that is rotatable relative to the lower arm. The wrist joint assembly is operatively defined between the lower arm and the hand. The wrist joint assembly includes a yaw axis and a pitch axis. The pitch axis is disposed in a spaced relationship to the yaw axis such that the axes are generally perpendicular. The pitch axis extends between the yaw axis and the lower arm. The hand is rotatable relative to the lower arm about each of the yaw axis and the pitch axis. The control system is configured for determining a yaw angle and a pitch angle of the wrist joint assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., The U.S.A. As Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Oeaneering International, Inc.Inventors: Chris A. Ihrke, Lyndon Bridgwater, David M. Reich, Charles W. Wampler, II, Scott R. Askew, Myron A. Diftler, Vienny Nguyen
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Publication number: 20110067521Abstract: A humanoid robot includes a torso, a pair of arms, two hands, a neck, and a head. The torso extends along a primary axis and presents a pair of shoulders. The pair of arms movably extend from a respective one of the pair of shoulders. Each of the arms has a plurality of arm joints. The neck movably extends from the torso along the primary axis. The neck has at least one neck joint. The head movably extends from the neck along the primary axis. The head has at least one head joint. The shoulders are canted toward one another at a shrug angle that is defined between each of the shoulders such that a workspace is defined between the shoulders.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., The U.S.A. As Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Oceaneering International, Inc.Inventors: Douglas Martin Linn, Robert O. Ambrose, Myron A. Diftler, Scott R. Askew, Robert Platt, Joshua S. Mehling, Nicolaus A. Radford, Philip A. Strawser, Lyndon Bridgwater, Charles W. Wampler, II, Muhammad E. Abdallah, Chris A. Ihrke, Matthew J. Reiland, Adam M. Sanders, David M. Reich, Brian Hargrave, Adam H. Parsons, Frank Noble Permenter, Donald R. Davis
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Patent number: 7891934Abstract: Disclosed is a robot which is compact in structure and may be movable in a large working range, wherein move members 1, 1 may be moved by drive devices 4, 4 respectively along a straight line and in parallel with each other, the drive devices 4, 4 including motors 40, 40 respectively which are individually controlled by a control device 9, so that the move members 1, 1 may be moved at a different speed and may be stopped at different relative positions. The move members 1, 1 are connected to a work holder 3 by means of arms 2, 2, the arms having one end pivotally connected to the move members 1, 1 at the pivots 10, 10 thereof respectively, the arms 2, 2 having the opposite end pivotally connected to the work holder 3 at the pivots 30, 30 thereof respectively. The work holder 3 may hold an optional jig and may be moved in a horizontal plane and in a vertical plane enabling the jig to work in the working plane.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2007Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Janome Sewing Machine Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kiyoshi Wakaizumi
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Publication number: 20110040408Abstract: A robotic hand assembly comprising: a hand section comprising: at least one digit provided with at least one actuatable joint; and a control section comprising: at least one actuation device, the at least one actuation device comprising: a sensing module configured to sense a force applied to a tendon coupled at a first end to the at least one actuatable joint; and an actuation module configured to actuate the at least one actuatable joint.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2010Publication date: February 17, 2011Applicant: THE SHADOW ROBOT COMPANY LIMITEDInventors: Armando De La Rosa Tames, Graeme Richard Lawrence Walker, Jake Benjamin Goldsmith, John Hugo Elias, Matthew Paul Godden, Richard Martin Greenhill
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Patent number: 7878088Abstract: A sealing device provided to a joint section of a robot. The sealing device includes overlapped seal portions having a multi-stage configuration, provided for a driving mechanism incorporated into the joint section. The overlapped seal portions include a first seal portion including a first contact seal element sealing a first inter-member gap defined adjacent to a lubricant retaining section provided in the driving mechanism; and a second seal portion arranged outside the first seal portion and including a second contact seal element sealing a second inter-member gap defined in a circumferential wall of the joint section, the circumferential wall defining an accommodation space for accommodating the driving mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2007Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Fanuc LtdInventors: Toshinari Tamura, Hidenori Kurebayashi, Atsushi Aizawa, Yasuyoshi Tanaka, Katsumi Fujimoto
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Patent number: 7870808Abstract: A displacement member can be displaced in a direction substantially perpendicular to a moving direction of a translation member that is held on a base member so as to reciprocatingly move thereon linearly, and an elastic mechanism secured to the base member accumulates and releases elastic energy in accordance with the distance to the displacement member. Protruding members of the translation member are pressed against a transmission member by generated force provided by the energy release from the elastic mechanism; thus, a distance adjusting operation between coupling mechanisms coupling the transmission member and the displacement member is controlled by a control device so that the relative position and relative angle between the displacement member and the transmission member are changed.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2009Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Katsuhiko Asai
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Patent number: 7870807Abstract: A robot wrist for a painting robot has several wrist sections that can be rotated relative to one another, an internal conduit that passes through the wrist sections, a flexible hose carried in the internal conduit and having a hose drive operating on the hose to achieve positive rotation of the hose in the internal conduit corresponding to the rotation of the wrist sections.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2006Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Durr Systems Inc.Inventors: Thomas Hezel, Bernd Leiensetter, Frank Herre, Bekim Maxharraj, Nedime Maxaharraj, legal representative
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Publication number: 20100331857Abstract: A flexible wrist-type element and methods of operation thereof, including variations having an angularly moveable hub housing a rotatable and operable end effector driven via a drive train having one or more universal-type joints and/or other flexible couplings moveable via an input mechanism within a housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2010Publication date: December 30, 2010Inventors: Mark DOYLE, Donald H. KOENIG
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Patent number: 7857727Abstract: A concentric joint mechanism includes a frame, a flexible spherical body, a first friction wheel, a first power device, and a fixing device. The flexible spherical body is disposed inside the frame. The first friction wheel is disposed inside the frame and abuts against the flexible spherical body for driving the flexible spherical body to rotate in a first direction. The first power device is connected to the first friction wheel for providing power to the first friction wheel. The fixing device is connected to the frame and abuts against the flexible spherical body for fixing the flexible spherical body inside the frame together with the first friction wheel.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2008Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Micro-Star Int'l Co., Ltd.Inventor: Bi-Jang Rung
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Patent number: 7849761Abstract: A wrist unit to be arranged in an industrial robot including a control system and a manipulator. The manipulator includes a robot arm and a wrist unit arranged on the robot arm and including a wrist housing arranged for rotation about a fourth axis of rotation, a wrist part/tilt pivotally journalled in the wrist housing for rotation about a fifth axis of rotation. A second transmission is configured to transmit rotation form a second drive unit to the turn disc about the sixth axis of rotation where the control system controls the first and second drive units.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2004Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: ABB ABInventors: Karl-Erik Forslund, Catarina Forssén, legal representative
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Patent number: 7841256Abstract: A miniaturized articulated manipulator 20 has a first arm member 31A internally provided with two driving motors 33 and 34, and a second arm member 30B not provided with any devices corresponding to the driving motors 33 and 34 and capable of being miniaturized. The driving motors 33 and 34 can be disposed in common areas 135 at least partially overlapping each other with respect to a direction parallel to the axis of the first arm member 30A and can be arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axis. Thus the first arm member 30A can be formed in a small axial size. Thus the first arm 30A and the second arm 30B can be miniaturized and hence the articulated manipulator 20 can be formed in a short overall length.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2004Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuhiro Hama, Yoshiaki Tanaka, Takahiro Inada
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Patent number: 7836789Abstract: The present invention provides an industrial robot, wherein a cable or the like spanned between an end effector and an upper arm has less bending due to a motion of a wrist portion, wherein the cable or the like does not twine around the upper arm, and wherein the cable or the like does not interfere with a peripheral device. A passage opening 25, through which a cable or the like 12 for supplying power, signals or materials to an end effector 9 attached to a rotating element 7 is drawn out of a body 6, is opened at a position, at which the body 6 intersects with a center of a first axis (an R-axis). The cable or the like 12 drawn out of the passage opening 25 is extended to the end effector 9.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2002Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa DenkiInventors: Kazuhiro Haniya, Atsushi Ichibangase, Koichi Yamaguchi
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Publication number: 20100291310Abstract: A rotary coupling for a multi-axial robot hand (19) is provided with a rotatable hand housing (20) and an output element (21) that is rotatable on said housing. The rotary coupling (62) includes connections (65, 66, 68) for the output element (21), a tool (23) and an accessory unit (30). The tool (23) and the accessory unit (30) can be rotated relative to each other, and the accessory unit (30) can be coupled to the hand housing (20) or to the tool (23) or to the output element (21) via the rotary coupling (62). The rotary coupling (62) is provided for an application device (11) which is used to apply a sealant (8) on a lock seam (7) of an add-on piece (4) of a vehicle body (3).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2008Publication date: November 18, 2010Inventors: Gerhard Hartmann, Andreas Bernsau, Jürgen Radler