Electric Motor Patents (Class 901/23)

Cross-Reference Art Collections

Stepper motor (Class 901/24)
  • Patent number: 11548141
    Abstract: A robot includes one or more rotary joints, each of the rotary joints including a motor, a reducer that reduces the rotational speed of the motor, and a first member and a second member that are connected by the reducer and that are supported so as to be rotatable about a center axis of the reducer. The first member of at least one of the rotary joints is provided with a flange securing portion that secures a flange of the motor at an eccentric position with respect to the center axis of the reducer. Bolts that secure the first member to the reducer are disposed in a region in which the flange is disposed when viewed from a direction along the center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wei Guo
  • Patent number: 10181416
    Abstract: An apparatus including a stator configured to be stationarily connected to a housing; and a rotor configured to have a robot arm connected thereto. The rotor includes a shaft and an robot arm mount adjustably connected to the shaft. The stator and the rotor include mechanical reference locators to temporarily stationarily locate the robot arm mount to the stator for subsequently stationarily fixing the robot arm mount to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Persimmon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Hosek, Leonard T. Lilliston, III, Sripati Sah
  • Patent number: 9021900
    Abstract: Provided is an in-pipe inspection robot which moves along a path in a pipe to inspect suspected areas such as cracks in the pipe. An in-pipe inspection robot in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has a configuration in which two or more operating units having a plurality of arms, which move forward and backward in a radial direction of a pipe, are connected to each other to move in a straight direction or to be bent relative to each other by means of a flexible link mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation Yonsei University
    Inventors: Hyun Seok Yang, Woong Sun Jeon
  • Patent number: 9024488
    Abstract: A drive section for a substrate transport arm including a frame, at least one stator mounted within the frame, the stator including a first motor section and at least one stator bearing section and a coaxial spindle magnetically supported substantially without contact by the at least one stator bearing section, where each drive shaft of the coaxial spindle includes a rotor, the rotor including a second motor section and at least one rotor bearing section configured to interface with the at least one stator bearing section, wherein the first motor section is configured to interface with the second motor section to effect rotation of the spindle about a predetermined axis and the at least one stator bearing section is configured to effect at least leveling of a substrate transport arm end effector connected to the coaxial spindle through an interaction with the at least one rotor bearing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Ulysses Gilchrist, Martin Hosek, Jairo Terra Moura, Jay Krishnasamy, Christopher Hofmeister
  • Patent number: 9021916
    Abstract: A robotic arm includes a driving unit, a first arm assembly connected to the driving unit, and a second arm assembly. The first arm includes two balls. The second arm assembly includes two arms and two intermediate members. Each intermediate member is secured to an end of one of the two arms. Each intermediate member defines a receiving recess. Each receiving recess has a spherical inner circumferential surface. Each ball is partially received in one of the two receiving recesses and abuts against the spherical inner circumferential surface. The two arms and the two intermediate members are capable of rotating about the balls. The driving unit drives the balls to move. The balls force the arms to move in a direction as a moving orientation of the balls, at the same time the arms rotating about the balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Jie Gao, Jian-Ping Jin, Bing Yu
  • Publication number: 20150114162
    Abstract: A robot includes a joint as a first member, a link as a second member rotating around a third primary rotational axis in a bending and stretching manner with respect to the joint, a wiring board installed in the joint so that the first surface faces in a direction roughly perpendicular to the third primary rotational axis, and having a connector as a connection section to be connected to one end of an FPC as a flat cable disposed on the first surface, and a reel provided to the link, and formed by winding the other end side of the FPC around a rotational axis roughly parallel to the third primary rotational axis, and the FPC is connected to the first surface roughly perpendicularly to the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Daisuke KIRIHARA, Daisuke SATO
  • Publication number: 20150114164
    Abstract: A first driving signal is supplied to a first electrode of a vibrating body. A second driving signal is supplied to a second electrode of the vibrating body. A common driving signal is supplied to a common electrode of the vibrating body. A phase of the first driving signal is set changeable with respect to a phase of the common driving signal. A phase of the second driving signal is set changeable with respect to the phase of the common driving signal. Then, it is possible to switch a driving direction of a piezoelectric motor according to which phase of the first driving signal or the second driving signal is varied from the phase of the common driving signal. If the phase is simply changed, a switch is unnecessary. It is possible to reduce a driving circuit in size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Osamu URANO
  • Publication number: 20150120041
    Abstract: Devices and methods for providing power to tools when the tools are not attached to a robotic device. The power source may be an energy storage device that is attached to a tool frame of a tool cluster. The power provides for the tools to be maintained in a ready state which expedites and/or eliminates the initiation process when the tools and the tool cluster are subsequently reattached to the robotic device. This reduces the time necessary for the tools to be used in the assembly process thereby increasing the efficiency of the tooling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Apex Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: David Wise, Manfred Kogel, Klaus Wohlfarth, Peter Wiedenhöfer, Ulrich Kaminski, Martin Douglas Rola
  • Publication number: 20150120042
    Abstract: A robot includes a tool shaft, a first supporting mechanism attached to one portion of the tool shaft and tiltably supporting the tool shaft, a second supporting mechanism attached to a different portion of the tool shaft and tiltably supporting the tool shaft, a first in-plane movement mechanism that moves the first supporting mechanism in a first plane, a second in-plane movement mechanism that moves the second supporting mechanism in a second plane, and a controller that controls an in-plane position and an inclination angle of the tool shaft to control the first in-plane movement mechanism and the second in-plane movement mechanism. The first supporting mechanism or the second supporting mechanism supports the tool shaft movably in an axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: IKUO TAKEDA
  • Patent number: 9016158
    Abstract: A head structure of a robot according to the invention includes a first motor and a second motor so supported side by side within a head of the robot that output shafts are positioned coaxially with each other; a left elastic frame that is so driven by the first motor and one end of which is so fitted as to be rotatable around the output shaft and the other end of which extending in a perpendicular direction from the output shaft is supported by a trunk of the robot; and a right elastic frame that is so driven by the second motor and one end of which is so fitted as to be rotatable around the output shaft and the other end of which extending side by side with the left elastic frame from the output shaft is supported by the trunk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Azusa Amino, Ryosuke Nakamura, Taishi Ueda
  • Publication number: 20150107395
    Abstract: Systems and methods relating to a clutch system for use in controllably transmitting torque from an input shaft to an output shaft. The clutch system has a torque transmission fluid that has a viscosity that changes based on the strength of an electromagnetic field passing through the fluid. A number of sensors are placed at different radial locations on the torque transmission disks to detect the strength of the electromagnetic field. Based on the strength of the electromagnetic field, the amount of torque being transmitted from the input shaft to the output shaft can be adjusted. Also disclosed is a distributed actuation architecture that uses this clutch system. The distributed actuation architecture allows for the use of a single drive motor in conjunction with multiple instances of the clutch system to actuate a mechanical linkage, such as a robotic arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Mehrdad KERMANI, Alex SHAFER
  • Patent number: 9003919
    Abstract: A ceiling-mounted SCARA robot includes: a base, a first arm that is connected to the lower side of the base via a first coupling part centering around a first articulated shaft and that can pivotally move around the first articulated shaft within a horizontal plane, a second arm that is connected to the lower side of the first arm via a second coupling part centering around a second articulated shaft and that can pivotally move around the second articulated shaft within a horizontal plane, a working shaft that is mounted on the second arm, a second articulated shaft motor and a second articulated shaft reducer for driving the second arm, and a working-shaft rotation motor that rotates the working shaft. The second articulated shaft reducer is provided on the second coupling part, and the working-shaft rotation motor is arranged directly below the second articulated shaft reducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Kumagai, Mitsuhiro Fukatsu
  • Publication number: 20150100159
    Abstract: An actuator unit, a robot including the same, and a reducing apparatus, the actuator unit including a driving unit; a sensor unit; a control unit; and a frame unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Jung-jun PARK, Byeong-sang KIM, Kang-min PARK, Jae-chul HWANG
  • Publication number: 20150096401
    Abstract: An industrial robot of the present disclosure includes a manipulator, a control device for controlling the manipulator, and a connection cable that connects the manipulator to the control device. The manipulator includes a fixed base section, a first motor, a first detecting section, a power supply section, a first casing, and a first power supply cable. The first motor operates the manipulator. The first detecting section detects the state of the first motor. The power supply section supplies electric power to the first detecting section. The first casing stores the first motor and the first detecting section. The first power supply cable connects the first detecting section to the power supply section. The power supply section is disposed in the base section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: TAKASHI NAGAI, KAZUNORI MATSUMOTO, WATARU TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 8961537
    Abstract: A surgical robot with seven degrees of freedom, including various types of joints, offers a hybrid active-passive control for operation both manually and by programmed navigation. One of the degrees of freedom allows the robot to be moved efficiently around the axis of a patient's body to provide ample workspace for surgical procedures in an operating room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Beihang University
    Inventors: Kwok-sui Leung, Shao-Long Kuang, Yu Wang, Chun-sing Chui, Wing-Hoi Cheung, Pak-Leung Tsang, Wai-kin Ng
  • Publication number: 20150051528
    Abstract: A high density actuator, comprising a housing assembly composed of a first housing element containing a motor stator and a second housing element containing a gear reduction mechanism, a rotational core positioned at the center of the housing assembly, the rotational core being composed of a motor rotor and a transmission input operatively connected to the motor rotor, a transmission output positioned between the transmission input and the housing assembly, the transmission output forming an actuator output, a torque transfer output operatively connected to the actuator output and a center shaft connected to the torque transfer output in its center and in rotational contact with the first housing element, the center shaft passing through the transmission output, rotational core and second housing element to ensure proper radial and axial alignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: B-TEMIA INC.
    Inventors: Benoît Gilbert, Stéphane Bédard
  • Patent number: 8951002
    Abstract: A dual arm robot assembly has two arms each having a set of joint/link pairs that, in conjunction with an actuator assembly. Define at least three degrees of freedom to provide independent horizontal translation and rotation of a distalmost link. A vertical motion mechanism is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Izya Kremerman
  • Publication number: 20150032255
    Abstract: An arrangement of an actuator and an actuator holder. The actuator is movably connected to the actuator holder, and devices are provided for supplying the actuator with operating energy. The devices for supplying the actuator with operating energy include an energy store integrated into the actuator. The actuator is preferably movable relative to the actuator holder in at least one dimension in an unrestricted manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Rolf Strothmann
  • Publication number: 20140366673
    Abstract: A robot includes a first arm and a second arm. The first arm and the second arm have different mechanisms from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Takema YAMAZAKI, Takashi NAGATE
  • Publication number: 20140352459
    Abstract: A drive device includes plural moving portions, piezoelectric motors that move the moving portions, at least one drive circuit that drives the piezoelectric motors, and a connection/disconnection portion that connects and disconnects the piezoelectric motors and the drive circuit. The number of drive circuits is fewer than the number of piezoelectric motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Matsuzawa, Osamu Urano, Yoshiteru Nishimura, Masakuni Shiozawa, Osamu Miyazawa
  • Publication number: 20140333143
    Abstract: An electromagnetic coil system for driving control of a micro-robot includes pairs of X-axis and Y-axis Helmholtz coils whose winding central axes are placed on an X axis and Y axis respectively, a position recognition system that detects a position and direction of the micro-robot in a workspace, a controller that controls an amount of supply of electric currents flowing to the X-axis or Y-axis Helmholtz coils in order to control movement of the micro-robot based on information about the movement of the micro-robot and previously input information about a path of the micro-robot, and a current amplifier that supplies the electric currents to the respective Helmholtz coils. The pairs of X-axis and Y-axis Helmholtz coils are disposed so as to face each other, and the X-axis Helmholtz coils and the Y-axis Helmholtz coils are vertically crossed and installed so as to form the workspace of the micro-robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Seung-Jong KIM, Jin Soo KIM, Jeonghoon YOO
  • Patent number: 8857877
    Abstract: A reconfigurable end-effector attachable to a robotic arm, includes a master boom, a first branch assembly and a second branch assembly, a dual articulation mechanism. The dual articulation mechanism includes a first clutch attached to the first branch assembly and is configured to articulate the first branch assembly relative to the second branch assembly. The dual articulation mechanism further includes a second clutch attached to the master boom, the second branch assembly and the first clutch and is configured to simultaneously articulate the first and second branch assemblies relative to the master boom. The first and second branch assemblies each have limbs connected to branches supporting a plurality of tool modules. Each tool module includes an end element configurable to interact with a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yhu-Tin Lin, Andrew L. Bartos, Roland J. Menassa, Hyunshik Shin, Shinho Kang, Yong-Hyun Ju, Ki-Beom Kim, Sang-Yul Ju
  • Publication number: 20140294551
    Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus including a frame, a drive section connected to the frame and including at least one independently controllable motor, at least two substrate transport arms connected to the frame and comprising arm links arranged for supporting and transporting substrates, and a mechanical motion switch coupled to the at least one independently controllable motor and the at least two substrate transport arms for effecting the extension and retraction of one of the at least two substrate transport arms while the other one of the at least two substrate transport arms remains in a substantially retracted configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Christopher Hofmeister, Alexander G. Krupyshev, Krysztof A. Majczak, Martin Hosek, Jay Krishnasamy
  • Patent number: 8849455
    Abstract: A robot system according to embodiments includes a position command generating unit that corrects a position command of a motor based on a rotation angle of the motor, which drives a link of a robot via a speed reducer, and a rotation angle of an output shaft of the speed reducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Tetsuro Izumi, Tomohiro Matsuo
  • Patent number: 8844398
    Abstract: A three-axis robotic system. On the first and second axes, respective linear bearings have movable carriages, and backbone-free linear bases acting as exclusive support or linear bearing supports. A first motor is mounted to the first linear bearing support and coupled to the first carriage. The second linear bearing support is attached at one end to the first carriage and may be orthogonal to the first linear bearing support. A second motor is mounted to the second linear bearing support and coupled to the second carriage. A third axis member is attached to the second carriage. The third axis member may be orthogonal to the first and second linear bearing supports. A third carriage is slidable on the third axis member. A third motor is mounted to the third axis member and coupled to the third carriage. Each respective motor and carriage may be coupled by a belt or leadscrew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Accel Biotech, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Richardson
  • Publication number: 20140251055
    Abstract: A robotic arm includes a driving unit, a first arm assembly connected to the driving unit, and a second arm assembly. The first arm includes two balls. The second arm assembly includes two arms and two intermediate members. Each intermediate member is secured to an end of one of the two arms. Each intermediate member defines a receiving recess. Each receiving recess has a spherical inner circumferential surface. Each ball is partially received in one of the two receiving recesses and abuts against the spherical inner circumferential surface. The two arms and the two intermediate members are capable of rotating about the balls. The driving unit drives the balls to move. The balls force the arms to move in a direction as a moving orientation of the balls, at the same time the arms rotating about the balls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicants: FIH (HONG KONG) LIMITED, SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: JIE GAO, JIAN-PING JIN, BING YU
  • Publication number: 20140251054
    Abstract: A two joint module includes a module housing, a first joint and a second joint. The module housing has a structural support portion. The first joint has a first motor and a first motor axis and a first joint axis. The second joint has a second motor and a second motor axis and a second joint axis. The second joint axis is not parallel to the first joint axis. The first joint is attached to the structural support portion and the second joint is attached to the structural support portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: ENGINEERING SERVICES INC.
    Inventors: Andrew A. GOLDENBERG, Brent BAILEY, Matthew GRYNIEWSKI, Xiaojia HE, Yi YANG
  • Patent number: 8825210
    Abstract: A robot according to embodiments includes a speed reducer, a first shaft, a rotary electric machine, a second shaft, and a brake. The speed reducer reduces and outputs rotation to be input into an input unit. The first shaft is connected to the input unit. The rotary electric machine rotates the first shaft. The second shaft is connected to the input unit. The brake regulates the rotation of the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Kentaro Tanaka, Hisaya Inoue, Satoshi Sueyoshi, Kazuhiro Haniya
  • Publication number: 20140230595
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an end-effector assembly is provided. The apparatus includes a elongated element configured to engage the end-effector assembly and a drive assembly. A first motion transfer mechanism is disposed at an end of the elongated element. The first motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a rotational motion of the elongated element to a motion of the end-effector assembly. A second motion transfer mechanism is disposed at the second end of the elongated element. The second motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a motion of the drive assembly to the rotational motion of the elongated element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: TITAN MEDICAL INC.
    Inventors: Eric BUTT, Jeff RANSDEN, Alexander SHVARTSBERG, Reiza RAYMAN
  • Patent number: 8812161
    Abstract: There is provided a robot apparatus that can rapidly obtain an ellipse indicating a stiffness characteristic, even if lengths of two links are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Takagi, Ichiro Okumura
  • Patent number: 8770905
    Abstract: The anthropomorphic force-reflective master arm is a light, anthropomorphic, back-drivable, six degree of freedom (DOF) master arm designed to control the motion of a remote slave device having arbitrary structure. Three of the link members are rotationally coupled to each other to form a handle, such that axes of rotation of each of the handle link members intersects at the user's hand position. The kinematics of the master arm is simplified to two independent sub-systems, which are the hand position and hand orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignees: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, King Abdulazia City for Science and Technology
    Inventors: Mayez Al-Mouhamed, Nesar Merah
  • Patent number: 8761927
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Johnson, Akhil Jiten Madhani, Joel F. Jensen, Daniel R. Bauen, Troy A. Carter, Cassilyn Bair
  • Publication number: 20140165771
    Abstract: The invention is concerning a robotic arm that features several consecutive mobile links and motors associated with axes relative to one another for the moving of the links. At least one of the links is selectively mountable in at least two configurations relative to its adjacent links.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Roth
  • Patent number: 8747050
    Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus including a first shaftless rotary motor including a first stator and a first rotor, the first stator being linearly distributed and the first rotor being coupled to a first arm, a second shaftless rotary motor including a second stator and second rotor, the second stator being linearly distributed and the second rotor being coupled to a second arm, the second arm being connected to the first arm and a first substrate support being coupled to at least one of the first and second arms, wherein the first stator and second stator are configured so that the first and second arms and the first substrate support are inside the stators and a motor output at a connection between the first and second shaftless rotary motors and a respective one of the first and second arms is a resultant force disposed peripheral to the first and second arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hofmeister, Robert T. Caveney
  • Publication number: 20140150592
    Abstract: Motor modules for multi-arm robot apparatus are described. The motor modules can be used individually or stacked and assembled to make up one-axis, 2-axis, 3-axis, 4-axis, 5-axis, 6-axis motor assemblies, or more. One or more of the motor modules have a stator assembly including a stator received in the stator housing, and a rotor assembly abutting the stator assembly, the rotor assembly including a rotor housing, a drive shaft, a bearing assembly supporting the drive shaft, and a rotor coupled to the drive shaft. A vacuum barrier member is positioned between the rotor and the stator. Multi-axis motor drive assemblies, multi-axis robot apparatus, electronic device manufacturing systems, and methods of assembling drive assemblies are described, as are numerous other aspects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventor: Izya Kremerman
  • Publication number: 20140150591
    Abstract: A multi-parallel manipulator system is provided. The multi-parallel manipulator system includes a first parallel manipulator composed of two or more first drive modules and first movable members coupled to ends of the first drive modules, a second parallel manipulator composed of three or more second drive modules and second movable members coupled to ends of the second drive modules, and a fixture module serving as a fixture member configured to couple the first drive modules to the second drive modules. In this case, the first drive modules and the second drive modules may be alternately arranged with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventor: Guk Jin YANG
  • Publication number: 20140137686
    Abstract: A robot includes a plurality of arm elements, a joint portion, and a motor. The joint portion is configured to connect the adjacent arm elements to each other so that they are movable with respect to each other. The motor is configured to generate a driving force to the joint portion. The outer shell of the motor is connected to the arm element, capable of transmitting stress to the arm element, and the motor is connected to the arm element or the joint portion, capable of transmitting stress to the arm element or the joint portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi NOGAMI, Nobukazu MIYAUCHI
  • Publication number: 20140137687
    Abstract: A robot includes an arm body. The arm body includes a multi-joint structure. A motor is configured to generate a rotation driving force for driving specific ones of arm elements. A brake device comprises a brake shaft arranged in parallel with a motor shaft. A reduction device is configured to reduce a speed of rotation of the motor shaft and to transmit the rotation to the specific arm elements. A first transmission mechanism includes a first brake pulley provided on the brake shaft, a motor pulley provided on the motor shaft, and a first belt wound between the first brake pulley and the motor pulley. A second transmission mechanism includes a second brake pulley provided on the brake shaft, a reduction device pulley provided on the input shaft of the reduction device, and a second belt wound between the second brake pulley and the reduction device pulley.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi NOGAMI, Nobukazu MIYAUCHI
  • Patent number: 8720297
    Abstract: A parallel robot of the SCARA type includes a base or a body to which two articulated elements are attached, each including an arm and a forearm that are connected by a joint and are mounted in a manner allowing rotation about one and the same geometrical axis. The two articulated elements are attached to two annular segments, respectively, that form two movable parts of a circular motor whose stator at least partially forms the body, these two movable parts being assigned to one and the same circular path of the stator. Preferably, the two movable parts are guided through one and the same guideway in order to ensure that these two movable parts rotate very precisely about the same geometrical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Etel S.A.
    Inventors: Hervé Stämpfli, Ralph Coleman, Didier Blanc
  • Patent number: 8702578
    Abstract: A positioning device for positioning a load is provided. The positioning device includes a motor, a measuring device, and an evaluation device. The measuring device is associated with the motor, and is operable to ascertain measurement data that characterizes the motor current consumption by the motor in the positioning of the load. The evaluation device evaluates the measurement data that have been ascertained by the measuring device, so that in that way the loading of the positioning device by the load can be ascertained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfram Fahrig, Klaus Herrmann, Jochen Miguel Löseken
  • Publication number: 20140084759
    Abstract: An electromechanical device has a rotor and a stator provided on an outer circumference of the rotor. The rotor includes a rotation shaft, a plurality of rotor magnets cylindrically fixed and arranged along an outer circumference of the rotation shaft, and two magnet side yokes fixed and arranged in contact with side surfaces at both sides of the rotor magnets in a shaft direction of the rotation shaft. Overhang parts that suppress the rotor magnets with respect to radiation directions from a center of the rotation shaft toward the outer circumference and limit movements of the rotor magnets in the radiation directions are provided on surfaces of the magnet side yokes in contact with the rotor magnets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kesatoshi TAKEUCHI
  • Patent number: 8677855
    Abstract: First and second parallel link mechanisms 36, 38 are connected via a short link 35 arranged on a rotational angle transmission mechanism 29 so that a rotation applied to the first parallel link mechanism 36 is transmitted to the second parallel link mechanism 38 via the rotational angle transmission mechanism 29. The rotational angle transmission mechanism 29, the second parallel link mechanism 38 and the driven side link of the first parallel link mechanism 36 are horizontally supported by the drive side link 30 of the first parallel link mechanism 36. The rotational angle transmission mechanism 29 transmits the rotational angle applied to the drive side link 30 of the first parallel link mechanism 36 to the drive side link 32 of the second parallel link mechanism 38 supported by the drive side link 30 via the guide means that is parallel to the short link 35.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Rorze Corporation
    Inventor: Kouji Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20140077629
    Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus including a drive section and a first movable arm assembly. The drive section includes a first motor. The first motor includes a stator and a passive rotor. The first movable arm assembly is connected to the first motor. The substrate transport apparatus is configured for the first movable arm assembly to be positionable in a vacuum chamber with the passive rotor being in communication with an environment inside the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Persimmon Technologies, Corp.
    Inventors: Martin HOSEK, Tuan HA, Christopher HOFMEISTER, Dennis POOLE
  • Patent number: 8668428
    Abstract: A horizontal articulated robot includes a first arm and a second arm respectively supported at their base end portions by a body and the tip end portion of the second arm to be rotatable about a first joint and a second joint; and a fork including its base end portion supported by the tip end portion of the second arm to be rotatable about a third joint. The first arm includes a first enlarged portion, formed in its tip end portion, with an upper surface positioned higher than an upper surface of the base end portion of the first arm. The second arm includes a second enlarged portion, formed in its tip end portion, with a lower surface positioned lower than a lower surface of the base end portion of the second arm. The first and the second enlarged portion are at least partially overlapped with each other horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventor: Kazunori Hino
  • Publication number: 20140060223
    Abstract: Provided is an actuator device used in a plurality of sites of a multi-shaft driving mechanism such as a multi-shaft manipulator, a robot arm, a leg structure and a snake-shaped robot. A torque sensor 14 is connected to a bearing 17 such as a cross roller bearing through a mount part. As illustrated, the torque sensor 14 is driven by an outer ring relative to a stationary part case 19 of an actuator device 10. An attachment surface of an output shaft frame 20 is arranged in a position offset from the bearing 17 on a side of the stationary part case 19. An entire length of the actuator device 10 in an output shaft direction does not change also after the output shaft frame 20 is attached and an occupied space does not increase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akichika Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20140020498
    Abstract: An umbilical member arrangement structure capable of being used in a waterproof application, wherein a hollow portion may be independently used for wiring of a work tool, while the motion of an umbilical member for the work tool may be stabilized. A bent hollow member has a first flange attached to a first opening. Between the first flange and a first wrist element, a liquid-tight first seal member is disposed. At a second opening formed on the back side of a forearm base part, a second flange is arranged at a rear end of an I-shaped pipe, and a liquid-tight second seal member, similar to the first seal member 82, is disposed between the second flange and the rear end surface of the base part. The bent hollow member is rotatably connected to the I-shaped pipe via a bearing and an oil seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventor: Satoshi ADACHI
  • Patent number: 8627741
    Abstract: A process turning disc connectable to an output shaft of a motor configured to rotate the process turning disc about a first center axis of the process turning disc. The process turning disc being configured to guide a cable or hose. A first flange is connectable to an end part of a robot arm. A second flange is connectable to a tool element. The flanges are spaced apart from each other by an intermediate connecting member. The connecting member is connected to the flanges. The connecting member provides a passage between the flanges. The passage is configured to receive and guide the cable/hose. The passage has an inlet side for the cable/hose and an outlet side for the cable/hose. A robot arm including the process turning disc, a robot including the robot arm and a method that utilizes the process turning disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AB
    Inventors: Lars Barkman, Mattias Lindevall, Pascal Cabanne, Peter Bylund, Joachim Ljungkvist
  • Patent number: 8618762
    Abstract: A tendon tensioning system includes a tendon having a proximal end and a distal end, an actuator, and a motor controller. The actuator may include a drive screw and a motor, and may be coupled with the proximal end of the tendon and configured to apply a tension through the tendon in response to an electrical current. The motor controller may be electrically coupled with the actuator, and configured to provide an electrical current having a first amplitude to the actuator until a stall tension is achieved through the tendon; provide a pulse current to the actuator following the achievement of the stall tension, where the amplitude of the pulse current is greater than the first amplitude, and return the motor to a steady state holding current following the conclusion of the pulse current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Matthew J. Reiland, Myron A. Diftler
  • Patent number: 8601899
    Abstract: A hybrid robotic manipulator adapted to move objects includes a base and a waist mounted on the base. The waist is configured to rotate on the base. The hybrid robotic 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: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Systemantics India Pvt. Ltd.
    Inventor: G. Jagannath Raju
  • Publication number: 20130319157
    Abstract: A parallel manipulator is provided. The parallel manipulator includes a base plate, a plurality of motor devices coupled to the base plate, arm modules coupled respectively to the plurality of motor devices, and a support member hinged to ends of the arm modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventor: Guk Jin Yang