End effector, robot, and robot control apparatus

• US 10,207,413 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2017
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Maeda, Takayuki, Okada, Ryuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancho, Ronnie M
• Application Number:
  US15/467,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20170274539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 700245
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/10 with three or more finger members B25J15/0009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1612 characterised by the hand, wrist, grip control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39486 Fingered hand, multifingered hand
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39496 3-Fingered hand

Abstract

An end effector is an end effector to be grasped by a robot including a hand having a plurality of first movable parts and a second movable part using the hand, including an operation unit operated by movements of the second movable part in first directions, and an actuation unit actuated by an operation of the operation unit, wherein concave portions into which the first movable parts are inserted are formed.

Claims

1. An end effector to be grasped by a robot including a hand having a plurality of first movable parts and a second movable part using the hand, comprising:

an operation unit operated by movements of the second movable part in first directions; and

an actuation unit actuated by an operation of the operation unit,

wherein concave portions into which the first movable parts are inserted are formed.

2. The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the first movable parts are finger portions, and

the second movable part is a palm portion.

3. The end effector according to claim 1, wherein inner side surfaces of the concave portion include:

a first portion and a second portion opposed to each other with a gap in the first directions in between;

a third portion crossing second directions orthogonal to the first directions; and

a fourth portion crossing third directions orthogonal to both the first directions and the second directions.

4. The end effector according to claim 1, further comprising a mark part detected by the robot and used for positioning of the hand when the robot grasps the end effector.

5. The end effector according to claim 1, further comprising a main body unit in which the concave portions are formed,

wherein four of the concave portions are formed, and

the four concave portions are placed to surround a center of the main body unit as seen along the first directions.

6. The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is a cylinder.

7. A robot that grasps the end effector according to claim 1, comprising:

an arm; and

a hand provided on the arm,

wherein the hand includes

a plurality of first movable parts inserted into the concave portions, and

a second movable part moving in the first directions and operating the operation unit.

8. A robot that grasps the end effector according to claim 2, comprising:

an arm; and

a hand provided on the arm,

wherein the hand includes

a plurality of first movable parts inserted into the concave portions, and

a second movable part moving in the first directions and operating the operation unit.

9. A robot that grasps the end effector according to claim 3, comprising:

an arm; and

a hand provided on the arm,

wherein the hand includes

a plurality of first movable parts inserted into the concave portions, and

a second movable part moving in the first directions and operating the operation unit.

10. A robot that grasps the end effector according to claim 4, comprising:

an arm; and

a hand provided on the arm,

wherein the hand includes

a plurality of first movable parts inserted into the concave portions, and

a second movable part moving in the first directions and operating the operation unit.

11. A robot that grasps the end effector according to claim 5, comprising:

an arm; and

a hand provided on the arm,

wherein the hand includes

a plurality of first movable parts inserted into the concave portions, and

a second movable part moving in the first directions and operating the operation unit.

12. A robot that grasps the end effector according to claim 6, comprising:

an arm; and

a hand provided on the arm,

wherein the hand includes

a plurality of first movable parts inserted into the concave portions, and

a second movable part moving in the first directions and operating the operation unit.

13. The robot according to claim 7, wherein the first movable part includes a fitting portion to be fitted in the concave portion.

14. A robot control apparatus for the robot according to claim 7, controlling the robot to insert the first movable parts into the concave portions and allowing the robot to grasp the end effector, and moving the second movable part in the first directions and operating the operation unit.

15. A robot control apparatus for the robot according to claim 13, controlling the robot to insert the first movable parts into the concave portions and allowing the robot to grasp the end effector, and moving the second movable part in the first directions and operating the operation unit.