Wire body processing structure for robot

• US 10,427,308 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2017
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
• Inventors: Inoue, Toshihiko, Motokado, Tomoyuki, Amemiya, Wataru
• Primary Examiner(s): Paik, Sang Y
• Application Number:
  US15/476,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20170291305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 219136-13763, 219158, 219159, 901 41, 901 42
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/323 Combined coupling means, e.g. gas, electricity, water or the like electrical only H01R
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0019 End effectors other than grippers
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/0029 arranged within the different robot elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/42 Welding

Abstract

Provided is a wire body processing structure for a robot having a wrist, a base end of which is connected to a forearm in a rotatable manner about a first axis and a distal end of which has a plurality of working tools attached thereto. The wire body processing structure includes a first flexible conduit disposed along the first axis from the forearm to the distal end of the wrist and also includes a second flexible conduit disposed longitudinally within the first conduit. A first wire body for one of the working tools is extended longitudinally through the second conduit. A second wire body for another one of the working tools is extended longitudinally through a space between the first conduit and the second conduit.

Claims

1. A wire body processing structure for a robot having a wrist, a base end of which is connected to a forearm in a rotatable manner about a first axis and a distal end of which has a plurality of working tools attached thereto, the wire body processing structure comprising:

a through-path extending therethrough along the first axis from the forearm to the distal end of the wrist;

a first conduit accommodated within the through path and having flexibility and disposed along the first axis;

a second conduit having flexibility and inserted inside the first conduit along longitudinal direction, and

an attachment flange member configured to attach the plurality of working tools to the distal end of the wrist,

wherein a first wire body for one of the working tools is disposed so as to extend longitudinally through the second conduit,

wherein a second wire body for another one of the working tools is disposed so as to extend longitudinally through a space between the first conduit and the second conduit,

a distal end of the first conduit is engaged with a hole formed in the wrist in a movable manner along the first axis, and

wherein the wire body processing structure comprises a movement limiting unit that limits movement of the first conduit along the first axis so as to prevent the first conduit from protruding toward the attachment flange member beyond a distal-end surface of the wrist.

2. The wire body processing structure according to claim 1,

wherein a distal and a base end of the second conduit are engaged with holes provided in a member fixed to the forearm and the attachment flange member or in the working tools, and at least one of the distal end and the base end is disposed in a movable manner along the first axis.

3. The wire body processing structure according to claim 2,

wherein the distal end of the second conduit is engaged with the hole provided in one of the working tools in a movable manner along the first axis, and

the working tool limits movement of the second conduit toward the distal end along the first axis.

4. The wire body processing structure according to claim 2,

the base end of the first conduit and the base end of the second conduit are disposed in a movable manner along the first axis,

wherein the member fixed to the forearm is a working-tool control device that is configured to control the working tools, and

wherein the working-tool control device is configured to limit movement of the first conduit and the second conduit toward the base end along the first axis.

5. A wire body processing structure for a robot having a wrist, a base end of which is connected to a forearm in a rotatable manner about a first axis and a distal end of which has a plurality of working tools attached thereto, the wire body processing structure comprising:

a first conduit having flexibility and disposed along the first axis from the forearm to the distal end of the wrist;

a second conduit having flexibility and disposed longitudinally within the first conduit; and

an attachment flange member configured to attach the plurality of working tools to the distal end of the wrist,

wherein a first wire body for one of the working tools is disposed so as to extend longitudinally through the second conduit,

wherein a second wire body for another one of the working tools is disposed so as to extend longitudinally through a space between the first conduit and the second conduit,

wherein a distal end of the first conduit is engaged with a hole formed in the wrist in a movable manner along the first axis, and

wherein the wire body processing structure comprises a movement limiting unit that limits movement of the first conduit along the first axis so as to prevent the first conduit from protruding toward the attachment flange member beyond a distal-end surface of the wrist,

wherein the attachment flange member is provided with a through-hole through which the second conduit extends and a window that exposes the space between the first conduit and the second conduit toward a radially outer side and through which the second wire body extends.

6. The wire body processing structure according to claim 5,

wherein a distal end and a base end of the first conduit are engaged with holes provided in the forearm and the wrist, and at least one of the distal end and the base end is disposed in a movable manner along the first axis.