PARALLEL LINK ROBOT, AND METHOD OF TEACHING PARALLEL LINK ROBOT

• US 20120078415A1
• Filed: 03/16/2011
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kubo, Hiroyasu, Katsuki, Satoshi, Suefuji, Nobuyuki
• Application Number:
  US13/375,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20120078415A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 17/0266 comprising more than two actuating or connecting rods
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/0008 Balancing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1623 Parallel manipulator, Stewart platform, links are attached to a common base and to a common platform, plate which is moved parallel to the base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20305 Robotic arm

Abstract

A parallel link robot (10) allows holding a movable body (13) in midair by connecting a center portion or a peripheral portion of the movable body (13) and a center portion or a peripheral portion of a base (12), using a suspension unit (17) having elasticity such as a constant load spring.

Claims

1. A parallel link robot comprising:

a base;

a movable body provided vertically below the base;

at least three link mechanisms each of which connects the base and the movable body and includes a joint between the base and the movable body;

a drive source which is provided in the base and moves the movable body relative to the base by flexing each of the at least three link mechanisms at the joint;

a suspension unit connecting the base and the movable body and configured to add, by extending and contracting the suspension unit itself, a force that resists gravity to the movable body; and

a processing unit configured to store information on movement of the movable body in a state where the drive source is in a non-drive state.

2. The parallel link robot according to claim 1, comprising

a slide mechanism with which an attachment support of the suspension unit is slidably attached to the base, the attachment support allowing the suspension unit to be attached to the base.

3. The parallel link robot according to claim 2,

wherein the slide mechanism is rotatably attached to a center of the base.

6. The parallel link robot according to claim 1,

wherein the suspension unit includes a constant load spring and a wire.

7. The parallel link robot according to claim 1, comprising:

a first engagement portion provided in the movable body; and

a second engagement portion provided in the suspension unit and detachably engaged with the first engagement portion.

8. The parallel link robot according to claim 7, comprising

a detector which detects an engagement state between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion.

9. The parallel link robot according to claim 8,

wherein the detector detects the engagement state by detecting a current in a closed circuit configured by an engagement between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion.

4. A parallel link robot comprising:

a base;

a movable body provided vertically below the base;

at least three link mechanisms each of which connects the base and the movable body and includes a joint between the base and the movable body;

a drive source which is provided in the base and moves the movable body relative to the base by flexing each of the at least three link mechanisms at the joint; and

a suspension unit connecting the base and the movable body and configured to add, by extending and contracting the suspension unit itself, a force that resists gravity to the movable body,

wherein the suspension unit is attached to the base via a tilt mechanism that tilts with respect to the base.

5. A parallel link robot comprising:

a base;

a movable body provided vertically below the base;

at least three link mechanisms each of which connects the base and the movable body and includes a joint between the base and the movable body;

a drive source which is provided in the base and moves the movable body relative to the base by flexing each of the at least three link mechanisms at the joint;

a suspension unit connecting the base and the movable body and configured to add, by extending and contracting the suspension unit itself, a force that resists gravity to the base; and

a slide mechanism with which an attachment support of the suspension unit is slidably attached to the base, the attachment support allowing the suspension unit to be attached to the base,

wherein the slide mechanism is a mechanism of which a distance from the base increases as the attachment support approaches an outer edge portion of the base.

10. A method of teaching a parallel link robot that includes:

a base;

a movable body provided vertically below the base;

at least three link mechanisms each of which connects the base and the movable body and includes a joint between the base and the movable body; and

a drive source which is provided in the base and moves the movable body relative to the base by flexing each of the at least three link mechanisms at the joint, the method comprising

storing, into a storage unit, an operating status of the movable body as operation information for teaching, in a state where a suspension unit connects the base and the movable body so that a force that resists gravity is added to the movable body by the suspension unit extending and contracting itself and where the drive source is in a non-drive state.

11. The method of teaching a parallel link robot according to claim 10,

wherein the parallel link robot includes a detector which detects an engagement state between the base and the movable body, the engagement state being created using the suspension unit, and

the detector turns the drive source into the non-drive state after detecting the engagement state between the base and the movable body, the engagement state being created using the suspension unit.

12. The method of teaching a parallel link robot according to claim 11,

wherein the detector detects the engagement state by detecting a current flowing in a closed circuit configured by the engagement between the base and the movable body, the engagement state being created using the suspension unit.