ROBOTIC ARM SYSTEM

• US 20120215358A1
• Filed: 01/31/2012
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RoboteX, Inc.
• Original Assignee: RoboteX, Inc.
• Inventors: GETTINGS, Nathan D., GETTINGS, Adam M., PENN, Taylor J., MASADA, Gwynn, JASSO, Alexander, BLAUGRUND, Daniel, SPROTT, Kenneth, BLAGDAN, Isreal, HAVEN, Ken
• Application Number:
  US13/363,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20120215358A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/259
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/0054 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/023 including video camera means
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/005 mounted on endless tracks or belts
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/046 Revolute coordinate type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20305 Robotic arm

Abstract

A robotic arm for use with a robotic system and methods for making and using the same are described. The arm can have multiple joints and can have one or more articulating end effectors. The arm and end effectors can have safety releases to prevent over-rotation. The arm can have individual cooling.

Claims

1. A robot system comprising:

a mobile robot;

a robotic arm system attached to the robot;

wherein the robotic arm system comprises;

an arm base;

an arm;

a gripper attached to the arm at an end effector attachment location; and

a gripper override mechanism comprising a sensor and a clutch, wherein the clutch comprises a linear slip interface.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a captive fastener attaching the arm base to the mobile robot.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the captive fastener comprises a thumbscrew attached to the arm base.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a motor;

and

a gearbox, wherein the gearbox comprises a non-backdriveable, right-angle high-torque gearbox.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the gearbox comprises two stages of gears.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the gearbox comprises a first planetary gear attached to a motor, a right angle worm gear attached to the planetary gear at the motor, and a second planetary gear attached to the right angle worm gear.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the gripper is detachably attached to the robotic arm system at the end effector attachment location.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a poker configured to be detachably attached to the robotic arm system at the end effector attachment location.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a blower configured to be detachably attached to the robotic arm system at the end effector attachment location.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the arm has a payload interface, and wherein a camera connector is attached to the payload interface.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the arm has a payload interface, and wherein an arm extension is attached to the payload interface.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the arm has a payload interface, and wherein a second gripper is attached to the payload interface.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the robot has a chassis, and wherein the arm base has a base alignment feature, and wherein the base alignment feature is mated with a chasses alignment feature in the chassis of the robot.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising an expandable data bus comprising a node.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising at least one motor controller connected to the expandable data bus.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising at least one peripheral connected to the expandable data bus.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the peripheral connected to the expandable data bus is a camera.

18. A robot system comprising:

a mobile robot;

a robotic arm system attached to the robot;

wherein the robotic arm system comprises;

an arm base;

an arm;

a motor configured to drive motion of the arm; and

a gearbox, wherein the gearbox comprises a non-backdriveable, right-angle high-torque gearbox.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the gearbox comprises two stages of gears.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the gearbox comprises a first planetary gear attached to a motor, a right angle worm gear attached to the planetary gear at the motor, and a second planetary gear attached to the right angle worm gear.

21. A robot system comprising:

a mobile robot;

a robotic arm system attached to the robot;

wherein the robotic arm system comprises;

an arm base;

a gripper; and

a cooling device comprising a fan.

22. A robot system comprising:

a mobile robot;

a robotic arm system attached to the robot;

wherein the robotic arm system comprises;

an arm base;

a first arm;

a first camera attached to the first arm;

a second arm extending from the first arm; and

a second camera attached to the second arm.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising a first light attached to the first arm and a second light attached to the second arm.