FORCE SENSOR AND ROBOT

• US 20140174239A1
• Filed: 02/28/2014
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
• Inventors: NAGATA, Hideo, NAGAI, Ryoichi, INOUE, Yasuyuki, KUBOTA, Yoshiaki
• Application Number:
  US14/193,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20140174239A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/490.01
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/085 Force or torque sensors B25J13/082, B25J13/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1633 compliant, force, torque control, e.g. combined with position control
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0028 Force sensors associated with force applying means G01L5/0052, G01L5/0057, G01L5/0061 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/162 of piezoresistors
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40586 6-DOF force sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/09 Closed loop, sensor feedback controls arm movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20305 Robotic arm

Abstract

A force sensor and a robot that can suppress a load applied to load sensor elements are provided.

A force sensor includes: a first base member one surface of which is fixed on a fixed member; a plurality of load sensor elements that is provided on another surface of the first base member to detect a load; a second base member that is disposed facing the other surface of the first base member to generate a preload to be applied to each of the load sensor elements toward the first base member; a preload adjusting unit that adjusts the magnitude of the preload generated by the second base member; and buffer bodies that receive a part of an external load to be applied to each of the load sensor elements from the outside.

Claims

1. A force sensor comprising:

a first base member one surface of which is fixed on a fixed member;

a plurality of load sensor elements that is provided on another surface of the first base member to detect a load;

a second base member that is disposed facing the other surface of the first base member to generate a preload to be applied to each of the load sensor elements toward the first base member;

a preload adjusting unit that adjusts magnitude of the preload generated by the second base member; and

a buffer body that receives a part of an external load to be applied to each of the load sensor elements from outside.

2. The force sensor according to claim 1, wherein the preload adjusting unit includes:

a first adjusting screw that advances or retreats along a threaded hole that is formed in a direction toward a central part of the second base member and is open to an outer peripheral surface of the second base member; and

a wedge mechanism that is in contact with the first adjusting screw to convert a force applied by the first adjusting screw into a force compressing each of the load sensor elements.

3. The force sensor according to claim 2, wherein the wedge mechanism includes:

a first adjusting member including a pressing surface for pressing the load sensor element, a pressed surface that intersects with the pressing surface and is pressed by the first adjusting screw, and an inclined surface that intersects with the pressing surface and the pressed surface; and

a second adjusting member that is provided on a surface of the second base member facing the first base member and of which a contact surface is in contact with the inclined surface.

4. The force sensor according to claim 1, wherein the preload adjusting unit includes a plurality of second adjusting screws that advances or retreats along a threaded hole formed in a thickness direction of the second base member and presses the load sensor elements.

5. The force sensor according to claim 2, wherein the buffer body includes:

a first buffer portion that receives a part of the external load applied in a direction of compressing the load sensor elements; and

a second buffer portion that receives a part of the external load applied in a tensile direction opposite to the direction of compressing the load sensor elements.

6. The force sensor according to claim 3, wherein the buffer body includes:

a first buffer portion that receives a part of the external load applied in a direction of compressing the load sensor elements; and

a second buffer portion that receives a part of the external load applied in a tensile direction opposite to the direction of compressing the load sensor elements.

7. The force sensor according to claim 4, wherein the buffer body includes:

a first buffer portion that receives a part of the external load applied in a direction of compressing the load sensor elements; and

a second buffer portion that receives a part of the external load applied in a tensile direction opposite to the direction of compressing the load sensor elements.

8. The force sensor according to claim 5, wherein

the first buffer portion is a member provided between the first base member and the second base member, and having an elastic modulus in a thickness direction higher than an elastic modulus of each of the load sensor elements, and

the second buffer portion is a member provided between the second base member and a fixation screw for fixing the second base member to the first base member, and having an elastic modulus in the thickness direction higher than the elastic modulus of each of the load sensor elements.

9. The force sensor according to claim 6, wherein

the first buffer portion is a member provided between the first base member and the second base member, and having an elastic modulus in a thickness direction higher than an elastic modulus of each of the load sensor elements, and

the second buffer portion is a member provided between the second base member and a fixation screw for fixing the second base member to the first base member, and having an elastic modulus in the thickness direction higher than the elastic modulus of each of the load sensor elements.

10. The force sensor according to claim 7, wherein

the first buffer portion is a member provided between the first base member and the second base member, and having an elastic modulus in a thickness direction higher than an elastic modulus of each of the load sensor elements, and

the second buffer portion is a member provided between the second base member and a fixation screw for fixing the second base member to the first base member, and having an elastic modulus in the thickness direction higher than the elastic modulus of each of the load sensor elements.

11. The force sensor according to claim 8, wherein

the first buffer portion includes a first ring-shaped member and a second ring-shaped member having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the first ring-shaped member, and

the load sensor elements are disposed on an outer peripheral side of the first ring-shaped member and on an inner peripheral side of the second ring-shaped member.

12. The force sensor according to claim 9, wherein

the first buffer portion includes a first ring-shaped member and a second ring-shaped member having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the first ring-shaped member, and

the load sensor elements are disposed on an outer peripheral side of the first ring-shaped member and on an inner peripheral side of the second ring-shaped member.

13. The force sensor according to claim 10, wherein

the first buffer portion includes a first ring-shaped member and a second ring-shaped member having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the first ring-shaped member, and

the load sensor elements are disposed on an outer peripheral side of the first ring-shaped member and on an inner peripheral side of the second ring-shaped member.

14. The force sensor according to claim 2, wherein

the buffer body includes a ring-shaped spring member both surfaces of which are bent in a direction intersecting with a radial direction to alternately and repeatedly form concave portions and convex portions in a circumferential direction, and

the concave portions are fixed on the first base member and the convex portions are fixed on the second base member.

15. The force sensor according to claim 3, wherein

the buffer body includes a ring-shaped spring member both surfaces of which are bent in a direction intersecting with a radial direction to alternately and repeatedly form concave portions and convex portions in a circumferential direction, and

the concave portions are fixed on the first base member and the convex portions are fixed on the second base member.

16. The force sensor according to claim 4, wherein

the buffer body includes a ring-shaped spring member both surfaces of which are bent in a direction intersecting with a radial direction to alternately and repeatedly form concave portions and convex portions in a circumferential direction, and

the concave portions are fixed on the first base member and the convex portions are fixed on the second base member.

17. A robot comprising:

a force sensor mounted on a flange of a wrist portion; and

an end effector attached to a tip side of the force sensor,

the force sensor comprising;

a first base member one surface of which is fixed on the flange;

a plurality of load sensor elements that is provided on another surface of the first base member to detect a load;

a second base member that is disposed facing the other surface of the first base member to generate a preload to be applied to each of the load sensor elements toward the first base member;

a preload adjusting unit that adjusts magnitude of the preload generated by the second base member; and

a buffer body that receives a part of an external load to be applied to each of the load sensor elements from the end effector.

18. A force sensor comprising:

means for fixing the force sensor, one surface thereof being fixed on a fixed member;

a plurality of load sensor elements that is provided on another surface of the means for fixing to detect a load;

means for generating a preload to be applied to each of the load sensor elements toward the means for fixing, the means for generating being disposed facing the other surface of the means for fixing;

means for adjusting magnitude of the preload generated by the means for generating; and

means for receiving a part of an external load to be applied to each of the load sensor elements from outside.