Articulated robot

• US 5,054,332 A
• Filed: 03/06/1989
• Issued: 10/08/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishimura, Takaaki, Terauchi, Tsuneo
• Primary Examiner(s): Herrmann, Allan D.
• Application Number:
  US07/354,314
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 74/479, 74/640, 901/21, 901/25, 901/26, 414/917
• US Class Current: 74/490.04
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/046 Revolute coordinate type
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1025 Harmonic drives in general: F16H49/001
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1065 with parallelograms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 414/13 Handlers utilizing parallel links
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19 Gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20323 including flaccid drive element

Abstract

This invention relates to an articulated robot comprising at least two control arms (4), (7), and two speed reducers provided at articulated portions of the two control arms (4), (7) on the same axis in opposed relation to each other. The two speed reducers comprises first and second harmonic drive speed reducers which include a common circular spline (60) fixedly secured to the articulated portion of one of the control arms (4), (7), and a bracket (40), (50) mounted on one end of the common circular spline (60) for angular movement relative to the common circular spline (60) and connected to the articulated portion of the control arm (4), (7). The number of component parts can be reduced, the assembling operation can be facilitated, a stable high accuracy can be maintained, and an inexpensive articulated robot can be obtained.

Claims

1. An articulated robot, comprising;

at least two control arms, a pair of speed reducers provided at articulated portions of the two control arms and on the same axis in opposed relation to each other, said two speed reducers comprising first and second harmonic drive speed reducers which include a common circular spline fixedly secure to the articulated portion of one of the control arms, and a first bracket mounted on one end of said common circular spline for angular movement relative to said common circular spline and connected to the articulated portion of the other control arm.

2. An articulated robot according to claim 1, in which a cross roller bearing is interposed between the common circular spline and the first bracket.

3. An articulated robot according to claim 1, in which a second bracket fixedly mounted on a base through a cross roller bearing is mounted on the other end of the common circular spline.

4. An articulated robot according to claim 1, in which the first and second harmonic drive speed reducers comprise a single unit composed of the common circular spline, first and second flex splines disposed within the common circular spline on the same axis and in opposed relation to each other and meshingly engaged with the common circular spline, first and second wave generators mounted respectively within the first and second flex splines on the same axis, said first bracket and a second bracket respectively supporting shafts of said wave generators through bearings, and cross roller bearings each interposed between a respective one of the brackets and the circular spline.

5. An articulated robot according to claim 4, in which the shafts of the first and second wave generators are connected by respective toothed belt transmission mechanisms to output shafts of motors, at least one of which is disposed at least one of rearwardly of and below said two control arms.

6. An articulated robot according to claim 4, in which brake devices are mounted on the shafts of the first and second wave generators, respectively.