Damper device for precision assembling robot

• US 5,102,289 A
• Filed: 05/15/1989
• Issued: 04/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Nagai, Masahide, Shimada, Akira, Yokoshima, Norio
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HIENZ III, WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US07/351,762
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 188/378, 188/379, 188/380, 267/136, 267/137, 901/49, 414/744.1, 414/744.2, 414/913, 414/719
• US Class Current: 414/744.2
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/0091 Shock absorbers in general F16F
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/108 on plastics springs

Abstract

A damper device for a precision assembling robot is capable of dampening the residual vibrations of the robot arm resulting from a lack of rigidity of the arm. The damper device is fixed to the tip of the robot arm to absorb the vibration energy of the swinging robot arm. The damper device includes a cylindrical weight member and a columnar rubber member. The damper device further includes a metallic rod inserted in the columnar rubber member. The length and position of the inserted metallic rod controls the dampening factor of the damper device. Therefore, the precision assembling robot with the damper device is capable of preventing a failure of assembly due to positioning errors resulting from residual vibrations, or nonconformities due to the impact of the robot arm against an object.

Claims

1. A damper device for dampening residual vibrations of a swingable robot arm, the damper device comprising:

a support member attachable to a swingable robot arm;

a columnar elastic member having one end thereof connected to the support member and extending outwardly of the support member; and

a weight member connected to the columnar elastic member at a location remote from the support member, the weight member having a hollow interior portion defining an internal surface and the columnar elastic member extending through the hollow interior portion in spaced relation from the internal surface, and the weight member being spaced from the support member and having sufficient weight to effect resilient flexure of the columnar elastic member in response to residual vibration of the robot arm thereby enabling the columnar elastic member to absorb the vibration energy of the robot arm.

2. A damper device according to claim 1;

including a rod inserted lengthwise into the columnar elastic member, the length of the rod determining the dampening factor of the damper device.

3. A damper device according to claim 2;

wherein the end of the rod proximate the support member is axially spaced from the support member.

4. A damper device according to claim 2;

wherein the end of the rod proximate the support member extends axially into the support member.

5. A damper device according to claim 2;

wherein the rod is comprised of metal.

6. A damper device according to claim 5;

wherein the columnar elastic member is comprised of rubber.

7. A damper device according to claim 2;

including means connecting the end portion of the rod which is remote from the support member to the weight member.

8. A damper device according to claim 2;

wherein the rod and the columnar elastic member are composed of materials having different rigidity characteristics.

9. In combination:

a robot having a swingable robot arm swingable in a given plane during operation of the robot;

a bracket connected to the distal end of the robot arm and having a bracket portion extending laterally of the robot arm; and

a damper device connected to the bracket portion for dampening residual vibrations of the robot arm in the given plane, the damper device comprising a support member attached to the bracket portion, a columnar elastic member having one end thereof connected to the support member and extending outwardly of the support member, and a weight member connected to the columnar elastic member at a location remote from the support member, the weight member having a hollow interior portion defining an internal surface and the columnar elastic member extending through the hollow interior portion in spaced relation from the internal surface, and the weight member being spaced from the support member and having sufficient weight to effect resilient flexure of the columnar elastic member in response to residual vibration of the robot arm thereby enabling the columnar elastic member to absorb the vibration energy of the robot arm.

10. A combination according to claim 9;

including a rod inserted lengthwise into the columnar elastic member, the length of the rod determining the dampening factor of the damper device.

11. A combination according to claim 10;

wherein the end of the rod proximate the support member is axially spaced from the support member.

12. A combination according to claim 10;

wherein the end of the rod proximate the support member extends axially into the support member.

13. A combination according to claim 10, including means connecting the end portion of the rod which is remote from the support member to the weight member.

14. A combination according to claim 10;

wherein the rod and the columnar elastic member are composed of materials having different rigidity characteristics.