Electric working apparatus supplied with electric power through power supply cord

• US 5,647,554 A
• Filed: 11/22/1994
• Issued: 07/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Takashi, Ikegami, Masashi, Hayashi, Katsunori, Takaoka, Daizo, Matsuhashi, Toshihiko, Yamaue, Yoshiya
• Primary Examiner(s): Jillions, John M.
• Application Number:
  US08/343,789
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 242/390.9, 242/390.8, 242/390.6, 242/403, 901/1, 901/50, 191/12.2 A, 180/2.1, 180/168, 414/909, 414/918
• US Class Current: 242/390.9
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/0025 Means for supplying energy to the end effector
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/34 electric cords or electric power cables
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/38 involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/42 attached to, or forming part of, mobile tools, machines or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4463 Swivelling attachment
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4484 Electronic arrangements or adaptations for controlling the winding or unwinding process, e.g. with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4486 Electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/00 Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 414/122 Remote control handlers

Abstract

An electric working apparatus includes a movable body which is driven by a movement mechanism, and the movable body is provided with a working mechanism such as an articulated robot. The movement mechanism, the working mechanism and etc. are driven by an electric power which is supplied through a power supply cord being extended from a cord reel mechanism fixed on a wall or floor within a working space of the movable body to be connected to the movable body. When the movable body moves in a manner that the movable body goes away from the cord reel mechanism, a tension detection switch is turned-off by a lever, a reel motor is turned-off, and clutch plates are released, and therefore, the power supply cord is wound from the cord reel mechanism by necessary length. When the movable body moves in a manner that the movable body approaches to the cord reel mechanism, the tension detection switch is turned-on by the lever and the clutch plates are engaged to each other, and therefore, the cord reel is rotated by the reel motor to wind the power supply cord.

Claims

1. An electric working apparatus comprising:

a movable body provided with working means;

a power supply cord connected to said movable body for supplying an electric power to said movable body, a circular rail surrounding said movable body and formed with a groove on the outside thereof, and a cord containing groove formed on one side of said groove for containing said power supply cord therein; and

cord reeling means fixedly provided at a predetermined position apart from said movable body for reeling said power supply cord.

2. An electric working apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cord reeling means includes a reel for winding or unwinding said power supply cord, and tension adjusting means for adjusting tension on said power supply cord as it is extended from said reel.

3. An electric working apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said tension adjusting means includes tension detecting means for detecting the tension on said power supply cord, and a motor driven in response to an output of said tension detecting means for rotating said reel via an output transmission means.

4. An electric working apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein said tension adjusting means includes braking means for fixing said output transmission means when said motor is not driven, and clutch means provided between said output transmission means and said reel for causing said reel to slip with respect to such output transmission means when more than a predetermined value of tension is applied to said power supply cord.

5. An electric working apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cord reeling means includes rotating means which rotates in accordance with a change of positional relationship between said movable body and said cord reeling means.

6. An electric working apparatus in accordance with claims 1 further comprising a rotation ring supported within said groove of said circular rail in a rotatable manner and having a cord guide port, and a pressure roller attached to said rotation ring in a rotatable manner and transferred from place to place within said groove to press said power supply cord being conducted through said cord guide port to press the power supply cord in to said cord containing groove.