Laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism and manufacturing method therefor, grasping hand and robot arm provided with the same

• US 7,258,379 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2005
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yokoyama, Kazuo, Ono, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Okezie; Esther O.
• Application Number:
  US11/199,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20060028041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 294/119.3, 294/88, 294/86.4, 294/99.1, 623/64, 901/21, 901/22, 901/37
• US Class Current: 294/119.3
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0023 Gripper surfaces directly activated by a fluid flexible fingers B25J15/12
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/10 with three or more finger members B25J15/0009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/12 with flexible finger members
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/142 comprising inflatable bodies

Abstract

A laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism includes a bone member having at least two elastic deformation portions, a laminated-type pneumatic tube member having at least twoline-tubes which are stacked on the bone member and which are connected to a pneumatic drive source, and a planar-type joint-portion deformation member which is stacked on the laminated-type pneumatic tube member and has pneumatic operation chambers which are placed at joint portions confronting the deformation portions, respectively, and which are connected to the tubes, wherein when pneumatic pressure is applied to one of the pneumatic operation chambers, the joint portion corresponding to the pneumatic operation chamber to which the pneumatic pressure is applied is deformable.

Claims

1. A laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism comprising:

a pneumatic drive source for providing pneumatic pressure;

a bone member having at least two elastically-deformable elastic deformation portions;

a laminated-type pneumatic tube member fixed on said bone member, said laminated-type pneumatic tube member having line-tubes separately connected to said pneumatic drive source; and

a planar-type joint-portion flexural deformation member fixed on said laminated-type pneumatic tube member, said planar-type joint-portion flexural deformation member having joint portions and pneumatic operation chambers at said joint portions, separately and respectively, with said joint portions being aligned with said at least two elastic deformation portions, respectively, and said pneumatic operation chambers being separately connected to said line-tubes, respectively,

such that when pneumatic pressure is applied to one of said pneumatic operation chambers, a corresponding one of said joint portions is deformed.

2. The laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising:

a control section for causing pneumatic pressure to be independently applied to said pneumatic operation chambers via said line-tubes, respectively.

3. The laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein

said at least two elastic deformation portions comprise elastic hinge portions, respectively.

4. A grasping hand having two members facing one another, with each of the two members including a laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism according to claim 3 such that the two members can cooperate with each other to grasp an object.

5. A robot arm having at an end thereof the grasping hand according to claim 4.

6. The laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism according to claim 3, wherein

said planar-type joint-portion flexural deformation member includes a constrained layer for imparting a directivity of expandability and contractibility to said planar-type joint-portion flexural deformation member along a longitudinal direction such that when said joint portions are expanded a flexural operation is performed by guidance of said bone member, with said constrained layer comprising a flexible organic film material in which is knit reticulate fiber.

7. A robot arm including the laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism according to claim 3.

8. A grasping hand having two members facing one another, with each of the two members including a laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism according to claim 1 such that the two members can cooperate with each other to grasp an object.

9. A robot arm having at an end thereof the grasping hand according to claim 8.

10. A robot arm including the laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism according to claim 1.

11. A method for manufacturing the laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism according to claim 1, comprising:

integrally molding said bone member;

stacking said laminated-type pneumatic tube member on said bone member, and bonding said laminated-type pneumatic tube member to said bone member; and

stacking said planar-type joint-portion flexural deformation member on said laminated-type pneumatic tube member, and bonding said planar-type joint-portion flexural deformation member to said laminated-type pneumatic tube member.

12. A robot comprising:

a robot arm including the laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism according to claim 1; and

a grasping hand having two members facing one another, with each of the two members including a laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism according to claim 1 such that the two members can cooperate with each other to grasp an object.

13. A laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism comprising:

a pneumatic drive source for providing pneumatic pressure;

a bone member having at least two elastically-deformable elastic deformation portions;

a laminated-type pneumatic tube member fixed on said bone member, said laminated-type pneumatic tube member having line-tubes connected to said pneumatic drive source; and

a planar-type joint-portion flexural deformation member fixed on said laminated-type pneumatic tube member, said planar-type joint-portion flexural deformation member having joint portions and pneumatic operation chambers at said joint portions, respectively, with said joint portions being aligned with said at least two elastic deformation portions, respectively, and said pneumatic operation chambers being connected to said line-tubes, respectively,

wherein said planar-type joint-portion flexural deformation member includes a constrained layer for imparting a directivity of expandability and contractibility to said planar-type joint-portion flexural deformation member along a longitudinal direction, such that when pneumatic pressure is applied to one of said pneumatic operation chambers a corresponding one of said joint portions is expanded so as to perform a flexural operation by guidance of said bone member.

14. The laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism according to claim 13, wherein

said at least two elastic deformation portions comprise elastic hinge portions, respectively.

15. The laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism according to claim 14, wherein

said constrained layer comprises a flexible organic film material in which is knit reticulate fiber.

16. A grasping hand having two members facing one another, with each of the two members including a laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism according to claim 14 such that the two members can cooperate with each other to grasp an object.

17. The laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism according to claim 13, wherein

said constrained layer comprises a flexible organic film material in which is knit reticulate fiber.

18. A grasping hand having two members facing one another, with each of the two members including a laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism according to claim 17 such that the two members can cooperate with each other to grasp an object.

19. A grasping hand having two members facing one another, with each of the two members including a laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism according to claim 13 such that the two members can cooperate with each other to grasp an object.

20. A robot arm having at an end thereof the grasping hand according to claim 19.

21. A robot arm including the laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism according to claim 13.

22. A laminated-type multi-joint portion drive mechanism comprising:

a pneumatic drive source for providing pneumatic pressure;

a bone member having at least two elastically-deformable elastic deformation portions;

molded organic films stacked one on another so as to form a laminated-type pneumatic tube member, said laminated-type pneumatic tube member being fixed on said bone member and having line-tubes, with said line-tubes being connected to said pneumatic drive source; and

a planar-type joint-portion flexural deformation member fixed on said laminated-type pneumatic tube member, said planar-type joint-portion flexural deformation member having joint portions and pneumatic operation chambers at said joint portions, respectively, with said joint portions being aligned with said at least two elastic deformation portions, respectively, and said pneumatic operation chambers being connected to said line-tubes, respectively,

such that when pneumatic pressure is applied to one of said pneumatic operation chambers, a corresponding one of said joint portions is deformed.