Rotating device and robot arm device

• US 8,166,844 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Nakajima, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Krause, Justin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rogers, Adam D
• Application Number:
  US12/392,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20090221233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 744/900.1, 744/900.3, 744/900.4, 336/115, 336/117, 336/120, 336/130, 336/131, 336/132, 455/41.1, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 74/490.01
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/0029 arranged within the different robot elements
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/0041 having rotary connection means
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/0045 Contactless power transmission, e.g. by magnetic induction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20305 Robotic arm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20311 including power cable or connector

Abstract

A rotating device includes a communication unit including a transmitting portion having a first ring-shaped coil, a first ring-shaped magnetic body covering the first ring-shaped coil and a first terminal connected to the first ring-shaped coil, and a receiving portion having a second ring-shaped coil, a second ring-shaped magnetic body covering the second ring-shaped coil and a second terminal connected to the second ring-shaped coil, and a bearing connecting a hollow fixed portion to a hollow rotating portion, which is capable of rotating with respect to the fixed portion, in which the first ring-shaped coil and the second ring-shaped coil are formed so as to be wound around a rotation axis of the bearing, the first ring-shaped magnetic body and the second ring-shaped magnetic body face each other with a gap formed in the direction of the rotation axis, and the communication unit is provided inside the fixed portion and the rotating portion.

Claims

1. A rotating device comprising:

a communication unit including a transmitting portion having a first ring-shaped coil, a first ring-shaped magnetic body covering the first ring-shaped coil and a first terminal connected to the first ring-shaped coil, and a receiving portion having a second ring-shaped coil, a second ring-shaped magnetic body covering the second ring-shaped coil and a second terminal connected to the second ring-shaped coil;

a first communication cable connected to the transmitting portion and a second communication cable connected to the receiving portion; and

a bearing connecting a hollow fixed portion to a hollow rotating portion with a hole in a center of the hollow rotating portion, wherein;

the hollow rotating portion is capable of rotating with respect to the hollow fixed portion,

the first ring-shaped coil and the second ring-shaped coil are formed so as to be wound around a rotation axis of the bearing,

the first ring-shaped magnetic body and the second ring-shaped magnetic body face each other with a gap formed in the direction of the rotation axis,

the communication unit is provided inside the hollow fixed portion and inside the hole of the hollow rotating portion,

the first communication cable and the second communication cable pass inside the hollow fixed portion and inside the hole of the hollow rotating portion, and

the communication unit is closer to the rotation axis than the bearing.

2. The rotating device according to claim 1,

wherein the gap in the direction of the rotation axis is provided in the vicinity of the bearing.

3. The rotating device according to claim 2,

wherein the gap in the direction of the rotation axis is provided so as to be aligned with the bearing.

4. The rotating device according to claim 1,

wherein the first ring-shaped magnetic body covers the first ring-shaped coil, which is the opposite side of the second ring-shaped coil, and the second ring-shaped magnetic body covers the second ring-shaped coil, which is the opposite side of the first ring-shaped coil.

5. The rotating device according to claim 1,

wherein the first ring-shaped magnetic body covers the side of the rotation axis of the first ring-shaped coil, and the second ring-shaped magnetic body covers the side of the rotation axis of the second ring-shaped coil.

6. The rotating device according to claim 1,

wherein the first ring-shaped magnetic body covers the opposite side of the rotation axis of the first ring-shaped coil, and the second ring-shaped magnetic body covers the opposite side of the rotation axis of the second ring-shaped coil.

7. A robot arm device comprising:

the rotating device according to claim 1.