Robot arm

• US 8,286,528 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Fujioka, Soichiro, Mizuno, Osamu, Matsukawa, Yoshihiko, Okuda, Akinobu, Tojo, Tsuyoshi, Takahashi, Rie, Nakamura, Tohru
• Primary Examiner(s): Krause, Justin
• Application Number:
  US12/863,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20110036188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 744/900.1, 744/900.3, 744/900.5, 744/900.6, 744/04, 744/06, 744/115, 901/25, 901/46, 901/49, 901/567, 318/567, 475/305
• US Class Current: 74/490.05
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/0091 Shock absorbers in general F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/06 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/102 Gears specially adapted therefor, e.g. reduction gears gearings in general F16H
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 35/10 Arrangements or devices for absorbing overload or preventing damage by overload for screw mechanisms F16H25/2021
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19614 Disconnecting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20305 Robotic arm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20329 Joint between elements

Abstract

A robot arm has a drive gear that has a shaft, a gear frame being capable of turning about the shaft of the drive gear, a first follower gear being capable of turning, in synchronization with the drive gear, about a shaft fixed to the gear frame, in a direction opposite to the turning direction of the drive gear, a transmission control mechanism that is capable of locking the first follower gear to the drive gear, an arm that moves in synchronization with the first follower gear, and a collision detection unit that is capable of detecting a collision between the arm and an obstacle. The transmission control mechanism unlocks the follower gear from the drive gear in response to detection, by the collision detection unit, of a collision between the arm and the obstacle. The robot arm enables quick cushioning of the impact force of the collision.

Claims

1. A robot arm, comprising:

a drive gear having a shaft;

a gear frame configured to turn about the shaft of the drive gear;

a first follower gear configured to turn, in synchronization with the drive gear, about a shaft fixed to the gear frame, in a direction opposite to the turning direction of the drive gear;

a transmission control mechanism configured to lock the first follower gear to the drive gear;

an arm configured to move in synchronization with the first follower gear; and

a collision detection unit configured to detect a collision between the arm and an obstacle, wherein

the transmission control mechanism is configured to unlock the first follower gear from the drive gear in response to the detection, by the collision detection unit, of a collision between the arm and the obstacle, and

wherein when the first follower gear is locked to the drive gear by the transmission control mechanism, the gear frame turns about the shaft of the drive gear, and when the unlocking is effected, the gear frame is locked so as not to turn about the shaft of the drive gear.

2. The robot arm according to claim 1, wherein the transmission control mechanism has a second follower gear configured to assume a lock position of locking or an unlock position of unlocking the first follower gear to/from the drive gear.

3. The robot arm according to claim 2, wherein when in the lock position, the second follower gear meshes with both the drive gear and the first follower gear, and when in the unlock position, the second follower gear meshes with either the drive gear or the first follower gear.

4. The robot arm according to claim 3, wherein in the transmission control mechanism, the second follower gear is configured to move between the lock position and the unlock position while meshing with at least the drive gear or the first follower gear.

5. A robot arm, comprising:

a drive gear that having a shaft;

a gear frame configured to turn about the shaft of the drive gear;

a first follower gear configured to turn, in synchronization with the drive gear, about a shaft fixed to the gear frame, in a direction opposite to the turning direction of the drive gear;

a transmission control mechanism configured to lock the first follower gear to the drive

an arm configured to move in synchronization with the first follower gear;

a collision detection unit configured to detect a collision between the arm and an obstacle; and

an outer ring gear having inner teeth and being fixed to the arm;

wherein the transmission control mechanism is configured to unlock the first follower gear from the drive gear in response to the detection, by the collision detection unit, of a collision between the arm and the obstacle, wherein the first follower gear is meshed with the drive gear,

wherein the first follower gear is a planetary gear configured to revolve around the drive gear while meshing with the inner teeth of the outer ring gear,

wherein the outer ring gear is configured to turn in phase with the first follower gear, and

wherein the transmission control mechanism comprises a clutch section having a movable section fixed to the first follower gear, and a fixed section fixed to the gear frame, and the transmission control mechanism is configured to lock the first follower gear to the drive gear by coupling the movable section with the fixed section, and when the collision detection unit detects a collision of the arm, the transmission control mechanism unlocks the first follower gear from the drive gear by separating the movable section from the fixed section.