Robot hand and humanoid robot having the same

• US 8,342,586 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2009
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Sim, Hyun Sik
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Paul T
• Application Number:
  US12/461,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20100061835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 294/106, 294/111, 623/57, 623/63, 623/64, 901/32, 901/39, 901/36, 901/13, 901/31, 414/7
• US Class Current: 294/106
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0009 comprising multi-articulated fingers, e.g. resembling a human hand
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/00 Manipulators mounted on wheels or on carriages B25J1/00 takes precedence; programme-controlled manipulators B25J9/00 ; vehicle aspects B60, B62, e.g. remote-controlled steering for motor vehicles B62D1/24; control of position of vehicles G05D1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/104 with cables, chains or ribbons

Abstract

A robot hand, which minimizes the number of actuators and adjusts the bending angles of joints through torque limiters to flexibly and finely control finger units, and a humanoid robot having the robot hand. The robot hand includes a torque limiter disposed on at least any one joint of a plurality of joints to link another joint of the plurality of joints with the any one joint through a power transmission member.

Claims

1. A robot hand comprising:

a base unit provided with an actuator;

at least one finger unit installed on the base unit;

a plurality of link members provided in each of the at least one finger units;

a plurality of joints connecting the plurality of link members;

a plurality of power transmission members linking the plurality of joints with each other by power transmitted from the actuator; and

a torque limiter disposed on any one joint of the plurality of joints, and restricting the bending of the any one joint to link another joint of the plurality of joints with the any one joint, the torque limiter including a housing fixed to any one link member of the plurality of link members which is connected to the any one joint, to adjust the bending angle of the any one joint,

wherein a plurality of grooves are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the housing, and

a plurality of ribs engaged with the plurality of grooves are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the any one link member to prevent the relative rotation of the any one link member against the housing.

2. The robot hand according to claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of link members include a first link member connected to the base unit, a second link member connected to the first link member, and a third link member connected to the second link member; and

the housing is fixed to the first link member.

3. The robot hand according to claim 2, wherein:

the plurality of joints includes a first joint connecting the base unit and the first link member, a second joint connecting the first link member and the second link member, and a third joint connecting the second link member and the third link member; and

the first, second, and third joints respectively include first, second, and third pulleys, and are linked with the actuator.

4. The robot hand according to claim 3, wherein the torque limiter includes a rotary shaft disposed coaxially with the first pulley.

5. The robot hand according to claim 3, wherein:

the plurality of power transmission members includes a first power transmission member connecting the first pulley and the second pulley, and a second power transmission member connecting the second pulley and the third pulley; and

the first power transmission member and the second power transmission member are wound in different directions.

6. The robot hand according to claim 5, wherein the second power transmission member is wound in an X shape formed between the second and third pulleys.

7. The robot hand according to claim 5, wherein the first and second power transmission members respectively include first and second belts.

8. A robot hand comprising:

a base unit provided with an actuator;

at least one finger unit installed on the base unit;

a plurality of link members provided in each of the at least one finger units, the plurality of link members including a first link member connected to the base unit, a second link member connected to the first link member, and a third link member connected to the second link member;

a plurality of joints connecting the plurality of link members, the plurality of joints including a first joint connecting the base unit and the first link member, a second joint connecting the first link member and the second link member, and a third joint connecting the second link member and the third link member, the first, second, and third joints respectively include first, second, and third pulleys, and are linked with the actuator;

a plurality of power transmission members linking the plurality of joints with each other by power transmitted from the actuator; and

a torque limiter disposed on any one joint of the plurality of joints, and restricting the bending of the any one joint to link another joint of the plurality of joints with the any one joint, the torque limiter including a housing fixed to the first link member to adjust the bending angle of the any one joint,

wherein when an object contacts the first link member and applies reaction force of a designated value or more to the first link member, the torque limiter is operated and thus the first link member is stopped, the rotary shaft is rotated in a slippage state with the housing, and thus the first pulley is rotated,

the second pulley and the second link member are rotated in the linkage with the rotation of the first pulley, and thus the bending angle of the second joint is varied, and

the third pulley and the third link member are rotated in the linkage with the rotation of the second link member, and thus the bending angle of the third joint is varied.

9. A humanoid robot having a torso and a robot hand connected to the torso, the robot hand comprising:

a base unit provided with an actuator;

at least one finger unit installed on the base unit, an actuator being provided on each of the at least one finger units;

a first link member, a second link member, and a third link member provided in each of the at least one finger units;

a first joint connecting the base unit and the first link member;

a second joint connecting the first link member and the second link member;

a third joint connecting the second link member and the third link member;

a first pulley provided on the first joint and receiving power of the actuator;

second pulleys provided on the second joint and connected to the first pulley;

a third pulley provided on the third joint and connected to the second pulleys;

a plurality of power transmission members linking the first, second, and third joints with each other by the power of the actuator; and

a torque limiter disposed on the first joint, and restricting the bending of the first joint to rotate the second and third pulleys and thus to vary the bending angles of the second and third joints, when the torque limiter contacts an object and reaction force of a designated value or more is applied to the torque limiter,

wherein a plurality of grooves is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the housing, and

a plurality of ribs engaged with the plurality of grooves is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the first link member to prevent the relative rotation of the first link member against the housing.

10. The humanoid robot according to claim 9, wherein the torque limiter includes a housing fixed to the first link member to adjust the bending angle of the first joint.

11. The humanoid robot according to claim 9, wherein the torque limiter includes a rotary shaft disposed coaxially with the first pulley.

12. The humanoid robot according to claim 9, wherein:

the plurality of power transmission members includes a first power transmission member connecting the first and second pulleys, and a second power transmission member connecting the second and third pulleys; and

the first power transmission member and the second power transmission member are wound in different directions.

13. The humanoid robot according to claim 9, wherein the second power transmission member is wound in an X shape between the second and third pulleys.

14. The humanoid robot according to claim 9, wherein the first and second power transmission members respectively include first and second belts.

15. A humanoid robot having a torso and a robot hand connected to the torso, the robot hand comprising:

a base unit provided with an actuator;

at least one finger unit installed on the base unit;

a first link member, a second link member, and a third link member provided in each of the at least one finger units;

a first joint connecting the base unit and the first link member;

a second joint connecting the first link member and the second link member;

a third joint connecting the second link member and the third link member;

a first pulley provided on the first joint and receiving power of the actuator;

second pulleys provided on the second joint and connected to the first pulley;

a third pulley provided on the third joint and connected to the second pulleys;

a plurality of power transmission members linking the first, second, and third joints with each other by the power of the actuator; and

a torque limiter disposed on the first joint, and restricting the bending of the first joint to rotate the second and third pulleys and thus to vary the bending angles of the second and third joints, when the torque limiter contacts an object and reaction force of a designated value or more is applied to the torque limiter, the torque limiter including a rotary shaft disposed coaxially with the first pulley,

wherein when an object contacts the first link member and applies reaction force of a designated value or more to the first link member, the torque limiter is operated and thus the first link member is stopped,

the rotary shaft is rotated in a slippage state with the housing, and thus the first pulley is rotated,

the second pulley and the second link member are rotated in the linkage with the rotation of the first pulley, and thus the bending angle of the second joint is varied, and

the third pulley and the third link member are rotated in the linkage with the rotation of the second link member, and thus the bending angle of the third joint is varied.