Speed reducer for industrial robot
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A speed reducer for an industrial robot, comprising:
- a speed reducer main body having a lubricant, the speed reducer main body is formed with an engageable portion; and
a lubricant deterioration sensor to detect deterioration of the lubricant in the speed reducer main body, whereinthe lubricant deterioration sensor includesa light emitting element to emit light,a color light receiving element to detect a color of received light,a clearance forming member forming an oil clearance in which the lubricant enters, anda support member supporting the light emitting element, the color light receiving element, and the clearance forming member,the clearance forming member being light-transmissive so that the light emitted from the light emitting element is transmittable therethrough,the oil clearance is provided on an optical path from the light emitting element to the color light receiving element,a reflection surface for bending the optical path is formed on the clearance forming member,the clearance forming member has two rectangular prisms each of which has the reflection surface for bending part of the optical path at 90-degree angle, so that the entire optical path is bent at 180-degree angle by the reflection surfaces of the two rectangular prisms,the oil clearance is formed between the two rectangular prisms,the support member includes an engaging portion and a tool contact portion,the engageable portion of the speed reducer main body is formed through the speed reducer main body such that a tool is engageable with the tool contact portion from outside of the speed reducer main body, so that the engaging portion of the support member is secured to the engageable portion of the speed reducer main body thereby said lubricant deterioration sensor is fixed onto the speed reducer main body,when said lubricant deterioration sensor is fixed onto the speed reducer main body, the oil clearance is positioned further inwardly from the internal surface of the speed reducer main body; and
a groove surrounding an opening of a space on the optical path between the light emitting element and the clearance forming member is formed on a surface of the support member to which the clearance forming member is attached so as to prevent an adhesive entering into the space.
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Abstract
A speed reducer for an industrial robot includes a speed reducer main body and a lubricant deterioration sensor for detecting deterioration of a lubricant in the speed reducer main body. The lubricant deterioration sensor includes a light emitting element for emitting light, a color light receiving element for detecting a color of received light, a clearance forming member forming an oil clearance in which the lubricant enters, and a support member supporting the light emitting element, the color light receiving element, and the clearance forming member. The clearance forming member is transmissive so that the light emitted from the light emitting element transmits therethrough. The oil clearance is provided on an optical path from the light emitting element to the color light receiving element.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A speed reducer for an industrial robot, comprising:
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a speed reducer main body having a lubricant, the speed reducer main body is formed with an engageable portion; and a lubricant deterioration sensor to detect deterioration of the lubricant in the speed reducer main body, wherein the lubricant deterioration sensor includes a light emitting element to emit light, a color light receiving element to detect a color of received light, a clearance forming member forming an oil clearance in which the lubricant enters, and a support member supporting the light emitting element, the color light receiving element, and the clearance forming member, the clearance forming member being light-transmissive so that the light emitted from the light emitting element is transmittable therethrough, the oil clearance is provided on an optical path from the light emitting element to the color light receiving element, a reflection surface for bending the optical path is formed on the clearance forming member, the clearance forming member has two rectangular prisms each of which has the reflection surface for bending part of the optical path at 90-degree angle, so that the entire optical path is bent at 180-degree angle by the reflection surfaces of the two rectangular prisms, the oil clearance is formed between the two rectangular prisms, the support member includes an engaging portion and a tool contact portion, the engageable portion of the speed reducer main body is formed through the speed reducer main body such that a tool is engageable with the tool contact portion from outside of the speed reducer main body, so that the engaging portion of the support member is secured to the engageable portion of the speed reducer main body thereby said lubricant deterioration sensor is fixed onto the speed reducer main body, when said lubricant deterioration sensor is fixed onto the speed reducer main body, the oil clearance is positioned further inwardly from the internal surface of the speed reducer main body; and a groove surrounding an opening of a space on the optical path between the light emitting element and the clearance forming member is formed on a surface of the support member to which the clearance forming member is attached so as to prevent an adhesive entering into the space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An industrial robot comprising:
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an arm; a speed reducer, having a lubricant disposed therein, for a joint of the arm; and a lubricant deterioration sensor to detect deterioration of the lubricant of the speed reducer, wherein the lubricant deterioration sensor has a light emitting element to emit light, a color light receiving element to detect a color of received light, a clearance forming member forming an oil clearance in which the lubricant enters, and a support member supporting the light emitting element, the color light receiving element, and the clearance forming member, the clearance forming member being light-transmissive so that the light emitted from the light emitting element is transmittable therethrough, the oil clearance is provided on an optical path from the light emitting element to the color light receiving element, a reflection surface for bending the optical path is formed on the clearance forming member, the clearance forming member has two rectangular prisms each of which has the reflection surface for bending part of the optical path at 90-degree angle, so that the entire optical path is bent at 180-degree angle by the reflection surfaces of the two rectangular prisms, the oil clearance is formed between the two rectangular prisms, said speed reducer includes a main body which has a support member formed with an engageable portion and said lubricant deterioration sensor is formed with an engaging portion, the support member includes an engaging portion and a tool contact portion, the support member includes an engaging portion and a tool contact portion, the engageable portion of the main body of the speed reducer is formed through the main body such that a tool is engageable with the tool contact portion from outside of the main body, so that the engaging portion of the support member is secured to the engageable portion of the main body thereby said lubricant deterioration sensor is fixed onto the speed reducer main body, when said lubricant deterioration sensor is fixed onto the speed reducer main body, the oil clearance is positioned further inwardly from the internal surface of the speed reducer main body; and a groove surrounding an opening of a space on the optical path between the light emitting element and the clearance forming member is formed on a surface of the support member to which the clearance forming member is attached so as to prevent an adhesive entering into the space. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A speed reducer for an industrial robot, comprising:
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a speed reducer main body having a lubricant and formed with an engageable portion; and a lubricant deterioration sensor to detect deterioration of the lubricant in the speed reducer main body, wherein the lubricant deterioration sensor includes; a light emitting element to emit light, a color light receiving element to detect a color of received light, a clearance forming member forming an oil clearance in which the lubricant enters, and a support member supporting the light emitting element, the color light receiving element, and the clearance forming member, the clearance forming member being light-transmissive so that the light emitted from the light emitting element is transmittable therethrough, the oil clearance is provided on an optical path from the light emitting element to the color light receiving element, a reflection surface for bending the optical path is formed on the clearance forming member, a holder with anti-reflection treatment, provided inside of the support member, said holder surrounds at least a portion of the optical path; the clearance forming member has two rectangular prisms, each of t which has the reflection surface for ending part of the optical path at a 90-degree angle, so that the entire optical path is bent at 180-degree angle by the reflection surfaces of the two rectangular prisms, the oil clearance is formed between the two rectangular prisms, the support member includes an engaging portion and a tool contact portion, the engageable portion of the speed reducer main body is formed through the speed reducer main body such that a tool is engageable with the tool contact portion from outside of the speed reducer main body, so that the engaging portion of the support member is secured to the engageable portion of the speed reducer main body thereby said lubricant deterioration sensor is fixed onto the speed reducer main body, when said lubricant deterioration sensor is fixed onto the speed reducer main body, the oil clearance is positioned further inwardly from the internal surface of the speed reducer main body; and a groove surrounding an opening of a space on the optical path between the light emitting element and the clearance forming member is formed on a surface of the holder to which the clearance forming member is attached so as to prevent an adhesive entering into the space. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeNabtesco Corporation
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Original AssigneeNabtesco Corporation
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InventorsShirata, Takuya, Fujimoto, Kenichi
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Primary Examiner(s)Lyons, Michael A
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Assistant Examiner(s)Smith, Maurice
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Application NumberUS13/991,132Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,614 DaysField of Search356/319, 356/326, 356/332, 356/409, 356/410US Class Current1/1CPC Class CodesB25J 13/087 for sensing other physical ...B25J 19/0062 Lubrication meansB25J 9/102 Gears specially adapted the...F16H 57/0405 Monitoring quality of lubri...G01N 21/25 Colour; Spectral properties...G01N 21/251 Colorimeters; Construction ...G01N 21/85 Investigating moving fluids...G01N 33/2888 Lubricating oil characteris...
