Guide system for supply lines and robot having a guide system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10247328-B2
Application number	US-201515301612-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2015
Priority date	Apr 3, 2014
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

The invention relates to a guide system for supply lines for a handling device, particularly for a robot, having a guide base, a deflecting element guided along a linear travel path by the guide base, and a chain-like, hose-like or belt-like strand, where the deflecting element can travel along the travel path, from a retracted position into an extended position, by means of a tensile force acting on the strand and against a restoring force, the restoring force being generated by a restoring device located on or in the guide base. The restoring device displays at least one elastic cord or elastic belt that is guided around a deflecting device located on or in the guide base, adjacent to the retracted position of the deflecting element, and, adjoining it, a first section that is connected to the deflecting element, and a second section that is connected to the guide base. The invention furthermore relates to a handling device, particularly robot, having a guide system of this kind.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A guide system for supply lines for a handling device, comprising:
a guide base,
a deflecting element guided along a linear travel path by the guide base, and
a chain-like, hose-like or belt-like strand, in or on which the supply lines are arrangeable,
wherein the strand is guided around the deflecting element such that the strand forms a reversing bend and two branches adjoining the reversing bend, each branch having a free end and a connecting point located on the free end,
wherein a first connecting point of the connecting points is stationary relative to the guide base and a second connecting point of the connecting points moves relative to the guide base, and
wherein the deflecting element is movable from a retracted position into an extended position, by a tensile force acting on the branch having the second connecting point and against a restoring force,
wherein the restoring force is provided by a restoring device located on or in the guide base,
wherein the restoring device comprises at least one elastic cord or elastic belt that is guided around a deflecting device coupled to the guide base adjacent to the retracted position of the deflecting element,
wherein the at least one elastic cord or elastic belt comprises a first section connected to the deflecting element, and a second section connected to the guide base,
wherein the guide base comprises a guide rail and the deflecting element is located on a slide that is guided by the guide rail along the travel path,
wherein the deflecting device further comprises a roller arranged such that the at least one elastic cord or elastic belt is guided around the roller,
wherein the deflecting device is located at an end of the guide rail in a direction of the travel path, the deflecting device comprising a housing configured to provide a stop which limits travel of the slide along the travel path,
wherein the guide rail has a longitudinal length in a longitudinal direction of the guide rail corresponding to a direction of the travel path,
wherein the housing is arranged outside the longitudinal length of the guide rail at an end face of the guide rail, and
wherein the housing has an opening facing the end face of the guide rail, through which the at least one elastic cord or elastic belt extends towards the guide rail in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail.

2. The guide system according to claim 1 , wherein the second section of the at least one elastic cord or elastic belt is located in a gutter or a laterally closed channel of the guide rail.

3. The guide system according to claim 1 , wherein the first section of the at least one elastic cord or elastic belt is located within the guide rail, and has an end area connected to an area of the slide extending through a slit into an interior of the guide rail.

4. The guide system according to claim 1 , wherein the guide rail is configured as a profiled rail.

5. The guide system according to claim 4 , wherein the profiled rail comprises two, laterally projecting sliding rails and the slide comprises lateral areas each having a housing part for accommodating a sliding rail, and a plate-like mounting part, connected to the two housing parts, to which the deflecting element is fastened.

6. The guide system according to claim 1 , wherein the deflecting element is designed as a deflection roller, on whose circumference the reversing bend of the strand rests and whose axle is mounted on the slide in rotating fashion.

7. The guide system according to claim 6 , wherein the axle of the deflection roller is perpendicular to an axle of the deflecting device for the at least one elastic cord or elastic belt.

8. The guide system according to claim 1 , wherein the second section of the at least one elastic cord or elastic belt has an end which is fastened to the guide rail.

9. The guide system according to claim 1 , wherein a web is located at an end of the guide rail facing in a direction of the travel path from the retracted position of the deflecting element to the extended position, the web extending transversely to the guide rail and having one end area which comprises a retaining device for stationary mounting of the branch with the first connecting point, and another end area which comprises a guide for the branch with the second connecting point.

10. The guide system according to claim 1 , wherein the guide rail comprises retaining means on a side facing away from the slide, the retaining means arranged in adjustable and lockable fashion in a longitudinal direction of the guide rail.

11. The guide system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastic cord or elastic belt of the restoring device comprises at least two elastic cords or elastic belts.

12. A handling device having a guide system according to claim 1 , where the guide base is located on a first part of the handling device, and the branch of the chain-like, hose-like or belt-like strand having the first connecting point is connected to the first part, and the branch having the second connecting point is connected to a second part of the handling device that moves relative to the first part.

13. A guide system for supply lines for a handling device, comprising:
a guide base,
a deflecting element guided along a linear travel path by the guide base, and
a chain-like, hose-like or belt-like strand, in or on which the supply lines are arrangeable,
wherein the strand is guided around the deflecting element such that the strand forms a reversing bend and two branches adjoining the reversing bend, each branch having a free end and a connecting point located on the free end,
wherein a first connecting point of the connecting points is stationary relative to the guide base and a second connecting point of the connecting points moves relative to the guide base, and
wherein the deflecting element is movable from a retracted position into an extended position, by a tensile force acting on the branch having the second connecting point and against a restoring force,
wherein the restoring force is provided by a restoring device located on or in the guide base,
wherein the restoring device comprises at least one elastic cord or elastic belt that is guided around a deflecting device coupled to the guide base adjacent to the retracted position of the deflecting element,
wherein the at least one elastic cord or elastic belt comprises a first section connected to the deflecting element, and a second section connected to the guide base,
wherein the guide base comprises a guide rail and the deflecting element is located on a slide that is guided by the guide rail along the travel path,
wherein the deflecting device further comprises a roller arranged such that the at least one elastic cord or elastic belt is guided around the roller,
wherein the deflecting device is located at an end of the guide rail in a direction of the travel path, the deflecting device comprising a housing configured to provide a stop which limits travel of the slide along the travel path,
wherein the first section of the at least one elastic cord or elastic belt has a first end which is fastened to the slide,
wherein the second section of the at least one elastic cord or elastic belt has a second end which is fastened to the guide rail, and
wherein the housing is limited to containing the roller without containing the first end or the second end of the at least one elastic cord or elastic belt.

14. The guide system according to claim 13 , wherein the second section of the at least one elastic cord or elastic belt is located in a gutter or a laterally closed channel

Assignees

• Igus Gmbh

Inventors

• Jaeker Thilo-Alexander
• Steeger Ralf

Classifications

• F16L3/015 Primary

  using articulated- or supple-guiding elements · CPC title

• Y10S901/28

  Joint · CPC title

• H02G11/00

  Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts · CPC title

• B25J19/00 Primary

  Accessories fitted to manipulators, e.g. for monitoring, for viewing; Safety devices combined with or specially adapted for use in connection with manipulators (safety-devices in general F16P; protection against radiation in general G21F) · CPC title

• H02G3/0468

  Corrugated · CPC title