Rotation axis module and articulated robot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10807252-B2
Application number	US-201715453556-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2017
Priority date	Mar 9, 2016
Publication date	Oct 20, 2020
Grant date	Oct 20, 2020

Abstract

A rotation axis module includes: an actuator which relatively rotates a fixed member and a movable member; a umbilical member which penetrates through the interior of the actuator to extend; a first fixing portion which fixes the umbilical member at a rotation axis of the fixed member or at a position corresponding to the vicinity thereof; a second fixing portion which fixes the umbilical member at an output axis of the movable member or in the vicinity thereof; a first relay portion which is positioned at a side of the fixed member, one end of the umbilical member being connected to the first relay portion; and a second relay portion which is positioned at a side of the movable member, the other end of the umbilical member being connected to the second relay portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A rotation axis module, comprising:
an actuator configured as a speed reducer and a drive motor, or configured as a direct drive motor;
an umbilical member which penetrates and extends through the interior of the actuator along only a central axis of the actuator;
a first relay portion which is positioned on one end side of the actuator and to which one end of the umbilical member is connected;
a second relay portion which is positioned on the other end side of the actuator and to which the other end of the umbilical member is connected; and
a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion which secure the umbilical member to the actuator between the first relay portion and the second relay portion.

2. The rotation axis module according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a fixed member to which a first link is to be mounted, and a movable member which is rotatable relative to the fixed member and to which a second link is to be mounted.

3. The rotation axis module according to claim 2 , wherein in the interior of the actuator, the umbilical member transmits electricity in a space of a boundary portion between the movable member and the fixed member in a wireless manner using a wireless transmission unit which transmits electricity.

4. The rotation axis module according to claim 3 , wherein the wireless transmission unit has a hollow structure, and an air supply tube which extends along a rotation axis of the movable member passes through the wireless transmission unit.

5. The rotation axis module according to claim 3 , wherein an air supply tube which extends along a rotation axis of the movable member is disposed outside the wireless transmission unit.

6. The rotation axis module according to claim 2 , wherein the first fixing portion is provided at a rotation axis of the fixed member or in the vicinity thereof, and the second fixing portion is provided at a rotation axis of the movable member or in the vicinity thereof.

7. The rotation axis module according to claim 2 , further comprising a change mechanism portion which changes a link length or an offset amount of at least one of the first link and the second link.

8. The rotation axis module according to claim 2 , wherein the actuator comprises a first attachment portion which is arranged perpendicular relative to an output axis of the movable member and is to be mounted to one of the first link and the second link, and a second attachment portion which is arranged parallel relative to the output axis of the movable member and is to be mounted to the other of the first link and the second link, and
the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion have a mounting interface common to a second link mounting surface of the movable member.

9. The rotation axis module according to claim 2 , wherein the first link and the second link comprise a relay umbilical member, a third relay portion to which one end of the relay umbilical member is connected, and a fourth relay portion to which the other end of the relay umbilical member is connected,
the third relay portion of the first link is configured to be connected to the first relay portion, and
the fourth relay portion of the second link is configured to be connected to the second relay portion.

10. The rotary axis module according to claim 9 , wherein from at least one of the relay umbilical member, the third relay portion, and the fourth relay portion, at least one branch umbilical member is bifurcated, and
the rotary axis module comprises an arrangement change portion which changes arrangement of the relay umbilical member and the at least one branch umbilical member.

11. The rotation axis module according to claim 2 , further comprising a definition mechanism portion which defines a correlation between an origin point of an output axis of the movable member and a reference of the fixed member while the first link and the second link fail to be attached to the fixed member and the movable member, respectively.

12. The rotation axis module according to claim 2 , further comprising a definition mechanism portion which defines a correlation between an origin point of an output axis of the movable member and a reference of the fixed member while the first link and the second link are attached to the fixed member and the movable member, respectively.

13. The rotation axis module according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of a twist amount measurement device, a torque measurement device, and a force sensor is mounted on or incorporated into at least one of the movable member and the fixed member.

14. The rotation axis module according to claim 1 , wherein in the interior of the actuator, the umbilical member is provided with a rotary joint which transmits electricity and air.

15. The rotation axis module according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a combination of a speed reducer and a drive motor.

16. The rotation axis module according to claim 15 , wherein the speed reducer comprises a plurality of parallel axes or intersecting axes, a plurality of gears which are mounted on the plurality of parallel axes or intersecting axes, and a plurality of ball bearings which support the plurality of parallel axes or intersecting axes.

17. The rotation axis module according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a direct drive motor.

18. The rotation axis module according to claim 1 , further comprising an attachment member to which a cover for covering the rotation axis module is attached.

19. The rotation axis module according to claim 1 , further comprising a seal portion which seals the actuator.

20. The rotation axis module according to claim 1 , wherein the umbilical member is configured to be attached to and detached from the rotation axis module.

21. The rotation axis module according to claim 1 , wherein another umbilical member which penetrates through the interior of the actuator is added.

22. A robot, comprising at least one rotation axis module according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Fanuc Corp

Inventors

• Nakayama Kazutaka
• Morioka Masahiro
• Abe Kenichiro

Classifications

• B25J19/0045

  Contactless power transmission, e.g. by magnetic induction · CPC title

• B25J9/06

  characterised by multi-articulated arms · CPC title

• B25J9/08 Primary

  characterised by modular constructions · CPC title

• B25J19/0029 Primary

  arranged within the different robot elements · CPC title

• B25J17/0266

  comprising more than two actuating or connecting rods · CPC title