Robot arm extension device and robot including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021197408-A1
Application number	US-201816754973-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 2, 2018
Priority date	Nov 8, 2017
Publication date	Jul 1, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

The objective of the present invention is to provide: a robot arm extension device capable of adjusting an operating radius according to the operation environment and requirements of a robot in industrial sites; and a robot including the robot arm extension device. The robot arm extension device according to the present invention comprises: a housing; an adapter formed on one side of the housing and connected to the robot; a length extending part embedded in the housing and withdrawn from or inserted into the housing; and a driving part for providing the driving power of the length extending part.

First claim

1 . A robot arm extension device comprising:
a housing; an adapter formed at one side of the housing and connected to a robot; a length extension part embedded in the housing and configured to be pulled out of or pulled into the housing; and a driving part configured to provide a driving force for pulling the length extension part out of or into the housing.

2 . The robot arm extension device of claim 1 , wherein:
the length extension part is composed of a plurality of chain blocks, and the chain blocks are rotatably connected to each other; and the chain blocks are aligned in a straight line and are pulled out of the housing or wound and pulled into the housing according to the driving of the driving part.

3 . The robot arm extension device of claim 2 , wherein each of the chain blocks includes:
a base in the shape of a square plate; and a protrusion formed to protrude from one surface of the base at a first edge and a second edge facing the first edge, wherein a third edge of the base is rotatably connected to a fourth edge of another chain block while the protrusions are being aligned in the same direction.

4 . The robot arm extension device of claim 3 , wherein:
the length extension part is composed of a first row chain block and a second row chain block; and when the protrusion of the first row chain block is directly coupled to the protrusion of the second row chain block, the length extension part is pulled out of the housing.

5 . The robot arm extension device of claim 4 , wherein a magnetic material is disposed at the end of the protrusion so as to couple the first row chain block and the second row chain block together.

6 . The robot arm extension device of claim 3 , wherein the third edge of the base of one chain block is rotatably hinged to the fourth edge of the base of another chain block.

7 . The robot arm extension device of claim 3 , wherein a concave-convex portion is formed on the other surface of the base so as to cross the direction where the chain block is pulled out of the housing.

8 . The robot arm extension device of claim 4 , further comprising a separator disposed in the housing, and wherein the separator separates the first row chain block and the second row chain block when the first row chain block and the second row chain block are wound into the housing.

9 . The robot arm extension device of claim 3 , wherein the driving part is of a roller type and drives the length extension part through rotation in contact with the other surface of the base.

10 . The robot arm extension device of claim 9 , wherein concave-convex portions are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the driving part.

11 . A robot comprising:
a main body; a robot arm connected to the main body and configured to perform rotational motion or translational motion; a housing connected to an end of the robot arm through an adapter; a length extension part embedded in the housing and configured to be pulled out of or pulled into the housing; and a driving part configured to provide a driving force to the length extension part.

12 . The robot of claim 11 , wherein:
the length extension part is composed of a plurality of chain blocks, and the chain blocks are rotatably connected to each other; and the chain blocks are aligned in a straight line and are pulled out of the housing or wound and pulled into the housing according to the driving of the driving part.

13 . The robot of claim 12 , wherein each of the chain blocks includes:
a base in the shape of a square plate; and a protrusion formed to protrude from one surface of the base at a first edge and a second edge facing the first edge, wherein a third edge of the base is rotatably connected to a fourth edge of another chain block while the protrusions are being aligned in the same direction.

14 . The robot of claim 13 , wherein:
the length extension part is composed of a first row chain block and a second row chain block; and when the protrusion of the first row chain block is directly coupled to the protrusion of the second row chain block, the length extension part is pulled out of the housing.

15 . The robot of claim 14 , wherein a magnetic material is disposed at the end of the protrusion so as to couple the first row chain block and the second row chain block together.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yoo Jae Chun
• Shin Seung Hoon
• Ivanov Igor
• Hyun Suk
• Roh Kyung Shik
• Jang Si Ho

Classifications

• B25J18/02 Primary

  extensible · CPC title

• F16G13/20

  stiff; Push-pull chains · CPC title

• B25J9/104

  with cables, chains or ribbons · CPC title

• B25J9/126

  Rotary actuators · CPC title

• B25J9/102

  Gears specially adapted therefor, e.g. reduction gears (gearings in general F16H) · CPC title