Robot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9346173-B2
Application number	US-201313932222-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2013
Priority date	Jul 12, 2012
Publication date	May 24, 2016
Grant date	May 24, 2016

Abstract

A robot, includes: a robot arm including: a first frame; and a second frame coupled to the first frame to be turnable about a joint axis; a cable arranged along a side surface of the first frame and a side surface of the second frame; a first fixing member for fixing the cable to the side surface of the first frame; a second fixing member for fixing the cable to the side surface of the second frame; a holding member for holding a part of the cable between the first fixing member and the second fixing member; and a support mechanism for regulating movement of the holding member in an axis direction of the joint axis, the support mechanism supporting the holding member so that the holding member is movable in a direction orthogonal to the axis direction of the joint axis to follow a bending movement of the cable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A robot, comprising:
a robot arm comprising:
a first frame; and
a second frame coupled to the first frame so as to be turnable about a joint axis;

a cable arranged along a side surface of the first frame and a side surface of the second frame;
a first fixing member for fixing the cable to the side surface of the first frame;
a second fixing member for fixing the cable to the side surface of the second frame;
a holding member for holding a part of the cable between the first fixing member and the second fixing member; and
a support mechanism for regulating movement of the holding member in an axis direction of the joint axis, the support mechanism supporting the holding member so that the holding member is movable to follow a bending movement of the cable,
wherein the first fixing member and the second fixing member are arranged so that a part of the cable between the first fixing member and the second fixing member is linear under a state in which the robot arm takes a predetermined posture.

2. A robot according to claim 1 ,
wherein the support mechanism comprises a rocking member supported by the side surface of the first frame so as to be rockable about an axis parallel to the joint axis, and
wherein the holding member is fixed to the rocking member.

3. A robot according to claim 2 , wherein the holding member is fixed to the rocking member at a position near the joint axis with respect to the axis.

4. A robot according to claim 1 ,
wherein the support mechanism comprises:
a first rocking member supported by the side surface of the first frame so as to be rockable about a first axis parallel to the joint axis; and
a second rocking member supported by the first rocking member so as to be rockable about a second axis different from the first axis and parallel to the joint axis, and
wherein the holding member is fixed to the second rocking member.

5. A robot according to claim 4 , wherein the second rocking member is rockably supported by the first rocking member at a position near the joint axis with respect to the first axis.

6. A robot according to claim 1 , wherein the support mechanism comprises:
a movable body comprising:
a fixing portion for a cable, having a fixing surface for a cable, to which the cable is fixed by the holding member; and
a flange portion protruded from the fixing portion for a cable in the direction orthogonal to the axis direction, the flange portion being held in surface contact with the side surface of one of the first frame and the second frame; and

a support member for supporting the flange portion by sandwiching the flange portion between the support member and the side surface of the one of the first frame and the second frame, the support member being fixed to the side surface of the one of the first frame and the second frame with a gap provided between the support member and the flange portion, for allowing the movable body to move along the side surface of the one of the first frame and the second frame, the support member having an opening portion formed therein, for avoiding interference with the fixing portion for a cable.

7. A robot according to claim 6 , wherein the fixing surface for a cable is formed to have an area larger than an opening area of the opening portion.

8. A robot according to claim 6 , wherein the gap has an oval shape in plan view.

9. A robot according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined posture comprises a posture in which the second frame is located at a center of a turnable range of the second frame with respect to the first frame.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Asano Hidetada
• Ogami Kazunori
• Kimura Akihiro
• Ogawara Takayuki

Classifications

• B25J19/0025 Primary

  Means for supplying energy to the end effector · CPC title

• H02G15/00

  Cable fittings · CPC title

• Y10S901/27

  Arm part · CPC title

• H02G3/22

  Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings · CPC title

• H02G3/32

  using mounting clamps · CPC title