Joint seal structure of robot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9399301-B2
Application number	US-201314650235-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2013
Priority date	Dec 5, 2012
Publication date	Jul 26, 2016
Grant date	Jul 26, 2016

Abstract

Joint seal structure of robot, includes fitting end portion provided on an end portion of second member and fittingly inserted into tubular end portion of first member; a peripheral groove provided on an inner peripheral surface of tubular end portion to extend over an entire periphery; and an annular seal member accommodated into peripheral groove and in sealing contact with outer peripheral surface of fitting end portion. Fitting end portion has smaller diameter than body of second member, a stepped surface between body and fitting end portion faces an end surface of tubular end portion and located close to end surface of tubular end portion in an axial direction, and a gap is provided between stepped surface and end surface of tubular end portion such that gap extends over entire periphery, is opened to outside of first member and second member, and is expanded as gap extends radially outward.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A joint seal structure of a robot, including a first member and a second member fittingly inserted into a tubular end portion of the first member, the joint seal structure comprising:
a fitting end portion which is provided on an end portion of the second member and fittingly inserted into the tubular end portion;
a peripheral groove provided on an inner circumferential surface of the tubular end portion to extend over an entire periphery; and
an annular seal member which is accommodated into the peripheral groove and is in sealing contact with an outer circumferential surface of the fitting end portion,
wherein the fitting end portion has a smaller diameter than a body of the second member,
wherein a stepped surface formed between the body and the fitting end portion faces an end surface of the tubular end portion and is located close to the end surface of the tubular end portion in an axial direction, and
wherein a gap is provided between the stepped surface and the end surface of the tubular end portion such that the gap extends over the entire periphery, is opened to outside of the first member and the second member, and is expanded as the gap extends radially outward.

2. The joint seal structure of the robot according to claim 1 ,
wherein the end surface of the tubular end portion has an opening via which the peripheral groove is in communication with the gap.

3. The joint seal structure of the robot according to claim 2 ,
wherein the opening is one of openings arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction.

4. The joint seal structure of the robot according to claim 3 , wherein the robot is a robot used to produce medicinal products.

5. The joint seal structure of the robot according to claim 2 ,
wherein the opening extends over the entire periphery.

6. The joint seal structure of the robot according to claim 5 , wherein the robot is a robot used to produce medicinal products.

7. The joint seal structure of the robot according to claim 2 , wherein the robot is a robot used to produce medicinal products.

8. The joint seal structure of the robot according to claim 1 ,
wherein a portion of the seal member is exposed from the end surface of the tubular end portion into the gap and located closer to a center in a radial direction than the outer circumferential surface of the tubular end portion and an outer circumferential surface of the body.

9. The joint seal structure of the robot according to claim 8 , wherein the robot is a robot used to produce medicinal products.

10. The joint seal structure of the robot according to claim 1 , wherein the robot is a robot used to produce medicinal products.

11. The joint seal structure of the robot according to claim 1 ,
wherein the body of the second member is spaced apart in the axial direction from the tubular end portion of the first member, and is exposed in the tubular end portion.

12. The joint seal structure of the robot according to claim 1 ,
wherein the stepped surface is located outward in the axial direction relative to the tubular end portion, and
wherein the stepped surface faces the end surface of the tubular end portion and is located close to the end surface of the tubular end portion in the axial direction.

13. The joint seal structure of the robot according to claim 1 ,
wherein the fitting end portion is fittingly inserted into the tubular end portion in such a manner that the fitting end portion is rotatable with respect to the tubular end portion.

Assignees

• Kawasaki Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Nakanishi Tetsuya

Classifications

• B25J19/0058 Primary

  Means for cleaning manipulators, e.g. dust removing means · CPC title

• B25J19/0075 Primary

  Means for protecting the manipulator from its environment or vice versa · 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

• B25J21/00

  Chambers provided with manipulation devices (constructional features of the mounting of the manipulator in the wall B25J1/08 {; glove-boxes for nuclear applications G21F7/04}) · CPC title

• F16J15/3268

  Mounting of sealing rings · CPC title