Arm module for a modular robot arm of an industrial robot

US12290920B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Beckhoff Automation GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Peter Kastler · Wien, AT
• Clemens Maier · Bludenz, AT
• Christoph Zech · Mödling, AT
• Thomas Morscher · Wien, AT
• Armin Pehlivan · Nüziders, AT
• Michael Jäger
• Peter Fischer · Bad Neustadt an der Saale, DE
• Thomas Rettig · Rheda-Wiedenbrück, DE
• Thorsten Bunte · Gütersloh, DE
• Christopher A. Pohl · Union City, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 21, 2022
• Grant date: May 6, 2025
• Expiry date: Feb 21, 2043

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/3604
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An arm module includes a housing with a first connection side controllably rotatable relative to a second connection side, about an axis of rotation. The first connection side has a rotatable first connection device. The second connection side has a second connection device fixed to the housing, with a rotation-compatible data transmission device for transmitting data signals along at least one transmission path between the first and second connection sides. The transmission path includes at least one wireless transmission sub-path for wireless transmission of data signals, and at least one wire-guided transmission sub-path for wire-guided transmission of data signals. The rotation-compatible data transmission device includes at least one first wireless transmission unit and at least one second wireless transmission unit, interconnected via the transmission path and arranged to wirelessly transmit and receive data signals along the wireless transmission sub-path. An industrial robot can have a plurality of such arm modules.