Flexible robot arm
US5174168A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 7, 1990 |
| Grant date | Dec 29, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 7, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/20207
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
This invention relates to a flexible robot arm comprising a plurality of disc-shaped elements arranged in a series so as to consist of a flexible arm, both surfaces of each of the elements being formed in convex having an arched opposed single curve so as to form contact surfaces, and a plurality of wire-like actuating devices for allowing the flexible arm to curve or bend in a desired direction. The flexible robot arm of this invention is directed to make motors for driving the actuating devices compact in size and light in weight and also a drive unit section compact in size and light in weight. The flexible robot arm includes two drive units each interconnected to the proximal ends of respective pairs of actuating devices (e.g. 3a and 3c, and 3b and 3d) disposed oppositely to each other on the diagonal and driven through rotary members (5a, 5b, 9a, 9b or 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) each being rotated by one of the motors (8a, 8 b) in both the clockwise and the anti-clockwise directions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.