Patent · US Expired

Five axis direct-drive mini-robot having fifth actuator located at non-adjacent joint

US5528955A · kind A · utility

96Cited by
7References
12Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 8, 1994
Grant dateJun 25, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 8, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T74/20323
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A substantially balanced, five-axis, direct drive mini-robot provides repeatable micro-manipulation to micron precision. Dynamic forces of each link are nearly decoupled from the dynamic forces of remaining links. The robot is generally formed as a shoulder, arm and wrist assembly. At the shoulder a linear actuator drives the robot in a linear horizontal movement along a first axis (e.g., z axis). Two additional actuators at the shoulder provide revolute motion to rotate the arm in an xz plane (e.g., for lateral motion) and a yz plane (e.g., for vertical motion), respectively. A fourth actuator provides rotational motion to move an end-effector (manipulator) at the wrist through a yaw motion. A fifth actuator, positioned at the shoulder and linked to the wrist, provides rotational motion to move the end-effector through a pitch motion.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.