Robot arm
US8286528B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 21, 2009 |
| Grant date | Oct 16, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 25, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/20329
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A robot arm has a drive gear that has a shaft, a gear frame being capable of turning about the shaft of the drive gear, a first follower gear being capable of turning, in synchronization with the drive gear, about a shaft fixed to the gear frame, in a direction opposite to the turning direction of the drive gear, a transmission control mechanism that is capable of locking the first follower gear to the drive gear, an arm that moves in synchronization with the first follower gear, and a collision detection unit that is capable of detecting a collision between the arm and an obstacle. The transmission control mechanism unlocks the follower gear from the drive gear in response to detection, by the collision detection unit, of a collision between the arm and the obstacle. The robot arm enables quick cushioning of the impact force of the collision.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.