IP Library Granted Patent US 8,897,918
Granted Patent B2
US 8,897,918 · App. 13/467,547 · Granted Nov 25, 2014

Robot hand and robot

Inventors: Yoshinobu Goto (Chino, JP); Kenjiro Murakami (Matsumoto, JP); Kazuto Yoshimura (Suwa, JP)
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
B25J15/10B25J15/0253B25J9/1612Y10S901/33Y10S901/34Y10S901/31
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,897,918
App. No.
13/467,547
Granted
Nov 25, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A robot hand has a plurality of fingers including a contact sensing finger that senses contact with an object. A base provided with the fingers detects a resultant reaction force that is the combination of reaction forces from the fingers. When no resultant reaction force is detected, the plurality of fingers are moved toward the object, and when the contact sensing finger comes into contact with the object, a force that drives the fingers is switched to a force corresponding to a grasp force. When the contact sensing finger has not come into contact with the object but a resultant reaction force is detected, the driving of the fingers is terminated and the position of the base is corrected by moving the base in a direction in which the resultant reaction force having acted thereon is not detected any more.

Claims (28)

1. A robot hand that includes a plurality of fingers and a base provided with the plurality of fingers and grasps an object by using the plurality of fingers, the robot hand comprising:

a resultant reaction force detector that detects a resultant reaction force that is a combination of reaction forces exerted by the plurality of fingers on the base; and

a finger driver that drives the plurality of fingers to approach the object or move away from the object,

wherein the plurality of fingers include a contact sensing finger that senses contact with the object, and

the finger driver

moves the plurality of fingers toward the object when the resultant reaction force is not detected and the contact sensing finger does not sense the contact, and

switches a force that drives the plurality of fingers to a force corresponding to a grasp force exerted to grasp the object when the contact sensing finger senses the contact, and

wherein, when the contact sensing finger does not sense the contact but the resultant reaction force is detected, the driving of the plurality of fingers is stopped, the position of the base is changed by moving the base in a direction in which the resultant reaction force is not detected any more, and the plurality of fingers are again moved toward the object.

2. The robot hand according to claim 1 ,

wherein the contact sensing finger deforms when a reaction force smaller than the grasp force is exerted thereon by the object.

3. A robot comprising a robot hand, the robot hand includes a plurality of fingers and a base provided with the plurality of fingers and grasps an object by using the plurality of fingers, the robot hand comprising:

a resultant reaction force detector that detects a resultant reaction force that is a combination of reaction forces exerted by the plurality of fingers on the base; and

a finger driver that drives the plurality of fingers to approach the object or move away from the object, wherein the plurality of fingers include a contact sensing finger that senses contact with the object, and

the finger driver moves the plurality of fingers toward the object when the resultant reaction force is not detected and the contact sensing finger does not sense the contact, and

switches a force that drives the plurality of fingers to a force corresponding to a grasp force exerted to grasp the object when the contact sensing finger senses the contact, and

wherein, when the contact sensing finger does not sense the contact but the resultant reaction force is detected, the driving of the plurality of fingers is stopped, the position of the base is changed by moving the base in a direction in which the resultant reaction force is not detected any more, and the plurality of fingers are again moved toward the object.

4. The robot of claim 3 , wherein the contact sensing finger deforms when a reaction force smaller than the grasp force is exerted thereon by the object.

5. A method of controlling a robot hand that includes a plurality of fingers and a base provided with the plurality of fingers and grasps an object by using the plurality of fingers, the method comprising:

providing the plurality of fingers with a contact sensing finger that senses contact with the object,

detecting a resultant reaction force that is a combination of reaction forces exerted by the plurality of fingers on the base; and

driving the plurality of fingers to approach the object or move away from the object,

the driving step including:

moving the plurality of fingers toward the object when the resultant reaction force is not detected and the contact sensing finger does not sense the contact, and

switching a force that drives the plurality of fingers to a force corresponding to a grasp force exerted to grasp the object when the contact sensing finger senses the contact, and

wherein, when the contact sensing finger does not sense the contact but the resultant reaction force is detected:

stopping the driving of the plurality of fingers;

changing the position of the base by moving the base in a direction in which the resultant reaction force is not detected any more; and

thereafter moving the plurality of fingers toward the object.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 9, 2012
From: GOTO, YOSHINOBU; MURAKAMI, KENJIRO; YOSHIMURA, KAZUTO
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028181/0871 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2011-105007 · May 10, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120290133A1 · Nov 15, 2012