IP Library Granted Patent US 8,801,063
Granted Patent B2
US 8,801,063 · App. 13/742,852 · Granted Aug 12, 2014

Robot hand and robot apparatus

Inventors: Takashi Nammoto (Sendai, JP); Kazuhiro Kosuge (Sendai, JP); Haruaki Chiba (Sendai, JP)
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,801,063
App. No.
13/742,852
Granted
Aug 12, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A robot hand is provided, the robot hand including three finger sections, a supporting section which supports a proximal end of each of the three finger sections, and a circumferential movement section which circumferentially moves a second finger section and a third finger section of the three finger sections about a position where the three finger sections are supported on the supporting section is provided. The circumferentially moving second finger section and third finger section are circumferentially movable in a range of 180 degrees or greater in a circumferential direction substantially around a hand axis of the robot hand, about the position where the three finger sections are supported on the supporting section.

Claims (33)

1. A robot hand comprising:

three or more finger sections;

a supporting section which supports a proximal end of each of the three or more finger sections; and

a circumferential movement section which circumferentially moves at least two or more of the finger sections in a range of 180 degrees or greater in a circumferential direction about a position where the finger sections are supported on the supporting section,

wherein the circumferential movement section has a finger rotation axis which is connected to each of the two or more finger sections and a power section which transmits a rotational power to the finger rotation axis, wherein the power section is arranged below the supporting section and at a basal part of the robot hand.

2. The robot hand according to claim 1 , wherein the circumferential movement section includes:

a worm gear;

a drive motor which rotates the worm gear;

one worm wheel meshing with the worm gear;

a rotation axis spur gear which is interlocked with rotation of the worm wheel and rotates about a finger rotation axis parallel to the hand axis, thus circumferentially moving the two or more finger sections in a synchronized state; and

a transmission spur gear which transmits a rotation power from the worm wheel to the rotation axis spur gear.

3. The robot hand according to claim 2 , wherein a plural number of the rotation axis spur gears have teeth at equal pitches.

4. The robot hand according to claim 2 , wherein a synchronization spur gear which is arranged between two of the rotation axis spur gears and transmits a rotational power to each of the rotation axis spur gears is provided.

5. The robot hand according to claim 1 , wherein the finger sections include a first finger section of a fixed position on the circumference, and a second finger section and a third finger section which are circumferentially movable in the circumferential direction,

the second finger section and the third finger section are circumferentially movable in a range from a first finger position to a second finger position, and

the first finger position is a position where the second finger section and the third finger section are opposite to the first finger section in the circumferential direction, and the second finger position is a position where the second finger section and the third finger section are side by side with the first finger section in the circumferential direction.

6. A robot apparatus comprising:

a robot hand; and

a multi-axis arm;

wherein the robot hand includes three or more finger sections, a supporting section which supports a proximal end of each of the three or more finger sections, and a circumferential movement section which circumferential moves at least two or more of the finger sections in a range of 180 degrees or greater in a circumferential direction about a position where the finger sections are supported on the supporting section

wherein the circumferential movement section has a finger rotation axis which is connected to each of the two or more finger sections and a power section which transmits a rotational power to the finger rotation axis, wherein the power section is arranged below the supporting section and at a basal part of the robot hand.

7. The robot apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the multi-axis arm is provided in a plural number.

8. The robot apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the circumferential movement section includes:

a worm gear;

a drive motor which rotates the worm gear;

one worm wheel meshing with the worm gear;

a rotation axis spur gear which is interlocked with rotation of the worm wheel and rotates about a finger rotation axis parallel to the hand axis, thus circumferentially moving the two or more finger sections in a synchronized state; and

a transmission spur gear which transmits a rotation power from the worm wheel to the rotation axis spur gear.

9. The robot apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein a plural number of the rotation axis spur gears have teeth at equal pitches.

10. The robot apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein a synchronization spur gear which is arranged between two of the rotation axis spur gears and transmits a rotational power to each of the rotation axis spur gears is provided.

11. The robot apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the finger sections include a first finger section of a fixed position on the circumference, and a second finger section and a third finger section which are circumferentially movable in the circumferential direction,

the second finger section and the third finger section are circumferentially movable in a range from a first finger position to a second finger position, and

the first finger position is a position where the second finger section and the third finger section are opposite to the first finger section in the circumferential direction, and the second finger position is a position where the second finger section and the third finger section are side by side with the first finger section in the circumferential direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2013
From: NAMMOTO, TAKASHI; KOSUGE, KAZUHIRO; CHIBA, HARUAKI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 030225/0153 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2012-006988 · Jan 17, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130183129A1 · Jul 18, 2013