IP Library Granted Patent US 9,539,728
Granted Patent B2
US 9,539,728 · App. 14/036,086 · Granted Jan 10, 2017

Robot hand and robot device

Inventors: Takashi Nammoto (Sendai, JP); Kazuhiro Kosuge (Sendai, JP); Kengo Yamaguchi (Sendai, JP); Kosuke Hara (Sendai, JP)
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
B25J15/0009B25J18/02
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,539,728
App. No.
14/036,086
Granted
Jan 10, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A robot hand includes a finger unit that includes a first knuckle section that is supported to a predetermined base section and a second knuckle section that is supported to the first knuckle section; a drive section that includes a male screw that is rotatable around a predetermined screw axis by a predetermined drive source and a female screw that is screw-coupled with the male screw and moves in an axial direction of the screw axis according to rotation of the male screw, in which the female screw and the first knuckle section are connected to each other so that the first knuckle section moves in association with movement of the female screw; and a link section that connects the first knuckle section and the second knuckle section so that the second knuckle section moves in association with movement of the first knuckle section.

Claims (39)

1. A method for handling a bag-shaped object having an open end and a closed end by a robot,

the robot has:

a first finger that has a first attracting section, the first finger having first and second states that are positionally different from each other; and

a second finger that has a second attracting section, the second finger having third and fourth states that are positionally different from each other, the method comprising:

placing the bag-shaped object on a table;

attracting a first edge surface of the bag-shaped object by the first attracting section in the first state, the first edge surface being located at the open end of the bag-shaped object while the bag-shaped object is in a closed state;

moving the first finger upwardly while the first attracting section attracts the bag-shaped object so that the bag-shaped object is spaced apart from the table; and

attracting a second edge surface of the bag-shaped object by the second attracting section in the third state, the second edge surface being located at the open end of the bag-shaped object while the bag-shaped object is in the closed state, the second edge surface being opposite to the first edge surface, wherein

the first finger and the second finger are respectively in the second and fourth states so that the bag-shaped object is in an open state.

2. The method for handling a bag-shaped object having an open end and a closed end by a robot, according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first finger has a pressure sensor.

3. The method for handling a bag-shaped object having an open end and a closed end by a robot, according to claim 1 ,

wherein each of the first and second fingers has:

a first knuckle that is supported to a base and a second knuckle that is supported to the first knuckle section;

a drive member that includes a male screw that is rotatable around a screw axis by a drive source and a female screw that is screw-coupled with the male screw and moves in an axial direction of the screw axis according to rotation of the male screw, in which the female screw and the first knuckle are connected to each other so that the first knuckle moves in association with movement of the female screw; and

a link that connects the first knuckle and the second knuckle so that the second knuckle moves in association with movement of the first knuckle.

4. The method for handling a bag-shaped object having an open end and a closed end by a robot, according to claim 3 ,

wherein the link includes:

a first connector that connects the base and the first knuckle so that the first knuckle is rotatable around a first axis that is parallel to a tangential line of a virtual circle centering around a reference axis; and

a second connector that connects the first knuckle and the second knuckle so that the second knuckle is rotatable around a second axis that is parallel to an axial direction of the first axis.

5. The method for handling a bag-shaped object having an open end and a closed end by a robot, according to claim 3 ,

wherein the link includes a locking member that is locked to a first connection state where the first knuckle and the second knuckle form an angle of 180°.

6. The method for handling a bag-shaped object having an open end and a closed end by a robot, according to claim 4 ,

wherein the base includes a planar surface that intersects with the reference axis,

wherein the planar surface is provided at an end in an axial direction of the reference axis, and

wherein each of the first and second fingers is disposed so that the first knuckle and the second knuckle protrude upward in an extending direction of the reference axis with respect to the planar surface according to rotation of the first knuckle.

7. The method for handling a bag-shaped object having an open end and a closed end by a robot, according to claim 5 ,

wherein the planar surface has a frictional coefficient higher than that of a front surface of each of the first and second fingers.

8. The method for handling a bag-shaped object having an open end and a closed end by a robot, according to claim 3 ,

wherein the base is connected to a multi-axial arm.

9. The method for handling a bag-shaped object having an open end and a closed end by a robot, according to claim 8 ,

wherein the multi-axial arm is configured with a plurality of multi-axial arms.

10. The method for handling a bag-shaped object having an open end and a closed end by a robot, according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a third finger that has a third attracting section, the third finger having the third and fourth states,

wherein when the second edge surface of the bag-shaped object is attached by the second attracting section in the third state, the second edge surface of the bag-shaped object is attached by the third attracting section, and

the first finger is in the second state and the second and third fingers are in the fourth state so that the bag-shaped object is in an open state.

11. The method for handling a bag-shaped object having an open end and a closed end by a robot, according to claim 10 ,

wherein the first, second, and third attracting sections respectively include first, second, and third attracting pads, and

the first, second, and third attracting pads are respectively attached to tips of the first, second, and third fingers.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2013
From: NAMMOTO, TAKASHI; KOSUGE, KAZUHIRO; YAMAGUCHI, KENGO; HARA, KOSUKE
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031274/0303 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2012-226072 · Oct 11, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140103676A1 · Apr 17, 2014