An automatically positionable joint for a modular tooling assembly includes a first joint member; a second joint member that is rotatably connected to the first joint member; a motor for causing rotation of the first joint member with respect to the second joint member; and a first clutch that is movable between an engaged position in which the first clutch restrains rotation of the first joint member with respect to the second joint member and a disengaged position in which the first clutch permits rotation of the first joint member with respect to the second joint member.

A robot joint is connectable to at least another robot joint via an output flange. The robot joint includes a joint motor having a motor axle configured to rotate the output flange. The robot joint includes a brake assembly having an annular brake member that is rotatable and a resilient member arranged on the motor axle. The annular brake member and the resilient member are arranged between a first locking member and a positionable locking member, where the positionable locking member can be fixed at a plurality of positions along and at the motor axle. An engagement member is movable between an engaging position and a non-engaging position, where in the engaging position the engagement member engages with the annular brake member and prevents rotation of the annular brake member around the motor axis. The annular may include brake protrusion that includes two slats forming a triangular-like shape.

A brake circuit discharge system is disclosed that includes: a motor drive circuit configured to drive a motor; a brake drive circuit configured to drive a brake B to decelerate and stop the driving of the motor and to apply the brake when power is cut off; a control unit configured to control the operation of the motor drive circuit and the brake drive circuit; a capacitor connected to a power line of the brake drive circuit; a discharge resistor connected in parallel with the capacitor to the power line of the brake drive circuit, and configured to discharge electric charge accumulated in the capacitor; a discharge changeover switch connected in series to the discharge resistor; and a discharge instruction generation circuit connected to the discharge changeover switch, and configured to generate a switching instruction signal for opening and closing the discharge changeover switch.

A robot hand capable of rotating and inserting a workpiece into a hole, while preventing a workpiece from being damaged when the workpiece is gripped. The robot hand includes a first hand section, a second hand section provided with a workpiece gripping section capable of gripping a workpiece, an elastic member configured to connect the first hand section and the second hand section in an elastically displaceable manner, and a movement restricting mechanism configured to releasably restrict a rotation movement of an elastic displacement of the second hand section with respect to the first hand section.

A speed reducing mechanism according to the present invention includes: a speed reducing unit for decelerating input rotation; an accelerating unit for accelerating rotation output from the speed reducing unit; and a brake unit for applying a braking force for braking the accelerating unit.

A variety of brake and/or clutch mechanisms, and improvements thereof, are provided having improved braking power, reduced size and weight, and other benefits. The braking mechanisms include a wrap spring clutch that is operable to mechanically couple a rotating member to a brake rotor that is in consistent contact with a brake pad. Actuation of the wrap spring clutch allows the wrap spring to engage with the rotating member, coupling the rotating member to the brake rotor thus braking the rotating member. The combination of the wrap spring clutch with the brake rotor and pad provides an overall braking mechanism that exhibits the decreased power cost, weight, size, and engagement time of the wrap spring clutch while having a braking power that can be moderated by specifying the area, engagement force, coefficient of friction, or other properties of the brake rotor and pad.

The present invention relates to a joint mechanism (100), a method for controlling the joint mechanism (100), a multi-arm device (200) including the joint mechanism (100), and a robot. The joint mechanism (100) comprises: a base (4) having a pivot shaft (41); a swinging arm (1) having a first end (11) mounted on the pivot shall (41); a first driving member (2) and a second driving member (3) mounted on the pivot shall (41) for interacting with the swinging arm (1) through magnetorheological fluid; and a first electromagnetic component (22) and a second electromagnetic component (32), configured to change phase state of the magnetorheological fluid. The first driving member (2) and the second driving member (3) can selectively drive tire swinging arm (1) to rotate along a first direction or a second direction.

According an embodiment, a work support device includes an arm unit, a brake unit, a state determination unit, and a brake control unit. The arm unit includes a grasping part configured to grasp an object, a plurality of joint parts, and a plurality of link parts actuatably coupled through each joint part. The brake unit is provided to at least one of the joint parts to restrict actuation of the arm unit. The state determination unit determines the state of the arm unit. The brake control unit controls the brake unit to restrict actuation of the arm unit in accordance with the state of the arm unit.

A robot joint structure includes a first member and a second member that are hollow, an actuator that rotates the second member about a fourth axis relative to the first member, and a brake mechanism capable of braking rotation of the second member relative to the first member. The actuator includes a motor accommodated within the first member, a speed reducer that reduces the speed of rotation of a motor shaft of the motor and that transmits the rotation to the second member, a first gear provided at the motor shaft, and a second gear provided in the speed reducer and engaged with the first gear. The brake mechanism includes a brake body accommodated within the first member, a brake shaft capable of being braked by the brake body, and a third gear provided at the brake shaft and engaged with the second gear.

A control method executes a first step of actuating a brake to decelerate a robot arm, a second step of releasing or relaxing the actuation of the brake when one of Conditions A1, A2, and A3 is satisfied after deceleration of the robot arm, and a third step of actuating the brake again to restrict driving of the robot arm when one of Conditions B1, B2, and B3 is satisfied after release or relaxation of the brake, Condition A1: a velocity of the robot arm becomes a predetermined value or less; Condition A2: a contact state between the robot arm and the object becomes stable; Condition A3: time TA elapses; Condition B1: time TB elapses; Condition B2: a movement amount of the robot arm becomes a predetermined value or more; and Condition B3: the contact state between the object and the robot arm is released or relaxed.