Embodiments of an apparatus for improving cleanliness of a robot and an associated robot. The apparatus includes a hoop adapted to be mounted on a joint of the robot to enclose a plurality of parts of the joint, wherein the hoop is shaped such that at least one gap is formed between the hoop and the plurality of parts. A suction port provided on the hoop and adapted to be coupled to a suction device to allow creation of a flow from the at least one gap to the suction port. Within the hoop enclosing the parts of the joint that move relatively and the suction port allowing creation of a flow from the gap to the suction port, debris generated due to the relative movement of the parts during operation of the robot can be removed with the flow.

A robotic arm capable of reducing the size while suppressing damage to a plurality of elongated members inserted therein, is provided. The robotic arm to which an end effector is attached, includes plurality of elongated members extending to end effector, cylindrical housing defining a periphery of internal space configured to be a passage of plurality of elongated members, and an attaching structure provided to a tip end of the internal space of the cylindrical housing so as to attach the end effector to a tip-end part of the cylindrical housing. The attaching structure includes insertion holes formed corresponding to plurality of elongated members so as to insert the plurality of elongated members therein, and fixing members configured to fix the plurality of elongated members to the insertion holes, respectively. The cylindrical housing is formed so that the inner diameter is larger at the tip-end part than at a base-end part.

An inkjet-type vehicle painting machine capable of keeping temperature elevation of a nozzle head to a certain temperature or less. The painting robot comprises a power supply means for supplying power to drive a piezoelectric substrate of a nozzle head, and a robot arm for moving the nozzle head. The nozzle head is provided in an explosion-proof housing equipped with an explosion-proof construction. A heat dissipation means that dissipates heat generated from the nozzle head within the explosion-proof housing is attached to the nozzle head. A temperature measurement means for measuring the temperature of the heat dissipation means is attached to the heat dissipation means.

A collar may be provided having an aperture through it through which the turret of a wafer handling robot may be extended or retracted. The collar may have one or more radial gas passages. Gas directed inwards towards the turret from the radial passage(s) may turn downward when it strikes the turret. A bellows may be optionally affixed to the bottom of the turret and to the bottom of the base such that the volume of the base occupied by the turret and the bellows remains generally fixed regardless of the degree to which the turret is extended from the base.

A robot includes a base, a robot arm having a first arm provided on the base and configured to rotate about a first rotation axis and a second arm provided on the first arm and configured to rotate about a second rotation axis, a cable placed inside of the robot arm, and a tube having a suction hole for suctioning a gas inside of the robot arm when connected to a pump, wherein a first gap is provided between the first arm and the second arm, and the suction hole is placed inside of the robot arm.

A sealing arrangement for application in a robot joint. The sealing arrangement includes: a circular sealing assembly arranged between a swing and a base of the robot joint in a longitudinal direction, the circular sealing assembly defining a tubular cavity in a circumferential direction and having a gas inlet and a gas outlet; and an air channel coupled to the gas inlet and operable to continuously conduct pressured air flow into the cavity to maintain an air pressure inside the cavity above an air pressure outside the cavity, and thereby a high-speed airflow out of the gas outlet.

A robot includes a robot main body that includes a base and a robot arm connected to the base, a motor that is provided inside the robot main body and drives the robot arm, a control board that is provided inside the robot main body, a power supply board that supplies electric power to the control board, and a drive board that drives the motor based on a command from the control board, and in which the robot main body includes a suction hole from which a pipe to which a suction device for sucking gas inside the robot main body is connected is detachable.

A robotic arm capable of reducing the size while suppressing damage to a plurality of elongated members inserted therein, is provided. The robotic arm to which an end effector is attached, includes plurality of elongated members extending to end effector, cylindrical housing defining a periphery of internal space configured to be a passage of plurality of elongated members, and an attaching structure provided to a tip end of the internal space of the cylindrical housing so as to attach the end effector to a tip-end part of the cylindrical housing. The attaching structure includes insertion holes formed corresponding to plurality of elongated members so as to insert the plurality of elongated members therein, and fixing members configured to fix the plurality of elongated members to the insertion holes, respectively. The cylindrical housing is formed so that the inner diameter is larger at the tip-end part than at a base-end part.

A purging device configured to purge a container defining a periphery of a pressurized explosion-proof structure by supplying protective gas into the container is provided. A purge controlling module controls a flow rate adjusting device to supply the protective gas into the container to purge during a purging period including at least two main periods and at least one sub period. The main period and the sub period are set alternately on a time axis. A maximum supply flow rate per unit time during the sub period is at or below 10% of a maximum supply flow rate per unit time during the last main period, and at or below 10% of a maximum supply flow rate per unit time during the next main period.

A relief unit that is attached to an attachment hole penetrating through a wall of a housing accommodating a power transmission mechanism of a robot together with lubricating oil in a sealed state, which includes a body that is provided with an attachment section attachable to the attachment hole and that forms a communication passage disposed at a position where an internal space of the housing and an external space are connected when the attachment section is attached to the attachment hole. An opening and closing mechanism that is provided in the communication passage, closes the communication passage in a sealed state when the opening and closing mechanism is closed, and that opens the communication passage when the opening and closing mechanism is opened. a catching part is disposed at an intermediate position of the communication passage that catches the lubricating oil.