A work apparatus includes a parallel link mechanism, a position control actuator, a linear motion mechanism, and a rotating mechanism. The parallel link mechanism includes three or more link mechanisms that couple a distal end side link hub to a proximal end side link hub such that a position of the distal end side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal end side link hub. The position control actuator operates the parallel link mechanism. The linear motion mechanism moves a working body in an axial direction orthogonal to a central axis of the proximal end side link hub. The rotating mechanism is mounted on the distal end side link hub and rotates a work object about a rotation center axis parallel to a movement direction of the linear motion mechanism when the central axis and a central axis are on the same line.

A combination link actuation device has two link actuation devices combined with each other. Each link actuation device is provided so as to connect a distal end side link hub to a proximal end side link hub such that an orientation of the distal end side link hub is changed relative to the proximal end side link hub through three link mechanisms aligned in a circumferential direction. An orientation controlling actuator is provided in two or more link mechanisms among the three link mechanisms to optionally change an orientation of the distal end side link hub relative to the proximal end side link hub. At least one circumferential separation angle among separation angles of the three link mechanisms is greater than 120?. The two link actuation devices are disposed such that portions, of the link mechanisms, where the separation angle is greater than 120? oppose each other.

A link actuator includes a proximal end side link hub, a distal end side link hub, and link mechanisms which connect the distal end side link hub to the proximal end side link hub. Each of the link mechanisms includes a proximal side end link member, a distal side end link member, and an intermediate link member. Each of the proximal end side link hub and the distal end side link hub is provided with a through-hole which allows an origin positioning shaft to be inserted therethrough. The distal end posture of the link actuator is set to a specified posture by inserting the origin positioning shaft through the through-holes. An amount of operation of actuators in a state where preload is applied to the link actuator is set as a position of an origin of the actuator.

The method for initially setting a position of an origin of an actuator includes a first step of setting a distal end posture being a posture of a distal end side link hub relative to a proximal end side link hub of a link actuator to a specified posture; a second step of applying a preload, which is a force that causes the distal end posture to be changed, to the link actuator having the distal end posture being the specified posture; and a third step of storing an amount of operation of each actuator in a state where the preload is applied to the link actuator, wherein the stored amount of operation is set as the position of the origin of the actuator.

The composite work apparatus includes: two link actuation devices that support two working bodies such that postures of the working bodies can be individually changed; and three or more linear motion actuators that move the two link actuation devices and two or more work objects relative to each other. In each link actuation device, a distal end side link hub is connected to a proximal end side link hub via three or more link mechanisms such that a posture of the distal end side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal end side link hub, and a posture control actuator that arbitrarily changes the posture of the distal end side link hub relative to the proximal end side link hub is provided to each of two or more link mechanisms of the three or more link mechanisms.

A parallel link mechanism includes a proximal end side link hub; a distal end side link hub; and three or more link mechanisms that connect the distal end side link hub to the proximal end side link hub in a position-changeable fashion. Each of the link mechanisms has a trinodal structure. Each revolute pair of each of the link mechanisms includes one pair of pair constituent members connected to each other via a bearing. One of the pair constituent members is formed with a shaft portion fitted to an inner periphery of an inner ring of the bearing, and the other of the pair constituent members is formed with an annular inner face forming portion fitted to an outer periphery of an outer ring of the bearing.

A transmission device with multiple degrees of freedom includes a first platform, a second platform, a fixing platform, first branch chains, second branch chains and transmission assemblies. The first branch chains, the first platform (10) and the fixing platform form a first multiple degrees of freedom parallel mechanism having an output end. The second branch chains, the second platform and the fixing platform form a second multiple degrees of freedom parallel mechanism having an input end. A structure of the second branch chain is similar to a structure of the first branch chain, and a size of the second branch chain is enlarged or reduced in proportion to that of the first branch chain. The transmission assemblies are configured to couple the output end to the input end.

Disclosed herein are various embodiments of mechanical joint assemblies with broad ranges of motion. The joint assemblies can be used to control the position of a mounting surface, with the motion and position of the joint assembly being precisely controllable, for instance by one or more stepper motors.

An electromechanical system operates through physical interaction with an operator, and includes a plurality of joints providing multiple degrees of freedom (DOF), including actuated joints and unactuated joints. The unactuated joints are distal with respect to the actuated joints and are in redundant DOF to the actuated joints. The system includes a plurality of actuators each configured to actuate one or more of the actuated joints, and a plurality of sensors each positioned with respect to a respective one of the actuated and unactuated joints. Each sensor is configured to measure corresponding joint data indicative of a position or angle of the respective actuated or unactuated joints. A controller in communication with the sensors receives the measured joint data as feedback signals, generates control signals using the feedback signals, and transmits the control signals to the actuators to thereby control an actuation state of the actuators.

An apparatus for use with a robot may couple to or form part of an appendage, for example a wrist. The apparatus can include a base, a first platform, a second platform, a first set of linear actuators that moveably couple the first platform to the base and a second set of linear actuators that moveably couple the second platform to the first platform. The apparatus can take the form of dual prismatic platforms. A controller can provide control signals to operate the linear actuators to cause the first platform to translate and rotate with respect to the base and to cause the second platform to translate and rotate with respect to the first platform. Connectors can couple the base to an appendage and couple an end effector to the second platform.