A parallel link mechanism includes three or more link mechanisms that couple a fixed base and an end-effector base. The end-effector base has a facing surface facing the fixed base. The link mechanisms each include a proximal-end joint, a proximal link, an intermediate joint, a distal link, and a distal-end joint. The proximal-end joint is rotatably coupled to the fixed base. The proximal link is coupled to the proximal-end joint. The intermediate joint is provided to the proximal link. The distal link is rotatably coupled to the proximal link via the intermediate joint. The distal-end joint rotatably couples the distal link to the end-effector base. The point of intersection at which the extensions of the axes of rotation of the proximal-end joints, the extensions of the axes of rotation of the intermediate joints, and the extensions of the axes of rotation of the distal-end joints intersect is the center of rotation of the end-effector base. The center of rotation of the end-effector base is positioned in a first direction with respect to the facing surface.

A mechanism is constructed by twelve-axis geometry and controlled by spherical coordinate, so that all torques in twelve axes can be parallelly integrated. Timing belts, pulleys, hollow shafts, and spur gears onto four arc-link sets are included. Via these transmission components, base arc-links can be indirectly but synchronously rotated by base driving modules and terminal arc-links can be indirectly but synchronously rotated by terminal driving modules. The final output torque can be integrated via serial linking and parallel cooperating by the twelve rotating modules. Therefore, four arc-link sets work cooperatively and effectively in group but bear no burden each other. The mechanism can be applied to a multi-axis composite machining center machine or a multi-time element detection measuring bed and shoulder joints or hip joints corresponding to robots.

A two-degree-of-freedom parallel robot with a spatial kinematic chain includes a fixed platform, a movable platform, two driving devices, and two branch chains. Each driving device includes an active arm and a driving unit, and the two active arms are in the same reference plane. An end bracket is hinged on the active arm. Each branch chain includes two shaft rods and two chain rods. One of the two shaft rods is arranged on the active arm or the end bracket, and the other one thereof is arranged on the movable platform. The two chain rods and the two shaft rods form a parallelogram.

A spherical surface link mechanism includes a proximal end link hub, a distal end link hub, a plurality of links, a plurality of intermediate link hubs, and a shaft member. Each of the plurality of links includes a first end link member, a second end link member, and an intermediate link member. The first end link member is coupled, at one end, to the proximal end link hub to be rotatable about a first rotation axis. The second end link member is coupled, at one end, to the distal end link hub to be rotatable about a second rotation axis. The intermediate link member is coupled, at one end, to the other end of the first end link member to be rotatable about a third rotation axis and is coupled to, at the other end, the other end of the second end link member to be rotatable about a fourth rotation axis.

An operation device including a combination of a rotation unit and a linear motion unit. The rotation unit includes a link actuation apparatus and a rotation actuator. The link actuation apparatus includes a proximal end side-link hub, and a distal end side-link hub coupled thereto through three or more link mechanisms so as to enable a varying attitude relative thereto. The link actuation apparatus is mounted to an output shaft of the rotation actuator such that a central axis of the proximal end side-link hub forms an angle relative to an axis of rotation of the rotation actuator. The linear motion unit includes a linear actuator serving as an output portion thereof, and the rotation unit is mounted to this linear actuator.

A link actuation device includes a proximal link hub, a distal link hub, link mechanisms that couple the link hubs, an actuator, and a control device. The actuator includes motors provided for link mechanisms, respectively. The control device stores a map in which drive command values for each of the motors corresponding to a plurality of discrete positions within a movable range of the distal link hub are stored. Upon receipt of a command value for movement to a position that coincides with none of the plurality of positions within the movable range, the control device determines a drive command value for each of the motors by interpolating a region surrounded by four points at the plurality of positions on the map using a polynomial curved surface formula.

A 3-axis parallel linear robot has three drivers disposed around a central axis and a movement mechanism. The movement mechanism has three linkage assemblies connected to an end effector in parallel. The three assemblies are respectively driven by the three drivers in a linear or rotary manner for enabling the end effector to linearly move in a three-dimensional space. Each linkage assembly has three linkage rods and three rotating joints. An inner angle defined between each rotating joint and an imaginary plane being perpendicular to the central axis is an acute angle. A first center distance between the first rotating joint and the second rotating joint is equal to a second center distance between the second rotating joint and the third rotating joint. The overall height of the movement mechanism is reduced for increasing the working stroke and for improving the movement stability of the 3-axis parallel linear robot.

A mechanism is constructed by spherical concentric geometry and controlled by spherical coordinate kinematics. Transmission belts, pulleys, shafts, and spur gears are added onto three arc-link sets. Via these transmission components, base arc-links can be indirectly or directly but synchronously rotated by base driving modules and terminal arc-links can be indirectly or directly but synchronously rotated by terminal driving modules.

An embodiment joint structure for a robot includes an upper plate provided in an upper region, a link part coupled to a lower surface of the upper plate, wherein the link part includes a first link and a second link, and wherein the first link and the second link are provided close to one side of the upper plate with respect to a center of the lower surface of the upper plate, a support part coupled to the lower surface of the upper plate and configured to support the upper plate, wherein the support part is provided to be closer to the center of the lower surface of the upper plate than is the link part, and a motor part configured to provide power to the support part and the link part.

A working device has a configuration with seven degrees of freedom, and is configured to perform work using an end effector. The working device includes: a linear motion unit having three degrees of freedom; a rotary unit having three degrees of freedom; and a rotary drive mechanism having one degree of freedom. The rotary drive mechanism is configured to rotate the rotary unit relative to the linear motion unit. The linear motion unit is mounted on a mount such that a base portion thereof is fixed to the mount. The rotary drive mechanism is mounted on an output portion of the linear motion unit. The rotary unit is mounted on an output portion of the rotary drive mechanism. The end effector is mounted on an output portion of the rotary unit.