A base for a parallel kinematics robot including a plurality of gear cavities. Each gear cavity having a first bearing seat configured to receive an output shaft bearing. The base consists of one piece in homogeneous material, and thereby interfaces negatively affecting the accuracy of the robot are omitted.

There is provided a parallel link robot that includes a movable section, a plurality of first links, a plurality of connection sections, a plurality of second links, a plurality of first shaft sections, a plurality of third links, a plurality of second shaft sections, and a fixation unit including a plurality of driving sources. The plurality of first links are connected to the plurality of driving sources. The plurality of connection sections are connected to the plurality of first links. The plurality of second links are connected to the plurality of first links via the plurality of connection sections. The plurality of first shaft sections are connected to the plurality of second links. The plurality of third links are connected to the plurality of second links via the plurality of first shaft sections, and to the movable section through the plurality of second shaft sections.

A platform for a parallel robot, for acting on an object, including: at least two frames comprising at least two pairs of swivels; at least two bridges that are connected to each of the frames respectively by four hinges which are substantially parallel to an axial direction (V); and a base to be connected to an effector, which is suitable for acting on the object. The base is connected to each bridge respectively by at least one hinge which is oriented along a connection axis which is substantially parallel to the axial direction.

A parallel link robot includes a base, a movable part, link mechanisms, and actuators. The movable part is movable along a center axis. The first, second and third link mechanisms are provided around the center axis with angular intervals in a circumferential direction around the center axis to project outwardly along a radial direction with respect to the center axis. Each of the first, second and third link mechanisms connects the base and the movable part to move the movable part along the center axis. The angular intervals have an acute angular interval with an acute angle. The first, second and third actuators are provided at the base to be connected to the first, second and third link mechanisms respectively so as to drive the first, second and third link mechanisms respectively.

The present invention includes an apparatus (1) and a method for handling articles and comprises an upper suspension (3) with at least three rotatably driven positioning arms (5), where the positioning arms (5) each comprise at least two arm sections (7, 9) that are swivelable relative to each other and operated independently of one another. A manipulator (32) comprises one or more clamping jaws (34, 36) and is mechanically coupled to the positioning arms (5) such the manipulator can be positioned by movement of one or more of the positioning arms (5). At least one drive shaft (12) is linked non-rotatingly to the manipulator, such that the manipulator is rotated by movement of the at least one drive shaft (12). Rotation of the at least one drive shaft (12) also controls the one or more clamping jaws (34, 36) via the at least one actuating shaft (14).

An industrial robot with parallel kinematics includes a robot base, an effector carrier receiving an effector, a first actuating arm, a second actuating arm, and a third actuating arm, wherein each actuating arm is driven at one end and is received on the robot base and is movably connected with its other end to the effector carrier. The actuating arms are adapted to move the effector carrier translationally in three dimensions in space relative to the robot base. The first actuating arm and the second actuating arm are connected to the effector carrier via lower arm joints. All lower arm joints of the first and second actuator arms lie in an effector carrier plane. The effector carrier is secured against rotation about a z-axis perpendicular to the effector carrier plane by the third actuating arm.

A device and method for judging the presence or absence of an abnormal clearance between paring elements of a passive joint of a robot. The device has sections configured to: calculate a score for each motion path, wherein the score is increased when the paring elements of an objective pair collide with each other and is decreased when the paring elements of the other pair collide with each other; generate a robot motion for moving the robot along the motion path having the score not lower than a predetermined threshold; measure a drive torque or a current value of a motor when the robot is moved according to the generated robot motion; calculate an index value based on a magnitude of variation of the measured drive torque or current value; and judge as to whether the abnormal clearance exists in the objective pair, based on the index value.

A parallel link robot includes a plurality of drive units and link units each driven by the corresponding drive unit. Each of the drive units includes a motor, a transmission mechanism that transmits the rotation of the motor to the link unit, and a housing that holds the motor. The housing includes a first connection portion, a second connection portion, and an opening through which the link unit extends. The first connection portion of one of the drive units and the second connection portion of another of the drive units are connected to each other, while the second connection portion of the one of the drive units and the first connection portion of another of the drive units are connected to each other.

A robot apparatus includes: a base plate; a rotation-driving motor provided on the base plate; a transmission mechanism that is provided on a bottom surface side of the base plate and to which a rotational force of the rotation-driving motor is transmitted; and a rotation-driving mechanism that is provided on the bottom surface side of the base plate and to which the rotational force of the rotation-driving motor is input via the transmission mechanism. A workpiece is rotated by the rotation-driving mechanism at an end of the rotation-driving mechanism opposite to the base plate.

An extended-reach assist device for an assembly task includes a base mechanism and a compliant end-effector. The articulated base mechanism provides one or more passive degrees of freedom. The end-effector is connected to the base mechanism, and has one or more active or passive degrees of freedom collectively configured to react to contact forces with the assist device when completing the dexterous assembly task. A weight of the end-effector is supported by the base mechanism. The end-effector may be optionally configured as a passive device configured to produce a remote center of compliance or as a robot mechanism. A mechanism may actively or passively augment a force applied by the operator. A sensor may detect a signature indicative of successful task completion, e.g., an acoustic, visual, or audio sensor.