This link actuation device includes: a proximal end side link hub; a distal end side link hub; and three or more link mechanisms which each couple the distal end side link hub to the proximal end side link hub. Each link mechanism includes: proximal side and distal side end link members, and an intermediate link member. The link mechanism is provided with an actuator which arbitrarily changes the posture of the distal end side link hub relative to the proximal end side link hub. A workpiece is disposed on the proximal end side link hub, and an end effector is disposed in the distal end side link hub so as to face inside of arrangement of the link hubs and perform work onto the workpiece.

A link actuating device includes input side and output side link hubs, and two sets of link mechanisms. Each of the link mechanisms is a three-link-chain link mechanism including four revolute pairs, and includes input side and output side end links rotatably connected to the input side and output side link hubs and an intermediate links rotatably connected to input side and output side end links. The link mechanism have a positional relationship in which the revolute pair axes between the link hubs and the end links are located on the same plane and cross each other. At least one of the two sets of link mechanisms is provided with interlocking unit that interlocks the input side end link and the output side end link to each other so as to be rotationally displaced.

A work device includes a work device body and a contact preventer. The work device body includes a linear motion unit having three degrees of freedom and a rotary unit having three degrees of freedom. An end effector is mounted on an output portion of the rotary unit. The contact preventer separates a working region in which the work device body is installed, from a non-working region outside the working region. The contact preventer includes: an entry allowing portion allowing an object to enter the working region therethrough; and an entry allowing portion entry detection sensor configured to detect entry of an object into the working region through the entry allowing portions.

An operation device for a link actuating device (51) is provided with a target value input unit (57) having a height direction target value input portion (57z) that allows input of a movement amount in a height direction or a coordinate position in the height direction, which causes the distal end posture of the link actuating device (51) to be changed only in the height direction along a central axis of a proximal end side link hub (12). Input converter (58) is provided to calculate, by using an inputted value, a target distal end posture of the link actuating device (51). The Input converter (58) further calculates a command operation amount of each actuator (53) from the result of the calculation, and inputs the command operation amount to the control device (54).

A control device is provided which is operable to change the position of a distal end side link hub by driving each of arms, which are proximal end side links of a plurality of link mechanisms by means of an actuator. When in a series of operations, the position change of the distal end side link hub is mad by an angle greater than a predetermined angle, a relay position setting unit is provided for setting a relay point between a starting point and a terminating point of each of the arms so that the interference of the three axis arms may be relieved. A position change control unit performs a position control so as to pass simultaneously through the relay point so set.

A link actuation apparatus that actuates a parallel link mechanism where a spherical drive mechanism is constructed includes a controller configured to calculate, based on spherical trigonometry, an attitude of a second link hub from angles β.sub.A1 and β.sub.A2 that represent the attitude of a first end link member with respect to a first link hub in two of at least three link mechanisms. The link actuation apparatus capable of performing forward transformation in real time is thus provided.

Provided is a parallel link device that has an RCM structure and can drive translation and rotation independently.

The parallel link device includes: an actuation unit that has a base portion, an end portion, and a plurality of link portions configured to couple the base portion and the end portion and drives the link portion using a first actuator mounted on the base portion to actuate the end portion with respect to the base portion; and a transmission unit that transmits drive of a second actuator mounted on the base portion to a mechanism portion mounted on the end portion along each of at least two of the plurality of link portions.

A parallel link mechanism includes a proximal end member and three or more link mechanisms. Three or more link mechanisms connect the proximal end member to a distal end member. In three or more link mechanisms, a first center axis of a first revolute pair unit and a second center axis of a second revolute pair unit intersect at a spherical link center point. Fifth center axes of respective fifth revolute pair units of three or more link mechanisms overlap each other and intersect with the spherical link center point.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a hip joint link apparatus including: an upper body link fixed to an upper body of a wearable robot, and a hip joint jointer linking a thigh link linked to a thigh of the wearable robot, wherein the hip joint jointer has a four-revolute joint structure including a plurality of revolute joints and a plurality of links; an arbitrary input moment to the hip joint jointer is changed to an output moment in a predetermined direction based on a state of being transmitted to the plurality of links through the plurality of revolute joints; and the hip joint jointer assists a flexion moment, an extension moment, an abduction moment, and an adduction moment.

A parallel link mechanism includes a proximal end-side link hub, three link mechanisms, a rotating body, and a distal end-side link hub. The rotating body is connected to one link mechanism among the three link mechanisms. The rotating body is rotatably coupled to the proximal end-side link hub. In the link mechanism, a first center axis of a first revolute pair portion intersects with a second center axis of a second revolute pair portion at a spherical link center point. The rotation center axis of the rotating body intersects with the spherical link center point.