TRANSMISSION DEVICE AND ROBOTIC ARM
20200206912 ยท 2020-07-02
Assignee
Inventors
- Meng-He WU (Hsinchu, TW)
- Shang-Te CHEN (Hsinchu, TW)
- Chia-Chung Sung (Hsinchu, TW)
- Cheng-Yu Chu (Hsinchu, TW)
- Jan-Hao CHEN (Hsinchu, TW)
Cpc classification
B25J9/104
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B25J19/0025
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B25J9/0024
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B25J9/10
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
A transmission device is provided, including a first housing, a second housing connected to the first housing, a third housing axially connected to the second housing, an adapter disposed on the third housing, a first power shaft actuating the first housing and the second housing to rotate, a second power shaft actuating the third housing to rotate, and a third power shaft actuating the adapter to rotate. The second and third power shafts are a coaxial structure. The first power shaft is an independent rod. Therefore, a motor loaded with a smaller rotation inertia and being thus cheaper can be used to drive the first power shaft, and the transmission device can have a reduced cost.
Claims
1. A transmission device, comprising: a first housing having a first end portion and a second end portion opposing each other; a second housing connected to the first end portion of the first housing; a first speed reducer disposed between the first end portion of the first housing and the second housing; and a first power shaft for actuating the first speed reducer to drive the second housing to rotate.
2. The transmission device of claim 1, wherein the first power shaft actuates the first speed reducer through a first transmission mechanism.
3. The transmission device of claim 2, further comprising a first motor for driving the first power shaft.
4. The transmission device of claim 3, wherein the first motor drives the first power shaft through a bevel gear set.
5. The transmission device of claim 2, wherein the first transmission mechanism is a gear set and transfers power of the first transmission mechanism through a connection structure to the first speed reducer, and wherein the connection structure is a pipe.
6. The transmission device of claim 2, further comprising: a third housing axially connected to the second housing, wherein the first power shaft actuates the first speed reducer through the first transmission mechanism to drive the second housing and the third housing to rotate in the same direction; a second speed reducer disposed on the second housing; and a second power shaft for actuating the second speed reducer through a second transmission mechanism to drive the third housing to rotate with respect to the second housing.
7. The transmission device of claim 6, further comprising a first motor disposed on the second end portion of the first housing for driving the first power shaft.
8. The transmission device of claim 6, further comprising a second motor for driving the second power shaft.
9. The transmission device of claim 6, wherein the second transmission mechanism comprises a first belt pulley set and a first gear set moving with the first belt pulley set for the second power shaft to be moved with the first gear set and the first belt pulley set to be moved with the second speed reducer.
10. The transmission device of claim 9, wherein the second transmission mechanism further comprises a first transmission shaft and a second transmission shaft interlockedly rotating to two sides of the first belt pulley set, respectively, and wherein the first transmission shaft moves with the first gear set, and the second transmission shaft actuates the second speed reducer.
11. The transmission device of claim 9, wherein the first belt pulley set comprises two rollers and a belt around the two rollers.
12. The transmission device of claim 11, further comprising a propping part propping against the belt.
13. The transmission device of claim 6, further comprising: an adapter axially connected to the third housing; a third speed reducer disposed on the third housing; and a third power shaft for actuating the third speed reducer through a third transmission mechanism to drive the adapter to rotate with respect to the third housing, wherein the third power shaft is a pipe, the first power shaft is positioned outside the pipe of the third power shaft, and the second power shaft passes through and is installed in the pipe of the third power shaft.
14. The transmission device of claim 13, wherein the first transmission mechanism is a gear set and transfers power of the first transmission mechanism through a connection structure to the first speed reducer, and wherein the connection structure is a pipe.
15. The transmission device of claim 14, wherein the connection structure is a hollow pipe, and the second power shaft and the third power shaft pass through the connection structure.
16. The transmission device of claim 13, wherein the second transmission mechanism further comprises a first transmission shaft and a second transmission shaft interlockedly rotating to two sides of the first belt pulley set, respectively, and wherein the first transmission shaft moves with the first gear set, and the second transmission shaft actuates the second speed reducer.
17. The transmission device of claim 16, wherein the third transmission mechanism further comprises a second belt pulley set, a third transmission shaft and a fourth transmission shaft interlockedly rotating to two sides of the second belt pulley set, respectively, and a second gear set and a third gear set moving with the third transmission shaft and the fourth transmission shaft, respectively, wherein the third power shaft moves with the second gear set, and the third speed reducer moves with the third gear set.
18. The transmission device of claim 17, wherein the first transmission shaft and the third transmission shaft are a coaxial structure, and the second transmission shaft and the fourth transmission shaft are another coaxial structure.
19. The transmission device of claim 13, further comprising a third motor for driving the third power shaft.
20. The transmission device of claim 13, wherein the third transmission mechanism further comprises a belt pulley set and two gear sets moving with the belt pulley set, and wherein the gear sets move with the third power shaft and the third speed reducer, respectively.
21. The transmission device of claim 20, wherein the third transmission mechanism further comprises two transmission shafts interlockedly rotating to two sides of the belt pulley set for driving the gear sets, respectively.
22. A robotic arm, comprising: the transmission device of claim 1; and an arm body pivotably connected to the second end portion of the first housing.
23. The robotic arm of claim 22, wherein the transmission device comprises a wrist portion.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0029] The disclosure can be more fully understood by rearing the following detailed description of the embodiments, with reference made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing.
[0043]
[0044] In an embodiment, the transmission device 4 is installed with a first motor 1a, a second motor 2a and a third motor 3a as power sources for a first movement mode M1, a second movement mode M2 and a third movement mode M3, respectively.
[0045] In an embodiment, the first housing 10 is hollow or cylindrical, and has a first end portion 10a and a second end portion 10b opposing the first end portion 10a.
[0046] In an embodiment, the second end portion 10b of the first housing 10 can be installed with the first motor 1a, the second motor 2a and the third motor 3a, and is disposed with an externally connected structure 5 based on demands. In an embodiment, the externally connected structure 5 comprises an adapting axial part 50, and a fourth motor 4a can be mounted on the externally connected structure 5 to rotate the adapting axial part 50.
[0047] The first speed reducer 11 is connected to the first end portion 10a of the first housing 10. The power transmission of the first motor 1a uses the first speed reducer 11 to reduce speed.
[0048] In an embodiment, the first speed reducer 11 has a speed-reduction ratio of 1/80, and a variety of structures, such as an offset-center swinging type shown in
[0049] The first power shaft 12 (as shown in
[0050] In an embodiment, the first motor 1a is connected through a bevel gear set 1b (as shown in
[0051] The first transmission mechanism 13 is connected to the first power shaft 12 and the first speed reducer 11, and the first power shaft 12 actuates the first speed reducer 11 through the first transmission mechanism 13.
[0052] In an embodiment, the first transmission mechanism 13 comprises a gear set having two positive gears 130 and 131 (as shown in
[0053] The first speed reducer 11 is disposed between the first housing 10 and the second housing 20, and the second housing 20 does not move with respect to the first housing 10.
[0054] In an embodiment, the second housing 20 and the first housing 10 are axially disposed. In an embodiment, in the first movement mode M1 the first speed reducer 11 is axially interlockedly rotating to a side of the first end portion 10a of the first housing 10 and the second housing 20, the first power shaft 12 actuates the first speed reducer 11 through the first transmission mechanism 13, and the second housing 20 rotates with the third housing 30 in the same direction.
[0055] As shown in
[0056] The second speed reducer 21 is connected to the supporting part 201 of the second housing 20, and the power transmission of the second motor 2a uses the second speed reducer 21 to reduce speed.
[0057] In an embodiment, the second speed reducer 21 has a variety of structures, such as the gear set and the corresponding arrangement shown in
[0058] The second power shaft 22 is disposed in the first housing 10 and the second housing 20 and moves with the second motor 2a.
[0059] In an embodiment, an output shaft 2b of the second motor 2a is connected to the second power shaft 22 directly, and the second motor 2a drives the second power shaft 22 to rotate. In an embodiment, the output shaft 2b of the second motor 2a inputs power through a coupler (not shown) to the second power shaft 22.
[0060] The second transmission mechanism 23 is disposed in the second housing 20 and connected to the second power shaft 22 and the second speed reducer 21, and the second power shaft 22 actuates the second speed reducer 21 through the second transmission mechanism 23.
[0061] In an embodiment, the second transmission mechanism 23 comprises a first belt pulley set 230 (such as an external belt pulley set shown in
[0062] The first gear set 233 is disposed at the rear end portion 20a of the second housing 20, the other components of the second transmission mechanism 23 (e.g., the first belt pulley set 230, the first transmission shaft 231 and the second transmission shaft 232) are disposed on the placement groove 202a of the supporting part 202, and the second speed reducer 21 and the second transmission mechanism 23 are substantially disposed on two opposing sides of the second housing 20, respectively, i.e., the two supporting parts 201 and 202 of the second housing 20.
[0063] The second transmission shaft 232 is mounted between the supporting parts 201 and 202 across the receiving space S.
[0064] The third housing 30 is disposed in the receiving space S of the second housing 20, and axially connected to the second housing 20 along a direction of a vertical line between the two supporting parts 201 and 202.
[0065] In an embodiment, the third housing 30 is rotatably mounted on the two supporting parts 201 and 202 and connected to the second speed reducer 21, and the second speed reducer 21 drives the third housing 30 to rotate with respect to the second housing 20, such as in the second movement mode M2.
[0066] As shown in
[0067] The third speed reducer 31 is connected to the third pipe 303 of the third housing 30, and the power transmission of the third motor 3a uses the third speed reducer 31 to reduce speed.
[0068] In an embodiment, the third speed reducer 31 has a variety of structures, such as a gear rod 310 and the corresponding arrangement shown in
[0069] The third power shaft 32 is disposed in the first housing 10 and the second housing 20. The third power shaft 32 is a pipe, the second power shaft 22 passes through and is installed in the pipe of the third power shaft 32, the second power shaft 22 and the third power shaft 32 are a two-layer coaxial structure, and the first power shaft 12 is disposed outside the pipe of the third power shaft 32.
[0070] In an embodiment, the third motor 3a is connected through a belt pulley set 3b (as shown in
[0071] The connection structure 110 is a single pipe, and the second power shaft 22 and the third power shaft 32 pass through the connection structure 110, and pass through the first speed reducer 21 through a bearing component.
[0072] The third transmission mechanism 33 is disposed in the second housing 20 and the third housing 30 and connected to the third power shaft 32 and the third speed reducer 31, and the third power shaft 32 actuates the third speed reducer 31 through the third transmission mechanism 33.
[0073] In an embodiment, the third transmission mechanism 33 comprises a second belt pulley set 330 (such as the belt pulley set shown in
[0074] The second gear set 333 is disposed at the rear end portion 20a of the second housing 20, the other components of the third transmission mechanism 33 (e.g., the second belt pulley set 330, the third transmission shaft 331 and the fourth transmission shaft 332) are positioned on the placement groove 202a of the supporting parts 202, and some components of the second speed reducer 21 and the third transmission mechanism 33 are disposed at two opposing sides of the second housing 20, i.e., the two supporting parts 201 and 202 of the second housing 20.
[0075] The fourth transmission shaft 332 is mounted on the supporting parts 202, protrudes from the receiving space S of the second housing 20 and into the third housing 30, and the third gear set 334 is disposed in the third housing 30.
[0076] The first transmission shaft 231 and the third transmission shaft 331 have a coaxial structure. The second transmission shaft 232 and the fourth transmission shaft 332 have a coaxial structure. In an embodiment, the third transmission shaft 331 and the fourth transmission shaft 332 are a pipe, the first transmission shaft 231 passes through the third transmission shaft 331, and the second transmission shaft 232 passes through the fourth transmission shaft 332. When the first and second belt pulley sets 230 and 330 are installed in the identical supporting parts 202 of the second housing 20, the space where the second and third transmission mechanisms 23 and 33 are installed is reduced, and the second housing 20 can thus has a reduced volume accordingly.
[0077] The transmission device 4 further comprises an adapter 40 axially connected to the third housing 30. In an embodiment, the adapter 40 is connected to the third speed reducer 31, and the third speed reducer 31 drives the adapter 40 to rotate with respect to the third housing 30, such as in the third movement mode M3.
[0078] The transmission device 4 operates as follows.
[0079] In the first movement mode M1, the first motor 1a transfers power through the bevel gear set 1b to drive the first power shaft 12, the first power shaft 12 transfers the power through the first transmission mechanism 13 and actuates the first speed reducer 11, the first speed reducer 11 drives the first housing 10 and the second housing 20, and the third housing 30 as well, to auto-rotate in the same direction along a first axis line L1 (as shown in
[0080] In the second movement mode M2, the second motor 2a transfers power through the output shaft 2b and drives the second power shaft 22, the second power shaft 22 transfers power through the second transmission mechanism 23 (the power transmission is in the order from the first gear set 233, the first transmission shaft 231, the first belt pulley set 230, to the second transmission shaft 232, as shown in
[0081] In the third movement mode M3, the third motor 3a transfers power through the belt pulley set 3b and drives the third power shaft 32, the third power shaft 32 transfers power through the third transmission mechanism 33 (the power transmission is in the order from the second gear set 333, the third transmission shaft 331, the second belt pulley set 330, the fourth transmission shaft 332 to the third gear set 334) and actuates the third speed reducer 31, the third speed reducer 31 drives the adapter 40 to rotate with respect to the third housing 30 along a third axis line L3 (as shown in
[0082] In an embodiment, the second axis line L2 intersects the first axis line L1 at a predefine angle (e.g., in a vertical state), and the third axis line L3 intersects the second axis line L2 at a predefined angle (e.g., in a vertical state).
[0083] The first axis line L1 and the third axis line L3 can be on the same straight path, or on different straight paths.
[0084] In another embodiment, if the second axis line L2 does not pass through an extending line of the first axis line L1 and is not parallel to the first axis line L1, the second axis line L2 cannot intersect the first axis line L1. If the third axis line L3 does not pass through an extending line of the second axis line L2 and is not parallel to the second axis line L2, the third axis line L3 cannot intersect the second axis line L2.
[0085] The tension of the belts 230b and 330b of the first and second belt pulley sets 230 and 330 can be adjusted by moving (toward an arrow direction Z shown in
[0086] According to the transmission device 4 of the present disclosure, in which the second power shaft 22 and the third power shaft 32 have a coaxial structure, the first power shaft 12 is disposed outside the pipe of the third power shaft 32 independently, and the first motor 1a can be loaded with a small rotation inertia. As compared with the prior art, the present disclosure can select the first motor 1a that is cheaper, and thus has its cost reduced. The rotation inertia of the first power shaft 12 can be considered as the rotation inertia of the motor transmission shafts, and can be obtained based on the following equation (1):
I=mr.sup.2 (1)
where m represents the mass (kg) of a power rod, and r represents the radius (mm) of the power rod. Therefore, the rotation inertia of the first power shaft 12 is 0.5.Math.2.11.sup.2=121 (kg-mm.sup.2), and the rotation inertia of the outer axial rod according to the prior art (as shown in
[0087] According to the present disclosure, since the first speed reducer 11 is disposed between the first end portion 10a of the first housing 10 and the second housing 20, a distance between the adapter 40 and the first speed reducer 11 is greatly reduced, and an endurable bending moment can be achieved. Therefore, the transmission device 4 according to the present disclosure can select the first speed reducer 11 that is cheaper to reduce the manufacturing cost, or the adapter 40 of the transmission device 4 can hold a heavier object. The bending moment M is obtained by the following equation (2):
M=FL (2)
where F represents the weight that the adapter 40 is going to hold, and L represent a length (i.e., the distance between the adapter 40 and the first speed reducer 11). As the length L of the transmission device 4 is 550 mm and the length L of the six-axis robot 9 according to the prior art is 1200 mm (i.e., a distance between the motor 9b and the rotating disk 96 shown in
[0088] Since the second transmission mechanism 23 and the third transmission mechanism 33 are disposed in the same supporting part 202 of the second housing 20 and the second speed reducer 21 is disposed in the another supporting part 201 of the first housing 20, the two supporting parts 201 and 202 of the second housing 20 and structures therein have predefined weight. Therefore, the third housing 30 and components disposed thereon can be supported by a solid force, and the two supporting parts 201 and 202 can be prevented from being broken. On the contrary, if one of the second transmission mechanism 23 and the third transmission mechanism 33 is disposed in the another supporting part 201, the inner weight of the supporting part 202 is reduced. Therefore, the second housing 20 will suffer an unstable gravity and is likely inclined, the third housing 30 and the components disposed thereon cannot be supported by a solid force, and the supporting part 201 is likely to be broken.
[0089] As shown in
[0090] In sum, in the robotic arm 1 and the transmission device 4 according to the present disclosure the second end portion 10b of the first housing 10 is disposed with three motors (first to third motor 1a, 2a and 3a), to reduce the possibility that the wires are damaged, reduce the load of the first motor 1a, and improve the transmission efficiency of the first motor 1a.
[0091] According to the present disclosure, the second and third housings 20 and 30 do not need any motor to be disposed thereon, and thus have compact inner structures (e.g., the first transmission shaft 231 and the third transmission shaft 331 constitute a coaxial structure, and the second transmission shaft 232 and the fourth transmission shaft 332 constitute another coaxial structure) and reduced volume.
[0092] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.