Kuka Roboter Gmbh

Zf Friedrichshafen Ag

Kuka Laboratories Gmbh

Joachim Markert

Rainer Krumbacher

Horst Schulz

Wolfgang Bohlken

Albert Bayer

Jürgen Pescheck

Günther Merk

Christian Reiss

Wolfgang Mayer

The invention relates to a manipulator () comprising a plurality of members () connected to each other by joints (A-A) that can be adjusted by drives (M-M), and a counterweight device () associated with one of the joints (A-A) and comprising a rod () coupled to a first member () connected to the joint (A-A) on one side and connected to a spring device () supported on a seat () on the other side, said seat being coupled to a second member () connected to the joint (A-A) by means of at least one bearing arrangement (), comprising a first bearing component () and a second bearing component () connected to the second member (). The seat () is connected to the first bearing component () by means of at least one cantilevered arm ().

Manipulator having a counterweight device comprising cantilevered arms

To increase the safety of an articulated arm robot with robot members connected by means of joints as open kinematics and with functional elements acting on the joints, such as drive motors, gears, brakes and a weight balance system, while reducing the mechanical limitations of the motion space of the robot, the present invention provides that at least some of the said functional elements have a dual design.

Articulated arm robot

An automatic manipulator, such as a multiaxial industrial robot, with a carrying component structure (support structure) for transmitting forces between individual members of the automatic manipulator. The entire support structure is formed from a material that is resistant with respect to external effects, such as moisture or the like. The material of the support structure may be, in particular, a material that is suitable for use in contact with foods, such as stainless steel, so that the automatic manipulator according to the present invention can be used reliably and without additional costly protective measures in environments in which there is a risk for contamination, such as in the food industry.

Manipulator with automatic control, especially for the food industry

A manipulator, such as a multiaxial industrial robot (), particularly for use in contamination-endangered environments, including a plurality of scavenging areas () to which a scavenging medium can be supplied and located in the vicinity of the drive unit of the manipulator. A plurality of groups of drive units has in each case its own scavenging area () associated with it. A method is also provided for influencing at least one ambient condition, such as temperature, humidity, pressure, contamination and/or bacterial presence, in the vicinity of the drive units of a manipulator. This reliably ensures a safe operation of the inventive manipulator (), even in areas with strict hygiene requirements.

Manipulator such as in industrial robot and method for influencing an ambient condition therein

In a gear, particularly for a robot, with a drive shaft and at least two parts rotatable relative thereto and to one another, in which a movement of one part is removable on its side remote from the other part, at least one of the rotary parts has a shaft connected in non-rotary manner thereto and which projects at least to the other part.

Gear, particularly for a robot

On joining a fibre-reinforced plastic part, such as a plastic fibre-reinforced robot arm, to a functional element such as a gear, as a result of the flow characteristics of the plastic in the case of a high pressing action or high pressures, the joints are no longer stable or resistant and instead tend to loosen. To obviate this problem, the invention provides a fibre-reinforced plastic part, in which several metallic parts ( ) engage through at least one fibre-reinforced shoulder ( ). On one side of the shoulder or shoulders ( ) is provided at least one metallic abutment ( ) engaging over several metallic parts ( ) and a functional element ( ) is braced from the opposite side of the shoulder or shoulders ( ) with the abutment ( ) against the front ends ( ), facing the latter, of metallic parts ( ).

Growing community of inventors

Augsburg, Germany

Joachim Markert