Thk Co., Ltd.

Koji Ozawa

Takashi Naito

Takeki Shirai

Kaoru Hoshide

Masaki Nagatsuka

Aiko Tagawa

Miki Tobita

Munehiro Iwata

An air pump apparatus is provided which uses an electric actuator that can electrically operate a pneumatic device such as a suction pad or air chuck. The air pump apparatus includes an air cylinder having a built-in piston, and an electric actuator configured to move the piston linearly and relatively to the air cylinder, using the electric motor as a drive source. Air under negative pressure and/or positive pressure generated by the electric actuator causing the piston of the air cylinder to move linearly is used to operate a pneumatic device.

Air pump apparatus using electric actuator and air pump system

A robot joint structure &#x3b1; is composed of a metacarpal memberand a proximal memberswingably connected through a hingeto a side end portion of the metacarpal member. The proximal memberincludes a linear guide devicefor an MP joint having a moving member movable in association with a self swing motion thereof, and by connecting a rodand the moving member through a link mechanism, a driving force of an air-cylinderis transmitted to the proximal member. On the other hand, a second robot joint structure &#x3b2; is also provided with linear guide devicesand link mechanisms, to which a driving force of the air-cylinderis transmitted through a drive shaftin association with a rod. A robot finger is constructed by the first and second robot joint structures. According to such structures, smooth joint motion can be realized, and the robot joint structure and the robot finger having improved gripping force can be provided.

Robot joint structure and robot finger

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Tokyo, Japan

Koji Ozawa