Industrial Technology Research Institute

Shao-Yu Hsu

Hung-Hsiu Yu

Yu-Liang Chung

Chen-Chung Du

Tsann-Huei Chang

Lei-Yi Chen

Jinn-Fa Wu

Yann-Shuoh Sun

Jia-Tian Pan

Horng-Ru Wang

Neng-Shin Chiu

Zhi-Ming Chen

Yann-Shuoh Sung

Cheng-Chang Lin

The present invention relates to an obstacle detection device, adapted for an autonomous mobile system, which comprises: a conducting wire, a first unit and a second unit. The first unit further comprises a first conducting part, electrically connected to an end of the conducting wire; and the second unit further comprises a second conducting part, electrically connected to another end of the conducting wire other than that connecting to the first conducting part. As an abnormality, such as the autonomous mobile system comes into contact with an obstacle, or misses a step, is happening and detected by the obstacle detection device, a reactive force will be generated to force the two conducting parts to contact with each other so as to enable an electrical conduction for issuing an electrical signal to the control unit of the autonomous mobile system and thus enabling the autonomous mobile system to react with respect to the abnormality.

Obstacle detection device of autonomous mobile system

Disclosed is a micro-positioning flatbed comprising a bed; a first driving unit and a second driving unit of resilient construction; a piezo-electric element firmly coupling the first and the second driving units; and piezo-electric elements firmly received within the first and the second driving units, wherein the bed is formed with corresponding, extending guides, the first and the second driving units include opposing sides having configurations corresponding to configurations of the guides, and the first and the second driving units are aligned within the guides of the bed, whereby the piezo-electric elements expand or contract while being subjected to voltages to cause lateral expansion or contraction of the first and the second driving units in response to expansion or construction of the piezo-electric elements firmly received within the first and the second driving units, such that the piezo-electric elements firmly coupled to the first and the second driving units activate the first and the second driving units urge against or release from the guides, so as to produce movement of a minute distance forward or rearward due to expansion or contraction of the piezo-electric elements while being subjected to voltages. This invention may be provided with guides along different axial directions in the bed for receiving multiple sets of the first and second driving units thereby attaining an positioning flatbed of multiple axes for retaining a workpiece positioning flatbed and a tool positioning flatbed so as to conduct machining operations that require micro-positioning. In addition, this invention discloses a driving unit having a special resilient construction that enhances expansion of the driving unit in response of expansion of the piezo-electric element so as to attain precise positioning and movement.

Micro-positioned flatbed

A vertical/horizontal spindle head for machine tools having a main transmission shaft with a first bevel gear secured thereon, a lower rotatable housing having a bevel gear axle secured therein, an upper seat having a push/pull apparatus for axially moving the lower rotatable housing relative to the upper seat, a main shaft having a second bevel gear secured thereon, third and fourth bevel gears coaxially arranged on the bevel gear axle, and a curved coupling between the upper seat and the lower rotatable housing. Between the third and fourth bevel gears are springs to move the third bevel gear axially and maintain it in engagement with the first bevel gear. A slidable spline device is provided between the third bevel gear and the bevel gear axle. The slidable spline device is disengaged in a first position where the curved coupling is coupled and is engaged in a second position when the lower rotatable housing is pushed away from the upper seat by the push/pull apparatus and the curved coupling is uncoupled. In the first position, the main transmission shaft can rotate the main shaft through the first, third, fourth and second bevel gears. In the second position, the lower rotatable housing can be rotated to a desired angular position by the main transmission shaft, through the first bevel gear, the third bevel gear and the slidable spline device.

Vertical/horizontal spindle head for machine tools

A coolant through spindle device is disclosed, including a rotating joint member secured to the rear end of the spindle for conducting coolant into the spindle, the coolant being conducted through a separate coolant passage inside the spindle to the nozzles formed on a cutting tool to be sprayed out thereof so as to fully cool down and lubricate the cutting point thereof, increase machining precision and cutting rate, and prolong service life of the cutting tool. Moreover, by using a switching collar to provide separated coolant passage and pressurized air passage, no residual coolant can follow the pressurized air jet into the tapper hole of the spindle to contaminate the tapper hole.

Coolant through spindle device

Growing community of inventors

Hsinchu, Taiwan

Shao-Yu Hsu