The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 06, 2015
Filed:
Dec. 17, 2009
Ichiro Kawabuchi, Tokyo, JP;
Woo-keun Yoon, Ibaraki, JP;
Tetsuo Kotoku, Ibaraki, JP;
Abstract
A linear-motion telescopic mechanism according to the present invention includes a plurality of block members () by which an arbitrary arm length is achieved in such a manner that the plurality of block member () are rigidly connected to each other so as to elongate a linear-motion telescopic joint (J). On the other hand, by separating the plurality of block members () one by one from a rigid alignment of the plurality of block members (), the linear-motion telescopic joint (J) is contracted. The block members () unfixed from the rigid alignment are still serially connected but not in a rigid manner. That is, the block members () thus unfixed can be flexed in any directions, and therefore can be housed inside a support member () in a compact manner. This arrangement can provide a linear-motion telescopic mechanism (i) which enhances safety by eliminating such a risk, inevitable for a typical robot arm having an elbow joint, that an object around the robot arm gets caught between arm sections when the elbow joint is closed, and (ii) which can reduce a space to be occupied by the robot arm.