Gripping tool and gripping system

This is a continuation application of International Application PCT/JP2018/032733, filed on Sep. 4, 2018. This application also claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-185783, filed on Sep. 27, 2017. The entire contents of each are incorporated herein by reference.

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a gripping tool and a gripping system.

There is a gripping tool that includes a gripper having a granular material provided in the interior of the gripper. If the gripper of the gripping tool ruptures and the granular material of the interior scatters into the periphery, it is necessary not only to repair the gripping tool but also to clean the periphery of the gripping tool. As a result, the work efficiency decreases greatly.

Therefore, a gripping tool is desirable in which the scattering of the granular material can be suppressed by detecting when the gripper ruptures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective cross-sectional view illustrating a gripping tool according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view illustrating the gripper of the gripping tool according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the configuration of the gripping tool according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4A to FIG. 4F are cross-sectional views illustrating the operation of the gripping tool according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D are cross-sectional views illustrating the operation of the gripping tool according to the embodiment;

FIGS. 6A to 6C are cross-sectional views illustrating the gripping mechanism of the gripping tool according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective cross-sectional view illustrating a gripping tool according to a modification of the embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating a gripping system according to the embodiment.

According to one embodiment, a gripping tool includes a gripper, a sensor, a pump unit, and a controller. The gripper is flexible and has a granular material provided in an interior of the gripper. The sensor is connected to the interior. The sensor detects a pressure or a flow rate of a gas. The pump unit is connected to the interior. The controller performs at least a first operation of causing the gripper to contact a workpiece and causing the gripper to operate, and a second operation of separating the gripper from the workpiece and causing the gripper to operate. In at least a portion of the second operation, the controller sets a pressure of the interior to be different from a pressure external to the gripper.

Various embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The drawings are schematic and conceptual; and the relationships between the thickness and width of portions, the proportions of sizes among portions, etc., are not necessarily the same as the actual values. The dimensions and proportions may be illustrated differently among drawings, even for identical portions.

In the specification and drawings, components similar to those described previously or illustrated in an antecedent drawing are marked with like reference numerals, and a detailed description is omitted as appropriate.

FIG. 1 is a perspective cross-sectional view illustrating a gripping tool 1 according to an embodiment.

The gripping tool 1 according to the embodiment includes a gripper 10 that is flexible. A granular material 15 is provided in the interior of the gripper 10 .

Specifically, the gripper 10 includes a first portion 11 contacting a workpiece to be gripped, and a second portion 12 opposing the first portion 11 . The first portion 11 and the second portion 12 include flexible materials such as a silicone resin, a rubber material, an acrylic resin, etc. The granular material 15 is provided in a first space SP 1 between the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 . The gripper 10 is configured by, for example, bonding the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 via a bonding agent. The first portion 11 and the second portion 12 may be bonded by thermal compression bonding.

The outer perimeter of the first portion 11 and the outer perimeter of the second portion 12 are held by a holder 20 . Thereby, the first space SP 1 is separated from an external space. The holder 20 has, for example, a circular ring configuration. Because only the outer perimeter of the gripper 10 is held by the holder 20 , the gripper 10 can deform inside the holder 20 in the direction of a line connecting the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 .

The direction of the line connecting the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 is, for example, along the vertical direction. The direction of the line connecting the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 includes a first direction (up) from the first portion 11 toward the second portion 12 , and a second direction (down) from the second portion 12 toward the first portion 11 . Hereinbelow, the description of the embodiments is performed using “vertical direction”, “up/above”, and “down/below” based on the positional relationship between the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 .

As an example, the holder 20 includes a first flange 21 and a second flange 22 . The first flange 21 abuts the outer perimeter lower surface of the first portion 11 . The second flange 22 abuts the outer perimeter upper surface of the second portion 12 . The gripper 10 is held by fastening the first flange 21 and the second flange 22 using a fastener 23 such as a screw, etc.

For example, the holder 20 is coupled to a driver 90 via a coupling member 25 . The driver 90 includes an actuator, etc. The driver 90 operates based on a signal transmitted from a controller 80 described below. Also, another member may be coupled between the driver 90 and the coupling member 25 . The gripper 10 is moved in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction by operating the driver 90 .

FIG. 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view illustrating the gripper 10 of the gripping tool 1 according to the embodiment.

The first portion 11 and the second portion 12 of the gripper 10 are illustrated as being separated in FIG. 2 .

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the first portion 11 includes a concave portion 11 r and a convex portion 11 p . The concave portion 11 r is recessed upward and is provided at the center of the gripper 10 . The convex portion 11 p protrudes downward and is provided around the concave portion 11 r . The convex portion 11 p and the concave portion 11 r are continuous with each other.

The upper surface of the concave portion 11 r contacts the second portion 12 . The convex portion 11 p is separated from the second portion 12 in the vertical direction. In the gripping tool 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , the first space SP 1 is formed between the convex portion 11 p and the second portion 12 .

A second space SP 2 which is surrounded with the concave portion 11 r and the convex portion 11 p is formed below the first portion 11 . Specifically, the top of the second space SP 2 is covered with the concave portion 11 r . The side of the second space SP 2 is surrounded with the convex portion 11 p . The bottom of the second space SP 2 is open. As described below, the second space SP 2 is sealed from the external space by the workpiece to be gripped being positioned below the second space SP 2 .

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , the gripper 10 further includes a first port 31 and a second port 32 . The first port 31 communicates with the first space SP 1 . The second port 32 pierces the second portion 12 and the concave portion 11 r of the first portion 11 and communicates with the second space SP 2 . A first pipe 41 for depressurizing the first space SP 1 is connected to the first port 31 . A second pipe 42 for depressurizing the second space SP 2 is connected to the second port 32 .

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the configuration of the gripping tool 1 according to the embodiment.

The gripping tool 1 further includes a sensor and a pump unit 70 . In the example illustrated in FIG. 3 , the two sensors of a first sensor 61 and a second sensor 62 are provided as an integral body with the pump unit 70 .

The pump unit 70 includes, for example, the first sensor 61 , the second sensor 62 , a first pump 71 , a second pump 72 , a pressure regulating valve 73 , a switching valve 74 , a valve 75 , and a pressure gauge 76 .

The valve 75 and the pressure gauge 76 are provided on an air passageway P 1 . At least a portion of the air passageway P 1 includes the first pipe 41 . The pressure gauge 76 is provided between the first space SP 1 and the valve 75 . The valve 75 is provided between the switching valve 74 and the pressure gauge 76 . For example, the air passageway P 1 branches into an air passageway P 2 and an air passageway P 3 via the switching valve 74 .

The first pump 71 is connected to the air passageway P 2 . The first sensor 61 is provided on the air passageway P 2 and is provided between the first pump 71 and the switching valve 74 . The second pump 72 is connected to the air passageway P 3 .

The second sensor 62 and the pressure regulating valve 73 are provided on the air passageway P 3 . The pressure regulating valve 73 is provided between the second pump 72 and the switching valve 74 . The second sensor 62 is provided between the pressure regulating valve 73 and the switching valve 74 .

For example, the first pump 71 depressurizes the first space SP 1 by suctioning air via the air passageway P 1 and the air passageway P 2 . The first sensor 61 detects the flow rate in the air passageway P 2 .

For example, the second pump 72 pressurizes the first space SP 1 by intaking air from the outside and supplying the air to the air passageway P 1 and the air passageway P 3 . The second sensor 62 detects the flow rate in the air passageway P 3 . The pressure regulating valve 73 adjusts the pressure applied from the second pump 72 .

An electromagnetic flow meter, a Karman vortex flow meter, an impeller flow meter, a rotameter, a thermal flow meter, a diaphragm flow meter, an ultrasonic flow meter, a Coriolis flow meter, etc., can be used as the first sensor 61 and the second sensor 62 .

A Bourdon tube pressure gauge, a diaphragm pressure gauge, a bellows pressure gauge, a liquid column pressure gauge, etc., can be used as the pressure gauge 76 .

The first sensor 61 and the second sensor 62 may be pressure gauges. In such a case, the first sensor 61 detects the pressure in the air passageway P 2 . The second sensor 62 detects the pressure in the air passageway P 3 . Similarly to the pressure gauge 76 , a Bourdon tube pressure gauge, a diaphragm pressure gauge, a bellows pressure gauge, or a liquid column pressure gauge can be used as the first sensor 61 and the second sensor 62 .

The switching valve 74 includes a solenoid valve, a motorized valve, an electronic flow regulating valve, a constant flow rate valve, etc., which are not illustrated. The air passageway P 1 and one of the air passageway P 2 or P 3 are connected by the switching valve 74 . The state in which the first space SP 1 is depressurized and the state in which the first space SP 1 is pressurized are switched by the switching valve 74 . The state in which a gas flows through the air passageway P 1 and the state in which a gas does not flow through the air passageway P 1 are switched by the opening and closing of the valve 75 . The pressure gauge 76 detects the pressure in the air passageway P 1 .

The operations of the components of the pump unit 70 are controlled by the controller 80 . The controller 80 is electrically connected to the first sensor 61 , the second sensor 62 , the pump unit 70 , and the driver 90 . The detection results of the first sensor 61 , the second sensor 62 , and the pressure gauge 76 are transmitted to the controller 80 . Based on these detection results, the controller 80 controls the operations of the components of the pump unit 70 and the operation of the driver 90 .

FIG. 4A to FIG. 5D are cross-sectional views illustrating the operation of the gripping tool 1 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4A to FIG. 5D illustrate an example in which a spherical workpiece is gripped by the gripping tool 1 . In the gripping tool 1 , a first operation illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 4F and a second operation illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5D are performed by the controller 80 . The first operation is performed in the state in which the gripper 10 contacts the workpiece. The second operation is performed in the state in which the gripper 10 is separated from the workpiece.

For example, the gripper 10 is positioned higher than a workpiece W 1 . First, the position in the horizontal direction of the gripper 10 and the position in the horizontal direction of the workpiece W 1 are aligned. Then, the gripper 10 is lowered toward the workpiece W 1 placed on a tray T 1 . As illustrated in FIG. 4A , the gripper 10 (the first portion 11 ) is caused to contact the workpiece W 1 . The operation described above until the gripper 10 contacts the workpiece W 1 is included in the second operation.

The gripper 10 is flexible. Therefore, the gripper 10 deforms along the shape of the workpiece W 1 when the gripper 10 contacts the workpiece W 1 . At this time, the second space SP 2 that was open is sealed by the workpiece W 1 . Continuing, the first space SP 1 is depressurized via the first port 31 . For example, the first space SP 1 is depressurized to about 0.1 atmosphere. Thereby, the granular material 15 in the first space SP 1 jams and solidifies as illustrated in FIG. 4B .

Then, the second space SP 2 is depressurized via the second port 32 . For example, the second space SP 2 is depressurized to about 0.1 atmosphere. Thereby, the workpiece W 1 is suctioned toward the second space SP 2 ; and the workpiece W 1 is gripped. As illustrated in FIG. 4C , the gripper 10 is raised; and the workpiece W 1 is lifted from the tray T 1 .

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4D , the gripper 10 is moved in the horizontal direction. As illustrated in FIG. 4E , the position in the horizontal direction of the gripper 10 and the position in the horizontal direction of the location to which the workpiece W 1 is to be transferred are aligned. In the example, the workpiece W 1 is transferred above another tray T 2 . As illustrated in FIG. 4F , the gripper 10 is lowered; and the workpiece W 1 is caused to contact the tray T 2 from above. Subsequently, the gripping force is eliminated by opening the first space SP 1 and the second space SP 2 to the atmosphere. Thereby, the workpiece W 1 is released from the gripper 10 ; and the workpiece W 1 is placed on the tray T 2 .

After placing the workpiece W 1 on the tray T 2 , the second operation is started. First, as illustrated in FIG. 5A , the gripper 10 is raised to move away from the workpiece W 1 (a first movement operation). Then, as illustrated in FIG. 5B , the gripper 10 is moved (a second movement operation). For example, in the second movement operation, the gripper 10 moves toward another workpiece W 2 . In the second movement operation, for example, the movement direction of the gripper 10 is a direction crossing the movement direction of the gripper 10 in the first movement operation. Continuing as illustrated in FIG. 5C , the gripper 10 and the workpiece W 2 are aligned. When the alignment is completed, the gripper 10 is caused to approach the workpiece W 2 as illustrated in FIG. 5D (a third movement operation).

Subsequently, the first operation illustrated in FIG. 4A to FIG. 4F is performed similarly; and the workpiece W 2 is transferred.

The controller 80 drives the pump unit 70 to set the pressure of the first space SP 1 of the gripper 10 interior (hereinbelow, called the internal pressure) to be different from the pressure external to the gripper 10 (hereinbelow, called the external pressure) in at least a portion of the second operation described above.

For example, the controller 80 sets the internal pressure to be lower than the external pressure in at least a portion of the second operation. In such a case, the gripper 10 interior may be opened to the atmosphere when the gripper 10 contacts another workpiece. Thereby, the gripper 10 easily deforms along the shape of the workpiece.

Or, the controller 80 sets the internal pressure to be higher than the external pressure in at least a portion of the second operation. For example, after transferring the workpiece to the prescribed position, the internal pressure may be increased from the state in which the gripper 10 is depressurized; and the internal pressure may be higher than the external pressure as the workpiece is released from the gripper 10 .

FIGS. 6A to 6C are cross-sectional views illustrating the gripping mechanism of the gripping tool 1 according to the embodiment.

The gripper 10 of the gripping tool 1 is partially simplified in FIGS. 6A to 6C .

In the gripping tool 1 according to the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 6A , the outer perimeter of the gripper 10 is held by the holder 20 . Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 6B , the gripper 10 can deform upward with respect to the workpiece W when the gripper 10 is caused to contact the workpiece W.

Air is suctioned via the first port 31 and the second port 32 in this state. As illustrated in FIG. 6C , the contact area between the gripper 10 and the workpiece W increases as the gripper 10 deforms further upward with respect to the workpiece W.

Thus, the gripping force when the workpiece W is gripped by the gripper 10 can be increased by the gripper 10 being held to be deformable upward with respect to the workpiece W.

Effects of the embodiment will now be described.

When the gripper 10 grips the workpiece, there is a possibility that the gripper 10 may be damaged due to friction between the gripper 10 and the workpiece, an unevenness of the workpiece surface, etc. The granular material 15 in the gripper 10 interior scatters if the gripper 10 is damaged and ruptured. As a result, in addition to repairing the gripper 10 , it is necessary to clean the scattered granular material 15 , etc.; and the work efficiency decreases.

Even if the gripper 10 ruptures, the outflow of the granular material 15 from the gripper 10 is suppressed by the workpiece in the state in which the gripper 10 contacts the workpiece. Conversely, if the gripper 10 ruptures in the state in which the gripper 10 is separated from the workpiece, there is a possibility that more of the granular material 15 may outflow from the gripper 10 and scatter.

In the gripping tool 1 according to the embodiment, sensors such as the first sensor 61 , the second sensor 62 , etc., are connected to the first space SP 1 . The controller 80 sets the internal pressure to be different from the external pressure in at least a portion of the second operation. The pressure or the flow rate the first space SP 1 and the air passageway P 1 changes when the gripper 10 ruptures, a hole is formed, or an abnormality occurs in the second operation. Accordingly, because the pressure or the flow rate is detected by the sensor, the abnormality of the gripper 10 can be detected. By detecting the abnormality of the gripper 10 in the second operation, for example, the rupture and/or the hole of the gripper 10 can be sealed more quickly; and the scattering of the granular material 15 can be suppressed.

As long as the internal pressure is different from the external pressure, the internal pressure may be higher or lower than the external pressure. Even when the internal pressure is higher than the external pressure, as described above, the scattering of the granular material 15 can be suppressed by detecting the abnormality of the gripper 10 . If an abnormality occurs in the gripper 10 when the internal pressure is higher than the external pressure, the gas flows externally from the interior of the gripper 10 . There is a possibility that the flow of the gas temporarily may promote the outflow of the granular material 15 .

Conversely, if an abnormality occurs in the gripper 10 when the internal pressure is lower than the external pressure, the gas flows from the outside into the interior of the gripper 10 . The outflow of the granular material 15 is suppressed by such a flow of the gas. Accordingly, it is desirable for the internal pressure to be lower than the external pressure in at least a portion of the second operation.

It is sufficient for the sensor to detect one of the pressure or the flow rate. More favorably, the sensor is a flow meter. This is because the change of the flow rate can be detected with higher accuracy than the change of the pressure. Accordingly, the abnormality of the gripper 10 can be detected with higher accuracy even when the difference between the internal pressure and the external pressure is small.

The controller 80 compares the pressure or the flow rate detected by the sensor to a preset threshold.

For example, when the sensor is a pressure gauge and the gripper 10 interior is pressurized in at least a portion of the second operation, the controller 80 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the gripper 10 when the detected pressure falls below the threshold. If the gripper 10 interior is depressurized in the second operation, the controller 80 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the gripper 10 when the detected pressure exceeds the threshold.

Or, when the sensor is a flow meter, the controller 80 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the gripper 10 when the detected flow rate exceeds a threshold.

The controller 80 may compare the change of the pressure or the change of the flow rate to a preset threshold. For example, the change of the pressure or the flow rate in a prescribed period is compared to a preset threshold. It is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the gripper 10 when the change of the pressure or the flow rate exceeds the threshold.

The threshold may be set based on previous detection results of the sensor. For example, a prescribed value added to the average value of the pressure or the flow rate in some period may be used as the threshold. According to this method, the abnormality of the gripper 10 can be detected with higher accuracy because the threshold changes according to the change of the characteristics of the gripper 10 and/or the pump unit 70 as time elapses.

When an abnormality occurs in the gripper 10 , for example, the controller 80 causes the gripper 10 to stop. By stopping the gripper 10 , the outflow of the granular material 15 from the gripper 10 can be suppressed.

Or, the controller 80 moves the gripper 10 to a prescribed position. For example, the scattering of the granular material 15 to the floor of the work site, equipment, etc., can be suppressed by moving the gripper 10 to a location where a tray or the like receiving the granular material 15 is provided.

Or, the controller 80 emits a notification to a manager of the gripping tool 1 , etc. Due to the notification, the manager can know more quickly that the abnormality occurred in the gripper 10 . The controller 80 may emit the notification and stop or move the gripper 10 as recited above.

FIG. 7 is a perspective cross-sectional view illustrating a gripping tool 2 according to a modification of the embodiment.

Compared to the gripping tool 1 , the configuration of the gripper 10 of the gripping tool 2 is different. The gripping tool 2 does not include the second port 32 . Therefore, the gripping tool 2 grips the workpiece by causing the gripper 10 to contact the workpiece and by solidifying the gripper 10 .

In the gripping tool 2 as well, similarly to the gripping tool 1 , the abnormality of the gripper 10 in the second operation can be detected by setting the internal pressure to be different from the external pressure in the second operation.

Thus, as long as the granular material 15 is provided in the gripper 10 interior, the embodiment is applicable also to other gripping tools having configurations different from that of the gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 .

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating a gripping system 3 according to the embodiment.

The gripping system 3 according to the embodiment includes the gripping tool 1 , the pump unit 70 , a pump unit 70 a , the controller 80 , and a transfer robot (the driver) 90 .

The transfer robot 90 includes an arm 90 a . The arm 90 a includes, for example, multiple joints. The gripping tool 1 is mounted to the tip of the arm 90 a . The transfer robot 90 operates the arm 90 a , grips the workpiece W, and transfers the workpiece W according to commands from the controller 80 .

The pump unit 70 is connected to the first pipe 41 of the gripping tool 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 . The pump unit 70 a is connected to the second pipe 42 of the gripping tool 1 . The first space SP 1 and the second space SP 2 are depressurized and opened to the atmosphere by driving the pump units 70 and 70 a according to the commands from the controller 80 .

The controller 80 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), nonvolatile flash memory, etc. Various calculation processing of the controller 80 is performed in the CPU. Various control algorithms, various constants, etc., necessary for the operation of the gripping system 3 are stored in the ROM. The transfer procedure of the workpiece W, the transfer conditions, etc., are appropriately stored and saved in the flash memory.

The controller 80 controls the operations of the pump unit 70 , the pump unit 70 a , and the transfer robot 90 by sending commands to the pump unit 70 , the pump unit 70 a , and the transfer robot 90 according to the transfer procedure stored in the flash memory.

By including the gripping tool 1 having a high gripping performance, the gripping system 3 can more reliably grip and transfer the workpiece W. The gripping system 3 may include the gripping tool 2 instead of the gripping tool 1 . The gripping system 3 may not include the pump unit 70 a when the gripping system 3 includes the gripping tool 2 .

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention. The above embodiments can be practiced in combination with each other.