# US 12,179,353 B2 · Robot and adjusting method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,353 B2 - Document ID: US12179353B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/965,848 - Filed: 2022-10-14 - Published: 2023-04-20 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-10-15 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation - Inventors: Yuta Ichimiya; Hidenori Hama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179353B2 ## CPC - B25J 9/044: {with forearm providing vertical linear movement} - B25J 9/104: {with cables, chains or ribbons} - B25J 9/0009: {Constructional details, e.g. manipulator supports, bases} - B25J 9/1045: {comprising tensioning means} - F16H 7/02: with belts; with V-belts - F16H 7/10: by adjusting the axis of a pulley - F16H 7/14: of a driving or driven pulley - F16H 7/18: Means for guiding or supporting belts, ropes, or chains (construction of pulleys F16H55/36) - B25J 9/042: {comprising an articulated arm} - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract A robot includes a power source and a power transmission mechanism configured to transmit an output of the power source. The power transmission mechanism includes a fixed member, a first pulley configured to rotate around a first axis with respect to the fixed member, a second pulley disposed to be separated from the first pulley and configured to rotate, with respect to the fixed member, around a second axis parallel to the first axis, a belt wound around the first pulley and the second pulley and configured to transmit the rotation of one of the first pulley and the second pulley to another, a restricting member including a restricting section disposed to be opposed to the belt with a gap in a portion where the first pulley and the belt mesh with each other, and a screw having a center axis along the first axis and configured to fix the restricting member to the fixed member. The restricting member rotates around the center axis to thereby change a separation distance between the restricting section and the belt in a plan view from a direction extending along the first axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A robot comprising: a power source; and a power transmission mechanism configured to transmit an output of the power source, wherein the power transmission mechanism includes: a fixed member; a first pulley configured to rotate around a first axis with respect to the fixed member; a second pulley disposed to be separated from the first pulley and configured to rotate, with respect to the fixed member, around a second axis parallel to the first axis; a belt wound around the first pulley and the second pulley and configured to transmit the rotation of one of the first pulley and the second pulley to the other of the first pulley and the second pulley; a restricting columnar disk disposed to be opposed to the belt with a gap in a portion where the first pulley and the belt mesh with each other, the restricting columnar disk having a disk center; and a screw having a first center axis along a direction parallel to the first axis and configured to fix the restricting columnar disk to the fixed member, the restricting columnar disk eccentrically rotates around the first center axis to thereby change a distance of the gap between the restricting columnar disk and the belt in a plan view, a part of the belt that is meshed with the first pulley and the gap exist on a line connecting between the first axis and the disk center in the plan view, the first pulley and the restricting columnar disk are located directly adjacent to each other via the belt and the gap, and the screw is located between the disk center and a periphery of the restricting columnar disk and in the restricting columnar disk in the plan view. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The robot according to claim 1, wherein the distance of the gap is shorter than a meshing depth of the first pulley and the belt. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The robot according to claim 1, wherein the first pulley includes a pair of flanges located on both sides of the belt in a direction parallel to the first axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The robot according to claim 3, wherein a length along the disk center of the restricting columnar disk is shorter than a separation distance between the pair of flanges, and the restricting columnar disk enters between the pair of flanges according to the rotation around the first center axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The robot according to claim 1, wherein the restricting columnar disk is formed in a columnar shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The robot according to claim 1, wherein the restricting columnar disk includes a projection projecting from the restricting columnar disk a direction parallel to the first axis, and the projection is located between the restricting columnar disk and the fixed member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The robot according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect contact between the restricting columnar disk and the belt. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The robot according to claim 1, wherein the restricting columnar disk is supported by the fixed member on both sides of the restricting columnar disk along the first center axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The robot according to claim 1, further comprising: a base; a first arm coupled to the base and configured to turn around a first turning axis with respect to the base; a second arm coupled to the first arm and configured to turn around a second turning axis with respect to the first arm; and a spline shaft disposed in the second arm and configured to rotate around a third turning axis with respect to the second arm, wherein the power transmission mechanism transmits the output of the power source and rotates the spline shaft around the third turning axis. ### Claim 10 An adjusting method of a power transmission mechanism including: a fixed member; a first pulley configured to rotate around a first axis with respect to the fixed member; a second pulley disposed to be separated from the first pulley and configured to rotate, with respect to the fixed member, around a second axis parallel to the first axis; a belt wound around the first pulley and the second pulley and configured to transmit the rotation of one of the first pulley and the second pulley to the other of the first pulley and the second pulley; a restricting columnar disk disposed to be opposed to the belt with a gap in a portion where the first pulley and the belt mesh with each other; and a screw having a first center axis along a direction parallel to the first axis and configured to fix the restricting columnar disk to the fixed member, the restricting columnar disk eccentrically rotating around the first center axis to thereby change a distance of the gap between the restricting columnar disk and the belt in a plan view, the adjusting method comprising: rotating the restricting columnar disk around the first center axis to adjust the distance of the gap in a state in which the screw is loosened; and tightening the screw to fix the restricting columnar disk to the fixed member, wherein, in the adjusting, a jig is disposed between the restricting columnar disk and the belt and the jig is sandwiched by the restricting columnar disk and the belt to adjust the distance of the gap. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The adjusting method according to claim 10, wherein, when the screw is tightened to fix the restricting columnar disk to the fixed member, the restricting columnar disk is rotated around the first center axis together with the screw with friction of the screw and the restricting columnar disk to simultaneously perform the adjusting and the fixing.