Multi-axis articulatable robot having a weld gun with inverted roller screw actuator
AssigneeProgressive Tool & Industries Co.
InventorsMichael R. Dugas, Velibor Kilibarda, Jeffrey R. Angel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-axis articulatable robot with a weld gun having a pair of opposing arms, where at least one arm is movable relative to the other arm to apply pressure to a workpiece during a welding operation. At least one of the opposing arms of the weld gun can be rotatable or translatable relative to the other arm. At least one arm is moved relative to the other arm by an inverted roller screw linear actuator. The robot can include an electric controller for controlling the operation of the actuator of the weld gun as an additional axis of the robot movement. The actuator can be mounted on either of the opposing arms.
Claims20
An apparatus for performing a welding operation on a workpiece comprising:
- a robot having an arm with a plurality of axes of movement;
- a robot controller for moving the arm along a predetermined path;
- a pair of opposing arms, at least one arm movable relative to the opposing arm to apply pressure to the workpiece during a welding operation;
- and
- an inverted roller screw linear actuator for moving the at least one arm relative to the opposing arm in response to the robot controller as an additional axis of movement.
An apparatus for performing a welding operation on a workpiece comprising:
- a robot having an arm with multiple axes of articulation;
- a robot controller for moving the arm along a predetermined path;
- a pair of opposing arms, at least one arm movable relative to the opposing arm to apply pressure to the workpiece during a welding operation;
- and
- an inverted roller screw linear actuator for moving the at least one arm relative to the opposing arm and having an elongate shaft with a first end for connection to one of the opposing arms and a threaded portion opposite from the first end, a rotatable body having threaded race formed thereon for engaging a plurality of roller bearings interposed between the race and the threaded portion of the elongate shaft to translate the elongate shaft in either linear direction in response to rotation of the body in either rotational direction, and a rotary motor for rotating the body in either rotational direction in response to the robot controller as an additional axis of articulation.
An apparatus for performing a welding operation on a workpiece comprising:
- a robot having an arm with multiple axes of movement;
- a robot controller for moving the arm along a predetermined path;
- a pair of opposing arms, at least one arm movable relative to the opposing arm to apply pressure to the workpiece during a welding operation;
- an inverted roller screw linear actuator for moving the at least one arm relative to the opposing arm and having an elongate shaft with a first end for connecting to one of the opposing arms and a threaded portion opposite from the first end, a body having a rotatable threaded race formed thereon for engaging the threaded portion of the elongate shaft to translate the elongate shaft in either linear direction in response to rotation of the body in either rotary direction, and a rotatory motor for rotating the body in either rotary direction;
- and
- an electric control system operably engagable with the rotary motor of the inverted roller screw linear actuator to control the motion of the elongate shaft of the inverted roller screw linear actuator in response to the robot controller as an additional axis of movement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.