Machine element or mechanism – Elements – Guards
Patent
1987-07-02
1989-06-06
Moore, Richard E.
Machine element or mechanism
Elements
Guards
414 8, 301 28, F16P 100, B25J 1700
Patent
active
048360481
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an industrial robot having a dust-proof structure, and more particularly, to a dust-proof structure of an industrial robot having a linearly movable unit extending through an opening formed in a dust cover.
2. Background of the Invention
Generally, an industrial robot such as a cylindrical coordinates robot, cartesian coordinates robot, SCARA (Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm) type robot or the like, has a vertically-linearly moving unit which moves linearly in a vertical direction, or a horizontally-linearly moving unit which moves linearly in a horizontal direction. Each of these linearly moving units extends to the exterior of a dust cover through an opening formed in the dust cover at the tip end thereof, and is moved back and forth in a longitudinal direction.
When an industrial robot of this type is used in a clean room, it is necessary to prevent the discharge of particles such as dust, lubricants, or the like, from the robot to the interior of the clean room, as much as possible. However, since the volume of the interior of the dust cover changes in accordance with a reciprocating motion of the linearly moving unit, particles such as dust, lubricants, or the like are easily discharged from the interior of the dust cover to the interior of the clean room through a gap between the opening of the dust cover and the linearly moving unit, due to a so-called breathing phenomenon which occurs in the interior of the dust cover.
A conventional dust cover having an opening formed therein is provided with a sealing ring in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the linearly moving unit to seal the interior of the dust cover air tight. However, such a sealing structure has a disadvantage in that the clean room is contaminated with particles produced due to friction between the sealing ring and the linearly moving unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides, as a means for solving the above-mentioned problem, an industrial robot having a dust-proof structure comprising: at least one dust cover having an opening; a linearly moving unit extending through the opening of the dust cover and moved back and forth in the longitudinal direction thereof; a suction in unit for exerting suction the interior of the dust cover so as to cause an air stream to flow from outside the dust cover into the dust cover through the opening; and a ring member disposed at the opening of the dust cover in such a manner that it encompasses the outer periphery of the linearly moving unit through a gap, the ring member being formed at the inner peripheral surface thereof with at least one annular groove, for reserving air, encompassing the outer periphery of the linearly moving unit.
In an industrial robot having the above-mentioned dust-proof structure, according to the present invention, the gap is maintained between the inner peripheral surface of the ring member and the linearly moving unit, and thus, the production of dust caused by abrasion is prevented. In turn, the interior of the dust cover is maintained at a negative pressure during operation of the suction unit, and thus, an air stream flowing from outside the dust cover into the interior of the dust cover is produced in the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the ring member and the linearly moving unit. The pressure inside the dust cover is apt to fluctuate due to the linear motion of the linearly moving unit. However, the annular groove disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the ring member can form an air reservoir therein and abruptly reduce the velocity of the flow of the air. As a result, a counterflow of air can be suppressed. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a discharge of particles such as dust, lubricants, or the like from inside the dust cover to the outside, and therefore it is possible, according to the present invention, to provide an industrial robot having a dust-proof structure suitable for use in a clean room.
Preferably, the width of the
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Ito Susumu
Iwasaki Kyoji
Torii Nobutoshi
Wakio Hiroshi
Fanuc Ltd.
Luong Vinh
Moore Richard E.
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