Robot Hand With Movable Palm For Secure Gripping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing robot hands face difficulties in gripping components of various sizes and shapes with sufficient force, as they rely primarily on friction between finger sections, which can lead to object shifting during assembly due to insufficient gripping force.

Innovation Solution

A robot hand design that allows adjustable distance between finger sections and incorporates a movable palm section to provide additional support from the base side, enhancing gripping force and stability by combining friction with palm contact, while maintaining a simple structure for easy control and reduced size and weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If finger sections are strongly pressed against the object to increase friction force, then gripping force is improved, but the surface of the object is damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegripping forceVSAvoidsurface damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hand is divided into two functional segments: finger sections for friction-based gripping and a palm section for mechanical support. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between gripping force and surface protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The palm section acts as an intermediary support structure that bears the load from the base side, preventing the finger sections from directly transmitting excessive forces to the object surface. This intermediary function protects the object surface while maintaining gripping capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the robot hand uses only friction force to hold objects, then the structure remains simple, but the object shifts during assembly due to insufficient gripping force

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidgripping stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges two gripping mechanisms into a single hand system: friction-based gripping by finger sections and mechanical support by the palm section. This combination provides both the simplicity of a unified structure and the reliability of multi-point contact, preventing object shifting during assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The palm section introduces a new dimension of support from the base side of the object, complementing the lateral friction force from the finger sections. This multi-dimensional approach to gripping stabilizes the object without significantly increasing structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If the robot hand is designed with fixed finger section distance, then the structure is simplified, but it cannot cope with various sizes and shapes of objects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidobject size adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The finger section distance is made dynamically adjustable, allowing the hand to adapt to various object sizes. Combined with the movable palm section, this dynamic configuration enables the hand to cope with diverse objects while maintaining relatively simple overall structure through controlled degrees of freedom

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables secure gripping and assembly of components with various sizes and shapes, preventing shifting during assembly and simplifying control, while reducing the risk of surface damage and improving manufacturing efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the object is merely retained by friction force in a contact portion in a state in which the object is held between the finger sections

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2474394B1Robot hand
Publication Date: 2014.12.31 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP2474394B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2474394B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2474394B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

An aspect of the invention provides a robot hand that performs an action for gripping an object between plural finger sections (112) provided to be capable of changing a distance between the finger sections. Between the plural finger sections, a palm section (130) movable along a direction in which a base side of the plural finger sections and a distal end side of the plural finger section.