Work tool device for electric screwdriver robots capable of verifying screw fastening force and detecting fastening errors

Work tool device for electric screwdriver robots capable of verifying screw tightening force and detecting fastening errors

This technology implements mechanical decoupling in the direction perpendicular to the gripping force (Y-axis) by introducing a guide rail/protrusion structure between the electric screwdriver gripper jaws and the jaw base, and places a load cell in that direction to independently measure the reaction torque component generated during screw tightening.

Existing bolting operations using industrial robots have faced cost and reliability issues, as they often require visual inspection to verify successful fastening or the use of expensive F/T sensors.

This technology couples the second gripper jaw to the second jaw base to allow for linear movement along the Y-axis and places a load cell along that path to quantitatively measure the fastening reaction torque, thereby determining whether the fastening is complete or if an error has occurred. Applicable to logistics picking, service robots, and manufacturing automation, it improves the accuracy of screw tightening verification and eliminates the need for expensive equipment in bolting operations.

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Key Features:

• First and second jaw bases that receive gripping force in the X and Y-axis directions from the drive unit
• A first gripper jaw integrated with the first jaw base and a second gripper jaw capable of Y-axis movement
• Gripper jaws that hold a vertically positioned electric screwdriver based on the received gripping force
• A sensor that detects the force component of the reaction torque transmitted to the second gripper jaw during screw tightening

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This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for the development of safety modules with a maximum output range of 150Nm and force-torque/joint sensor technology for dual-arm working robots.