IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,364,313
Granted Patent B2
US 8,364,313 · App. 12/279,462 · Granted Jan 29, 2013

Robot system

Inventors: Akira Akashi (Kitakyushu, JP); Michiharu Tanaka (Kitakyushu, JP)
Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,364,313
App. No.
12/279,462
Filed
Aug 14, 2008
Granted
Jan 29, 2013
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3664
USPC
700/264
Abstract

The safety of an operator which may be endangered by an erroneous instruction by the operator or a robot control system is ensured by making more stringent a condition regarding the separation of the operator from the vicinity of a robot when an operation program of the robot is activated. An interlock to which a condition regarding activation of the operation program of the robot is added is provided in a feeding unit which is connected to a robot controlling unit by wireless connection for charging a teaching unit, so as to provide a robot system which improves the safety of the operator.

Claims (40)

1. A robot system comprising:

a robot;

a robot controlling unit which controls an operation of the robot based on an operation program in a repeat mode; and

a teaching unit which implements mutual transmission and reception of information with the robot controlling unit with a wireless connection;

wherein the robot controlling unit comprises,

a feeding unit which feeds a power to the teaching unit, and

the teaching unit comprises,

a power receiving unit which receives the power from the feeding unit, and

a battery which is charged with the power received by the power receiving unit,

the feeding unit comprises a teaching unit detection device which detects that the teaching unit is disposed in a predetermined position of the feeding unit,

when the teaching unit is disposed in the predetermined position of the feeding unit, the feeding unit supplies the power to the teaching unit and outputs a teaching unit present signal from the teaching unit detection device,

only while the teaching unit present signal is outputted, the robot executes the operation program to repeat in the repeat mode in response to an operation start command

when the teaching unit present signal is not outputted the operation program can not operate the robot in the repeat mode,

thereby providing enhanced safety to an operator

wherein

the teaching unit comprises a non-contact information transmission device in which a predetermined information is recorded,

the teaching unit detection device comprises a detector for reading the information recorded in the non-contact information transmission device, and

the teaching unit detection device outputs the teaching unit present signal based on a verification

result of a detector read information and a preset information.

2. A robot system comprising:

a robot;

a robot controlling unit which controls the operation of the robot based on an operation program in a repeat mode; and

a teaching unit which implements mutual transmission and reception of information with the robot controlling unit with a wireless connection;

wherein the robot controlling unit comprises,

a feeding unit which feeds a power to the teaching unit, and

the teaching unit comprises,

a power receiving unit which receives the power from the feeding unit, and

a battery which is charged with the power received by the power receiving unit,

the teaching unit comprises a non-contact information transmission device in which a predetermined information is recorded,

the feeding unit comprises a detector which reads an intrinsic information recorded in the non-contact information transmission device when the teaching unit is disposed in a predetermined position of the feeding unit,

the detector reads the intrinsic information when the teaching unit is disposed in the predetermined position of the feeding unit, and

the controller verifies the intrinsic information which is inputted from the detector and a registered information which is previously set, and validates or nullifies a teaching unit present signal based on a verification result, and

only while the teaching unit present signal is validated, the robot executes the operation program to repeat in the repeat mode in response to an operation start command and

while the teaching unit present signal is not validated the robot can not execute the operation program to repeat in the repeat mode,

thereby providing enhanced safety to an operator.

3. The robot system according to claim 1 , wherein the non-contact information transmission device comprises an RFID tag.

4. The robot system according to claim 1 , wherein an operating range of the robot is surrounded by a safety protector, and the robot controlling unit is provided outside of the safety protector, and

wherein when the teaching unit is moved to outside of the safety protector and disposed in the predetermined position of the feeding unit, the robot executes the operation program.

5. The robot system according to claim 2 , wherein an operating range of the robot is surrounded by a safety protector, and the robot controlling unit is provided outside of the safety protector, and

wherein when the teaching unit is moved to outside of the safety protector and disposed in the predetermined position of the feeding unit, and the robot executes the operation program.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2008
From: AKASHI, AKIRA; TANAKA, MICHIHARU
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
Reel/Frame 021391/0438 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2006-036253 · Feb 14, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090069943A1 · Mar 12, 2009