IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,539,620
Granted Patent B2
US 12,539,620 · App. 18/723,679 · Granted Feb 3, 2026

Robot control device, robot system, and robot control program

Inventors: Hiroki Suemoto (Kobe, JP); Ryusuke Nishikawa (Kobe, JP); Yuki Takayama (Kobe, JP); Toshiyuki Homma (Kobe, JP); Kyo Irie (Kobe, JP)
Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B25J13/085B25J15/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,539,620
App. No.
18/723,679
Granted
Feb 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A robot controller includes: a movement controller moving a robot arm including a hand; and an opening/closing controller opening and closing at least one of fingers included in hand in a predetermined direction. The movement controller causes the robot arm to bring at least one of the fingers into contact with a workpiece in a pressing direction. The opening/closing controller causes the at least one of the fingers to perform an opening action after the contact action. After the at least one of the fingers separates from the workpiece through the opening action, the movement controller causes the robot arm to perform an approaching action of moving the hand in the pressing direction to a holding position. The opening/closing controller causes the fingers to hold the workpiece by causing at least one of the fingers to close in a state where the hand is located at the holding position.

Claims (31)

1 . A robot controller comprising:

a movement controller that moves an arm including a hand; and

an opening/closing controller that opens and closes at least one of fingers included in the hand in a predetermined opening/closing direction, wherein

the movement controller causes the arm to perform a contact action of bringing at least one of the fingers into contact with a workpiece in a pressing direction, the pressing direction intersecting with the opening/closing direction,

the opening/closing controller causes the at least one of the fingers to perform an opening action after the contact action,

after the at least one of the fingers is separated from the workpiece through the opening action, the movement controller causes the arm to perform an approaching action of moving the hand in the pressing direction to a predetermined holding position at which the workpiece is located between the fingers, and

the opening/closing controller causes the fingers to hold the workpiece by causing at least one of the fingers to perform a closing action in a state where the hand is located at the holding position.

2 . The robot controller according to claim 1 , wherein

the movement controller performs force control of the arm to maintain contact between the at least one of the fingers and the workpiece during the opening action of the at least one of the fingers.

3 . The robot controller according to claim 2 , wherein

in the force control, the movement controller controls the arm such that a pressing force of the at least one of the fingers against the workpiece in the pressing direction has a predetermined target value.

4 . The robot controller according to claim 3 , wherein

in the opening action of the at least one of the fingers, the opening/closing controller determines that the at least one of the fingers is separated from the workpiece based on the pressing force of the at least one of the fingers against the workpiece.

5 . The robot controller according to claim 1 , wherein

in the opening action of the at least one of the fingers, the opening/closing controller stops one of the fingers not in contact with the workpiece, and causes one of the fingers in contact with the workpiece to perform the opening action.

6 . A robot system comprising:

a hand including fingers, each of the fingers being capable of opening and closing;

an arm including the hand; and

and the robot controller according to claim 1 .

7 . The robot system according to claim 6 , wherein

the hand includes driving sources that open and close the fingers independently of each other, and

the opening/closing controller controls the driving sources independently of each other.

8 . The robot system according to claim 6 , further comprising

a sensor that detects a pressing force of the fingers against a workpiece.

9 . The robot system according to claim 8 , wherein

each of the fingers includes the sensor.

10 . A non-transitory storage medium storing robot control program causing a computer to execute the functions of:

causing an arm including a hand to perform a contact action of bringing at least one of fingers into contact with a workpiece in a pressing direction, the fingers being included in the hand and capable of opening and closing in a predetermined opening/closing direction, the pressing direction intersecting with the opening/closing direction;

causing at least one of the fingers to perform an opening action after the contact action;

causing the arm to perform an approaching action of moving the hand in the pressing direction to a predetermined holding position at which the workpiece is located between the fingers, after the at least one of the fingers is separated from the workpiece through the opening action; and

causing the at least one of the fingers to perform a closing operation in a state where the hand is at the holding position to thereby cause the fingers to hold the workpiece.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2024
From: SUEMOTO, HIROKI; NISHIKAWA, RYUSUKE; TAKAYAMA, YUKI; HOMMA, TOSHIYUKI; IRIE, KYO
To: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 068940/0805 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-210293 · Dec 24, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250065512A1 · Feb 27, 2025
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