Hand-held robot teaching device

• US 10,442,088 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2018
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
• Inventors: Kino, Masaru
• Primary Examiner(s): Girardi, Vanessa
• Application Number:
  US15/950,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20180297212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/06 Control stands, e.g. consoles, switchboards
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0081 with master teach-in means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 15/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2025/004 the operating member being depressable perpendicular to the other directions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 21/06 interlocked with operating mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 21/24 biased to return to normal position upon removal of operating force
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/034 Support for hands or arms
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/048 adapted for operation by left- and right-handed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/044 Elastic part on actuator or casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/002 having an operating member rectilinearly slidable in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 89/00 Combinations of two or more different basic types of electric switches, relays, selectors and emergency protective devices, not covered by any single one of the other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0214 Hand-held casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/03 Teaching system

Abstract

A robot teaching device allowing a user to operate an enable switch provided on the robot teaching device in a similar manner regardless of the user'"'"'s dominant hand. A hand-held robot teaching device includes an enable switch built-in includes a main body including a holding portion that is configured to be held by one hand, and an enable switch operating section that is provided on the holding portion and is configured to be operated by a reference switching motion of a hand holding the holding portion in a reference position. The enable switch operating section includes a switching motion specifying mechanism that makes the reference switching motion in the reference position easier than another motion.

Claims

1. A hand-held robot teaching device having an enable switch therein, comprising:

a main body including a holding portion configured to be held by one hand; and

an enable switch operating section provided at the holding portion and configured to be operated by a reference switching motion by a hand holding the holding portion at a reference position,

wherein the enable switch operating section includes;

a base provided at the main body so as to be pressed; and

a moving portion provided on an end face of the base facing to the outside so as to be movable in a direction intersecting a pressing direction of the base,

wherein the moving portion is movable between a first position, at which a finger of a left hand can touch the moving portion when the left hand holds the holding portion and carries out the reference switching motion, and a second position, at which a finger of a right hand can touch the moving portion when the right hand holds the holding portion and carries out the reference switching motion.

2. The robot teaching device of claim 1, wherein the moving portion is provided to be slidable on the end face of the base, or to be rotatable about an axis intersecting the end face of the base.

3. A hand-held robot teaching device having an enable switch therein, comprising:

a main body including;

a side surface extending in a first direction; and

a holding portion provided at the side surface and configured to be held by one hand; and

an enable switch operating section provided at the holding portion and configured to be operated by a reference switching motion by a hand holding the holding portion at a reference position,

wherein the enable switch operating section includes;

a base provided at the main body so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in parallel with the first direction; and

an urging part configured to urge the base toward a first rotation position about the axis.

4. The robot teaching device of claim 3, wherein the base is formed with a protruding portion outwardly protruding from an outer peripheral surface of the base and extending in a direction of the axis.

5. A hand-held robot teaching device having an enable switch therein, comprising:

a main body including a holding portion configured to be held by one hand; and

an enable switch operating section provided at the holding portion and configured to be operated by a reference switching motion by a hand holding the holding portion at a reference position,

wherein the enable switch operating section includes;

a base provided at the main body so as to be pressed; and

a cover provided at the main body so as to be movable between a first cover position at which the cover covers a first portion of the base and a second cover position at which the cover covers a second portion of the base different from the first portion.

6. The robot teaching device of claim 5, wherein the enable switch operating section includes the base extending in parallel with the holding portion,

wherein the cover is slidable in parallel with the holding portion.

7. A hand-held robot teaching device having an enable switch therein, comprising:

a main body including a holding portion configured to be held by one hand;

an enable switch operating section provided at the holding portion and configured to be operated by a reference switching motion by a hand holding the holding portion at a reference position; and

a connector which is provided on a back surface of the main body, and to which a cable for communicating with an external device is connected, the connector being rotatable about an axis orthogonal to the back surface of the main body,

wherein the enable switch operating section includes a switching motion specifying mechanism configured to facilitate the reference switching motion at the reference position to be easier than another motion.

8. A hand-held robot teaching device having an enable switch therein, comprising:

a main body including a holding portion configured to be held by one hand;

an enable switch operating section provided at the holding portion and configured to be operated by a reference switching motion by a hand holding the holding portion at a reference position; and

a first external device removably attached to the main body and including an emergency stop switch for urgently stopping the robot,

wherein the enable switch operating section includes a switching motion specifying mechanism configured to facilitate the reference switching motion at the reference position to be easier than another motion.

9. The robot teaching device of claim 8, wherein the first external device includes:

a first end face and a second end face opposite the first end face;

a first connector provided to outwardly protrude from the first end face, and removably connected to a connector provided at the main body; and

a second connector provided to outwardly protrude from the second end face, and removably connected to another connector provided at the main body.

10. A hand-held robot teaching device having an enable switch therein, comprising:

a main body including a holding portion configured to be held by one hand;

an enable switch operating section provided at the holding portion and configured to be operated by a reference switching motion by a hand holding the holding portion at a reference position; and

a second external device removably attached to the main body and including a hard key for inputting information to the robot teaching device,

wherein the enable switch operating section includes a switching motion specifying mechanism configured to facilitate the reference switching motion at the reference position to be easier than another motion.