METHOD OF CONTROLLING A ROBOTIC WORK STATION AND A CORRESPONDING ROBOTIC WORK STATION

• US 20090018690A1
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abb France (ABB Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Abb France (ABB Ltd.)
• Inventors: Negre, Bernard
• Granted Patent: US 9,632,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/117
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23293 Automated assembly of machine control software, reusable software components

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of driving a workstation (1) comprising operational units (2, 3) linked to a drive automaton (7) executing a drive program, the drive program comprising for each operational unit at least one sub-part defining a plurality of strings of actions as a function of synchronization states, the drive method comprising a phase of configuration and a phase of execution of the drive program, the configuration phase comprising the steps of selecting the units to be implemented, of parametrizing the corresponding sub-parts by selecting the string of actions to be carried out and the associated synchronization states, the execution phase comprising the step of executing the drive program thus configured. The subject matter of the invention is also a workstation allowing the implementation of this method.

Claims

1. A method of controlling at least one work station (1) comprising operational units (2, 3, 6) comprising at least one robot such as a welding robot, the operational units being connected to a controller (7) executing a control program, the control program including, for each operational unit, at least one sub-portion that defines a plurality of sequences of actions as a function of synchronization states, the control method comprising a configuration stage and an execution stage for the control program, the configuration stage comprising the steps of selecting the units to be operated, setting parameter values in the corresponding sub-portions by selecting the sequence of actions to be performed and the associated synchronization states, with the execution stage comprising the step of executing the control program as configured in this way.

2. A method according to claim 1, in which the configuration stage is implemented by means of a computer routine for modifying parameters of the control program, which routine is arranged to display a screen (11) for inputting parameter values.

3. A method according to claim 2, in which the input screen (11) includes at least one multiple-choice context menu (17).

4. A method according to claim 3, in which the input screen (11) is displayed on a touch-sensitive display (9).

5. A method according to claim 2, in which the configuration step is implemented on the controller (7).

6. A method according to claim 1, in which the configuration step is implemented by loading a computer file in the memory of the controller (7) from a computer machine external to the station.

7. A method according to claim 1r in which the control program is arranged, during the execution stage, to display actions that have been accomplished and/or actions that are in the process of being accomplished.

8. A method according to claim 1, in which the control program prior to configuration is identical for at least two stations (1) in a production line.

9. A work station (1) comprising operational units (2, 3) comprising at least one robot, the operational units being connected to a controller (7) controlled by a control program, the work station being characterized in that the control program includes, for each operational unit, at least one sub-portion of a plurality of action sequences and means for setting parameters values of the sub-portions.

10. A work station according to claim 9, in which the controller (7) is associated with an I/O device (9) arranged to enable the parameters of the control program to be modified.

11. A work station according to claim 9, in which the I/O device comprises a screen (9).

12. A work station according to claim 11, in which the screen (9) is a touch-sensitive screen.

13. A work station according to claim 11, in which the program enables windows to be displayed on the screen giving access to information about the operational units.

14. A work station according to claim 13, in which the information comprises an image of the operational units with an element thereon for which a change-of-state is expected being identified.

15. A work station according to claim 13, in which the information comprises a history of error messages.

16. A work station according to claim 13, in which the information comprises a history of operational unit states.

17. A work station according to claim 13, in which the information relates to the performance of the work station.

18. A work station according to claim 9, in which the operational units incorporate control cabinets connected to a computer network.

19. A work station according to claim 18, in which the program is arranged to provide access to information stored in the control cabinets.

20. A work station according to claim 10, in which the I/O device (9) is removable.

21. A work station according to claim 20, in which the I/O device (9) is arranged to be connectable to a controller of another work station of the same type.

22. A work station according to claim 9, in which the robot (4) has six axes.

23. A work station according to claim 9, in which the operational units comprise a welding robot (5, 6), and a workpiece handling robot (4).

24. A work station according to claim 9, for a motor vehicle bodywork assembly line.