DRIVE CONTROL APPARATUS

• US 20130241460A1
• Filed: 02/26/2013
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Morikawa, Akihiko, Sato, Toshinori, Ueno, Junichi, Ushiyama, Takao
• Granted Patent: US 9,547,305 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/565
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/19 characterised by positioning or contouring control systems, e.g. to control position from one programmed point to another or to control movement along a programmed continuous path
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4062 Monitoring servoloop, e.g. overload of servomotor, loss of feedback or reference
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/42306 Excess in error, compare reference with feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/42309 Excess in speed
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/42314 Warning signals are send when excess in error for speed, acceleration, amplitude
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0286 Modifications to the monitored process, e.g. stopping operation or adapting control

Abstract

The operation state of a servo motor is monitored and output to a user before automatic termination of power to the motor. A servo system includes a servo motor and a safety unit. The safety unit cuts off electric power to the servo motor when at least one of a speed, a position, acceleration, an amount of movement, a movement direction, and torque of the servo motor is outside a first operation range. Furthermore, the safety unit outputs a warning when at least one of the speed, the position, the acceleration, the amount of movement, the movement direction, the torque is within the first operation range, but is outside a second operation range that is narrower than the first operation range. User controls allow reduced operation when outside the second operation range.

Claims

1. A drive control apparatus comprising:

a detection unit that detects at least one of a speed, a position, acceleration, an amount of movement, a movement direction and torque, and outputs one or more detected operating values (“

DOV”

) physical parameter that indicate movement of a drive unit; and

a cut off unit that cuts off supply of electric power to the drive unit when a DOV physical parameter is outside a first upper to lower limit range, and wherein a warning is output when the DOV physical parameter is within the first range and additionally is outside a second upper to lower limit range, based on an input signal from the detection unit,

wherein the second range is narrower than the first range.

2. The drive control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein switching occurs between a period of time for which monitoring of the physical parameter is effective and a period of time for which the monitoring of the physical parameter is non-effective, and the warning is output during monitoring of the DOV physical parameter.

3. The drive control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the warning is output as a warning signal.

4. The drive control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the warning signal is as at least one of light and sound.

5. The drive control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the warning signal is at least one of a physical signal and a logical signal.

6. The drive control apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a control unit that controls the drive unit,

wherein the warning signal is output to the control unit, and

the control unit limits operation of the drive unit, while permitting operation of the drive unit.

7. The drive control apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a displaying device that receives the warning signal and displays the warning.

8. The drive control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit that sets the second range according to a user input.

9. The drive control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the upper limit and the lower limit of the second range are set from user input.

10. The drive control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a warning is output at operation at the upper limit and the lower limit of the second range.