ROBOT SYSTEM, ROBOT HAND, AND ROBOT SYSTEM OPERATING METHOD

• US 20130245823A1
• Filed: 12/18/2012
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
• Inventors: KIMURA, Kaoru, MIZOGUCHI, Hiromi, YAMAMOTO, Yoshiaki
• Application Number:
  US13/717,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20130245823A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/248
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0009 comprising multi-articulated fingers, e.g. resembling a human hand
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0475 Exchangeable fingers
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/02 travelling along a guideway
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0084 comprising a plurality of manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1676 Avoiding collision or forbidden zones
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1682 Dual arm manipulator; Coordination of several manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/418 Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM]
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39121 Two manipulators operate on same object
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40203 Detect position of operator, create non material barrier to protect operator
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40252 Robot on track, rail moves only back and forth

Abstract

A robot system includes a robot arm, a robot hand provided to the robot arm, and a plurality of finger members for holding a target object, installed to the robot hand. The robot hand includes a hand main body portion which is connected to the robot arm and includes an actuator, and a finger holding mechanism which replaceably holds at least a pair of the finger members is connected to the hand main body portion and is driven by the actuator.

Claims

1. A robot system, comprising

a robot arm;

a robot hand provided to the robot arm; and

a plurality of finger members for holding a target object, installed to the robot hand, wherein

the robot hand comprises

a hand main body portion which is connected to the robot arm and comprises an actuator; and

a finger holding mechanism which replaceably holds at least a pair of the finger members is connected to the hand main body portion and is driven by the actuator.

2. The robot system according to claim 1, wherein

the finger holding mechanism comprises a pair of finger holding portions which is connected to the hand main body portion in an facing manner, is driven in directions mutually away from and toward each other by the actuator, and replaceably holds one of a plurality of pairs of the finger members;

and

each of the pairs of the finger holding portions comprises

a receiving space which is configured to receive the finger member and is provided to a side facing the other of the finger holding portions; and

a plurality of link members including a first link member capable of engaging with the finger member received in the receiving space.

3. The robot system according to claim 2, wherein

the plurality of link members includes

the first link member which is provided rotatably around a first rotation axis and is capable of transitioning between an engaged posture which engages with the finger member and a released posture which releases the engagement with the finger member when rotated around the first rotation axis;

and

a second link member which is connected to the first link member, is provided rotatably around a second rotation axis, and rotates the first link member in the engaged posture in a second direction around the first rotation axis to form the released posture when rotated in a first direction around the second rotation axis.

4. The robot system according to claim 3, wherein

the second link member comprises an exposed operating surface and rotates in the first direction when the operating surface is pressed.

5. The robot system according to claim 4, wherein

each of the pairs of finger holding portions comprises an elastic member which energizes the second link member so that the first link member forms the engaged posture when the operating surface is not pressed.

6. The robot system according to claim 2, wherein

the first link member comprises a protruding portion which protrudes within the receiving space and contacts a surface of the finger member received in the receiving space, the surface being on a side opposite to a surface which contacts the target object;

and

each of the plurality of finger members comprises a concave portion which is engaged by the protruding portion on the surface on the side opposite to the surface which contact the target object.

7. The robot system according to claim 4, further comprising a pressing device comprising a pressing member for pressing the operating surface.

8. A robot hand, comprising

a hand main body portion configured to connect to a robot arm;

an actuator configured to drive the hand main body portion;

a finger holder replaceably holds at least a pair of a plurality of finger members for holding a target object.

9. A robot system comprising a robot configured to perform work in one of a plurality of work areas, comprising

a plurality of sensors configured to detect the presence of a person, respectively provided to the plurality of the work areas;

and

a control portion which stops the robot which exists in one work area when the sensor provided to the one work area detects the presence of a person, regardless of whether or not the sensor provided to another work area other than the one work area where the robot exists has detected the presence of a person.

10. The robot system according to claim 9, further comprising a moving portion which moves the robot which exists in the one work area to the other work area, wherein

the control portion prohibits entry of the robot into a destination work area where the moving portion is about to move the robot when the sensor provided to the destination work area detects the presence of a person.

11. The robot system according to claim 10, wherein

the control portion permits entry of the robot to the destination work area when the sensor provided to the destination work area where the robot is prohibited entry no longer detects the presence of a person.

12. The robot system according to claim 10, wherein

the control portion issues a warning in the destination work area where the robot is prohibited entry.

13. An operating method of a robot system which comprises a robot configured to perform work in one of a plurality of work areas and a plurality of sensors configured to detect the presence of a person, respectively provided to the plurality of the work areas, wherein

the method comprises

stopping controlling which stops the robot which exists in one work area when the sensor provided to the one work area detects the presence of a person, regardless of whether or not the sensor provided to another work area other than the one work area where the robot exists has detected the presence of a person.

14. A robot system comprising

a first robot comprising a first drive portion configured to achieve various postures for performing predetermined work;

a second robot comprising a second drive portion configured to achieve various postures for performing predetermined work;

a guide portion configured to, in coordination with the first drive portion and the second drive portion, moveably support the first robot and the second robot; and

a control portion configured to control in coordination the first drive portion and the second drive portion so that an operation of the predetermined work of the first robot and the second robot is linked with a location movement of the first robot and the second robot along the guide portion.

15. The robot system according to claim 14, wherein

the first drive portion moves the first robot along the guide portion;

and

the second drive portion moves the second robot along the guide portion.

16. The robot system according to claim 15, wherein

the guide portion includes a first rail and a second rail;

the first drive portion moves the first robot along the first rail; and

the second drive portion moves the second robot along the second rail.

17. The robot system according to claim 14, wherein the first drive portion and the second drive portion each include a pinion and a motor.

18. An operating method of a robot system including a first robot including a first drive portion configured to achieve various postures for performing predetermined work, a second robot including a second drive portion configured to achieve various postures for performing predetermined work, and a guide portion configured to, in coordination with the first drive portion and the second drive portion, moveably supports the first robot and the second robot, the method comprising

a controlling which controls in coordination the first drive portion and the second drive portion so that an operation of the predetermined work of the first robot and the second robot is linked with a location movement of the first robot and the second robot along the guide portion.

19. The operating method according to claim 18, wherein

the controlling comprises

an operating that the first robot and the second robot perform an execution operation of the predetermined work;

and

a moving that the locations of the first robot and the second robot are moved.

20. The operating method according to claim 19, wherein

the operating comprises

a holding that the first robot and the second robot hold a target object positioned in a first area;

and

a transporting that the first robot and the second robot transport the target object from the first area to a second area on an opposite side across the guide portion, with the target object held by the first robot and the second robot.