Control system of an industrial robot

• US 4,954,761 A
• Filed: 08/19/1988
• Issued: 09/04/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo K. K.
• Inventors: Okumura, Hiroshi, Kimura, Yutaka, Yoshida, Mitsutoshi, Mihara, Hirokata
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARTIN, DAVID S
• Application Number:
  US07/234,266
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 318/568, 318/567, 318/560, 318/562, 318/567-570, 318/575, 901/1-5, 901/20, 364/191-193, 364/513, 364/148-151, 364/167.01, 364/188, 364/573
• US Class Current: 318/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/408 characterised by data handling or data format, e.g. reading, buffering or conversion of data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33182 Uart, serial datatransmission, modem
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34279 Pc, personal computer as controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36106 Cassette
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36112 Floppy disk, diskette
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36395 Load local computer program from host, data transfer ram to rom, BTR
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36513 Select out of a plurality of programs, patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45083 Manipulators, robot

Abstract

A control system of an industrial robot includes an operation program read out from a storage medium and stored and calculated to obtain data so that a robot machine is controlled on the basis of the data. An external memory has function of a conventional internal memory and it is limited to store one program in, for example, an IC card constituting the storage medium and the IC card is inserted into the external memory to supply the operation program. A plurality of operation programs are previously stored in, for example, a floppy disk device constituting a recording medium of the external memory and a desired program is selected by a keyboard to directly supply it to the controller of the robot to operate the robot.

Claims

1. A control system of an industrial robot in which an operation program of the robot is read out from a storage medium and is processed to obtain data to control a robot machine on the basis of the data, said robot being characterized in

external memory means for selectively reading out a program from a plurality of stored operation programs said external memory means including a data transmission device for transmitting the program,

control means, including an IC card loader, for supplying the operation program to control the robot machine, and

a data transmission cable having a connection terminal mounted at one end thereof for insertion into said IC card loader to connect between said data transmission device and said IC card loader and for supplying the operation program from said external memory means through the data transmission cable to said control means.

2. A control system of an industrial robot according to claim 1, wherein said external memory means comprises a personal computer.