Portable controller with deadman switch

• US 5,665,945 A
• Filed: 05/10/1996
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
• Inventors: Oshima, Mikio
• Primary Examiner(s): Hecker, Stuart N.
• Application Number:
  US08/640,960
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 200/1 R, 200/293.1, 318/568.11
• US Class Current: 200/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/02 Hand grip control means handles or pedals for crane control B66C13/56; for measuring the force applied to control members G01L5/22; hand-held casings for switching devices, e.g. joy-sticks H01H9/0214
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/506 with a make-break action in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/048 adapted for operation by left- and right-handed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/008 Two different sites for one circuit, e.g. for safety
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/026 Application dead man switch: power must be interrupted on release of operating member
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/028 Application dead man switch, i.e. power being interrupted by panic reaction of operator, e.g. further pressing down push button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0214 Hand-held casings

Abstract

A deadman switch (4) comprises a pressing plate (5), a shaft (7) provided at the pressing plate (5), a dog plate (6) fitted over the shaft (7), a plurality of bosses (34), a spacer (9) fitted over the shaft (7), a spring (8) provided at the shaft outer circumferential portion, and three-point type limit switches (41), (42) attached on a back plate (3) and such that when dogs (41a), (42a) are engaged with the dog plate (6) so that the limit switches are in free state, they are turned OFF, when the dog plate (6) slightly pushes the dogs (41a), (42a), the limit switches are turned ON, and when the dog plate (6) comes into contact with the spacer (9) to further deeply push the dogs (41a), (42a) against spring force of the spring (8), the limit switches are turned OFF. Since this portable controller is securely turned OFF even if operator tightly grips the portable controller in the panic state based on runaway, etc. of robot, an extremely safety portable controller for robot of the fail-safe type can be provided.

Claims

1. A portable controller in which a finger fitting portion is provided at least at one side edge of a back plate of a casing, and a deadman switch which is turned OFF when no pressure is applied to the finger fitting portion, is turned ON by pressing force (pressure) when the finger fitting portion is gripped, and is turned OFF when the finger fitting portion is pressed by pressing force (pressure) greater than the pressing force (pressure) when the finger fitting portion is gripped,

wherein the deadman switch comprises a pressing plate which can be inserted into a recessed portion provided at the finger fitting portion or can be withdrawn therefrom, a shaft having shape of an offset provided at the pressing plate, a dog plate fitted over the offset portion of the shaft and having a plurality of holes at the circumferential edge of the shaft, a plurality of bosses inserted into the plurality of holes of the dog plate, a spacer in contact with the respective top portions of the bosses and fitted over the shaft, a spring provided at the shaft outer circumferential portion so that one end is supported in the state pressed onto a fixed portion provided at the shaft front end side, and the other end presses the spacer, and a three-point type limit switch attached on the back plate, and such that when the dog is engaged with the dog plate so that the limit switch is in free state, the limit switch is turned OFF, when the dog plate slightly pushes the dog, the limit switch is turned ON, and when the dog plate comes into contact with the spacer to push the dog more deeply against spring force of the spring, the limit switch is turned OFF.