Industrial robot system
First Claim
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1. An industrial robot system, comprising:
- an industrial robot comprising a manipulator, a control unit for controlling the manipulator, at least one portable operator control device for teaching and manually operating the robot, wherein the operator control device is adapted for communication with the control unit through a data link;
a defined working area for the operator control device;
means to determine the position of the operator control device; and
an indicator operative to indicate a mode of the data link, wherein the indicator is operable to physically indicate a communication failure of the data link through tactile feedback by touch perception to the body of an operator of the operator control device during operation;
wherein the data link is broken/disconnected upon the operator control device being outside the defined working area, or the data link is connected upon the operator control device being inside the working area.
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Abstract
An industrial robot including a manipulator, a control unit for controlling the manipulator, and a portable operating unit for teaching and manually operating the robot. The portable operating unit is adapted for wireless communication with the control unit and includes an operator control. The invention increases the safety by ensuring that the operator is within the specified operating area.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An industrial robot system, comprising:
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an industrial robot comprising a manipulator, a control unit for controlling the manipulator, at least one portable operator control device for teaching and manually operating the robot, wherein the operator control device is adapted for communication with the control unit through a data link; a defined working area for the operator control device; means to determine the position of the operator control device; and an indicator operative to indicate a mode of the data link, wherein the indicator is operable to physically indicate a communication failure of the data link through tactile feedback by touch perception to the body of an operator of the operator control device during operation; wherein the data link is broken/disconnected upon the operator control device being outside the defined working area, or the data link is connected upon the operator control device being inside the working area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for controlling an industrial robot system comprising an industrial robot comprising a manipulator, a control unit comprising a processor for controlling the manipulator, at least one portable operator control device for teaching and manually operating the robot, wherein the operator control device is adapted for communication with the control unit via a data link, the method comprising:
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defining a working area for the operator control device; determining the position of the operator control device; indicating a mode of the data link, wherein a communication failure of the data link is physically indicated to an operator through tactile feedback by touch perception to the operator during operation; breaking/disconnecting the data link upon the operator control device being outside the working area; and connecting the data link upon the operator control device being inside the working area. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer program product, comprising:
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a computer readable medium; and computer program instructions recorded on the computer readable medium and executable by a processor, for performing the steps of defining a working area for the operator control device, determining the position of the operator control device, indicating a mode of the data link, wherein a communication failure of the data link is physically indicated to an operator through tactile feedback by touch perception to the operator during operation, breaking/disconnecting the data link upon the operator control device being outside the working area, and connecting the data link upon the operator control device being inside the working area. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification