Production system having cooperating process area between human and robot
First Claim
1. A production system comprising:
- a robot;
a peripheral object;
a controller adapted to control the robot;
an operator task area where an operator may enter and the robot cannot enter;
a robot task area where the robot may enter and the operator cannot enter; and
a cooperative task area, arranged between the operator task area and the robot task area, where both the operator and the robot may enter;
and a robot entry-prohibited area being defined as an area having a boundary which is separated from the peripheral object by a predetermined distance or less, and arranged within the cooperative task area, and not within the robot task area,wherein the controller has a cooperation mode in which, when a component of the robot enters the cooperative task area, the maximum movement speed of the component of the robot is limited lower than when the component of the robot is outside the cooperative task area, or, when the operator enters the cooperative task area while the robot performs a task, the maximum movement speed of the component of the robot is limited lower than when the operator does not enter the cooperative task area, and, the motion of the robot is limited so that the component of the robot does not enter the robot entry-prohibited area in the cooperative task area, so that a part of the operator is not caught between the component of the robot and the peripheral object.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A production system in which a human and a robot may simultaneously perform a cooperative task in the same area while ensuring human'"'"'s safety. A robot is positioned at one side of a working table, and an operator is positioned at the other side of the working table. The reachable area of the operator is limited by the working table. An area of the working table is divided into an area where only the operator may perform a task, an area where only the robot may perform a task, and an area where both the operator and the robot may enter. In a cooperation mode, the maximum movement speed of a component of the robot is limited lower than when the component of the robot is outside the cooperative task area, and, the motion of the robot is limited so that the robot does not enter a robot entry-prohibited area.
59 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A production system comprising:
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a robot; a peripheral object; a controller adapted to control the robot; an operator task area where an operator may enter and the robot cannot enter; a robot task area where the robot may enter and the operator cannot enter; and a cooperative task area, arranged between the operator task area and the robot task area, where both the operator and the robot may enter; and a robot entry-prohibited area being defined as an area having a boundary which is separated from the peripheral object by a predetermined distance or less, and arranged within the cooperative task area, and not within the robot task area, wherein the controller has a cooperation mode in which, when a component of the robot enters the cooperative task area, the maximum movement speed of the component of the robot is limited lower than when the component of the robot is outside the cooperative task area, or, when the operator enters the cooperative task area while the robot performs a task, the maximum movement speed of the component of the robot is limited lower than when the operator does not enter the cooperative task area, and, the motion of the robot is limited so that the component of the robot does not enter the robot entry-prohibited area in the cooperative task area, so that a part of the operator is not caught between the component of the robot and the peripheral object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification