Method and a contact panel having contacts protruding through an opening in a cover forming part of an industrial robot

• US 9,266,244 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2006
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB AB (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Larsson, Jan, Johnsson, Karl-Gunnar, Olsson, Mats, Toresson, Bo, Persson, Stig, Paananen, Tommi
• Primary Examiner(s): Waits, Alan B
• Application Number:
  US11/883,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20080156137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,662 Days
• Field of Search: 7449001-49005, 174/53, 174/59, 174/60, 174/527, 901/28, 901/50, 200/51.09, 200/293, 200/296, 248/49, 248/65, 248/68.1, 220/242, 220/3.3, 220/3.92
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/0025 Means for supplying energy to the end effector
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/0075 Means for protecting the manipulator from its environment or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20311 including power cable or connector

Abstract

An industrial robot including a contact panel having one or several contacts to allow connection to the industrial robot of one or several cables through which energy, signals or a substance may pass to and/or from the industrial robot. A cover forms part of an outer surface of the industrial robot. Each one of the one or several contacts of the contact panel protrudes through an opening in the cover so as to be accessible from the outside of the industrial robot. The contact panel is mounted to and supported by a holder that is secured in an internal cavity of the industrial robot so as to allow the contact panel to be held in place in the industrial robot when the cover is removed.

Claims

1. An industrial robot, comprising:

a contact panel having at least one contact to allow connection to the industrial robot of at least one cable which permit energy, signals or a substance to pass to and/or from the industrial robot;

a cover forming part of an outer surface of the industrial robot, wherein the cover is removably mounted to the industrial robot, and wherein each one of said at least one contact of the contact panel protrudes through an opening in the cover so as to be accessible from outside of the industrial robot; and

a holder to which the contact panel is mounted and which supports the contact panel, wherein the holder is secured in an internal cavity of the industrial robot so as to allow the contact panel to be held in place in the industrial robot by the holder when the cover is removed and when the cover is mounted to the industrial robot, wherein the cover is arranged to cover an opening in the industrial robot that is larger than an outwardly facing surface of the contact panel and when the cover is removed and the opening is uncovered access is provided via the opening to internal parts of the industrial robot.

2. The industrial robot according to claim 1, wherein the contact panel and the cover are mounted to an upper arm of the industrial robot.

3. The industrial robot according to claim 1, wherein the contact panel and the cover are mounted to a lower arm of the industrial robot.

4. The industrial robot according to claim 1, wherein the contact panel and the cover are mounted to a base of the industrial robot.

5. The industrial robot according to claim 1, wherein the contact panel is removably mounted to the holder.

6. The industrial robot according to claim 1, wherein the cover is arranged to provide a fluid-tight fit with adjacent sections of the outer surface of the industrial robot and with the contact panel or the at least one contact.

7. The industrial robot according to claim 1, wherein the holder comprises a support arm, and the contact panel is mounted to an outer end of the support arm.

8. A method for providing an industrial robot with connection to at least one cable which permit energy, signals or a substance to pass to and/or from the industrial robot, the method comprising:

mounting a contact panel, which is provided with at least one contact to be connected to said at least one cable, to the industrial robot via a holder that is secured in an internal cavity of the industrial robot, the contact panel being supported by the holder and being accessible via an opening in the outer surface of the industrial robot that is larger than an outwardly facing surface of the contact panel;

covering the opening with a cover so as to form part of the outer surface of the industrial robot, each one of said at least one contact of the contact panel being arranged to protrude through the opening in the cover so as to be accessible from the outside of the industrial robot; and

uncovering the opening by removing the cover, thereby providing access via the opening to internal parts of the industrial robot, wherein the holder holds the contact panel in place in the industrial robot when the cover is removed.