# US 12,594,681 B2 · External robot stand and external robot system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,594,681 B2 - Document ID: US12594681B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/011,308 - Filed: 2021-06-30 - Published: 2024-05-09 - Granted: 2026-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-03 - Assignees: Fanuc Corporation - Applicants: Fanuc Corporation - Inventors: Masanori Itou - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12594681B2 ## CPC - B25J 19/00: Accessories fitted to manipulators, e.g. for monitoring, for viewing; Safety devices combined with or specially adapted for use in connection with manipulators (safety-devices in general F16P; protection against radiation in general G21F) - B23Q 7/04: by means of grippers {(B23Q7/1494 takes precedence)} - B25J 9/0096: {co-operating with a working support, e.g. work-table} - B25J 21/00: Chambers provided with manipulation devices (constructional features of the mounting of the manipulator in the wall B25J1/08 {; glove-boxes for nuclear applications G21F7/04}) - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT ## Abstract An external robot stand that is installed outside a machine tool includes a fixed unit fixed to the machine tool in a positioned state and a movable unit attached to the fixed unit in a detachable manner. The fixed unit is provided with a robot installation surface on which a robot that performs work with respect to the machine tool can be installed. An operating range of the robot is arranged to extend across both of the fixed unit and the movable unit. The fixed unit and the movable unit are respectively provided with safety fences that surround an outer side of the operating range of the robot together with the machine tool in a state in which the movable unit is attached to the fixed unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An external robot stand that is installed outside a machine tool, the external robot stand comprising a fixed unit fixed to the machine tool in a positioned state and a movable unit attached to the fixed unit in a detachable manner, wherein: the fixed unit is provided with a robot installation surface configured to install a robot that performs work with respect to the machine tool; an operating range of the robot is arranged to extend across both the fixed unit and the movable unit; the fixed unit and the movable unit are respectively provided with safety fences that surround an outer side of the operating range of the robot together with the machine tool in a state in which the movable unit is attached to the fixed unit; each of the fixed unit and the movable unit has a rectangular shape in plan view; the safety fences comprises a first safety fence provided at the fixed unit and a second safety fence provided at the movable unit; the first safety fence is disposed on two sides of the fixed unit having the rectangular shape, except for a side facing the machine tool and a side connecting to the movable unit; and the second safety fence is arranged on two sides of the movable unit having the rectangular shape, except for a side facing the machine tool and a side connecting to the fixed unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The external robot stand according to claim 1, wherein the fixed unit is configured to have, mounted thereon, at least one of a device that needs to be positioned with respect to the robot and a member that needs to be positioned with respect to the robot, in such a state as to be positioned with respect to the robot installation surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The external robot stand according to claim 2, wherein the member that needs to be positioned with respect to the robot is a workpiece. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The external robot stand according to claim 2, wherein the device that needs to be positioned with respect to the robot is a tool that is mounted on the robot in a detachable manner. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The external robot stand according to claim 2, wherein the movable unit is configured to have, mounted thereon, at least one of a device that does not need to be positioned with respect to the robot and a member that does not need to be positioned with respect to the robot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The external robot stand according to claim 5, wherein the device that does not need to be positioned with respect to the robot is a control device that controls the robot. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The external robot stand according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor that detects an attachment/detachment state of the fixed unit and the movable unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An external robot system comprising: the external robot stand according to claim 1; and a robot installed on the robot installation surface of the fixed unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The external robot system according to claim 8, further comprising a controller that controls the robot, the controller mounted on the movable unit.