Industrial robot
AssigneeSeiko Instruments Inc.
InventorsMasahide Nagai, Kazutoshi Yokose
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An industrial robot having a controllably movable arm is taught position data for controlling the movable of the arm. A support member is provided on the arm and has a through-hole therein. First, an optical magnifying devices inserted into the through-hole for aligning the arm in a proper position so as to teach the position data to the industrial robot. Thereafter, the optical magnifying device is removed from the through-hole, and a manipulating device is inserted into the same through-hole. The manipulating device is movable together with the arm according to the taught data for sequentially manipulating workpieces.
Claims18
In an industrial robot having a movable arm which undergoes movement according to taught position data to manipulate a workpiece:
- support means carried by the arm and having means therein defining a through-hole;
- an optical magnifying device replaceably mounted in the through-hole and operative to effect initial alignment of the arm is a certain position so that position data can be produced to instruct the industrial robot to move the arm to the certain position;
- and a manipulating device replaceably mounted in the through-hole in place of the optical magnifying device for manipulating a workpiece from the certain position according to taught position data.
An industrial robot having an arm and being taught position data for controlling the movement of the arm comprising:
- support means provided on the arm and having means therein defining a through-hole;
- an optical magnifying device replaceably inserted into the through-hole for placing the arm in a certain position by aligning a center line of the optical magnifying device with a reference point so as to teach corresponding position data of the arm to the industrial robot;
- and a manipulating device replaceably inserted into the through-hole in place of the optical magnifying device such that the longitudinal center liner thereof coincides with the center line of the optical magnifying device, the manipulating device being movable with the arm according to the taught position data for manipulating a workpiece.
A control method of an industrial robot having an arm and being taught position data for controlling the movement of the arm, the method comprising the steps of:
- inserting an optical magnifying device into a through-hole provided on the arm;
- aligning an optical axis of the optical magnifying device with a reference point by moving the arm;
- teaching position data representative of the aligned position of the arm to the industrial robot;
- inserting a manipulating device into the through-hole in place of the optical magnifying device;
- and
- moving the arm according to the taught position data of the arm to manipulate a workpiece held by the manipulating device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.