CONSTANT SPEED CONTROL METHOD

Abstract: A constant speed control method used to turn at a constant speed a second movable portion (3) of a linear-­ pivotal converter unit in which a first movable portion (2c) is moved along a linear shaft (2a) with the second movable portion (3) turned in accordance with the linear movement of the first movable portion (2c). This constant speed control method has (1) a first step of monitoring the position of the first movable portion on the linear shaft. (2) a second step of computing the moving speed of the first movable portion which is used to turn the second movable portion at a constant speed, in accordance with the position of the first movable portion on the linear shaft, and (3) a third step of moving the first movable portion at a computed speed to render the pivotal speed of the second movable portion constant.

Description: This invention relates to a uniform velocity control means whereby the rotational velocity of rotational motion is made constant in a system having a rectilinear-to-rotational motion converting mechanism for converting rectilinear motion into rotational motion. A rectilinear-to-rotational motion converting mechanism exists for converting rectilinear motion into rotational motion, as known from GB-A- 2039085. The converting mechanism moves a first movable element rectilinearly and moves a second movable element rotatively in dependence upon the rectilinear movement of the first movable member. In a rectilinear-to-rotational motion converting mechanism of this type, the second movable element cannot be rotated at a uniform velocity even if the first movable element is moved rectilinearly at a uniform velocity. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a uniform velocity control means whereby the velocity of rotational motion can be rendered uniform through simple means in a rectilinear-to-rotational motion converting mechanism. Another object of the present invention is to provide a uniform velocity control method in which the rotational velocity of a rotating shaft is made constant by monitoring the position of a movable element along a linear shaft and controlling velocity along the linear shaft in dependence upon the position along the linear shaft. According to the present invention there is provided an arrangement as set out in the attached claim 1. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is an external view of an articulated robot having a rectilinear-to-rotational motion converting mechanism for converting rectilinear motion into rotational motion, Fig. 2 is a conceptual view for describing the operation of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a system for practicing the present invention, and Fig. 4 is a flowchart of processing according to the present invention. Fig. 1 is an external view of an articulated robot having a rectilinear-to-rotational motion converting mechanism to which the present invention can be applied. Fig. 2 is a conceptual view illustrating the operation of Fig. 1. A base 1 has an arm 1a provided with a rectilinear drive section 2 rotatable about a fulcrum P. The base 1 is provided with an articulated shaft 3 rotatable about a fulcrum Q. The rectilinear drive section 2 is equipped with a ball screw 2a, a motor 2b for rotating the ball screw 2a, and a movable element 2c having a nut portion threadedly engaged with the ball screw 2a. The movable element 2c and the shaft 3 are interconnected by a link 4 having a fixed length r. The link 4 is rotatable about the fulcrum Q. Rotation of the link 4 causes the articulated shaft 3 to rotate via a mechanism not shown. Connected to the distal end of the articulated shaft 3 is an articulated shaft 5 having a distal end provided with a wrist mechanism 6. When the motor 2b is rotated to rotate the ball screw 2a, the movable element 2c moves along the ball screw 2a in a direction conforming to that in which the ball screw rotates, thereby rotating the link 4 about the fulcrum Q. Moreover, the entirety of the linear drive section 2 rotates about the fulcrum P. As a result, the movable element 2c travels on an arc of radius r about the fulcrum Q. More specifically, when the ball screw 2a is rotated to move the movable element 2c successively from the solid-line position to the one-dot chain line position and then to the dashed-line position in Fig. 2, the movable element 2c travels on an arc 7 of radius r about the fulcrum Q and the link 4 rotates together with the movable element 2c. When the link 4 rotates, the articulated shaft 3 likewise is rotated about the fulcrum Q by a mechanism not shown. In a rectilinear-to-rotational motion converting mechanism of this type, even if the movable element 2c is moved along the ball screw at a uniform velocity, the movable element will not travel along the arc 7 at a uniform velocity and, as a matter of course, the articulated shaft 3 will not rotate at a uniform velocity. A uniform velocity control method performed by means according to the present invention will now be described with reference to Fig. 2. In Fig. 2, let x represent the distance from the fulcrum P to the movable element 2c, and let ϑ represent the angle defined by the link 4 and a straight line PQ. The following equation will then hold: (dx/dt) = (dx/dϑ)·(dϑ/dt) (1) Accordingly, the rotational velocity is given by the equation (dϑ/dt) = (dx/dt)·(dϑ/dx) (2) Further, let L represent the distance between the fulcrum P and the fulcrum Q, and let r be the length of the link 4. We will then have the following equation, which is based on trigonometric formulae: x² = L² + r² - 2 ·r·L cosϑ (3) Accordingly, differentiating Eq. (3) with respect to x will allow us to express (dϑ/dx) in Eq. (2) by the following equation: (dϑ/dx) = x/(r·L·sinϑ) (4) Further, sinϑ in Eq. (4) is found from Eq. (3) and the following equation: If we let V represent a commanded rotational velocity and xa a position on the linear shaft of the movable element 2c, then the following equation will hold from Eq. (2): V = (dx/dt)·(dϑ/dx) x=xa (6) Therefore, if the traveling velocity (dx/dt) of the movable element 2c along the linear shaft is controlled in dependence on the present position xa thereof in such a manner that Eq. (6) is satisfied, the rotational velocity can be made constant. Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a control apparatus for practicing the present invention, and Fig. 4 is a flowchart of processing according to the present invention. The process step numbers mentioned hereinafter are shown at the upper right corner of the respective blocks in Fig. 4. In Fig. 3, numeral 11 denotes a processor, 12 a ROM storing a control program, 13 a RAM for storing robot command data and the results of processing, 14 an operator's panel, 15 a pulse distributor, 16 a servo circuit, 17 a motor (2b in Fig. 1) for drive along the linear shaft (the ball screw 2a in Fig. 1), 18 a robot, and 19 an interface circuit for controlling the exchange of data between the robot and the control apparatus. Uniform velocity processing according to the present invention will now be described for a case where the articulated shaft 3 (see Fig. 1) is moved by jog feed. (1) A jog button (not shown) provided on the operator's panel 14 is pressed in order to jog-feed the articulated shaft 3. (2) When the jog button for the jointed shaft 3 is pressed, the processor 11 calculates the rotational velocity V, which takes an override value in account, based on the equation V = F·R (7) where F is the jog feedrate (known) and R is an override value set by an override switch on the operator's panel 14. (3) Next, the processor 11 evaluates Eq. (3) to find cosϑ for x=xa (where xa is the present position and is stored in the RAM 13), and thereafter calculates sinϑ from Eq. (5). (4) When sinϑ has been found, the processor 11 substitutes sinϑ into Eq. (4) and calculates (dϑ/dx) x=xa for x=xa in Eq. (4). (5) Thereafter, the traveling velocity Vx (=dx/dt) of the movable element 2c is calculated from Eq. (6) by using (dϑ/dx) x=xa . (6) When the traveling velocity Vx along the linear shaft has been found, the processor 11 performs the operation of equation Δ X = Vx· Δ T (8) to obtain an incremental value Δ X to be traveled over a predetermined period of time Δ T sec (e.g., 16 msec). (7) This is followed by feeding Δ X into the pulse distributor 15. (8) The pulse distributor 15 executes a pulse distribution calculation based on Δ X and generates distributed pulses Xp, which are applied to the servo circuit 16. As a result, the articulated shaft 3 is rotated at the velocity V. (9) In concurrence with the foregoing processing, the processor 11 performs the operation xa ± Δ X → xa (9) to update the present position xa along the linear shaft of the movable element 2c, which position is stored in the RAM 13, upon passage of Δ T sec. It should be noted that the sign in Eq. (9) depends upon the traveling direction. (10) The processor then checks whether the jog button is being pressed. For as long as the jog button is pressed, the processing from step (3) onward continues to be executed every Δ T sec based on the present position xa obtained from Eq. (9). When this is done, the articulated shaft 3 is rotated at the constant velocity V. The foregoing case deals with jog feed carried out by pressing a jog button. However, the invention naturally can be applied to a case where motion is controlled based on the robot command data stored in the RAM 13. According to the present invention as described above, the rotational velocity of a rotating shaft in a rectilinear-to-rotational motion converting mechanism can be made constant through a simple means. Accordingly, the present invention is well-suited for application in cases where the articulated shaft of a robot is rotated at a constant velocity.

Claims: A rectilinear-to-rotational motion converting mechanism and a control system therefor, comprising a rotary member (4) rotatable about a centre (Q) at one end thereof by means of a drive member (2c) coupled to the other end of the rotary member (4), the drive member (2c) being mounted on a rectilinear member (2a) to be driven therealong by a motor and the rectilinear member (2a) itself being pivotable about an axis (P), whereby rectilinear motion of the drive member (2c) along the rectilinear member (2a) can be converted to rotational motion of the rotary member (4), characterised in that the control system is arranged to produce a predetermined constant rotational velocity of the rotary member (4) by monitoring the changing position of the drive member (2c) along the rectilinear member (2a), by calculating in dependence upon said changing position the rectilinear velocity of the drive member (2c) along the rectilinear member (4) which is necessary for providing the predetermined constant rotational velocity of the rotary member (4), and by controlling said motor so as to provide said necessary rectilinear velocity of the drive member (2c), the calculation comprising finding the necessary rectilinear velocity dx/dt of the drive member (2c) from the expression V = (dx/dt)· (dϑ/dx) x=xa wherein V is the value of said predetermined constant rotational velocity of the rotary member (4), xa is the present value of the position x of the drive member (2c) along the rectilinear member (2a), and ϑ is the angle between the line joining the ends of the rotary member (4), and the line joining the centre (Q) to the axis (P). A rectilinear-to-rotational motion converting mechanism and a control system therefor, according to claim 1, wherein (dϑ/dx) is obtained from equations x² = L² + r² - 2.r.L.cosϑ and sinϑ² + cosϑ² = 1 where L is the distance between the axis (P) and the centre (Q) and r is the length of the rotary member (4). A rectilinear-to-rotational motion converting mechanism and a control system therefor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rectilinear member (2a) is a screw driven by the motor, and the drive member (2c) is driven along the screw by cooperation therewith when the screw rotates. A rectilinear-to-rotational motion converting mechanism and a control system therefor, according to any preceding claim, when incorporated in an articulated robot for converting rectilinear motion of the drive member (2c) into rotational motion of an articulated shaft (3) coupled to the rotary member (4).

Inventors: ISHIKAWA, HARUYUKI, NAKASHIMA, SEIICHIRO, SAKAKIBARA, SHINSUKE, TOYODA, KENICHI
Applicants: FANUC LTD.
Application year: 1985
Main classification: G05B19
IPC codes: B25J9, G05B19, B25J13