APPARATUS FOR LIMITING THE OPERATION RANGE OF AN INDUSTRIAL ROBOT

Abstract: An apparatus for limiting the operation range of an industrial robot, wherein a display portion (7) to display, e.g., the angle of rotation is provided on a fixed side (1) of a turning portion of a shaft that turns, and a range limiting member (6) having a dog and a stopper is movably arranged on said display portion (7). When the industrial robot is going to rotate in excess of a specified range of rotation during an operation, a limit member (81) provided on the moving side (2) of the shaft portion comes into contact with a dog (61) on the fixed side (1), whereby an overtravel is detected and an alarm is produced to indicate that the specified range of rotation has been exceeded. When the robot is further going to pivot due to inertia or the like, a buffer member (82) abuts against a stopper mechanism (62) to prevent the robot from turning excessively.

Description: This invention relates to an industrial robot and, more particularly, to an industrial robot motion range limiting apparatus for limiting the angle of rotation of such a robot. An industrial robot comprises a pedestal fixed to a floor or movable along a floor, a ϑ axis rotatably provided on the pedestal, a W axis swingably attached to the ϑ axis, a U axis swingably provided on the end of the W axis, and a wrist provided on the end of the U axis. A swiveling portion of each axis is provided with an overtravel limit switch and stopper mechanism. When each axis attempts to rotate beyond a stipulated range of rotation, a projecting member provided on one shaft support portion actuates an overtravel detection limit switch provided on another rotary shaft support portion, whereby a warning is issued to the effect that the rotary shaft has rotated in excess of a predetermined angle of rotation. When the rotary shaft rotates further due to inertia or the like, an interference member provided on a rotary portion abuts against a stopper provided on the other shaft support portion to prevent any further rotation. In the conventional motion range limiting apparatus described above, the stopper mechanisms are mounted at positions which depend upon the manner in which the robot is used and the rotational angles of the robot. Like the stopper mechanisms, the projecting members for detecting overtravel also are mounted at positions which depend upon the rotational angles of the robot. However, the positions at which these stopper mechanisms and projecting members are mounted do not have marks for indicating the mounting position and considerable labor is required to set the positions. The present invention has been devised to improve upon the foregoing drawbacks of the prior art and the object thereof is to provide an industrial robot motion range limiting apparatus in which the mounting position of a mechanism, including a stopper mechanism, provided at a rotating shaft support portion of the industrial robot for limiting the range of rotation of the robot can be changed in a simple manner, and in which the mounting position is clearly indicated. FR-A-2 213 212 discloses an apparatus for limiting a range of swivelling motion in an industrial robot, having the features of the preamble of accompanying claim 1. According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for limiting a range of swivelling motion in an industrial robot having a first portion which is stationary in said motion and a second portion which performs said motion, comprising range limiting means including a stopper provided on said first portion, and engaging means provided on said second portion for engaging said stopper to prevent excessive swivelling motion of said second portion; characterised in that: said range limiting means comprises said stopper and an overtravel detection dog, and is detachably mounted to said first portion of the robot; said engaging means comprises a detector for detecting overtravel when it contacts said dog; and said first portion comprises indicating means, provided in an area of said first portion where said range limiting means can be mounted so as to indicate the position of the range limiting means. Preferably, the engaging means includes a limit switch acting as the detector, and a projection for striking the stopper. Preferably, the projection of the engaging means comprises a shock absorber consisting of rubber. When the industrial robot attempts to rotate beyond a stipulated range of rotation during operation, the engaging means provided on the moving portion of the robot contacts the dog on the stationary portion to detect overtravel, whereby a warning is issued to the effect that the stipulated range of rotation has been exceeded. When the robot attempts to rotate further due to inertia, the shock absorber strikes the stopper to prevent excessive swiveling. Reference is made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an embodiment of an apparatus for limiting the motion range of an industrial robot according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the entirety of an industrial robot provided with the present embodiment; Fig. 3 is a top view of an indicating section of the present embodiment; Fig. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the indicating section; Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a fixed member of the present embodiment; and Fig. 6 is a view for describing the operation of the present embodiment. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 2 illustrates an industrial robot. Numeral 1 denotes a stationary side of a ϑ axis of the industrial robot, which is fixed to a floor. Mounted on the upper portion of the stationary side is a movable side 2 of the ϑ axis, about which rotation is possible within a predetermined range. Provided on the movable side 2 of the ϑ axis is a W axis 3 capable of swinging back and forth within a predetermined range of rotation. A U axis 4 capable of swinging back and forth within a predetermined range of rotation is provided on the distal end of the W axis 3. A wrist 5 is provided on the distal end of the U axis 4. In fig. 1, a pedestal 12 having a plurality of bolt holes 11 for securing the pedestal is disposed on the lower portion of the stationary side 1. The latter constitutes an annular cylinder the upper face of which has a mounting portion 13 forming a swiveling portion with the movable side 2. The mounting portion 13 has indications 14 indicating the rotational angle of the ϑ axis, and screw holes 15 for fixing range limiting members 6, described below. Thus is formed an indicating section 7. Fig. 3 is a top view of the indicating section 7, and Fig. 4(A) is a partially enlarged perspective view of the indicating section 7. By way of example, angles of rotation about the ϑ axis are indicated every 15°, and the screw holes 15 for fixing the range limiting members 6 are provided every 15° at positions corresponding to the angle indications. Fig. 4(B) is a perspective view of one of the range limiting members 6, which is provided with an overtravel detection dog 61 and a stopper mechanism 62. The range limiting member 6 can be attached to any position on the indicating portion 7 by screws 63 and can be moved by removing the screws. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fixed member 8 provided on the movable side 2 of the ϑ axis. The fixed member 8 has a limit member 81 which detects overtravel when it contacts the dog 61, and a shock absorber 82 which prevents excessive swiveling when it strikes the stopper mechanism 62. The shock absorber 82 consists of e.g. a cylindrical piece of hard rubber and is affixed to both sides of a fixed frame 83 so as to project therefrom. The limit member 81 is constituted by e.g. a microswitch (a switch for detecting overtravel and referred to as an "OT" switch hereinafter) for sensing contact even with a small projection to open and close an electric circuit. A portion 84 for detecting such contact is attached to the fixed frame 83 so as to detect the presence of the dog 61 on the indicating section 7. The fixed frame 83 having the projecting shock absorbers 82 on both its sides is attached to the outer side of the swiveling portion of the movable side 2 and has enough strength to prevent excessive swiveling of the movable side 2 when one of the shock absorbers 82 strikes the stopper mechanism 62. The operation of the present embodiment having the foregoing construction will now be described. In an industrial robot in which the motion range of the ϑ axis is a rotational angle of e.g. 300°, the motion range limiting members 6 are attached to the indicating portion 7 in such a manner that the respective stoppers 62 will be situated at positions 30° to the left and right of 0°, as shown in Fig. 6. In the drawings, the movable side 2 rotates counter-clockwise, i.e. the fixed member 8 provided on the movable side 2 travels in the direction of arrow A. In the course of such movement, the detecting portion 84 of limit member 81 first detects the left end of dog 61 to actuate the OT switch, whereby control is performed to halt rotation of the movable side 2. Due to inertia and the like, the movable side 2 does not come to rest immediately but continues rotating through a predetermined angle and stops when the shock absorber 82 strikes the stopper mechanism 62. This prevents the movable side from traveling beyond the range of motion. In Fig. 6, numeral 8′ denotes the position of the fixed member when the movable side 2 rotates clockwise so that the fixed member 8 approaches from the right side of Fig. 6. Excessive swiveling of the movable side 2 is prevented by abutting contact between the stopper mechanism 62 and shock absorber 82, just as set forth above. In the foregoing description, the range of motion of the ϑ axis is taken as being a rotational angle of 300°. Accordingly, the range limiting members 6 are attached at positions 30° to the left and right of 0°, as shown in Fig. 6. However, since the indications 14 and screw holes 15 are provided on the indicating section 7, it is possible to provide the range limiting members 6 at any desired positions. Though the present invention has been described based on an embodiment thereof, the invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the claims. In the industrial robot motion range limiting apparatus of the present invention, range limiting members having a dog for limiting motion range and a mechanism for preventing excessive swiveling are provided on a rotating shaft support portion of the industrial robot. Also provided on the support portion is an indicating section which enables the limiting members to be mounted at desired positions which are clearly marked. If the range of motion is set in accordance with the indicating section the range of motion of the industrial robot can be limited easily and reliably without labor.

Claims: 1. An apparatus for limiting a range of swivelling motion in an industrial robot having a first portion (1) which is stationary in said motion and a second portion (2) which performs said motion, comprising range limiting means (6) including a stopper (62) provided on said first portion (1), and engaging means (8) provided on said second portion (2) for engaging said stopper (62) to prevent excessive swivelling motion of said second portion (2); characterised in that: said range limiting means (6) comprises said stopper (62) and an overtravel detection dog (61), and is detachably mounted to said first portion (1) of the robot; said engaging means (8) comprises a detector (81) for detecting overtravel when it contacts said dog (61); and said first portion (1) comprises indicating means (7), provided in an area of said first portion (1) where said range limiting means (6) can be mounted so as to indicate the position of the range limiting means. 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said engaging means (8) comprises a limit switch providing said detector (81), and projecting means (82) for striking said stopper (62). 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said projecting means (82) comprise a shock absorber made of rubber. 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said indicating means (7) is associated with a set of mounting means (15) for detachably mounting said range limiting means. 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said indicating means (7) is provided as a set of angular markings (14), each marking corresponding to a respective one of the mounting means (15).

Inventors: MIZUNO, HITOSHI, NIHEI, RYO, TORII, NOBUTOSHI
Applicants: FANUC LTD.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B25J19
IPC codes: B25J17, B25J19, B25J9