Explosion-proof teaching operation panel base

Abstract

Provided is an explosion-proof teaching operation panel base 50 with which it is possible to suppress the amount of electric energy required. An explosion-proof teaching operation panel base 50 is used for a wired explosion-proof machine tool having an intrinsically safe structure, the explosion-proof teaching operation panel base 50 comprising a wireless communication module, and communicating, via the wireless communication module, with an external wireless explosion-proof device that is provided with a display unit 84 and an operation unit 86.

Description

Explosion-proof teaching operation panel base

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an explosion-proof teaching operation panel base.

[0002] An external operating device that communicates with an explosion-proof robot by wireless communication is known. Patent Document 1 discloses an operating device that includes a display unit and an operation unit and performs wireless communication with a transceiver of an explosion-proof device.

[0003] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2020-13649

[0004] Conventionally, a robot teaching operation panel used in an explosive atmosphere is connected to a robot body by wire, and is equipped with safety-related contacts, an operation unit, a display unit, etc., and has an explosion-proof structure with an intrinsically safe structure. In order to give the robot teaching operation panel an explosion-proof structure with an intrinsically safe structure, a device for restricting the energy supply to the explosion-proof robot teaching operation panel in a non-explosive atmosphere, that is, a barrier, is required.

[0005] In a conventional explosion-proof teaching operation panel, due to its intrinsically safe structure, it is necessary to drive the explosion-proof robot teaching operation panel with energy below that restricted by the barrier. With the energy restricted by the barrier, the energy required especially for display on the display unit may be insufficient.

[0006] In order to prevent the energy required on the display unit from being insufficient, it is necessary to simplify the display, for example, changing color display to monochrome display, reducing the display update speed, reducing the number of pixels, etc.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an explosion-proof teaching operation panel base capable of suppressing the required electrical energy so that the energy required on the display unit is not insufficient.

[0008] The explosion-proof teaching operation panel base of the present disclosure is a wired explosion-proof teaching operation panel base for an explosion-proof machine tool with an intrinsically safe structure, and includes a wireless communication module and communicates with an external wireless explosion-proof device including a display unit and an operation unit through the wireless communication module.

[0009] According to the explosion-proof teaching operation panel base of the present disclosure, an explosion-proof teaching operation panel capable of suppressing the required electrical energy can be provided.

[0010] This figure shows an explosion-proof system including an explosion-proof teaching control panel base according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. This figure shows a modified example of the explosion-proof system including an explosion-proof teaching control panel base according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. This figure shows a conventional explosion-proof system including a conventional explosion-proof teaching control panel.

[0011] The embodiments for implementing this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. However, this disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. This disclosure can be implemented with appropriate modifications without departing from the spirit of this disclosure.

[0012] (Explosion-proof system) The explosion-proof system 1 of this disclosure will be explained using an explosion-proof robot as an example. An example of an explosion-proof robot is a painting robot. Note that the explosion-proof robot is for illustrative purposes only. The explosion-proof system 1 of this disclosure can be applied to various industrial machines, in particular explosion-proof machine tools, etc.

[0013] Figure 1 is a diagram showing an overview of an explosion-proof system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The explosion-proof system 1 comprises a teaching control panel communication circuit (TPC) 10, an explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50, and an explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80.

[0014] The teaching control panel communication circuit (TPC) 10 is a circuit for driving the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50. The explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 is a control panel for teaching the operation of machine tools such as explosion-proof robots (not shown).

[0015] The explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80 is a display and input terminal that inputs the content to be taught to the machine tool into the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50, and also displays the status of the machine tool. The explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80 is an example of wireless explosion-proof equipment.

[0016] (Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Areas) The explosion-proof system 1 is divided into a non-hazardous area NHR and a hazardous area HR, with boundary line L10 as the dividing line. The side of boundary line L10 indicated by arrow A1 is the non-hazardous area NHR. The side of boundary line L10 indicated by arrow A2 is the hazardous area HR. The teaching control panel communication circuit (TPC) 10 is included in the non-hazardous area NHR. The explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 and the explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80 are included in the hazardous area HR.

[0017] (Teaching control panel communication circuit) The teaching control panel communication circuit (TPC) 10 includes a first power supply circuit (PSC1) 12, a first communication circuit (CC1) 14, and an emergency stop signal processing circuit (ESC) 16.

[0018] (Explosion-proof teaching control panel base) The explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 includes a second power supply circuit (PSC2) 52, a second communication circuit (CC2) 54, and an emergency stop-related contact (ESS) 58. The explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 is a wired control panel connected by a line to the teaching control panel communication circuit (TPC) 10.

[0019] The first power supply circuit (PSC1) 12 of the teaching control panel communication circuit (TPC) 10 is connected to the second power supply circuit (PSC2) 52 of the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50. The first power supply circuit (PSC1) 12 and the second power supply circuit (PSC2) 52 are connected via a first line L1 and a second line L2, etc. Power is supplied to the second power supply circuit (PSC2) 52 from the first power supply circuit (PSC1) 12.

[0020] The first communication circuit (CC1) 14 of the teaching control panel communication circuit (TPC) 10 is connected to the second communication circuit (CC2) 54 of the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50. The first communication circuit (CC1) 14 and the second communication circuit (CC2) 54 are connected via a third line L3 and a fourth line L4, etc. Various signals, such as signals related to the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50, are transmitted and received between the first communication circuit (CC1) 14 and the second communication circuit (CC2) 54. Communication from the first communication circuit (CC1) 14 to the second communication circuit (CC2) 54 is performed via the third line L3. Communication from the second communication circuit (CC2) 54 to the first communication circuit (CC1) 14 is performed via the fourth line L4.

[0021] The emergency stop signal processing circuit (ESC) 16 of the teaching control panel communication circuit (TPC) 10 is connected to the emergency stop related contact (ESS) 58 of the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50. The emergency stop signal processing circuit (ESC) 16 and the emergency stop related contact (ESS) 58 are connected via a fifth line L1, etc. Specifically, the emergency stop related contact includes an emergency stop switch and an enable switch.

[0022] In particular, when the machine tool provided in the explosion-proof system 1 of this disclosure is an explosion-proof robot, the explosion-proof system 1 is configured to be able to emergency stop the machine tool. In the explosion-proof system 1 of this embodiment, when the emergency stop-related contact (ESS) 58 of the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 is operated, an emergency stop signal is transmitted from the emergency stop-related contact (ESS) 58 to the emergency stop signal processing circuit (ESC) 16. The emergency stop signal is transmitted from the emergency stop-related contact (ESS) 58 to the emergency stop signal processing circuit (ESC) 16 via the fifth line L1. By transmitting the emergency stop signal to the emergency stop signal processing circuit (ESC) 16, the machine tool can be emergency stopped reliably and without delay.

[0023] The intrinsically safe structure in the explosion-proof system 1 of the embodiment of this disclosure will be described. First, the separation of the teaching control panel communication circuit (TPC) 10 and the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 will be described.

[0024] (Intrinsically Safe Equipment) An intrinsically safe equipment (ISE) 20 is provided on the first line L1. In an intrinsically safe structure, the electrical energy that may be supplied to the equipment is limited to a certain level or lower so that ignition is not caused by sparks or temperature rise. One example of a means of limiting electrical energy to a certain level or lower is to limit the current with resistors and fuses and the voltage with Zener. The intrinsically safe equipment (ISE) 20 specifies the maximum output voltage (Uo) and the maximum output current (Io). From the maximum output voltage (Uo) and the maximum output current (Io), the maximum external inductance (Lo) and the maximum external capacitance (Co) that can be connected to the equipment are specified.

[0025] (Insulation Structure) The third line L3, the fourth line L4, and the fifth line L5 are each provided with an insulation structure. The insulation structure isolates the inductance and capacitance between the teaching control panel communication circuit (TPC) 10 and the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50. The third line L3 is provided with a first insulation structure (IS1) 21, the fourth line L4 is provided with a second insulation structure (IS2) 22, and the fifth line L5 is provided with a third insulation structure (IS3) 23.

[0026] The intrinsically safe equipment (ISE) 20, the first insulating structure (IS1) 21, the second insulating structure (IS2) 22, and the third insulating structure (IS3) 23 enable electrical isolation between the teaching control panel communication circuit (TPC) 10 and the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 at the boundary line L10 between the non-hazardous area A1 and the hazardous area A2.

[0027] The explosion-proof structure of the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 will be described. The explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 is configured as an intrinsically safe structure. Furthermore, the electrical energy required for the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 has been significantly reduced. The main reason for the reduction in electrical energy in the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 is that the explosion-proof system 1 is equipped with an explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80.

[0028] (Explosion-proof tablet) This section describes the explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80. The explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80 has a pressure-resistant explosion-proof structure. The explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80 can be used in the hazardous area HR.

[0029] The explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80 comprises a battery (BA) 82, a display unit (DU) 84, an operation unit (OU) 86, and a second wireless communication unit (WCU2) 88. The battery (BA) 82 supplies power for the operation of the explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80. The display unit (DU) 84 is a part that displays various information related to explosion protection or teaching, such as the content to be taught to the machine tool. The operation unit (OU) 86 is a part for inputting various content related to explosion protection or teaching, such as the content to be taught to the machine tool. The second wireless communication unit (WCU2) 88 is a part that enables wireless communication with the explosion-proof teaching operation panel base (TPB) 50. The second wireless communication unit (WCU2) 88 is an example of a wireless communication module.

[0030] (Wireless Communication Unit) The explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 includes a first wireless communication unit (WCU1) 56. The first wireless communication unit (WCU1) 56 is the part that enables wireless communication with the explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80. By having a wireless communication unit in both the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 and the explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80, wireless communication (wireless communication WC) between the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 and the explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80 becomes possible. The first wireless communication unit (WCU1) 56 is an example of a wireless communication module.

[0031] (Conventional Explosion-Proof Teaching Control Panel) Here, with reference to Figure 3, a conventional explosion-proof teaching control panel (TP) 501 will be described. Figure 3 is a diagram showing a conventional explosion-proof system 101 including a conventional explosion-proof teaching control panel (TP) 501. The following description will mainly explain the differences between the conventional explosion-proof system 101 and the explosion-proof system 1 of this disclosure.

[0032] Unlike the explosion-proof system 1 of this embodiment, the conventional explosion-proof system 101 does not include an explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80. Therefore, the display unit (DU) 84 and the operation unit (OU) 86 that were provided on the explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80 are provided on the explosion-proof teaching control panel (TP) 501.

[0033] Specifically, the explosion-proof teaching control panel (TP) 501 differs from the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 shown in Figure 1, and further comprises a control panel display unit (DUP) 504, a control panel operation unit (OUP) 506, a first processing circuit (PC1) 511, and a second processing circuit (PC2) 512.

[0034] The control panel display unit (DUP) 504, like the display unit (DU) 84 of the explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80, is a part that displays various information related to explosion prevention or teaching. The control panel operation unit (OUP) 506, like the operation unit (OU) 86 of the explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80, is a part that inputs various content related to explosion prevention or teaching.

[0035] Unlike the explosion-proof system 1 of this embodiment, the conventional explosion-proof system 101 does not include an explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80. Therefore, the control panel display unit (DUP) 504 and the control panel operation unit (OUP) 506 are provided on the explosion-proof teaching control panel (TP) 501.

[0036] The first processing circuit (PC1) 511 and the second processing circuit (PC2) 512 are processing circuits corresponding to the control panel display unit (DUP) 504 and the control panel operation unit (OUP) 506, respectively. The first processing circuit (PC1) 511 is connected to the control panel display unit (DUP) 504, and the second processing circuit (PC2) 512 is connected to the control panel operation unit (OUP) 506.

[0037] Unlike the explosion-proof teaching control panel (TP) 50 shown in Figure 1, the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 does not include a first wireless communication unit (WCU1) 56. The explosion-proof system 101 does not include an explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80. Therefore, the first wireless communication unit (WCU1) 56 for wireless communication with the explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80 is unnecessary.

[0038] Unlike the conventional explosion-proof system 101, the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 of this embodiment does not include a display unit and an operating unit. Furthermore, it does not include processing circuits that are provided in conjunction with the display unit and operating unit. Therefore, the explosion-proof system 1 of this embodiment can provide an explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 that can suppress the necessary electrical energy.

[0039] This section describes the intrinsically safe structure of an explosion-proof teaching control panel. To establish an intrinsically safe structure for explosion protection, the parameters of the explosion-proof teaching control panel must be less than the parameters of the intrinsically safe related equipment.

[0040] The explosion-proof teaching control panel is constructed with an intrinsically safe structure. The conventional explosion-proof teaching control panel (TP) 501 shown in Figure 3 includes a control panel display unit (DUP) 504, a control panel operation unit (OUP) 506, a first processing circuit (PC1) 511, a second processing circuit (PC2) 512, and emergency stop-related contacts (ESS) 58, etc. Here, for example, the total inductance of the first processing circuit (PC1) 511 and the second processing circuit (PC2) 512 can be defined as L1, the capacitance as C1, the maximum allowable input voltage as Ui, and the maximum allowable input current as Ii.

[0041] The parameters of the explosion-proof teaching control panel (TP) 501 must be less than the parameters of the intrinsically safe equipment (ISE) 20, specifically less than the maximum external inductance (Lo) and maximum external capacitance (Co) described earlier. Therefore, in conventional explosion-proof teaching control panels (TP) 501, it was necessary to reduce the functionality of the display and control sections in order to suppress the electrical energy of the explosion-proof teaching control panel.

[0042] In contrast, the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 of this embodiment does not have a display unit and an operation unit. On the other hand, the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 of this embodiment is equipped with a first wireless communication unit (WCU1) 56 that can wirelessly communicate with an external explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80 having a pressure-resistant explosion-proof structure. The WCU1 then communicates wirelessly with the explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80, which is equipped with a display unit (DU) 84 and an operation unit (OU) 86.

[0043] In the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 of this embodiment, the electrical energy required for the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 can be significantly reduced by reducing the functions of the display unit and the operation unit. As a result, the parameters of the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 can be kept below the various parameters (voltage, current, inductance, conductance) that are limited by the intrinsically safe equipment (ISE) 20.

[0044] In the explosion-proof instruction operation panel base (TPB) 50 of this embodiment, for the functions of the display unit and the operation unit, the functions are complemented by using the explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80 with a pressure-resistant explosion-proof structure for which authentication has been obtained.

[0045] The explosion-proof instruction operation panel base (TPB) 50 of this embodiment includes a wireless communication unit for wireless connection with the explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80. Generally, the electrical energy required for wireless communication is significantly lower than the electrical energy required for the display unit and the operation unit. Therefore, as a whole, the explosion-proof instruction operation panel base (TPB) 50 can significantly suppress the required electrical energy. Note that the wireless communication method between the explosion-proof instruction operation panel base (TPB) 50 and the explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80 is not particularly limited.

[0046] (Modified example) Referring to FIG. 2, a modified example of the explosion-proof system 1 of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a modified example of the explosion-proof system 1 including the explosion-proof instruction operation panel base (TPB) 50 of the embodiment of the present disclosure. In the following description, matters different from the explosion-proof system 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be mainly described.

[0047] In the explosion-proof system 1 of the modified example, the explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80 is non-contact charged with the explosion-proof instruction operation panel base (TPB) 50.

[0048] The explosion-proof instruction operation panel base (TPB) 50 further includes a non-contact charging unit (CCU) 60. Also, the battery (BA) 82 of the explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80 is configured to be non-contact charged via the non-contact charging unit (CCU) 60 of the explosion-proof instruction operation panel base (TPB) 50.

[0049] In the modified explosion-proof system 1, the explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80 can be used without having to worry excessively about the remaining charge of the battery (BA) 82. Furthermore, there is no need to form externally exposed terminals for charging on the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 and the explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80. Therefore, safety in the hazardous area HR can be enhanced. The method of contactless charging between the explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 50 and the explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 80 is not particularly limited.

[0050] In this disclosure, the operating unit and display unit are provided in a pressure-resistant explosion-proof wireless device, such as an explosion-proof tablet. This disclosure provides an explosion-proof robot teaching control panel that can wirelessly connect to a wireless device and is equipped with a wireless module such as a wireless communication unit and safety-related contacts such as emergency stop-related contacts. The explosion-proof robot teaching control panel is preferentially connected to a control unit such as an explosion-proof robot and has an intrinsically safe structure.

[0051] In this disclosure, the operating and display units, which require a large amount of electrical energy, are mounted on separate devices from the explosion-proof teaching control panel base. Therefore, the electrical energy required for the explosion-proof robot teaching control panel can be significantly reduced, and as a result, a practical barrier configuration can be realized.

[0052] As the electrical energy of the explosion-proof robot teaching control panel increases, it becomes necessary to increase the size of the barriers for the equipment related to this invention. In order to increase at least one of the maximum current value and the maximum voltage value limited by the barrier, it is necessary to increase the limiting elements inside the barrier and the wire diameter after the barrier. In contrast, this disclosure can suppress the need to increase the size of the barrier. As a result, the cost increase of the explosion-proof system can be suppressed.

[0053] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments or modifications described above, and any modifications or improvements that can achieve the objectives of this disclosure are included.

[0054] 1 Explosion-proof system 10 Teaching control panel communication circuit (TPC) 12 First power supply circuit (PSC1) 14 First communication circuit (CC1) 16 Emergency stop signal processing circuit (ESC) 20 Intrinsically safe equipment (ISE) 21 First insulation structure (IS1) 22 Second insulation structure (IS2) 23 Third insulation structure (IS3) 50 Explosion-proof teaching control panel base (TPB) 52 Second power supply circuit (PSC2) 54 Second communication circuit (CC2) 56 First wireless communication unit (WCU1) 58 Emergency stop related contacts (ESS) 60 Contactless charging unit (CCU) 80 Explosion-proof tablet (EPT) 82 Battery (BA) 84 Display unit (DU) 86 Operation unit (OU) 88 Second wireless communication unit (WCU2) 101 Explosion-proof system 501 Explosion-proof teaching control panel (TP) 504 Control panel display unit (DUP) 506 Control panel operation unit (OUP) 511 First processing circuit (PC1) 512 Second processing circuit (PC2)

Claims

1. An explosion-proof teaching control panel base for a wired explosion-proof work equipment having an intrinsically safe structure, comprising a wireless communication module, and communicating with an external wireless explosion-proof device having a display unit and an operating unit via the wireless communication module.

2. The explosion-proof teaching control panel base according to claim 1, wherein the explosion-proof work equipment is an explosion-proof robot and further comprises an emergency stop related switch.

3. The explosion-proof teaching control panel base according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a contactless charging unit for contactless charging the aforementioned wireless explosion-proof equipment.

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