Robot Teaching Unit Detection for Wireless Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In conventional robot systems with wireless connections, there is a risk of accidental activation of the safety protective fence door, leading to potential danger for operators due to the lack of physical connection between the teaching unit and the robot controlling unit, which can result in erroneous operation program activation.
Innovation Solution
A robot system with a feeding unit that powers and charges the teaching unit, incorporating a detection device to verify the correct placement of the teaching unit, ensuring a teaching unit present signal is issued only when the unit is correctly positioned, preventing unauthorized or accidental activation of the operation program.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless connection is used between teaching unit and robot controlling unit, then cable entanglement is eliminated and operator mobility is improved, but safety risk increases due to inability to detect teaching unit presence
Solution Approach 1:
A detection device serves as an intermediary between the teaching unit and robot controlling unit. The detection device detects the presence of the teaching unit and transmits this information to the robot controlling unit, enabling safety monitoring without requiring a physical cable connection. This resolves the contradiction by providing safety feedback through a separate detection mechanism rather than through the communication channel itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection with a wireless communication system combined with a detection device. The detection device uses non-mechanical means (such as electromagnetic fields or optical detection) to sense the teaching unit's presence, substituting the mechanical indication that previously came from cable connection status. This enables both wireless operation and safety monitoring.
2Productivity
If teaching unit is positioned near robot for teaching operation, then teaching efficiency is improved, but risk of accidental robot activation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot controlling unit performs a preliminary check by receiving detection information about the teaching unit's presence before allowing operation program activation. This preliminary verification ensures that the teaching unit is properly positioned and acknowledged before the robot begins operation, preventing accidental activation even when the teaching unit is positioned close to the robot for efficient teaching.
3Reliability
If cable connection is used for power supply and signal transmission, then reliable power supply is ensured, but cable management problems and limited mobility occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power supply function from the cable connection by providing the teaching unit with an independent battery. This separates the power supply system from the communication system, allowing wireless signal transmission while maintaining reliable power supply through the battery. The detection device then monitors teaching unit presence without requiring physical connection.
Data Source
AI summary
The safety of an operator which may be endangered by an erroneous instruction by the operator or a robot control system is ensured by making more stringent a condition regarding the separation of the operator from the vicinity of a robot when an operation program of the robot is activated. An interlock to which a condition regarding activation of the operation program of the robot is added is provided in a feeding unit which is connected to a robot controlling unit by wireless connection for charging a teaching unit, so as to provide a robot system which improves the safety of the operator.