Abstract: A method for controlling a multi-axis industrial robot or manipulator arranged with a robot control unit. The robot or the control unit includes at least one first computer running a servo controller. A motion limit is configured for at least one axis of the robot arm. A reference signal for a robot position is sent to a robot controller together with a measurement of a position of the robot arm. The reference position is processed and the measured position and the processed reference position are then compared in an evaluator for the purpose of limiting the motion of an arm of the robot.

Abstract: An apparatus, a method and a control system for controlling an industrial robot with at least one axis of rotation and/or translation. The robot includes at least one actuator or motor at each of the axes for driving a movement of an arm of the robot and at least one sensor at each of the rotatable shafts. A dither-signal generator for generation of a periodic signal is used to provide a varying dither signal to a servo of the actuator. Automatic adaption of the dither signal is provided. A computer program for carrying out the method and a graphical user interface.

Abstract: A method for controlling a multi-axis industrial robot or manipulator arranged with a robot control unit. The robot or the control unit includes at least one first computer running a servo controller. A motion limit is configured for at least one axis of the robot arm. A reference signal for a robot position is sent to a robot controller together with a measurement of a position of the robot arm. The reference position is processed and the measured position and the processed reference position are then compared in an evaluator for the purpose of limiting the motion of an arm of the robot.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for protection of a machine-controlled handling appliance having moving parts, having a safety sensor system for detection of objects in the working area of the handling appliance, having a safety controller which interacts with the handling appliance controller and in the process controls safety-relevant handling appliance functions as a function of signals from the safety sensor system. The safety sensor system has non-contacting proximity sensors so that a safety-relevant part of the working area of the handling appliance is covered by the detection areas of the proximity sensors.

Abstract: An industrial robot including a parallel kinematic manipulator of an object in space. The manipulator includes a stationary platform, a movable platform for carrying the object, and at least three arms connecting the platforms. Each arm includes a first arm part connected to the stationary platform for manipulating the movable platform.

Abstract: A method for simulating a movement zone of a robot having at least one data processing installation, simulating at least one movement path of the robot, comprises providing a number of selectable points on the at least one movement path of the robot, calculating a braking path for each of the selectable points, calculating a virtual movement zone based on the braking paths and a maximum position reachable by the robot for the respective at least one movement path, and carrying out the simulation of functions of the robot off-line using a software module.

Abstract: A system and method for changing safety-relevant data for a control device is provided wherein an authorized user inputs new or altered safety-relevant data, which is received on a data processing installation. A first checksum for the safety-relevant data is established and stored along with the safety-relevant data in at least one data record on the data processing installation. An enable code may also be stored in the at least one data record. This enable code may be produced by a code generator and encrypted by a key module. The data processing installation then reads back the safety-relevant data from a memory in the data processing installation, thereby allowing a comparison of the received safety-relevant data and the read back safety-relevant data. A second checksum is generated in a case where the comparison resulted in no differences. The second checksum may also be stored in the at least one data record.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a defect detection system for identifying defects in weld seams. An exemplary system comprises a scanner device, which is mounted on a displacement device of a processing unit and which can be displaced by said unit over at least one weld seam that is to be examined. The scanner unit scans the weld seam using a predefinable frequency, each scanning sweep being correlated with a time signal and the time signal being used to record the point in time when at least one location containing defects is scanned. The system is equipped with an analysis module to determine the co-ordinates of the defects from the signals that are obtained by means of the scanning sweeps. The analysis module also stores the co-ordinates of the defects and transmits them to a localisation module.

Abstract: A method for operating a robot with a tool changer comprises providing a plurality of different kinds of tools, associating each of the plurality of tools with an unique explicit signature, producing at least one safe signal using the tool changer, wherein the at least one safe signal is a two-channel signal corresponding to one of the unique explicit signatures, and identifying the at least one tool using the at least one safe signal.

Abstract: A system for controlling a movement device is disclosed. The system includes a movement device with a tool provided on the movement device, a movement device controller, a safety controller, a tool maintenance station and a movement detection unit for calculating a position of the movement device in the safety controller. The system includes a position detection module for generating a signal corresponding to a positioning of the tool in the tool maintenance station, which signal is made available to the safety controller by a transmission unit for the signal.

Abstract: A jig particularly for the positioning of articles (1), with length-adjustable props (2), with a base part (3), with a receptacle (4) for the article (1), the props (2) being arranged between the base part (3) and the receptacle (4) and being in each case mounted movably there, and with a drive and control for adjusting the props (2), is specified. At least one pair of props (5) is formed from two props (2) in such a way that the two props (2) of the pair of props (5) extend parallel, thus resulting in the form of a parallelogram.