Patents Assigned to KUKA Deutschland GmbH
  • Patent number: 11260527
    Abstract: A method for controlling a robot includes applying a setpoint force to a contact point; measuring a contact stiffness at the contact point; and slowing down the moving robot using its drives and/or braking the robot to apply the setpoint force to the contact point by the slowing down and/or slowed down robot depending on the measured contact stiffness, wherein the robot is slowed down before the setpoint force is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Yevgen Kogan
  • Patent number: 11221632
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for checking a collision between a driverless transport vehicle (1) and a further driverless transport vehicle during planning of a movement of at least the driverless transport vehicle (1). The invention further relates to a driverless transport vehicle (1) and to a system having a plurality of driverless transport vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Moritz Martens, Tabea Grams
  • Patent number: 11215989
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a robot includes monitoring a safety condition and operating the robot in a limitation operating mode for as long as the monitored safety condition is not fulfilled. A deceleration of the robot is commanded and monitored in the limitation operating mode for as long as the robot exceeds a velocity limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Bonin
  • Patent number: 11207784
    Abstract: A hand-held robot operating device combination has: an autonomous safety-related basic control device that includes a housing, a safety-relevant switching means on the housing, and a communication device for connecting the autonomous safety-related basic control device for control purposes to a controller of a robot; an autonomous mobile terminal that includes a terminal controller and at least one terminal position sensor designed to sense positional data in respect of the autonomous mobile terminal in at least one of the degrees of freedom thereof; and a holder designed to mechanically connect the autonomous safety-related basic control device to the autonomous mobile terminal in a manually detachable combined arrangement so as to form the hand-held robot operating device combination; the autonomous safety-related basic control device includes at least one basic-control position sensor which is designed to sense positional data in respect of the autonomous safety-related basic control device in at least one
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Yevgen Kogan
  • Patent number: 11185995
    Abstract: A robot gripper includes a first gripper finger and at least one second gripper finger, a gripper main body, a base element mounted for rotation about a first rotational axis relative to the gripper main body by a first rotary joint, and an intermediate element mounted for rotation relative to the base element by a second rotary joint. The gripper further includes a finger carrier carrying the first gripper finger and mounted for rotation relative to the intermediate element by a third rotary joint, namely about a third rotational axis, and a drive device that is separate from the first, second, and third rotary joints. The drive device is supported against the gripper main body and is configured to adjust the finger carrier relative to the second gripper finger with a drive force that is introduced into the finger carrier by the drive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Sven Brudniok
  • Publication number: 20210323169
    Abstract: The invention relates to a robot arm (2), having a plurality of joints (5) and a plurality of links (4), which each connect two adjacent joints (5) to one another, wherein at least one of said links (4) has a human-machine interface (6), comprising at least one display means (7, 7.2), which is designed to display at least one system state of the robot arm (2) and/or of a control device (3) connected in terms of control technology to the robot arm (2), and comprising at least one input means (8), which is designed to supply at least one manual input via the human-machine interface (6) to the robot arm (2) and/or to a control device (3) connected in terms of control technology to the robot arm (2), wherein the at least one input means (8) comprises a tactile sensor surface (8.1) arranged on an outer casing wall (M) of the link (4) and the at least one display means (7, 7.2) comprises a display surface (7.1) superimposed on the tactile sensor surface (8.1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Dietmar Tscharnuter
  • Patent number: 11117260
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a plurality of mobile driverless manipulator systems (10, 20), in particular driverless transport vehicles in a logistics environment (40) for manipulating objects (30). In the method, ambient information is provided by a central control device (50), and in one step, an object to be moved (30) in the surroundings is detected. The position and the pose of the detected object are used for updating the ambient information and are taken into account in the path planning of the mobile driverless manipulator systems (10, 20) in that, prior to a movement of the detected object (30), a first mobile driverless manipulator system (10) is used to check whether the detected object (30) is needed for the orientation of a second mobile driverless manipulator system (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Kümmerte, Patrick Pfaff
  • Patent number: 11065770
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an operating device for controlling or programming a manipulator. The manipulator has a plurality of degrees of freedom which are independent of each other. The operating device comprises a manual control lever which is configured to specify at least one two-dimensional movement of the manipulator. Preferably, the manual control lever is a joystick. The operating device also comprises an information display which is allocated to the manual control lever and comprises a plurality of independently controllable display segments. The operating device further comprises a control device which is configured to individually control the display segments of the information display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Riedel
  • Patent number: 11065766
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for correcting errors in a manipulator system, wherein the manipulator system comprises at least one manipulator and is controlled by means of at least one manipulator program, wherein the method comprises the following method steps: ?providing at least one manipulator program, wherein the manipulator program comprises several operations; ?combining at least two of the operations to form at least one operation structure; ?defining at least one placement point (AP1, AP2), wherein the at least one placement point (AP1, AP2) forms the start andor the end of an operation structure (310); ?providing at least one reaction structure (320) and assigning the reaction structure (320) to an operation structure (310), wherein tlte at least one reaction structure (320) contains reaction operations (R1 to Rn), upon the execution of which, the manipulator program controls the manipulator system such that it is passed into a system state which corresponds to a placement point (AP1, AP2); ?ex
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Sedlmayr
  • Patent number: 10987817
    Abstract: The invention relates to an industrial robot (1) having a robot arm (2) with a plurality of axes (9, 10) designed for a high payload and having a weight equalization system (12) based on gas for at least one of the axes (9), whose pressurized components (13-15) each have a volume of less than 1 liter and a maximum pressure of less than 1000 bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Albert Bayer, Gunther Merk
  • Patent number: 10953489
    Abstract: A set of fittings for an FSW tool (friction-stir-welding tool) includes an adapter that can be inserted into a tool-receiving element and is designed to receive a welding rod, and a shoulder cap that includes a through-opening for the welding rod and the adapter. The shoulder cap includes a welding shoulder region adjacent to the through-opening on the outer surface. The adapter can be rotated in relation to the shoulder cap, about a longitudinal axis extending concentrically to the through-opening. The inner contour of the through-opening and a radial outer contour of the adapter have a conical shape at least on the end facing the welding point. In this way, a conical annular gap is created between the adapter and the shoulder cap, the width of which is adjustable by positioning the adapter along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Fröhlke, Stefan Habersetzer, Bernd Richter
  • Patent number: 10953546
    Abstract: A method for determining a response time of a brake of at least one assigned axis of a multi-axis machine includes actuating the axis, switching the brake, and determining a response time between a switching point in time and a response point in time at which a motion state of the axis changes. The method may further include opposing actuation of the axis while the brake is closed, and detecting a mechanical play between opposing maximum deflections of the axis. A method of operating or monitoring a multi-axis machine includes determining a response time and/or detecting mechanical play, and operating the machine or triggering a fault response based on the response time or mechanical play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Monreal, Carsten Angeli
  • Patent number: 10940590
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a system with a conveying apparatus and at least a first robot includes determining the positions of at least three measuring points of a first component transported by the conveying apparatus in a first transport position using the first robot. The method further includes determining the position of at least one of the measuring points in a second transport position using the first robot, or determining the positions of at least two of the measuring points of the component in a third transport position and the position of at least one other measuring point in the third transport position or at least one of these measuring points in a fourth transport position using at least one second robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Purrucker, Robert Miller, Ralf Mittmann, Daniele Sagnotti, Manuela Hauschild, Benno Eichner, Stephan Clair, Felix Lückert, Markus Hager, Maximilian Lindner
  • Patent number: 10940583
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer program for producing a graphical user interface (100) of a manipulator program and to a method for navigation through a manipulator program, wherein the manipulator system (1) controlled by the manipulator program comprises at least one manipulator (30). The manipulator program comprises at least one set-down point (AP1 to AP5). The user interface (100) has a graphical program progress indicator (150) which indicates the current program progress of the manipulator program and the at least one set-down point (AP1 to AP5) of the manipulator program. The at least one set-down point (AP1 to AP5) indicated can be selected by a user, and the manipulator program is set up to control the manipulator system (1) in such a manner that the system assumes a system state assigned to the selected set-down point (AP1 to AP5) in response to the selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Sedlmayr
  • Patent number: 10935955
    Abstract: A method for operating a multiple axis machine includes controlling drives of the machine with a machine control system and monitoring the machine with a fail-safe control system having first and second redundant channels. Each of the first and second channels receives first input target values and first input actual values from the machine control system, and compares first reference target values (based on the first input target values) with first reference actual values (based on the first input actual values). A fault reaction is triggered if there is a deviation between the compared values that exceeds a specified tolerance. The first input values comprise reference position values of a machine-fixed reference or time derivatives thereof, and the machine control system determines target and/or actual reference position values based on a transformation between reference position values of the machine-fixed reference and axial position values of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Heinrich Munz, Josef Leibinger
  • Patent number: 10919146
    Abstract: A robot arm includes a mechanical stop device having at least one counter-stop body having a shape, which, in interaction with a respective corresponding shape of a receptacle, is designed to retain the counter-stop body whenever the counter-stop body is inserted in one of a plurality of the receptacles. The receptacle retains the counter-stop body in both a circumferential direction and in a radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation of a swivel joint, in a form-fitting manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Leander Eisenwinter
  • Publication number: 20210008991
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for connecting a charging plug to a charging interface of a vehicle, with a moving apparatus with a plurality of controllable movement axes; a tool which can be positioned by means of the moving apparatus relative to the vehicle and is configured to hold the charging plug, the tool having a centering device for centering the charging plug within the tool and a controllable tool movement axis for moving the charging plug independently of the movement axes of the moving apparatus; wherein the tool with the charging plug centered therein can be positioned in a predetermined relative position with regard to the charging interface by means of the moving apparatus and the charging plug can subsequently be connected with the charging interface by using the tool movement axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicants: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Schütz, Norbert Settele
  • Patent number: 10836031
    Abstract: A plug-in adapter includes a thread designed to screw the plug-in adapter to an adjustment instrument, a plug-in device designed for detachably connecting the plug-in adapter to a counter plug-in device of an access opening on a robot for a reference position marking of the robot, and a stylus designed to couple a measuring tip of the adjustment instrument to the reference position marking. The plug-in device has a plug-in section that is designed for axially plugging of the plug-in section into the counter plug-in device of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Tscharnuter, Gernot Nitz, Gerhard Brändle
  • Patent number: 10836046
    Abstract: A robot gripper includes a main gripper body that has a connection flange designed to secure the rotational gripper to a tool flange of a robotic arm; a base element that is mounted on the main gripper body such that it can rotate about a first rotational axis by a first rotational joint able to be adjusted automatically by a first drive motor; a first gripper finger mounted such that it can rotate about a second rotational axis aligned parallel to the first rotational axis, relative to the base element, by a second rotational joint which can be adjusted automatically by a second drive motor; and at least one additional gripper finger. The second rotational joint is configured to adjust the first gripper finger individually, using the second drive motor, independently of the at least one additional gripper finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Brudniok, Wolfgang Schober
  • Patent number: D928210
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Graessle