Abstract: When an adjustment of an optical path followed by a laser beam is performed by using an adjusting laser beam emitted by a laser oscillating source to obtain a condition such that the laser beam introduced in a robot unit of a laser robot is correctly directed to a light condensing device (36) provided at an extremetity of the robot unit after changing the direction thereof due to a reflection by light reflecting mirrors arranged at respective joints in the robot unit, a position of the optical path of the adjusting laser beam projected by the light condensing device (36) in the interior of the robot unit (30) is detected by an optical sensor (46), and a different position of the optical path of the adjusting laser beam is simultaneously detected by a separate optical sensor (45) arranged at a position on the optical path for the laser beam located upstream with respect to the light condensing device (36), and an adjustment is carried out so that the center of movement of each of the joints of the robot unit (

Abstract: An industrial robot provided with a cable arrangement system in which a hollow shaft (3) is arranged to extend vertically from a robot base (1) into a rotational trunk (2) about a rotational axis thereof, and a plurality of cables (7) are arranged to be spaced from one another around the outer periphery of the hollow shaft (3) by cable clamps (4) mounted on the outer periphery of the hollow shaft (3) and having a plurality of cable receiving grooves (41).

Abstract: A heat eliminator intercepts a heat transmission in a laser robot which has a robot base (12), a robot arm (16) joined for swing motion to a robot swivel post (14) set upright on the robot base (12), a laser beam projecting unit (20) attached to an extreme end of the robot arm (16), and a drive motor (Mv) for driving the robot arm (16) for a swing motion through a precision transmission mechanism (30, 32, 34) inserted between the robot swivel post and the robot arm, from the drive motor to the precision transmission mechanism. The heat eliminator is provided with a bracket member (26) arranged between the precision transmission mechanism (30, 32, 34) and the drive motor (Mv) with one end in contact with the end surface of the drive motor on the side of the output shaft thereof and the other end in contact with the precision transmission mechanism, and an annular cooling water passage (50) formed in the bracket member (26).

Abstract: A laser beam passage (10) arranged outside a robot unit of a multi-articulated arm type industrial laser robot has a base (71), a swivel body (72), a first robot arm (74) supported for swing motion, a second robot arm (76) pivotally joined to the first robot arm (74), and a robot wrist (80) attached to an front end of the second robot arm (76) and provided with a laser beam emitting head (79) to connect a laser oscillator (12) to a laser beam receiving unit (77) provided on a rear end of the second robot arm (76). The laser beam passage means (10) has a first laser beam shifting system (20) routing a laser beam emitted by the laser oscillator (12) to an extremity thereof, and having a plurality of rotary joints (R.sub.1, R.sub.2), one telescopic linear-motion joint (S.sub.

Abstract: A multi-articulation type robot for a laser operation by emitting a beam of laser into a desired position in a three-dimensional space, and provided with a first hollow robot arm (16) swingably pivoted to an upper end of a robot swivel body (14) mounted on a robot base (12), a second hollow robot arm (18) swingably pivoted to a front end of the first robot arm (16) and rotatable about a central axis of the second robot arm per se, and a robot wrist (20) mounted on a front end of the second robot arm (18) and provided with a laser beam collecting unit (22) having a laser beam emitting outlet (22a), the robot wrist (20) being provided with motion transmitting mechanisms for converting first and second rotative inputs transmitted by a first and second hollow rotatable drive shafts (30a and 30b) arranged inside the second robot arm (18) into motions by which the laser beam collecting unit (22) is rotated about an axis orthogonal to an axis along which a laser beam is emitted, and to move the unit (22) forward and

Abstract: A laser-beam mis-emission preventing method capable of improving safety of a laser robot. Upon supply of power to the laser robot, a processor of a robot control unit (10) compares a predetermined value with an angle (.delta.) formed between a horizontal plane (XY plane) and an axis (8a) of a laser nozzle (8) and computed based on joint angles (W, U, r, .beta.) (S1-S3). When the laser nozzle angle (.delta.) is less than the predetermined value, an interlock signal delivered to the laser oscillator (30) is set to turn off the power of the laser oscillator, thereby bringing the laser oscillator into a condition incapable of laser oscillation (S5). This prevents mis-emission of the laser beam which occurs due to deficiency of a robot operating program, erroneous manual operation, etc., and which can damage the human body or peripheral devices.

Abstract: A joint structure for an industrial robot is provided with a gear transmission mechanism to drive movable robot element, such as a swivel body (14), of an industrial robot. The joint structure comprises a driven gear (26) connected to the movable robot element, two drive pinions (28, 30) in mesh with the driven gear (26), respectively, at different positions on the driven gear (26), a belt transmission mechanism (28a, 30a, 32) operatively connecting the two drive pinions (28, 20), a tensioner (36) for adjusting the tension in the power transmission belt (32) of the belt transmission mechanism (28a, 30a, 32), and a rotative drive source (34) connected to one (28) of the two drive pinions (28, 30).

Abstract: An articulated industrial robot has an articulated horizontal arm assembly which includes horizontal arms (20), a vertically movable shaft (20) mounted on the extremity of the horizontal arm assembly, and a motor for driving the vertically movable shaft. When directly teaching motions to the vertically movable shaft through a direct teaching operation by an operator, the current control unit of a motor control unit for driving the motor for driving the vertically movable shaft is disconnected from a signal line connected to a robot control unit, and a torque calculating circuit is provided for deciding a motor torque corresponding to the sum of the weight of the vertically movable shaft and the respective variable weights of an end effector attached to the lower end of the vertically movable shaft.

Abstract: In an industrial robot employing electric motors (Mz, M.theta., Mu, Mw) as drive sources for driving functional robot units for movement respectively about articulatory axes (Z, .theta., U, W), electric drive currents supplied to the electric motors (Mz, M.theta., Mu, Mw) associated with the articulatory axes (Z, .theta., U, W) are detected by a current detecting unit (30), the detected electric drive current supplied to the electric motor (Mz, M.theta., Mu, Mw) associated with one selected articulatory axis among the articulatory axes (Z, .theta., U, W) is sampled every predetermined minute sampling time in a period between a first time and a second time in a robot control program for controlling the motions of the functional robot units respectively about the articulatory axes (Z, .theta., W), computing means (CPU) calculates the ratio of the root-mean-square value of the electric current supplied to the electric motor (Mz, M.theta.

Abstract: A system for controlling acceleration and deceleration of a horizontally articulated robot computes the distance from the center of rotation of the robot (A) having a plurality of arms (3, 5) angularly movable in horizontal planes to a reference position such as a wrist (51) at the distal end of the arms (3, 5), and establishes an acceleration for the movement of the distal end of the arms (3, 5). A servomotor for angularly moving the arms (3,5) can effectively be utilized and the arms (3, 5) can quickly and smoothly be moved.

Abstract: Provided is a compact first arm (12) of an industrial robot having articulated horizontal arms, which first arm has a direct drive motor (19), an electromagnetic brake (25), and a rotary encoder (34, 36) disposed close to each other concentrically between the first arm (12) and a base post (10) supporting the first arm (12), and has another direct drive motor (39), another electromagnetic brake (45), and another rotary encoder (54, 56) disposed close to each other concentrically between the first arm (12) and a second arm (14) rotatably supported by the first arm (12).

Abstract: A system for controlling a robot includes a control portion (7) for supplying a control signal to and receiving a control signal from a servo unit (6) for carrying out a signal supply and a signal feedback to an electric motor (5) for driving a shaft executing a Z-axis linear motion, and threshold value supply portion (8) for supplying a threshold value to the control portion. Based on a comparison between a motor torque instruction value and a threshold value supplied from the threshold value supplying portion, an alarm is delivered and the process subsequently proceeds to a step of dealing with an abnormal condition when said motor torque instruction value becomes greater than a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A direct-drive-type multi-articulated robot comprising: a stationary support shaft (14), a cylindrical rotary casing (16) surrounding the stationary support shaft (14), a first robot arm (18) joined to the upper end (16a) of the rotary casing (16), a second robot arm (20) pivotally joined to the extremity of the first robot arm (18), a direct-drive motor (M.theta.) interposed between the lower end of the rotary casing (16) and the lower end of the stationary support shaft (14) to drive the rotary casing (16) and the first robot arm (18) together for turning motion, a brake gear (24) interposed between the upper end (14a) of the stationary support shaft (14) and the first robot arm (18) to arrest the turning motion of the first robot arm (18), and an encoder (26) for detecting turning motion, interposed between the upper end (14a) of the stationary support shaft (14) and the first robot arm (18).

Abstract: An arm structure for an industrial robot, comprising a first robot arm (16) supported on top of a vertical robot shaft (14), and a second robot arm (20) pivotally joined through a transmission-reduction gear box (18) to the free end of the first robot arm (16). A plurality of coupling bolts (22) are extended through the interior of the first robot arm (16), each coupling bolt (22) has one end (22b) fastened to the flange (18b) of the transmission-reduction gear box (18) and the other end (22a) projecting from and fastened to the rear end of the first robot arm (16). Fastening nuts (24) each engage at least one end (22a or 22b) of each coupling bolt (22) to couple the first robot arm (16) and the transmission-reduction gear box (18) so as to preload the first robot arm (16) by a compressive force.

Abstract: The two-axes wrist assembly of the chain-drive system for an industrial robot has a base wrist unit (12) disposed on one side of the robot arm (11). A hollow shaft (13) is fixed at one end thereof to the base wrist unit and is supported at the same end on one side wall of the free end of the robot arm so as to be rotatable about a first axis (.beta.) intersecting the longitudinal axis of the robot arm at right angles. The other end of the hollow shaft is positioned opposite to the inner surface of the other side wall of the free end of the robot arm. A fore wrist unit (16) is supported on the base wrist so as to be rotatable about a second axis (.alpha.) intersecting the first axis at right angles. A through shaft (17) is provided rotatably within and coaxially with the hollow shaft. The fore wrist unit is interlocked with the hollow shaft by a pair of bevel gears (18, 19). A first sprocket (22) is provided on the other end of the hollow shaft coaxially with the same within the free end of the robot arm.

Abstract: An electric industrial robot comprises a movable robot assembly (10) forming therein an airtight chamber, and an electric drive unit for driving the robot assembly. The electric drive unit comprises a plurality of motors (36-41). The respective casings (36a-41a) of the motors are disposed within the airtight chamber (30) of the robot assembly. Electric cables (57-62) connected to the motors, respectively, are led through the airtight chamber into a fixed pipe (67) connected to the robot assembly. The interior of the motors and the interior of the airtight chamber are kept at a pressure higher than an atmospheric pressure outside the robot assembly.

Abstract: A double hand for an industrial robot comprises a hand body, two sets of work clamping units and two sets of actuators to drive the work clamping units, respectively, for opening and closing motions. The hand body has a rear end attachable to the free end of the robot wrist of an industrial robot, a front end and opposite sides extending between the front end and the rear end. Each work clamping unit has a pair of gripping fingers and the pairs of gripping fingers of the two sets of work gripping units are supported pivotally at the roots thereof on the opposite sides of the hand body for turning motion. The paired gripping fingers are turned about the respective roots thereof in opposite directions by the associated actuator.