Abstract: A hand of a robot is moved from an instant position P.sub.1 to a first command position P.sub.2 to grip one of the workpieces W.sub.1, W.sub.2, W.sub.3 placed at the first command position and conveys the same to a second command position P.sub.3. As a sensor is contacted by the workpiece when the hand takes an intermediate position Px, on its way from the instant position P.sub.1 to the first command position P.sub.2, the robot control system decelerates the hand without delay or after a travel of the hand over a predetermined distance and, after travel of the hand over a predetermined deceleration distance, stops the hand. The hand is then moved from the stopping position to the second command position P.sub.3 neglecting the remaining stroke or movement between the stopping position and the first command position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the acceleration of the frequency at the beginning of a pulse train and the frequency at the end of the pulse train, so that a movable element with little rigidity, such as a robot arm, can be started and stopped smoothly without vibration. The method includes storing frequency function in a memory, which frequency function represents an acceleration characteristic or a deceleration characteristic, reading the frequency function out of the memory at a predetermined interval, computing a frequency at the present time, and generating a number of pulses, corresponding to the product of the computed frequency and the predetermined time interval, during the predetermined time interval.

Abstract: An industrial robot control method for use in a system having a machine tool (MAC), a numerical control device (NCU) for controlling the machine tool, an industrial robot (RBT), and a robot control device (RCU) for controlling the industrial robot. In accordance with this industrial robot control method, a plurality of robot programs are stored beforehand in an internal memory (DMR) of the robot control device (RCU), and a plurality of NC programs are stored beforehand in an internal memory (DMN) of the numerical control device (NCU). The size or shape of a workpiece is sensed by a workpiece discriminating unit (WKD) to select the robot program conforming to the particular workpiece. An NC program number, corresponding to the robot program, is transmitted from the robot control device (RCU) to the numerical control device (NCU). The machine tool (MAC) is controlled in accordance with the NC program identified by NC program number, and the robot (RBT) is controlled based on the selected robot program.

Abstract: An industrial robot control method for use in a system having a machine tool (MAC), a numerical control device (NCU) for controlling the machine tool, an industrial robot (RBT), and a robot control device (RCU) for controlling the industrial robot. In accordance with this industrial robot control method, a plurality of NC programs are stored beforehand in an internal memory (DMN) of the numerical control device (NCU), and a plurality of robot control programs are stored beforehand in an internal memory (DMR) of the robot control device (RCU). The size or shape of a workpiece is sensed by a workpiece discriminating unit (WKD) to select the NC program conforming to the particular workpiece. A robot program number, corresponding to the selected NC program, is transmitted from the numerical control device (NCU) to the robot control device (RCU), so that the robot (RBT) may be controlled based on the robot program identified by the robot program number number.

Abstract: A device for operating a hand of an industrial robot is so constructed that fluid pressure cylinders (43, 44) are provided as a driving mechanism of the hand (4) of the industrial robot, branch passages including a pressure-reducing valve (47) are provided in a fluid supply passage to the fluid pressure cylinders (43, 44), the supply of fluid is switched by solenoid valves (SV.sub.2, SV.sub.3, SV.sub.4), and the switching of the solenoid valves (SV.sub.2, SV.sub.3, SV.sub.4) is carried out in accordance with the selected grasping force which has been selected in the teaching mode of the industrial robot, whereby the grasping force of the hand can be controlled stepwisely.

Abstract: An industrial robot control method and apparatus having a pulse distributing circuit for executing a pulse distribution operation on the basis of positional command data from taught data to generate distributed pulses, a pulse coder for generating a feedback pulse each time the industrial robot moves a predetermined amount along the Z-axis, an error register for storing the difference between the number of distributed pulses and the number of feedback pulses, and positional control circuitry for positionally controlling the industrial robot in such a manner that said difference approaches zero, compensation being effected for an amount of bending .DELTA.Z of an arm when a workpiece of weight W is gripped. The industrial robot control apparatus includes a memory for storing an amount of bending .DELTA.Z.sub.o of the arm when a workpiece having a predetermined weight W.sub.o is gripped at an arm length l.sub.o, an arithmetic circuit for computing an amount of bending .DELTA.

Abstract: A robot control system for teaching and operating a robot 13 on the basis of a rectangular coordinate system, the robot having an arm which operates on the basis of a cylindrical coordinate system. Provided are a teaching device 101 for providing instructions in the rectangular coordinate system in order to teach the operations performed by the robot 13, a rectangular-to-cylindrical conversion device 104 or 202 for converting the instructions in the rectangular coordinate system from the teaching device 101 into command data in the cylindrical coordinate system, and a data memory 108 for storing the acquired command data in the cylindrical coordinate system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a robot control apparatus which drives a rotational drive unit (103) for rotating a robot arm about an axis of rotation. The robot control apparatus includes a rotational speed decision unit (SJC) to assure that the rotational speed of the robot arm driven by the rotational drive unit (103) will not exceed a maximum allowable speed. The rotational speed decision unit (SJC) is adapted to compute an allowable rotational speed (Ft) for an input arm length (Ra), compare the computed allowable rotational speed (Ft) with an input speed (Fin), and produce, as a commanded speed (Fc), the smaller of the two compared speeds.

Abstract: A system for controlling an industrial robot having a wrist (1) driven to rotate by a direct-current motor (2) having a servomechanism, wherein stroke-limit position control (6) of the wrist and rotational control (7) of the wrist can be selectively carried out.

Abstract: A double hand applicable to an industrial robot comprises two hand units (2, 3) comprising at least two pairs, one each, of fingers (2-1 and 2-2, 3-1 and 3-2) and plate members (2-3, 3-3) of a pressing unit (4) disposed in parallel along the center axis of the fingers. The hand units (2, 3) are connected through a pressing mechanism (4) to constitute a double hand in a manner that the respective gripping center axis of the two hand units are in alignment, the respective plate members (2-3, 3-3) of the pressing unit are disposed opposite to each other and the opening sides of the respective pairs of fingers of the two hand units are directed in opposite directions to each other.

Abstract: A double-hand unit adapted to be secured to the wrist part of an industrial robot and to be used for gripping shaft works or the like is disclosed. The double-hand unit comprises two hand units (2, 3) comprising at least two pairs of fingers (2-1, 2-2 and 3-1, 3-2), respectively, and being disposed in a back-to-back relationship with the respective opening sides of the fingers directed in opposite directions with each other. The driving mechanisms for operating the associated fingers of the hand units (2, 3) are disposed one over the other along a plane including the fingers.

Abstract: A robot hand of an industrial robot used as a manipulating device of a bar-like workpiece having a pair of gripping members attached to a base member and arranged so as to be slid toward and away from one another so that an appropriate distance between the pair of gripping members is established depending on the difference of lengths of workpieces to be gripped by the gripping members of the robot hand.

Abstract: A robot control method and apparatus of the type in which robot operations are taught in advance and the robot is subsequently actuated in accordance with the robot instruction data so taught. Areas in which the robot is forbidden to enter are established and the resulting information is stored in a memory. During the teaching of the robot operations the robot instruction data is created by moving the robot without regard to the forbidden areas. Thereafter, the robot instruction data so created is modified using the forbidden area information, the robot being controlled on the basis of the data so modified.

Abstract: A hand (34) of an industrial robot for gripping a workpiece (14) and the like comprising: a hand base plate member (36) connected to a wrist portion (32); a plurality of pairs of opening and closing gripping fingers (38a and 38b, 38d) arranged on the palm face (36a) of the hand base plate member (36), and; an actuator (48 or 48') being arranged for each pair of the opening and closing fingers (38a and 38b, 38c and 38d) to actuate the fingers. The hand (34) is capable of securely and stably holding a workpiece having a heavy weight and/or an angular shape, or other complicated shape.

Abstract: A gripping device on an industrial robot is provided with a plurality of light-emitting members for generating a plurality of light beams that intersect at predetermined angles, and with a plurality of light-receiving elements for receiving the light beams. When the gripping device moves relative to an object that is to be gripped, the object intercepts the light beams, on the basis of which the position of the object relative to the gripping device is detected. This permits even an object which is not precisely located at a predetermined position to be gripped accurately by the gripping device following detection of the object position.

Abstract: An industrial robot with a safeguard mechanism for mechanically preventing occurence of any uncontrolled movement of a movable part of the industrial robot, the safeguard mechanism having mechanical engagement means which provides a disengageable mechanical lock between the movable part of the industrial robot and the stationary part of the industrial robot or another stationary member different from the industrial robot.

Abstract: A machine tool and robot control apparatus, for use in a system having a machine tool, a numerical control device for controlling the machine tool, an industrial robot and a robot control device for controlling the industrial robot, has the numerical control device and the robot control device connected to each other by means of a data transfer line. Each of the numerical control device and the robot control device is provided with a circuit for transmitting and receiving data which are exchanged through the data transfer line. The robot command data for controlling the robot, as well as the machining data for controlling the machine tool, are stored in a non-volatile memory device provided only in the numerical control device, through the data transfer line and respective circuits for transmitting and receiving data.

Abstract: In order to attain a more suitable control of a robot unit which serves a machine tool in accordance with various conditions of the operations of the machine tool and the robot unit, the number of the kinds of signals produced in the machine tool is increased and a predetermined control of the robot unit is attained in response to each of the increased kinds of signals.

Abstract: A numerical control system comprising a numerical control device, a machine tool for machining a workpiece under the control of the numerical control device, and a robot for executing various tasks such as mounting the workpiece on the machine tool or demounting the workpiece therefrom. The numerical control device, in addition to the hardware which it possesses for controlling the machine tool, is further provided with a teaching control panel, a heavy current circuit which handles the exchange of data between the numerical control device and the robot, and a switching control circuit for switching over the output side of a pulse distributing circuit so that the pulse distributing circuit can be used in controlling both the robot and the machine tool. Machining data for control of the machine tool and data for commanding the robot are stored in a memory device incorporated in the numerical control device, or in a storage medium which is located externally of the system.