Patents by Inventor Soichi Arita

Soichi Arita has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20190111564
    Abstract: A measurement system includes a plurality of reflectors of a robot, a measurement apparatus having a laser head which emits a laser beam toward the reflectors and which receives a reflected light from the reflectors, a head driving device which changes orientation of the laser head, and a robot control apparatus which controls the robot based on the calibration operation program and which sequentially places the distal end portion of the robot at a plurality of measurement positions for conducting calibration. The robot control apparatus conducts a head drive control process of receiving controller coordinate data of any one of the plurality of reflectors, which is used at the time of sequentially placing the distal end portion of the robot at plurality of measurement positions, and sending a control signal for changing the orientation of the laser head to the head driving device by using the received controller coordinate data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Yuelai Wang, Soichi Arita
  • Publication number: 20190091867
    Abstract: A measurement system including: reflectors mounted on a robot; a measuring apparatus including a laser head, wherein the measuring apparatus includes a controller, the controller is configured to conduct: a coordinate relationship acquisition process for acquiring a position and a direction of a measuring-apparatus coordinate system with respect to a robot coordinate system by emitting a laser beam from the laser head toward reference reflection portions provided in a base portion of the robot, and based on a reflected light; and a head drive control process which controls a direction of the laser head by receiving coordinate data of the reflector recognized by a controller of the robot, and by making a control command to change the direction of the laser head using the coordinate data which is received and the position and the direction of the measuring-apparatus coordinate system with respect to the robot coordinate system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Yuelai Wang, Soichi Arita
  • Patent number: 10232513
    Abstract: There is provided a robot control device enabling a robot to carry various types of objects without exceeding an allowable weight thereof. The robot control device for controlling the robot for carrying an object in cooperation with a person includes a force acquisition part configured to acquire force applied from the object to the robot when the object is lifted, a comparison part configured to compare a force component in a gravity direction of the force acquired by the force acquisition part with a first threshold value predetermined with respect to the force component, and a stop command part configured to stop the robot when the force component is greater than the first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Naitou, Soichi Arita, Hiromitsu Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20180354134
    Abstract: A cable damage detection assistance apparatus in a robot mechanism includes a program executor for executing a program to operate a robot, a plurality of times, while changing velocity for driving motors whenever the program is executed; a motor controller for controlling the motors; a state quantity detector for detecting a state quantity indicating an operation state of the robot during the execution of the program; an alarm generator that, when the state quantity exceeds a threshold value, generates an alarm and outputs information about a line number at that time; an alarm database for counting the number of occurrence of alarms on each line number on which the alarm has occurred, and storing the alarm occurrence number on each line number on a velocity-by-velocity basis; and an analysis display for displaying the relationship between the alarm occurrence number and the velocity on each line number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Soichi ARITA, Kokoro HATANAKA
  • Patent number: 10152043
    Abstract: An object is to prevent automatic operation from being started while a monitoring function is in a disabled state. The present invention provides a robot system includes a robot, a control unit controlling the robot, and an operation monitoring unit having a monitoring function for monitoring contact or the possibility of contact between the robot and a peripheral object. The operation monitoring unit has a monitoring changeover switch that switches between enabling and disabling of the monitoring function. The control unit has a mode changeover switch that switches between a manual operation mode, and an automatic operation mode. The control unit performs control so as to inhibit the operation of the robot in a state in which the monitoring function is disabled and in which the operation mode is set to the automatic operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Naitou, Soichi Arita
  • Publication number: 20180200886
    Abstract: A robot control device includes a position-accuracy-information storage unit that stores position accuracy information at a plurality of division points defined when an operating area space of the multi joint robot is divided into a plurality of areas in a grid shape, a position-accuracy calculation unit that calculates position accuracy at the end-effector position based on the position accuracy information and the current end-effector position of the multi-joint robot, and a position-accuracy output unit that outputs the calculated position accuracy to an outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Yuelai WANG, Soichi ARITA
  • Publication number: 20180200885
    Abstract: A robot control device includes a parameter estimating unit that causes a robot to operate under estimation conditions input by a user and that estimates a load parameter of a load attached to the robot, a torque calculating unit that calculates operation torques of respective joints of the robot caused to operate during the estimation of the load parameter, and an alert unit that issues an alert to the user when the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the operation torques is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Yu IKEDA, Soichi ARITA
  • Publication number: 20180154526
    Abstract: A robot control device able to accurately estimate an external force applied from a workpiece to a robot in a time-dependently changing manner. The robot control device includes a support force data acquisition section which acquires measurement data of a workpiece support force by the environment, the workpiece support force varying while the robot lifts the workpiece; a disturbance estimation section which estimates a disturbance value applied to the robot using state information of the robot; and a correction section which corrects, using the measurement data acquired by the support force data acquisition section, the disturbance value estimated by the disturbance estimation section or the state information inputted to the disturbance estimation section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Kenichiro Oguri, Soichi Arita
  • Patent number: 9910423
    Abstract: A control apparatus in an automaton that operates in cooperation with a peripheral device, includes: an operating time accumulator regarding the output time of a control signal to the peripheral device or the output time of an operating signal from the peripheral device as operating time and determining cumulative operating time by adding up the operating times; a time-at-inspection recorder recording the cumulative operating time when inspection is performed as the cumulative operating time at inspection; a cumulative operating time comparator comparing the difference between the current cumulative operating time and the cumulative operating time at inspection, the cumulative operating time from the latest inspection, or the cumulative operating time after inspection, with a preset inspection interval; and, a maintenance request output unit outputting a maintenance request to the outside when the cumulative operating time after inspection obtained as a result of the comparison exceeds the preset inspection i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu Ikeda, Soichi Arita
  • Patent number: 9895806
    Abstract: A robot control device includes a correction amount calculation unit that calculates a correction amount for collecting a deviation of a tip position of a tool attached to a tip of a robot due to an external force applied to the tool and a correction profile generation unit that generates a correction profile indicating a relationship between the correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculation unit and time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiko Harada, Hiromitsu Takahashi, Soichi Arita
  • Publication number: 20180039260
    Abstract: A control device includes a receiving unit that receives output signals from a plurality of manufacturing machines, via a communication network; a noise-component extracting unit that extracts a common noise component that is contained in the output signals; and a noise-component removing unit that removes the extracted noise component from at least one of the output signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventor: Soichi ARITA
  • Patent number: 9855656
    Abstract: A robot control device includes a first sensor which is used in a first range including the entirety of the operating range of the robot, a second sensor which is used in a second range including at least a part of the operating range of the robot, and a range storing unit for storing a third range included in both the operating range and the second range. The robot control device also includes a ratio setting unit for setting a ratio between a first control input obtained using the first sensor and a second control input obtained using the second sensor with respect to control inputs to the motor based on the comparison of the third range and the position and posture of the robot, and an addition unit for adding the first control input and the second control input together in accordance with the set ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichiro Oguri, Soichi Arita
  • Patent number: 9827681
    Abstract: A human cooperation robot system includes: an external force detecting unit that detects an external force acting on a robot; a retreat operation commanding unit that commands a retreat operation for causing the robot to be moved in a direction such that the external force is decreased when the external force detected by the external force detecting unit is greater than a first threshold value; and an external force variation monitoring unit that stops the retreat operation when a variation width of the external force at a predetermined time after the retreat operation is commanded by the retreat operation commanding unit is smaller than a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Naitou, Soichi Arita, Hiromitsu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9821459
    Abstract: A multi-joint robot using substantially one sensor, capable of performing a proper repositioning motion of an arm of the robot. The controller has a disturbance torque estimating part which estimates a first disturbance torque and a second disturbance torque, by calculating a torque generated by a mass and motion of the robot and subtracting the calculated torque from the first torque and the second torque detected by a torque detecting part. The controller has a repositioning commanding part which generates a motion command for rotating each axis so that the disturbance torque is reduced, when the disturbance torque exceeds a torque threshold. Since the axis is repositioned based on the motion command, a portion of the robot pushed by the operator is repositioned, whereby the operator can easily perform one's work without using a teaching board, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Naitou, Soichi Arita
  • Patent number: 9782898
    Abstract: A robot controller having a function for mitigating damage to a robot when the robot is brought to an emergency stop, and for facilitating restoration of the robot from the emergency stop. The robot controller has a controlling part which controls a motion of a robot based on a predetermined robot program; a first detecting part which detects a predetermined abnormality which does not require the robot to be immediately stopped; a stopping condition judging part which judges as to whether or not a predetermined stopping condition is satisfied when the first detecting part detects the abnormality; and a stopping process executing part which executes a stopping process of the robot when the stopping condition is satisfied, and does not execute the stopping process when the stopping condition is not satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shougo Inagaki, Soichi Arita
  • Patent number: 9776328
    Abstract: A robot control apparatus comprises a contact detection unit which judges whether or not a robot is in contact with an object other than the robot, and an operation direction monitor unit which detects an operation direction of the robot after the robot comes in contact with the object and monitors operation of the robot. After the robot comes in contact with the object, the operation direction monitor unit permits operation of the robot being within a permissible range and inhibits operation of the robot falling outside the permissible range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Naitou, Soichi Arita
  • Publication number: 20170261962
    Abstract: An object is to prevent automatic operation from being started while a monitoring function is in a disabled state. The present invention provides a robot system includes a robot, a control unit controlling the robot, and an operation monitoring unit having a monitoring function for monitoring contact or the possibility of contact between the robot and a peripheral object. The operation monitoring unit has a monitoring changeover switch that switches between enabling and disabling of the monitoring function. The control unit has a mode changeover switch that switches between a manual operation mode, and an automatic operation mode. The control unit performs control so as to inhibit the operation of the robot in a state in which the monitoring function is disabled and in which the operation mode is set to the automatic operation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro NAITOU, Soichi ARITA
  • Publication number: 20170248941
    Abstract: A cell controller of the present application includes: a machine information reception part that receives at least one of alarm information on manufacturing machines and status information on the manufacturing machines, and receives physical layout information on the manufacturing machines; a classification part that classifies the received physical layout information into a plurality of groups; and a display part that displays an abnormality status of the manufacturing machines for each of the groups of the classified physical layout information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventor: Soichi ARITA
  • Patent number: 9737989
    Abstract: A human cooperation robot system includes: an external force detecting unit that detects an external force acting on a robot; a retreat operation commanding unit that commands a retreat operation for causing the robot to be moved in a direction such that the external force is decreased when the external force detected by the external force detecting unit is larger than a first threshold value; a position acquiring unit that a current position of the robot; and a retreat operation stopping unit that stops the retreat operation when the current position of the robot acquired by the position acquiring unit departs from a retreat area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Naitou, Soichi Arita, Hiromitsu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9682478
    Abstract: A safety monitoring device monitoring a robot includes a workpiece parameter switching unit switching a workpiece parameter, an external force estimation unit estimating, as an external force estimation value, a force acting on the robot from an external environment by using the workpiece parameter, an external force monitoring unit stopping the robot when the external force estimation value satisfies an external force determination condition, an operation monitoring unit stopping the robot, based on conditions such as a position of the robot being included within a predetermined region, an operation monitoring state switching unit switching between a disabling command and an enabling command for the operation monitoring unit, and an external force determination condition setting unit switching the external force determination condition to an operation monitoring disabling time external force determination condition at the disabling command and to an operation monitoring enabling time external force determina
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Naitou, Soichi Arita, Hiromitsu Takahashi