Abstract: There is provided a robot system that maintains productivity with high safety and with high operation efficiency. A robot system includes an arm operation control unit configured to control an operation of an arm and a moving subject detection unit configured to detect whether a moving subject is present in an operation direction region of the arm. When the moving subject detection unit has detected the moving subject, the arm operation control unit operates the arm at an operation speed that is different from an operation speed of the arm when no moving subject has been detected.

Abstract: A monitoring system, a monitoring device, and a monitoring method are provided. The monitoring system includes a detection part that detects a position of a worker intruded into a work area, a first specifying part that specifies a worker movable area on the basis of a position of the worker, an image capturing part that captures an image of an area including at least the worker movable area and a predetermined robot occupied area, a second specifying part that specifies a robot movable area from the image of the area, a third specifying part that specifies a human body area of the worker from the image of the area, a measuring part that measures the distance between the robot movable area and the human body area, and a restricting part that restricts movement of the robot when the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A monitoring system, a monitoring device, and a monitoring method that can facilitate designing of a working environment are provided. Positions of a worker and a robot in a three-dimensional space are specified, at least one protection area to secure safe work of the worker and the robot is set, whether at least one of the worker and the robot intrudes into the protection area is determined, the motion of the robot is limited when at least one of the worker and the robot intrudes into the protection area, a protection area for executing the determination is being switched from multiple set protection areas, and it is possible to set the protection area when the worker works in a common area in which a work area of the worker and a work area of the robot overlap and set the protection area when the robot works in the common area.

Abstract: A door switch includes a casing, a cam, the cam being caused to operate by manipulation of a manipulation key, and a detection unit for detecting an operating state of the cam. The casing houses at least a part of the cam and the detection unit. The cam is configured to be caused to operated by insert manipulation of inserting the manipulation key into the casing when the manipulation key has a shape adapted to a shape of the cam, and not to be caused to operate by the insert manipulation when the manipulation key does not have a shape adapted to the shape of the cam. The door switch can be adapted to Category 2 of ISO 13849-1.

Abstract: A door switch includes a casing, a cam, the cam being caused to operate by manipulation of a manipulation key, and a detection unit for detecting an operating state of the cam. The casing houses at least a part of the cam and the detection unit. The cam is configured to be caused to operated by insert manipulation of inserting the manipulation key into the casing when the manipulation key has a shape adapted to a shape of the cam, and not to be caused to operate by the insert manipulation when the manipulation key does not have a shape adapted to the shape of the cam. The door switch can be adapted to Category 2 of ISO 13849-1.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flow control valve that requires only a relatively small opening/closing drive force, is compact and does not induce a pulsating flow in the valve open state. A valve seat (3) is disposed in a pipeline (5) through which a fluid flows. A spherical valve element (12) assuming a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the pipeline (5) is housed inside the pipeline (5). A vibrating motor (8), which eccentrically rotates the valve element (12) kept in contact with the inner wall of the pipeline (5) is disposed outside the pipelines (5) and (6).

Abstract: To provide a multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor and a multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor system, which enable function setting by an extremely simple operation, and further make it unnecessary to increase the size of a housing or to separately prepare a PC or a function setting tool. The multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor has: a columnar housing, from one end of which in the longitudinal direction an electric cord is pulled out, and at the other end of which in the longitudinal direction a plug-in type socket is provided, and a plug piece detachably attachable to the socket of the columnar housing. Particular information to serve as a function determining element on the columnar housing side is incorporated in the plug piece in a manner referenceable from a processing circuit on the columnar housing side via the socket. Further, the processing circuit on the columnar housing side is set so as to determine a function based upon particular information in the plug piece referenced via the socket.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multiple-optical-axis photoelectric sensor in which an error in detection of an object caused by disturbance light is prevented easily and efficiently by adjusting a light projection/reception cycle in accordance with a state where mutual interference is recognized. In the invention, by detecting a range in which mutual interference occurs, that is, the position in which disturbance light is detected, which is either a first-half period or a latter-half period of a whole light projecting/receiving operation period, whether the phase is advanced or delayed is determined. For a period according to the position of the optical axis in which incidence of disturbance light is recognized or the number of optical axes in which incidence of disturbance light is recognized continuously, a scheduled next sync timing is changed.

Abstract: A multi-beam photoelectric sensor is disclosed which can be fabricated by selecting the length of a light projection/light-receiving columnar member and the number and pitches of optical axes in accordance with the width of a hazardous area of an object or the diameter of the minimum object to be detected. A projector string or a photo-detector string includes an optical module string having an alignment of a plurality of optical modules with an optical system for one optical axis, a light projection circuit for one optical axis and a plurality of flip-flops corresponding to one stage of a shift register, integrated with each other, and a flat cable. The flip-flops in the adjacent optical modules are connected in cascade by the adjacent module conduction wires thereby to make up a shift register. The optical modules making the optical module string are sequentially activated by the data sequentially sent by the shift register.

Abstract: An optical multi-axis optoelectronic sensor, in which a phototransmitting sensor head having a plurality of phototransmitters arranged thereon and a photoreceiving sensor head having a plurality of photoreceivers arranged thereon are disposed opposite to each other, comprises: first device for inputting distance data equivalent to a distance between the sensor heads; second device for determining detection sensitivity based on the distance data input by the first device; and third device for setting the detection sensitivity determined by the second device.

Abstract: A monitor for intrusion detection features a detecting arrangement for detecting an intruding object in a 3-dimensional area and outputting corresponding detection information, a setting arrangement for setting information necessary for monitoring the position or actions of the intruding object in the 3-dimensional area, a monitoring information generating arrangement for generating monitoring information concerning the position or actions of the intruding object in the 3-dimensional area, on the basis of the detection information generated by the detecting arrangement and the setting information by the setting arrangement, and an external output arrangement for outputting an control output or a display output according to the monitoring information concerning the position or actions of the intruding object generated by the monitoring information generating means.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multiple-optical-axis photoelectric sensor in which an error in detection of an object caused by disturbance light is prevented easily and efficiently by adjusting a light projection/reception cycle in accordance with a state where mutual interference is recognized. In the invention, by detecting a range in which mutual interference occurs, that is, the position in which disturbance light is detected, which is either a first-half period or a latter-half period of a whole light projecting/receiving operation period, whether the phase is advanced or delayed is determined. For a period according to the position of the optical axis in which incidence of disturbance light is recognized or the number of optical axes in which incidence of disturbance light is recognized continuously, a scheduled next sync timing is changed.

Abstract: A multi-beam photoelectric sensor is disclosed which can be fabricated by selecting the length of a light projection/light-receiving columnar member and the number and pitches of optical axes in accordance with the width of a hazardous area of an object or the diameter of the minimum object to be detected. A projector string or a photo-detector string includes an optical module string having an alignment of a plurality of optical modules with an optical system for one optical axis, a light projection circuit for one optical axis and a plurality of flip-flops corresponding to one stage of a shift register, integrated with each other, and a flat cable. The flip-flops in the adjacent optical modules are connected in cascade by the adjacent module conduction wires thereby to make up a shift register. The optical modules making the optical module string are sequentially activated by the data sequentially sent by the shift register.

Abstract: To provide a multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor and a multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor system, which enable function setting by an extremely simple operation, and further make it unnecessary to increase the size of a housing or to separately prepare a PC or a function setting tool. The multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor has: a columnar housing, from one end of which in the longitudinal direction an electric cord is pulled out, and at the other end of which in the longitudinal direction a plug-in type socket is provided, and a plug piece detachably attachable to the socket of the columnar housing. Particular information to serve as a function determining element on the columnar housing side is incorporated in the plug piece in a manner referenceable from a processing circuit on the columnar housing side via the socket. Further, the processing circuit on the columnar housing side is set so as to determine a function based upon particular information in the plug piece referenced via the socket.

Abstract: An optical multi-axis optoelectronic sensor, in which a phototransmitting sensor head having a plurality of phototransmitters arranged thereon and a photoreceiving sensor head having a plurality of photoreceivers arranged thereon are disposed opposite to each other, comprises: first device for inputting distance data equivalent to a distance between the sensor heads; second device for determining detection sensitivity based on the distance data input by the first device; and third device for setting the detection sensitivity determined by the second device.

Abstract: An intruding object monitoring system comprises a camera mounted on a position so as to look down a monitoring target region including a dangerous source and an information processing apparatus performing information processes for monitoring an intruding object based on a monitoring target region image taken by the camera, and a mounting position of the camera is determined so that the dangerous source is shown at a peripheral part of a viewing field of the camera.

Abstract: A monitor comprises detecting means for detecting an intruding object in a 3-dimensional area and outputting corresponding detection information, setting means for setting information necessary for monitoring the position or actions of the intruding object in the 3-dimensional area to be a monitoring objective, monitoring information generating means for generating monitoring information concerning the position or actions of the intruding object in the 3-dimensional area to be the monitoring object, on the basis of the detection information generated by the detecting means and the setting information by the setting means, and external output means for outputting control output or display output according to the monitoring information concerning the position or actions of the intruding object generated by the monitoring information generating means to outside.

Abstract: A photoelectric switch emits pulsed detection light and outputs a light detection signal as reflected light is received. For generating an on-off judgment output for switching on and off, the level of the light detection signal is shifted towards a specified level during a specified light receiving period by an amount corresponding to the difference between the specified and the level of the light detection signal at a time immediately before the pulsed detection light is expected to arrive. On the basis of thus level-shifted signal, it is determined whether at least one of the conditions for generating the on-off judgment output is satisfied. The on-off judgment output is generated at least on the condition that the levels of the light detection signal at specified timings are in a specified size relationship.

Abstract: A photoelectric switch emits pulsed detection light and outputs a light detection signal as reflected light is received. For generating an on-off judgment output for switching on and off, the level of the light detection signal is shifted towards a specified level during a specified light receiving period by an amount corresponding to the difference between the specified and the level of the light detection signal at a time immediately before the pulsed detection light is expected to arrive. On the basis of thus level-shifted signal, it is determined whether at least one of the conditions for generating the on-off judgment output is satisfied. The on-off judgment output is generated at least on the condition that the levels of the light detection signal at specified timings are in a specified size relationship.