Abstract: A robot control system including a servo amplifier supplying power to a robot, a processor controlling the operation of the robot, and a servo power connection/cutoff circuit connected to the same, issuing excitation/nonexcitation commands to a charging relay and a main circuit connection electromagnetic contactor provided in the circuit from the processor, monitoring the opened/closed states of the contacts of the charging relay and main circuit connection electromagnetic contactor by the processor, and detecting if their contacts open and close as instructed by the processor to thereby check if the power connection/cutoff circuit has a fault. Due to this, it is possible to provide a robot control system which detects faults of the power connection/cutoff circuit and which is inexpensive and high in safety.

Abstract: A robot control device includes an operation mode change-over switch for switching between a first operation mode for prohibiting an operator from approaching a predetermined area around a robot when power is supplied to a drive motor for driving the robot and a second operation mode for allowing the operator to approach the predetermined area around the robot even when power is supplied to the drive motor, and an electromagnetic contactor for switching the connection and disconnection of the power supply line to the drive motor. The robot can be stopped in case of emergency by using the electromagnetic contactor to disconnect the power supply line. The apparatus further includes an emergency stop control unit. The emergency stop control unit issues a disconnection command to the electromagnetic contactor, when the switching between the first and second operation modes is sensed, and automatically confirms whether or not the power supply line is disconnected.

Abstract: A robot of a robot system performs a desired operation by an operation motor and moves along a route by a movement motor. The robot system includes a robot power cutoff device for cutting off the power supply to the operation motor when making the robot move from one station to another station across the worker passage, a cutoff state monitoring device for monitoring the cutoff state of the power supply to the operation motor, and an emergency stop device. The emergency stop device cuts off the power supply to the movement motor so as to make the robot stop on an emergency basis, when it is detected that the power supply to the operation motor has not been cut off and the robot enters the predetermined section above the worker passage.

Abstract: A robot control apparatus comprises a servo amplifier having an AC/DC converter and used for driving a servo motor of a robot, and performs control so that power for driving the robot is supplied to the servo amplifier through a capacitor inrush current preventing resistor until precharging of a capacitor provided for the AC/DC converter is completed. The robot control apparatus has a first operation mode in which the power is supplied by bypassing the resistor, a second operation mode in which power is supplied through the resistor thereby controlling the servo motor in the robot to a lower driving speed than the driving speed in the first operation mode, and a selector switch SW for effecting switching from the first operation mode to the second operation mode or from the second operation mode to the first operation mode. With this configuration, a power supply circuit for supplying power to the servo amplifier for limiting the driving of the robot is reliably implemented by hardware.

Abstract: A reference signal is transmitted from one of a plurality of robot control devices connected by communication connecting device to the other robot control device. The timing of generation of an operation basic period signal in each of the other robot control devices is synchronized with the timing of generation of an operation basic period signal in the one of the plurality of robot control devices, based on a time interval from generation of the operation basic period signal until transmission of the reference signal in the one of the plurality of robot control devices, a time interval from generation of the operation basic period signal until reception of the reference signal in each of the other robot control devices, and a communication delay time required for communication between the one of the plurality of robot control devices and each of the other robot control devices.

Abstract: An operation panel capable of being effectively reduced in size while the operability and the visibility are maintained at the conventional level. The operation panel includes a flexible display, a plurality of operation keys and a storing part for storing the flexible display in a wound state. In a second operation mode of the operation panel, the flexible display may be withdrawn to a second position at which the flexible display covers a second operation key, in order to enlarge a display area of the operation panel.

Abstract: A robot control system including a servo amplifier supplying power to a robot, a processor controlling the operation of the robot, and a servo power connection/cutoff circuit connected to the same, issuing excitation/nonexcitation commands to a charging relay and a main circuit connection electromagnetic contactor provided in the circuit from the processor, monitoring the opened/closed states of the contacts of the charging relay and main circuit connection electromagnetic contactor by the processor, and detecting if their contacts open and close as instructed by the processor to thereby check if the power connection/cutoff circuit has a fault. Due to this, it is possible to provide a robot control system which detects faults of the power connection/cutoff circuit and which is inexpensive and high in safety.

Abstract: In a case in which an operation is alternately carried out by apparatus-1 and the apparatus-2 in cooperation with a robot, an operator carries out operation within an operation range of each of the apparatuses during the interruption of power supply to the apparatus-1 and the apparatus-2. Even if the operator approaches or enters the apparatus-1 or the apparatus-2, an emergency stop unit is not informed of a notice of such approach or entry as far as the interruption of power to the apparatus is confirmed. In a state in which the interruption of power is not confirmed, on the other hand, the emergency stop unit is informed of the notice of operator's approach or entry, and the robot system is emergency stopped.

Abstract: A servo motor controller is provided with a motor control section for controlling a servo motor provided with a brake. The motor control section includes a speed command portion for outputting a speed command to increase or reduce the rotation of the servo motor, and a brake switching portion for outputting switch command for a braking circuit to switch the brake, wherein the brake is activated during speed reduction of the servo motor by the speed command portion, whereby a rotation of the servo motor is stopped. The motor control section further includes a monitoring portion for monitoring whether or not the decelerating torque of the servo motor during speed reduction exceeds a set value that has been set equal to or lower than a maximum allowable torque of the servo motor in the motor control section.

Abstract: A robot control device includes an operation mode change-over switch for switching between a first operation mode for prohibiting an operator from approaching a predetermined area around a robot when power is supplied to a drive motor for driving the robot and a second operation mode for allowing the operator to approach the predetermined area around the robot even when power is supplied to the drive motor, and an electromagnetic contactor for switching the connection and disconnection of the power supply line to the drive motor. The robot can be stopped in case of emergency by using the electromagnetic contactor to disconnect the power supply line. The apparatus further includes an emergency stop control unit. The emergency stop control unit issues a disconnection command to the electromagnetic contactor, when the switching between the first and second operation modes is sensed, and automatically confirms whether or not the power supply line is disconnected.

Abstract: An emergency-stop device provided in a robot system, a machine tool or the like, arranged to promptly detect failure of a circuit through which an emergency stop signal is supplied to an CPU, without stopping the robot system, the machine tool or the like, to improve reliability. When at least one of emergency stop switches is opened, a CPU #1 or #2 issues an emergency stop command through one of input circuits, so that a switch SW10 or SW20 is opened by an output circuit #1 or #2 to emergency-stop the system. Switching means #1, #2 are opened separately, at appropriate intervals, and change of output of each photo coupler is recognized. In this manner, it is checked that open/closed-state outputs related to contacts C11 and C21/C12 and C22, each connected to one of the input circuits, indicate an open state. If regarding any of the contacts, change of output of the corresponding photo coupler is not recognized, the system is stopped and an action such as causing a buzzer and displaying of an alarm is taken.

Abstract: A reference signal is transmitted from one of a plurality of robot control devices connected by communication connecting means to the other robot control device. The timing of generation of an operation basic period signal in each of the other robot control devices is synchronized with the timing of generation of an operation basic period signal in the one of the plurality of robot control devices, based on a time interval from generation of the operation basic period signal until transmission of the reference signal in the one of the plurality of robot control devices, a time interval from generation of the operation basic period signal until reception of the reference signal in each of the other robot control devices, and a communication delay time required for communication between the one of the plurality of robot control devices and each of the other robot control devices.

Abstract: A robot controller for avoiding an emergency stop of a robot due to shortage of the amount of charge of a secondary battery of a portable operating part during automatic operation of the robot. The robot controller includes a portable operating part having a secondary battery, a robot control part capable of communicating with the portable operating part and having a means for bringing the robot to an emergency stop when communication between the robot control part and the portable operating part is interrupted, a charging circuit for charging the secondary battery, and a cable for electrically connecting the charging circuit to the control part during automatic operation of the robot.

Abstract: A robot controller having a function for controlling the motion of a robot, comprising a processor for controlling the robot and for processing the environmental condition data representing the environmental conditions for the robot, a memory accessible by the processor, a writing unit for executing a function of writing the environmental condition into the memory, a first data bus connected to the memory, and a second data bus having a transfer rate lower than that of the first data bus and for transferring the control data used for controlling the robot, wherein the writing unit writes the environmental condition data into the memory through the first data bus, not through the second data bus. The writing unit can be a processor control chip which is connected to the processor through the first data bus.

Abstract: When the emergency stop button on the teaching pendant is pressed, the packet generating circuits 1 and 2 each prepare packet data relating to emergency stopping, and transmit this data to the robot control part by wireless communications via the transmission data switching circuit. Besides data indicating the need or lack of need for emergency stopping, a header or the like designating the packet receiving circuit to which the transmission is addressed is added to the packet data. The respective packet receiving circuits of the robot control part receive the respective sets of packet data in accordance with the designations of the headers.

Abstract: An emergency-stop device provided in a robot system, a machine tool or the like, arranged to promptly detect failure of a circuit through which an emergency stop signal is supplied to an CPU, without stopping the robot system, the machine tool or the like, to improve reliability. When at least one of emergency stop switches is opened, a CPU #1 or #2 issues an emergency stop command through one of input circuits, so that a switch SW10 or SW20 is opened by an output circuit #1 or #2 to emergency-stop the system. Switching means #1, #2 are opened separately, at appropriate intervals, and change of output of each photo coupler is recognized. In this manner, it is checked that open/closed-state outputs related to contacts C11 and C21/C12 and C22, each connected to one of the input circuits, indicate an open state. If regarding any of the contacts, change of output of the corresponding photo coupler is not recognized, the system is stopped and an action such as causing a buzzer and displaying of an alarm is taken.

Abstract: A robot system having a vision sensor. The robot system includes a robot; a robot controlling section for controlling an operation of the robot; an imaging section provided on the robot and obtaining image data of a working environment of the robot; an image processing section for processing the image data obtained in the imaging section; a vision controlling section for controlling the imaging section and the image processing section to cause execution of obtaining the image data, transmitting the image data thus obtained, and processing the image data; and a communication network to which the robot controlling section, the image processing section and the vision controlling section are connected.

Abstract: Cylinders of a diesel engine 1 are provided with cylinder pressure sensors 29a to 29d for detecting combustion chamber pressures. An electronic control unit (ECU) 20 of the engine selects optimum combustion parameters in accordance with a fuel injection mode of fuel injectors 10a to 10d of the engine and a combustion mode determined by the amount of EGR gas supplied from the EGR valve 35 from among a plurality of types of combustion parameters expressing the combustion state of the engine calculated based on the cylinder pressure sensor output and feedback controls the fuel injection amount and fuel injection timing so that the values of the combustion parameters match target values determined in accordance with the engine operating conditions. Due to this, the engine combustion state is controlled to the optimum state at all times regardless of the fuel injection mode or combustion mode.

Abstract: Two emergency stop lines are provided. Due to contacts being opened by commands from emergency stop factors and from first and second CPUs, conducting to first and second contactors are stopped. Contacts of the contactors are opened, and power supply to the motor is interrupted, whereby an emergency stop is performed. Further, the first CPU on the first line transmits an abnormality signal to the second CPU when the states of the contacts on the self emergency stop line, detected by digital inputs, are abnormal, and the second CPU opens a contact on the self emergency stop line so as to cause the contactor to be non-excited to thereby stop power supply to the motor.

Abstract: A shift control system for hybrid vehicles which is constructed to transmit a motive energy of the prime mover to a wheel via a clutch and a transmission, comprises an electric power generating means for generating an electric power by the motive energy of the prime mover, and for supplying the generated electric power to an electric motor, when executing a gear shift of the transmission and transmitting the motive energy of the motor to the wheel.