US4535207A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety device in an operating unit for an industrial robot
Assignee: ABB Norden Holding AB
•
Filing: 1983-06-10
•
Granted: 1985-08-13
•
Expires: 2003-06-10
Abstract
Abstract An operating unit for an industrial robot is provided with hand-sensing device arranged in such a way that, when an operator operates the robot with the aid of a joystick, the operator's hand rests on the hand-sensing device enabling the joystick to be operated with the fingers of the same hand. Suitably the hand-sensing device includes a plate and a transducer sensing the presence of the operator's hand when it rests on the plate. The transducer influences a control unit which only allows the joystick to influence the robot when a hand is sensed by the hand-sensing device when the hand rests on the plate.
Inventors
- 👤 Ake Lindqvist
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:02
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25J; B25J13/00; B25J13/02; B25J19/00; B25J19/06; H; H01; H01H; H01H2300/00; H01H2300/026
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
An operating unit for an industrial robot, said operating unit comprising: a hand operated joystick for controlling the movement of such a robot when programming it; transducer means for sensing the presence of the heel of the hand of an operator when the same hand is resting on said transducer means while fingers of the same hand are operating said joystick, said transducer means being positioned so that during operation of said joystick, the heel of the operator's hand rests thereon; and control means operatively associated with said transducer means and said joystick for preventing said joystick from controlling the movement of such a robot when said transducer means does not sense the presence of the heel of the operator's hand.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
An operating unit for an industrial robot, said operating unit comprising: a hand operated joystick for controlling the movement of such a robot when programming it; transducer means for sensing the presence of the heel of the hand of an operator when the same hand is resting on said transducer means while fingers of the same hand are operating said joystick, said transducer means being positioned so that during operation of said joystick, the heel of the operator's hand rests thereon; and control means operatively associated with said transducer means and said joystick for preventing said joystick from controlling the movement of such a robot when said transducer means does not sense the presence of the heel of the operator's hand.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An operating unit according to claim 1, wherein said transducer means senses the force which the hand exerts thereon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
An operating unit according to claim 1, wherein said transducer means comprises a position transducer and a movable spring-loaded plate on which the operator's hand rests, said plate being arranged to influence said position transducer when said plate moves in response to the presence of the hand.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
An operating unit according to claim 3, wherein said position transducer comprises a microswitch having output means connected to said control means, said microswitch being opened and closed by movement of said plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
120 words
In an industrial robot system, an improved operating unit comprising: a hand operated joystick for controlling the movement of such a robot when programming it; transducer means for sensing the presence of the heel of the hand of an operator when the same hand is resting on said transducer means while fingers of the same hand are operating said joystick, said transducer means being positioned so that during operation of said joystick, the heel of the operator's hand rests thereon; and control means operatively associated with said transducer means and said joystick for preventing said joystick from controlling the movement of such a robot when said transducer means does not sense the presence of the heel of the operator's hand.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
120 words
In an industrial robot system, an improved operating unit comprising: a hand operated joystick for controlling the movement of such a robot when programming it; transducer means for sensing the presence of the heel of the hand of an operator when the same hand is resting on said transducer means while fingers of the same hand are operating said joystick, said transducer means being positioned so that during operation of said joystick, the heel of the operator's hand rests thereon; and control means operatively associated with said transducer means and said joystick for preventing said joystick from controlling the movement of such a robot when said transducer means does not sense the presence of the heel of the operator's hand.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
In an industrial robot system according to claim 5, wherein said control means prevents said joystick from controlling the robot by disconnecting the power supply to the robot drive system when said transducer means does not sense the presence of the heel of the operator's hand.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
In an industrial robot system according to claim 5, wherein said transducer means senses the force which the hand exerts thereon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
In an industrial robot system according to claim 5, wherein said transducer means comprises a position transducer and a movable spring-loaded plate on which the operator's hand rests, said plate being arranged to influence said position transducer when said plate moves in response to the presence of the hand.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
In an industrial robot system according to claim 8, wherein said position transducer comprises a microswitch having output means connected to said control means, said microswitch being opened and closed by movement of said plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US31208A
Cited
US2841659A
Cited
US3212649A
Cited
US3293381A
Cited
US3247979A
Cited
US3280991A
Cited
US3271532A
Cited
DE1525064A1
Cited
US3608743A
Cited
USRE31208E
Cited
CH631818A5
Cited
CH633119A5
Cited
US4408103A
Cited
US4465908A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-08-12 | 1989-02-11 | 1989-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-08-12 | 1993-02-11 | 1993-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-08-12 | 1997-02-11 | 1997-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |