Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for inputting coordinate data for a robot comprising the steps of: positioning a light-emitting means at a desired working position; attaching an optical sensor means for detecting said light-emitting means in said working position to a work end of said robot; displacing a movable segment of said robot including said optical sensor means to a predetermined orientation within a predetermined area, said area including said working position, and subsequently moving said optical sensor means with said movable segment of said robot in a predetermined pattern within said predetermined area so that said optical sensor means scans said predetermined area so as to detect the horizontal position of said light emitting means; continually detecting the position of said optical sensor means; deriving coordinates in the robot coordinate system of the position of said optical sensor means when said optical sensor means detects said light-emitting means; and storing the derived coordinates in the robot coordinate system as working position indicative data in a memory means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for inputting coordinate data for a robot comprising the steps of: positioning a light-emitting means at a desired working position; attaching an optical sensor means for detecting said light-emitting means in said working position to a work end of said robot; displacing a movable segment of said robot including said optical sensor means to a predetermined orientation within a predetermined area, said area including said working position, and subsequently moving said optical sensor means with said movable segment of said robot in a predetermined pattern within said predetermined area so that said optical sensor means scans said predetermined area so as to detect the horizontal position of said light emitting means; continually detecting the position of said optical sensor means; deriving coordinates in the robot coordinate system of the position of said optical sensor means when said optical sensor means detects said light-emitting means; and storing the derived coordinates in the robot coordinate system as working position indicative data in a memory means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, which further includes the step of manually inputting the coordinates of a starting point of the scanning operation of the working position detecting means in advance of performing scanning, so that said working position detecting means is moved to the starting point from its initial position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said manual input of coordinates of the scanning start point is performed by numerical input by means of a CAD system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said manual input of coordinates of the scanning start point is performed by operating the robot movable segments to the scanning start point by means of manual operation, calculating the displaced position of the working position detecting means and storing the calculated coordinates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said predetermined area includes the working position and is substantially smaller than the robot operation area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said scanning is performed in a horizontal, two-dimensional robot coordinate system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said scanning is carried out within a three-dimensional robot coordinate system and includes horizontal scanning in two horizontal dimensions and an axial direction scan.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
155 words
A teaching device for a robot comprising: a current position detecting means for detecting a current position of said robot; a working position detecting means for detecting a working position of said robot, said working position detecting means being disposed at a working end of the robot; a scan control means for controlling movable segments of said robot and for positioning said movable segments of said robot at a predetermined orientation and for positioning said working position detecting means at a predetermined initial position within a predetermined scanning area including the working position, and subsequently operating said movable segment so that said working position detecting means scans through said predetermined scanning area, including the working position, for detecting said working position; a memory means for storing the current position of said robot detected by said current position detecting means when said working position detecting means operated by said scan control means detects the working position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
155 words
A teaching device for a robot comprising: a current position detecting means for detecting a current position of said robot; a working position detecting means for detecting a working position of said robot, said working position detecting means being disposed at a working end of the robot; a scan control means for controlling movable segments of said robot and for positioning said movable segments of said robot at a predetermined orientation and for positioning said working position detecting means at a predetermined initial position within a predetermined scanning area including the working position, and subsequently operating said movable segment so that said working position detecting means scans through said predetermined scanning area, including the working position, for detecting said working position; a memory means for storing the current position of said robot detected by said current position detecting means when said working position detecting means operated by said scan control means detects the working position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The teaching device for a robot as set forth in claim 8, wherein said working position of the robot is a screwhole formed in a workpiece, and said working position detecting means is a light-receiving means which receives the light emitted by a light-emitting means inserted in said screwhole.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
The teaching device for a robot as set forth in claim 8, wherein said working position of the robot is a screwhole formed in a workpiece, and said working position detecting means is composed of a light-emitting means for emitting the light toward a reflector provided in said screwhole and a light-receiving means for receiving the light reflected by said reflector.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
167 words
A device for inputting coordinates for a robot comprising: a movable arm including a first movable portion movable along a vertical axis in a three dimensional robot coordinate system having three mutually perpendicular axes, and a second movable portion movable in a horizontal two-dimensional robot coordinate system; a current position detecting means for detecting a current position of a working end of said movable arm; a working position detecting means secured to said working end for detecting a working position; driving means for driving said first and second movable portions; a scan control means for controlling said driving means so that said second movable portion is initially positioned to a predetermined starting position within a predetermined scanning area including said working position and is subsequently moved within said predetermined scanning area according to a predetermined pattern for scanning; and a memory means for storing instantaneous coordinates of said working end detected by said current position detecting means when said working position detecting means detects said working position.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
167 words
A device for inputting coordinates for a robot comprising: a movable arm including a first movable portion movable along a vertical axis in a three dimensional robot coordinate system having three mutually perpendicular axes, and a second movable portion movable in a horizontal two-dimensional robot coordinate system; a current position detecting means for detecting a current position of a working end of said movable arm; a working position detecting means secured to said working end for detecting a working position; driving means for driving said first and second movable portions; a scan control means for controlling said driving means so that said second movable portion is initially positioned to a predetermined starting position within a predetermined scanning area including said working position and is subsequently moved within said predetermined scanning area according to a predetermined pattern for scanning; and a memory means for storing instantaneous coordinates of said working end detected by said current position detecting means when said working position detecting means detects said working position.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
174 words
A device for inputting coordinates for a robot, comprising: a movable arm including a first movable portion movable along a vertical axis in a three-dimensional robot coordinate system having three mutually perpendicular axes, and a second movable portion movable in horizontal, two-dimensional robot coordinate system; a current position detecting means for detecting a current position of a working end of said movable arm; a working position detecting means secured to said working end for detecting a working position; driving means for driving said first and second movable portions; a scan control means for numerically controlling said driving means wherein said first and second movable portions are initially positioned to a predetermined starting position within a predetermined scanning area which includes said working position and are subsequently moved within said predetermined area, according to a predetermined pattern for scanning, to detect orientation of said working position; and a memory means for storing instantaneous coordinates of said working end detected by said current position detecting means when said working position detecting means detects said working position.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
174 words
A device for inputting coordinates for a robot, comprising: a movable arm including a first movable portion movable along a vertical axis in a three-dimensional robot coordinate system having three mutually perpendicular axes, and a second movable portion movable in horizontal, two-dimensional robot coordinate system; a current position detecting means for detecting a current position of a working end of said movable arm; a working position detecting means secured to said working end for detecting a working position; driving means for driving said first and second movable portions; a scan control means for numerically controlling said driving means wherein said first and second movable portions are initially positioned to a predetermined starting position within a predetermined scanning area which includes said working position and are subsequently moved within said predetermined area, according to a predetermined pattern for scanning, to detect orientation of said working position; and a memory means for storing instantaneous coordinates of said working end detected by said current position detecting means when said working position detecting means detects said working position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device as set forth in claim 11, wherein said working position is a screwhole in a workpiece, and said working position detecting means is a light receiver receiving light emitted by a light emitter provided within said screwhole.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device as set forth in claim 11, wherein said working position is a screwhole in a workpiece, and said working position detecting means comprises a light emitter emitting light towards a reflector provided in said screwhole and a light receiver for receiving light reflected by the reflector.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device as set forth in claim 11, wherein said memory means preliminarily stores the coordinates of a scanning start point located in said predetermined area, said coordinates defining a destination when moving said working position detecting means to said predetermined area.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device as set forth in claim 15, wherein said scan control means temporarily therefor stops said movable portion when said working position detecting means detects said working position.