Fanuc Corporation

Jun Mizuno

Atsushi Watanabe

Hiroji Nishi

Yoshiharu Nagatsuka

Masahiro Oyamada

A cooperation system of a robot and a machine tool, capable of obtaining a coordinate transformation means with high accuracy by a simple configuration, by which a robot coordinate system is transformed to a machine coordinate system. A provisional coordinate system is defined by coordinate values of three calibration markers in a base coordinate system obtained by translating the machine coordinate system, and a coordinate transformation matrix from the provisional coordinate system to the base coordinate system is calculated. The positions of the markers in the robot coordinate system are obtained by capturing the markers by a camera. Based on the three coordinate values in the robot coordinate system, a coordinate transformation matrix from the robot coordinate system to the provisional coordinate system is calculated, and a coordinate transformation matrix from the robot coordinate system to the base coordinate system is calculated based on the above two matrixes.

Cooperation system having machine tool and robot

A production control apparatus of a production system provided with a storing means for storing in advance a production system model comprised of workpiece information regarding workpieces and program information regarding a plurality of work programs of robots and a plurality of machining programs of machine tools, an updating means for updating the production system model based on run status signals showing run statuses of the robots and machines tools and workpiece signals from the detectors, and an instructing means for selecting one work program and one machining program based on the updated production system model and instructing running of the selected work program and work program to the robot and machine tool. Due to this, by calling up a work program of the robot etc. in accordance with the state of the production system, it is possible to change the program and restore the system from error.

Production system provided with a production control apparatus

A robot system efficiently performing an operation of moving a robot to close to and/or separate from a target point, such as teaching operation. A camera of a visual sensor is mounted to the robot such that a distal end of an end effector is seen within the field of view of the camera, and the end effector's distal end and a target position on an object are specified on a monitor screen. When an approach key is depressed, a target position is detected on an image, and a difference from a position of the end effector's distal end is calculated. Whether the difference is within an allowable range is checked. Depending on the result, an amount of robot motion is calculated, and the robot is operated. The processing is repeated until the depressed approach key is released. When a retreat key is depressed, the robot moves away from the object. The robot may be caused to stop using a distance sensor.

Robot system

A taught position modification device easily correcting, in a short time, positions of taught points in a program prepared by an offline programming system. A workpiece image captured by a visual sensor and an image of a three-dimensional workpiece model having three characteristic points are displayed on a screen. Based on coordinate values of workpiece portions corresponding to the characteristic points which are specified in the workpiece image, the position and orientation of the model in a robot operating space are corrected, and also positions of taught points are corrected. When a tool end of a robot is positioned by jog feed to the operation position on a workpiece after being automatically moved to one of the corrected taught points, the taught point is modified based on the robot operating position detected at that time.

Taught position modification device

A teaching device and a teaching modification device capable of easily attaining conformity between an operation program of a robot prepared by off-line programming and an actual operation of the robot. A layout of a robot system including three-dimensional models of the robot and peripheral objects thereof (table, a workpiece, etc.) are prepared by an off-line programming system and taught points are defined for the workpiece. The system layout and a model of the workpiece are displayed on a display device of a teaching pendant. An operator specifies a present position of the operator in the system layout and a taught point to be modified referring to the display device. A line-of-sight vector is automatically calculated and the model of the workpiece as viewed from a direction of the line-of-sight is displayed on the display device. Thus, the operator can operate the robot for modifying positions of the taught points or orientations at the taught points with ease, referring to the three-dimensional model of the workpiece and the taught points on the display device as viewed from the present position of the operator.

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Yamanashi, Japan

Jun Mizuno