Safety functions in an industrial robot

US12343879B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ABB Schweiz AG · CH

Inventors

• Jonas Haulin · Shanghai, CN
• Tomas Groth · Västerås, SE
• Stefan Romberg · Västerås, SE
• Richard Roberts · Gilching, DE
• Tobias Berninger · Türkenfeld, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 13, 2022
• Grant date: Jul 1, 2025
• Expiry date: May 13, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05B2219/40218
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method of controlling an industrial robot, including a robot controller, a programming interface, which is separate from the robot controller, and a robot manipulator with a plurality of actuators. The method includes: receiving a first release signal via a first safe input means; receiving actuator-selection data, which indicates one or more of the actuators, via an arbitrary input means at the programming interface; receiving a second release signal via a second safe input means at the programming interface after having received the actuator-selection data; and, in response to determining that the first and second release signals are still received, causing the actuators indicated by the actuator-selection data to enter a movement-without-drive-power mode.