Robotic workcell control system having improved input/output interfacing for better workcell operation
US4896087A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 31, 1989 |
| Grant date | Jan 23, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 31, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P90/02
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A control system is provided for a workcell having a plurality of electric robots and a plurality of workcell equipment items in turn having a plurality of control and sensor devices associated therewith. Respective electronic robot controllers are disposed at respective workcell locations to operate robots as a part of the workcell process. Each robot controller has a floppy disk or other means for loading program data for one of the robot controllers. A first input/output control module is disposed at another workcell location and it has connected thereto as inputs a first group of the sensor devices and as outputs a first group of the control devices. Second and third input/output control modules are disposed at additional workcell locations and have connected thereto as inputs second and third groups of the sensor devices and as outputs second and third groups of the control devices. Additional input/output control modules are associated with the other robot controllers, and are similarly connected and placed in spaced workcell locations. A serial local area network connects each robot controller and its associated input/output modules to provide for program and process data co…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.