Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Patent
1997-12-16
2000-10-17
Picard, Leo P.
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
361683, G06F 116
Patent
active
061341029
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention pertains to a programming device for manipulators, especially for multiaxial industrial robots, with a display, a plurality of switches, and at least one grip area on a housing.
Such a programming device has been known from EP-A-0 310 958. It comprises a narrow, box-shaped housing, which has a display screen, a plurality of switches, as well as function keys and a grip surface on both sides. A hand strap or clamp is present for the left hand for securing. The device can be held only in one way, which is fatiguing in the long run. In addition, it has no joystick.
Another programming device is shown in DE-U-88 06 214. It is likewise intended for being held in the hand only and has two grips, which can be grasped from below, with switching keys on the underside. The programming device is held lying on the forearm, with one hand grasping one of the grips. The switches or keys located on the board surface can be actuated with the other hand. The switches and function keys are poorly accessible and cannot be reached without changing the grip. Holding is also fatiguing, so that this programming device is also ergonomically unfavorable for longer programming sessions, which are frequently necessary during the teaching of an industrial robot. In addition, no joystick is provided.
A modified device, which is also supported on the left forearm and wherein the grip is located at a lateral housing attachment at the right rear corner, has been known from Asea Journal, 1982, Vol. 55, No. 6, pp. 145-150. This handling brings with it the same drawbacks as the above-mentioned state of the art. The prior-art programming device has a multiaxially movable, upright standing joystick on the right side. An angular housing attachment, which likewise projects far forward and at which the ball of the thumb can be supported, but offers no possibility of gripping and holding for the device, is located before it. The programming device can be held with the left hand only. The programmer can operate the device with the right hand only, actuating either the joystick or the keys, for which he has to change his grip. This arrangement is not ergonomic.
JP-A-3-3787 shows a similar programming device with a lateral joystick, which can be pivoted from a horizontal resting position into an upright working position. There is no hand support here, which makes the device especially ergonomically unfavorable.
The prior-art programming devices are connected to the control box of the manipulator via a multiwire electric line and have no other communications capabilities. As a result, the operator is limited in his programming. Additional programming measures must be performed in the control box, which frequently makes it necessary to walk long distances. As a result, handling is impracticable and time-consuming.
The object of the present invention is to show an ergonomically better programming device.
The present invention accomplishes this object with the features in the principal claim.
The programming device according to the present invention has two or more, preferably four, ergonomically designed grip areas. Due to these different possibilities of gripping, the operator can hold the programming device in two or more different ways, preferably transversely and he can frequently change the position of his hands, which effectively prevents fatiguing phenomena. In addition, the grip areas are designed ergonomically and facilitate a low-fatigue holding of the hands.
At least two, but preferably three grip strips, which have an ergonomically especially favorable shape, are provided at the housing edges in the preferred embodiment. At least some of the function keys are also associated with the grip strips within the range of the fingers, so that the keys can be actuated with comfort, without the operator having to change the position of his hands or even to remove his hand from the board. The function keys are arranged on the top side of the housing and can be reached with the thumb in an ergonomically especially favorable manner
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5432510 (1995-07-01), Matthews
Brantmark, Lindqvist, Norefors, 1982, Man/machine communication in ASEA's new robot controller, ASEA Journal, 1982, vol. 55, No. 6, pp. 145-150.
Hajdu Erwin
Worn Heinz
Bui Tung Minh
Kuka Roboter GmbH
Picard Leo P.
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