Electric Connection Assembly, Control Cabinet And Robot System

Abstract

An electric connection assembly for a control cabinet, the electric connection assembly including a base body having an opening structure; an electric connector for connection to a plurality of external electric cables, the connector being connected to the base body and aligned with the opening structure; and a support structure including a rail for supporting a plurality of electric connection terminals, the support structure being connected to the base body opposite to the connector. A control cabinet for an industrial robot including an electric connection assembly is also provided. A robot system including an industrial robot, a control cabinet and a plurality of external electric cables connected to the industrial robot and to the connector is also provided.

Claims

1. An electric connection assembly for a control cabinet, the electric connection assembly comprising: a base body having an opening structure; an electric connector for connection to a plurality of external electric cables, the connector being connected to the base body and aligned with the opening structure; and a support structure comprising a rail for supporting a plurality of electric connection terminals, the support structure being connected to the base body opposite to the connector.

2. The electric connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises one or more legs distancing the rail from the opening structure, and wherein the one or more legs are connected to the base body.

3. The electric connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises two legs wherein the rail is provided between the legs, and wherein the legs are connected to the base body on opposite sides of the opening structure.

4. The electric connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rail is a DIN rail.

5. The electric connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support structure is made from a single sheet of material.

6. The electric connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base body is a plate.

7. The electric connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connector is a heavy-duty connector.

8. The electric connection assembly according to claim 1, further comprising the plurality of connection terminals, each connection terminal being connected to the rail and being configured to be connected to an internal electric cable.

9. The electric connection assembly according to claim 8, further comprising one or more intermediate electric cables, each connected to the connector and to a unique connection terminal.

10. The electric connection assembly according to claim 8, further comprising a terminal block, and wherein the connection terminals are provided in the terminal block.

11. The electric connection assembly according to claim 8, wherein each connection terminal is a push-in terminal.

12. The electric connection assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of electrically conductive shielding elements, each shielding element being electrically connected, and each shielding element being connectable to a shield of an internal electric cable.

13. A control cabinet for an industrial robot, the control cabinet comprising an electric connection assembly including: a base body having an opening structure; an electric connector for connection to a plurality of external electric cables, the connector being connected to the base body and aligned with the opening structure; and a support structure comprising a rail for supporting a plurality of electric connection terminals, the support structure being connected to the base body opposite to the connector.

14. The control cabinet according to claim 13, wherein the control cabinet comprises a wall having an interior side, an exterior side and a through hole, wherein the base body is connected to the interior side, and wherein the connector protrudes through the through hole.

15. A robot system comprising an industrial robot, a control cabinet comprising an electric connection assembly including: a base body having an opening structure; an electric connector for connection to a plurality of external electric cables, the connector being connected to the base body and aligned with the opening structure; and a support structure comprising a rail for supporting a plurality of electric connection terminals, the support structure being connected to the base body opposite to the connector, and a plurality of external electric cables connected to the industrial robot and to the connector.

16. The electric connection assembly according to claim 2, wherein the support structure comprises two legs, wherein the rail is provided between the legs, and wherein the legs are connected to the base body on opposite sides of the opening structure.

17. The electric connection assembly according to claim 2, wherein the rail is a DIN rail.

18. The electric connection assembly according to claim 2, wherein the support structure is made from a single sheet of material.

19. The electric connection assembly according to claim 2, wherein the base body is a plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] Further details, advantages and aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

[0044] FIG. 1: schematically represents a side view of a robot system comprising an industrial robot, a control cabinet and an electric connection assembly;

[0045] FIG. 2: schematically represents a perspective top view of the electric connection assembly;

[0046] FIG. 3: schematically represents a perspective bottom view of the electric connection assembly;

[0047] FIG. 4: schematically represents a single sheet of material;

[0048] FIG. 5: schematically represents a perspective top view of the electric connection assembly and a wall of the control cabinet prior to installation;

[0049] FIG. 6: schematically represents a perspective top view of the electric connection assembly installed in the wall;

[0050] FIG. 7: schematically represents a further perspective top view of the electric connection assembly installed in the wall; and

[0051] FIG. 8: schematically represents a perspective bottom view of the electric connection assembly installed in the wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] In the following, an electric connection assembly for a control cabinet, a control cabinet for an industrial robot, and a robot system comprising an industrial robot and a control cabinet, will be described. The same or similar reference numerals will be used to denote the same or similar structural features.

[0053] FIG. 1 schematically represents a side view of a robot system 10. The robot system 10 comprises an industrial robot 12 and a control cabinet 14. The industrial robot 12 of this specific example comprises a base 16, a first link 18a rotatable relative to the base 16 at a first joint, a second link 18b rotatable relative to the first link 18a at a second joint, a third link 18c rotatable relative to the second link 18b at a third joint, a fourth link 18d rotatable relative to the third link 18c at a fourth joint, a fifth link 18e rotatable relative to the fourth link 18d at a fifth joint, a sixth link 18f rotatable relative to the fifth link 18e at a sixth joint. The industrial robot 12 of this example thus comprises six degrees of freedom. The industrial robot 12 has been customized by attachment of a particular end effector 20 to the sixth link 18f.

[0054] The control cabinet 14 comprises an electric connection assembly 22. The electric connection assembly 22 is installed inside the control cabinet 14. The control cabinet 14 further comprises a robot controller (not shown) for controlling the industrial robot 12.

[0055] The robot system 10 further comprises a plurality of external electric cables 24. The external electric cables 24 are connected between the industrial robot 12 and the electric connection assembly 22. The robot controller may be connected to the industrial robot 12 via the electric connection assembly 22 and the external electric cables 24.

[0056] The control cabinet 14 of this specific example comprises a top wall 26a, a first side wall 26b, a rear wall 26c, a second side wall 26d and a bottom wall 26e. The control cabinet 14 further comprises a door 28. The door 28 is connected to the second side wall 26d by means of a hinge 30. Each wall 26a-26e may also be referred to with reference numeral “26”.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 1, the electric connection assembly 22 is installed in the bottom wall 26e. The electric connection assembly 22 may however be installed in any of the walls 26a-26e of the control cabinet 14.

[0058] FIG. 2 schematically represents a perspective top view of the electric connection assembly 22, and FIG. 3 schematically represents a perspective bottom view of the electric connection assembly 22. With collective reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the electric connection assembly 22 comprises a mounting plate 32, an electric connector 34 and a support structure 36. The mounting plate 32 is one example of a base body as described herein.

[0059] The mounting plate 32 comprises an opening 38. The opening 38 extends through the mounting plate 32. The opening 38 is one example of an opening structure as described herein. The mounting plate 32 of this specific example is a rectangular plate made of sheet metal. The opening 38 is also rectangular and centered in the mounting plate 32.

[0060] The mounting plate 32 further comprises a plurality of plate mounting holes 40. In this example, the mounting plate 32 comprises four plate mounting holes 40, one at each corner of the mounting plate 32.

[0061] The connector 34 is rigidly connected to the mounting plate 32 and aligned with the opening 38. In this example, the connector 34 is connected to the mounting plate 32 by means of four screws 42. The external electric cables 24 (see FIG. 1) are connectable to the connector 34. The connector 34 of this example is a heavy-duty connector having a standardized interface.

[0062] The support structure 36 comprises a rail 44, here exemplified as a top hat DIN rail having a uniform cross-sectional profile. The rail 44 is configured to support a plurality of electric connection terminals.

[0063] The support structure 36 further comprises two legs 46. As shown in FIG. 2, each leg 46 is connected to the mounting plate 32 by means of the screws 42. The support structure 36 is thereby rigidly connected to the mounting plate 32 on an opposite side with respect to the connector 34. That is, the mounting plate 32 is arranged between the connector 34 and the support structure 36.

[0064] Each leg 46 is perpendicular to the rail 44. The legs 46 establish a distance between the opening 38 and the rail 44. The legs 46 are provided on opposite sides of the opening 38. In this way, the rail 44 bridges over the opening 38.

[0065] The electric connection assembly 22 further comprises a grounding cable 48. The grounding cable 48 is connected to the connector 34.

[0066] FIG. 4 schematically represents a single sheet 50 of material, here exemplified as a metal sheet. The support structure 36 is produced from such sheet 50. By bending the sheet 50, the legs 46 and the rail 44 having the top hat shape can be formed. An end of each leg 46 can further be bent to provide an attachment section for the screws 42.

[0067] FIG. 5 schematically represents a perspective top view of the electric connection assembly 22 and a wall 26 of the control cabinet 14 prior to installation of the electric connection assembly 22 to the control cabinet 14.

[0068] The electric connection assembly 22 in FIG. 5 further comprises a plurality of connection terminals 52. The electric connection assembly 22 further comprises a terminal block 54, here exemplified as a double deck terminal block. The terminal block 54 comprises two end plates 56 and the connection terminals 52 provided between the end plates 56.

[0069] The terminal block 54 is detachably connected to the rail 44 by means of a snap-fit. The terminal block 54 is connected on top of the rail 44 such that the rail 44 is positioned between the mounting plate 32 and the terminal block 54.

[0070] Each connection terminal 52 is configured to be electrically connected to an internal electric cable. Each connection terminal 52 thereby provides a customer connection point. In this example, the connection terminals 52 are push-in terminals. The terminal block 54 comprises a customer side and a rear side, opposite to the customer side.

[0071] The electric connection assembly 22 in FIG. 5 further comprises a plurality of intermediate electric cables 58. Each intermediate electric cable 58 is electrically connected to the connector 34 and to a respective connection terminal 52. The intermediate electric cables 58 are connected to the rear side of the terminal block 54. The distancing between the rail 44 and the connector 34 due to the legs 46 provides enough space for connection of the intermediate electric cables 58.

[0072] The electric connection assembly 22 in FIG. 5 further comprises a plurality of electrically conductive shielding elements 60. The shielding elements 60 are connected to the terminal block 54. In this specific example, four shielding elements 60 are provided on the customer side of the terminal block 54 and four shielding elements 60 are provided on the rear side of the terminal block 54. Each shielding element 60 on the rear side is connected to a shield (not denoted) of a respective intermediate electric cable 58.

[0073] The wall 26 in FIG. 5 constitutes a customer connection panel and comprises an interior side 62, an exterior side (not visible) and a through hole 64. In this example, the wall 26 is of sheet metal. The through hole 64 has a rectangular shape corresponding to the shape of the connector 34. The wall 26 further comprises four wall mounting holes 66. Each wall mounting hole 66 is associated with a unique plate mounting hole 40.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 5, the electric connection assembly 22 is a compact unit ready for installation in the wall 26. The support structure 36 positions the connection terminals 52 close to the connector 34. The electric connection assembly 22 may be preassembled according to FIG. 5 prior to connection to the wall 26.

[0075] FIG. 6 schematically represents a perspective top view of the electric connection assembly 22 installed in the wall 26. When delivering the robot system 10 to a customer, it may not always be known what type of equipment the customer wants to add to the robot system 10. The connection terminals 52 provide a plurality of customer connection points to which the customer can connect various auxiliary equipment. The connection terminals 52 may for example comprise 24 V connections, analog connections, and digital connections.

[0076] The electric connection assembly 22 has been moved downwards (in FIGS. 5 and 6) until the connector 34 enters the through hole 64 and the mounting plate 32 mates with the interior side 62 of the wall 26. Each plate mounting hole 40 is thereby aligned with an associated wall mounting hole 66. As shown in FIG. 6, the connector 34 protrudes through the through hole 64.

[0077] A fastener (not shown), such as a screw or bolt, may be inserted through each pair of plate mounting hole 40 and wall mounting hole 66 to secure the electric connection assembly 22 to the wall 26. The entire electric connection assembly 22 is thereby connected to the wall 26 by only fastening the mounting plate 32 to the wall 26.

[0078] Since the electric connection assembly 22 is installed in the control cabinet 14 in an assembled state, the installation requires very few steps. This makes the installation simple and opens up for the possibility to automize the installation of the electric connection assembly 22 to the control cabinet 14. For example, no cables need to be mounted or have to be pulled through the through hole 64. The grounding cable 48 may be connected to the wall 26. The electric connection assembly 22 may be automatically installed in the control cabinet 14 by means of a robot.

[0079] FIG. 7 schematically represents a further perspective top view of the electric connection assembly 22 installed in the wall 26. The electric connection assembly 22 in FIG. 7 further comprises a plurality of internal electric cables 68. The internal electric cables 68 are internal with respect to the control cabinet 14. Each internal electric cable 68 has been connected to a unique connection terminal 52 by stripping and pushing the internal electric cable 68 into the connection terminal 52. No tool is thus required for connecting the internal electric cables 68 to the connection terminals 52.

[0080] A customer can connect a control unit (not shown) to one of the internal electric cables 68 for controlling the end effector 20. Each shielding element 60 is connected to a shield (not denoted) of a unique internal electric cable 68 to improve signal integrity.

[0081] FIG. 8 schematically represents a perspective bottom view of the electric connection assembly 22 installed in the wall 26. In FIG. 8, the exterior side 70 of the wall 26 can be seen.

[0082] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to what has been described above. For example, it will be appreciated that the dimensions of the parts may be varied as needed. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention may be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.