1. A simulator for estimating a life of a robot speed reducer, the simulator comprising:
a controller, wherein the controller is a digital computer with a processor; the controller comprising:
a rotation speed and load calculator for simulating a robot operation program and calculating the rotation speed of the robot speed reducer arranged with respect to an individual axis of the robot, and the load exerted on the speed reducer for each sampling period;
a storage for chronologically correlating the rotation speed and the load calculated by the rotation speed and load calculator and storing the rotation speed and the load;
a speed reducer life calculator for calculating the life of the robot speed reducer arranged with respect to an individual axis of the robot, based on the rotation speed and the load stored in the storage;
an operating ratio setter for setting an operating ratio of the robot or the data that indirectly represent the operating ratio;
a speed reducer life estimator for estimating the life of the speed reducer, based on the speed reducer life calculated by the speed reducer life calculator and the operating ratio set by the operating ratio setter;
a reference value setter for setting a reference value of the load exerted on the speed reducer arranged with respect to an individual axis of the robot;
an evaluator for determining, by using an evaluation function, whether the load calculated by the rotation speed and load calculator exceeds the reference value set by the reference value setter;
a path fixer for fixing the path of the tool tip of the robot, regardless of a speed command of the operation program;
a maximum speed setter for setting a speed command value of the operation program to a maximum speed according to a predetermined rule, while the path is fixed by the path fixer; and
a program changer for determining, by using the evaluation function, whether the load exerted on the speed reducer which the load is chronologically stored in the storage exceeds the reference value which is set as the upper limit by the reference value setter and, when the load exceeds the reference value, for changing the operation program, with the path fixed by the path fixer, to decrease the speed command value of the operation program from the maximum speed by a given value so that the load exerted on the speed reducer is no more than the reference value.
2. The simulator for estimating a life of a robot speed reducer according to claim 1, the simulator further comprising
a target life setter for setting a target life of the speed reducer;
wherein the program changer is repeatedly run until the life of the speed reducer reaches the target value set by the target life setter.
3. The simulator for estimating a life of a robot speed reducer according to claim 2, the simulator further comprising
a cycle time calculator for multiplying the sample number in the rotation speed and load calculator by the sampling period to calculate the cycle time of the robot operation program,
wherein when the cycle time calculated by the cycle time calculator is not reduced after the program changer is repeatedly run until the life of the speed reducer reaches the target value set by the target life setter, a new reference value is set by the reference value setter and then the program changer is repeatedly run until the life of the speed reducer reaches the target value set by the target life setter.
4. The simulator for estimating a life of a robot speed reducer according to claim 1, the simulator further comprising
a cycle time calculator for multiplying the sample number in the rotation speed and load calculator by the sampling period to calculate the cycle time of the robot operation program; and
a target cycle time setter for setting a target cycle time;
wherein the program changer is repeatedly run until the cycle time calculated by the cycle time calculator reaches the target value set by the target cycle time setter.
5. The simulator for estimating a life of a robot speed reducer according to claim 4, wherein when the life of the speed reducer is not extended after the program changer is repeatedly run until the cycle time reaches the target value set by the target cycle time setter, a new reference value is set by the reference value setter, and then the program changer is repeatedly run until the cycle time reaches the target value set by the target cycle time setter.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-42. (canceled)
43. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly comprising an insertion adapter having an operationally releasable coupler for a demountable insertion tool body and an intervertebral disc prosthesis releasably retained by the insertion adapter, with the insertion adapter separated in at least two component parts configured to be releasably tightened around at least part of the prosthesis.
44. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly according to claim 43, in which the at least two component parts are arranged to release the intervertebral disc prosthesis by pivoting one in relation to the other.
45. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly according to claim 43, in which the insertion adapter and the intervertebral disc prosthesis are disposed in sterile packaging to form a sterile pack.
46. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly according to claim 43, in which the insertion adapter has a surface complementary to and substantially fitting the intervertebral disc prosthesis.
47. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly according to claim 43, in which the insertion adapter has at least one retainer that engages a recess andor a post of the intervertebral disc prosthesis.
48. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly according to claim 47, in which the retainer is a latch, and the recess is disposed on an edge of a plate of the intervertebral disc prosthesis.
49. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly according to claim 48, in which the retainer is a dog, and the recess is disposed along a core of the intervertebral disc prosthesis.
50. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly according to claim 49, in which the dog has a channel substantially matching the edge of a post of a plate of the intervertebral disc prosthesis.
51. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly according to claim 48, further comprising an insertion tool.
52. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly according to claim 51, in which the insertion tool comprises a demountable insertion tool body releasably mounted to the coupler.
53. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion system according to claim 52, in which the insertion tool body comprises an insertion actuator.
54. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion system according to claim 53, in which the insertion tool body comprises an insertion stop.
55. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion system according to claim 54, in which the insertion tool body comprises an insertion stop lock.
56. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion system according to claim 55, in which the insertion stop lock is adjustable.
57. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion system according to claim 56, in which the intervertebral disc prosthesis comprises a first plate, a second plate and a core.