Adjustable Spray Gun Spacing via Rotating Drive Shaft

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing painting robot systems require multiple spray gun units with different spacings to accommodate varying article spacings, leading to increased setup time and costs due to the need for frequent replacements.

Innovation Solution

A painting robot system with a spray gun unit that includes a movable spray gun mechanism connected via a linkage system to a rotatable drive shaft, allowing for adjustable spacing between spray guns by rotating the drive shaft, thus eliminating the need for multiple spray gun units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple spray gun units with different spacings are prepared to accommodate varying article spacings, then adaptability to different painting configurations is improved, but device complexity and preparation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different article spacingsVSAvoidnumber of spray gun units

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spray gun unit employs a movable spray gun that can be adjusted along a guide member, transforming the static spacing configuration into a dynamic, adjustable one. The linkage mechanism connects the movable spray gun to the robot arm, allowing real-time spacing adjustment during operation rather than requiring multiple fixed units

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A single spray gun unit is designed to perform multiple spacing configurations through the movable spray gun mechanism. Instead of requiring one dedicated unit per spacing type, one universal unit can adapt to various article spacings by adjusting the movable spray gun position along the guide member

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple spray gun units with different spacings are prepared to accommodate varying article spacings, then adaptability to different painting configurations is improved, but setup time and operation complexity worsen due to frequent replacements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different article spacingsVSAvoidsetup time for spray gun unit replacement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The spray gun unit employs a movable spray gun that can be adjusted along a guide member, transforming the static spacing configuration into a dynamic, adjustable one. The linkage mechanism connects the movable spray gun to the robot arm, allowing real-time spacing adjustment during operation rather than requiring multiple fixed units

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The spray gun unit performs its own reconfiguration through the adjustable mechanism. Instead of requiring external replacement of entire spray gun units, the movable spray gun can be repositioned along the guide member and locked into place, allowing the same unit to serve multiple spacing requirements without external intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9289791B2Painting robot system and spray gun unit

Publication Date: 2016.03.22 TOSHIBA MASCH CO LTD

AI summary

A painting robot system includes a robot and a spray gun unit. The robot includes a plurality of robot arms and a drive shaft member disposed on a distal end robot arm of the multiple robot arms, the drive shaft member being rotatable about a distal end drive axis. The spray gun unit is mounted on the robot arm. The spray gun unit includes a support member fixed to the distal end robot arm, guide members disposed on the support member, a plurality of spray guns disposed on the support member, and a linkage mechanism connecting between the movable spray guns and the drive shaft member. A spacing between at least one pair of adjacent spray guns can be varied via the linkage mechanism by rotating the drive shaft member of the robot.