Automated Assembly Robot With Multi-Height Hands and Movable Bases
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automated assembly apparatuses using robots face increased component mounting time due to the need to raise and lower the Z-axis to clear interfering objects on the movement path, which is exacerbated by the height of these objects.
Innovation Solution
The automated assembly apparatus employs a robot with multiple hands of different heights and vertically movable operation bases, where the operation bases are raised in advance to positions that do not interfere with the hands, allowing the robot to move horizontally and perform assembly operations efficiently by maintaining a predetermined clearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the Z-axis is raised to clear the maximum height of interfering objects on the movement path, then the robot can move horizontally without collision, but the assembly operation time increases due to the additional raising and lowering movements
Solution Approach 1:
The operation base is raised in advance before the robot reaches the position above it, so that when the robot moves horizontally, the base is already at a height that avoids interference with the robot's hands. This preliminary action eliminates the need for the robot to raise and lower the Z-axis to clear interfering objects, thereby reducing assembly operation time while maintaining collision avoidance
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically coordinates the movement of the operation base and the robot. The control unit timing controls both the XY-axis movement of the robot and the Z-axis movement of the operation base, allowing them to move in a coordinated manner where the base raises during the robot's approach, optimizing both collision avoidance and operation time
2Loss of time
If the operation base is raised in advance to avoid interference with the robot's hands, then assembly operation time is reduced, but the complexity of the system increases due to the need for coordinated control of multiple moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it controls the XY-axis movement of the robot, the Z-axis movement of the operation base, and the timing coordination between them. By making the control unit multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate control systems for each function, thereby managing system complexity while achieving the time reduction benefits
Data Source
AI summary
An automated assembly apparatus includes an assembly robot, which has a plurality of hands of different heights and an XY-axis moving unit movable in a horizontal direction, and a plurality of operation base units which have operation bases and Z-axis moving unit capable of moving the operation bases in a vertical direction. The automated assembly apparatus further includes a control unit which raises in advance, before the assembly robot reaches above the operation bases, the operation bases by the Z-axis moving unit to positions where the operation bases do not interfere with the plurality of hands.