Flexible Cable Gripper Width Adjustment for Connector Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic device assembly apparatuses face challenges in securely gripping and connecting flexible cables of varying widths due to insufficient holding force and the need for multiple robotic hands or frequent hand changes, leading to increased costs and space requirements.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device assembly apparatus featuring a gripping device with a pair of claws that grip the cable in the thickness direction and a width direction open/close mechanism, utilizing cylinders for gripping and width adjustment movements, and a lock function to securely hold and align cables of different widths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If suction is used to hold the cable leading end, then the cable can be positioned, but the holding force is insufficient causing cable retraction or oblique inclination
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping device is divided into multiple independent gripping units (first gripping unit with first and second claws, second gripping unit with third and fourth claws). Each unit independently grips the cable at different positions, distributing the holding force across multiple contact points. This segmentation allows the system to achieve sufficient total holding force while maintaining reliable cable positioning without cable retraction or oblique inclination.
Solution Approach 2:
Different gripping units are configured with different gripping characteristics suited for different cable widths. The first gripping unit with its pair of claws is optimized for narrower cables, while the second gripping unit with its pair of claws is optimized for wider cables. This local quality adaptation ensures that each portion of the cable receives appropriately tailored gripping force, preventing both insufficient holding and cable deformation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple robotic hands are mounted on a robot to handle different cable widths, then various cable types can be connected, but the robot weight increases requiring greater payload capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping device is designed as a universal multi-functional unit that can handle multiple cable widths using a single device. The first and second gripping units can be selectively activated or positioned depending on the cable width being processed. This eliminates the need for multiple separate robotic hands, reducing the moving weight while maintaining the ability to connect various cable types including narrow FPCs and wider FFCs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hands are changed using a hand changing device to handle different cable widths, then various cable types can be connected, but the time and space for hand changes are required
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping device incorporates multiple gripping units (first gripping unit with first and second claws, second gripping unit with third and fourth claws) that can handle different cable widths within a single device structure. This eliminates the need for hand changing operations, allowing the system to adapt to various cable types including narrow FPCs and wider FFCs without interrupting the workflow for hand changes, thereby reducing cycle time and improving productivity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple robotic hands are mounted on a robot, then different cable widths can be handled, but the space requirements and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping device consolidates multiple cable handling capabilities into a single compact unit with first and second gripping units that can accommodate different cable widths. This universal design eliminates the need for multiple separate robotic hands and their associated mounting spaces, reducing the overall footprint of the assembly system while maintaining the ability to handle various cable types including narrow FPCs and wider FFCs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus significantly enhances the holding force and allows for efficient connection of multiple cable types with varying widths, reducing the need for multiple robotic hands and minimizing space and cost requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a first cylinder that causes at least one of the first gripping mechanism and the second gripping mechanism to perform a gripping movement for gripping and releasing, in a direction of advancing and retracting with respect to the lateral sides of the cable
Implementation Method 2
a second cylinder that causes at least the first gripping mechanism and the second gripping mechanism to perform a width adjustment movement for aligning a stroke range of the gripping movement with a difference in cable width
Implementation Method 3
the second cylinder has a lock function for fixing the second cylinder at a predetermined position
Data Source
AI summary
In an electronic device assembly apparatus that inserts a leading end of flat and flexible cables 162 and 166 into connectors 164 and 168 on a circuit board 160, a gripping device 200 includes a first gripping mechanism 210 and a second gripping mechanism 212, a rotational mechanism 260, and a width direction open/close mechanism 240, and the width direction open/close mechanism 240 includes a first cylinder 244 and a second cylinder 270 that causes the first and the second gripping mechanism to perform a width adjustment movement in the same direction as the first cylinder, and the second cylinder has a lock function for fixing the second cylinder at a predetermined position.