Automated Cable Mounting Using Reinforcing Plate Mediator
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Solution Overview
Problem
The automation of connecting cables with reinforcing plates to connectors in electronic equipment assembly is inefficient due to the complexity and fragility of the cables, which current technologies have not adequately addressed with specific equipment configurations and methods.
Innovation Solution
An electronic equipment assembly apparatus comprising a cable holding tool, a work stage, a robot portion, and a controller that holds and positions the reinforcing plate of a belt-shaped cable main body portion onto a connector, using a six-degree-of-freedom parallel link robot to automate the mounting process, ensuring precise alignment and secure connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual work is used for connecting cable to connector, then flexibility and precision in handling fragile cable are maintained, but work efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
A reinforcing plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the cable and the gripping mechanism. The plate provides a rigid interface that enables robotic grippers to securely hold the flexible cable without direct contact, thus automating the handling process while maintaining precision and preventing cable damage
Solution Approach 2:
The cable assembly is segmented into two functional parts: the flexible cable portion for electrical connection and the rigid reinforcing plate for mechanical handling. This segmentation allows the robotic system to grip and position the assembly without compromising the cable's flexibility or the connection's precision
2Extent of automation
If two robots are used for connector connection work, then automation is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single robot arm is designed with multi-functionality to perform both cable positioning and connector insertion tasks. The robot can dynamically adjust its end-effector configuration to handle different operations, replacing the need for two separate robots and reducing system complexity while maintaining full automation
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system employs dynamic reconfiguration of its end-effector during the assembly process. The gripper can transition between different holding configurations and positioning modes, enabling one robot to perform multiple functions that previously required two robots, thereby simplifying the overall system
3Manufacturing precision
If parallel link type robot is used for cable assembly, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing plate serves as a mediator that decouples the positioning precision requirement from the robot structure. By providing a rigid reference interface, the plate allows standard robots to achieve precise positioning without requiring complex parallel link mechanisms, thus reducing system complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic equipment assembly apparatus installs a mounted portion of a cable onto a connector of electronic equipment, the cable including a belt-shaped cable main body portion in which the mounted portion is formed in one end portion, and a reinforcing plate bonded to the one end portion side on one surface of the cable main body portion. The electronic equipment assembly apparatus includes: a cable holding tool which nips and holds the reinforcing plate by a blade and a chuck block; and a robot portion which moves the cable holding tool.