Cable Routing in Coordinate Measuring Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In coordinate measuring apparatuses, the exposed cables are prone to damage, dirt accumulation, and increased costs due to the need for protection, while also occupying space and potentially disfiguring the apparatus.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a supporting body with a hollow part that houses the cable connecting the movable body to the control unit, preventing external exposure and allowing the cable to maintain rigidity and avoid twisting, thus conserving space and reducing the risk of damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the cable is exposed to the outside to connect the moving mechanism and control unit, then the connection is simple and accessible, but the cable becomes vulnerable to damage, dirt accumulation, and increases apparatus cost due to protection requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds the cable inside the hollow interior of the supporting body, nesting the cable within the structural framework of the apparatus. This eliminates external exposure while maintaining connection functionality between the moving mechanism and control unit, resolving the contradiction between connection simplicity and cable protection.
2Ease of operation
If the cable is exposed to the outside, then installation and maintenance are easier, but space is required for arranging the cable and the apparatus may become disfigured
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is nested within the hollow supporting body structure, utilizing the existing structural space rather than requiring additional external space for cable arrangement. This eliminates the need for separate cable management space while maintaining accessibility through appropriate opening provisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the cable from external three-dimensional arrangement to internal routing through the supporting body's hollow space, effectively moving the cable into a different spatial dimension (inside the structure) to eliminate external space requirements and improve aesthetic appearance.
3Reliability
If a cableveyor is used to protect the exposed cable, then the cable is protected from irregular bending and damage, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is nested within the hollow supporting body, using the structural framework itself as the protective enclosure. This eliminates the need for additional cableveyor components, reducing apparatus cost while maintaining cable protection from damage and irregular bending through the rigid structural support.
Data Source
AI summary
A coordinate measuring apparatus includes a base on which an object to be measured is mounted, a movable X-axis beam, a Y-axis column with a hollow part that is provided on the base and supports the X-axis beam, a control unit that is provided under the base and controls the movement of the X-axis beam, and a cable that is wired from the X-axis beam to the control unit through the hollow part of the Y-axis column.