Camera-equipped screwing device for ergonomic operator guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Operators of screwing devices often adopt ergonomically unfavorable postures to access and see difficult-to-reach screwing points, leading to uncomfortable and time-consuming processes, potentially causing poor posture over time.

Innovation Solution

A screwing device equipped with a camera device that films the screwing point and transmits real-time images to a display, allowing the operator to perform the screwing process in an ergonomically favorable posture by acting as a virtual eye, combined with a holding mechanism providing translational and rotational degrees of freedom to absorb forces and torques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the operator directly observes the screwing point, then the screwing operation can be performed with direct visual feedback, but the operator must adopt ergonomically unfavorable postures to access difficult-to-reach points

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator postureVSAvoidvisibility of screwing point
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a camera device to create a visual copy (image) of the screwing point and transmits it to a display device. This allows the operator to view the screwing point indirectly through the displayed image rather than directly observing it, enabling ergonomic positioning while maintaining visual feedback capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If a camera device is added to film the screwing point, then ergonomic posture is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator postureVSAvoidscrewing device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The camera device is integrated into the screwing device to serve multiple functions: it films the screwing point for ergonomic viewing, and can also save the filmed images for quality control purposes. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing both ergonomic benefits and quality assurance capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If real-time image transmission is implemented, then the operator can follow the screwing process virtually in real time, but the loss of time for image processing and transmission occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time visual feedbackVSAvoidimage transmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system establishes a feedback loop where the camera device continuously captures images of the screwing point and transmits them in real-time to the display device. This allows the operator to monitor the screwing process with minimal delay, maintaining effective visual feedback for precise operation control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2857146B1Camera and display-guided screwing device
Publication Date: 2016.09.28 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE
  • EP2857146B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2857146B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a screwing device (10, 20) for the motorized execution of a screwing operation at a screw point and a holding mechanism (30) for this purpose. The screwing device (10, 20) and the holding mechanism (30) are characterized in particular by the fact that they include a camera device (1) for filming the screw point and/or the screwing operation and for transmitting the filmed images to a display device (2) for the operator.