Care Robot Holding Tool Gravity Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing care robots and holding tools face issues with discomfort to the care receiver due to complex and costly constructions, high equipment size, and troublesome adjustments, as well as pain caused by counterforces in existing armpit holding mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A care robot with a holding tool featuring adjustable left and right frames that sandwich the care receiver's body, utilizing a holding position adjustment mechanism with guide rails and sliders, biasing devices, and ratchet mechanisms to automatically adjust the holding position based on the care receiver's weight, ensuring comfortable support without complex mechanisms or high costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a pinion-driven adjustment mechanism is used to adjust the width of side surface sections, then the holding tool can fit the body shape of the care receiver, but the construction becomes complicated leading to high costs and large size
Solution Approach 1:
The holding tool automatically adjusts its width to fit the care receiver's body by utilizing the care receiver's own weight. When the care receiver sits on the holding tool, their weight causes the side surface sections to move inward automatically, eliminating the need for external adjustment mechanisms like pinions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical adjustment systems (pinion-driven mechanisms) with a simpler gravity-based automatic adjustment system. The side surface sections are designed to move freely in response to gravitational force applied by the care receiver's weight, substituting an active mechanical system with a passive gravitational one.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual or electric power drive is used for adjustment, then the holding tool can be adjusted to fit the body shape, but adjustment work becomes troublesome and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The holding tool performs self-adjustment automatically when the care receiver sits on it. The care receiver's weight triggers the automatic inward movement of side surface sections, eliminating the need for manual operation or electric power drive and making the adjustment process effortless.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding tool is pre-configured with movable side surface sections that are ready to respond immediately when weight is applied. The structure is designed in advance to convert gravitational force into automatic width adjustment, so no additional adjustment actions are needed during use.
3Reliability
If armpit holding arms with spring connection are used, then the holding tool can support the care receiver, but discomfort and pain arise in the chest due to counterforce
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spring connection and armpit holding arms that cause chest discomfort. Instead of using arms that push against the chest, the design supports the care receiver's body weight through the seat structure and backrest, eliminating the harmful counterforce while maintaining support capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful spring counterforce into a beneficial gravity-based support system. By allowing the side surface sections to move inward naturally under the care receiver's weight rather than resisting with springs, the system transforms what would be a harmful force into a comfortable, natural support mechanism.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a
Figure 3b~4a
AI summary
A care robot and a holding tool that holds the body of a care receiver without the care receiver feeling discomfort and without giving rise to troublesome work, high costs, or large equipment size. Holding section 23 (holding tool) is provided with base frame 31; left and right frames 32 and 33, which are attached to left and right sections of base frame 31 so as to be relatively movable in left and right directions, that support the body of care receiver M1 by sandwiching the body from the left and right; and holding position adjustment mechanism 34 that, when the body weight of care receiver M1 is applied downwards onto left and right frames 32 and 33, adjusts the holding position of left and right frames 32 and 33 by moving each of left and right frames 32 and 33 which are being pushed downwards by the weight of care receiver M1 towards a center section of base frame 31 and positioning left and right frames 32 and 33 by left and right frames 32 and 33 contacting the body of care receiver M1.